BWA Group (BWAP ) has received “encouraging” initial geochemical test results from its surface sampling programme at its 90% owned Dehane rutile sands project in western Cameroon.
The six-sample field work programme within the northern section of the Dehane licence has identified an area of alluvial HMS mineralisation related to the extensive Nyong river system.
The results of a preliminary reconnaissance surface grab and auger sampling programme conducted on the Dehane Project, reported in accordance with JORC (2012), confirmed the area has anomalous titanium (Rutile-Ilmenite), zirconium (Zircon) and aluminium (Kyanite).
The samples reported up to 26.9% titanium dioxide (TiO2) > 1.00% zirconium (Zr) and 10.8% aluminium oxide (Al2O3) with strong elevated titanium, zircon and aluminium associations.
The company said mapping and data interpretation indicated extensive prospective floodplain target areas. Meanwhile, preliminary granulometric studies also suggest that some kyanite mineralisation is hosted in the 5-3 mm fraction, increasing with rutile in the 3-1 mm fraction.
It noted that kyanite, rutile and isolated leucoxene are most abundant in the 1 mm fraction.
The Company is now processing the data and remains ‘in the early days of exploration and evaluation, understanding distribution of mineralisation and related size fractions.’
BWA said it is encouraged by the presence of elevated amounts of Rutile-Ilmenite, Zircon and Kyanite within an area prospective for heavy mineral sands. It told investors that the first campaign in this area has returned such positive results ‘to warrant further exploration.’
This is the case since the exploration work conducted has demonstrated that there is potential for HMS mineralisation and deposit development within the area tested at sufficient levels.
Although the sample area tested is relatively small, the results are ‘extremely encouraging’ as the basement geology and depositional environments are interpreted as being favourable over the available approximate 15 kms of the Nyong river system within BWA’s landholding.
At this stage of the exploration programme there are no resource estimates, however it is BWA’s current intention to progress in that direction, which will require it to raise more capital.
BWA is considering the next phases of exploration to start in early-2021 which are now being planned and are likely to consist of exploration pits and trenches to log and sample the various horizons over a wider area along the Nyong river system and associated floodplains.‘
This company highlighted that this work would provide a better indication of the HMS exploration potential within the licence and better focus intended follow up drill programs.
"We regard the initial geochemical test results for the Dehane licence as encouraging and supportive of BWA's long-held view of the prospectivity for rutile mineralisation in the Nyong river system,” commented Richard Battersby, Non-Executive Chairman of BWA.
“These results, albeit of a limited nature, do demonstrate the presence of titanium, zircon and aluminium at levels of potential economic interest within interpreted extensive depositional environments along the prospective Nyong river system contained within the licence.
The Company will now carry out similar initial tests at our Nkoteng licence situated on the prospective Sanaga river system with a view to producing initial results for that area, as well as expanding the exploration work at Dehane,” he added.
Reasons to Follow BWAP
BWA Group Plc is a minerals exploration investment company, which has seven mineral exploration licenses in Canada and Cameroon at various stages of development from grass roots to advanced exploration and is quoted on London's AQSE Growth Market.
In September 2019, BWA acquired the entire share capital of Kings of the North Corp, a company incorporated in Canada for a total of £4.66m, which owns several, principally gold, mining licenses in Quebec and Ontario. BWA announced the conditional disposal of the investment in Kings of the North on 24th August 2020.
Its 90%-owned subsidiary BWA Resources (UK), was awarded two mining exploration permits for rutile sands and related minerals in Cameroon in December 2019 and January 2020.
BWA holds mineral exploration licences in both Canada and Cameroon, including two heavy mineral sands ("HMS") licences in Cameroon which are both at an early stage of exploration.
The Dehane licence is located on the Western Cameroon Domain, which extends along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. This domain consists of a series of medium-grade to high grade schists and gneisses of volcanic and volcano-sedimentary origin, intruded by later-stage granitoid complexes, the basement rocks are a source of heavy minerals.
Dehane has been known for some historic small scale artisanal historical rutile mining area. However, the extent of its exploitation has not translated to concentrated modern exploration.
Heavy mineral sands are loose aggregates of unlithified material containing combinations of minerals with a high specific gravity, generally above 4 g/cm . The heavy minerals at Dehane occur in a variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks, but because of their resistance to weathering and comparatively high specific gravity, they are found to accumulate in river channels
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