4 February 2013
AMUR MINERALS CORPORATION
(AIM: AMC)
2012 Sampling Expands Kubuk 50% and Identifies New Targets
Amur Minerals Corporation ("Amur" or the "Company"), a nickel-copper sulphide mineral exploration and resource development company focused on the far east of Russia, announces the final results of the 2012 soil and rock chip sampling programme undertaken at its Kun-Manie exploration licence.
During last year's drilling season, sampling programmes were conducted concurrently and were focused on the eastern area of the 950 square kilometres licence. The targets included sampling immediately to the east of the Kubuk area - where the full extent of the previously defined Kubuk anomaly had not yet been established, and further along the Kurumkon Trend in an area known as Ataga - Ata. In addition, an area approaching 106 square kilometres in the northeast area of the licence was sampled and anomalous nickel values were also identified.
Highlights from 2012 Soil and Rock Chip Programme:
· Kubuk: Sampling has increased the strike length of the anomaly by 50% from two kilomtres to three kilomtres in length.
· Ataga: Eastward and along the Kurumkon Trend from Kubuk, soil sampling has defined a nickel anomaly that approaches 2.5 kilometres by 1.0 kilometre in size.
· Northeast: Reconnaissance scale mapping, rock chip and soil sampling in an area located in the northeast area of the exploration licence have identified two areas contain anomalous nickel values in the soil cover. One anomaly covers an area of approximately 12 square kilometres with the second approaching 20 square kilometres.
During 2012 and in conjunction with the more than 7,000 metres of drilling at Maly Kurumkon, Gorny and Ikenskoe, soil and rock chip samples were collected throughout the eastern area of the exploration licence.
The 2012 surface sampling programme was focused in the eastern area of the exploration licence. Selection of the area was based on the fact that the eastern mineralised limits of the Kubuk nickel anomaly had not yet been defined at the conclusion of the 2011 field season. For operational support and convenience, additional efforts were focused within the eastern area of the exploration licence.
Soil sampling on a 200 by 50 metre grid at Kubuk extended the anomaly an additional kilometre further to the east bringing the total anomaly to a length of three kilometres. This is considered to be a prime drill target as trenches have also been excavated along a one kilomtre length of the geochemical anomaly. Trenching has exposed mineralised thicknesses of 48.3 metres with an average grade of 0.63% nickel and 0.16% copper (as announced by the Company on 6 August 2012). Drill roads and drill platforms have been excavated at Kubuk and it is intended to undertake drilling in the target area during the upcoming 2013 field season. The indicated mineralisation within the trenches is among the longer identified thicknesses within the Kun-Manie licence area.
Approximately one kilometre to the east of Kubuk and along the Kurumkon Trend is an area identified as Ataga - Ata. Pre 2012 geological reconnaissance evaluation and limited rock chip sampling had indicated the presence of nickel and copper. As a result and due to the proximity of the area to Kubuk, the soil sampling programme was undertaken within the area. An area of approximately 30 square kilometres was sampled on a 200 by 50 metre grid and anomalous grades of nickel were identified throughout the area identified as Ataga. The largest of the Ataga anomalies is approximately 2.5 kilometres by 1.0 kilometre along the northern edge of the Trend. Additional detailed geological mapping and surface geophysics are required to define a potential drill target. The area surrounding Ataga was also sampled on a 1,000 metre by 100 metre grid and is referred to as Ata. Smaller anomalies are located throughout the Ata area.
The newly soil sampled area referred to as the "Northeast" had previously been examined via geological mapping, airborne geophysics and rock chip reconnaissance work during previous exploration efforts. A gridded soil sampling programme undertaken in 2012 identified two large nickel anomalies in the soil. The two areas individually cover approximately 12 and 20 square kilometres, on a grid with sample spacing of 1,000 metres by 100 metres. Detailed geological mapping and ground based geophysics are needed to establish future trenching and potential drill needs.
The success of the 2012 surface sampling programme has added to the numerous targets that have not yet been drilled. Up to this point drilling has been focused on three areas located within the prime exploration trend identified as the Kurumkon Trend. Previously identified targets that have not yet been drilled include Chorney Ispelene and Yan Hedg. The potential to expand resources is also present immediately adjacent to Maly Kurumkon / Flangovy, Gorny, Vodorazdelny and Ikenskoe. Total drill identified resources based on pre 2012 drilling are 341,000 tonnes of nickel and 95,500 tonnes of copper within 68.5 million tonnes. The Company is presently evaluating various proposals to update the resources and reserves based on the newly acquired 2012 drill results. Results will be announced as they become available.
Robin Young, CEO of Amur Minerals, commented:
"The expansion of the Kubuk nickel and copper anomaly by 50% is an excellent result and the trenches, geophysics and detailed mapping all further support a drilling programme on this areaa. Successful drilling of thicknesses at nearly 50 metres can yield substantial tonnages for consideration in production, and having further targets from which to source additional resources emphasise the highly prospective nature present within the licence area."
Enquiries:
Company Amur Minerals Corp. |
Nomad and Joint Broker RBC Capital Markets |
Joint Broker Merchant Securities |
Public Relations Tavistock |
Robin Young CEO |
Martin Eales |
Lindsay Mair |
Jos Simson / Jessica Fontaine |
+44 (0) 7981 126 818 |
+44 (0) 20 7653 4000 |
+44 (0) 20 7628 2200 |
+44 (0) 20 7920 3150 |
Notes to Editor
Attached and available for view on www.amurminerals.com, are plan maps of the soil sampling results accumulated within the Company's Kun-Manie licence area.
The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by the CEO of Amur, Robin Young. Mr. Young is a Geological Engineer (cum laude) and is a Qualified Professional Geologist, as defined by the Toronto and Vancouver Stock Exchanges.
Comprehensive Soil Sampling Results
Purple indicates the area of anomalous nickel content (+100 ppm).
2007 Resources Estimate By Area - All Classes
Resource Area |
Tonnes (Mt) |
Ni (%) |
Ni (t) |
Cu (%) |
Cu (t) |
Ikenskoe |
36.4 |
0.45 |
162,700 |
0.13 |
46,000 |
Maly Kurumkon |
26.2 |
0.52 |
136,500 |
0.14 |
37,700 |
Vodorazdelny |
5.9 |
0.71 |
41,800 |
0.20 |
11,800 |
Total |
68.5 |
0.50 |
341,000 |
0.14 |
95,500 |
Kubuk Area Soil Geochem Anomaly
Purple indicates areas of +0.2% nickel
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/9055W_1-2013-2-1.pdf
Combined Kubuk and Ataga Soil Geochemistry Results
Purple indicates the area of anomalous nickel content (+100 ppm).
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/9055W_2-2013-2-1.pdf
