Highly Encouraging Widths of Iron Ore Intercepted at Nkout

Friday, 28 January 2011 10:03

African Aura Mining Inc. TSX‑V (AUR) and AIM (AAAM), exploration and development company, announced the detailed geological intercepts at its iron ore project at Nkout, southern Cameroon.

Phase one programme of 4,191m of diamond drilling completed at Nkout Centre
Best results intersected include:
- 92.5m of haematite dominant cap at 46.7% Fe (hole NKGS004)
- 178m of magnetite BIF at 35.1% Fe (hole NKDD002) and
- 100m of magnetite BIF at 38.1% Fe (hole NKDD009)
Maiden NI 43-101 compliant resource statement anticipated by early February 2011
Intensive drill campaign of 24,000m planned for 2011

Luis da Silva, Chief Executive of African Aura, commented: "The geology and extent of iron ore mineralisation within the initial 3km long Nkout centre area bodes very well for the future upside to be tested along the balance 8km of strike. The extensions east and west and further anomalies to the south will be part of a more aggressive drilling campaign in 2011. This should allow the pending resource estimate to be both increased and the resources category upgraded. The excellent drill results to date combined with the successful metallurgical testing bode very well for the potential of Nkout."

Following on from the Company's news release dated 21 September 2010, the Company completed its 4,191m core drill programme on the Nkout property in southern Cameroon in November. The drilling has confirmed the occurrence of an east-west trending and concordant magnetite bearing banded iron formation ("BIF") coincident with the geophysical target and topography of the Nkout ridge.

Drilling has focused on the Nkout centre target that makes up approximately 3km of a regional magnetic anomaly that extends for some 20km within the Djoum license area. The drilling programme that has been completed was designed to target the magnetite BIF and the overlying oxidized cap material. In total, 11 inclined drill holes were completed of which 9 intercepted a 200m average down hole sequence dominated by BIF units and 22 vertical drill holes targeting the oxidized cap were completed of which 11 intercepted an average of 43m before intercepting fresh BIF.

All received assays have now been received for the exploration programme with the relevant interception thickness and assay grades compiled in Table 1 and the drill hole collar locations compiled in Table 2. SRK Consulting (UK) Limited ("SRK") are currently in the process of undertaking the inaugural Mineral Resource Estimation ("MRE") for the Nkout centre project. The results of the MRE are expected to be complete by early February, 2011.

The previously stated average grade of the BIF of 40% was incorrect and as such should not be construed as the average grade of Nkout, the inaugural resource estimation is due in early February, which will include the resource grade.

Metallurgy

As reported on 19 January 2011, excellent metallurgical results were received from initial test work. Davis Tube test results were highly encouraging and show that when using a grind size of P90 less than 100µ, that a very high grade concentrate averaging >70% Fe, 0.16% Al2O3, 2.2% SiO2 and <0.01% P is attained at a mass recovery of 42.2%.

The results of the Davis Tube test work are summarised in Table 3 and suggest that the Nkout BIF will be amenable to standard magnetic separation techniques. SRK selected 94 representative samples from the magnetite BIF for the test work.

The oxidized cap material shows elevated Fe grades with a maximum grade of to 61.8% Fe (total). The elevated grade is a result of the natural enrichment of the BIF after Silica dissolution, this being a typical weathering profile of Fe deposits in Central and West Africa. All assay results and Davis Tube Test work was completed at OMAC's facilities in Ireland.

Table 1: Nkout Intervals and Assay Grades

HOLE ID	DRILLED DEPTH (M)	% FE TOTAL	LENGTH DOWNHOLE (M)	FROM (M)	TO (M)	DOMINANT GEOLOGY	COMMENT
NKDD002	290.7	42.6	25.0	0.0	25.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Sequence Completed
NKDD002		44.6	11.0	25.6	36.6	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD002		37.3	36.2	36.8	73.0	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD002		35.1	178.0	73.0	251.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD002		30.8	13.0	257.0	270.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD003	301.5	43.8	2.6	19.8	22.3	Oxidized (Haematite)	Sequence Completed
NKDD003		37.7	28.8	22.5	51.3	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD003		36.8	11.0	51.4	62.4	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD003		32.4	113.2	134.8	248.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD003		21.6	5.6	256.2	261.8	Magnetite BIF
NKDD004	350.9	42.5	3.6	0.0	3.6	Oxidized (Haematite)	Sequence Completed
NKDD004		55.3	1.5	4.1	5.6	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		58.0	1.7	7.8	9.5	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		51.0	18.0	10.1	28.1	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		58.3	0.8	31.1	31.9	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		32.5	3.0	33.6	36.6	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		50.0	1.8	37.1	38.9	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		57.4	1.5	40.1	41.6	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		36.4	3.4	43.1	46.5	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		32.5	63.4	54.7	118.0	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD004		36.3	48.0	118.0	166.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD004		29.8	68.0	170.0	238.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD004		27.8	6.4	264.0	270.4	Magnetite BIF
NKDD004		31.7	30.0	272.0	302.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD004		32.6	17.2	310.0	327.2	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005	479.8	34.4	66.0	210.0	276.0	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKDD005		37.0	30.0	278.0	308.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005		32.6	62.0	310.0	372.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005		31.0	32.7	373.9	406.5	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005		34.6	8.1	407.9	416.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005		30.5	3.2	417.5	420.7	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005		28.4	7.2	422.9	430.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD005		33.3	8.0	442.0	450.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD006	360.1	35.9	20.0	90.0	110.0	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKDD006	360.1	35.7	23.2	111.9	135.1	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKDD007A	397.0	44.7	23.8	0.7	24.5	Oxidized (Haematite)	Sequence Completed
NKDD007A		47.9	31.9	34.1	66.0	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKDD007A		38.1	28.0	90.0	118.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		29.6	6.0	122.0	128.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		25.3	8.0	130.0	138.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		32.9	40.0	142.0	182.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		32.8	31.4	184.0	215.4	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		31.6	10.0	274.0	284.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		25.9	8.0	352.0	360.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD007A		28.0	27.3	369.7	397.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD009	465.4	24.6	3.8	115.0	118.8	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKDD009		30.2	13.2	151.0	164.2	Magnetite BIF
NKDD009		34.2	18.1	188.9	207.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD009		38.1	100.0	244.0	344.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD009		36.4	16.2	347.8	364.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD009		31.8	28.0	370.0	398.0	Magnetite BIF
NKDD009		19.6	22.0	443.4	465.4	Magnetite BIF
NKDD010	515.7	33.8	42.6	138.0	180.6	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKDD011	94.8	37.8	28.0	29.3	57.3	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKDD011	94.8	36.4	26.0	57.3	83.3	Magnetite BIF	Sequence Completed
NKGS004	92.5	46.7	92.5	0.0	92.5	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC005	59.0	47.3	50.0	0.0	50.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC005	59.0	39.9	3.0	56.0	59.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC006	57.6	52.0	52.0	0.0	52.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC006	57.6	40.4	5.0	52.0	57.0	Magnetite BIF	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC008	63.5	45.2	29.8	0.0	29.8	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC008		38.3	6.0	44.0	50.0	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKHC008		50.6	11.0	52.0	63.0	Oxidized (Haematite)
NKHC009A	42.5	44.4	30.0	0.0	30.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC009A	42.5	39.5	8.0	34.0	42.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC010	56.3	50.4	56.0	0.0	56.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC011	45.5	43.7	29.0	0.0	29.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC013	30.6	38.0	26.0	0.0	26.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC013	30.6	33.9	4.6	26.0	30.6	Magnetite BIF	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC015	32.0	43.5	29.0	0.0	29.0	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC015	32.0	41.1	3.8	29.0	32.8	Magnetite BIF	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC016	39.5	35.4	18.1	0.0	18.1	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC016	39.5	34.7	12.0	26.1	38.1	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
NKHC017	27.5	38.5	25.5	2.1	27.6	Oxidized (Haematite)	Weathered BIF Target
TOTAL	3,802

Table 2: Nkout Drillhole Collar Locations

HOLE ID	EASTING	NORTHING	ELEVATION	AZIMUTH	DIP	DEPTH (M)	TARGET
NKDD001	254400	285773	694	0	-50	104	Deep (BIF)
NKDD002	254400	286111	738	180	-44	291	Deep (BIF)
NKDD003	254806	286232	767	180	-52	302	Deep (BIF)
NKDD004	253797	286061	747	180	-51	351	Deep (BIF)
NKDD005	254393	286325	709	180	-50	480	Deep (BIF)
NKDD006	255599	286494	738	180	-48	360	Deep (BIF)
NKDD007A	253005	286034	847	180	-50	440	Deep (BIF)
NKDD009	253001	286244	796	180	-50	516	Deep (BIF)
NKDD010	255607	286575	721	180	-49	248	Deep (BIF)
NKDD011	252560	285299	670	125	-55	95	Deep (BIF)
NKGS001	254804	286248	763	0	-90	55	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKGS002	254801	286141	774	0	-90	71	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKGS003	253000	285807	847	0	-90	73	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKGS004	253000	285898	859	0	-90	93	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC001	255607	286318	762	0	-90	52	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC002	255599	286122	727	0	-90	46	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC003	255597	286212	747	0	-90	52	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC004	255608	286016	709	0	-90	29	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC005	254412	286043	751	0	-90	59	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC006	254411	285952	753	0	-90	58	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC007	253797	286138	726	0	-90	74	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC008	253799	285842	800	0	-90	64	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC009A	253800	285740	783	0	-90	43	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC010	253800	285938	786	0	-90	56	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC011	254407	285856	733	0	-90	46	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC012	254803	286188	770	0	-90	49	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC013	254799	285997	763	0	-90	31	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC014	254802	285944	747	0	-90	55	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC015	254799	286042	768	0	-90	32	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC016	254801	286088	774	0	-90	40	Shallow (Saprolite)
NKHC017	255605	286402	759	0	-90	28	Shallow (Saprolite)

Table 3: Davis Tube Testwork Results

	FEED %				DTR CONCENTRATE %
BHID	Al2O3	Fe	P	SiO2	Mass Recovery	Al2O3	Fe	P	SiO2	% Fe as Mag
NKDDD002	0.27	40.09	0.044	40.51	38.0	0.09	70.70	0.012	0.67	67
NKDDD002	0.14	41.50	0.038	39.22	40.8	0.03	71.14	0.007	0.60	70
NKDDD002	0.86	39.30	0.030	41.15	46.9	0.06	71.22	0.005	0.82	85
NKDDD002	0.69	39.83	0.040	39.38	50.9	0.05	71.06	0.002	0.82	91
NKDDD002	0.14	38.91	0.051	41.91	51.7	0.01	71.92	0.003	0.77	96
NKDDD002	0.16	37.81	0.042	42.71	50.1	0.01	70.45	0.002	1.80	93
NKDDD002	0.16	38.58	0.045	42.05	50.1	0.01	71.52	0.002	0.80	93
NKDDD002	0.21	37.90	0.040	42.23	50.9	0.02	71.23	0.002	0.87	96
NKDDD002	0.62	37.51	0.034	41.57	43.7	0.10	70.92	0.003	2.03	83
NKDDD002	0.29	38.79	0.021	42.10	52.0	0.05	70.72	0.002	1.66	95
NKDDD002	0.26	39.96	0.028	40.85	55.1	0.06	67.99	0.004	4.93	94
NKDDD002	0.24	40.23	0.030	39.80	54.5	0.04	69.28	0.003	2.97	94
NKDDD002	0.25	41.68	0.020	38.34	56.4	0.06	70.25	0.002	2.42	95
NKDDD002	0.93	34.79	0.035	45.44	45.0	0.12	69.52	0.003	2.73	90
NKDDD002	0.56	35.60	0.043	44.41	41.4	0.19	68.86	0.004	4.00	80
NKDDD002	0.37	39.36	0.039	40.87	46.0	0.22	65.92	0.008	6.91	77
NKDDD002	0.72	33.62	0.047	46.46	36.3	0.22	65.98	0.009	6.95	71
NKDDD002	0.46	35.62	0.034	45.47	40.1	0.09	69.98	0.003	2.97	79
NKDDD002	0.51	36.49	0.038	44.30	39.7	0.09	69.91	0.003	2.85	76
NKDDD002	0.46	38.33	0.031	41.63	40.6	0.10	70.18	0.002	2.47	74
NKDDD002	0.56	37.74	0.044	40.67	46.4	0.08	70.70	0.003	1.49	87
NKDDD002	0.47	37.32	0.035	42.70	48.7	0.07	71.23	0.002	1.03	93
NKDDD002	0.32	41.29	0.025	39.51	54.5	0.07	71.22	0.002	0.75	94
NKDDD002	0.31	40.74	0.032	39.40	54.3	0.08	71.38	0.003	1.23	95
NKDDD002	0.65	37.20	0.042	42.23	50.1	0.16	69.10	0.006	3.52	93
NKDDD002	0.43	37.78	0.036	41.58	51.1	0.13	68.79	0.005	3.32	93
NKDDD002	3.87	30.64	0.037	44.56	37.8	0.43	68.93	0.004	3.53	85
NKDDD002	1.69	34.35	0.040	43.32	44.7	0.11	70.79	0.004	1.27	92
NKDDD002	1.36	30.33	0.040	50.70	37.8	0.09	71.49	0.002	1.21	89
NKDDD002	3.35	29.94	0.053	47.11	36.8	0.19	70.09	0.004	1.92	86
NKDDD002	1.45	34.34	0.042	44.16	45.8	0.15	70.14	0.003	2.50	94
NKDDD002	0.57	36.48	0.036	42.49	49.3	0.05	70.68	0.002	1.72	96
NKDDD002	1.00	34.43	0.048	43.70	45.1	0.10	70.70	0.003	2.10	93
NKDDD002	0.75	36.10	0.038	43.24	46.0	0.10	70.42	0.002	1.35	90
NKDDD002	9.19	18.31	0.052	51.06	15.6	0.29	70.33	0.004	1.68	60
NKDDD002	3.50	28.53	0.055	47.43	34.7	0.37	68.05	0.005	4.04	83
NKDDD002	5.52	24.72	0.054	48.73	28.5	0.42	69.25	0.003	2.99	80
NKDDD002	0.25	37.98	0.042	42.51	51.5	0.04	70.36	0.004	1.87	95
NKDDD002	0.94	34.10	0.045	45.49	44.9	0.06	71.67	0.002	0.95	94
NKDDD002	1.33	33.32	0.041	45.59	43.8	0.08	70.76	0.003	1.33	93
NKDDD002	0.81	34.58	0.041	45.37	45.9	0.07	71.81	0.002	1.00	95
NKDDD002	3.17	29.74	0.052	48.31	37.3	0.35	68.69	0.005	3.60	86
NKDDD002	3.05	29.53	0.054	48.19	35.8	0.33	68.88	0.004	3.71	83
NKDDD002	5.76	23.75	0.045	48.93	25.5	0.24	69.18	0.002	3.12	74
NKDDD002	4.66	27.93	0.051	46.27	31.1	0.30	70.65	0.003	2.03	79
NKDDD002	2.16	31.79	0.037	47.17	39.4	0.24	70.18	0.004	2.12	87
NKDDD002	4.04	29.58	0.042	45.64	36.2	0.46	69.12	0.004	3.93	85
NKDDD002	1.01	33.88	0.045	45.65	42.6	0.19	69.86	0.003	2.40	88
NKDDD002	1.44	35.15	0.034	42.75	44.2	0.31	69.31	0.003	3.58	87
NKDDD002	0.59	36.18	0.041	43.91	42.4	0.28	69.02	0.003	2.44	81
NKDDD002	0.48	36.35	0.039	44.13	44.5	0.22	70.80	0.002	1.83	87
NKDDD002	0.36	36.40	0.026	44.17	47.1	0.15	69.89	0.002	2.41	90
NKDDD002	1.73	33.21	0.051	45.49	44.1	0.28	69.22	0.007	3.68	92
NKDDD002	1.28	35.21	0.045	43.22	48.2	0.22	68.73	0.007	3.90	94
NKDDD002	5.04	25.82	0.064	50.16	32.8	0.67	67.11	0.009	4.88	85
NKDDD002	3.54	30.19	0.057	45.90	39.0	0.33	70.23	0.005	2.21	91
NKDDD002	0.17	39.32	0.041	39.99	53.3	0.10	70.70	0.002	1.74	96
NKDDD002	1.86	35.64	0.050	43.52	48.2	0.34	71.00	0.002	1.17	96
NKDD003	1.43	25.00	0.090	45.54	25.8	0.18	70.95	0.002	1.39	73
NKDD003	2.97	27.35	0.038	56.45	28.4	0.20	71.33	0.002	1.11	74
NKDD003	3.40	27.06	0.045	47.68	30.1	0.30	71.20	0.002	1.24	79
NKDD003	0.40	18.74	0.043	50.55	16.7	0.13	70.59	0.002	2.40	63
NKDD003	0.95	29.12	0.025	67.05	32.9	0.24	67.48	0.007	5.53	76
NKDD003	0.37	37.19	0.050	50.64	50.1	0.05	71.33	0.003	1.33	96
NKDD003	0.77	35.33	0.048	42.92	45.7	0.02	71.44	0.002	0.92	92
NKDD003	0.08	38.08	0.005	94.61	39.2	0.01	70.73	0.003	1.83	73
NKDD003	0.08	39.42	0.031	41.01	38.7	0.01	70.84	0.002	1.96	70
NKDD003	0.23	38.86	0.038	41.18	51.4	0.01	71.08	0.002	1.85	94
NKDD003	0.13	38.73	0.043	41.09	51.7	0.01	71.14	0.003	1.50	95
NKDD003	0.15	38.32	0.040	41.84	50.5	0.01	71.18	0.002	1.30	94
NKDD003	0.21	38.12	0.048	42.25	49.0	0.01	71.98	0.003	0.62	93
NKDD003	0.22	39.68	0.054	44.24	52.8	0.01	72.01	0.003	0.53	96
NKDD003	0.18	36.69	0.042	39.76	46.3	0.01	71.53	0.003	0.55	90
NKDD003	0.17	38.01	0.096	44.47	49.6	0.01	71.57	0.002	0.60	93
NKDD003	0.17	38.76	0.041	42.30	51.6	0.02	71.60	0.002	0.65	95
NKDD003	2.45	32.42	0.047	45.44	41.0	0.12	71.27	0.004	1.31	90
NKDD003	0.16	39.18	0.042	45.34	52.8	0.03	71.39	0.002	1.23	96
NKDD003	0.37	38.40	0.040	40.39	52.8	0.07	69.37	0.004	3.13	95
NKDD003	1.42	36.28	0.060	55.51	48.5	0.16	70.22	0.003	2.33	94
NKDD003	0.52	36.54	0.025	42.55	49.2	0.08	70.85	0.002	2.01	95
NKDD003	3.22	23.04	0.054	47.69	26.9	0.27	69.37	0.004	3.35	81
NKDD003	4.43	25.90	0.064	47.11	26.7	0.68	66.43	0.005	6.41	69
NKDD003	4.37	26.60	0.050	52.84	29.2	0.57	67.31	0.005	5.77	74
NKDD003	4.84	27.40	0.051	51.16	30.8	0.23	70.80	0.003	1.90	80
NKDD003	1.64	32.88	0.031	42.60	41.8	0.12	71.10	0.002	1.63	90
NKDD003	3.20	30.89	0.037	46.90	38.9	0.44	68.24	0.005	4.13	86
NKDD003	5.67	24.74	0.041	45.98	28.7	0.24	70.70	0.003	1.48	82
NKDD003	7.01	20.89	0.056	53.69	24.7	0.15	71.46	0.002	0.64	84
NKDD003	6.69	22.87	0.052	53.14	26.4	0.22	71.43	0.003	0.87	82
NKDD003	4.34	28.05	0.051	50.27	34.0	0.20	71.03	0.002	1.14	86
NKDD003	0.51	35.54	0.041	47.46	47.4	0.14	71.38	0.002	1.04	95
NKDD003	2.71	30.32	0.043	43.89	38.8	0.11	71.46	0.002	0.94	92
NKDD003	4.79	26.75	0.049	47.23	33.2	0.14	71.42	0.002	0.90	89
NKDD003	0.28	36.88	0.058	49.17	49.9	0.07	71.27	0.002	1.37	96
Average	1.68	33.9	0.04	45.61	42.2	0.16	70.25	0.004	2.20	87
Minimum	0.08	18.31	0.01	38.34	15.61	0.01	65.92	0.002	0.53	60
Maximum	9.19	41.68	0.10	94.61	56.42	0.68	72.01	0.012	6.95	96