Exploration Permits- The Company’s exploration permits allow it to undertake drilling, blasting, pitting and development of mines
- In addition, TRPL had also been granted special export permission for 50,000 MT of manganese from its Bondouku and Toumodi concessions during the exploration stage
- TRPL has used about 45,000 MT of this available limit in the FY2008-09 through its mining operations at Bondouku
- The Company has submitted a feasibility report with an application for grant of an exploitation permit for the Bondouku mines and expects to receive it by mid-2009
- In the meantime, the Ivory Coast Government has granted TRPL a new special export permission of [200,000] MT to ensure that there is no stoppage of mining activities at Boundouku
SRKES STUDY REPORT
| Site | Status | Area(km2) | Potential In situ Mineral Inventory (‘000 MT) | | Bondoukou | Exploration | 950 | 2,791 at a likely grade of 38%* | | Zeimougola | Exploration | 250 | 2,472 at a likely grade of 38%* | | Korhogo | Prospecting | 733 | further exploration required | | Tomoudi | Exploration | 480 | further exploration required | | Tabou | Prospecting | 1064 | still under prospecting | | Tai | Prospecting | 450 | still under prospecting | | | | 4477 | 5262* | Based on geology and mining review conducted by SRK Exploration Services in May 2008. Bondouku permit was only partially explored. |
| Depth of super-gene enrichment (mt) | Total Tonnage (Kt) | | 10 | 1,754 | | 20 | 3,508 | | 30 | 5,262 | | 40 | 7,016 | 50 | 8,770 | | 60 | 10,524 | | 70 | 12,278 | | 80 | 14,032 | - According to SRKES, the main assumption that can have a significant impact on the potential resource is the depth of the observed super-gene enrichment
- Previous studies conducted on similar deposit types, including those within the Ivory Coast, have suggested 30mt depth to be the maximum
- Notwithstanding this, none of the concessions granted to TRPL have been drill tested sufficiently to support this assumption and as such the extrapolation depth at each prospect could provide significant upside potential
- The table on the page illustrates the sensitivity of the mineral inventory to the depth at which the super-gene enrichment is extrapolated
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- During exploration, TRPL has found significant deposits of Manganese ore at Bondouku. These deposits have been further validated by studies carried by SRKES
- TRPL has made significant discoveries of manganese ore deposits at Borumba, Siminimi, Kofu Hills 1, 2 & 3, Tatwa Hill, Dingbi Hills 1,2 & 3
- The study carried out by SRKES had been limited to Borumba, Siminimi and Kofu. Dingbi Hills and Tatwa Hills deposits were discovered after the SRKES study was completed
- Initial studies carried out by TRPL indicate that potential deposits at Dingbi and Tatwa are significantly larger than deposits at Borumba, Siminimi and Kofu. TRPL continues to conduct further exploration activities in several unexplored hills including Malaga, Nanyango, Sapia and Sui
- TRPL is now engaged in full-fledged mining operations at Siminimi, Borumba and Tatwa. Mining operations in Dingbi and Kofu will begin by June 2009
KEYS AREA OF MINING IN BONDOUKU | Area | SRKES
Estimates
| DSPL
Estimates
| Current Status of Operations | | Borumba | Not Explored | 50Kt (44% grade) | Currently operational with mining and hand sorting of high grade boulder material. | | Kofu | 439Kt (38% grade) | 439 Kt (38% grade) | Mining activities to begin in June 2009 | | Siminimi | 2,352Kt (38% grade) | 2,352Kt (38% grade) | Currently operational | | Tatwa | Not Explored | 600kt (44% Mn) | Currently operational | Dingbi | Not Explored | 600kt (44% Mn) | Mining activities to begin in June 2009 | | Nanyango | Not Explored | 200Kt (30% Mn) | | | Sapia | Not Explored | - | Exploration activities initiated | | Malaga | Not Explored | - | Exploration activities initiated | | Sui | Not Explored | - | Exploration activities initiated | Substantial investment in mining infrastructure at BondoukuThe Company has invested over $6mn in mining equipments at the Bondouku site, including: * 3 x CAT 950 H Front End Loader
* 6 x 330 DL excavator
* 1 x Premier Track 1100*650 crusher
* Terex Pegson crawler mounted mobile crusher capable of crushing 1 mt x 1 mt x 1 mt boulders
* Power Scrub 120 mobile
* 5 x Renault 10 tonne tipper trucks
* 20 Kamaz 6520 dumper trucks
* Other transportation vehicles for employees
MANGANESE SHIPMENT FROM BONDOUKU |
 Toumodi - Ivory Coast Tomoudi permit has two hills of Blafo and Ghetto towering about 200 mts from Base.Exploration work is in progress. |
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