encouraging results initial sampling malawi

25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
12 May 2008
ENCOURAGING RESULTS FROM INITIAL SAMPLING

Company Announcements Office
Australian Stock Exchange Limited
4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Dear Sir / Madam,
Please find the above letter attached.
Yours faithfully,
OROPA LIMITED
PHILIP C CHRISTIE
Director
RECENT ASX
ANNOUNCEMENTS
12 May 2008
PowerPoint Presentation
30 April 2008
Quarterly Activities Report – 31
March 2008
14 April 2008
Notice of General Meeting for
Shareholders
CORPORATE
25 Charles Street
South Perth WA 6151
Ph: +61 8 9368 4544
Fax: +61 8 9368 4522
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.oropa.com.au
ABN: 77 009 241 374
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brian Hurley– Chairman
Philip Christie– Director
Rod Murchison– Non-Executive
Director
Bruce Tomich- Non-Executive
Director
ASX Code: ORP
25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
12 May 2008
ENCOURAGING RESULTS FROM INITIAL SAMPLING
PROGRAMS IN MALAWI
HIGHLIGHTS
• Positive results have been obtained from geochemical exploration surveys conducted
towards the end of 2007 at the Mzimba Northwest and Chitunde Project areas in Malawi.
MZIMBA NORTHWEST PROJECT
• At Mzimba Northwest, results from a pilot stream sediment geochemical survey covering
the Emononi Target Area have outlined an area measuring some 18 kilometres long by up
to 6 kilometres wide for future intensive investigation based upon uranium results above
100 ppm U308 up to a maximum of 634 ppm U308.
• The Emononi Target Area was chosen to test the utility of stream sediment geochemistry
in the preliminary assessment of eighteen uranium exploration targets selected from an
earlier remote sensing study. Following the initial positive results obtained from the
Emononi area, the geochemical survey program will be extended to assess the remaining
sixteen untested target areas.
CHITUNDE PROJECT
• Over the Chitunde Hill syenite complex, reconnaissance rock chip sampling returned U308
values up to 107 ppm associated with anomalous niobium values up to 332 ppm and
tantalum values up to 15 ppm associated with biotite quartz syenite and quartz pegmatite
phases within the intrusive complex.
• Stream sediment geochemistry over northern portions of Chitunde Hill gave anomalous
results in uranium up to 160 ppm U308, niobium to 745 ppm, zirconium to 0.8% and
tantalum to 38 ppm. These results highlight the need to extend and intensify future
exploration coverage of the Chitunde intrusive complex.
25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
CHIZANI PROJECT
• Currently, the Chizani Project area is being assessed as part of a remote sensing study
designed to provide for the selection and ranking of target areas for future ground
exploration for uranium and other minerals. The proximity of the project area to the
nearby Kanyika Project owned by Globe Uranium Limited provides Oropa with a niobiumuranium-
tantalum and zircon deposit model to apply to search parameters within the
Chizani area.
• Stream sediment geochemistry over northern portions of Chitunde Hill gave anomalous
results in uranium up to 160 ppm U308, niobium to 745 ppm, zirconium to 0.8% and
tantalum to 38 ppm. These results highlight the need to extend and intensify future
exploration coverage of the Chitunde intrusive complex.
MZIMBA NORTHWEST PROJECT AREA
Activities during the quarter, comprised assessment of results obtained from a pilot geochemical
survey conducted towards the end of 2007 and compilation of digital maps illustrating the outcomes.
No field operations were conducted during the quarter owing to the wet season.
Geochemical Results
The pilot survey was carried out over the Emoneni Target Area covering basement complex to
investigate two of eighteen targets recommended for ground follow-up from earlier remote sensing
studies.
Geochemical results were obtained largely from stream sediment samples collected from drainages
and augmented by limited pan concentrate and rock chip sampling. Conventional sampling methods
were deployed and multi-element analysis of samples was carried out by a commercial laboratory in
Perth, Western Australia.
Result outcomes for uranium exploration are summarized as follows:
• Stream sediment results above 100 ppm U308 up to a maximum of 634 ppm U308 were returned
from some drainages rising from a northerly trending hill range and adjacent foothills within an
area measuring some 18 kilometres long by 6 kilometres wide.
• Preliminary analysis of the multi-element results shows strong correlation between geochemically
elevated uranium values above 100 ppm U308 with thorium (up to 0.58% Th), lanthanum (up to
1.05% La) and lead (up to 235 ppm Pb) concentrations. High Th/U and L/U ratios are
characteristic of these data.
• Additionally, samples returning values above 100 ppm U308 are often associated with
geochemically elevated concentrations of vanadium (up to 350 ppm V) and zirconium (up to 0.23
% Zr).
• Pan concentrate sample results provided confirmatory data.
25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
• Rock chip sampling gave U308 values up to 42 ppm.
Concluding Remarks
In general terms, the results of the pilot geochemical program over the Emoneni Target Area
effectively demonstrate the application of stream sediment geochemical sampling in initially screening
target areas defined from remote sensing studies as the method has the capacity to effectively
discriminate drainage catchments of interest for further more intensive exploration for uranium. The
techniques employed will therefore be extended to test and rank the outstanding sixteen untested
targets within the Mzimba Northwest Project Area.
For the Emoneni Target Area itself, the geochemical results obtained confirm the prospectivity of the
area for uranium and warrant further more intensive exploration within the defined anomalous
drainage catchments. It is envisaged that future exploration will include more intensive geochemical
sampling and mineralogical studies along with systematic ground geophysical traversing and
geological mapping in order to identify the source or sources of the uranium present and their
geological setting.
25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
CHITUNDE PROJECT AREA
Oropa’s activities during the quarterly period comprised assessment of geochemical results obtained
from field surveys carried out late last year over the Chitunde Hill locality. No field operations were
conducted during the quarter owing to the wet season.
Geochemical results
Reconnaissance rock chip sampling over parts of the Chitunde Hill syenite intrusive complex gave
U3O8 values up to 107 ppm. The highest values of 97 and 107 ppm U3O8 respectively were returned
from a locality described as biotite quartz syenite with quartz pegmatite associations in an area which
had given anomalous readings using a hand held gamma-ray spectrometer. Other geochemically
elevated results associated with the highest U3O8 values included anomalous niobium values up to
332 ppm and tantalum values up to 15 ppm.
A limited number of ten stream sediment samples were collected from the lower portions of narrow
streams rising on Chitunde Hill. Three samples returned values above 100 ppm U3O8 from streams
draining the northern sector of Chitunde Hill in an area where few other geochemical data are
currently available. The accompanying multi-element results associated with these samples are
characterised by relatively high thorium (up to 933 ppm Th), lanthanum (up to 821 ppm La), niobium
(up to 745 ppm Nb), zirconium (up to 0.8% Zr) and tantalum (up to 38 ppm Ta) values. These
anomalous values are regarded as encouraging and highlight the need to extend exploration over the
northern sector of Chitunde Hill.
Concluding Remarks
Exploration over the Chitunde Project area has so far been of a preliminary nature. Initial geochemical
results and related reconnaissance surveys have demonstrate however that quartz pegmatite phases
within the syenite intrusive complex forming Chitunde Hill are possibly associated with potassic
alteration in an area of geochemically elevated uranium, niobium and tantalum values. Over the
northern sector of Chitunde Hill where survey data are limited, anomalous stream sediment
geochemistry in uranium, niobium, zirconium and tantalum suggest new areas of future exploration
interest.
Further exploration is necessary to identify the extent and geochemical expression of the areas of
interest more precisely. This work will require systematic ground geophysical traversing and
geological mapping in conjunction with soil and rock geochemistry and ancillary petrographic studies
to determine mineralogy.
25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
Concluding Remarks
Exploration over the Chitunde Project area has so far been of a preliminary nature. Initial geochemical
results and related reconnaissance surveys have demonstrated that quartz pegmatite phases within
the syenite intrusive complex forming Chitunde Hill are possibly associated with potassic alteration in
an area of geochemically elevated uranium, niobium and tantalum values. Over the northern sector of
Chitunde Hill where survey data are limited, anomalous stream sediment geochemistry in uranium,
niobium, zirconium and tantalum suggest new areas of future exploration interest.
Further exploration is necessary to identify the extent and geochemical expression of the areas of
interest more precisely. This work will require systematic ground geophysical traversing and
geological mapping in conjunction with soil and rock geochemistry and ancillary petrographic studies
to determine mineralogy.
25 Charles Street, South Perth WA 6151 PO Box 1013, South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: (08) 9368 4544 Facsimile: (08) 9368 4522
Web: www.oropa.com.au Email: [email protected]
ACN: 009 241 374
CHIZANI PROJECT AREA
The Chizani Project area is situated in central Malawi nearby Globe Uranium Limited’s niobiumuranium-
tantalum-zircon multi-commodity Kanyika deposit hosted by alkalic granitoid and pegmatitic
zones. The Chizani Project also lies adjacent to tenements held by CC Mining SA.
The proximity of the Chizani Project area to the Kanyika Project owned by Globe Uranium Limited
(“Globe”) provides Oropa with a nearby niobium-uranium-tantalum and zircon deposit model to apply
to exploration search parameters within the Chizani area. Recently, Globe announced an Inferred
Mineral Resource of 56.4 Mt of 2,600 ppm Nb205, 70 ppm U308, 120 ppm Ta205 and 4,800 ppm ZrSiO4
at their Kanyika deposit. A scoping study is currently underway to assess potential mining
parameters. The currently defined resource is contained within a deposit measuring 2.1 kilometres in
length and 300 metres in width and extends down to an average depth below surface of 120 metres.
The Chizani Project area is considered to offer uranium exploration potential for hydrothermal uranium
targets.
Oropa’s activities during the quarter comprised a preliminary technical review of available data and
preparation of regional radiometric and geological maps of the project area for planning purposes.
The company has also commissioned Mackay & Schnellmann Pty Limited to prepare a geological map
and exploration target definition study covering the Chizani Project area based on a remote sensing
interpretation of satellite and radiometric imagery. The results of this interpretation are currently
pending and will be reported in the next quarterly report. No field operations were conducted during
the quarter owing to the wet season.
Yours faithfully,
OROPA LIMITED
Philip C Christie
Director
Note 1: The contents of this report that relate to geology and historical exploration results are based on information compiled by consulting
geologist John Garlick of Mackay & Schnellmann Pty Ltd, who is a Chartered Professional Geologist and fellow of the Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Garlick has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposits
under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a “Competent Person” as defined in the 2004 edition of the
Australian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Resources. John Garlick consents to the inclusion in
this report of the matters compiled by him in the form and context in which they appear.
Note 2: All statements in this report, other than statements of historical facts that address future timings, activities, events and developments that
the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although Oropa Ltd, its subsidiaries, officers and consultants believe the
expectations expressed in such forward looking statements are based on reasonable expectations, investors are cautioned that such
statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward
looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward looking statements include, amongst other
things commodity prices, continued availability of capital and financing, timing and receipt of environmental and other regulatory
approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions.