TIDMALBA
RNS Number : 4728N
Alba Mineral Resources PLC
23 January 2023
Alba Mineral Resources Plc / EPIC: ALBA / Market: AIM / Sector:
Mining
23 January 2023
Alba Mineral Resources Plc
("Alba" or the "Company")
GROC Update
Amitsoq Graphite Project Update
Nearly Three Times Increase in Mineral Resource Estimate
Alba Mineral Resources Plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to note the
announcement today by its portfolio company, GreenRoc Mining Plc
("GreenRoc") (AIM: GROC), of a very substantial increase to the
mineral resource estimate ("Resource") at the Amitsoq Graphite
Project in southern Greenland ("Amitsoq" or the "Project"). Alba
holds a 50.6% majority interest in GreenRoc.
Alba's Executive Chairman, George Frangeskides, commented: "This
near threefold increase in the Resource for the Amitsoq Island
Deposit, with the total graphite content rising from 1.63Mt to
4.71Mt, is a remarkable result. Further, the revised average
Resource grade of 20.41% C(g) puts Amitsoq in a very select group
of just two advanced graphite projects globally which have average
grades of more than 20% C(g), the other one being the Vittangi
deposit owned by Talga Group (ASX: TLG, market cap: A$560
million).
"This substantially upgraded Resource will underpin the
feasibility studies GreenRoc will be carrying out this year as it
moves towards a Mining Licence application for Amitsoq. Allied to
the confirmation just a few days ago that GreenRoc's purification
test work has exceeded the 99.95% minimum purity level required for
EV batteries, it puts us in a strong position as we seek to
progress discussions with interested industry and offtake partners
in the coming months."
The GreenRoc announcement is set out below without material
changes.
GreenRoc Mining plc
("GreenRoc" or the "Company")
Amitsoq Graphite Project Update
Nearly Three Times Increase in Mineral Resource Estimate
Appointment of Sole Broker
Relinquishment of Inglefield Land licence
GreenRoc Mining plc (AIM: GROC), a company focused on the
development of critical mineral projects in Greenland, is delighted
to announce a very substantial increase to the mineral resource
estimate ("Resource") at the Amitsoq Graphite Project in southern
Greenland ("Amitsoq" or the "Project"), which has been confirmed as
one of the highest-grade graphite deposits in the world.
GreenRoc is also pleased to announce that, effective today, S.P.
Angel Corporate Finance LLP ("SP Angel") has been appointed as sole
broker to the Company.
Highlights
-- The 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate ("2023 MRE") comprises a
total inferred, indicated and measured JORC Resource for the
Amitsoq Island Deposit of 23.05 million tonnes (Mt) at an average
grade of 20.41% Graphitic Carbon ("C(g)"), giving a total graphite
content of 4.71 Mt.
-- The 2023 MRE:
o represents a Resource with almost three times the tonnage from
the 2022 Maiden Resource Estimate (the "2022 MRE"), with the
contained graphite increasing by 3.08 Mt from the 2022 MRE, an
increase of ca. 180%; and
o cements Amitsoq's position as one of the very highest-grade
graphite deposits globally, with an average grade of 20.41% C(g)
(up from 19.75% C(g)).
-- The Amitsoq Island Deposit remains open along strike
(predominantly to the north) and down dip to the west, indicating
the potential for further significant Resource upgrades in the
future.
-- Every Resource category has increased substantially:
o The upgraded Resource now includes 1.26 Mt of Measured
Resource, this being the highest confidence pre-Reserves
category.
o The Indicated Resource has increased from 2.04 Mt to 6.12 Mt
(a 200% increase over the 2022 MRE).
o The Inferred Resource has increased from 6.24 Mt to 15.67 Mt
(a c150% increase over the 2022 MRE).
-- One third of the contained graphite in the 2023 MRE now falls
within the higher Measured and Indicated categories, an important
validation of the Project fundamentals as GreenRoc moves this year
into the development phase and into further discussions with
interested customers and offtake partners.
-- The 2023 MRE incorporates the results of the extensive Phase
2 drilling programme at the Amitsoq Island Deposit which was
completed in September 2022.
GreenRoc's CEO, Stefan Bernstein, commented:
"To deliver a resource update of this quantum and grade is a
huge achievement for GreenRoc and underpins our confidence that our
Amitsoq project meets the fundamental requirements to become a
mine. Furthermore, we believe we can accelerate development in
order to help meet the critical demand for new, high grade and
conflict-free graphite sources and we look forward to providing
further updates in relation to interested customers and offtake
partners in due course.
"A JORC compliant resource of over 23 million tonnes at more
than 20% graphitic carbon is a fantastic result particularly after
having completed only two drilling seasons. Of particular
importance is that we now have resource categories in both the
Indicated and Measured categories, which imply an important
increase in certainty about the Amitsoq mineral resource size and
grade. Given that the deposit is open in at least two directions,
there is potential for even further expansion of the resource
presented today.
"It is also a great pleasure for me to announce that from today,
SP Angel will act as sole broker for GreenRoc. SP Angel is a
market-leading broker in the mineral raw materials industry and has
many decades of experience in minerals projects all over the world.
SP Angel publishes a daily newsletter typically read by around
3,000 individuals across the exploration and mining industry,
investors, market analysts and politicians. We look forward to
working together."
Figure 1 . Amitsoq Graphite Project in southern Greenland,
showing Amitsoq Island graphite deposit (site of the former
graphite mine) and Kalaaq Deposit
Details
The 2022 MRE, being the maiden JORC Resource at the Amitsoq
Island Project, was declared in March 2022 based on 10 drill
intersections drilled from three drill pads along the island's
ridge during Phase 1 drilling (2022 MRE shown in Table 1). The 2023
MRE incorporates successful Phase 2 drilling completed in September
2022, where mineable widths (more than 2.0m true thickness) of
graphite were present in eight intersections of the UGL and in all
19 intersections of the LGL, with graphite grades ranging from
13.52 to 24.52 Cg% . The assay results from the Phase 2 drilling
programme were reported by the Company on 22 December 2022.
The 2023 MRE for Amitsoq has delivered a Measured Mineral
Resource of 1.26 Mt at 22.05 % C(g) for 0.28 Mt of contained
graphite, Indicated Mineral Resource of 6.12 Mt at 21.04 % C(g) for
1.29 Mt of contained graphite, and an additional Inferred Mineral
Resource of 15.67 Mt at 20.04 % C(g) for 3.14 Mt of contained
graphite as follows (Tables 1-3; Figures 3 and 4):
Table 1. Mineral Resources Summary (comparison between 2022 and
2023 MREs)
Mineral Resource Tonnes (Mt) Graphitic Carbon Graphite content
Category (%) (Mt)
2022 MRE
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Measured - - -
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Indicated 2.04 20.65 0.42
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total Measured +
Indicated 2.04 20.65 0.42
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Inferred 6.24 19.45 1.21
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total Resources 8.28 19.75 1.63
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
2023 MRE Update
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Measured 1.26 22.05 0.28
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Indicated 6.12 21.04 1.29
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total Measured +
Indicated 7.38 21.21 1.57
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Inferred 15.67 20.04 3.14
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total Resources 23.05 20.41 4.71
----------------------- --------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Notes:
1. The Mineral Resource is reported at a graphitic Carbon cut-off
grade of 0 (zero) C(g)%.
2. Mineral Resource estimates are not precise calculations being
dependent on the interpretation of limited information on the location,
shape and continuity of the occurrence and on the available sampling
results. Therefore, reporting of tonnage and grade figures reflects
this relative uncertainty and figures are rounded to appropriate
significant figures. As a result, some error may be incurred when
reporting global figures based on rounded values.
3. The Mineral Resource Statement presented above has been reported
in accordance with the requirements of the 2012 edition of the
Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC 2012 Edition). The Competent Person
who assumes responsibility for reporting of the Mineral Resource
is Dr John Arthur who is a Competent Person as defined by the JORC
Code 2012 Edition, having more than 5 years' experience that is
relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit described
herein, and to the activity for which he accepts responsibility.
The effective date of the Mineral Resource statement is 1 January
2023.
4. Resources are not constrained other than by the geological boundary
limits of the mineralised unit. At this stage no consideration
has been made as to what tonnes and grade would be reasonably expected
to be extracted profitably. Notwithstanding, the Competent Person
considers the distance constraints in both the dip and strike directions
to be a reasonable approximation and expectation of potential mining
extents.
5. Mineral Resources which are not Ore Reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resource reported may
be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title,
taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues.
6. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level
of confidence than that applied to the Indicated Mineral Resource
and must not be converted to a Ore Reserve. It is reasonably considered
that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded
to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.
7. Currently, no Ore Reserves have been established for the Amitsoq
Project.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure 2. High-grade LGL intercept in AM-DD-038
Table 2 breaks down the 2023 MRE by graphite layer and Resource
category. The total resource includes a particularly high-grade
contribution from the Lower Graphite Layer of 16.88 Mt, at a grade
of 21.51% for 3.634 Mt of contained graphite, which accounts for
more than 77 per cent. of the total resource.
Table 2. Breakdown of Resources per Graphite Layer and
comparison with 2022 MRE
Mineral Resource Tonnes (Mt) Graphitic Carbon Graphite content
Category (%) (Mt)
2022 MRE
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Upper Graphite Layer
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Indicated 0.59 18.97 0.111
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Inferred 4.02 18.61 0.748
------------ ----------------- -----------------
TOTAL UGL RESOURCE 4.61 18.65 0.859
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Lower Graphite Layer
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Indicated 1.45 21.32 0.309
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Inferred 2.22 20.97 0.466
------------ ----------------- -----------------
TOTAL LGL RESOURCE 3.67 21.19 0.775
------------ ----------------- -----------------
2023 MRE Update
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Upper Graphite Layer
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Indicated 0.59 19.02 0.112
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Inferred 5.58 17.26 0.963
------------ ----------------- -----------------
TOTAL UGL RESOURCE 6.17 17.43 1.075
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Lower Graphite Layer
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Measured 1.26 22.05 0.277
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Indicated 5.53 21.25 1.176
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Inferred 10.09 21.58 2.178
------------ ----------------- -----------------
TOTAL LGL RESOURCE 16.88 21.51 3.634
------------ ----------------- -----------------
Table 3 displays the highly consistent nature of the graphite
grades intersected during Phase 1 + 2 drilling. The Measured
Resource is unchanged from a 0% cut-off grade to a 20.5 % cut-off
grade. The Total Resource only displays a marginal drop-off of
Resources when using a 15 % cut-off grade. This bodes well for the
resilience of the deposit in the face of potentially fluctuating
graphite prices and operational cost profiles.
Table 3. Sensitivity Table
Mineral Resource Category
Cut-Off Measured Indicated Inferred
Grade
(Cg%)
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------
Tonnes Graphitic Graphite Tonnes Graphitic Graphite Tonnes Graphitic Graphite
(Mt) Carbon Content (Mt) Carbon Content (Mt) Carbon Content
(Cg%) (Mt) (Cg%) (Mt) (Cg%) (Mt)
------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- ---------
Base
Case
0%
C(g) 1.256 22.05 0.277 6.120 21.04 1.288 15.674 20.04 3.141
------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- ---------
13.0% 1.256 22.05 0.277 6.120 21.04 1.288 15.627 20.06 3.135
------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- ---------
15.0% 1.256 22.05 0.277 6.068 21.09 1.280 14.275 20.61 2.942
------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- ---------
17.5% 1.256 22.05 0.277 6.005 21.14 1.270 12.976 21.06 2.733
------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- --------- ------- ---------- ---------
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the extent of the Resource categories in
plan and cross-section views.
Figure 3. Plan view of UGL Resource categories; scale shown in
metres
Figure 4. Plan view of LGL Resource categories; scale shown in
metres
Figure 5. East-West Cross-section showing the relationship of
the graphite layers and Resource categories (scale shown in
metres)
Relinquishment of Inglefield Land exploration licence.
Given the recent advances of the Amitsoq graphite project and
after an assessment of the Company's licence portfolio, the
GreenRoc board has decided to relinquish exploration licence
2018-25 in Inglefield Land, North Greenland. This licence is at a
very early stage with a high degree of risk and the Company wishes
to concentrate efforts to advance the Amitsoq project to production
as fast as possible.
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.
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 and Mineral Resources has been reviewed by Dr John Arthur.
Dr Arthur is a Fellow of The Geological Society of London and a
Chartered Geologist (FGS CGeol no. 1005744) and 28 years'
experience in the minerals and mining industry.
Dr Arthur 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. Dr Arthur consents to the inclusion in the announcement of
the matters based on his information in the form and context in
which they appear.
Glossary
Cut-Off The minimum grade required for a mineral or metal to
be economically mined (or processed). Material found
to be above this grade is considered to be ore, while
material below this grade is considered to be waste.
Graphitic of, relating to, resembling, or having the structure
of graphite.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Graphitic Carbon Carbon may be present in rocks in various forms including
or Total Graphitic organic carbon, carbonates or graphitic carbon. Carbon
Carbon (TGC) in rocks may be reported as fixed or total carbon (i.e.
organic carbon + carbon in carbonate minerals + carbon
as graphite) or as graphitic carbon or total graphitic
carbon (or TGC) (i.e. total carbon - (organic + carbonate
carbon)).
-------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated Resource Definition of mineral deposit at a reasonable level
of confidence.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Inferred Resource Definition of mineral deposit at low level of confidence.
-------------------------------------------------------------
JORC The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration
Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves ('the JORC
Code') is a professional code of practice that sets
minimum standards for Public Reporting of minerals
Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Maiden Mineral The first resource estimate to be completed on a project.
Resource Estimate
-------------------------------------------------------------
Measured Resource Definition of a mineral deposit at a high level of
confidence.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Metallurgical Metallurgical Testing typically uses microscopy to
Testing provide important information about the structure and
properties of metal and alloy samples.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve A Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured
Mineral Resource and/or Indicated Mineral Resource
-------------------------------------------------------------
Spherical graphite Used as the anode in lithium-ion batteries. Natural
flake graphite is first purified and shaped into small
spheres, at which point the material is referred to
a High Purity Spherical Graphite ("HPSG"). After shaping,
the natural flake graphite is purified by chemical
leaching to remove impurities and raise the carbon
content to above 99.95% C.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Strike The direction and length of a geological feature (for
example, a vein or rock formation) measured on a horizontal
surface.
-------------------------------------------------------------
**ENDS**
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
OvalX (Broker)
Thomas Smith +44 20 7392 1494
St Brides Partners (Financial PR)
Isabel de Salis / Catherine Leftley alba@stbridespartners.co.uk
Alba's Projects and Investments
Mining Projects Operated Location Ownership
by Alba
Clogau (gold) Wales 100%
----------- ----------
Dolgellau Gold Exploration
(gold) Wales 100%
----------- ----------
Gwynfynydd (gold) Wales 100%
----------- ----------
Investments Held by Alba Location Ownership
----------- ----------
GreenRoc Mining Plc (mining) Greenland 50.6%
----------- ----------
Horse Hill (oil) England 11.765%
----------- ----------
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms
and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information
contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an
anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services.
For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange
use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy
Policy.
END
UPDBTMLTMTTTBMJ
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 23, 2023 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)
Alba Min (AQSE:ALBA.GB)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Dez 2024 até Jan 2025
Alba Min (AQSE:ALBA.GB)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Jan 2024 até Jan 2025
