VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2014 / Novo Resources Corp. (CSE: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) ("Novo" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update of exploration activities on its Pilbara gold project, Western Australia.
Summary:
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-.bulk leach extractable gold ("BLEG") sampling has resumed and is expected to be completed by the end of July. All results are expected back on or about the end of August.
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-.a gold deportment study of conglomerates from Beatons Creek indicates most gold is coarse (>150 microns) and free of other minerals suggesting a significant amount of gold could potentially be recovered by conventional gravity techniques. This study also indicates that a much larger drill sample size is needed for a better representation of coarse gold and that gold analysis is best suited by screen metallic fire assaying.
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-.further drilling at Beatons Creek and Marble Bar is planned to commence in August pending permits.
BLEG Sampling
On March 19, 2014 (refer to news release), Novo announced that it would undertake a BLEG sampling program with Newmont Exploration Pty Ltd ("Newmont") using Newmont's proprietary BLEG technique. All of the Company's Pilbara tenements are being sampled. BLEG samples are a type of stream sediment sample that displays high sensitivity allowing for rapid screening of large tracts of land for the presence of outcropping gold mineralization. This program is designed to help quickly identify new potential gold targets.
Sampling of the Company's tenements located in the eastern half of the Pilbara region was completed in late May. Certain cattle stations in the central and west Pilbara requested that Novo's helicopter supported sampling be delayed until July 3 in order for them to complete their cattle mustering season without disruption. Sampling has now resumed and is expected to be completed by the end of July. Data from the entire BLEG program will be released once all results have been received by Novo, expected on or about the end of August.
Deportment Study of Gold from Beatons Creek Conglomerates
In order to better understand the nature of gold in conglomerates from Beatons Creek, Novo submitted two composited diamond core samples to Process Mineralogical Consulting Ltd, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, for deportment study. Gold deportment study involves the pre-concentration of gold and heavy minerals in the sample using heavy liquids followed by super-panning of the heavy liquid gravity concentrate. The products are submitted for chemical analysis and examined by optical or instrumental means. Potential extractive metallurgy of gold is determined by evaluating the grain size and mineralogical associations of gold particles.
Both samples from Beatons Creek produced gold particles dominantly free of other mineral grains suggesting they are potentially "free" milling, meaning they can readily be separated from other minerals during communition. Over 98% of the gold by weight in each sample was of coarse grain size, >150 microns (>0.15 mm), suggesting that significant recovery of gold may be possible using simple, conventional gravity techniques (see Figure 1). Given these very positive findings, Novo now plans to take several bulk samples from various locations at Beatons Creek for additional studies to help quantify potential gold recovery employing coarse grinding and gravity techniques.
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(Figure 1 - Hand picked gold grains from a composite diamond core sample of "upper" reef material from Grant's Hill, Beatons Creek (top). Similar gold grains picked from a composite diamond core sample of "lower" reef material.)
Data from the deportment study also provide insight into appropriate sample size and method of gold analysis. Samples from either diamond core or reverse circulation drilling should weigh a minimum of 15 kilograms to attain acceptable representivity of coarse, nuggety gold. Gold is best analyzed by screen metallic fire assay utilizing a minimum of 1 kilogram of pulverized material screened to 150 microns (100 mesh). Novo will employ these guidelines when it undertakes further drilling at Beatons Creek beginning in August.
Two notable observations were made during the deportment study, both relating to the style of mineralization at Beatons Creek. First, small amounts of gerdorffite, a nickel arsenic sulfide mineral, are sometimes present in these gold-bearing conglomerates (see Figure 2). Second, detrital particles of carbonaceous material, likely kerogen, were recovered (see Figure 3). Uranium-bearing minerals commonly rim these particles. The presence of gersdorffite and kerogen is ubiquitous in gold ores from the Witwatersrand basin, Republic of South Africa. There, kerogen has been demonstrated to be the fossil remains of early microbial life that contributed to the formation of these ores.
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(Figure 2 - Photomicrograph showing small grains of gersdorffite (grey) attached to a gold grain (bright yellow) recovered from a composite diamond drill core sample of the "lower" reef from Grant's Hill, Beatons Creek. Other mineral grains are all pyrite.)
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(Figure 3 - Backscatter electron image of a detrital particle of carbonaceous material, likely kerogen, recovered from a composite diamond drill core sample of the "upper" reef from Grant's Hill, Beatons Creek. Uranium-bearing minerals, sulfides, sulfosalts and rutile rim and crosscut the kerogen particle.)
Novo has submitted all necessary permit applications for its upcoming drill programs at Beatons Creek and Marble Bar and is currently awaiting approvals from the Western Australian Mines Department. Drilling will commence shortly after the completion of the BLEG survey pending permit approvals. Planned drilling includes two deep drill tests, one at Beatons Creek near Nullagine and the other at Contact Creek near Marble Bar as well as resource drilling near Grant's Hill at Beatons Creek.
"Not only are we anxious to see the results of our extensive BLEG sampling program," commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, President, CEO and Director of Novo Resources Corp, "we are eager to resume drilling at Beatons Creek. Our gold deportment study tells us we should modify our approach to this deposit. Not only will we be refining our drilling, sampling and analytical approach to better suit this nuggety gold mineralization, we can now see the potential for simple, cheap processing and recovery of gold from these conglomerates. We plan to demonstrate this with further testing of bulk samples collected this season."
Dr. Quinton Hennigh, Novo's Chief Executive Officer, President and Director and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the technical contents of this news release.
About Novo Resources Corp.
Novo's focus is to evaluate, acquire and explore gold properties. The company presently has multiple joint ventures earning a 70% interest in approximately 20,000 square kilometers of the Pilbara region, Western Australia. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail [email protected].
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Novo Resources Corp.
"Quinton Hennigh"
Quinton Hennigh
CEO and President
Forward-looking information
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, the statements as to the expected date of completion of bulk leach extractable gold sampling and the expected date of receipt of results therefrom, and the date by which further drilling is expected to start at Beatons Creek and Marble Bar. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to undertake and complete the planned exploration activities, the receipt of successful results as exploration proceeds, customary risks of the mineral resource exploration industry, as well as Novo having sufficient cash to fund the planned drilling and other activities.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
SOURCE: Novo Resources Corp.