24 April 2008
Progress at Muremera Nickel Project
·
Mineralisation model of Muremera confirmed to resemble
that of the Kabanga deposit
·
Assay and petrographic results returned for two of the
four stratigraphic holes
·
Nickel bearing sulphide mineralisation intersected in
both holes
·
Pentlandite observed in the majority of mineralised
samples
·
Successful completion of helicopter borne VTEM
surveying, covering a total of 5,684
km
The Directors of
Dwyka Resources Limited (“Dwyka” or “the Company”) are
pleased to announce positive progress at the Muremera Nickel Project in Burundi.
The stratigraphic,
assay results and petrographic data obtained from the drilling completed to
date indicate that the Muremera bodies have stretches of higher tenor nickel
sulphides within them, and that they are part of a flow-through system similar
to that at the Kabanga deposit, currently being developed by Xtrata and Barrick
in neighbouring Tanzania.
The next Phase of
drilling due to commence in July will concentrate further on locating the parts
of the system where the higher tenor sulphides may have coalesced and
concentrated like they have at Kabanga.
ASSAY RESULTS
Assay results have
been returned for two of the four stratigraphic drill holes recently completed
on the Muremera B anomaly (D002 and D004). Nickel bearing sulphides are
present in both drill holes, with the highlight being a 23.82m intersection in
Hole D002 located between 216.14m and 239m returning average assay results of
0.22% Ni and Cu values of up to 0.27%.
PETROGRAPHIC
STUDIES
Pentlandite, an
important nickel sulphide mineral, was observed in the majority of the
mineralised samples examined. Chalcopyrite and Pentlandite intergrowths with
nickeliferous pyrrhotite were also observed. The petrographic evidence
therefore suggests that the geological conditions are potentially favourable
for the existence of high tenor Nickel sulphides similar to Kabanga.
VTEM
Geotech Ltd was
contracted to fly the 1st B-field VTEM survey in Africa
over the Muremera targets. The VTEM survey of the licence area has
successfully been completed with a total of 5,684 kilometres flown at 100m line
spacing. The VTEM data is currently being interpreted and should enable
direct drilling off the VTEM data.
BHP BILLITON EARN-IN
BHP Billiton has
the right to earn up to 50% of the ownership of Danyland Limited, the Dwyka
subsidiary which currently owns 100% of the Muremera Nickel Project. It
is now expected that the first earn-in hurdle of 10% will be achieved,
following the completion of initial exploration activities, towards the end of
the Second Quarter, 2008 with an approximate expenditure by BHP Billiton of
US$3.16m, which is US$1.96m more than the minimum requirement of US$1.2m.
The technical
exploration and mining information contained in the above announcement has been
reviewed and approved by Ed Nealon,
who has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation
and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is
qualified as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the
‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves’. Mr Nealon is a Dwyka Resources Limited
Director and meets the criteria of a qualified person under the AIM guidance
note for mining, oil and gas companies.
Ed
Nealon consents to the inclusion in this announcement of
such information in the form and context in which it appears.
For further information
please contact:
Bernard Olivier +614 0894 8182
Ed Nealon +618 9324
2955
Melissa
Sturgess +44 782 555 1397 or melissa@dwyresources.com
Dwyka Resources
Limited
Richard
Brown +44 20 7634 4700
Ambrian Partners
Limited
Press Enquiries
Charlie
Geller/Leesa Peters +44 20 7429 6604 or +44 7970 067 320
Conduit
PR
or
visit http://www.dwyresources.com
Notes to editors:
Dwyka is focusing
on the diversified minerals sector, primarily nickel and gold, in order to
achieve maximum value for shareholders during the ongoing resources boom.
Nickel
To that end, Dwyka
has a major nickel exploration project underway in Burundi. Dwyka acquired all
of the shares in Danyland Limited ('Danyland'), the owner of the Muremera
Nickel project in Burundi, Africa, in January 2007. The Muremera project is
located within one of the world's principal nickel provinces, only 2 kilometres
from, almost adjacent to and in the same geological sequence as, the giant
Xstrata/Barrick Kabanga deposit in Tanzania. The Kabanga deposit
is thought to be the world's largest undeveloped nickel sulphide deposit and
has similar geophysical anomalies to those at Muremera. An exploration
permit has been granted in relation to Muremera and access for exploration
activities is good. The project's prospectivity has led to a commitment
from BHP Billiton to spend at least US$5.2million as part of sole funding
arrangements to earn up to a 50% interest in Danyland.
Gold
Pursuant to a
Shareholders and Earn-in Agreement dated 16 July 2007, Dwyka has the right to
earn up to a 90% interest in Swaziland Gold (Pty) Ltd ('SwaziGold'), which in
turn owns the SwazigGold Project in Swaziland,
Africa. The project is a large (435
square kilometre) gold exploration play in the highly prospective Archaean
Barberton Greenstone Belt in Swaziland,
historically a producer of 11.5 million ounces of gold.
In the Barberton
Greenstone Belt, extensive, shallow, historic workings, plus a lack of modern
exploration, have presented Dwyka with an ideal opportunity. Previous
owners drilled some 13,500 metres of the project area, providing the Company
with a drill database that includes numerous gold intersections. These
have allowed Dwyka to establish immediate targets for both infill drilling and
the development of extensions to established zones of mineralization. In
the current favourable resources climate, it is believed that Dwyka's gold
exploration activities will accelerate.
Diamonds
Dwyka has a
shareholding of 48% in KimCor Diamonds Plc, an AIM-listed diamond explorer and
producer with a portfolio of projects in Southern Africa.
Helen Andrews
Dwyka Resources Limited
98 Colin Street
West
Perth WA 6005
Phone: +618 9324 2955
Fax: +618 9324 2977
Email: helen@dwyresources.com
Website: www.dwyresources.com