Botswana Metals Ltd. Intersect Significant Mineralisation of Copper and Silver at the Dibete Prospect

11:29 AEST July 19, 2011 ABN Newswire (C) 2004-2011 Asia Business News PL. All Rights Reserved.

Sydney, Australia (ABN Newswire) - The Board of Botswana Metals Ltd (ASX: BML) has now received the latest drill results for the 6000m drill program completed at the Dibete prospect in Botswana (PL111/94).

Significant Copper - Silver mineralisation has been intersected along 2 NW-SE trending structures, with mineralisation still open along both structures. The mineralisation associated with the line 6100E structure remains open to the North, East and West with a current strike length of 250m.

Copper and silver has been intersected in both secondary mineralisation (around 18m to 35m depth) and in primary mineralisation (at around 36m to 45m) with best results from this 6000 m RC drilling program in hole DBRC 028 of 3 m at 8.16% Cu and 469 g/t Ag from 41m which underlies 8m @ 3.1% Cu and 140 g/t Ag from 33m in the same hole. Best widths intersected in hole DBRC 081 with 17 m @ 2.73% Cu and 41g/t Ag intersected from 16 m in addition to the previously released intersection in DBRC 014 with 38 m at 1.72% Cu and 119 g/t Ag

The primary and supergene sulphide mineralised zone consists of chalcocite, pyrite, and bornite vein swarms which are silver rich. The primary mineralisation may extend at depth associated with a VTEM anomaly off to the south. This needs to be confirmed by additional drilling. Several other VTEM anomalies have now been interpreted from the recently completed Helicopter VTEM flight program, which are yet to be fully tested.

Extensive IP and VTEM anomalies remain partly tested at Dibete confirming potential is open at Dibete.


Summary

Some of the most significant intercept results from the recent drilling include: (see full announcement in link below):-

- 11m @ 4.5% Cu 229.9g/t Ag from 33m in DBRC028
(includes 3m @ 8.16% Cu 469g/t Ag)
- 17m @ 2.7% Cu 41g/t Ag from 16m in DBRC081
(includes 3m @ 6.7% Cu 44.5g/t Ag from 24m & 3m@4.7% Cu 106.9g/t Ag from 27m)
- 12m @ 1.8% Cu 42g/t Ag from 33m in DBRC094
(includes 4m @ 4.2% Cu 95g/t Ag from 37m)
- 6m @ 2.3% Cu 117g/t Ag from 34m in DBRC097
(includes 2m@ 5.7% Cu 322.5g/t Ag from 34m)
- 9m @ 2.8% Cu 87.3g/t Ag from 33m in DBRC107
- 10m @ 3.9% Cu 110g/t Ag from 43m in DBRC108
(includes 4m @ 9.2% Cu 268g/t Ag from 43m)


Details

Results of the drilling at Dibete Copper - Silver prospect, Prospecting Licence 111/94 Botswana.

Drill results

A total of 93 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes for 6000 metres were completed at Dibete prospect during March to June 2011. This program (DBRC023-116) was designed to assess the orientation and geometry of the mineralisation intersected in 2010 and also includes several holes at Dibete East. Details of this drilling are shown in Figures 1- 3.

All RC holes were sampled at 1 metre intervals, and analysed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Ag by ALS Chemex, Johannesburg South Africa. Significant results above a cut off grade of >3000 ppm Cu (0.3%) are shown in Table 1 together with the type of mineralisation intersected (e.g. supergene oxide, supergene sulphide or primary). Drill results for the 2010 program (Holes 1- 22) are also included in Table 1 for reference.


Mineralisation

Four types of mineralisation are evident from this recent drilling program and are related to the degree of oxidation:-

Supergene oxide copper is exposed at surface in outcrops, trenches and old workings, and typically up to 35 metres downhole. Mineralogy consists of malachite, azurite, and chrysocolla. This zone forms a blanket spreading out from the underlying primary mineralisation. RC drill results typically show Cu enrichment concentrated between 18 to 35 metres in this zone.

Topography, fluid pathways, and near surface water flow are believed to be the controlling factors on the distribution of the supergene enriched mineralisation. Current topography may not be the same as topography when the supergene mineralisation precipitated.

A supergene sulphide transition zone is typically found from about 35 to 38 metres downhole consisting of chalcocite and pyrite with minor malachite. Laboratory results show Cu values gradually increase through the transitional zone approaching the primary mineralisation.

From approximately 38 to 41 metres downhole is a mixed primary and supergene sulphide zone consisting of chalcocite, pyrite, and bornite vein swarms with traces of malachite seen on fractures. Assay results indicate the primary bornite vein swarms, as well as the supergene mineralisation, have associated silver. Below 41 metres there is a sulphide zone with pyrite and minor disseminated chalcopyrite. Sulphides are fresh with minor oxides along fractures.


Structural Control on the Mineralisation

Preliminary interpretation of the RC assay and geological data was used to construct a wireframe model of the mineralised zones, as shown in Figures 4 -6.

The wireframe model shows the orientation of copper mineralisation using a 1000 ppm (0.1%) Cu cut off. Assays indicate the copper mineralisation, and in particular the bornite veins, have a high silver content. In Figure 5 the oxide and transitional zones are shown as green from 0 to 38 metres downhole. The mixed supergene and primary sulphides zone are shown in purple generally from 38 to 41 metres downhole.
The mineralisation is associated with quartz feldspar gneiss, amphibolite, garnet bearing amphibolite, and micaceous amphibolites. Folding and faulting within the Dibete prospect further complicate the mineralised zones.

From the model the mineralisation is seen to pinch and swell, and to be uplifted or downthrown laterally between holes, This is due to local faulting and folding which is evident at the surface in outcrops and trenches.

The mineralisation intersected is associated with north west - south east trending faults interpreted from satellite imagery. However a regional VTEM survey conducted by African Metals highlighted anomalous zones running north east - south west across both the Dibete and Airstrip prospects parallel to regional tectonic strucure.

The VTEM anomalies at Dibete lie down dip of the regional foliation from the fault controlled supergene mineralisation and may be the ultimate source of fault controlled mineralisation. Further evaluation of the VTEM anomalies will be undertaken to design deep drill holes to test this potential source.

Dibete prospect has similarities to the Airstrip prospect and may be part of a larger mineralised system encompassing the Airstrip prospect 6.5 km to the west-north-west. The area between these two prospects remains untested.
Progress to date on the Dibete Prospect is leading towards defining a body of mineralisation that will have a resource estimation study carried out on it following the next phase of drilling. The close proximity of the Airstrip and Dibete projects, which have similar primary and supergene mineralisation, is considered to be very encouraging.

View the full announcement at:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/68460-ASX-BML-357921.pdf


About Botswana Metals Limited:

Botswana Metals Limited (ASX: BML) is an Australia-based company. The Company is engaged in mineral exploration of its tenement portfolio comprising of precious metals and diamonds.


Contact:

Pat Volpe
P +61-3-9830-7676
WEB: www.botswanametals.com.au

Botswana Metals Ltd
Registered Office
P +61-3-9830-7676
F +61-3-9836-3056