Delta Exploration Inc. (“Delta”) is pleased to provide the following update on its gold projects in Mali and uranium projects in Mali and Niger, West Africa. Planning of significant exploration programs on Delta’s 100%-owned Manalo and Koninko Gold Projects in Mali and the Telwa-Gada Uranium Project in Niger are well advanced, while exploration continues at its 40%-owned Falea Uranium Project operated by joint venture partner Rockgate Capital Corp (“Rockgate”).
Telwa-Gada Uranium Project, Niger
Delta has received exploration permits from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Republic of Niger, for Telwa 2, Telwa 3, Gada 3, and Gada 4, covering 1941.2 square kilometres of the southern portion of the Tim Mersoi sedimentary basin. As required by law, Delta has established markers around the perimeter of the permits. These permits are located near the city of Agadez, approximately 800 kilometres northeast of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The area is accessible by paved road and charter aircraft.
Delta has enlisted Terraquest Ltd. to fly a high resolution aeromagnetic, gradiometric, radiometric, and XDS/VLF-EM Survey over the Telwa-Gada project area. The survey is scheduled to begin in November.
The Republic of Niger is the fourth largest uranium producer in world. The Tim Mersoi basin hosts numerous roll front type, sandstone-hosted uranium deposits. Niger is a French-speaking, stable, and democratic country with a modern mining code, recently updated.
Manalo Gold Project, Mali
The Manalo Project comprises the Manalo and Balandougou permits totalling 225 square kilometres, located 100 kilometres southwest of Bamako, the capital city of Mali. Delta completed an airborne geophysical survey, soil geochemical sampling, and regolith mapping over the project area between April and June of this year, outlining a number of high priority targets.
Soil geochemistry identified 5 distinct targets: Sirabada-Bankole, Dialafara, Manalo Nord Est, Manalo Sud Est, and Mansaya. Sirabada is the highest priority target where two grab samples of quartz vein material in greywacke collected from artisanal mine dumps assayed 32.76 g/t Au and 3.64 g/t Au. A quartz-rich grab sample from artisanal workings at Dialafara assayed 29.7 g/t Au. At the Manalo Nord Est zone, aircore drilling completed by Delta in 2006, intersected 18.48 g/t Au over 11.0 metres under abandoned artisanal workings.
Planned exploration includes infill soil geochemical sampling and regolith mapping in and around identified target areas. Aircore drilling is contemplated for regional targets, while RC and diamond drilling will test the high priority targets at Sirabada, Dialafara, and Manalo Nord Est. Exploration will resume in October after the wet season.
Koninko Gold Project, Mali
Koninko comprises two permits, Koninko and Winzan, totalling 233 square kilometres, located 250 kilometres south of Bamako. In June, Delta completed an airborne EM-magnetics-radiometrics survey over the project area, identifying a number of promising targets. RC drilling completed last year had demonstrated the presence of bedrock gold mineralization adjacent to granite – sedimentary contacts. Highlights included 0.90 g/t Au over 18.0 metres hosted in granites along the 4.5 kilometre long Koninko South geochemical trend, and 3.48 g/t Au over 2.0 metres in schistose sedimentary rocks along the 15 kilometre long Koninko North geochemical trend.
As at Manalo, planned exploration includes infill soil geochemical sampling and regolith mapping in and around identified target areas. RC drilling is contemplated for high priority targets on coincident geophysical and geochemical anomalies. Field surveys are planned for November with drilling scheduled for December or January.
Falea Uranium Project, Mali
Exploration continues at Falea under the operatorship of Rockgate. The Falea exploration permit covers 150 square kilometres of the Falea-North Guinea-Senegal basin (FGS), a Neoproterozoic sedimentary basin marked by significant radiometric anomalies. Results for the initial two holes confirmed the presence of uranium at Falea (see Delta Exploration News Release, May 16, 2007).
Between 1977 and 1981, Cogema conducted mapping and geochemistry in the Falea area culminating in a program of 81 vertical diamond drill holes totalling approximately 24,000 metres at 800 x 800 metre and 200 x 200 metre spacing, and 5 inclined diamond drill holes totalling 630 metres. In 1981, Cogema dropped the Falea ground due to depressed metal prices.
Christopher J. Wild, P.Eng, V.P. Exploration for Delta Exploration Inc., is Delta’s Qualified Person.
On behalf of the Board of Directors Delta Exploration Inc.
James T. Gillis James T. Gillis, President & CEO
For further information please contact: James Gillis, President & CEO– Phone: 250-828-2878 or Fax: 250-828-1005
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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