Neometals JV to Fund Battery Recycling Plant to Commercialisation

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COMMODITY CAPERS: Neometals (ASX: NMT) and its German Joint Venture partner SMS group GmbH are to fast-track their Primobius JV to commercial operations and by doing so should be able to offer battery recycling services in Q1 2022.

Neomtals was one of the early Western Australian lithium cohort to recognise the opportunity that was to come as global reliance on lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) took off.

It’s no secret that LIB demand has grown at a rapid pace, one that is increasing due to the electric vehicle, energy storage and portable electronics markets.

What has also grown in this time is the waste created by end of life and scrap batteries, which poses a tremendous environmental challenge.

Globally LIB demand is already up 25 per cent with 15 million tonnes of LIBs forecast to be discarded from 2020 to 2030.

LiBs are hazardous to people and the environment when not disposed of appropriately.

Thankfully far-sighted regulators are seriously looking at battery recycling, and in many jurisdictions making it mandatory.

To meet such requirements, Primobius emerged as a Joint Venture partnership between Neometals and private German plant manufacturer, SMS group, with the aim of commercialising an environmentally friendly recycling solution for end-of-life and scrap LiB cells.

Primobius has a sustainability ethos, designing its advanced recycling solution to integrate into the circular economy, promoting the elimination of waste and the continual use of resources as well as reducing the need for primary resources.

Primobius’ advanced recycling process with low CO2 emissions delivers high purity chemicals back to the battery manufacturing sector.

Using a unique proprietary process, cobalt and other valuable materials are recovered from waste LiBs.

Source: Neometals ASX announcement.

This week the JV partners announced they intend to fund the fast-track commercialisation of Primobius’ commercial LIB recycling operations.

This will entail expanding the current demonstration plant (DP) in Hilchenbach Germany and build up operational capacity to provide a 10 tonnes per day battery disposal recycling service in Q1 2022.

This ‘Shredder Plant’ will generate early revenue from the sale of intermediate active materials, known as Black Mass, and set a market reference for operational capability.

Showcase DP trials currently underway will provide data for upcoming engineering and feasibility studies to develop a 50tpd (20,000tpa) integrated (Shredding and Hydrometallurgical Refining) German LIB recycling operation.

Neometals believes this development to fast-track commercial shredding operations is a positive move to keep pace with a rapidly developing industry searching for immediate sustainable recycling solutions.

“We are excited to herald the entry of Primobius into the commercial European battery recycling landscape,” Neometals managing director Chris Reed said.

“The funding approval is an agile response by the JV shareholders to strong demand for the safe disposal of growing volumes of lithium-ion batteries arising from warranty returns and at end-of-life.

“10 tonnes per day Shredding Plant 1 represents the maximum commitment we can make to meet demand having regard to regulatory permitting timeline constraints.

“As well as being a showcase for potential customers and partners, the facility will provide a valuable training ground for the operations team and will support continuous process improvement ahead of the next scale up to a 50 tonnes per day operation.

“The scale and speed of the electrification of transport and renewable energy storage is phenomenal, the volumes and momentum of global investment funds available to support enablers of decarbonisation steel our resolve for Primobius to become the pre-eminent recycler in the western world.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: info@neometals.com.au

 

Web: www.neometals.com.au

 

Saturn Metals Encounters Strong Gold Hits at Apollo Hill

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Saturn Metals (ASX: STN) reported further results from ongoing reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Apollo Hill deposit within the company’s 100 per cent-owned Apollo Hill gold project, east of Leonora in the Western Australian Goldfields.

The current drilling is part of the company’s strategy to grow the Apollo Hill Mineral Resource, which was upgraded to 944,000 ounces in January 2021 with another resource upgrade planned for later in 2021.

The upcoming upgrade will use results from the next 10,000m of drilling planned across the Apollo tenements and approx. 40,000m Saturn Metals already completed between January and July.

Latest results stem from drilling on the Ra-Tefnut extensional corridor, returning thick and shallow reverse circulation (RC) intersections including:

AHRC0768
10 metres at 2.34 grams per tonne gold from 136m, including 5m at 4.42g/t gold from 140m;

AHRC0789
22m at 1g/t gold from 154m;

AHRC0782
14m at 1.49g/t gold from 104m, including 6m at 3.01g/t gold from 112m;

AHRC0786
18m at 1.16 g/t gold from 37m and 10m at 0.96g/t gold from 58m; and

AHRC0758
4m at 11.59g/t gold from 112m.

Drilling on this new zone, since the last resource upgrade in January, has outlined a 1km long, 200m wide mineralised corridor with coherent zones of mineralisation and multiple strong intersections.

At the Ra North corridor, extensional RC results returned in the footwall position to Apollo Hill Main Lode include:

AHRC080
7m at 1.49g/t gold from 29m, 6m at 1.63g/t gold from 47m, and 12m at 1.37g/t gold from 183m.

At the northern end of the Apollo Hill Main Lode, RC drilling returned a shallow thick and higher-grade intersection of:

AHRC0769
21m at 1.81g/t gold from 44m, including 7m at 2.87g/t gold from 44m.

“The expanding width of the mineral system on the Southern Apollo Hill Corridor bodes well for mineralisation growth opportunities. Intersections at the Ra North Zone are highlighting the growing exploration opportunity parallel and immediately adjacent to the Apollo Hill Main Lode,” Saturn Metals managing director Ian Bamborough said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“Results will be incorporated into our next resource upgrade process planned for late 2021 and early 2022.

“Drilling remains open on multiple fronts and step-out RC drilling is due to commence in the coming week.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: info@saturnmetals.com.au

 

Web: www.saturnmetals.com.au

 

 

Galan Lithium Prepares for Further HMW Drilling

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) has received permits for its next round of drilling from the Secretaria de Estado de Minería – Gobierno de Catamarca (the authority that approves drilling permits in Catamarca, Argentina).

Galan Lithium will soon commence its next drilling program over the Hombre Muerto West (HMW) project located on the Hombre Muerto salar in Argentina.

Preparatory works to access sites for drilling have now commenced within the Pata Pila and Rana de Sal concessions and drilling equipment has already mobilised to site.

The company explained that this next round of drilling aims to confirm and expand current resources and to test the dynamics of brine flow rates, and lithium grade necessary to estimate a maiden Reserves Estimate to be used as part of HMW’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).

“We are pleased to be able to return to HMW, this time to drill for Reserves,” Galan Lithium managing director Juan Pablo (JP) Vargas de la Vega said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“With our new funding, Galan will also test new undrilled areas aiming to firm-up and increase resources.

“We want to prove that HMW could have a productive well field to support potential production as part of the DFS.”

The HMW project currently houses a high-grade, low impurity lithium brine resource of approx. 2.3 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at 946mg/l lithium.

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@galanlithium.com.au

 

Web: www.galanlithium.com.au

 

Golden Mile Resources to Commence Ground EM Survey at Yarrambee

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Golden Mile Resources (ASX: G88) is preparing a ground electromagnetic (EM) survey to commence in September over high priority HEM conductors on the company’s 100 per cent-owned Yarrambee base metals project in the Murchison Region of Western Australia.

The ground EM survey follows results of a 1,342 line-kilometre, helicopter-borne electromagnetic (HEM) survey the company completed in July that identified 48 conductors that Golden Mile has interpreted to be related to sulphide accumulations in the basement rocks and potential VMS-style copper-zinc mineralisation.

“Three high priority target areas have been identified for immediate follow up and we are now ready to refine the targets within these areas by combining the HEM survey data with historical drilling data and collecting ground EM to provide us with the best possible drill test sites,” Golden Mile Resources managing director James Merrillees said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“It’s an exciting time for Golden Mile and we look forward to rapidly advancing exploration on these outstanding targets.

“We already have approvals in place for drilling and look forward to finalising drill-ready targets over the coming weeks.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: info@goldenmileresources.com.au

 

Web: www.goldenmileresources.com.au

 

Alto Metals Scores High-Grade Gold Encounters at Lord Henry

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Alto Metals (ASX: AME) reported further shallow, high-grade gold assay results from RC drilling below the Lord Henry pit, as part of an ongoing RC drilling program at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Sandstone gold project in Western Australia.

Alto Metals designed the current drilling at Lord Henry for resource definition, targeting down-dip extensions of mineralisation to the north, strike extensions to the west and targeting further potential stacked lodes at depth.

The latest assays from RC drilling at Lord Henry include:

SRC398
4 metres at 15.6 grams per tonne gold from surface, 4m at 2.1g/t gold from 12m, and 8m at 13.6 g/t gold from 56m;

SRC387
20m at 1.3 g/t gold from 40m, including 8m at 2g/t gold from 44m and 4m at 6g/t gold from 80m;

SRC399
36m at 1.9g/t gold from 8m;

SRC389
4m at 4.5g/t gold from 88m;

SRC390
4m at 1.9g/t gold from 76m;

SRC391
4m at 1.1g/t gold from 12m; and

SRC392
4m at 1.6g/t gold from 64m.

Alto Metals managing director Matthew Bowles said in the company’s ASX announcement.
“These latest results highlight the nature of the shallow dipping, multiple stacked lodes of high-grade gold mineralisation below the Lord Henry pit, which remains open down-dip to the north, along strike and has potential for further repeat lodes to be discovered at depth.

“We re-commenced a major drilling program at the start of the year and the results received to date clearly demonstrate there is lot more gold to be found at Sandstone.

“With RC drilling continuing, investors can look forward to further results as we wait for assays from 16 diamond holes and over 120 RC holes, in addition to an updated mineral resource estimate later in the year, subject to final assays.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

Email: admin@altometals.com.au

 

Web: www.altometals.com.au

 

Auroch Minerals Sharpens Nickel Exploration Focus

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COMMODITY CAPERS: Auroch Minerals (ASX: AOU) boasts ownership of a highly prospective nickel sulphide portfolio located within the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

The portfolio includes the Saints, Leinster and Nepean nickel projects, all located in the Norseman-Wiluna Greenstone Belt, which has demonstrated itself to be a top-quality address for discovery of nickel sulphide mineralisation.

The Nepean project lies approx. 25 kilometres south of Coolgardie and contains the historic high-grade Nepean nickel sulphide mine, which was the second producing nickel mine in Australia, producing 1,108,457 tons of ore between 1970 and 1987 for 32,202 tons of nickel metal at an average recovered grade of 2.99 per cent nickel.

A recent three-hole diamond program was undertaken at Nepean in May this year, drilling into known shallow high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation directly south of the historic Nepean nickel mine.

The drilling returned results that confirmed the high-grade and high tenor nature of the modelled near-surface nickel sulphide mineralisation, including:

NPDD007
4.64 metres at 2.99 per cent nickel and 0.13 per cent copper from 71.58m.

“We continue to be amazed by the nickel sulphide mineralisation at Nepean,” Auroch Minerals managing director Aidan Platel said.

“The high nickel grades seen in the net-textured sulphide mineralisation in hole NPDD007 which historically was referred to as the `triangular ore zone’ mineralisation is testament to the high nickel tenor (nickel content in the sulphides) of Nepean, and highlights how we can potentially achieve very high-grade nickel intersections from zones of relatively little sulphides, which has huge implications for how we go about exploring the 10 kilometres of potential strike at Nepean, as well as for the upcoming Nepean Deeps drill program.”

Meanwhile, Auroch has also been busy at the Leinster project where RC and diamond drilling produced pleasing results from the Woodwind, Firefly and Brass prospects.

The dual phase first-pass drill program consisted of five high priority diamond drill-holes drilled in March and April, followed by nine RC holes drilled in May and June.

Recent assay results included:

WDRC001
8m at 0.45 per cent nickel from 19m;

WDRC004
5m at 0.30 per cent nickel from 66m and 4m at 0.30 per cent nickel from 80m;

WDRC005
7m at 0.40 per cent nickel from 52m;

WDRC007
2m at 0.50 per cent nickel from 30m;

WDRC008
1m at 0.56 per cent nickel from 159m;

FFRC004
1m at 0.45 per cent nickel from 41m; and

HNDD011
4m at 0.30 per cent nickel from 251m.

“This new round of assay results from the recent drilling at the Leinster project further highlights the high prospectivity of the recently-identified trend of fertile ultramafics to the north of the known shallow high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation at the Horn prospect and justify follow-up exploration efforts as we attempt to vector in on potential new discoveries of significant nickel sulphide mineralisation,” Platel said.

“Two DHEM conductors identified by the first phase of drilling provide high-priority walk-up drill targets that we will test with our next drilling campaign at Leinster planned for later this quarter.

“In addition to our evolving exploration programs and targets at Leinster, we are looking forward to commencing the high impact Nepean Deeps diamond drill program…at our Nepean nickel project, which aims to test for possible extensions to the known high-grade nickel sulphide mineralisation below the historic mine workings.

“We are also looking to finalise access and approvals for RC drilling at the priority Ragless Range zinc target at the Arden project in South Australia. With major drill programs and ongoing exploration over multiple projects scheduled for the next few months, it is an exciting time for the company and its shareholders.”

 

Email: admin@aurochminerals.com

 

Web: www.aurochminerals.com

 

Firefinch Drills Old Fashioned Morila Gold Hit

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Firefinch (ASX: FFX) could hardly wait to report results of the first drillhole at the Morila Super Pit, part of the company’s 80 per-cent owned Morila gold project in Mali.

Firefinch’s excitement stemmed from diamond hole MRD0001, that returned:

10.5 metres at 30.4 grams per tonne gold from 309.2m.

Firefinch said the continuity of high-grade mineralisation encountered outside the current Morila Super Pit resource model demonstrates potential for underground mining with initial studies already in progress.

The company is currently waiting on assays for a second drillhole MRD0002, drilled adjacent to MRD0001.

“We were looking for a repeat of the historical high grades in the Morila Super Pit and it’s taken us just one hole to demonstrate that ‘Morila the Gorilla’ is far from done,” Firefinch managing director Dr Michael Anderson said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“This is simply an incredible result from our first diamond core drillhole, which confirms not only the continuity of high-grade mineralisation below the previously mined pit, but also the significant potential for underground mining at Morila.

“This first drillhole is just the beginning; we look forward to ramping up our drilling efforts and to providing a steady flow of results from which to update the Mineral Resource and further optimise the Life of Mine Plan.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: info@firefinchltd.com

 

Web: www.firefinchltd.com

 

St George Mining Adds to Mt Alexander EM Conductor Field

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) announced location of a new EM target for massive nickel-copper sulphides at the company’s Mt Alexander project, located in the north-eastern Goldfields.

St George Mining reported the EM conductor is modelled with conductivity of 81,000 Siemens, claiming it to be one of the highest of any conductor identified at Mt Alexander to date.

The conductor was observed in the mid to late time data of a recent DHEM survey and recorded a time constant of 100 milliseconds.

The company explained combination of conductivity and time decay of this kind are typical of massive sulphides.

The new EM conductor is coincident with a trend of prominent gravity highs that have been interpreted to represent dense rocks – further confirming the conductor as a compelling target for mineralisation.

Of note, the new conductor is close to several other EM conductors recently identified by the DHEM surveys at West End and Investigators – in drill holes MAD196, MAD199, MAD200 and MAD201.

This field of multiple conductors supports the potential of substantial sulphide mineralisation in this underexplored area of the Cathedrals Belt.

“Our systematic and concurrent use of drilling and downhole EM surveys has delivered another stand-out result with the identification of one of the most exciting EM conductors at Mt Alexander to date,” St George Mining executive chairman John Prineas said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“We have a 100 per cent success rate in confirming conductors of this kind as nickel-copper sulphides, so we are confident that drilling this target will deliver another discovery of high-grade mineralisation.

“The growing number of significant mineralised intercepts and downhole EM conductors at West End and Investigators demonstrates a very large and fertile mineral system and further supports the potential for a significant deposit in this area.”

 

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: info@stgm.com.au

 

Web: www.stgm.com.au

 

Horizon Minerals Reports Richmond-Julia Creek PFS Results

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Horizon Minerals (ASX: HRZ) reported on completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study of the company’s Joint Ventured Richmond-Julia Creek vanadium project located in Central North Queensland.

The Pre-Feasibility Study focussed on the higher-grade Lilyvale deposit following an infill drilling program in late 2019, which resulted in an updated JORC 2012 Mineral Resource estimate of 560 million tonnes grading 0.48 per cent vanadium for 2.6 million tonnes vanadium at a 0.3 per cent lower cut-off.

Horizon Minerals reported the updated Pre-Feasibility Study, based on an initial 25-year life (25% of Ore Reserve), demonstrated Richmond-Julia Creek to be a financially strong project with the following key metrics:

Shallow low impact open pit mining producing 101.5Mt of oxide ore at a fully diluted grade of 0.49 per cent vanadium for 19.75Mt of 1.82 per cent vanadium with concentrate production on site;

Refining overall recovery at 86.1 per cent produces 317,500 tonnes of 98 per cent vanadium commercial grade flake with average annual production of 12,700 tonnes vanadium;

Modest up-front capital costs of $242.2 million (US$176.8m) and operating cash costs of $8.66 per pound (US$6.32/lb) of 98 per cent vanadium flake;

At current spot price of $13.15/lb (US$9.60/lb) vanadium the project generates NPV10% of $613 million (US$447.5M) with IRR of 38 per cent and a payback of 3.2 years.

“The Richmond-Julia Creek project is one of the largest undeveloped oxide vanadium resources in the world and can produce globally significant supply for both the steel and emerging energy storage markets,” Horizon Minerals managing director Jon Price said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“Restricted supply and increased demand have resulted in a sustained increase in prices with the initial 25-year mine life at Lilyvale generating an NPV of $613 million at current spot prices.

“What sets this project apart is its minimal impact on the environment with shallow open pit mining, progressive rehabilitation, low capex, conventional processing and first quartile operating costs.

“We look forward to the completion of the DFS in 2022 and believe the project can have significant economic development benefits to regional Queensland and the national economy.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: info@horizonminerals.com.au

 

Web: www.horizonminerals.com.au

 

Poseidon Nickel Continues Drill Hits at Golden Swan

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Poseidon Nickel (ASX: POS) reported the latest batch of assays results received from a further nine holes of the company’s recent Golden Swan drill program.

Poseidon Nickel kicked off the Golden Swan Resource Definition drilling program in late April 2021, which was designed to increase the company’s confidence in the continuity of the Golden Swan mineralisation to JORC 2012 Inferred and Indicated levels.

Results include:

PGSD035
0.8 metres at 14.3 per cent nickel from 178.85m;

PGSD042
2.95m at 4.46 per cent nickel from 166.85m;

PGSD044
3.95m at 5.1 per cent nickel from 168m, including 07m at 11.9 per cent nickel from 168.45m;

PGSD045
4.6m at 4.04 per cent nickel from 178.45; and

PGSD047
4.15m at 7.69 per cent nickel from 174.8m, including 1m at 11.6 per cent nickel from 174.8m and 1.15m at 11 per cent nickel from 177.8m.

“The Golden Swan Resource definition drilling program has been completed and assay results continue to be received,” Poseidon Nickel managing director and CEO Peter Harold said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The latest batch of assays has some good widths and grades, including some very high-grade intervals which will bulk up the tonnes in the mineralised zone.

“Once all the assay results are received, we will be able to prepare a maiden resource which we plan to release late in the September 2021 quarter.

“Drilling is well underway on the Southern Terrace where we are looking for more Golden Swan style high-grade mineralised zones.

“The Silver Swan Reserve Upgrade drill program, which is designed to increase the high-grade nickel mining inventory at Black Swan, should be underway in late August.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: admin@poseidon-nickel.com.au

 

Web: www.poseidon-nickel.com.au