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Kazera to up drilling in Namibia to gauge long-term potential of tantalum mine

Published: 16:55 17 May 2018 AEST

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Tantalum is used in aeroengine blades

Namibia-based tantalum miner Kazera Global PLC (LON:KZG) is to undertake a drilling programme across its whole licence to gauge the potential in its entirety.

Kazera holds a 75% stake in African Tantalum (Aftan), which operates the Namibian Tantalite Investment Mine (NTI).

An analysis of historical drill results has indicated that beyond the defined Homestead and Lepidolite zones, the total licence area has valuable mineralisation.

READ: Kazera Global buoyed by African Tantalum operational update

As production from the mine is now ramping up, efforts will switch to proving up the resources across the whole 452 hectares.

The programme will consist of approximately 3,000 metres of drilling with primary targets the Signalberg mountain, White City and Snake deposits.

This will supplement ongoing drilling taking place at Homestead and Lepidolite areas where over 200 samples have so far been taken.

Tantalum and lithium will be the main mineral targets.

A detailed resource estimate will allow development of a long-life mine plan to include the satellite deposits, said the statement.

Larry Johnson, chief executive, added the exploration would allow Kazera to realise maximum value from NTI while providing highly important strategic choices.

Aftan has made five shipments of tantalum since mining resumed last year and is now consistently extracting high purity tantalum from the Homestead ore body, today's statement added.

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