Following the acquisition of data from a regional geophysical survey carried out in 2007 by International Mining and Dredging Holding Ltd. (IMDH), Afri-Can Marine Minerals Corp.’s geological team, in conjunction with its consultant Zstar Mineral Resource Consultants, have revised and increased the surface of the target areas for the marine diamond sampling program. The total potential target area for evaluation sampling in block J now stands at 41.7 square kilometres, as opposed to 27.6 square kilometres in the NI 43-101 report of April, 2007. The sampling targets for 2010 have been increased to 19.6 square kilometres from 15.5 square kilometres. Afri-Can holds a 70-per-cent interest in block J through a joint venture agreement with the licensee, Woduna Mining Holdings (Pty.) Ltd.
Detailed information is contained in the report “EPL 2499 (Block J) Target Areas for Evaluation Sampling as at January, 2010,” which can be viewed on the company’s website. The report reviews all work done subsequent to May, 2006, in order to document the principal developments of the geological models, and to define clearly the target areas for sampling.
Following appointment as independent consultants, Zstar carried out a review of the proposed evaluation sampling program. Zstar’s principal recommendation was that the deposits should be grouped into clearly defined geologically homogenous zones, and an estimation of the resource would be carried out separately for each zone. In this manner the geostatistical parameters of each zone would be more clearly defined so that confidence in the total resource estimate will be increased.
As a result of Zstar’s recommendation, Afri-Can grouped the Basal Miocene unit (BM unit) and the Terrestrial-Colluvial formation (TC formation) into one zone (the BM-TC zone) as it will not be practically possible to identify these formations during sampling operations and to split the samples, especially where the TC formation lies directly on the BM unit. It was also decided to extend the BM-TC and last transitional sequence gravel (LTS gravel) zones in the eastern part of feature 8 slightly beyond the extent of the 2006 detailed geophysical surveys, in order to provide clear geological boundaries.
TARGET SEDIMENT AREAS (SQUARE KILOMETRES)
Feature 6 Feature 8 Feature 17 Feature 19 Other Total
LTS gravel 6.6 0.9 2.6 0.6 4.9 15.5
TC formation 0 2.8 0.9 2.2 15.2 21.1
BM unit 0 1.6 0.4 0.8 2.3 5.1
All 6.6 5.3 3.9 3.6 22.4 41.7
GEOLOGICAL ZONE AREAS (SQUARE KILOMETRES)
Feature 6 Feature 8 Feature 17 Feature 19 Other Total
LTS gravel
zone 6.5 0.7 2.5 0.6 0 10.3
BM-TC zone 0 4.9 1.4 3.0 0 9.3
All 6.5 5.6 3.9 3.6 0 19.6
The 2010 sampling program to be undertaken on block J will cover features 6, 8, 17 and 19 covering seven geological zones and will consist of a total of 332 samples. Of these, 271 are sited within delineated targets covering 19.6 square kilometres. The remaining 61 samples are designed to test geological formations that are thought to be potentially diamond bearing, but have not yet been proved as such. Approximately 22 square kilometres will be examined by future programs of detailed geophysics, vibracoring and evaluation sampling.
The preparation for the 2010 sampling program is currently under way and progressing very well. The exact date of sampling commencement will be decided as soon as the logistics and preparations are nearing completion and will be communicated to shareholders forthwith. The aim of the complete surveying and sampling program is to delineate diamond resources on Afri-Can’s block J marine diamond concession in Namibia in compliance with National Instrument 43-101.
Richard W. Foster (SACNASP), resource development manager of the corporation and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the information of this news release.
