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| Date | 29 Oct 2021 |
| Time | 11:29:24 |
| Category | Corporate updates |
| ID | 7460Q |
PRESS RELEASE
29 October 2021
KAVANGO RESOURCES PLC
("Kavango" or "the Company")
KSZ TA2DD002 Downhole EM Conductor Identified
Kavango Resources plc (LSE:KAV), the exploration company targeting the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in Botswana, is pleased to report the Company has successfully completed an initial downhole electromagnetic ("DHEM") survey on Hole TA2DD002 to a depth of 780m. The DHEM survey has identified the upper edge of a conductive anomaly in the Proterozoic gabbro (the "Conductive Anomaly").
The Company and external consultants have completed preliminary analysis of data gathered from the DHEM survey and also reinterpreted existing data from previous airborne surveys conducted by Kavango. The original modelling from this airborne data guided the decision to continue drilling Hole TA2DD002 into the Proterozoic.
Hole TA2DD002 was the second hole of the current drill campaign in the Company's Kalahari Suture Zone ("KSZ") Project.
Highlights
Ø DHEM survey of TA2DD002
- TA2DD002 completed to a depth of 1,001m, within 1 degree of original target
- 350m of continuous altered Proterozoic-age core recovered from 651m to 1,001m, the single largest amount ever retrieved from the KSZ
- Initial DHEM completed in early October to a depth of 780m (using the available winch)
- Spectral Geophysics ("Spectral") has secured a 1,500m winch to complete a follow up DHEM survey to the bottom of TA2DD002
Ø Preliminary analysis of DHEM survey suggests:
- Late-time data from 760m to 780m indicates the Conductive Anomaly exists within 300m of the DHEM survey's completion
- The Conductive Anomaly appears to reside within the Proterozoic gabbro
Ø Kavango will provide images of the DHEM interpretation on its website
Ø Reinterpretation of Kavango's aeromagnetic model (the "Aeromagnetic Model")
- The Aeromagnetic Model was completed in 2020, using data from the Company's regional airborne surveys flown in 2018 and 2019
- The Aeromagnetic Model accurately predicted the intersection of TA2DD002 with the Proterozoic gabbro at 650m
- Reinterpretation of the the Aeromagnetic Model confirms that:
I. Proterozoic rocks are the source of the main magnetic anomaly identified from aeromagnetic surveys
II. The extent of Proterozoic can be mapped using aeromagnetic surveying
Ø Next steps:
- Spectral to conduct DHEM survey to the end of TA2DD002
- DHEM survey to be conducted on KSZDD001, once Target Depth has been reached (drilling operations are ongoing here)
- Thorough analysis of all DHEM data, to include consultation with independent experts
- Updating of the Company's magenetic susceptibility model, to take into account latest drilling results, with a particular focus on confirming potentially shallower Proterozoic depths
- A full update will be provided, on completion of the updated geophysical modelling of the northern (Hukuntsi) section KSZ
- Kavango to host a shareholder webinar to present full results with supporting images and maps (details to be confirmed)
Ben Turney, Chief Executive Officer of Kavango Resources, commented:
"Hard work, intelligent application of geophysics, skilled drilling and a bit of luck have brought us to this point.
While the Proterozoic is now our primary exploration focus in Target Area A, it is important to note that the Karoo remains our main focus in Target Area B (where we are currently drilling Hole KSZDD001).
There is still much for us to do, but we have definitive exploration leads, backed by physical core data from the ongoing drill campaign. This data should help constrain future modeling and will hopefully significantly improve results to guide our evolving exploration strategy in the KSZ.
Now that Spectral Geophysics has secured a winch that is long enough to carry the probe to the bottom of TA2DD002, we eagerly await the outcome of the 1,000m downhole electromagnetic survey. We will report more on this, once we have completed thorough analysis of any data we gather."
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
Ben Turney
First Equity (Joint Broker)
+44 207 374 2212
Jason Robertson
SI Capital Limited (Joint 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 16 prospecting licences covering 8,831.1km2 of ground, including 14 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's 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
Chalcopyrite: A copper rich sulphide mineral (CuFeS2), widely occurring in magmatic sulphide ore bodies.
EM Super Conductors: are bodies of highly conductive minerals such as graphite, magnetite and metal sulphides, which conduct electricity very rapidly provided the mineral grains are in contact with each other.
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 km2 of the semi-desert region of Southern Africa. Rocks in this system formed 180-310 million years ago.
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".
Metal/Magmatic sulphide: Deposits of sulphide mineral concentrations in mafic and ultramafic rocks, derived from immiscible sulphide liquids. To view a video of how metal/magmatic sulphides form please visit -
https://twitter.com/KavangoRes/status/1316004057895645186?s=20
Norilsk Style: copper/nickel/PGE mineralisation associated with the intrusion into the upper parts of the Earth's crust of mafic magma, which form magma chambers that sit below volcanic vents or fissures that extrude basaltic lava onto the surface (Hawaii is a possible modern equivalent). The Norilsk intrusions tend to have distinct morphologies, combining thin gabbro sills (wings) with deep keels (thought to be associated with feeder dykes) at the base.
Norilsk Model: a genetic geological model similar to that pertaining to the Norilsk/Talnakh deposits in Siberia. Traditionally, it was thought that, during emplacement, the magma incorporated sulphur rich country rock (e.g. coal measures) or evaporites into the melt, which allowed the molten magma to become sulphur saturated. The free sulphur would then combine, preferentially, with Cu/Ni/PGE metal ions to form metal sulphides, which, being heavy, tended to accumulate in traps or into the keel of the magma chamber. However, modern research suggests that the process might be more complex and may also involve changes of the chemical and physical properties of the magma during the introduction of new pulses of molten material from below. Such sudden changes may have caused rapid segregation of metal sulphides within and above the feeder dykes within the keel of the intrusion.
Pegmatitic: Pegmatites are very coarse grained igneous rocks having grain sizes in excess of 3cm, Pegmatites are thought to form as a result of very slow crystallisation and may contain exotic minerals from a volatile-rich melt.
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.