TIDMALBA
RNS Number : 3606F
Alba Mineral Resources PLC
21 March 2022
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Alba Mineral Resources plc
("Alba" or the "Company")
Clogau-St David's Gold Mine Update
Assays from Waste Tip Return Grades up to 11.35 g/t
Alba Mineral Resources plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to provide an
update regarding the Clogau-St David's Gold Mine ("Clogau" or the
"Mine"), where assay results from a Phase 2 sampling programme
undertaken at the historic Waste Tip have returned gold grades of
up to 11.35 g/t.
Key Points
-- Gold grades of up to 11.35 g/t from samples of the five pits dug in January 2022.
o Whole-sample analysis averages up to 3.50 g/t, similar to
Phase 1 results.
o Average gold grades returned for the fine fractions (<1mm)
are up to 2.13 g/t.
-- Further size fraction analysis has highlighted how gold is
concentrated in the finest material (<1 mm) extracted from the
dump.
-- 107 kg of concentrate produced in the Company's pilot
processing plant from 8.76 tonnes of sub 20mm fines material
collected in January 2022.
o The panning of one sample of the <20mm fraction reveals a
material amount of visible gold.
-- Next steps
o Upgrade the 107 kg of concentrate, assess the economic
potential of processing this section of the Waste Tip and develop
an outline Mining Plan.
o Evaluate taking a further bulk sample from lower down within
the Waste Tip to access potentially higher-grade material.
Alba's Executive Chairman, George Frangeskides, commented:
"With gold grades of up to 11.35 g/t, in tandem with a
successful initial bulk sampling programme, we hope to fast-track
the start of low-cost production from the Waste Tip at this
historic gold mine. Additionally, given the fine nature of the
material that has the potential to filter downwards, we are
exploring options to take a second bulk sample from the lower
reaches of the Waste Tip that could further strengthen the
Project's economics."
Details
Further to the RNS dated 10 January 2022, Alba has received the
assay results from its Phase 2 sampling programme at the Waste Tip
at the Clogau-St David's Gold Mine ("Clogau" or the "Mine") and,
through its pilot processing plant, has also produced 107 kg of
concentrate from an 8.76 tonne bulk sample collected from the Waste
Tip. The panning of one sample of the <20mm fraction derived
from Pit 1 has confirmed a material quantity of visible gold
(Figure 1).
Figure 1: First gold pan of <20mm sample from Pit 1 (March
2022)
The Waste Tip at Clogau, which covers 2,833 m(2), comprises ore
rock mined but discarded and not processed for its gold content
during historical mining. Having completed an initial programme,
Phase 1, at the Waste Tip in June 2021, which returned significant
gold grades of up to 9.89 g/t, the Company commenced a Phase 2
pitting and sampling programme in January 2022. This was focused on
a more targeted area within the Waste Tip (Figure 2) to assess
grades and tonnages more accurately, so that Alba can proceed
towards a formal decision on the commercial exploitation of the
Waste Tip, whether in part or as a whole.
The Waste Tip is close to Alba's pilot processing plant and
could be mined at low cost, adding another route to near-term gold
production at Clogau. Current estimations of the higher-grade
portion of the dump indicate an in-situ tonnage of approximately
11,000 tonnes, of which up to 4,000 tonnes of fine material
(<20mm) could be available for processing for gold.
Figure 2: Location of zone selected for Phase 2 pitting (red).
Waste Tip boundary shown in white.
Five pits were dug by excavator and the material excavated from
each pit was screened on-site to a size fraction of less than 20mm.
From this finer material (1-2 tonnes of material per pit), a sample
of around 60kg was taken per pit and submitted to an independent
laboratory for assay.
Initial processing of the samples was delayed due to
Covid-related staffing issues at the independent laboratory. Once
processing was able to commence, for each 60kg sample, half of the
material from each pit (Branch A) was crushed and then split into
five samples which were assayed separately in order to give a
representative average of the gold deportment for the whole sample.
This is termed the 'whole-sample' assay grade.
The other half of the sample (Branch B) was screened to three
size fractions: coarse (20mm-5mm), medium (5m-1mm), and fine
(<1mm). Each size fraction was then assayed separately for
further size fraction analysis.
Table 1: Whole-Sample Assay Grades from Individual Samples (Branch A)
Sample ID Fire Assay Sample ID Fire Assay Sample ID Fire Assay
Grade Grade Grade
PIT1-A1FA1 11.35 PIT2-A4FA2 0.14 PIT4-A3FA1 0.14
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A1FA2 8.72 PIT2-A5FA1 0.14 PIT4-A3FA2 0.11
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A2FA1 1.11 PIT2-A5FA2 0.14 PIT4-A4FA1 0.79
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A2FA2 1.98 PIT3-A1FA1 1.04 PIT4-A4FA2 0.41
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A3FA1 2.72 PIT3-A1FA2 1.18 PIT4-A5FA1 0.05
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A3FA2 1.08 PIT3-A2FA1 0.38 PIT4-A5FA2 0.27
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A4FA1 3.16 PIT3-A2FA2 0.35 PIT5-A1FA1 0.17
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A4FA2 1.28 PIT3-A3FA1 0.37 PIT5-A1FA2 0.49
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A5FA1 2.22 PIT3-A3FA2 0.58 PIT5-A2FA1 0.07
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT1-A5FA2 1.38 PIT3-A4FA1 1.65 PIT5-A2FA2 0.13
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A1FA1 0.13 PIT3-A4FA2 1.88 PIT5-A3FA1 2.26
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A1FA2 0.12 PIT3-A5FA1 1.41 PIT5-A3FA2 0.81
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A2FA1 0.35 PIT3-A5FA2 1.9 PIT5-A4FA1 0.2
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A2FA2 0.65 PIT4-A1FA1 0.48 PIT5-A4FA2 0.72
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A3FA1 0.21 PIT4-A1FA2 0.26 PIT5-A5FA1 1.35
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A3FA2 0.54 PIT4-A2FA1 0.05 PIT5-A5FA2 0.53
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
PIT2-A4FA1 0.37 PIT4-A2FA2 0.09
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Table 1 shows the whole-sample assay results for individual
samples (Branch A), with grades above 1 g/t highlighted. Table 1
shows that gold grades of up to 11.35 g/t were returned from Pit 1,
exceeding the highest grades seen to date in individual samples
from the Waste Tip in Phase 1 sampling.
Figure 3: View of the highest-grade Pit 1 with accompanying
whole-sample average, highest and lowest gold grades returned.
Table 2 demonstrates further size fraction analysis which
confirms the observations of Phase 1 sampling, in that gold is
concentrated in the fine fraction of material extracted from the
waste dump, with averages reaching up to 2.13 g/t. The highest
average grade for the medium (1mm-5mm) and coarse (5mm-20mm) size
fractions are 1.03 g/t and 0.56 g/t, respectively.
These results give representative mill head grades of 0.27 to
3.5 g/t (whole-sample average grades) for immediate processing from
these five sites.
Table 2 shows a summary of the average gold grades for the three
size fractions (Branch B), whole-sample average gold grades (Branch
A) and representative mill head grades (Branch A + B) for each
pit.
Table 2: Average Gold Assay Results per Size Fraction (Branch
B)
Sample Size Fraction Gold Grade (g/t)
Mass %
----
Pit Coarse Medium Fine Coarse Medium Fine Weighted Whole-sample Mill
ID (20-5mm) (5-1mm) (<1mm) Average Average Average Average Average Head
Sample Sample Sample Au Au Au Au Au (Branch Grades
Mass Mass Mass A) (Branch
% % % A +
B)
---------- --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------
1 18 41 41 0.56 0.33 2.13 1.11 3.5 2.30
---------- --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------
2 21 46 33 0.09 0.31 0.38 0.28 0.28 0.28
---------- --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------
3 20 39 41 0.55 0.27 0.9 0.58 1.07 0.83
---------- --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------
4 26 39 35 0.05 0.06 0.62 0.25 0.27 0.26
---------- --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------
5 30 33 37 0.18 1.03 1.02 0.71 0.76 0.72
---------- --------- -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- ---------
The variation in average gold grades between branch A and B is
consistent with the nuggety nature of the gold. This supports the
decision of Alba to install a simple gravity processing plant to
capture the majority of the gold.
Table 3: Comparison of Average Mill Head Grades from Phases 1 and 2
Pit ID Mill Head Grades Mill Head Grades Average Mill
Phase 1 (2021) Phase 2 (2022) Head Grades (g/t)
(g/t) (g/t) (Branch A (Phase 1 + Phase
+ B) 2)
1 2.68 2.30 2.49
----------------- ----------------- -------------------
2 0.26 0.28 0.27
----------------- ----------------- -------------------
3 0.88 0.83 0.86
----------------- ----------------- -------------------
4 0.49 0.26 0.38
----------------- ----------------- -------------------
5 0.79 0.72 0.76
----------------- ----------------- -------------------
Waste Dump
Average 1.02 0.88 0.95
----------------- ----------------- -------------------
Table 3 shows that weighted average head grades for each Pit
from Phase 2 are very close in value to the grades returned for
each pit from Phase 1 sampling in June 2021. This further increases
the confidence in the average gold grades consistently returned
from pits in the Waste Tip at Clogau.
Measurements show that the sub-20mm size fraction constitutes an
average of 36% of the total mass of the dump. This material has the
potential to be mined at low cost in Alba's on-site processing
plant once a plan has been designed and submitted to excavate and
process the fines from this section of the Waste Tip.
Processing of Bulk Sample from Waste Tip
Taking large bulk samples has allowed Alba to representatively
quantify average gold grades for each pit, helping to counteract
the variability between individual samples due to the nuggety
nature of the gold within the Waste Tip at the Mine.
Alba has completed the processing of the 8.76 tonnes of
excavated fine (<20mm) material from these five pits, which
material had been stockpiled at the mine site. The purpose of
processing is both to extract the gold content from the bulk sample
and to further assess the economic potential of processing the
higher-grade section of the dump.
Next Steps
The 107 kg of concentrate produced from the processing of the
8.76 tonne bulk sample will now be processed on-site over a Wilfley
shaking table for further gravimetric concentration of the gold.
This will enable the Company to further assess the economic
potential of processing the section of the Waste Tip covered by
this Phase 2 exercise. A positive outcome from that assessment will
lead to the development of an outline Mining Plan which will feed
into a formal planning application to exploit that section of the
Waste Tip.
The Company is also evaluating the taking of an additional bulk
sample from a zone lower down within the Waste Tip in order to
access further potentially higher-grade material. Given the
higher-grade material in the Waste Tip has been shown to reside
within the fine fraction, it is possible that a greater proportion
of this material will have migrated over the decades to the lower
reaches of the Waste Tip (see Figure 4).
Figure 4. Aerial view of a section of the Waste Tip showing the
maximum depth extent (approximately 10/ metres)
Update on Water Discharge Application
As previously reported, the Company has been progressing work on
a set of detailed submissions seeking the further consideration by
the authorities of the Company's dewatering application for the
necessary permits to allow treated mine water from the Llechfraith
Shaft to discharge to the River Cwm-Llechen.
Following further discussions with the competent regulator, the
Company and its retained hydrogeological, geochemical and
ecological consultants have generated further data and analysis
which have been included in an extensive report which has been
submitted to the regulator for its consideration and ultimate
decision.
S
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company
are responsible for the release of this announcement.
Glossary
Assay: A process used to determine proportions of precious metals in ores.
Fire Assay: The industry standard for obtaining gold concentrations (g/t) from high-grade ore.
Head Grade: Quantity of valuable mineral or metal contained in
each tonne of ore delivered to the concentrator.
Pitting: Digging of shallow pits usually employed to test
shallow, extensive, flat-lying bodies of mineralization.
Sampling: Taking small pieces of rock at intervals along exposed
mineralisation for assay (to determine the mineral content).
Tonne: One tonne is equal to 1 000 kilograms (also known as a metric ton).
Waste: Ore rock mined with an insufficient gold content to justify processing.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating
to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results
that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market
and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the
regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation,
uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans,
uncertainties resulting from working in a new political
jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration,
uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting
rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of
regulatory and other third party consents and approvals,
uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability
to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of
unexpected events.
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing,
uncertainties also exist in connection with the ongoing Coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic which may result in further lockdown measures
and restrictions being imposed by Governments and other competent
regulatory bodies and agencies from time to time in response to the
pandemic, which measures and restrictions may prevent or inhibit
the Company from executing its work activities according to the
timelines set out in this announcement or indeed from executing its
work activities at all. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may
also affect the Company's ability to execute its work activities
due to personnel and contractors testing positive for COVID-19 or
otherwise being required to self-isolate from time to time.
Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided
herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and
uncertainties and other factors.
Competent Person Declaration
The information in this release that relates to Exploration
Results has been reviewed by Mr Mark Austin. Mr Austin is a member
of SACNASP (Reg. No. 400235/06), Fellow of The Geological Society
and Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa. He has a
B.Sc. Honours in Geology with 38 years' experience.
Mark Austin has sufficient experience that is relevant to the
style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and
to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person
as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for
Reporting of Exploration targets, Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves', also known as the JORC Code. The JORC
code is a national reporting organisation that is aligned with
CRIRSCO. Mr Austin consents to the inclusion in the announcement of
the matters based on his information in the form and context in
which they appear.
For further information, please visit
www.albamineralresources.com or contact:
Alba Mineral Resources plc
George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman +44 20 3950 0725
SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (Nomad)
Andrew Emmott +44 20 3368 3555
ETX Capital (Broker)
Thomas Smith +44 20 7392 1494
St Brides Partners (Financial PR) alba@stbridespartners.co.uk
Isabel de Salis / Catherine Leftley
/ Max Bennett
Alba's Project and Investment Portfolio
Mining Projects Operated Location Ownership
by Alba
Clogau (gold) Wales 90%
----------- ----------
Dolgellau Gold Exploration
(gold) Wales 90-100%
----------- ----------
Gwynfynydd (gold) Wales 100%
----------- ----------
Limerick (zinc-lead) Ireland 100%
----------- ----------
Investments Held by Alba
Greenroc Mining Plc (mining) Greenland 54 %
----------- ----------
Horse Hill (oil) England 11.765%
----------- ----------
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