Tin miner AfriTin Mining is progressing with exploration of mining licence ML133, located about 35 km southeast of the company’s Uis mine in Namibia, having found thus far 13 m of mineralisation grading 1.93% lithium oxide, 0.10% tin and 36 parts per million (ppm) of tantalum in sample T78.
Starting in the fourth quarter of 2021, the exploration programme has been conducted over a 12-month period, and included aerial surveys, regional and high-resolution geological mapping and surface chip sampling.
CEO Anthony Viljoen says this initial exploration confirms the company’s belief that the pegmatites of the ML133 licence could contain significant lithium, tin and tantalum mineralisation.
The 3 200 ha programme targeted 100 outcropping pegmatites, many of which were found to contain lithium, tin and tantalum. Sampling consisted of 79 pegmatite chip sample profiles over 64 selected pegmatites.
Other notable findings from samples include 24 m of mineralisation, grading 1.65% lithium oxide, 0.15% tin and 52 ppm of tantalum from sample T72; while sample T36 returned 20 m of mineralisaton, grading 0.97 % lithium oxide, 0.12% tin and 172 ppm of tantalum.
Sample T71 returned a 14 m mineralised zone grading 1.33% lithium oxide, 0.17% tin and 118 ppm of tantalum; while sample T24 contained 0.93% lithium oxide, 0.17% tin and 149 ppm of tantalum in a mineralised zone of 11 m.
The weighted average of the 20 highest lithium grade sample lines combined, points to 200 m worth of mineralised zone, grading 1.25% lithium oxide.
Going forward, AfriTin intends to proceed with the next phase of exploration, including scout drilling and initial metallurgical test work.
“Proximity of the test area to the Uis mine, which is our operating facility with comparable types of mineralisation, presents potential development synergies,” Viljoen says.
AfriTin’s portfolio of operating and exploration assets in Namibia underpins AfriTin’s goal of becoming a major producer of technology metals, states Viljoen.
“We believe the prospectivity of our tenements justify accelerating the exploration and development programmes aimed at realising near-term value for our stakeholders.”