Loncor Resources Inc. ("
Loncor" or the
"
Company") (TSX: "LN"; OTCQX: "LONCF”; FSE:
"LO51") is pleased to announce a 44% increase in mineral resources
at its Adumbi deposit in the Imbo Project (Loncor 84.68%) in the
D.R. Congo.
Compared to the inferred mineral resource of
2.19 million ounces of gold (28.97 million tonnes grading 2.35 g/t
Au) outlined in April 2020 (see Company press release dated April
17, 2020), further drilling has now increased the Adumbi inferred
mineral resource by 44% to 3.15 million ounces of gold (41.316
million tonnes grading 2.37 g/t Au), constrained within a US$1,500
open pit shell (see Figures 1 and 2 below). 84.68% of this inferred
mineral resource is attributable to Loncor via its 84.68% interest
in the Imbo Project.
Table I below summarises the Adumbi inferred
mineral resource based on in-situ block cut-off at a 0.68 g/t Au
for Oxide and Transition materials and 0.72 g/t Au for Fresh
material, and constrained within a US$1,500 per ounce optimized pit
shell.
Table I: Adumbi Deposit Inferred Mineral
Resource by Material Type (effective date: April
27, 2021)
Material Type |
Tonnage(Tonnes) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained Gold (Ounces) |
Oxide |
4,623,000 |
2.24 |
333,000 |
Transition |
3,674,000 |
2.53 |
299,000 |
Fresh |
33,019,000 |
2.38 |
2,521,000 |
TOTAL |
41,316,000 |
2.37 |
3,153,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Commenting on today’s inferred mineral resource
increase at Adumbi, Loncor’s President Peter Cowley said: “This
major increase in mineral resources within a US$1,500 pit shell to
3.15 million ounces of gold is an important milestone in
demonstrating the potential economic viability of the Adumbi
deposit. Sensitivities show this mineral resource within the pit
shell is robust and not markedly sensitive to changes in the gold
price. Gold mineralization is open at depth below the pit shell
where drilling is continuing with the objective of outlining
underground resources (see Figure 2 below). Drilling at Adumbi also
demonstrates that grade is increasing at depth, which bodes well
for a significant underground resource to be outlined. Going
forward, once drilling has been completed in Q2 2021, we will
embark on a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) to determine the
potential economic viability of Adumbi.”
This mineral resource assessment was undertaken
by the Company’s independent geological consultants Minecon
Resources and Services Limited (“Minecon”). The
updated estimate for Adumbi was based on the additional drilling
and a review of the Adumbi deposit including remodelling, grade and
considering the CIM requirement for mineral resources to have
“reasonable prospects for economic extraction”.
Drilling Results included in Mineral
Resource UpdateAn additional six core holes totaling
2,557.25 metres were drilled with the initial focus in areas within
the pit shell where insufficient drilling had been undertaken to
outline mineral resources. Later drilling has and is being
undertaken at depth below the open pit shell to outline potential
underground mineral resources.
The following Table II summarises drill results
incorporated into the April 27, 2021 mineral resource:
Table II: Core Hole Results from 2020-21
Drilling Program
Borehole |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Intercept Width (m) |
Grade (g/t) Au |
LADD001 |
202.58 |
223.35 |
20.77 |
1.72 |
LADD001 |
231.27 |
237.17 |
5.90 |
1.89 |
LADD001 |
251.27 |
258.60 |
7.33 |
5.80 |
LADD001 |
295.25 |
298.70 |
3.45 |
2.10 |
LADD001 |
301.62 |
321.95 |
20.33 |
2.47 |
LADD001 |
Incl.317.11 |
321.95 |
4.84 |
5.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD003 |
224.55 |
235.00 |
10.45 |
3.88 |
LADD003 |
253.50 |
286.80 |
33.30 |
3.25 |
LADD003 |
Incl. 253.50 |
259.20 |
5.70 |
7.00 |
LADD003 |
Incl. 277.73 |
286.80 |
9.07 |
5.11 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD004 |
429.00 |
457.00 |
28.00 |
3.26 |
LADD004 |
Incl. 432.00 |
436.90 |
4.90 |
6.96 |
LADD004 |
Incl. 450.62 |
454.15 |
3.53 |
8.30 |
LADD004 |
473.80 |
478.40 |
4.60 |
2.07 |
LADD004 |
505.85 |
526.15 |
20.30 |
2.83 |
LADD004 |
Incl. 506.85 |
513.40 |
6.55 |
4.64 |
LADD004 |
Incl. 523.85 |
526.15 |
2.30 |
7.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD006 |
299.37 |
302.25 |
2.88 |
2.64 |
LADD006 |
308.00 |
309.00 |
1.00 |
21.20 |
LADD006 |
322.10 |
337.30 |
15.20 |
1.67 |
LADD006 |
353.35 |
357.85 |
4.50 |
3.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD007 |
99.95 |
107.80 |
7.85 |
1.45 |
LADD007 |
540.62 |
596.05 |
55.43 |
2.76 |
LADD007 |
Incl. 583.60 |
596.05 |
12.45 |
8.11 |
LADD007 |
607.90 |
611.27 |
3.37 |
4.61 |
|
|
|
|
|
LADD008 |
235.05 |
278.15 |
43.1 |
1.68 |
LADD008 |
291.8 |
298.9 |
7.1 |
1.34 |
LADD008 |
305.15 |
305.93 |
0.78 |
21.8 |
LADD008 |
323.8 |
338.78 |
14.98 |
3.62 |
LADD008 |
Incl. 335.75 |
338.78 |
3.09 |
13.28 |
Notes: |
1. It is estimated that the true widths of the mineralised sections
for core holes LADD001, LADD003, LADD004, LADD006, LADD007 and
LADD008 are, respectively, 82%, 80%, 81%, 95%, 89% and 62% of the
intercepted widths in the above table. |
|
2. Deep core hole LADD009 results, which included 32.15 metres
grading 6.17 g/t Au and 15.36 metres grading 3.73 g/t Au, are not
included in current mineral resource update due to timing. |
|
3. Core holes LADD002 and LADD005 were discontinued before
intersecting mineralized zone. |
Core Logging & Geological
ControlsGold mineralization at Adumbi is found within a
BIF (Banded Iron Formation) unit with a strike length of 850 metres
and up to 130 metres in thickness (see Figures 3 and 4 below:
Geologic Plan and Geologic Cross Section of the Adumbi Deposit).
Four main zones of gold mineralization are present within the BIF
and are located in:
- the upper part of the Upper BIF
Sequence,
- the lower part of the Upper BIF
Sequence separated by the Carbonaceous Marker, which is essentially
unmineralized, and
- within the Lower BIF Sequence.
There is a higher-grade zone of gold
mineralization termed the Replaced Rock Zone (“RP
Zone”) associated with alteration and structural
deformation that has destroyed the primary host BIF fabric. The RP
Zone occurs in the lower part of the Upper BIF and in the Lower
BIF, and transgresses the Carbonaceous Marker, located between the
Upper and Lower BIF zones, both along strike and down dip.
Geological Modelling and Grade
EstimationThe Adumbi 3-dimensional model was constructed
by Minecon in collaboration with on site geologists using cross
sectional and horizontal flysch plans of the geology and
mineralization and was used to assist in the constraining of the
3-D geological model. The mineralization model was constrained
within a wireframe at 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade (see Figure 5
below). Grade interpolation was undertaken using:
- 2 metre sample composites capped at
18 g/t Au to improve the reliability of the block grade
estimates.
- Ordinary Kriging to interpolate
grades into the block model.
- Relative densities of 2.45 for
oxide, 2.82 for transitional and 3.05 for fresh rock were applied
to the block model for tonnage estimation.
Pit Optimisation ParametersTo
constrain the depth extent of the geological model and any mineral
resources, an open pit for the Adumbi deposit was constructed based
on the following pit optimisation parameters:
- A gold price of US$1,500 per
ounce.
- Block size: 8 metres x 8 metres x 8
metres.
- A two-metre minimum mining width
and a maximum of four metres of internal waste was applied.
- Mining dilution of 100% of the
tonnes at 95% of the grade.
- Ultimate slope angle of minus 45
degrees.
- Metallurgical recoveries of 95% for
oxide and transitional material and 90% for fresh rock (no
additional metallurgical studies have been undertaken since the
April 2020 resource).
- Average mining cost of
US$3.29/tonne mined.
- Average processing cost of
US$22.02/tonne processed.
- Average general and administration
cost of US$4.20/tonne.
- Mineral resources were estimated at
a block cut-off grade of 0.68 g/t Au for oxide and transition
materials and 0.72 g/t Au for fresh material constrained by a
Whittle pit.
- Transport of gold and refining
costs equivalent to 4.5% of the gold price.
- No additional studies on depletion
by artisanal activity was undertaken since the RPA study of 2014
and the same total amount of material was used by Minecon.
Gold Price
SensitivitiesSensitivities were undertaken around the base
case US$1,500/ounce gold price, and tonnage and grade are
summarised in the graph below:
Tonnage/Grade Variation Graph
Related to Gold Price
Sensitivitieshttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5ef09afc-1619-4092-b7c7-23509699fa91
Adumbi Deposit Variation of Grade and
Contained Gold with DepthPanel evaluation of the mineral
resource at 100 metre intervals without any pit constraint has
demonstrated an increase in gold grade with depth from 300 metres
and demonstrates the depth potential of the Adumbi deposit. Table
III and the graph below details the increased grade with depth of
the Adumbi resources.
Table III: Adumbi Mineral Resource,
Panel Evaluation at 100 metre Intervals
DEPTH FROM(m) |
DEPTH TO(m) |
PANEL(m) |
TONNAGE(tonnes) |
GRADE (g/t) |
CONTAINED Gold (Moz) |
0 |
100 |
100 |
9,052,000 |
2.25 |
0.65 |
100 |
200 |
200 |
10,482,000 |
2.03 |
0.6 |
200 |
300 |
300 |
9,388,000 |
1.91 |
0.58 |
300 |
400 |
400 |
8,331,000 |
2.29 |
0.61 |
400 |
500 |
500 |
7,853,000 |
2.82 |
0.71 |
500 |
600 |
600 |
3,959,000 |
3.56 |
0.45 |
Note: Low tonnage for 600 Panel (500-600m) due
to insufficient drill density, which is being addressed with
ongoing drill program.
The graph accompanying Table III is available
at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d55f18f1-b6fa-422c-9b74-3024707b7a93
The Adumbi deposit is found within Loncor’s Imbo
Project, which contains two other deposits, Kitenge and Manzako. As
a result of the increased mineral resource at Adumbi, the total
inferred mineral resource of the Imbo Project is now 3.466 million
ounces of gold (42.996 million tonnes grading 2.51 g/t Au) and is
summarised in Table IV below. 84.68% of this inferred mineral
resource is attributable to Loncor via its 84.68% interest in the
Imbo Project.
Table IV: Inferred Mineral Resource for
the Imbo Project (effective date: April 27, 2021)
Deposit |
Tonnage(Tonnes) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained Gold (Ounces) |
Adumbi |
41,316,000 |
2.37 |
3,153,000 |
Kitenge |
910,000 |
6.60 |
191,000 |
Manzako |
770,000 |
5.00 |
122,000 |
TOTAL |
42,996,000 |
2.51 |
3,466,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Combined with the Company’s Makapela Project,
which is situated approximately 50 kilometres northwest of the Imbo
Project, total mineral resources at Loncor’s properties in the
Ngayu belt now stand at 4.016 million ounces of inferred mineral
resources (46.216 million tonnes grading 2.70 g/t Au) and 0.614
million ounces of indicated mineral resources (2.205 million tonnes
grading 8.66 g/t Au ).
Quality Control and Quality
AssuranceDrill cores for assaying were taken at a maximum
of one-metre intervals and were cut with a diamond saw, with
one-half of the core placed in sealed bags by Company geologists
and sent to the Company’s on-site sample preparation facility. The
core samples were then crushed down to 80% passing minus 2 mm and
split with one half of the sample up to 1.5 kg pulverized down to
90% passing 75 microns. Approximately 150 grams of the pulverized
sample was then sent to the SGS Laboratory in Mwanza, Tanzania
(independent of the Company). Gold analyses were carried out on 50g
aliquots by fire assay. In addition, check assays were also carried
out by the screen fire assay method to verify high-grade sample
assays obtained initially by fire assay. As part of the Company’s
QA/QC procedures, internationally recognized standards, blanks and
duplicates were inserted into the sample batches prior to
submitting to SGS Laboratory.
Qualified PersonMr. Daniel
Bansah, Chairman and Managing Director of Minecon, is the
"qualified person" (as such term is defined in National Instrument
43-101) who is responsible for the mineral resource estimates and
other technical information disclosed in this press release. Mr.
Bansah has reviewed and approved the contents of this press
release.
A National Instrument 43-101 technical report of
Minecon relating to the mineral resource estimates on the Adumbi
deposit reported in this press release will be filed on SEDAR and
EDGAR within the period required by National Instrument 43-101.
Figure 1: Imbo Project Simplified
Geologyhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0069c87d-cb6a-4a15-af9b-c1c48ff21694
Figure 2: Adumbi Longitudinal Section
Looking Northeast with Drill Hole (Grade x
Metre)https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/355df1bc-024b-4b04-ac67-41c0b561eccd
Figure 3: Geologic Plan of the Adumbi
Deposithttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8fe30afe-6dc3-4f22-a15d-1e5bf76b1cf6
Figure 4: Geological Cross
Sectionhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/10613d92-222c-4adb-b403-0958b769bd3d
Figure 5: Grade Block Model Cross
Sectionhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/68cc7ac7-eab8-4c70-8eef-508f28735a50
Technical ReportsAdditional
information with respect to the Company’s Imbo Project (which
includes the Adumbi deposit) is contained in the technical report
of Minecon Resources and Services Limited dated April 17, 2020 and
entitled "Independent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report
on the Imbo Project, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the
Congo". A copy of the said report can be obtained from SEDAR at
www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Additional information with respect to the
Company’s Makapela Project, and certain other properties of the
Company in the Ngayu gold belt, is contained in the technical
report of Venmyn Rand (Pty) Ltd dated May 29, 2012 and entitled
"Updated National Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report on
the Ngayu Gold Project, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of
the Congo". A copy of the said report can be obtained from SEDAR at
www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
About Loncor Resources Inc.
Loncor is a Canadian gold exploration company
focussed on the Ngayu Greenstone Gold Belt in the northeast of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (the “DRC”). The
Loncor team has over two decades of experience of operating in the
DRC. Loncor’s growing resource base in the Ngayu Belt currently
comprises the Imbo and Makapela Projects. At the Imbo Project, the
Adumbi deposit and two neighbouring deposits hold an inferred
mineral resource of 3.466 million ounces of gold (42.996 million
tonnes grading 2.51 g/t Au), with 84.68% of this resource being
attributable to Loncor. Loncor is currently carrying out a drilling
program at the Adumbi deposit with the objective of outlining
additional mineral resources. The Makapela Project (which is
100%-owned by Loncor and is located approximately 50 kilometres
from the Imbo Project) has an indicated mineral resource of 614,200
ounces of gold (2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t Au) and an
inferred mineral resource of 549,600 ounces of gold (3.22 million
tonnes grading 5.30 g/t Au).
Loncor also has several joint ventures with
Barrick (TSX: “ABX”; NYSE: “GOLD”) in the Ngayu Belt. The joint
venture areas are located approximately 220 kilometres southwest of
the large Kibali gold mine, which is operated by Barrick. As per
the joint venture agreements entered between Loncor and Barrick,
Barrick manages and funds exploration on approximately 2,000 km2 of
Loncor ground in the Ngayu Belt until the completion of a
pre-feasibility study on any gold discovery meeting the investment
criteria of Barrick. Subject to the DRC’s free carried interest
requirements, Barrick would earn 65% of any discovery with Loncor
holding the balance of 35%. Loncor will be required, from that
point forward, to fund its pro-rata share in respect of the
discovery in order to maintain its 35% interest or be diluted.
Loncor’s Imbo and Makapela Projects do not form part of the joint
ventures with Barrick.
Additional information with respect to Loncor
and its projects can be found on Loncor's website at
www.loncor.com.
Cautionary Note to U.S.
InvestorsThe United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") permits U.S. mining
companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those
mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally
extract or produce. Certain terms are used by the Company, such as
"Indicated" and "Inferred" "Resources", that the SEC guidelines
strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their
filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely
the disclosure in the Company's Form 20-F annual report, File No.
001- 35124, which may be secured from the Company, or from the
SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Cautionary Note Concerning
Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains
forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments
that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur
in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding
mineral resource estimates, potential mineral resource increases,
embarking on a Preliminary Economic Assessment to determine the
potential economic viability of the Adumbi deposit, drill results
at the Adumbi deposit, potential mineralization, exploration under
the joint venture agreements with Barrick, potential gold
discoveries, drill targets, exploration results, and future
exploration and development) are forward-looking information. This
forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or
beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to
the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the
Company to differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are
realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that
they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the
Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from current expectations include, among other
things, the possibility that future exploration (including
drilling) or development results will not be consistent with the
Company's expectations, the possibility that drilling programs will
be delayed, activities of the Company may be adversely impacted by
the continued spread of the widespread outbreak of respiratory
illness caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”),
including the ability of the Company to secure additional
financing, risks related to the exploration stage of the Company's
properties, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of
financing needed in the future, failure to establish estimated
mineral resources (the Company’s mineral resource figures are
estimates and no assurances can be given that the indicated levels
of gold will be produced), changes in world gold markets or equity
markets, political developments in the DRC, gold recoveries being
less than those indicated by the metallurgical testwork carried out
to date (there can be no assurance that gold recoveries in small
scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in large tests under
on-site conditions or during production), fluctuations in currency
exchange rates, inflation, changes to regulations affecting the
Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain
required project approvals, the uncertainties involved in
interpreting drilling results and other geological data and the
other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and
elsewhere in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F dated March
31, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it
is provided and, except as may be required by applicable securities
laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the
Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the
forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking
information is not a guarantee of future performance and
accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information
due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Cautionary Note Concerning Mineral
Resource Estimates The mineral resource figures referred
to in this press release are estimates and no assurances can be
given that the indicated levels of gold will be produced. Such
estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining
experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.
Valid estimates made at a given time may significantly change when
new information becomes available. While the Company believes that
the mineral resource estimates included in this press release are
well established, by their nature mineral resource estimates are
imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical
inferences which may ultimately prove unreliable. If such estimates
are inaccurate or are reduced in the future, this could have a
material adverse impact on the Company.
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and
do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty
that mineral resources can be upgraded to mineral reserves through
continued exploration.
Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to
inferred mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any
part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an
indicated or measured mineral resource as a result of continued
exploration. Confidence in the estimate is insufficient to allow
meaningful application of the technical and economic parameters to
enable an evaluation of economic viability worthy of public
disclosure (except in certain limited circumstances). Inferred
mineral resources are excluded from estimates forming the basis of
a feasibility study.
For further information, please visit our
website at www.loncor.com or contact:
Arnold Kondrat , CEO, Toronto, Ontario Tel:
(416) 366-7300Peter Cowley, President, United Kingdom +44
7904540876John Barker, VP of Business Development, United Kingdom
+44 7547 159 521
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