TIDMALBA
RNS Number : 5318J
Alba Mineral Resources PLC
24 August 2021
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Alba Mineral Resources plc
("Alba" or the "Company")
Thule Black Sands Update
Successful Completion of Phase 2 Drilling Campaign
Alba Mineral Resources plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to report on
the successful completion of drilling operations at the Thule Black
Sands Project in northern Greenland.
Key Points
-- Drilling operations at the Thule Black Sands Project deposit have been completed.
-- Drill fences were located in between the fences drilled in
the 2018 campaign thereby giving a spacing of 125m between all
fence lines.
-- Drilling was by tractor-mounted sonic drill rig to pierce the permafrost.
-- Unlike 2018, where the maximum depth reached was 1m (depth of
the permafrost), the sonic drill rig was able to reach mineralised
depths of up to 6m.
-- 249 holes were completed for 550 m, an increase of 100% over the planned 125 holes.
-- An aerial photogrammetry drone survey was also completed as
well as a bathymetry survey of the offshore area, to assist in mine
planning and the location of infrastructure.
Mark Austin, Alba's Chief Operating Officer, commented:
"Every drill hole we completed penetrated the permafrost, and we
expect this to have a positive impact on the overall level of
resources that we will be able to declare at TBS."
"While we have now comprehensively drilled the higher-grade
southern portion of the licence, there remains further upside
potential in the central and northern areas which we intend to
tackle in the same way during next year's drilling season."
"Once the drill samples from this programme have been assayed,
the independent competent person will commence their resource
estimation work. A significant upgrade in the defined resources at
TBS will enable us to move forward rapidly with scoping level
studies to assess the economic exploitation of the Project and to
plan for the EIA/SIA work which will need to be completed in 2022
as a precursor to the application for a mining licence."
Details
Alba subsidiary White Eagle Resources Ltd ("White Eagle") has
completed its planned drilling programme at the Thule Black Sands
Licence, with the aim of expanding and upgrading the resources
defined during the 2018 drilling campaign.
Thirty fences of drill holes were planned, extending from the
southern tip of the licence for a distance of 8 km to the north.
While 125 holes were originally planned, the field team was able to
complete 249 holes. As a result, not only were the planned holes
completed but additional deeper holes were also added within the
2018 fences together with some in-fill drilling in the known
higher-grade portions of the licence. Depths of mineralised sand
reached up to 6m in some places, with average depths of 2.2m.
The core from the sonic drill rig was 3 inches in diameter and
was transferred to core trays in the field where it was logged and
sampled by White Eagle's geological team. The core is sufficient to
provide a primary sample, a duplicate sample and a sample for use
in metallurgical testwork.
White Eagle's field exploration team of geologists and
assistants, drill crew and geophysics team were accommodated on a
chartered vessel anchored close to the drill site for the duration
of the programme.
While the higher-grade southern portion of the licence has now
been comprehensively drilled, there remains further upside
potential in the central and northern areas. It is intended to
cover these areas by extension drilling in the same way during next
year's field season.
A drone photogrammetric survey of the drilled area was conducted
with an expected resolution of >3-5cm (XY) and >3-8 cm (Z).
Such a survey uses a drone (or UAV - unmanned aerial vehicle)
equipped with a downward-facing RGB camera to capture images of a
site from different vantage points. Out of these images,
photogrammetry software can recreate geo-referenced 3D maps,
contour lines digital terrain models or digital surface models of
the site. This information will contribute significantly to the
accuracy of the resource and assist in future mine planning.
A bathymetric off-shore survey was also completed. Bathymetric
surveys measure the depth of a water body as well as mapping
underwater features. This will assist in future planning of the
beaching of barges and the location of jetties.
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
Bathymetric survey: measures the depth of a water body as well
as mapping underwater features.
Drone photogrammetric survey: a survey which uses a drone (or
UAV - unmanned aerial vehicle) equipped with a downward-facing RGB
camera to capture images of a site from different vantage points.
Out of these images, photogrammetry software can recreate
geo-referenced 3D maps, contour lines digital terrain models or
digital surface models of the site.
Heavy Mineral (Black) Sands : Heavy mineral sands are a class of
ore deposit which is an important source of heavy minerals such as
titanium. Heavy mineral sands are placer deposits formed most
usually in beach environments by concentration due to the specific
gravity of the mineral grains. The source of heavy mineral sands is
in a hardrock source, in the case of Thule ilmenite-rich dolerite
sills, within the erosional areas of a river or glacier which
carries sediment into the ocean. The sediments are caught up in
longshore drift where the lighter minerals are winnowed out and the
heavier minerals left behind by means of wave action.
Sonic Drilling: Sonic drilling is a soil penetration technique
that strongly reduces friction on the drill string and drill bit
due to liquefaction, inertia effects and temporary reduction of
porosity of the soil. The combination makes penetrating for a large
range of soils easy .
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 100%
----------- ----------
Clogau (gold) Wales 90%
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Gwynfynydd (gold) Wales 100%
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Inglefield (copper, cobalt,
gold) Greenland 100%
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Limerick (zinc-lead) Ireland 100%
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Melville Bay (iron ore) Greenland 100%
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TBS (ilmenite) Greenland 100%
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Oil & Gas Investments
Horse Hill (oil) England 11.765%
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END
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