The Newport Mining (ASX: NMN) increase in exploration activities at the Mata da Corda Phosphate Project in Brazil are beginning to pay dividends, with significant results arising from mineralogical test work.
The first bulk sample (16kg) taken from Capacete Target returned mineralogical results and grade of 18.2% P2O5.
Results indicate Capacete target amenable to beneficiation through stages of crushing, sieving, flotation and magnetic separation.
Simon Taylor, managing director, said, “The results are very positive in that they confirm that the dominant phosphate mineral is apatite (97%) and not secondary phosphates (2%)."
"This has a positive impact for the development opportunities for the project in that the mineralisation is amenable to beneficiation and subsequent downstream production of fertilisers."
"The results fully justify an increase in our exploration activities as we continue with our first drilling program and continue to ground check areas of similar geology within our large landholding of about 300,000 hectares."
"We have already identified large areas of similar rock types in Blocks 5, 6 and 10 and will continue to advance these areas for drill testing.”
Newport said the results justify more extensive sampling and exploration programs over Mata da Corda Regional landholding.
Scout mapping and sampling of western Blocks 5, 6 and 10 identified similar epiclastic rocks of the Capacete Formation, with very promising thicknesses and strikelengths in excess of 50 kilometres.
There has been no significant phosphate exploration in the region since the Brazilian Geological Survey completed their work in the late 1960’s-70’s.