Projects

PERKOA - ZINC MINE

High-grade Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) zinc deposit in Burkina Faso;
Probable Ore Reserves of 6.3 Mt at a mine head grade of 13.9% zinc as reported in accordance with the 2004 JORC code;
Proposed plant throughput of 720,000 tpa to produce 170,000 dmt/annum of clean zinc concentrate with 53% grade over a 9.5 year mine life;
Exploitation [Mining] Licence covering all mining activities granted in March 2007 for 20 years;
Joint venture with Glencore International AG (50.1%)
Glencore is overseeing construction and is responsible for managing and operating the mine;
Optimisation study ie mine design to enhance mining efficiencies, reduce overall costs and expedite mine schedule to access first ore;
Construction of infrastructure and mine development re-commenced in Decemebr 2010 and is progressing towards full production in H2 2012;

Interpretation of BHPB’s Falcon™ data with 3D inversions and the application of BHPB’s Solid Earth™ proprietary technology identified anomalous zones over the Kitumba Hills, Mutoya and Mushingashi (previously 'the worm') prospects;
Initial discovery hole, S36-001, was drilled in February 2007 to a total depth of 697.4m, and intersected mineralisation yielding 655m at 0.46% copper, including:
- 317m @ 0.79% Cu,
- 18m @ 0.20g/t Au,
- 42m @ 2.01% Cu, including
- 4m @ 5.56% Cu.
- Soil geochemical survey over drilled anomalies displayed elevated gold response over S36;
In October 2009, Blackthorn Resources reported an Inferred Mineral Resource containing 345 Mt at 0.47% Cu, 0.06g/t Au, 1.38 g/t Ag and 38 ppm U when using a 0.2% Cu cut-off; (or 87Mt at 0.94% Cu, 0.05g/t Au, 1.27 g/t Ag when using a 0.5% Cu cut-off).