Callabonna Resources  is planning to carry out drilling to test an Exploration Target of 5 million to 15 million tonnes at between 35% and 45% manganese at Mali Manganese’s Ansongo Project in Mali.

The company is managing exploration at Ansongo to earn a 12.1% interest in the project.

Mali Manganese has also received a letter from the Mali Ministry supporting resumption of mining at the permit.

Drilling will be carried out in two stages over the southern part of the Takavasita Hills at Ansongo to test for high grade manganese oxide mineralisation.

The first stage will confirm the existence and nature of the mineralisation and consist of about 2,000 metres in total while the second is aimed at resource definition which will consist of greater than 6,000 metres.

The Takavasita hills are located in the eastern part of the permit and the initial Exploration Target is concerned only with hills D, E, F, G and H where there is adequate topographic control.

In addition to the Exploration Target drilling, previous work has located manganese mineralisation north of Hill D. Limited reconnaissance drilling is planned to assess the potential of this mineralisation.

Black manganese oxide with substantial thickness and grade of more than 40% manganese have been observed in the Takavasita Hills along a strike length of 3 kilometres.a

Ansongo covers 212 square kilometres and there is exploration upside in the 15 kilometres of prospective trend continuing west of Takavasita defined by intermittent outcrop of manganese oxide through sand cover that remains untested by drilling.

It is located in close proximity to major road networks in West Africa and 80 kilometres from the proposed West African rail network extension to the Tambao Mine.

• [Editor:Sophie]