MMS.L Regulatory News (MMS)

18 Sep 2006 07:00

Maghreb Minerals PLC18 September 2006 MAGHREB MINERALS PLC Drilling on new gravity target commences at Djebba Maghreb Minerals Plc ("Maghreb" or "the Company"), the AIM-listed explorationcompany developing both base and precious metal deposits in North Africa,announces that a drilling programme has commenced which will test the gravityanomaly defined at the Djebba Zinc and Lead (Zn-Pb) project in Tunisia. A gravity and magnetic survey and subsequent data interpretation was completedat Djebba and Djebel Goraa in early August 2006. This survey delineated theknown extent of Zn and Pb mineralisation at Djebba and outlined an additionalarea of anomalous high gravity extending across a zone measuring some 700 metresto the north and 800 metres to the east of the known mineralisation. The Company is in discussion with contractors to obtain the services of a seconddrilling rig in Tunisia with the aim of accelerating the exploration programmeat Djebba and resuming work at Fej Lahdoum. The Company had anticipated commencing pre-feasibility studies on the knownmineralisation at Djebba but has delayed the start of this work until results ofthe exploration work on the newly identified nearby targets are known. Gordon Riddler, Executive Chairman of Maghreb Minerals plc, said: "This latest phase of exploration drilling will test the potential forsignificant expansion of the area of known mineralisation at Djebba. Thisfurther phase of exploration is necessary prior to moving into a pre-feasibilitystudy stage work programme. The Company anticipates commencing a pre-feasibilitystudy on the known mineralisation at Djebba when results of the programme on thenearby geophysical targets have been received. "In light of the encouraging results from the earlier drilling at Djebba andfurther evaluation of the mineralisation at Fej Lahdoum we are in discussionswith a contractor to bring a drilling rig into Tunisia to enable us toaccelerate our work programme. Drilling was suspended during the Augustvacation period and the downtime was utilised for maintenance work on Maghreb'sown drilling rig. Drilling operations have now resumed." The technical content of this press release has been reviewed by the ExecutiveChairman of Maghreb Minerals plc, Gordon Riddler, BSc, MBA, FIMMM, CEng, CSci,CMkt, MCIM, MCMI who has 40 years of experience in the mining sector and is aFellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, a recognisedprofessional association. ENQUIRIES: Maghreb Minerals PlcGordon Riddler, Executive Chairman Tel: +44 (0) 20 7556 7038 HansonWesthouse LLP Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 6100Tim Metcalfe / Richard Morrison Bankside Consultants Tel: +44 (0) 20 7367 8888Michael Padley / Michael Spriggs About Maghreb Minerals Plc Maghreb Minerals Plc is an AIM listed exploration company developing both baseand precious metal deposits in Tunisia and Algeria where it holds the rights toseveral licence areas. The Company is targeting base metals, mainly lead andzinc, but has also identified areas containing barite and fluorite in Tunisiaand gold and copper in Algeria. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange