JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Junior Mustang Resources will commission a bulk sampling mining plant at its Montepuez ruby project, in Mozambique, in early September.
Ongoing reconnaissance pitting at the project has yielded another 19 rubies and confirmed a secondary ruby deposit hosting gem-quality rubies. Mustang has also identified the gravel beds where the first bulk sample pit will be opened.
The number of rubies recovered through reconnaissance pitting at the project has now reached 29, totalling 5.79 ct.
“We are extremely pleased with the continued exploration success at the Montepuez ruby project.
“The company is now proceeding to initiate the bulk sample mining programme with both our 16 ft rotary pans processing ore from the onset at a rate of 800 t/d,” MD Christiaan Jordaan said on Thursday.
Mustang last week raised $1-million through a share placement to scale up its bulk sampling programme.
The Montepuez ruby project comprises three licences covering 15 800 ha within the Montepuez Complex. It is adjacent to Aim-listed Gemfields’ 75%-owned Montepuez ruby mine.