TIDMALBA
RNS Number : 0290S
Alba Mineral Resources PLC
12 March 2021
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Alba Mineral Resources plc
("Alba" or the "Company")
Clogau-St David's Gold Mine Update
Llechfraith Lode System Extends 122m Below Existing Workings
Alba Mineral Resources plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to provide an
update on the Company's work activities at the Clogau-St David's
Gold Mine (the "Mine"). The Company's Phase 1 surface drilling
programme has now been successfully completed, and Alba is now able
to project the newly identified vein system at the Llechfraith mine
area as having a down dip extent of 122 metres below the existing
workings, a 46% increase from previous hole LL009.
Key Points
-- LL010, the final hole in Alba's Phase 1 surface drilling programme, has been completed.
-- LL010 was the deepest hole drilled at 176.4 m. It intersected
the Upper Lode quartz vein system from 120 to 129 m and the Lower
Lode quartz vein system from 139 to 145 m.
-- A total of 1.82 m of quartz veins were intersected in the
Upper Lode and 5.92 m in the Lower Lode including one intercept of
3.73 m which is the widest intercept in the entire programme.
-- At its deepest point LL010 intersected the lode structure 122
metres below the existing Llechfraith mine workings, almost
doubling the depth extent identified previously by LL009 (at 66
metres).
-- Now that Phase 1 has been completed, Alba's initial
geological modelling indicates that the total tonnage estimation
for the newly identified lode structure is between 24,000 to 27,000
tonnes in the Lower Lode alone.
-- The lode structure remains open at depth within economic
stratigraphy below the deepest intercept in LL010, and the western
strike extent has yet to be constrained, meaning that this tonnage
estimation for the Lower Lode has the potential to be materially
increased by further exploration drilling.
-- The success of LL010 strongly reinforces Alba's view that the
newly modelled zone, which Alba is calling the Llechfraith Lode, is
a key target for future development and production at Clogau-St
David's.
-- Intersecting the lode structure at such depth has significant
implications for the entire Clogau St. David's Project, as it
indicates that gold-bearing structures mined in and around the mine
could extend significantly to depths which historical mining
efforts never reached.
Mark Austin, Alba's Chief Operating Officer, commented:
"Hole LL010 was designed to assess whether the newly identified
lode system beneath the Llechfraith mine area extends to 100 metres
below those previous workings. In the event, the hole has greatly
exceeded our expectations, intersecting the lower lode at a depth
of 122 metres below the lowest workings."
"Now that this phase of drilling has been completed, we have
been able to refine our 3D model for this significant, unexploited
lode system, which we are calling the Llechfraith Lode, and to
calculate for the first time a tonnage estimation of 24,000 to
27,000 tonnes for the Lower Lode alone. This should give a good
indication of the sheer size of the Llechfraith Lode and its
potential significance for our future development and production
plans at Clogau-St David's."
"Perhaps even more significant is the fact that we have
intersected the Llechfraith Lode structure at such depth. This has
implications for the entire Clogau St. David's Gold Mine, as it
indicates that gold-bearing structures mined in and around the Mine
could extend significantly to depths which historical mining never
reached. This will be further tested very soon, as we embark on
Phase 2 of our surface drilling programme targeting the depth
extensions of the 7-10 and Grandfathers Lodes, which were
significant sites of past production on the Llechfraith Adit
Level."
Details
With the completion of LL010 at 176.4 m, the Company's Phase 1
surface drilling campaign has come to its conclusion with a final
drilled total length of 1158 m. The campaign was initially planned
as a small-scale follow-up drilling programme to get a better
picture of how the structures that were intercepted in the 2019
programme behaved at depth below the known Llechfraith Workings.
However, impressive vein intercepts in LL001-3 led to additional
holes being drilled, with each hole adding critical data for Alba's
3D geological model.
The final hole, LL010, in fact provided possibly the strongest
results of the entire programme by intercepting the Lower Lode
structure some 122 m below the historic workings (see Figures 1 and
4 in the PDF version of this RNS), significantly increasing the
potential tonnage of the Llechfraith Lode and intersecting several
quartz vein intercepts, including one intercept of 3.73 m which is
easily the widest in the entire programme (see the Upper and Lower
Lode drill core photographs at Figures 2 and 3 in the PDF version
of this RNS). Revised modelling puts the strike extent of the lode
to be 52 m.
Intersecting the lode structure at this depth has significant
implications for the entire Clogau St. David's Project, as it
indicates that gold-bearing structures mined in and around the mine
could extend to depths which historical mining efforts never
reached. Phase 2 of Alba's surface drilling programme aims to test
this hypothesis further by targeting the depth extensions of the
7-10 and Grandfathers Lodes, which were significant sites of
production on the Llechfraith Level and which have not to date been
mined below adit level.
Using the 10 holes from Phase 1 and the 3 holes from 2019, Alba
has been able to calculate an initial high-level tonnage estimation
for the Lower Lode alone of 24,000 to 27,000 tonnes. The tonnage
for the Upper Lode has not been calculated as yet, because it is
more variable in geometry to the Lower Lode and requires further
drilling to constrain its potential size.
The mineralisation remains open along strike to the west, and as
the host stratigraphy is also dipping to the west the deposit could
extend to increasing depths to the west where historical reports
suggest the structure joins up with the Lode mined at Vigra Mine.
Future drilling will aim to infill between the Vigra Mine workings
and Llechfraith, with a view to extending the Llechfraith Lode to
the west and to greater depths.
In addition to the Lode intersects, hole LL010 intersected the
"Sill Vein" within Sill 3, showing one of the thickest examples of
that vein to date, including sulphide mineralisation that has
rarely been seen in veins within sills (see Figure 5 in the PDF
version of this RNS).
LL010 has intersected the Upper and Lower Lode structures within
Sill Group 1 (See Figure 4 in the PDF version of this RNS).
Historical records suggest that where veins intersect the base of
these sills there is a control on gold concentration, and the
veining seen in these intercepts (see Figures 2 and 3 in the PDF
version of this RNS) shows that both structures persist to
unprecedented depths below workings. For this reason, being able to
model these sills is important for future drilling campaigns and
mining operations at Llechfraith. It is possible that these lode
structures extend further at depth than currently indicated by
drilling, and mineralisation remains open to the west.
With dewatering the Llechfraith workings being a short-term
objective for Alba, access into No. 4 Level, one of the most recent
areas of production in the Mine, is the next step in exploring the
Llechfraith Lode, and access to this level will also afford the
Company an improved understanding of gold distribution within the
lode structure.
As Alba's Phase 1 surface drilling programme comes to an end,
the Company is looking forward to commencing Phase 2 which, as
previously advised, comprises an 8-10 hole project for up to 2000
m. This programme will be predominantly targeting the 550 metre
lode extension structure identified by last year's underground
drilling programme, although several holes will also be pushed
through deeper to test the depth extensions of the Grandfathers and
7-10 lode structures. These holes will also play a critical role in
the geological model at Clogau as the team continues to identify
near-mine exploration targets for future development and
production.
Table 1 summarises the key structural intercepts from the Phase
1 drilling campaign.
Table 1: Summary of completed drill holes including notable
structural intercepts.
Hole Azimuth Dip Length Structural Intercepts
(m)
Structure Depth Thickness
(m)
-------- ----- ------- ----------------
GMOW_LL001 351 43 183.5 Quartz Vein 56.77 0.3
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 60.23 0.61
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 63.29 0.33
---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 63.87 0.24
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 83.43 2.38
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 95.22 2.3
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL002 353 44 103.3 Quartz Vein 48.17 0.25
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 56.5 0.26
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 59.1 0.4
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 96.53 1.85
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL003 344 44 112.8 Quartz Vein 64 0.42
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 84.92 1.22
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 88.12 0.63
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 89.09 0.56
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 91.64 0.33
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 96.22 2.23
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 101.8 0.28
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL004 327 43 62.4 Quartz Vein 10.11 0.44
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 61.92 0.38
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL005 340 52.2 125.6 Quartz Vein 10.53 0.23
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 21.8 0.21
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 64.25 0.85
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 90.01 0.69
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 101.83 2.5
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 107.31 0.32
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL006 007 43 136.5 Quartz Vein 8.7 0.6
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 46.4 0.5
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Vein 75.2 0.3
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode Stringer
Zone 101.03 0.26
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode Stringer
Zone 101.82 0.32
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Hole stopped early due to
GMOW_LL007 335 56 17.5 deviation from planned azimuth
-------- ----- ------- -------------------------------------
Quartz Stringer
GMOW_LL008 327 55 121.1 Network 55.22 0.51
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Quartz Stringer
Network 79.75 0.55
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 91.78 0.48
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 103.99 1.49
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 109.38 0.43
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL009 320 56 118.9 Quartz Vein 59.4 0.52
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 85.8 1.05
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 106.8 0.63
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
GMOW_LL010 322 70 176.4 Quartz Vein 16.32 0.49
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 120.98 0.37
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 125.28 0.29
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 126.35 0.28
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 127.94 0.56
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 129.24 0.32
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 139.05 0.95
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 140.93 3.73
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 145.07 0.33
---------------- ------- ----------
Llechfraith
Lode System 145.74 0.91
-------- ----- ------- ---------------- ------- ----------
All activities and timelines in this announcement are subject to
the timely receipt of regulatory and other third-party consents and
to the timely availability of contractors, plant and equipment.
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.
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.
Glossary
Azimuth: the compass direction of a drill hole, usually
specified in degrees with respect to the geographic or magnetic
north pole.
Economic stratigraphy: host rocks that contain economically
viable lodes.
Lode: a deposit of metalliferous ore that fills a fissure.
Quartz Veins: a distinct sheet-like body dominantly composed of
quartz hosted within a rock formation.
Sill: an igneous intrusion that is sub-parallel to the host
rocks that contain it.
Winze: a shaft or inclined passage leading from one level to
another, but not rising to the surface.
Contact Details
For further information, please contact:
Alba Mineral Resources plc
George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman +44 20 3950 0725
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nomad)
James Caithie / Liam Murray +44 20 7213 0880
ETX Capital (Broker)
Thomas Smith +44 20 7392 1494
Alba's Project and Investment Portfolio
Project (commodity) Location Ownership
Mining Projects
Amitsoq (graphite) Greenland 90%
----------- ----------
Clogau (gold) Wales 90%
----------- ----------
Dolgellau Gold Exploration
(gold) Wales 90-100%
----------- ----------
Gwynfynydd (gold) Wales 100%
----------- ----------
Inglefield (copper, cobalt,
gold) Greenland 100%
----------- ----------
Limerick (zinc-lead) Ireland 100%
----------- ----------
Melville Bay (iron ore) Greenland 51%
----------- ----------
TBS (ilmenite) Greenland 100%
----------- ----------
Oil & Gas Investments
Brockham (oil) England 5%
----------- ----------
Horse Hill (oil) England 11.765%
----------- ----------
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