Focus Reports Further Phosphate Drill Assays at Bayovar 12, Peru
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jun 16, 2014) -
Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSX-VENTURE:FCV) is pleased to provide assay
results from a second batch of 6 holes drilled at the Bayovar 12
phosphate project near Piura, northern Peru. Assays have been
received for holes JPQ-14-14, 14-12, 14-04, 14-10 and 14-11,
drilled along a west to east section and 800m south of the first
section reported previously (see press release May 20, 2014).
The new holes all intersected the same sequence of phosphate
beds and highlight the remarkable consistency and continuity of the
geology and phosphate mineralization over long distances.
Highlights of the holes, spanning a 3.2 km section line (Section 2)
are:
- Up to 18 individual phosphate beds in each hole, with the
average width of 11 main beds varying between 0.3m - 1.2m over all
5 holes, and averaging 0.54m overall
- Individual beds up to 1.55m thick (JPQ-14-04 13.7% P2O5 from
87.1m - 88.65m)
- Average grade of all the main beds over all 5 holes is 14.8%
P2O5, with individual beds averaging 10.4% to 20.8% P2O5 over the
holes
- Phosphate beds occur less than 26m below surface in JPQ-14-11
drilled furthest east and confirm the shallowing of the beds as
previously reported in JPQ-14-13 located 800m to the north
- No faulting or structural features were observed affecting the
beds, allowing for easy correlation of individual beds hole to
hole
Additional assays were also received for hole JPQ-14-15 drilled
800m to the west of hole JPQ-14-06 along Section 1 (reported May
20, 2014) demonstrating continuity of the phosphate beds for a
further 800m west for a total of 4 kilometers with grades and
thicknesses in line with adjacent holes.
David Cass, the President of Focus, said: "These latest results
are remarkably similar to the initial results we published,
underlining the extraordinary regularity in the geology and grade
of the phosphate beds across these initial two drill sections. The
average grade of the top 5 beds, which we believe are the same as
those currently being mined by Vale, in our first drill section is
16.9% P2O5 and 15.9% in Section 2 some 800m south. We're seeing an
average grade across all 11 beds of 14.8% P2O5 in Section 2, and
with the new results for JPQ-14-15 included, Section 1 averages
14.9% P2O5 over a distance of 4km. This consistency, despite the
wide drill spacings, should make the upcoming resource calculation
relatively straight forward. We continue to be encouraged by the
shallower depth of the beds from surface in the eastern part of the
drill grid."
A drill collar plan with geological cross sections, updated
results tables and full set of assays are posted on Focus's website
www.focusventuresltd.com. Cross sections 1 and 2 are shown
below.
Holes were drilled vertically to between 80m - 110m depth
targeting horizontal phosphate beds within the Diana Formation, a
sequence of phosphoric diatomites and sandstones approximately 40
metres thick. The phosphate beds comprise up to 40% apatite
pellets, ooliths and fossil debris consisting of mainly fish teeth,
bones and scales representing the remains of marine organisms that
accumulated on the sea floor. Flat-lying deposits such as
sedimentary phosphates and other bulk commodities such as bauxite
and gypsum may be amenable to precision mechanized strip mining
using surface miners, which can efficiently mine beds down to as
little as 10cm in thickness.
Summary Table showing Assays of Main Phosphate Beds for
Holes JPQ 14-14, 12, 04, 10, 11 (Section 2)
|
Averages All Holes |
JPQ-14-14 |
JPQ-14-12 |
JPQ-14-04 |
JPQ-14-10 |
JPQ-14-11 |
MAIN BEDS |
Width (m) |
% P205 |
Width |
% P205 |
Width |
% P205 |
Width |
% P205 |
Width |
% P205 |
Width |
% P205 |
1 |
0.45 |
14.2 |
0.25 |
18.87 |
0.53 |
13.87 |
0.44 |
12.15 |
0.64 |
13.54 |
0.38 |
15.12 |
2 |
0.72 |
12.9 |
0.72 |
13.81 |
0.9 |
12.58 |
0.95 |
11.58 |
0.58 |
13.28 |
0.45 |
14.49 |
3 |
0.54 |
20.8 |
0.51 |
20.94 |
0.51 |
20.85 |
0.65 |
20.55 |
0.41 |
23.36 |
0.6 |
19.04 |
4 |
0.30 |
15.5 |
0.45 |
13.77 |
0.19 |
15.48 |
0.23 |
15.82 |
0.14 |
20.66 |
0.5 |
11 |
6 |
0.48 |
16.9 |
0.4 |
17.74 |
0.41 |
18.8 |
0.44 |
18.14 |
0.46 |
17.13 |
0.69 |
14.29 |
7 |
0.57 |
10.8 |
0.54 |
11.17 |
0.5 |
10.51 |
0.78 |
10.48 |
0.61 |
10.78 |
0.42 |
11.04 |
9 |
0.46 |
14.3 |
0.51 |
13.12 |
0.4 |
14.06 |
0.3 |
16.92 |
0.51 |
14.14 |
0.56 |
14.46 |
10 |
0.40 |
10.4 |
0.44 |
9.44 |
0.67 |
10.83 |
0.12 |
11.52 |
0.52 |
10.41 |
0.26 |
12.91 |
11 |
0.36 |
16.6 |
0.27 |
17.38 |
0.35 |
16.39 |
0.42 |
16.6 |
0.41 |
15.93 |
0.34 |
17.09 |
12 |
0.46 |
16.4 |
0.34 |
19.32 |
0.25 |
16.83 |
0.74 |
15.34 |
0.35 |
18.01 |
0.6 |
15.12 |
13 |
1.21 |
14.7 |
1.15 |
16.1 |
1.13 |
16.2 |
1.55 |
13.72 |
1.49 |
14.1 |
0.71 |
13.13 |
Average |
0.54 |
14.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerals in italics denote weighted composites
Additional drill hole results will be published shortly once all
assays from the next full section line have been received.
Sampling Quality Analysis and Quality Control
Logging and sampling are undertaken at site in Bayovar under a
QA/QC protocol developed by Focus in conjunction with Golder
Associates. Due to the friable nature of the diatomite, the core
cannot be split by diamond saw or mechanical splitter, and has to
be split by hand. Once logged and sampled, the core is bagged and
transported in sealed plastic drums by Focus personnel to Certimin
laboratories in Lima for analysis. Phosphorous (P205) is determined
by gravimetric methods. Major oxides are determined by ICPOES and
silica by gravimetric analysis. Certimin is an affiliated ISO 9001
laboratory and uses standards for phosphate and silica from the
Association of Fertilizer and Phosphate Chemists. Analytical
accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent
blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Quality control
is further assured by Focus's QA/QC program which involves the
insertion by Focus personnel of blind certified standards, blanks
and core duplicates into the sample stream at regular intervals in
order to independently assess analytical precision and accuracy of
each batch of samples as they are received from the laboratory.
Background
The Bayovar 12 concession shows potential to host a large
sedimentary phosphate deposit. The Bayovar district is situated in
the Sechura Desert, a north-trending basin approximately 22,000
square kilometres in area comprising Miocene-aged sedimentary
rocks. Phosphate was discovered in the 1950s during drilling for
petroleum. It occurs as beds of pelletal phosphate within the
Zapallal formation, a thick sequence of diatomites and sandstones.
The phosphate layers are remarkably regular in P2O5 content over
long distances, a typical characteristic of marine phosphate
deposits. At Vale's Bayovar mine, the soft and friable nature of
the phosphate rock and diatomite permits mining by conventional
truck and shovel without the use of explosives.
To view Figures 1 & 2, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/952065_F1-2.pdf.
On January 14, 2014, the Company's Peruvian subsidiary, Agrifos
Peru SAC, signed a formal option agreement for the acquisition of
shares in Juan Paulo Quay SAC, the titleholder of the Bayovar 12
non-metallic mining concession. Agrifos can earn a 70 per cent
interest of the issued share capital of JPQ by investing in
exploration and making a series of cash payments up to the
completion of a positive prefeasibility study, after which Agrifos
will have the first right of refusal to purchase the remaining 30
per cent of JPQ.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this release were
prepared under the supervision of David Cass, Focus's President,
who is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and
Geoscientists of British Columbia, and a Qualified Person in
accordance with National Instrument 43-101.
About Focus
Phosphate rock is a raw material for fertilizers and vital to
world food production. Focus is acquiring and developing quality
phosphate projects in Latin America where the discovery and
development of new deposits is becoming increasingly important
given the growing demand and limited local supply of phosphate for
fertilizer production. For further information, please call
604-630-5544 or visit
our website www.focusventuresltd.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Ralph Rushton, Director & Vice-President, Corporate
Development
Symbol: (TSX-VENTURE:FCV)
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Focus Ventures Ltd.Ralph RushtonDirector & Vice-President,
Corporate Development(604) 630-5544(604)
682-1514info@focusventuresltd.comwww.focusventuresltd.com
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