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Giyani Metals and SA university in manganese research pact

27th July 2018

By: Nadine James

Features Deputy Editor

     

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Canada-based and Africa-focused exploration company Giyani Metals Corporation last week announced the signing of a research collaboration programme with South Africa’s Rhodes University regarding battery-grade manganese within the company’s flagship Kanye manganese project, in Botswana.

As part of its research efforts, Giyani established a relationship with Rhodes University Postgraduate Research in Iron and Manganese Ore Resources (Primor) head Professor Hari Tsikos, who Giyani Metals CEO Robin Birchall described as “one of the foremost . . . manganese experts globally”.

Primor is a formal research unit established in the Geology Department at Rhodes in early 2014. Its primary goal is to provide a hub for world-class research on the economic geology of iron and manganese.

Following Tsikos’s visit to the Kanye manganese project, it was proposed that Giyani and Primor join efforts in a research programme that comprised one PhD project and one MSc project.

The PhD project is to be entitled ‘Assessment of the origin and economic potential of battery-grade supergene manganese mineralisation in Southern Africa’, while the MSc project will be entitled ‘Understanding the development of primary and secondary manganese enrichments in Transvaal-aged rocks at Lobatse, south-eastern Botswana’.

At the time, Tsikos stated that he was excited about the synergies between Giyani and Primor and their desire to understand the geology behind manganese deposits. “Our proposed research projects are bound to generate important new knowledge and assist Giyani, where possible, in its exploration endeavours,” he commented.

Both Birchall and Tsikos expressed their anticipation for the coming years of collaboration.

The Kanye Manganese Project

Giyani is currently developing three prospects (K.Hill, Otse and Lobatse) within its large property of 8 135 m2, located in the Kanyebasin, in south-eastern Botswana.

The prospects encompass several past producing manganese mines and Giyani’s objective is to revive these resources to become a leading independent supplier of low- costs high-grade feedstock manganese for the battery industry.

Phase 1 of the 2018 operational programme started last quarter and will culminate in defining the company’s maiden resource before the end of the current (third) quarter of 2018.

With the completion of ground geophysical surveying and diamond drilling at the K.Hill and Otse prospects, Giyani is expanding Phase 1 to include exploration diamond drilling at its third prospect, Lobatse. Additionally, hydrometallurgical testing of the company’s manganese started last month.

The Kanye manganese project has several advantages, including near-surface deposition, low levels of impurities, access to infrastructure, a mining-friendly jurisdiction and easy access to multiple shipping ports.

Giyani believes a sizable high-grade manganese deposit can quickly be advanced to production, providing feedstock for battery technology manufacturers.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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