Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Mobilizes for Airborne Survey Over Kunene Cobalt-Copper Project as Exploration Ramps Up
Press Release
Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Mobilizes for Airborne Survey Over
Kunene Cobalt-Copper Project as Exploration Ramps Up
• Detailed airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey comprising 3,700 line
kilometers will be flown by SkyTEM over all cobalt target areas
• Field teams being deployed in advance over primary target areas
• Exploration activities continue to build in emerging cobalt district
Halifax, Nova Scotia May 7, 2018 – Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (“Namibia Rare Earths” or
the “Company”) (TSXV:NRE) today announced that it has contracted SkyTEM Surveys ApS
(“SkyTEM”) to carry out a detailed airborne electromagnetic (“EM”) and magnetic survey
covering all the previously identified cobalt targets on its Kunene Cobalt -Copper Project in
northern Namibia. The survey will cover over 600 km 2 and comprises 3,700 line kilometers
to be flown with a helicopter -borne time domain electromagnetic system 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 mi neralization to depths of 300-400
meters, and to assist with geological mapping and structural interpretations. The system is
being mobilized from Denmark and the survey is scheduled to be completed by June 30.
Preliminary data will be delivered on site to allow for immediate ground follow -up by f ield
teams which are being deployed in advance to carry out geological mapping and sampling
over the primary target areas.
The Company is moving forward with an ambitious exploration program at Kunene
comprising:
• Detailed geological mapping and sampling (April-June);
• SkyTEM electromagnetic and magnetic airborne survey (May-June);
• Geophysical interpretations and ground follow-up to prioritize drill targets (June-July);
and
• 7,500 m drill program to commence in July
Don Burton, President stated “We are in the early stages of exploration of what may well be
an emerging cobalt district . As global attention focuses on diversification of cobalt supply
outside of the DRC and on where to secure conflict-free sources of cobalt, N amibia clearly
offers the opportunity for the discovery of world class primary cobalt deposits.
This phase of our program at Kunene is all about discovery. Having closed our CD$4M
financing, we are well-funded to carry out the necessary exploration programs. Our SkyTEM
survey will be the first airborne EM survey over this highly prospective area. Sediment-hosted
cobalt-copper deposits should respond well to electromagnetic methods . Based on what the
surface geochemistry is showing us, the SkyTEM survey will undoubtedly deliver multiple
targets for the budgeted drilling campaign.”
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Exploration at Kunene is driven by the discovery of stratabound cobalt-copper mineralization
as exemplified by the Dolostone Ore Formation (“DOF”) . The DOF hosts a maiden JORC
compliant resource at Opuwo as announced by Celsius Resources on April 16, 2018. Note
that JORC reporting totals Indicated + Inferred resources. The Mineral Resource
estimate at a cut-off grade of 0.06% cobalt consists of:
• 72.0 million tonnes at a grade of 0.11% cobalt, 0.42% copper and 0.41% zinc in the
Indicated category, and a further
• 40.5 million tonnes at a grade of 0.12% cobalt, 0.41% copper and 0.46% zinc in the
Inferred 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 Rare Earths.
The Kunene project area is contiguous with ground being actively explored for cobalt by ASX-
listed Celsius Resources (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - Kunene Co-Cu Project Area showing principal targets associated with DOF Horizon, structural lineaments,
and regional soil geochemical anomalies (cobalt) at 1 kilometer spacing. Celsius Resources land position to the east
in cross hatching with Opuwo resource area in red rectangle.
Airborne Geophysical Survey
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 survey be flown ,
and the contract has been awarded to SkyTEM ApS of Denmark . The SkyTEM survey will be
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carried out at a flight line spacing of 200 meters across the entire belt covering the interpreted
DOF Extension, Western Targets and Okanihova Targets which includes the Steilrand
hydrothermal system (Figure 2).
Figure 2 - Kunene Co-Cu Project Area showing planned airborne survey area and geochemical anomalies from re-
analysed soil samples from closer spaced sampling grid.
SkyTEM offers state -of-the-art time domain equipment and their most powerful system,
SkyTEM 312 HP, will be deployed at Kunene. The objectives of the airborne EM survey will be
to refine geological and structural mapping under the largely covered areas , 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. SkyTEM
offers superior resolution in the near -surface environment (0 -100 vertical meters) and
comparable depth penetration (300-400 vertical meters) when compared to its peers.
The SkyTEM 312 system is currently being mobilized from Denmark to SkyTEM’s South African
base where it will be installed on an Astar 350 B3 helicopter operated by Savannah Helicopters
and then ferried to site in Namibia. Savannah Helicopters is an experie nced provider of
airborne geophysical services and has flown over 150,000 line kilometers with SkyTEM (Figure
3). The platform includes a Geometrics total intensity magnetometer and will be flown at an
optimum flight direction to accommodate stratabound and structural targets.
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Exploration Program for Kunene
Mineralization at Kunene is widespread and variable in style, occurring in discrete sedimentary
horizons such as the DOF where Co -Cu is associated with disseminations and veinlets of
sulphide minerals, orogenic copper, and stratabound Zn-Pb mineralization. The DOF has been
traced for over 35 kilometers across the Celsius ground and is interpreted to continue for
another 40 kilometers across the Kunene Project area (Figure 1).
Figure 3 - SkyTEM Electromagnetic System (courtesy of SkyTEM ApS)
Three target areas for cobalt were defined on the basis of an historic regional soil geochemical
survey - namely the DOF Extension, the Western Targets and the Okanihova Targets (Figure
1). As previously an nounced (Company press releases March 5 and March 26, 2018), the
Company received positive results from analyses of 3,710 archived soil samples over a 670
km2 area which support a number of kilometer -scale cobalt anomalies identified from the
historic regional geochemical survey (Figure 2).
The Company is moving forward with a n ambitious, staged exploration program at Kunene .
Field teams are currently conducting geological mapping and sampling over regional target
areas and the SkyTEM survey will be flown through much of June. Geophysical interpretations
and ground follow -up will be on -going as the airborne survey progresses to prioritize drill
targets with the objective of beginning an initial 7,500 m drill program in July.
Exploration at Okanihova will focus on sedimentary horizons (black shales and DOF
equivalents) and on structurally controlled lineaments favourable for economic accumulations
of cobalt mineralisation. Anomalous cobalt (100-700 ppm) over broad widths (20-40 meters)
has been identified in sedimentary units along the Okanihova Lineament based on historic
reverse circulation (“RC”) drilling results (Company press release February 21, 2018). Further
confirmation has been demonstrated by two diamond drill hole s drilled in the central
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Okanihova area close to one of the historic RC holes in order to characterize the anomalous
cobalt-copper mineralization.
Sample preparation and analyses of soil re-analyses 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.
Mapping and sampling is currently continuing with a team of four geologists in t he Western
Targets area where soil geochemical anomalies extend over strike lengths of up to 7
kilometers in gneisses and amphibolites interpreted as b asement rocks proximal to thrust
contacts with low-grade metamorphic sedimentary rocks. Basement-related anomalies (20 -
50 ppm Co) can be quite broad, up to 2 kilometers wide, and are related to large -scale
alteration systems. More discrete soil geochemical anomalies of 1 -3 kilometers strike length
are associated with favourable sedimentary horizons (black shales and dolostones).
Donald M. Burton, P.Geo. and President of Namibia Rare Earths Inc., is the Company’s
Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.
About Namibia Rare Earths Inc.
Namibia Rare Earths Inc. is focused on the accelerated development of the Lofdal Rare Earths
Project and on building a critical metals portfolio in Namibia. The common shares of Namibia
Rare Earths Inc. trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “NRE”.
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 Rare Earths Inc.
Don Burton, President
Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760
Fax: +01 (902) 835-8761
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.NamibiaRareEarths.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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