The total measured and indicated resources for the Kanyika niobium project, in Malawi, had increased by 77%, to 23-million tons, owner Globe Metals & Mining said.

Exploration director Dr Julian Stephens said that the 77% increase in the measured and 
indicated resources “far exceeded” the company’s expectations and targets for the drilling programme.

At 23-million tons, the measured and indi-
cated resources exceeded expectations by about five-million tons, and, Stephens said, 
reaffirmed the “very robust” and consistent nature of the project’s mineralisation.

Kanyika now has a total Joint Ore Reserve Committee-compliant resource of 60-million tons, with five-million tons in the measured category, 18-million tons in the indicated 
category and 37-million tons inferred.

The drilling programme also provided for a 5% increase in the total contained metal, 
increasing it to 174 000 t of niobium pent-
oxide. 
Contained tantalum, uranium and zirconium 
have also increased by similar amounts.

Globe noted last week that it would undertake pit shell optimisation and preliminary mine design and scheduling, based on the new resource model.

Globe recently regained full ownership of the Kanyika project after settling a dispute with joint venture partner Thutuka. 
The disagreement resulted in the delay of the Kanyika bankable feasibility study, which is scheduled for completion in 
mid-2011.

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