New Project, Ireland
25 Novembre 2009 - 10:28AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMSDS
RNS Number : 0501D
Sunrise Diamonds PLC
25 November 2009
www.sunrisediamonds.com
25 November 2009
PROSPECTING LICENCE FOR BARITE IN SW IRELAND
* Previous Drilling Encountered High-Value White Barite Mineralisation
* Market Opportunity For New European Producer of Paint-Grade Barite Filler
_______________________________________________________________________
Sunrise Diamonds plc ("Sunrise" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it
has been granted a Prospecting Licence for base metals, barite, silver, gold and
platinum group elements near Bantry, County Cork, in the south-west of Ireland.
The Company is targeting the Derryginagh barite deposit for the production of
high-value white "paint-grade" barite for use as mineral filler in paints and
plastics. White paint-grade barite is the highest-value use for barite having
significant sales volumes. Off-white barite is used as a lower value mineral
filler and high volumes of low-grade barite are used as a weighting agent in
drilling mud in the oil and gas industry.
The Derrryginagh mine was worked in the period 1864-1922, supplying white barite
to the local paint industry. The mine workings extend over a strike length of
200m and to a maximum depth of 60m. In the 1970s the mine workings were
de-watered and mapped by a local company and in the 1980s four inclined holes
were drilled to intersect the barite vein at 100 meters below surface by Dresser
Minerals International Inc., which at that time was a major supplier of drilling
mud grade barite around the world.
All four Dresser holes intersected white barite over an average interpreted
"true" width of 2.4m and over a total strike length of 200m, with the vein being
open along strike and at depth.
There is a significant demand for white paint-grade barite in Europe but there
is no major mine supply outside of China and India. Consequently there is a
niche opportunity for a new European supplier as China's own internal demand
limits traditional exports. The price currently quoted for white paint-grade
barite is GBP195-220/tonne delivered to the UK.
The Company will collect samples of the barite mineralisation for metallurgical
characterisation and quality testing before undertaking further drilling and
economic evaluation.
The Derryginagh barite project is the second new project recently announced by
the Company as it seeks to broaden its geographical base and widen its commodity
interests which, until recently, have been focused on diamond exploration in
Finland.
Further information:
Patrick Cheetham, Sunrise Diamonds plc. Tel: +44 (0)1625-505947. Mobile:
+44(0)7767 458751
Brett Miller/Gavin Burnell, Astaire Securities plc. Tel: +44(0)20 7448 4400
The information in this release has been compiled and reviewed by Mr. Patrick
Cheetham (MIMMM, MAusIMM) who is a qualified person for the purposes of the AIM
Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies dated June 2009. Mr Cheetham is a Member
of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining and also a member of the
Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCBABLTMMTTMRL
Sunrise Diamonds (LSE:SDS)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Jan 2025 à Fév 2025
Sunrise Diamonds (LSE:SDS)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Fév 2024 à Fév 2025
Real-Time news about Sunrise Diamond (London Stock Exchange): 0 recent articles
Plus d'articles sur Sunrise Diamonds