TIDMKAV
RNS Number : 2794Y
Kavango Resources PLC
08 September 2020
PRESS RELEASE
8 September 2020
KAVANGO RESOURCES PLC
("Kavango" or "the Company")
3D Model confirms KSZ Norilsk style rock formations
Kavango Resources plc (LSE:KAV), the exploration company
targeting the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in
Botswana, is pleased to publish initial images from its
computerised 3D geological modelling, developed from data obtained
from Kavango's Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ) project in south-western
Botswana (the "3D Model").
These images confirm significant similarities between the
northern (Hukuntsi) section of the KSZ and the giant Norilsk mining
centre in Siberia. Norilsk accounts for 90% of Russia's nickel
reserves, 55% of its copper and virtually all of its' platinum
group metals.
Kavango increasingly believes that Hukuntsi has the potential to
host very significant copper, nickel and platinum group metal
deposits.
Highlights
v Kavango is the first company to prepare a computerised 3D
geological model of the Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ).
v Kavango's geophysical team is conducting the 3D modelling in
conjunction with Mira Geoscience, a world leader in computerised 3D
imagery of geological and geophysical data.
v The 3D Model incorporates thousands of data points, collected
from:
- 2 phases of airborne electro-magnetic (EM) and magnetic surveying
- Drill hole data and CSAMT resistivity surveys over the northern (Hukuntsi) section of the KSZ
v The images depict flat lying Karoo gabbro sills in 3D, which
bear a remarkable resemblance to those containing large deposits of
copper, nickel and platinum group metal (Cu/Ni/PGM) rich massive
sulphides in the Norilsk mining centre in Siberia.
- 10 district-scale sills identified, covering over 300km(2) in aggregate
- Most of the sills lie within 400m of the surface, making them viable exploration targets
v Illustrative cross-sectional diagrams, highlighting "Norilsk
style" rock formations and possible trap zones for massive
sulphides are available on the Company's website
v Kavango's geologists will now work to select up to six of the
most prospective targets for follow up exploration and
drilling.
Michael Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Kavango Resources,
commented:
"The imagery coming out of the computer-generated geological
model is quite spectacular and potentially transformational for the
Company.
We are now able to view the gabbroic intrusions in 3D. We can
see their shape, size thickness and their depth from surface. We
can clearly identify and locate the thicker parts of the sills for
follow up EM surveying.
This is a major step forward in our exploration, which should
culminate in an extensive drilling programme in the KSZ."
The Hukuntsi 3D Model
Over recent months, Kavango's geophysical team has been entering
thousands of data points into the powerful Mira Geoscience 3D
modelling software package.
The data includes proprietary data gathered by the Company from
its surveying and drilling work in the KSZ, as well as data from
third party sources such as other regional exploration drilling
carried out in the 1970s and water boreholes.
The initial imagery from the 3D geological modelling of the KSZ
confirms that the Karoo sills (a 180M year old magma plumbing
system) lie immediately above a much older and larger (Proterozoic)
gabbro plumbing system.
It seems likely that both plumbing systems used the same
deep-seated crustal faults and conduits to bring magma to the
surface.
Although both systems contain gabbro, the Proterozoic rocks are
distinguished by their much higher magnetic susceptibility.
Encouragingly, most of the Karoo sills lie within 400m of the
surface. This makes them viable targets for further field
exploration.
Positive geological comparisons between Hukuntsi and Norilsk
underground rock formations
The Karoo sills at Hukuntsi display the characteristic "gull
wing" and "keel" morphology in cross section, which is typical of
those seen at Norilsk.
Two sample cross-sections (marked "A-B" and "C-D") can be seen
on the Kavango website (KSZ Project) alongside a schematic diagram
of a typical Norilsk type sill (S.J. Barnes et al 2015. Ore Geology
Review. V76). These can be seen on the link below:
https://www.kavangoresources.com/media/attachments/2020/09/07/kav-hukuntsi-3d-model-with-airbone-em-and-cross-section-a-b-3.pdf
https://www.kavangoresources.com/media/attachments/2020/09/07/kav-hukuntsi-3d-model-with-airbone-em-and-cross-section-c-d-11.pdf
https://kavangoresources.com/images/2020/09/07/norilsk-x-section.jpg
From the Norilsk schematic, one can see that massive sulphide
accumulations usually occur in the thicker "keel" of the sill.
Typically, the Cu/Ni/PGM content of the gabbro in the "gull
wings" is low, since much of these metals have combined with free
sulphur and gravitated as a heavy sulphide liquid into the "keel"
prior to crystallisation.
Cross-section "A-B" illustrates a sill with more pronounced
"gull wings" and a shallower "keel", which is a possible trap zone
for massive sulphides.
Cross-section "C-D" illustrates a much thicker sill, with less
pronounced "gull wings" and two "keel" possible trap zones that
have deeper basements.
Through its 3D Model, Kavango has identified dozens of similar
"gull wing" and "keel" formations across the 10 district-scale
horizontal sills located at Hukuntsi.
The identification of such a concentration of "Norilsk style"
geological structures is promising.
Following further analysis this summer of data and core samples
gathered from the KSZ, there is increasing evidence that Hukuntsi
could host multiple magmatic sulphide deposits.
Kavango's recently updated petrology report for the KSZ
(announced 6 August and prepared by Dr Martin Prendergast)
confirmed exceptionally high sulphur readings in core samples taken
from the Company's 2019 drill campaign.
Dr Prendergast also noted that all of the copper and over fifty
per cent of the nickel resides in the sulphides, which suggests
that free sulphur was available for the development of a dense
copper-nickel rich sulphide (immiscible) liquid phase.
Meanwhile, Dr David Holwell's Mineral Systems Review (MSR)
(announced on 29 April) has confirmed the presence of 12 key
geological features in the KSZ, associated with other world-class
magmatic sulphide Cu/Ni/PGM deposits worldwide. These include the
substantial commercial deposits found at Norilsk (Siberia), Voisey
Bay (Canada), Raglan (Canada), Jinchuan (China), and the Thomson
Nickel Belt (Canada).
Next steps at Hukuntsi
Kavango's geologists will now select six of the most prospective
"keels" at Hukuntsi for large loop, low frequency EM surveying to
test for massive sulphide concentrations, which are known to be
highly conductive.
The Company expects this work will result in the identification
of high-priority targets for future drilling.
The first draft of Dr Holwell's MSR of the KSV can be read here
-
https://www.kavangoresources.com/media/attachments/2020/04/29/mineral-systems-review-of-the-ksz-botswana.pdf
To view a short presentation by Kavango's Chief Geologist, Mike
Moles, about the KSZ's potential to host one or more 'Norilsk
style' deposits please visit -
https://twitter.com/KavangoRes/status/1286236091972976641?s=20
Further information in respect of the Company and its business
interests is provided on the Company's website at
www.kavangoresources.com and on Twitter at #KAV.
For further information please contact:
Kavango Resources plc
Michael Foster
mfoster@kavangoresources.com
SI Capital Limited (Broker)
+44 1483 413500
Nick Emerson
NOTE TO EDITORS
The Kalahari Suture Zone
Kavango's 100% subsidiary in Botswana, Kavango Minerals (Pty)
Ltd, is the holder of 12 prospecting licences covering 8,324.7km(2)
of ground, including 10 licences over a significant portion of the
450km long KSZ magnetic anomaly in the southwest of the country
along which Kavango is exploring for Copper-Nickel-PGM rich
sulphide ore bodies. This large area, which is entirely covered by
Cretaceous and post-Cretaceous Kalahari Sediments, has not
previously been explored using modern techniques.
The area covered by Kavango's KSZ licences displays a geological
setting with distinct similarities to that hosting World Class
magmatic sulphide deposits such as those at Norilsk (Siberia) and
Voisey Bay (Canada).
The Norilsk mining centre is about 2,800km northeast of Moscow
and accounts for 90% of Russia's nickel reserves, 55% of its copper
and virtually all of its PGMs. Kavango's licenses in the KSZ
display a geological setting with distinct geological similarities
to the magmatic sulphide deposits at Norilsk. Magma plumbing
systems are a key feature of these deposits.
KSZ Definitions
Massive sulphide: When a deposit consists almost entirely of
sulphides it is termed "massive". When it consists of grains or
crystals of sulphide in a matrix of silicate minerals, it is termed
"disseminated".
Gabbro/gabbroic: A coarse grained, medium to dark coloured rock,
formed from the intrusion of mantle derived molten magma into the
earth's crust. Gabbroic rocks (or "gabbros") are formed as the
molten magma crystallizes and cools.
Gabbroic sills: Relatively thin, planar, horizontal bodies of
solidified gabbroic magma that intruded into layers of sedimentary
rock whilst still molten.
Karoo: The Karoo System covers 1.5 million km(2) of the
semi-desert region of Southern Africa. Rocks in this system formed
180-310 million years ago.
Magma Plumbing System: Magma plumbing systems are composed of
stacked horizontal sills connected to each other via vertical
dykes. A continuous flow of magma (containing "free" sulphur)
through a magma plumbing system may have allowed the accumulation
of metal sulphides in certain trap sites within the sills. This is
because metal sulphides are heavy and tend to sink to the bottom of
magma. Over time, accumulations of metal sulphide could have led to
the formation of economic deposits of Copper-Nickel-PGMs.
Primary sulphides: Are sulphide complexes (or crystals) that
form as the magma cools and are composed of elements that are
present at the time of initial crystallization. Secondary sulphides
may form after the magma has solidified either by the introduction
of new elements into the rock or by re-mobilising elements already
present through changes in pressure, heat etc.
Sulphide mineralisation : If there is sufficient sulphur in the
molten magma, it will tend to combine with metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Co,
Pb, PGEs etc.) to form metal sulphide complexes, which may coalesce
to form massive sulphide deposits. If the melt is sulphide poor,
the metals will be taken up into the silicate minerals that form as
the magma cools and will not usually form economic deposits.
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