Feb 17 2016
Blackheath Resources Inc. ("Blackheath" or "the Company") is pleased to report the results of a test-mining pit sampling program of eluvial surface gravels at the Bejanca tin/tungsten project in Northern Portugal. (Eluvial deposits are those geological deposits and soils that are derived by in situ weathering or weathering plus gravitational movement or accumulation).
Blackheath has given consideration to excavation of the material and treatment in a simple, inexpensive gravity operation similar to placer gold mining. The deposits cover an extensive area and one area of approximately 2 kilometres by 2 kilometres (the "Bejanca Eluviums") was selected for testing (see map). A total of 50 test pits have been excavated and sampled in successive one metre intervals below the soil and humus layer. The mineralized gravel deposits lie on surface, immediately below the soil layer. Generally, the soil layer was between 0.2 m and 1 m in depth followed by the mineralised gravel layer between 1 m and 5.5 m in thickness and immediately above bedrock. Preliminary work confirmed that the finer minus 2mm material contained more concentrated mineralisation and this material could be readily separated by screening before further processing and concentration.
"This is a very exciting opportunity for Blackheath Resources," commented Alexander Langer, Blackheath's CEO and President. "For a minimal capital outlay, we believe these eluvials could be processed into a saleable concentrate. We will continue further work at Bejanca including a test processing plant in partnership with a local university in Portugal. A production decision has not been made at this time, but could be forthcoming with further positive work."
Highlights of results are:
- Most of the values are in tin in the area tested
- 42% of the pits showed values greater than 400 ppm Sn (tin), and
- Showed an average content of 792 ppm Sn, and
- Contained an average of 35% fine sand containing 1,551 ppm Sn (1.6kg/t)
- Sporadic tungsten values ranged between 10ppm and up to 1,463ppm WO3
- The Bejanca eluvial surface area was increased by approximately 40% compared to the historical Lynton Report (see news release November 20, 2013)
Further work is planned for Bejanca including additional sampling, metallurgical testwork, and detailed processing and production methods for the eluvial material. The current price of tin is US$15.5/kg although it has exceeded US$25/kg in the past three years.
Bejanca is a large permit area containing historic hard rock tin and tungsten mines and also alluvial and eluvial gravel deposits that are known to contain tin and tungsten mineralisation. Extensive historic resources at Bejanca were reported by Edward D. Lynton, Consulting Mining Engineer in July 1953 (see news release November 20, 2013).
A full table of results of the sampling programme and a detailed map of the test-mining pits can be found on the Blackheath website:
http://www.blackheathresources.com/s/Bejanca.asp
Pit samples were taken immediately below the soil horizon at 1.0 metre intervals until reaching bedrock. Samples were screened and assayed by ALS Minerals, an accredited laboratory using standard procedures.
Source: http://www.blackheathresources.com/