August 20, 2009

Rocher Deboule Seems To Have Timed Its Entry Onto The Manganese Scene With Great Finesse

By Charles Wyatt

Back in 2007 Larry Reaugh, a long time fan of molybdenum, decided to widen the portfolio of Canadian-listed Rocher Deboule, whilst simultaneously keeping within its self-imposed remit of seeking mineral properties containing commodities used in the steel industry. The first move he made, in June of that year, was the acquisition of some manganese properties in Mohave County, Arizona. Here there are several deposits that were worked sporadically between 1928 and 1952, and several stockpiles too. This acquisition was followed in July by the acquisition of three manganese-bearing mineral occurrences located in the south of British Columbia. Of these, Black Prince offers the encouragement from historical evidence of three metre wide samples assaying from 22.2% to 40.8% manganese and 30% to 57% silica, while Junction Creek has exposed areas of chert which are intensely fractured and impregnated with black manganese oxides. A rock chip sample from this occurrence assayed 33.4% manganese. And a similar sample from Olson across a width of 3.1 metres assayed 15.8% manganese.

These projects are still owned by Rocher Deboule which has since moved manganese to the top of its target list. And it’s easy to see why. There is no substitute for manganese in the manufacture of steel, which uses between 10 pounds and 20 pounds per tonne.

http://www.minesite.com/nc/minews/singlenews/article/rocher-deboule-seems-to-have-timed-its-entry-onto-the-manganese-scene-with-great-finesse/1.html