Pre-screening of ores will continue through
the coming wet season
LONDON, Oct. 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Meridian Mining SE (TSXV:
MNO) ("Meridian" or the "Company") today announced that it has been
granted a water-use permit ("the permit") by SEDAM (Secretary of
State for Environmental Development, Rondônia, Brazil), valid until 19th of October 2023, to be used for a rotating wet
screen ("trommel") at the Vitalino prospect. The trommel
effectively washes soil from the mined mineralisation and produces
a clean gravel mix for subsequent sizing then processing "jigging".
The Company has applied for additional water abstraction permits at
the Ervino, Jair Mundi, Antônio
Gomes and Araçatuba prospects, for use in wet screening.
With the addition of this permit the Company has achieved three
key tasks:
- Continue to maintain the lower OPEX associated with
pre-screening operations all year round including now the
previously prohibitive wet season;
- Continue to produce stable volumes of higher quality Mn oxide
concentrate all year round; and
- Plan for the long term via the 5 year permit validity.
In July, the incoming management commenced an optimisation of
the process flowsheet, whereby it would pre-screen the mined
material at or adjacent to the point of extraction. Currently the
Company has three dry screens in the field with a fourth in
installation. These screens remove waste soil and clay (and the
finer gravels), producing a higher-grade pre-concentrate on site.
The reduction in the fine waste component can reduce the volume of
material to be trucked and processed by up to 75% in dry season
conditions. This reduces the need to contain soil in the tailings
ponds at the plants (and to truck it back to site for
rehabilitation). This optimisation has enabled the Company to
reduce trucking rental requirements by 45% and is a projected fuel
saving of greater than 35%.
The dry screens become inefficient during the wet season. By
having the permit granted the trommel can be mobilised to the field
allowing the Company to continue to remove the waste soils and
clays, and truck a pre-concentrate during the wet season. The dry
screen rejects and the trommel reject is stockpiled for later
rescreening and recovery of the finer gravel Mn oxide size
fractions. The soil is returned to the extraction site (top-soil
above the colluvial horizon is separately segregated to return the
pasture to its natural productive state).
The trommel that will be used in the field was previously
installed at the Rio Madeira plant and is in good working
condition. It will be serviced and then mobilised to the field at a
minimal financial cost. The majority additional requirements of:
power generation, water pumps and piping will also come from
existing equipment stocks. An efficient use of the Company's assets
and technical skills.
Mr Clark, Interim CEO & President, states, "The Espigão team
has achieved another great result to lower OPEX and maximise the
operational economics of the project. In anticipation of the wet
season our employees have delivered a great result through working
closely with the state environmental agency, SEDAM. The empowerment
of local staff and their exposure to both mining economics and best
practices continues to deliver materially beneficial results. The
wet season has traditionally been an unprofitable period with lower
production. Going forward, we can maintain the now cost-efficient
pre-screening all year round via the permit's granting and the use
of the trommel. The use of surplus equipment is another management
initiative that shows their drive to improve the Company's
operating economics."
Qualified person
The technical information about the Company's exploration
activity has been prepared under the supervision of and verified by
Dr. Adrian McArthur (B.Sc. Hons,
PhD. FAusIMM), the Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining, who is a
"qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument
43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining SE
Gilbert Clark
Interim CEO, President and Director
ABOUT MERIDIAN
Meridian Mining SE is focused on the acquisition, exploration,
development and mining activities in Brazil. The Company is
currently focused on exploring and developing the Espigão manganese
and gold projects, the Bom Futuro tin JV area, and adjacent areas
in the state of Rondônia. Meridian is currently producing
high grade manganese at its project located at Espigão do
Oeste.
Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking
information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of
applicable securities laws. These statements include, among
others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for
exploration and development of its properties and potential
mineralization. These statements address future events and
conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among
others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete
anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future
exploration and development activities, exploration and development
risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party
consents, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic
factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions,
relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and
supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices
and one-time events. In making the forward-looking
statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions
including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the
proposed exploration and development of mineral projects will
proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in
sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional
financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The
Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise
required by applicable securities legislation.
The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility
studies on any of its mineral properties, and no mineral reserve
estimate has been established. In particular, because the
Company's production decision relating to Meridian Mineraçao Jaburi
S.A, manganese project is not based upon a feasibility study of
mineral reserves, the economic and technical viability of the
Espigão manganese project has not been established.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved
the contents of this news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor
its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Meridian Mining S.E.
