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Apollo landing most ‘unusual’

here was no shortage of minerals di- surface,” he said. “For a base metals de-
Tversity for Gabonese explorers at Africa posit, this is really unusual…normally your
Down Under as Apollo Minerals Ltd took the sulphide mineralisation won’t come in until
stage following a zinc-lead discovery at its 20/30/40m from surface.”
Kroussou project. Apollo has so far drilled 175 holes with a
Apollo managing director Neil Inwood mineralisation success rate of more than
beamed with confidence for the large-scale 90%.
potential of Kroussou as he stepped to the “We’re looking at an emerging province-
podium. scale system,” Inwood said. “In that [80km]
“We’re quite convinced that this system trend, there’s over 300km of prospective
is world-class,” Inwood told delegates. “It’s contacts…we’re seeing mineralisation ei-
of a scale demonstrated over 80km at this ther through rock chips, sampling, mapping
stage. We consider that it has larger poten- or soils across that complete trend.”
tial as well. We’ve got rigs on the ground The recent discovery will guide Apollo’s
now, the team is on the ground now.” exploration towards new targets as drilling John Welborn
The near-surface discovery accumu- continues at Kroussou.
lated intercepts across five In the meantime, Inwood sector – including batteries, wind turbines,
drill holes for more than 200m said there was an impending solar panels and EVs.
of strike. The mineralisation supply deficit for zinc that was “Zinc is actually quite a modern, forward-
remains open to the north going to see a major fall in the facing mineral,” Inwood said. “A lot of peo-
and south and further assays next decade. ple don’t realise the uses of zinc and the
were pending at the time of “Four of the largest 10 de- new uses that zinc is being established for.”
print. posits are going to be out Spot prices in the base metal have been
Success with the drill bit of production in the next 10 turbulent over the past year, peaking as
has the Apollo team confident years,” he said. “And there high as $US4,200/t and trading as low as
in a potential shear-hosted is going to be at least a 50% $US3,000/t. But its value has generally
system, but Inwood is most increase in demand over the trended upwards over the past decade, pre-
excited at what he described next 20 years for zinc.” viously averaging prices in 2012 of around
as “unusual” mineralisation. Zinc is traditionally used for $US1,700/t.
“What is unusual about galvanising steel but has seen – Fraser Palamara
this deposit is we’re seeing increased demand for applica-
sulphide mineralisation from Neil Inwood tions in the renewable energy

Care for a cause

espite efforts to train hundreds of sur- sation and took the time to thank the gen-
Dgeons in Ethiopia, the need for for- erous help of volunteers and those who
eign aid support still persists. donate key medical supplies and equip-
“In Ethiopia, you probably need about ment.
8,000 orthopaedic surgeons to provide a “They donate their time and we get a
good service,” gastroenterologist and Aus- lot of donated equipment from the Perth
tralian Doctors for Africa (ADF) member hospital system,” he said. “We recycle this
Dr Digby Cullen told Africa Down Under. secondhand medical equipment into these
ADF has successfully trained more than countries.”
100 orthopaedic surgeons and 200 nurses ADF has also made a number of infra-
and technicians in Ethiopia, more than 15 structural and educational contributions to
gastroenterologists in Madagascar and Africa, including a scholarship programme
more than 18 surgeons in Somaliland. The in Somaliland and nearly 20 renovations
network also specialises in orthopaedic or new constructions for hospitals across
surgery, including birth defects such as Ethiopia, Madagascar and Somaliland.
clubfoot. Cullen also noted the support of Austral-
A study from 2020 on sub-Saharan Af- ian resources explorers, including those
rican countries showed that among 1,000 Dr Digby Cullen that took part in this year’s Africa Down
births, up to 20 newborns carried birth de- Under.
fects. Musculo-skeletal defects, such as clubfoot annually in Madagascar while So- “I’d like to thank Base Resources [Ltd]
clubfoot, are the most common. maliland sees around 70 treated per year. for ongoing, long-term financial support…
“Clubfoot has been a real long term ADF has made great strides since its and also to BlackEarth Minerals [Ltd],” he
commitment from Australian Doctors for founding 2005, donating more than 60 said.
Africa,” Cullen said. containers of medical equipment worth up
Roughly 150 children are treated for to $1 million. – Fraser Palamara
Cullen showed great pride in the organi-

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