Namibia Critical Metals Commences Airborne EM Survey Over Kunene Cobalt-Copper Project
Press Release
Namibia Critical Metals Commences Airborne EM Survey Over
Kunene Cobalt-Copper Project
System tests completed and production flying underway for combined
electromagnetic and magnetic survey
Survey area increased to cover 720 km2 (4,000 line kilometers)
Geological mapping and prospecting has covered over 240 km 2 and is
continuing over the priority areas where cobalt anomalies have been
identified by the systematic soil geochemical survey
Halifax, Nova Scotia July 11, 201 8 – Namibia Critical Metals Inc. (“Namibia Critical
Metals” or the “Company”) (TSXV:N MI) today announced that flight operations have
commenced for the combined airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey being carried
out by SkyTEM Surveys ApS (“SkyTEM”) over the Kunene Cobalt-Copper Project in northern
Namibia (Figure 1). The survey area has been increased from 670 km2 to 720 km2 and now
comprises 4,000 line kilometers at a flight line spacing of 200 meters. The objectives of the
survey are to detect conductive horizons and sulphide accumulations associated with cobalt-
copper mineralization to depths of 300-400 meters, and to assist with geological map ping
and structural interpretations. Field teams have been mapping priority target areas in
advance to assist in interpretation of geophysical anomalies. The SkyTEM survey is now
scheduled to be completed in early August, to be followed by a n initial 7,500 m drilling
program.
Figure 1 – Namibia Critical Metals geological team being briefed on the SkyTEM system’s operation (left).
Magnetometer in foreground; EM coil is 28 m in length and 16.5 m wide. System is flown with an AStar 350
helicopter operated by Savannah Helicopters shown flying at Kunene on right.
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Don Burton, President of Namibia Critical Metals, stated “The investment we are making in
this high powered airborne EM survey , coupled with our continuing geological mapping
program on the ground will provide our exploration team with the best possible tools to
prioritize drill targets and increase the opportunity for an early discovery at Kunene.
SkyTEM will deliver data updates from the field on a bi -weekly basis which will allow the
team to immediately deploy to areas of interest as we see geophysical anomalies
developing.”
The Kunene project area is contiguous with g round held by ASX-listed Celsius Resources
(“Celsius”) who announced a maiden JORC compliant mineral resource at Opuwo on April
16, 2018 (Figure 2). The Opuwo discovery hosts 79,300 tonnes (174,460,000 lbs.)
contained cobalt in the Indicated Mineral Resources category and 46,900 tonnes
(103,180,000 lbs.) contained cobalt in the Inferred Mineral Resources category. It is noted
that the mineralization on the Celsius property may not be indicative of mineralization that
may be found on the Kunene project area held by Namibia Critical Metals. Celsius has also
announced that it will fly SkyTEM over its project area following completion of the Namibia
Critical Metals survey and continue drilling at Opuwo (Celsius press release June 7, 2018) ,
and now anticipates the Scoping Study to be delivered in early Q4 2018 (Celsius press
release June 22, 2018).
Figure 2 - Kunene Co -Cu Project Area showing principal targets associated with DOF Horizon, structural
lineaments, and cobalt anomalies (soil ICP) at regional 1 kilometer spacing. Celsius Resources’ land position to the
east in cross hatching with the Opuwo Deposit area in red rectangle.
Airborne Survey Objectives
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Given the frequent association of Co-Cu and Pb-Zn mineralization with sulphides, the prolific
number of cobalt anomalies, and the kilometric scale trends throughout the project area , it
was recommended that a detailed helicopter time domain electromagnetic (“EM”) survey be
flown to delineate specific targets for drilling . The survey is being flown by SkyTEM ApS of
Denmark at a flight line spacing of 200 meters across the entire belt covering the
interpreted DOF Extension, Western Targets and Okanihova Targe ts which includes the
Steilrand hydrothermal system (Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Kunene Co-Cu Project Area showing expanded airborne survey area (white border) and cobalt
anomalies from detailed soil geochemical surveys. Background image is total magnetic intensity from the Namibian
Geological Survey database combined with satellite surface topography.
Mineralization at Kunene is widespread and variable in style, occurring in discrete
sedimentary horizons such as the DO F where Co -Cu is associated with disseminations and
veinlets of sulphide minerals , as well as orogenic copper , and stratabound Zn -Pb
mineralization. The stratabound DOF has been traced for over 35 kilometers across the
Celsius ground and its host lithology is interpreted to continue across the Kunene Project
area (Figure 2 and Figure 3).
The objectives of the airborne EM survey will be to refine the geological and structural
setting of the area, to allow mapping of the covered ground which comprises about 50% of
the area, to delineate conductive sedimentary horizons, to isolate conductive bodies that
may be indicative of near surface mineral deposits, and to detect sulphide deposits and
stockworks at depth.
Priority Target Areas and Geological Mapping
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Three large target areas for cobalt were defined on the basis of regional soil geochemical
surveys - namely the DOF Extension, the Western Targets and the Okanihova Targets. Field
teams have mapped and prospected in portions of each targ et area in advance of the
airborne geophysical survey, covering over 240 km 2 to date which represents about 1/3 of
the total surface area of the priority targets (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - Kunene Co-Cu Project Area showing progress of geological mapping and prospecting in priority target
areas (green blocks) and cobalt anomalies from detailed soil geochemical surveys.
Based on the soil geochemical survey results, cobalt anomalies are widespread along the
Okanihova lineame nt. Typical borehole intersections (not targeting cobalt) of underlying
sediment-hosted sulphide mineralisation in the area confirm this and returned 20-40 m at
100-700 ppm cobalt (Company press release May 7, 2018). Mineralogical analysis of these
intersections by Activation Laboratories Ltd . has identified three primary cobalt sulphide
species: cattierite/linnaeite , cobaltite and a “cobalt-copper sulphide”. The Okanihova
lineament obviously acted as fluid pathway for Co -rich basement deriv ed fluids which
caused cobalt sulphide mineralisation in reductant lithologies (pyrite -rich siltstones and
shales) along the structure. The Okanihova lineament is clearly defined over a strike length
of 21 kilometers by magnetic anomalies due to the format ion of halos of hydrothermal
pyrrhotite in the adjacent sedimentary rocks. These anomalies are particularly well
developed over the southwestern half of the lineament which is entirely covered by thick
alluvium and aeolian sands. Any conductive anomalies associated with these trends will be
treated as high priority drill targets.
In the Western Targets area, t he highest cobalt values (40 -50 ppm Co) in the soil samples
are associated with a large (24 km 2) magnetic anomaly which is spatially related to mafi c
dykes and breccia zones with carbonate -chert veining and to the contact zone of the
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basement rocks with the overlying Damaran sediments (the contact is interpreted as of
tectonic nature in form of thrusts or faults) . Any conductors delineated by the airb orne EM
survey associated with this magnetic anomaly might represent sulphide mineralisation
associated with the mafic intrusives and are thus a priority target. Conductive zones
between the basement and the Damaran sedimentary sequence to the north as wel l as
parallel to fault zones in the Damaran sediments might be associated with sediment -hosted
Co-Cu-Zn mineralisation.
Lastly, sandstone-hosted copper mineralisation (malachite and chrysocolla) has been noted
in a light-grey gritty sandstone over a strike extend of approximately 170 m eters (analyses
pending) in the far west of the Western targets . The width of the mineralised sandstone
reaches up to 10 m eters and forms part of the uppermost horizon of the Nosib Formation.
In addition, v ein-hosted Cu mineralization as chrysocolla, malachite, azurite and dioptase
was observed in light grey carbonates close to the contact with sandstone. Th is
mineralisation was initially followed for about 500 m along strike. The carbonate rocks likely
represent the Nosi b-Ombombo Transition Zone known for epigenetic base metal
mineralisation throughout the area. Neither of these latter mineralization styles are known
to be associated with significant cobalt (analyses pending).
Sample preparation and analyses of soil and drill core samples were carried out by
Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Windhoek, Namibia and Ancaster, Ontario) employing
appropriate ICP techniques and following strict internal QAQC procedures inserting
standards and duplicates.
Donald M. Burton, P.Geo. and President of Namibia Critical Metals Inc., is the Company’s
Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.
About Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
Namibia Critical Metals Inc. holds a diversified portfolio of e xploration and advanced stage
projects in the country of Namibia focused on the development of sustainable and ethical
sources of metals for the battery, electric vehicle and associated industries. The common
shares of Namibia Critical Metals Inc. trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol
“NMI”.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information please contact -
Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
Don Burton, President
Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760
Fax: +01 (902) 835-8761
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.NamibiaCriticalMetals.com
The foregoing information may contain forward-looking information relating to the future performance of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Forward -
looking information, specifically, that concerning future performance, is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ
materially. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions.
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