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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED — Interim / Quarterly Report 2008
Apr 28, 2008
65741_rns_2008-04-28_31cf7059-2acf-45e8-847a-b904d3c9ae03.pdf
Interim / Quarterly Report
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“The new soil anomalies located at Pha Luang have been extended”
HIGHLIGHTS
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Soil sampling and mapping programme at the Pha Luang zinc-lead project in Laos identifies high priority drilling targets at the Pha Sod and Nam Yen prospects
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Preparations well advanced for drilling at the Reward zinc-lead project in the Northern Territory to test for extensions to the existing McArthur River style mineralisation at the Myrtle prospect
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Review of previous exploration on the Reward tenement highlights numerous new targets
PHA LUANG ZINC-LEAD PROJECT, LAOS
Soil sampling and geological mapping programmes continued at the Pha Luang project in Laos during the quarter. A number of new soil anomalies have been identified and significant previously located soil anomalies have now been extended (Figure 1).
Field work has resulted in the identification of Pha Sod as a potentially highly mineralised area, with abundant sulphide breccia mapped over a strike length of 300m, vertical height of over 300m, and thickness of about 100m. A soil anomaly >2% Zn+Pb extends over an area of 1.0 x 1.5 km at Pha Sod.
Several new soil samples at Pha Sod exceeded 5% combined Zn+Pb, extending the anomaly and these will be further investigated when field work continues after the Lao wet season.
Rock chip sampling at Pha Sod has returned a number of very high grade samples of both zinc oxide (remobilised hydrozincite), zinc-lead-carbonate (interpreted as weathered insitu sulphide mineralisation) and sulphide. Some example results are listed below:
| Sample | Zn% | Pb% | Ag ppm | S% | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 380113 | 19.0 | 8.1 | 146 | 0.16 | Zinc-Lead-Carbonate |
| 380115 | 19.3 | 2.8 | 60 | 8.62 | Sulphide |
| 380116 | 19.1 | 9.8 | 85 | 1.06 | Zinc-Lead-Carbonate & Sulphide |
| 380119 | 5.4 | 7.8 | 58 | 0.43 | Zinc-Lead-Carbonate |
| 380121 | 19.9 | 8.7 | 251 | 10.65 | Sulphide |
| 380123 | 52.8 | 0.14 | 35 | 0.29 | Zinc Oxide |
| 380124 | 40.4 | 0.10 | 173 | 0.75 | Zinc Oxide |
The outcrops of zinc sulphide (sphalerite) bearing material are particularly encouraging.
A drilling program has been designed to test the Pha Sod breccia zone using horizontal and inclined drilling, utilising an underground type drilling rig (but drilling from surface) due to the steepness of the terrain. Identification of a suitable drilling rig and preparations for this drilling will occur during the coming Lao wet season, with testing of the target planned for late 2008 upon the commencement of the next field season and grant of the Pha Luang Foreign Investment Licence.
Examination of previously collected conductivity geophysical data indicates that extensions to the Nam Yen mineralisation are possible, and a drilling program has been designed to test these extensions. Subject to the grant of Rox’s Foreign Investment Licence, this drilling is scheduled for the start of the next field season in Laos, in late 2008.
Rox Resources Ground Floor 63 Hay Street SUBIACO WA 6008
Telephone: (61 8) 6380 2966 Facsimile: (61 8) 6380 2988
ROX RESOURCES LIMITED QUARTERLY REPORT For Quarter Ended 31 March 2008
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Figure 1: Pha Luang Soil Sampling
Further processing of the IP geophysical data collected in 2007 was undertaken during March using a new, detailed digital terrain model derived from recently acquired aerial photography. This enabled better correction factors for topographic effects to be applied. However, there was no substantial change to the previous results upon which unsuccessful drilling was undertaken. Therefore it would appear that the IP technique is not applicable at Pha Luang. The best explanation for the erroneous IP results obtained last year is that the high resistivities of the rock to current flow caused a build up of enough charge to appear like a chargeability anomaly. This is termed the dielectric effect.
“Pha Luang is one of the most prospective zinclead projects in South East Asia”
The lack of success of the IP geophysical technique does not downgrade the prospectivity of the project however. The large high-grade soil anomalies, numerous outcrops of sulphide and oxide mineralisation, and the drilling results so far, make Pha Luang one of the most prospective zinc-lead projects in South East Asia.
The company is still actively progressing its Foreign Investment Licence application in Laos, previously put on hold for the whole of 2007 while the Lao Government undertook a review of the mining sector. Rox’s interest in the Pha Luang project is currently secured under contract law by a fully signed and government approved joint venture agreement with its Lao partners.
Recent information from government and advisory sources indicate that the moratorium on granting of Foreign Investment Licences is still in place. However, the review of the mining sector report is expected to be delivered soon to the Lao Government, and it is expected that Rox’s Foreign Investment Licence application will be processed after that. No firm timeline has been given by Lao Government authorities.
A new Lao Mining Act is also being drafted, and it is expected that no new exploration or mining concessions will be granted until its proclamation, most likely towards the end of 2008. This should not affect Rox’s Pha Luang Foreign Investment Licence application as it involves the transfer of an existing granted Mining Concession. However it may delay the grant of two application areas that Rox has submitted.
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED QUARTERLY REPORT For Quarter Ended 31 March 2008
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REWARD ZINC-LEAD PROJECT, AUSTRALIA
In early January 2008, Rox announced that it had acquired an option to purchase the Reward project tenement, prospective for McArthur River style zinc and lead deposits in the world class McArthur River Basin in the Northern Territory.
“Direct analogies to the giant McArthur River deposit”
Located 20km south of the McArthur River (HYC) zinc-lead mine (Figure 2), the Reward tenement covers an area of 379km[2] . Reward is a sediment hosted (SEDEX) zinc-lead project with direct analogies to the giant McArthur River deposit that has a remaining resource 157 Mt @ 11.3% Zn, 4.9% Pb, 49 g/t Ag (Xstrata 2006 Annual Report).
Preparations are now well advanced for an initial drilling program at the Myrtle prospect where previous wide spaced drilling (approximately 800 to 1,000 metres apart) intersected significant McArthur River style mineralisation.
“Drill holes define mineralisation over an extent of at least 3km”
Re-calculation of existing drill intercepts has been made using a consistent lower cut-off of 2.5% combined Zn + Pb. These drill holes define mineralisation over an extent of at least 3km in an east-west direction (Figure 4).
Table 1: Myrtle Prospect Drill Intercepts (2.5% combined Zn + Pb lower cut-off)
| Hole | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Zn% | Pb% | Zn + Pb % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MY6 | 473.5 | 489.0 | 15.5 | 3.45 | 1.06 | 4.51 |
| MY7 | 389.4 | 393.4 | 4.0 | 3.42 | 0.35 | 3.77 |
| MY8 | 240.63 | 247.0 | 6.37 | 3.84 | 0.41 | 4.25 |
| MY10 | 120.0 | 128.0 | 8.0 | 3.09 | 0.85 | 3.94 |
| 141.0 | 149.0 | 8.0 | 2.78 | 0.60 | 3.38 | |
| 191.0 | 195.0 | 4.0 | 5.57 | 1.61 | 7.18 | |
| 216.0 | 246.0 | 30.0 | 4.29 | 1.22 | 5.51 | |
| MY12 | 195.0 | 197.0 | 2.0 | 2.98 | 0.51 | 3.49 |
Silver (Ag) assays in the database do not accord with expected values (based on the adjacent McArthur River deposit), so a program of re-sampling (and re-assaying) of the existing mineralised intercepts will be undertaken during the next quarter.
“Initial drilling will consist of 2,000 metres in 5 holes, with the option of extending the program”
Work approvals have now been received from the NT Government and Northern Land Council. A drilling rig has been contracted and is expected to arrive on site in early June.
The initial drilling program will consist of a minimum of 2,000 metres in 5 holes, with the option of extending the program to 8 holes for around 3,000 metres in total. The drilling is designed to define an area of mineralisation of 1,500 x 1,000 metres at similar grade and thickness to previous drilling.
The geological similarities to the world class McArthur River mine and the potential size of the Myrtle prospect reinforces the company’s optimism for early exploration success. TEM surveying, soil sampling and geologic interpretation indicate good potential for shallower, near surface mineralisation.
The company’s geophysical consultants are reviewing the existing geophysical data and will make recommendations for further geophysical surveys if warranted.
“Other prospects have all been subject to limited exploration”
Previous exploration efforts in the McArthur River region were focussed on locating shallow (<100m deep) base-metal mineralisation, and it has been shown that the initial drilling at the Myrtle prospect (viz. holes MY1 and 2) was not deep enough to test the basal section of the HYC Pyritic Shale, where ore grades occur.
Other prospects on the Reward tenement, namely, Berjaya, Buffalo Lagoon and Barney Creek Sub-basin (Figure 3) have had limited exploration and further work is justified at each of these to ensure that the full section of HYC Pyritic Shale has been effectively tested.
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED QUARTERLY REPORT For Quarter Ended 31 March 2008
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Figure 2: Reward Project Location
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Myrtle
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Figure 3: Simplified Geological and Prospect Map of the Reward Tenement area. The host rock sequence at the McArthur River zinc-lead mine (Barney Creek Formation) is shown in yellow. Younger rocks are shown in green and older rocks are shown in red.
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED QUARTERLY REPORT For Quarter Ended 31 March 2008
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Figure 4:
Myrtle Prospect Drill Plan showing the location of existing holes (red dots) and planned holes (yellow dots). Also shown is a geological plan, with the prospective host unit for stratiform zinc-lead mineralisation (Barney Creek Formation) in red, with younger rocks shown as light blue and older rocks shown as dark blue. Part of an IP anomaly delineated in 1966 is shown. The remainder of the IP anomaly is located to the east beyond the drilled area.
LENNARD SHELF ZINC-LEAD PROJECT, AUSTRALIA
“The Lennard Shelf is a proven zinc-lead mineral province with a mineral endowment of about 40 million tonnes of zinclead resources”
Rox is manager of the Lennard Shelf Joint Venture (with Avalon Minerals) and initially has a 12 month option during which it will conduct exploration for zinc-lead mineralisation similar in style to the known Lennard Shelf deposits.
The Lennard Shelf is a proven zinc-lead mineral province with a mineral endowment of about 40 million tonnes of zinc-lead resources grading about 10% zinc equivalent. Previous exploration work over the joint venture tenement area has produced an extensive database that will enable Rox to rapidly progress exploration.
It is anticipated that field work will commence in the second quarter of 2008, once heritage clearances from the KLC are received, with an initial programme of soil sampling to identify prospective areas.
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED QUARTERLY REPORT For Quarter Ended 31 March 2008
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WORK PLANS
Pha Luang Project, Laos
The current field season’s programme of geological mapping and soil sampling is now complete. This has been successful in locating a number of new prospects and generating drill targets.
Rox continues to actively progress its Foreign Investment Licence application in Laos, and further exploration will be contingent on the grant of the licence in a timely manner.
“A program of diamond drilling is scheduled to commence at the Myrtle prospect during the second quarter of 2008”
Reward Project, Northern Territory
A program of diamond drilling is scheduled to commence at the Myrtle prospect during the second quarter of 2008. Regional assessment of other prospects within the tenement will also be undertaken.
Lennard Shelf Project, Western Australia
A program of regional soil sampling will commence, possibly in the second quarter of 2008, once land clearances (now overdue) have been obtained from the Traditional Owners and Kimberley Land Council.
FINANCIAL
At the end of the March 2008 quarter, Rox had 57,875,333 shares and 12,400,000 unlisted options on issue with cash of $1.6 million.
Dated this 29[th] day of April 2008.
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Signed on behalf of the Board of Rox Resources Limited.
IAN MULHOLLAND Managing Director
Directors & Management Jeff Gresham – Chairman Ian Mulholland – Managing Director Michael Blakiston – Non Executive Director Brett Dickson – CFO & Company Secretary
Issued Capital 57.9M shares 12.4M unlisted options
Top Shareholders Directors & Assoc 9.4% Ivernia Inc. 7.9% Deep Yellow 3.5%
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ian Mulholland, Managing Director Tel: (08) 6380 2966
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED QUARTERLY REPORT For Quarter Ended 31 March 2008
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About Rox Resources
Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) is an emerging Australian exploration company focussing on zinclead deposits, particularly deposits of the Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) and Sedimentary Exhalative Type (SEDEX).
MVT and SEDEX zinc-lead deposits are known across the world and usually occur in “districts”, providing some 85% of the world’s zinc-lead resources. Notable MVT districts and/or deposits include the Lennard Shelf and Admiral Bay in NW Australia, Navan (Ireland), Mehdiabad (Iran), Reocin (Spain), Fankou (China) and the Mississippi Valley area of the USA. Notable SEDEX districts include the Mount Isa and McArthur Basins in northern Australia, Sullivan and Howard’s Pass (Canada), Red Dog (USA), Rampura Agucha (India) and Aguilar (Argentina).
Rox owns a 60% interest in the Pha Luang zinc-lead sulphide project in Laos which it believes has the potential to become a large new zinc-lead district. The project area covers a 20km² mining concession area and contains more than 20 MVT zinc-lead prospects. Rox is the first explorer to apply modern techniques to the area. Mineralisation is widespread with zinc and lead oxides and sulphides outcropping in various places along a strike length of over 10km.
Rox has been successful at defining mineralisation at a number of prospects in the Pha Luang project, with over 9,000 metres of drilling conducted so far. A number of very strong drill targets, and extensions to known mineralisation remain untested. Rox is now among several Australian mining companies enjoying success in Laos where the Government has stated its intentions to embrace mining as a priority industry.
Rox maintains a fully staffed exploration office in the Lao capital, Vientiane, to support the Pha Luang project.
Rox has an option to purchase the Reward project in the Northern Territory, which covers 379km[2] , and is Rox’s first SEDEX project. There is potential at the Myrtle prospect for a McArthur River style deposit to be delineated, where thick drill intercepts of prospective stratigraphy carrying significant zinc-lead grades have already been made. TEM surveying, soil sampling and geologic interpretation indicate the potential for shallow near surface mineralisation. Other prospects in the tenement area are at an early stage.
Rox also has an option to joint venture a large 2,600km[2] holding of ground on the Lennard Shelf in Western Australia. The Lennard Shelf is a known MVT province with past production, and has a mineral resource endowment of about 40 million tonnes at about 10% zinc equivalent grade. There is an extensive exploration and research database that Rox plans to use to efficiently and effectively explore the area, building upon its MVT expertise as manager of the proposed JV.
Rox continues to actively review potential new opportunities, particularly zinc-lead projects in Australia and South East Asia.
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results and Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Ian Mulholland BSc (Hons), MSc, FAusIMM, FAIG, FSEG, who is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Mulholland has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves”. Mr Mulholland is a full time employee of the Company and consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED Mining Exploration Entity Quarterly Report Appendix 5B
APPENDIX 5B
Mining Exploration Entity Quarterly Report
Name of entity
ROX RESOURCES LIMITED
| ACN or ARBN 107 202 602 Consolidated statement of cash flows |
Quarter ended (“current quarter”) | Quarter ended (“current quarter”) |
|---|---|---|
| March 2008 | ||
| Cash flows related to operating activities 1.1 Receipts from product sales and related debtors 1.2 Payments for: (a) exploration and evaluation (b) development (c) production (d) administration 1.3 Dividends received 1.4 Interest and other items of a similar nature received 1.5 Interest and other costs of finance paid 1.6 Income taxes paid 1.7 Other – Security bonds Net Operating Cash Flows |
Current Quarter A$’000 |
Year to Date (9 months) $A’000 |
| - (343) - - (306) - 31 - - - |
- (1,447) - - (810) - 128 - - - |
|
| (618) | (2,129) | |
| Cash flows related to investing activities 1.8 Payment for purchases of: (a) prospects (b) equity investments (c) other fixed assets 1.9 Proceeds from sale of: (a) prospects (b) equity investments (c) other fixed assets 1.10 Loans to other entities 1.11 Loans repaid by other entities 1.12 Other Net investing cash flows 1.13 Total operating and investing cash flows (carried forward) |
- - (69) - - - - - - |
(50) - (69) - - - - - - |
| (69) | (119) | |
| (687) | (2,248) |
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED Mining Exploration Entity Quarterly Report Appendix 5B
| 1.13 Total operating and investing cash flows (brought forward) |
(687) | (2,248) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash flows related to financing activities 1.14 Proceeds from issues of shares (net of costs) 1.15 Proceeds from sale of forfeited shares 1.16 Proceeds from borrowings 1.17 Repayment of borrowings 1.18 Dividends paid 1.19 Other Net financing cash flows |
- - - - - - |
- - - - - - |
| - | - | |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash held 1.20 Cash at beginning of quarter/year to date 1.21 Exchange rate adjustments to 1.20 1.22Cash at end ofquarter |
(687) 2,294 - |
(2,248) 3,855 - |
| 1,607 | 1,607 |
Payments to directors of the entity and associates of the directors Payments to related entities of the entity and associates of the related entities
| 1.23 Aggregate amount of payments to the parties included in item 1.2 1.24 Aggregate amount of loans to the parties included in item 1.10 |
Current quarter $A’000 |
|---|---|
| 83 | |
| - |
- 1.25 Explanation necessary for an understanding of the transactions
N/A
Non-cash financing and investing activities
- 2.1 Details of financing and investing transactions which have had a material effect on consolidated assets and liabilities but did not involve cash flows
N/A
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED Mining Exploration Entity Quarterly Report Appendix 5B
- 2.2 Details of outlays made by other entities to establish or increase their share in projects in which the reporting entity has an interest
Nil
Financing facilities available
Add notes as necessary for an understanding of the position.
| 3.1 Loan facilities 3.2 Credit standby arrangements |
Amount available $A’000 |
Amount used $A’000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | ||
| - | - |
Estimated cash outflows for next quarter
| 4.1 Exploration and evaluation 4.2 Development |
$A’000 |
|---|---|
| 150 | |
| - | |
| Total | 150 |
Reconciliation Of Cash
| Reconciliation of cash at the end of the quarter (as shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows) to the related items inthe accountsis asfollows. |
Current quarter $A’000 |
Previous quarter $A’000 |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 Cash on hand and at bank 5.2 Deposits at call 5.3 Bank overdraft 5.4 Other (provide details) |
250 | 167 |
| 1,357 | 2,127 | |
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| Total: cash at end of quarter(item 1.22) | 1,607 | 2,294 |
Changes in interests in mining tenements
Nil.
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED Mining Exploration Entity Quarterly Report Appendix 5B
Issued and quoted securities at end of current quarter
| Total number | Number quoted |
Issue price per security (cents) |
Amount paid up per security (cents) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1Preference securities (description) 7.2 Changes during quarter |
- | |||
| - | ||||
| 7.3Ordinary securities 7.4 Changes during quarter - Issued |
57,875,333 | 57,875,333 | ||
| - | ||||
| 7.5Convertible debt securities (description and conversion factor) 7.6 Changes during quarter |
- | |||
| - | ||||
| 7.7Options (description and conversion factor) |
5,250,000 2,500,000 1,700,000 950,000 2,000,000 |
Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil |
Exercise Price $0.20 $0.675 $0.35 $0.35 $0.35 |
Expires 31 January 2009 12 July 2009 30 Nov 2009 31 May 2010 30 Nov 2010 |
| 7.8 Issued during quarter |
- | |||
| 7.9 Exercised during quarter |
- | |||
| 7.10 Expired during quarter |
- | |||
| 7.11Debentures (totals only) |
- | |||
| 7.12Unsecured notes (totals only) |
- |
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ROX RESOURCES LIMITED Mining Exploration Entity Quarterly Report Appendix 5B
Compliance statement
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This statement has been prepared under accounting policies which comply with accounting standards as defined in the Corporations Law or other standards acceptable to ASX.
-
This statement does give a true and fair view of the matters disclosed.
Sign here:
Date: 29[th] April 2008
Company Secretary
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Print Name: Brett Dickson
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