Modern Mining February 2019

MINING News

Evening view of the Karowe mine’s processing plant (photo: Lucara).

Canada’s Lucara Diamond Corp has pro- vided an update on the ongoing Feasibility Study (FS) for a potential underground operation at its 100 %-owned and oper- ated Karowe diamond mine in Botswana. In 2018, following the release of a posi- tive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), Lucara embarked on a US$29 mil- lion technical programme to support a Feasibility Level study for a potential under- ground operation at Karowe, with the aim of extending mine life from 2026 to at least 2036. This programme included a mineral resource update, geotechnical drilling of the country rock and AK06 kimberlite, hydrogeological drilling and modelling, and mining trade-off studies to address risks and issues identified during the PEA. JDS Energy andMining Incorporated has been appointed to lead the feasibility study. A total of US$23 million was spent out of a 2018 budget of US$29 million in support of this work and has resulted in significant de-risking of the key technical Lucara investigates underground mine at Karowe

components associated with the potential underground development. Comments Eira Thomas, Lucara’s CEO: “The updated mineral resource com- pleted in 2018 highlighted the important contribution of the higher grade, higher value EM/PK(S) geological unit as we mine deeper in the south lobe and has necessar- ily re-focused our approach to the Karowe Underground study. Historically, we now know that the EM/PK(S) has produced some of Karowe’s most valuable diamonds, including the 1 109-carat Lesedi La Rona and the 813-carat Constellation . “In 2019 we will be evaluating various mining scenarios that have the potential to access this valuable ore as early as pos- sible in the underground mining schedule. Other highlights from our 2018 work programme included the successful com- pletion of a deep hydrogeological drilling campaign, which did not encounter signifi- cant water and has substantially de-risked the overall underground project. “Finally, we are delighted to be wel- coming Gord Doerksen and JDS to the feasibility team to direct the study and provide Lucara with a fit-for-purpose underground mine design that will work to optimise and maximise the economic returns of the underground project. The feasibility study will be completed in the second half of 2019.” 

Significant assay results from uranium project Global Atomic Corporation, listed on the TSX-V, has reported assay results from four holes drilled in 2018 at its DASA uranium project in Niger. All four holes have returned substantially higher assay grades than previ- ously reported probe results.

under-estimated previously released DASA drill results,” comments Stephen G. Roman, President and CEO of Global Atomic. “Based on existing probe data, we knew that DASA was a significant uranium deposit; how- ever, the grades and widths reported here will enhance the resource figures already announced and we will calculate an updated Mineral Resource Estimate as soonas all assays are received from the 2018 drill programme.” Global Atomic Corporation is a TSX Venture listed company providing a combina- tion of high grade uraniumdevelopment and cash flowing zinc concentrate production. The DASA deposit is situated on the Adrar Emoles III concession and was discovered in 2010 by Global Atomic geologists through grassroots field exploration. 

Highlights include a significant high grade intersection of 17 118 ppm U 3 O 8 (1,71 %) returned over 98 m in ASDH563, 135 % higher than the previous probe-only estimate of 7 277 ppm e U 3 O 8 . The laboratory assay limit of 17,62 % U 3 O 8 was exceeded over an interval of 3,5 m from 235,5 m to 239,0 m in ASDH563. In addition, ASDH543 intersected 6 919 ppm (0,69 %) U 3 O 8 over 75 m, approximately 37 % higher than the prior probe estimate of 5 041 ppm e U 3 O 8 . “These assay results indicate the probe

10  MODERN MINING  February 2019