Minbos Resources' metallurgical testwork delivers 34% phosphate at Cabinda project

Minbos Resources (ASX: MNB) holds a significant land holding of 400,000 hectares in the in the Cabinda Province of Angola and Western Democratic Republic of Congo, with a focus on phosphate.

Providing a major boost to the potential of the Cabinda project, today the company has announced that metallurgical test work on a bench scale sample from Mongo Tando has revealed that material was readily upgradable to plus 34% phosphate (P2O5).

The project comprises five deposits; Mongo Tando, Cacata, Chibuete, Chivovo and Ueca, with an exploration target of 333Mt to 538Mt at 10% to 20% P2O5.

A global resource estimate for all five orebodies is due before the end of 2011.

Importantly - Mongo Tando already hosts an Inferred Resource of 117 million tonnes at 13.6% P2O5, while Cacata and Chivovo have shown significant tonnage of high grade, potentially direct shipping ore at shallow depths.

Last month a resource estimate for Cacata of 22.5Mt at 21.4% P2O5 was announced, where a Scoping Study recently commenced on a DSO operation from the deposit.

Test work on Mongo Tando sample

A 50 kilogram ore sample from the Cabinda Mongo Tando deposit was sent to Behr Dolbear in Florida, U.S. for preliminary bench scale test work.

The sample had a head grade of 8.5% P2O5 and was readily upgraded to 34.7% P2O5 at a recovery of 62%.

Minbos said that these results essentially confirm the historical test work that was carried out by the Colorado School of Mines in 1969 and AIM Laboratories in 1970.

To follow up these results, the company has a diamond drilling contractor mobilised with drilling to commence later this month.

The focus of the drilling is to boost the Mongo Tando resource to the higher confidence category of Indicated, and will also provide samples for detailed metallurgical work from both the high grade Cacata and Mongo Tando deposits.

Drilling at Chivovo

Last month Minbos kicked off a drilling program at the Chivovo deposit, with an initial 500 metres of aircore aimed at confirming historical data.

Field results have confirmed that the stratigraphic information is consistent with historical data and assay results are expected in the near future.

Historical drilling at Chivovo revealed:

– 21 meters at 26% P2O5 from surface; and
– 10 meters at 20 to 25% P2O5 from 10 meters.

Regional infrastructure

Ticking another box for Minbos at Cabinda, the project is located close to major infrastructure with good access to ports.

The project is positioned 50 kilometres from the ocean, in an area heavily populated by oil companies, with excellent services and accommodation.

Another benefit is that regional roads have undergone upgrading, with a 35MW power station being built in Cabinda.

Company strategy

The Minbos strategy is to specifically target the development of low cost phosphate projects, in order to tap into the growing global demand for fertilisers.

Based on initial assays, the company intends to commence a Scoping Study to determine project economics for a standalone DSO phosphate rock export operation.

Minbos believes that a rapid valuation re-rating may occur as JORC Resources are added to the recently released Inferred resource over a period of 6 months followed by Pre-Feasibility results within 18 months.

Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/19223/minbos-resources-metallurgical-testwork-delivers-34-phosphate-at-cabinda-project-19223.html