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Nuurstei drilling programme 2015 coal quality results

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Global Mining Review,


Aspire Mining Ltd has announced that its 50% owned Ekhgoviin Chuluu Joint Venture (ECJV) with the Noble Group has received proximate analysis from core samples taken from the ECJV’s 2015 exploration programme at the Nuurstei coal project in Mongolia.

In October, the ECJV completed its 2015 exploration drilling programme at Nuurstei, which included the completion of 24 non-core drill holes and 31 PQ diamond core holes.

Indicative washed coal quality specifications have been received for samples taken from four core holes: NUDH013, NUDH014, NUDH015 and NUDH016. These were tested at the ALS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar.

Washability test work on samples from the first four holes show moderate yields of a high quality coking coal.

Aspire has indicated that additional washability results are expected before the end of the year.

Indicative wash yields are moderate, varying between 25% and 75% (product ash typically 9% ad). According to the company, washed coal specifications are excellent, with the product predominantly a high quality hard coking coal.

Petrographics were completed on five washed coal samples with vitrinite content averaging 90% and maximum vitrinite reflectance ranging from 1.3 to 1.4.

According to Aspire, the results indicate Nuurstei product would produce a low to mid volatile, top tier hard coking coal.

Once JORC 2012 resource calculations are complete, the ECJV intends to commence a scoping study for this project initially on road-based transport to the nearest rail head at Erdenet, approximately 360 km to the east.

Nuurstei is also expected to benefit from being able to access the Erdenet to Ovoot railway, which is expected to pass approximately 70 km to the south. The Erdenet to Ovoot railway is to be constructed by Northern Railways LLC who executed a Concession Agreement with the Government of Mongolia in September 2015 and have recently received its Construction Licence.

Aspire’s Managing Director. David Paull, commented: “While raw ash levels are moderate to high, coal yields from washing indicate the coal can realise a product with ash in the range of 9% to 10%. Clean coal properties indicate a low to mid volatile hard coking coal consistent with expectations from the 2014 exploration programme and would be attractive to end coking coal users”.

“We now look forward to receiving the JORC coal resource estimations which are currently being prepared by the ECJV’s geological consultants”, Paull concluded.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/21122015/nuurstei-drilling-programme-2015-coal-quality-results-3318/

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