Marindi Metals Claims Pegmatite Discoveries at Forrestania

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Marindi Metals (ASX: MZN) provided an update on exploration activities at the company’s Forrestania lithium project.

Marindi Metals has completed ground work to follow up soil sampling, which identified two highly prospective pegmatites showing similarities to the Earl Grey pegmatite, located 60 kilometres and 80 kilometres north of the respective prospective areas.

Infill soil sampling results led to a field inspection of anomalous areas undertaken at the Cosmic Boy East and Diggers Rocks East target areas.

At Cosmic Boy East, an area of highly anomalous tantalum in soil with peak values to 6.5ppm tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) was inspected.

Within the soil anomaly a poorly exposed pegmatite was identified and sampled, which returned assays that indicated it to be a highly specialised LCT pegmatite assaying 157.5ppm Ta2O5 with both potassium/rubidium (K/Rb) and potassium/caesium (K/Cs) ratios.

Marindi claimed this to be broadly comparable with data published on the nearby Earl Grey pegmatite.

At Digger Rocks East, Marindi inspected an area of highly anomalous caesium where peak values to 11.5ppm caesium in soils had been returned.

This identified a further poorly exposed pegmatite to be sampled, returning assays indicated it to be another highly specialised LCT pegmatite assaying 36.8ppm Ta2O5 and 12.8ppm Ta2O5 in separate samples.

Once again, Marindi claimed both the potassium/rubidium and potassium/caesium ratios to be consistent with data published on the nearby Earl Grey pegmatite.

“Drilling will be required to determine the size and mineralogy of these pegmatites,” Marindi Metals said in its ASX announcement.

“The fact that soil sampling has led to the identification of outcropping specialised pegmatite is considered encouraging and a validation of the exploration technique as a first pass filter to discriminate prospective from less prospective ground in areas of residual soil or shallow cover.

“Infill soil sampling is ongoing and follow up inspections will continue as more anomalous areas are identified and Marindi expects to have results from the infill samples next week.

“Marindi has already begun plans for an initial drill program and will finalise its drilling program once these assays are received.”

 

Email: info@marindi.com.au

Website: www.marindi.com.au

 

Azure Minerals Identifies New Mexican Zinc Lead Targets

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) has identified areas of strong zinc and lead anomalism and high-grade gold, silver and base metal mineralisation during regional exploration program over the western half of the company’s Oposura project in mexico.

Azure Minerals said the areas were identified on the Mina Blanca Ranch prospect within the Oposura project area.

The company explained it is planning to drill at Mina Blanca Ranch following the completion of the Oposura resource drill-out and upon receipt of the required approvals.

Azure has interpreted the results from this early-stage exploration to indicate that additional precious and base metal mineralisation may be present within the western part of the Oposura property and further exploration, including drilling, is warranted.

When the Oposura resource drill-out has been completed, Azure will shift to an expansionary phase to test for repetitions and extensions of the high-grade Oposura massive sulphide deposit, and to explore for new styles of mineralisation like it has identified at Mina Blanca.

“Azure has undertaken the first modern exploration on the Mina Blanca Ranch in the western part of the Oposura property, and the systematic and technical approach is delivering positive results,” Azure Minerals managing director Tony Rovira said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“This is obviously a strongly mineralised district, with our geochemical surveys identifying several anomalies with potential for zinc and lead mineralisation close to the Oposura resource area.

“Additionally, the high-grade gold, silver and base metal values returned from a sample collected from the historical Mina Blanca mine provides extra encouragement for structurally controlled mineralisation.”

 

Website: www.azureminerals.com.au

Modern Technology Lends a Hand to New Resource Discoveries

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THE CONFERENCE CALLER: Technology plays a big part in modern day resources exploration and has been as big a contributor to recent discoveries.

The Resources Roadhouse caught up with Chris Brand managing director of Australasian reseller of Bruker portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) instruments Portable Analysers Australia at the recetn RIU Explorers Conference in Fremantle.

 

Website: www.portableanalysersaustralia.com

Blackstone Minerals Claims Emerging WA Gold Discovery

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) claimed an emerging gold discovery after recording encouraging results from a second phase aircore drilling program.

Blackstone Minerals conducted the drilling at the company’s Silver Swan South project, located eight kilometres along strike of the world-class Kanowna Belle gold mine near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Blackstone declared its second phase aircore drilling program at Silver Swan South to have intersected gold mineralisation and extensive basement geochemical anomalism at the Black Eagle prospect with the following result:

10 metres at 3.2 grams per tonne gold from 68 m within, 15 m at 2.2g/t gold from 64m to end of hole (EOH).

The company considers the results to have upgraded the Black Eagle prospect and when combined with previous reconnaissance results of 3m at 3.5g/t gold from 60m elevates Black Eagle to a priority drill target.

The company is ready to commence aircore drilling that will also target the Black Hawk prospect, to follow up on an initial intersection of 3m at 2.6g/t gold from 52m that was encountered in the first phase of drilling at Silver Swan South.

Following the success of its aircore drill programs Blackstone also plans to commence a maiden diamond drilling program in Q2 2018.

“We are pleased to announce these significant gold results at such an early stage in our exploration efforts at Silver Swan South,” Blackstone Minerals managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We look forward to the next phase of drilling to identify the primary source of the gold mineralisation at Black Eagle and to identify further gold anomalism at Black Hawk.

“We are strategically located within trucking distance of many world class gold mines.

“Our Australian assets continue to complement our flagship very high-grade Little Gem cobalt-gold project in British Columbia, Canada.”

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

Website: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Kin Mining Drilling LGP Kyte Deposit

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Having got its Boardroom duck hierarchy in order, Kin Mining (ASX: KIN) announced it has resumed drilling at the company’s Leonora gold project (LGP) in Western Australia.

Kin Mining said an initial RC drilling program has been approved to extend the gold Resource at the Kyte orebody.

The Kyte deposit currently has an Indicated Resource of 21,000 ounces of gold and is presently open along strike in both directions and down dip.

A Definitive Feasibility Study determined Kyte to be positioned in the van of the company’s production schedule due to positive economics.

Because of this, Kin considers better defining the extent of mineralisation is a high priority.

The company said increasing the Resource at Kyte will enable it to provide greater flexibility within the mine plan.

The Kyte orebody has a stripping ratio of 2.7:1 with a C1 cash cost of $727 per ounce (AISC of $770 per ounce) and has a Resource to Reserve conversion of 86 per cent.

Kin indicated that mining the Kyte deposit early in the life of the LGP will assist in quickly paying back the debt facility.

This round of drilling will further explore the extensions to the south, as there are currently constraints to drilling to the north.

“We are excited to be getting back to drilling at the Leonora gold project and following up on the strong results that were delivered by our geology team in 2017,” Kin Mining acting managing director Trevor Dixon said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We are determined to grow our Resource base and to improve on our reserve conversions through 2018 as we ramp up to production.”

 

Email: info@kinmining.com.au

Website: www.kinmining.com.au

 

Kin Mining Appoints New Chairman

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Kin Mining (ASX: KIN) announced the appointment of Jeremy Kirkwood to the company Board as independent non-executive chairman.

Once the music had stopped, Kin revealed current chairman Trevor Dixon, is to become interim managing director while the company looks to appoint a suitably qualified applicant for the role full-time.

After that has been accomplished Dixon will remain on the Board as a non-executive director.

Kin mining said Kirkwood’s appointment adds strength to the Board as the company moves towards production at its 100 per cent-owned Leonora gold project (LGP) located in the North-Eastern goldfields of Western Australia.

Kirkwood brings to the table extensive experience in corporate strategy, investment banking and global capital markets.

He is currently a principal of Pilot Advisory Group and non-executive chairman of Talisman Mining.

Previous roles include managing director at Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Austock.

“I am pleased to join the Kin Board and honoured to be appointed chairman by my colleagues,” Kirkwood said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“I believe the company has an exciting future with excellent assets, a near term, strongly cash generative project and strong growth prospects.

“The Board’s immediate focus is to develop the Leonora gold project, appoint a new managing director and generate shareholder value.”

Kin advised that David Sproule has resigned as a director of the company effective immediately.

 

Email: info@kinmining.com.au

Website: www.kinmining.com.au

 

Lithium Australia Reaches Formal Agreement with VSPC

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) announced it has advanced the acquisition of Brisbane battery cathode developer the Very Small Particle Company Ltd (VSPC).

Lithium Australia said it, along with a number of major VSPC shareholders, has executed a binding Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, including lodgement of a transaction-specific prospectus with ASIC to facilitate the consideration payable for the acquisition of VSPC.

VSPC hold several assets that include intellectual property and a decommissioned pilot plant in Brisbane designed to produce complex metal oxides/phosphate powders for the production of lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs).

The plant incorporates not only Australia’s most advanced LIB laboratory/testing facility but also equipment for cathode coating and battery-cell production.

In its ASX announcement Lithium Australia said VSPC has researched and developed some of the world’s most innovative and respected new-era cathode material production technology.

The VSPC process – which is both simple and cost effective – can potentially deliver a wide range of cathode materials for LIBs, with superior control of product particle size and chemistry.

The process can generate superior cathode powders over a wide range of cathode chemistries.

The ability of batteries manufactured from VSPC cathode materials to out-perform industry benchmarks was recently confirmed by independent testing at a leading battery laboratory in Germany.

“The ability to utilise mine waste, unconventional lithium minerals and waste batteries in the production of high-quality cathode materials is the ultimate test of sustainability,” Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“This approach will help reduce the pressure on primary sources of energy metals.

“The integrated technologies available to LIT will allow for better resource utilisation, reduce the quantity of valuable materials going to landfill and enable the rebirth of many materials as new generation LIBs.”

 

Email: info@lithium-au.com

Website: www.lithium-au.com

Azure Minerals Completes Placement to Advance Mexican Ambitions

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Azure Minerals (ASX: AZS) completed an $8.2 million placement to institutional and sophisticated investors.

Azure Minerals said the funds raised would enable the company to continue development studies at its Oposura project in Mexico and to accelerate its exploration campaign to further define the high-grade, near-surface gold and cobalt mineralisation on the Sara Alicia project, also in Mexico.

“I am very pleased with the strong support shown from institutions in North America, Europe and Australia,” Azure Minerals managing director Tony Rovira said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“This heavily oversubscribed placement places Azure in a very strong position moving forward, as we work towards completing development studies at Oposura and fast-track exploration at the Sara Alicia gold and cobalt project.

“With both zinc and cobalt prices at decade highs, we believe that the company is ideally placed to accelerate both Oposura and Sara Alicia towards development.”

 

Website: www.azureminerals.com.au

Nusantara Resources Increases Salu Bulo Mineral Resource

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Nusantara Resources (ASX: NUS) released a Mineral Resource update for the Salu Bulo deposit, located on the company’s 100 per cent-owned Awak Mas gold project in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nusantara Resources said the update had resulted from the inclusion of results from 12 additional diamond drill holes carried out during a Phase 1 drilling program at the project.

The company claimed the final assay results from the 12-hole Salu Bulo drilling program confirmed the continuity and strike potential of the Biwa and Lelating trends.

The drilling also identified previously unmodeled, shallow dipping mineralisation located north of a controlling structure.

The Salu Bulo Indicated and Inferred Resource has been updated with a 65 per cent increase in contained gold to 3.7 million tonnes at 1.53 grams per tonne gold for 180,000 contained ounces.

The Awak Mas gold project Mineral Resource Estimate at 0.5g/t gold cut-off within a US$1400 per ounce optimisation shell increases to 2 million ounces, with 81 per cent reporting to the Indicated Resource category.

Nusantara said this had provided the company with further confidence for the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) it currently has in progress.

The company indicated it expects further resource upgrades for the Awak Mas deposit from ongoing step-out drilling within the Awak Mas lower domains and Awak Mas eastern extension (Highwall) area.

“Achieving two million ounces is a significant milestone for the company and highlights the immense upside potential of the Awak Mas gold project,” Nusantara Resources managing director and CEO Mike Spreadborough said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We eagerly await assay results from the step-out drilling currently in progress at the Awak Mas deposit, which has the potential for additional mineralisation for inclusion in the DFS that is on track for completion in mid-2018.”

 

Email: info@nusantararesources.com.au

Website: www.nusantararesources.com.au

 

Kalium Lakes Posts Positive Purification Plant Outcomes

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Kalium Lakes (ASX: KLL) informed the market of progress it is making regarding testwork optimisation for the Purification Plant at the company’s 100 per cent-owned Beyondie sulphate of potash project (SOP) in Western Australia.

Kalium Lakes said the recent work utilised harvested salts from pilot evaporation ponds at the Beyondie project, which were subjected to duplicated laboratory trials at both K-UTEC in Germany and Saskatchawan Research Council (SRC) in Canada.

The company said the testwork had continued to optimise process flow sheet design while building on previous work completed in the Prefeasibility Study.

Optimisation works for batch recovery trials within the processing plant utilising more than one tonne of harvested salts from the pilot evaporation ponds achieved individual recoveries of between 90 per cent to 98 per cent.

Kalium Lakes asserted that the overall SOP recoveries achieved have the potential to increase to more than 80 per cent, including evaporation pond losses associated with both leakage and recovery.

Sulphate of potash product quality has been enhanced to a premium 51 to 52 per cent potassium oxide (K2O) product with minimal chloride (less than five per cent) and insoluble material

The company said there is optimisation and equipment vendor testwork ongoing utilising eight tonnes of recently harvested salts from the pilot evaporation ponds.

Final product specifications aim to produce a Kalium Lakes Premium SOP, Granular SOP and horticulture grade Soluble SOP suite of products.

“Kalium Lakes is continuing to reduce process risk by duplicating work in both Germany and Canada so as to independently verify and optimise the repeatability of the proposed flowsheet,” Kalium Lakes managing director Brett Hazelden said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Utilising salts from our large-scale pilot evaporation ponds has allowed us to produce representative mixed potassium salt samples which have then been utilised to optimise the process.

“The results to date have been considerably better than our Pre-Feasibility assumptions and we have continued to improve the final SOP product quality.

“We are now moving to the final phase of testing and optimisation with a further eight tonnes of material harvested and sent to the two international facilities.

“This material will provide bulk samples for equipment vendor testing to enable process guarantees to be put in place, as well as producing marketing samples for potential offtake customers.”

 

Email: info@kaliumlakes.com.au

Website: www.kaliumlakes.com.au