Golden Deeps to start drilling at Namibian vanadium and base metals project
Date: Aug 10, 2018
Golden Deeps Ltd (ASX:GED) has identified an opportunity to define near-surface vanadium, lead and zinc resources through drilling at its Grootfontein Base Metal Project in northern Namibia.
A reverse circulation (RC) drilling program will comprise around 53 holes for 4,600 metres, aiming to quantify the extent, grade and continuity of the mineralised zone.
Initial drilling will target depths of up to 120 metres below surface along the trend of the known workings.
The company will also investigate reopening or extending the adjacent historic Abenab and Christiana mines, once the world’s largest known deposits of base metal vanadate ore.
Unlike other vanadium deposits
The Abenab-Christina deposits were discovered in the early 20th century and mined until 1958.
Abenab’s historical production was around 102,000 tonnes of concentrate grading 18% vanadium pentoxide, 13% zinc and 42% lead.
Christiana produced around 74,000 tonnes of concentrate grading 13% vanadium and 72% lead.
The high-grade vanadate mineralogy of the deposits is unlike that of any operating or proposed vanadium mines.
