Bonaparte says Namibian phosphate sampling plans well...

Bonaparte says Namibian phosphate sampling plans well advanced

By: Creamer Media Reporter
Published on 17th June 2008
Updated 1 hour 15 minutes ago

Marine explorer and miner Bonaparte Diamond Mines will start sampling operations at its Meob project, in Namibia, before the end of July, it said on Tuesday, when it announced that it had identified the preferred contractor to undertake a systematic sampling programme.

The contract to undertake the sampling over the phosphatic seabed sediments was being finalised and was expected to be signed this week.

The Meob project is held in joint venture with Namibian partners Tungeni Investments cc, with a 30% interest, while Bonaparte, which aims to be the country’s first marine phosphate miner, holds 70% interest and is also the project operator.

Bonaparte said that it had designed a combined grab and core sampling programme to better define the phosphate grade distribution, which would allow a resource estimation and also provide bulk samples for metallurgical and beneficiation testing.

A scoping study and initial JORC compliant mineral resource estimate were expected in the final three months of this year.

The phosphate deposits off Namibia were delineated during regional studies in the 1970s but have remained undeveloped to date. The deposits occur as unconsolidated sea floor sediments, which could now be efficiently mined by applying currently available dredging technology.

Bonaparte stated that phosphate grades in the project area were consistent with historic sampling and that preliminary sampling in 2007 had demonstrated potential for enrichment to commercial grades.

Application has also been made for nine new exclusive exploration licences covering an additional 9 000 km2 in areas of phosphate enrichment indicated by the previous regional sampling and mapping.

MD Mike Woodborne commented that the company had a clear short-term objective to establish phosphate production and to be the first marine phosphate miner in Namibia.

“We are on track with our plans for an accelerated programme to complete resource estimation and development of the existing Meob project area off Namibia,” he said.