Premier African Minerals (LON:PREM) has acquired exploration rights over three tenements in Benin already worked by the locals for coloured gems and tantalum.
Artisanal activity over the licence over the area is extensive and Premier will explore these as well as look for additional targets.
Three distinct pegmatite belts up to 10 km long had already been identified through trench work, Premier added.
Premier intends to assess these tenements for possible fast-track development in the same way the RHA tungsten and Zulu tantalum projects.
George Roach, chief executive, said: “The area under licence has seen active artisanal working for cassiterite, tantalite and coloured gemstones.
The Ministry of Mines in Benin has recently stopped all artisanal mining activities in order to facilitate mineral exploration and industrial mining.
Artisanal mining for tantalum ore (tantalite or coltan) and coloured gemstones, such as tourmaline and aquamarine, has been undertaken in the area for about 15 years.
Premier will map the known artisanal sites: Toumi for tantalum; Gambou I for gem quality aquamarine and Gambou II for red and green gem quality tourmaline.
After the rainy season, other targets will be explored to assess the potential for other commodities such as gold.
Premier must spend a minimum US$125,000 on exploration in the first year.
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