Freetown — Chief executive officer of African Minerals Ltd, a mineral exploration company with significant interests in Sierra Leone, Friday told journalists at China House in Freetown that as at August 30, 2008, an excess of 38,000 metres of diamond drilling complete.

Roy Pitchford explained a PowerPoint presentation indicating a total of 114 diamond drill holes at the Numbara, Simbili and Marampa prospects, testing to approximately 400 metres vertical depth below surface with several holes terminating in mineralisation.

"A 28 km magnetite signature identified from aeromagnetic and ground mapping, up to 1.5 km wide; magnetite iron ore mineralisation in banded iron formation at Tonkolili confirmed over significant strike lengths and widths by systematic drilling on three target areas." High iron concentrate grades averaging approximately 68% Fe in magnetite concentrate iron ore product; Low levels of contaminants - silica (<5% SiO2,) alumina (<0.4% Al2O3) and phosphorus (0.01% P).

He said He said survey work started on Pepel Port facilities after government of Sierra Leone gave go-ahead in line with exclusive Memorandum of Understanding announced on 6 May 2008. RSG Global - Coffey Mining Pty Ltd was appointed to undertake critical components of the definitive feasibility study for the Tonkolili Iron Ore Project," he said.

Meanwhile, SENET has been commissioned to begin work on port infrastructure engineering.

Scott Wilson Railways commissioned to carry out railway infrastructure engineering studies, including upgrade of existing Pepel to Marampa railway and extension from Marampa to Tonkolili at Standard Gauge.