Gassaat Phosphate
PhosCo has submitted a new exploration permit in Tunisia's Kasserine region. The application covers an area of 112km2 and forms part of PhosCo's plan to assemble and develop Tunisia's Northern Basin, in partnership with the community. The Gassaat permit application encapsulates the former Chaketma project, including interpreted extensions of the deposit.
Project location
Gassaat is located 210 km south-west of Tunis by road and just 35km from the nearest railhead which connects to the Port of Goulette/Rades for export.
The bulk of the phosphate is located at the base of a massive limestone unit close to the top of a high segmented plateau, which is divided into distinct domains or prospects by a series of normal faults.
For a full description of the KEL and GK resource estimations, refer to the following releases on the ASX website:
- 15/03/2022: Phosphate Resource Update Delivers 50% increase at KEL.
- 17/11/22: 90% Conversion of Inferred to Indicated Resources at GK.
The deposit has a JORC compliant Resource of 146Mt @ 20.6% P₂O₅, confirmed from drilling at only two of the project’s six prospects:
- GK: 90.9Mt @ 20.2% P₂O₅
- KEL : 55.5Mt @ 21.2% P₂O₅
- SABOZ: 9 holes drilled (ave 15.3m @ 20.7% P₂O₅)
- DOH : One hole drilled (13.25m @ 18.8% P₂O₅)
- GE: One hole drilled (2m @ 13.4% P₂O₅)
6 to 9. KA, GS, KH, KM : Undrilled
Only drill results from GK and the northern area of KEL have been used to calculate the current Resource of 146Mt @20.6% P₂O₅.
The phosphate resource at KEL is large, shallow and features simple geology. Drilling results have produced consistent, wide, high-grade phosphate mineralisation close to surface, with 50% of the prospect's known surface mineralisation yet to be drilled.
Phosphate Drill Results
KEL
| CHDD079 | 37.6m | @21.9% P₂O₅ | from 56m |
| CHDD115 | 33.6m | @22.2% P₂O₅ | from 65m |
| CHDD078 | 35.3m | @21.0% P₂O₅ | from 23m |
| CHDD112 | 33.8m | @21.6% P₂O₅ | from 42m |
| CHDD097 | 32.9m | @21.6% P₂O₅ | from 59m |
| CHDD072 | 31.2m | @21.4% P₂O₅ | from 56m |
GK
| CHDD160 | 49.6m | @21.1% P₂O₅ | from 135m |
| CHDD156 | 31.9m | @21.08% P₂O₅ | from 120m |
| CHDD161 | 30.4m | @20.2% P₂O₅ | from 67m |
The current Measured and Indicated JORC resource at KEL totals 55.5Mt @ 21.2% P₂O₅. The resource is defined from drilling which only covers 47% of the surface area of known KEL mineralisation.
Conceptual Development
In December 2022, the
Gassaat Scoping Study confirmed a long life, high margin project of 46 years at 1.5Mt/year. Conceptual development is envisaged in two stages:
Stage 1
Rock Phosphate Mine
- Multi-decade mine life.
- Open pit mine, low strip ratio, simple wash/screen or flotation, favourable metallurgy.
Stage 2
Integrated Fertiliser Project
- Commence BFS on value-add phosphoric acid plant.
- Road, rail, power, oil and gas pipelines and port capacity infrastructure available.
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