FORTE ENERGY NL
ACN 009 087 852
ASX/AIM CODE: FTE
Telephone: +618 9322 4071, Fax: +618 9322 4073
ASX, AIM and Media Release
4 February 2010
Bir En Nar Resource Drilling Update, Mauritania
__________________________________________________________________________________
* Bir En Nar diamond core resource drilling program nearing completion
* Preliminary field results are in line with previous exploration results
* Field results and observatrions giving improved understanding of composition of Bir En Nar uranium
prospect
* Resource statement planned for Q1, subject to receiving assay results
* 6,000m R/C drilling program of 10 uranium anomalies around Bir Moghrein commencing 15 February
2010
International uranium company Forte Energy NL ("Forte Energy" or "The Company") (ASX/AIM: FTE) is pleased
to provide the following update in relation to its resource diamond core drilling program which is nearing
completion at its Bir En Nar Uranium Prospect in Mauritania.
Much of the current drilling program is infill drilling in order to increase the density of drilling
results sufficient to enable a resource calculation. While the Company is experiencing delays in obtaining
initial assay results, it is reassured by the preliminary field results obtained from handheld
scintillometers which indicate that grades from the current drilling are likely to be consistent with
those from the initial R/C (Reverse Circulation) drilling program carried out in 2007.
To view Fig.1 Forte Energy's exploration permits in Mauritania, please open the following link in a new
window: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ftefig1-.pdf
The Bir En Nar prospect is a 900 metre long radioactive zone averaging 50-70 metres in width and following
a tectonic structure in a north-west to south-east direction. A smaller parallel zone occurs a few hundred
metres to the south-west.
The planned initial program of around 4,600m of priority holes was completed in early January 2010 at the
Bir En Nar prospect. However, it was decided to proceed with an additional 7 drillholes in order to
complete a more extensive 35 x 35 metre sampling grid to enable a resource classification down to a depth
of 100 metres. Drilling of these additional holes is nearing completion.
To view Fig.2 Resource drilling program at Bir En Nar, please open the following link in a new window:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ftefig2-.pdf
Incorporating the results from the 2007 R/C drilling together with the field observations and
scintillometer readings from the current diamond core drilling has enhanced the Company's understanding of
the lithology of the Bir En Nar prospect.
Logging and mapping of this information allows for the vein size, location and direction to be estimated.
This indicates several things: firstly that depth extent is continued as new holes are drilled deeper,
secondly that veins or alteration zones appear to be deeper than originally thought and thirdly that there
are actually multiple veins.
Several cross sections of the main target area have been prepared. These are preliminary interpretations
and will be refined further as results from downhole radiometric logging and chemical assays are received.
Descriptions of the different zones are given following the cross-section images.
To view Fig.3 Cross-section through BNR01 at Bir En Nar, please open the following link in a new window:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ftefig3-.pdf
To view Fig.4 Cross-section through BNR04 at Bir En Nar, please open the following link in a new window:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ftefig4-.pdf
To view Fig.5 Cross-section through BNR35 at Bir En Nar, please open the following link in a new window:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ftefig5-.pdf
To view Fig.6 Cross-section through BNR41 at Bir En Nar, please open the following link in a new window:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ftefig6-.pdf
QBGC. The quartz biotite granite coarse type is located on the north-west part of the structure. It is
highlighted by the biotite blastes and the orientated fabric. It is the host rock of the mineralisation on
the north-west part of the structure.
BNGC . Bir En Nar coarse granite is located on the central and south-east part of the structure. It is
highlighted by plagioclase blastes and more echigranulare grains and weak orientated fabric. It is the host
rock for the mineralisation on the central and south-east part of the structure.
BNGG. This is located on the north part of the western structure and is highlighted by the disseminated
garnets and tourmaline.
BNGM. Bir En Nar granite medium grains is a medium granite usually pink colour and is highlighted by the
low content on biotite and quartz. This granite intrudes the other types of granite and may be the engine
for the mineralisation. It may represent younger granite or the result of the albitic alteration front.
Some of the mineralisation is host on this type of rock.
NMGC This is a dark colour coarse granite with higher content on ferromagnesian minerals, located on the
north-west side of the structure however the relationship with the mineralisation is unknown.
MDY layers. Narrow up to 1.5m fine grain dark rock (probably epidote) layers. They are disposed on sallow
dipping south-east layers. There are two layers identified in the central part of the structure. These
layers cut all the other lithologies.
Forte Energy expects to have the final samples dispatched for processing shortly and is aiming to announce
its initial JORC code compliant resource estimate for its 100% owned Bir En Nar prospect by the end of the
first quarter of 2010, subject to receipt of final assay results.
The Company has also finalised its plans for a 6,000m R/C short hole drilling program around Bir Moghrein.
Drilling is scheduled to commence 15 February 2010, and will comprise around 300 holes across 10 prospects.
This drilling will follow up extensive fieldwork carried out on these anomalies during 2009 that confirmed
a number of highly prospective calcrete-hosted uranium deposits, including the Leg Beyja which has been
found to extend more than 10 kilometres and is up to 500 metres wide and Anomaly 068 from which trenching
samples returned assays of up to 9,300ppm U3O8.
Further updates will be provided when available.
Mark Reilly
Managing Director
For further information contact:
Mark Reilly, Managing Director
Forte Energy N.L. Tel: +618 9322 4071
Alastair Stratton/Tim Graham
Matrix Corporate Capital LLP Tel: +44 (0) 203 206 7000
Conduit PR
Jos Simson/Emily Fenton Tel: +44 (0) 207 429 6603
Stuart Laing
RFC Corporate Finance Ltd Tel: +618 9480 2506
(AIM Nominated Adviser to the Company)
Note:
The information in this report that relates to exploration results in West Africa is based on information
compiled by Mr. Bosse Gustafsson of Forte Energy NL. Mr. Gustafsson has sufficient experience which is
relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity
undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the "Australasian Code for
Reporting of Mineral Resources and Reserves". Mr. Gustafsson is a member of the European Federation of
Geologists a Recognised Overseas Professional Organisation ("ROPO"). Mr Bosse Gustafsson is a full time
Technical Director of Forte Energy NL and is responsible for exploration activities in Mauritania and
Guinea. Mr. Gustafsson consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on their information
in the form and context in which it appears.
Downhole gamma logging/probing of drill holes provides a powerful tool for uranium companies to explore
for, and evaluate, uranium deposits. Such a method measures the natural gamma rays emitted from material
surrounding a drill hole out to around 0.5 metre from its centre - the gamma probe is therefore capable of
sampling a much larger volume than that which would normally be recovered from a core or RC hole. These
measurements are used to estimate uranium concentrations with the commonly accepted initial assumption
being that the uranium is in (secular) equilibrium with its daughter products (or radio-nuclides) which are
the principal gamma emitters. If uranium is not in equilibrium (viz. in disequilibrium) - as a result of
the redistribution (depletion or enhancement) of uranium and/or its daughter products - then the true
uranium concentration in the holes logged using the gamma probe will be higher or lower than those reported
in the announcement.
Total count gamma logging does not account for energy derived from thorium and potassium but is calibrated
on the uranium band and factor applied to account for the average effect of thorium and potassium and thus
the result is expressed as an equivalent value or ppm eU308. The logging programme was undertaken by
Poseidon Geophysics (Pty) Ltd utilising an Auslog Logging System using instruments calibrated at Pelindaba,
South Africa, an IAEA accepted and approved standard facility. Data was converted from raw counts per
second of natural gamma rays to eU3O8 using the calibration constant obtained from measurements made at the
Pelindaba calibration borehole. Poseidon Geophysics carried out regular checks to validate the accuracy of
probe data using a test hole, BNR14, located on site. Uranium mineralisation grades through this report
annotated with a sub-prefix 'e' have been reported as uranium equivalent grades derived from downhole gamma
ray logging results and should be regarded as approximations only.
Forte Energy NL