Diversified mineral exploration company African Eagle Resources’ Zanzui nickel laterite project, in Tanzania, has shown “promising” results, with acid leach test results comparable to those of its Dutwa project.

The results of the acid leach test, which was undertaken by South African minerals research body Mintek, indicated nickel extraction averaging 71% on a solid basis, with low sulphuric acid consumption of 185 kg/t on average, the company has reported. These results were comparable to the data from the company’s Dutwa laterite deposit, it added.

“While Dutwa remains our primary focus and the company’s efforts will be directed towards completing the feasibility study now commenced there, the Zanzui results are very favourable,” African Eagle MD Mark Parker said.

He added that geological mapping, together with the results of the limited drilling to date, suggested that the nickel grades at Zanzui appeared to be marginally lower than at Dutwa.

However, the geographical extent of the Zanzui complex was “much greater”, which meant that the laterite resource could be even larger than the Dutwa prospect.

“The deposit’s similarities to Dutwa show that we may have identified a whole province of easily leachable nickel laterites in northern Tanzania. This augurs well for the long-term sustainability of African Eagle’s nickel activities in this promising region,” noted Parker.

The Dutwa nickel laterite project had a resource of 31-million tons.

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