TIDMPREM
RNS Number : 3003K
Premier African Minerals Limited
20 December 2022
20 December 2022
Premier African Minerals Limited
Zulu Assay Results and Pilot Plant Update
Premier African Minerals Limited ("Premier" or the "Company"),
is pleased to report on assay results at Premier's Zulu Lithium and
Tantalum Project ("Zulu"). These results are from boreholes that
are located within the area planned to be mined under operation of
the Pilot Plant and will constitute a portion of the Mineral
Resource update required to support the DFS.
Highlights:
-- Multiple thick high-grade zones intersected.
-- Lithium-bearing mineral assemblage exhibits high spodumene
content in the thickest pegmatite, north and south
of the Machakwe river.
-- Consistent progress in construction of the Pilot Plant.
George Roach, CEO commented , "These assay results are further
confirmation of the integrity of the ore body. At the same time, we
continue to receive XRD analysis that supports our conclusions that
the main pegmatite ore body is predominantly spodumene. To add
context to this, when the source of Lithium contained in an ore
body is 100% spodumene, a grade of 1% Li2O would indicate 12.5%
pure spodumene and approximately 16% SC6 when recover is 100%.
Whilst results, as they become available, will support new overall
resource estimates, our single-minded focus at present is to bring
the Pilot Plant to production and to be assured that we are able to
consider early upgrades to that plant to both increase spodumene
production and exploit the range of by-product potential that
includes tantalum.
Progress at the mine site is good and delivery of components is
ongoing. Festive season delays are largely being managed and work
is likely to continue throughout the festive season with small
break times on a rotational basis. Civil support construction both
at the plant site and the main masonry arch dam progresses very
well despite all the attempts of our wet season to interfere and we
remain on target to produce spodumene in Q1 2023. Our management
team and our team at site, JRG Construction, our civils contractor,
and Stark Resources our plant manufacturers and suppliers remain
deeply committed to this project and the individual sacrifices of
so many are noted and appreciated. This project would not be at
this stage without the support and commitment we have received from
Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology Co., Ltd. ("Suzhou
TA&A"), and we remain deeply appreciative of that. Suzhou
TA&A have met their funding undertakings in full.
May I take this opportunity to thank our shareholders, and all
concerned with the Zulu project for their support and commitment
and to wish you all well over the festive season."
Drill Holes: Lithium & Tantalum Results
The table below sets out the composites determined, as per the
outlined compositing routine in the text below the table, from
analyses received from the independent external laboratory (SGS)
for holes ZDD0126, ZDD129, ZDD130, ZDD134, ZDD135, ZDD137, ZDD138,
ZDD139, ZDD140, ZDD142, ZDD143, ZDD144, ZDD148, GT-SP-02, GT-SP-03,
GT-SP-04, GT-SP-06, GT-SP-07, & GT-NP-03.
Table 1 -Assay Summary Results
Hole From To Width* Li(2) Ta(2) Rb ppm
(m) (m) (m) O% O(5) ppm
ZDD126 209.30 215.50 6.20 1.15 32 1698
Incl. 210.30 211.30 1.00 1.77 33 1999
Incl. 214.30 215.30 1.00 1.78 36 1336
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD129 224.73 227.72 2.99 1.38 17 3490
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD129 229.93 234.54 4.61 0.85 27 2320
Incl. 229.93 231.92 1.99 1.33 22 3141
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD129 238.37 240.68 2.31 0.98 35 2077
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD130 272.00 277.22 5.22 1.01 35 2336
Incl. 272.85 274.85 2.00 1.59 23 2259
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD134 260.50 262.88 2.38 1.14 123 2141
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD135 202.90 205.98 3.08 1.00 100 1436
Incl. 203.64 204.72 1.08 1.98 84 1176
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD137 268.13 274.43 6.30 1.50 73 1488
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD138 128.19 130.82 2.63 0.68 87 2029
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD139 193.86 196.90 3.04 1.17 177 1092
Incl. 195.10 196.90 1.80 1.80 154 1419
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD139 223.68 228.12 4.44 1.43 99 3057
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD140 173.78 205.98 32.20 1.67 47 1669
Incl. 181.65 182.65 1.00 2.81 37 1896
Incl. 188.20 189.20 1.00 2.50 36 1864
Incl. 193.20 195.20 2.00 2.57 9 341
Incl. 202.20 205.20 3.00 2.41 27 1858
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD140 208.76 213.02 4.26 1.27 41 1560
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD140 214.56 224.24 9.68 1.41 56 1362
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD140 332.36 335.90 3.54 1.97 93 629
Incl. 333.36 334.36 1.00 3.65 86 750
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD142 128.50 131.60 3.10 0.62 104 2266
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD142 148.83 151.79 2.96 0.87 152 2433
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD143 70.32 81.87 11.55 1.35 168 4967
Incl. 76.12 77.12 1.00 2.16 150 4022
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD144 51.25 54.30 3.05 0.66 73 2814
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD148 26.13 30.00 3.87 0.61 119 3837
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-02 134.28 137.45 3.17 1.20 148 2202
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-03 79.72 87.22 7.50 0.88 41 1894
Incl. 81.22 82.72 1.50 1.59 36 1750
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-04 71.95 77.95 6.00 0.89 53 312
Incl. 73.45 74.95 1.50 1.44 80 97
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-04 82.36 85.40 3.04 0.53 127 4936
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-06 4.34 9.54 5.20 1.13 115 1230
Incl. 7.34 8.84 1.50 1.75 76 852
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-06 15.00 23.22 8.22 1.30 75 1334
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-06 24.17 31.67 7.50 1.32 72 1439
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-06 44.00 55.85 11.85 1.12 79 1673
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-SP-07 46.84 52.84 6.00 1.65 91 1166
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-NP-03 126.33 129.33 3.00 1.38 36 2170
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
GT-NP-03 137.92 148.80 7.50 1.70 40 2006
Incl. 139.42 141.92 2.50 3.15 20 1197
---------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
*Not True Width but drilled width
**0.50% Li(2) O cut-off applied.
Table 2: Re-analysis of 2016-2017 drill programme.
The pegmatite intersections from the 2016-2017 drill programme
have been geologically re-logged and resampled to conform with the
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as applied to the DFS drill
cores. This will allow for a better integration of the drill data
into the DFS database that will be used for the final Mineral
Resource Estimate
Hole From To (m Width* Li(2) Ta(2) Rb ppm
(m) (m) O% O(5) ppm
ZDD005 127.00 129.70 2.00 1.12 86 1931
------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD007 83.45 85.65 2.20 1.33 39 1645
------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD014 14.38 17.06 2.68 1.02 62 191
------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD014 44.17 46.66 2.49 0.75 43 1611
Incl. 44.17 45.17 1.00 1.33 40 1454
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
*Not True Width but drilled width
The following compositing routine has been applied:
-- 0.50% Li(2) O cut-off was applied to the pegmatitic
intersections only.
-- <2m standalone composites at the cut-off grade but with
an overall weighted average grade of >0.5% Li(2) O are
not reported.
-- Within any composite of >2m thickness, high-grade intersections
of 1m and greater are reported provided the high-grade
intersection is a multiple of x 1.5 of the overall weighted
composite grade, and
-- Within any composite, inclusions of country rock of
<2m thickness are included within the composite provided
the overall grade of the composite is not <0.50% Li(2)
O.
The following Table 3 sets out the drill hole collar coordinates
for the drill holes reported in Table 1 above:
Table 3 - Drill Holes Collar Coordinates - This RNS
Dhole UTM 35S* UTM 35S* Elevation Azimuth Collar EOH
Easting Northing (AMSL) TN ( deg Dip (m)
) ( deg
)
ZDD126 751090.622 7782937.658 1319.779 110 -49.65 346.68
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD129 751144.891 751144.891 1326.344 110 -48.8 279.98
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD130 751084.580 7783043.626 1320.757 110 -50.52 349.88
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD134 751010.654 7782319.901 1325.891 110 -51.65 350.00
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD135 750895.240 7782216.991 1326.247 110 -47.63 250.64
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD137 750830.770 7782128.372 1324.693 110 -49.78 325.04
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD138 750828.488 7782024.278 1321.297 120.3 -52.04 250.08
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD139 750757.804 7782049.554 1323.310 110 -50.22 300.00
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD140 750779.609 7782090.857 1324.388 110 -50.38 349.98
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD142 751372.055 7784412.980 1342.289 304.41 -58.18 179.09
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD143 751343.718 7784305.230 1343.619 270 -61.13 150.00
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD144 751365.434 7784197.029 1335.180 110 -60.88 150.00
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD148 750973.06 7781969.468 1319.603 87.64 -60.48 150.00
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
GT-SP-02 751006.761 7782265.846 1332.677 87.98 -70 220
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
GT-SP-03 751234.593 7782326.242 1311.480 289.98 -70 201.64
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
GT-SP-04 751035.812 7782459.986 1313.817 138.98 -70 210.68
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
GT-SP-06 751362.023 7782181.747 1309.953 230.98 -70 153.04
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
GT-SP-07 751354.410 7782102.092 1308.960 235.98 -70 180.54
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
GT-NP-03 751313.001 7782952.020 1334.161 16.98 -70 190.44
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD005 751068.723 7782570.256 1315.626 105.74 -59.9 150.38
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD007 751113.125 7782699.429 1321.658 106.64 -54.9 150.30
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD014 751065.149 7782453.164 1312.316 123.44 -44.3 100.80
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
* ARC1950 Datum (10m local datum shift)
Table 4 - Drilling Progress
A summary of the number of drill holes completed both prior to
and for the ongoing updated MRE is set out below:
PROGRAMME No of Drill Holes Metres (m)
Completed
RST (1958) 7 903.90
------------------ -----------
ZULU - Initial Exploration 6 2,312.90
------------------ -----------
ZULU - PEA 43 5,809.10
------------------ -----------
ZULU - Pilot Plant DFS 126 28, 932.75
------------------ -----------
ZULU - DFS (in progress) 1 169.89
------------------ -----------
Table 5 - Analytical Pipeline
A summary of the status of DFS drill core analysis is set out
below:
Results received to date (excluding QA/QC
samples) 5755
# QA/QC samples analysed 711
-----
Sample pulps at SGS Randfontein awaiting
analysis 2250
-----
Sample pulps ready to be shipped to SGS 0
-----
Samples being pulped at Antec 500
-----
Ongoing sampling of drill cores at site* 200
-----
*Estimate
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
The drill holes are initially sited using a hand-held GPS
(Global Positioning System device) within the tenement areas.
Accurate coordinates and elevations of drill holes collars are
subsequently derived from a DGPS (Differential Global Position
devices) survey.
Drill cores are geologically logged, intersections of interest
are selected are marked-up with unique sample ID assigned before
splitting and sampling. Cores are cut in half using a core cutter,
individual samples bagged, and sent for analysis.
Alternating Certified Refence Materials (CRM), blank or
duplicate samples are inserted every 10(th) sample into the sample
stream sent to the laboratory to ensure QA/QC compliance. These
QA/QC samples are assessed upon receipt of analyses, checked and,
if acceptable, accepted into the analytical database. Follow-up
with the laboratory is instigated in cases were any QA/QC sample
fails the QA/QC parameters.
Currently, drill core samples are crushed and pulverised at the
Antec Laboratory, Zimbabwe to 85% passing -75 microns. Sample pulps
are inspected for export in Harare by the competent government
authorities and couriered to the SGS Laboratory Services in
Randfontein, South Africa where pulps are fused with sodium
peroxide and analysed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS to report 51-elements.
(SGS code ICP90A50 & IMS90A50).
The Geology of Zulu
The area, located in the Fort Rixon Greenstone Belt, is
underlain by Archaean-aged meta-volcanics and meta-sedimentary
sequences of the Bulawayan Supergroup, with serpentinites and
banded iron formations at the base in the east and metamorphosed
volcano-sedimentary sequences to the west. The greenstone belt is
tear drop shaped measuring 30 km long and 19 km wide near the broad
section at the top. Metamorphism is retrograded to Greenschist
facies.
The Zulu Pegmatite is a LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) pegmatite
swarm which intrudes along the contacts between serpentine and
metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary sequences over a strike length of
several kilometres. Outcrop widths vary between 10 and 50m. The
pegmatite bodies strike N20deg and dip 70deg to 90deg to the
west.
The area was first pegged in 1955 by J.S. Willemse and intensely
explored, under option, by mapping, trenching and drilling by
Rhodesian Selection Trust Co. Ltd. ("RST") in 1958. In 1961 and
1962 a small quantity of petalite from the River Pegmatites (see
below) was mined by W. Burchett in partnership with J.S. Willemse.
Premier later acquired the claims in 2013.
Recent mapping and interpretation of the pegmatite swarm from
semi-quantitative X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) has identified three
distinct phases of pegmatites. A spodumene-rich, thick pegmatite
named the Main Zone which lies north and south of the Machakwe
River, footwall low-spodumene pegmatites with associated tantalum
and rubidium and a suite of petalite-bearing pegmatites of short
strike length, named the River Pegmatites.
In general, the lithium minerals, occurring in varying
quantities, are coarse grained with associated feldspars and quartz
with only very minor sulphides being observed. In several contact
zones, the lithium-bearing amphibole, holmquistite, has been
observed.
Qualified Person:
Bruce Cumming, geologist with Premier, has reviewed and approved
this release to the extent that reference is made to Zulu. Mr.
Cumming is a SACNASP and GSSA registered geoscientist with 46
years' experience in exploration and project management, in
multicommodity projects throughout Africa.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of
UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018.
The person who arranged the release of this announcement on
behalf of the Company was George Roach.
Forward Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to
be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are
identi ed by their use of terms and phrases such as "believe"
"could" "should" "envisage" "estimate" "intend" "may" "plan" "will"
or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions
including references to assumptions. These forward-looking
statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the
Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the
Company's future growth results of operations performance future
capital and other expenditures (including the amount. Nature and
sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business
prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements re ect
the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on
information currently available to the Directors. A number of
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks
associated with vulnerability to general economic and business
conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes
actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital
markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses
and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the
Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this
announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be
reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that
actual results will be consistent with such forward looking
statements.
Notes to Editors:
Premier African Minerals Limited (AIM: PREM) is a
multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company
focused on Southern Africa with its RHA Tungsten and Zulu Lithium
projects in Zimbabwe.
The Company has a diverse portfolio of projects, which include
tungsten, rare earth elements, lithium and tantalum in Zimbabwe and
lithium and gold in Mozambique, encompassing brownfield projects
with near-term production potential to grass-roots exploration. The
Company has a ccepted a share offer by Vortex Limited ("Vortex")
for the exchange of Premier's entire 4.8% interest in Circum
Minerals Limited ("Circum"), the owners of the Danakil Potash
Project in Ethiopia, for a 13.1% interest in the enlarged share
capital of Vortex. Vortex has an interest of 36.7% in Circum .
In addition, the Company holds a 19% interest in MN Holdings
Limited, the operator of the Otjozondu Manganese Mining Project in
Namibia.
Enquiries:
George Roach Premier African Minerals Limited Tel: +27 (0) 100 201 281
Michael Cornish / Roland Cornish Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
(Nominated Adviser)
--------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
John More/Toby Gibbs Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7408 4090
--------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Glossary of Technical Terms:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"amphibole" A class of rock-forming silicate or aluminosilicate minerals typically occurring
as fibrous
or columnar crystals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Banded Iron Formation (BIF)" A sedimentary rock consisting of alternating layers of iron oxides and iron-poor
chert.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"DFS" Definitive Feasibility Study.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Greenschist facies" The Greenschist facies is at low pressure and temperature. The facies is named for
the typical
schistose texture of the rocks and green colour of the minerals chlorite, epidote
and actinolite.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"feldspar" An aluminosilicate mineral consisting of potassium, sodium, and calcium.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Holmquistite" A lithium-bearing amphibole related to hornblende with a formula as
(Na,K,Ca)Li(Mg,Fe)(3)
Al(2) Si(8) O(22) (OH)(2.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"ICP-OES" Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"ICP-MS" Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lepidolite" A pink to lavender coloured lithium bearing mineral (KLi 2 Al(Si 4 O 10 )(F,OH) 2
).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Li to Li2O" x 2.153.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Li" Lithium.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Li(2) O" Lithium Oxide (Lithia) - an inorganic lithium compound used to assess lithium
minerals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"m" Meters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"meta-sediments" Sedimentary rocks that have been metamorphosed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"meta-volcanics" Volcanic rocks that have been metamorphosed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"PEA" Preliminary Economic Study
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Petalite" A white coloured lithium bearing mineral (LiAl(Si 4 O 10 )).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"ppm" Parts per million.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Rb" Rubidium.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"SC6" An important economic concentrate of spodumene, known as spodumene concentrate 6
or SC6, is
a high-purity lithium ore with approximately 6 percent lithium content being
produced as a
raw material for the subsequent production of lithium-ion batteries.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"serpentinite" A dark, typically greenish metamorphic rock, consisting of serpentine or related
minerals,
formed when mafic igneous rocks are altered.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Spodumene" A white to pink coloured lithium bearing mineral (LiAlSi 2 O 6 ).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ta to Ta2O5" x 1.221.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ta" Tantalum.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"X-Ray Diffraction" X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a widely used technique to assess the mineral
assemblage, crystallinity
and structure of rocks, cores etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LITHIUM CLASSIFICATION AND CONVERSION FACTORS
Lithium grades are normally presented in percentages or ppm.
Grades of deposits are also expressed as lithium compounds in
percentages, for example as a percent lithium oxide (Li (2) O)
content. The standard conversion factors are set out in the table
below:
Table: Conversion Factors for Lithium Compounds and Minerals
Convert from Convert to Convert to
Li Li (2) O
--------------- -------- ----------- -----------
Lithium Li 1.000 2.153
Li (2)
Lithium Oxide O 0.464 1.000
--------------- -------- ----------- -----------
Ends
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