PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Junior Black Rock Mining has reported a 24% increase in the mineral resource at its Mahenge graphite project, in Tanzania, following infill drilling at the Ulanzi deposit, which delivered a 39% increase to the prospect.
The Ulanzi mineral resource now stands at 111.8-million tonnes, at 8.2% graphitic carbon, while the total mineral resource at the Mahenge project increased to 162.5-million tonnes, at 7.8% graphitic carbon, with a high-grade portion of 38.7-million tonnes, at 9.9% graphitic carbon.
“The updated Mahenge resource is an excellent development for shareholders. This provides a higher level of resource confidence and development flexibility, with additional upside expected from Cascades,” said chairperson Stephen Copulos.
Copulos pointed out that the Mahenge project had the potential to be mined from multiple zones at low strip ratios, and high-graded to accelerate capital payback in early years, and could be scaled up in future owing to the large resource. Furthermore, the project has the potential for a mine life of more than 30 years.
Black Rock is currently progressing a prefeasibility study on the Mahenge project, which is scheduled for completion in November.