Zulu Assay Results and Pilot Plant Update

By

Regulatory News | 30 Jan, 2023

Updated : 14:19

RNS Number : 1757O
Premier African Minerals Limited
30 January 2023
 

30 January 2023

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.

·    Consistent progress in construction of the Pilot Plant

George Roach, CEO commented, "The assay results reported on today continue to demonstrate good lithium values over significant widths that are all supportive of the quality of the mineralised pegmatites we intend to mine in the first phases of the pilot plant operations.

 

We are into the home stretch with pilot plant construction and site activity is frenetic with multiple work streams all targeting the same near-term completion date. Pre-strip has commenced in the initial pit area to be developed. Activity in the pilot plant assembly areas is now on a 24/7 basis. In the absence of any unforeseen issue, I expect that first shipments of SC6 will commence in Q1 as projected.

We still have a significant backlog of assay results and continue to develop a mining model for the pilot plant that is expected to deliver run of mine material from pegmatites that are dominated by spodumene. Whilst I am not in a position to provide direct guidance yet, it should be noted that the design capacity on the floatation circuit anticipates a mass pull of up to 30% at a design feed rate of 40 tons per hour of milled material. This represents a potential 12 ton per hour of spodumene rich concentrate. Until the plant operates, it is not possible to accurately predict either the feed grade of spodumene rich material reaching the floatation circuit, nor to predict the final concentrate grade, or final tonnage production rate. That is the nature of a pilot plant. I will provide further updates over the coming weeks.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of Suzhou TA&A, Mr Pei Zenzhue, for visiting Zulu in January 2023 and expressing his satisfaction with the progress we are making. We look forward to an exciting year".

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 GT-NP-03, ZDD003, ZDD010, ZDD013, ZDD015, ZDD016, ZDD019, ZDD023, ZDD027-2, ZDD029, ZDD030, ZDD032, ZDD037, ZDD038, ZDD039 & ZDD045.

Table 1 -Assay Summary Results

Hole

From (m)

To (m

Width* (m)

Li2O%

Ta2O5 ppm

Rb ppm

GT-NP-03

 

167.12

 

169.46

 

2.34

 

0.81

 

64

 

1902

 

ZDD003

 

24.38

 

33.14

 

8.76

 

1.64

 

16

 

1687

 

Incl.

29.14

 

32.14

 

3.00

 

2.62

 

15

 

1128

 

ZDD003

 

40.15

 

44.87

 

4.72

 

1.55

 

19

 

2134

 

ZDD003

 

51.23

 

54.15

 

2.92

 

1.00

 

73

 

2109

 

Incl.

51.23

 

52.23

 

1.00

 

1.69

 

84

 

1787

 

ZDD010

 

81.58

 

84.41

 

2.83

 

0.76

 

30

 

3015

 

ZDD010

 

97.34

 

99.50

 

2.16

 

1.39

 

30

 

3165

 

ZDD010

 

100.93

 

104.70

 

3.77

 

1.57

 

25

 

1611

 

ZDD010

111.34

 

117.73

 

6.39

 

1.09

 

35

 

2459

 

Incl.

116.30

 

117.30

 

1.00

 

2.00

 

48

 

2981

 

ZDD010

 

119.68

 

123.08

 

3.40

 

1.58

 

40

 

2873

 

ZDD010

 

145.71

 

148.60

 

2.89

 

1.56

 

43

 

1742

 

ZDD013

 

111.86

 

114.37

 

2.51

 

1.46

 

16

 

1584

 

ZDD013

 

116.88

 

119.60

 

2.72

 

1.21

 

34

 

2636

 

ZDD013

 

122.62

 

124.89

 

2.27

 

0.80

 

15

 

2049

 

ZDD013

 

134.18

 

137.12

 

2.94

 

1.00

 

13

 

2347

 

Incl.

135.18

 

136.18

 

1.00

 

1.55

 

21

 

2880

 

ZDD013

 

139.12

 

143.70

 

4.58

 

1.00

 

28

 

2154

 

Incl.

140.12

 

141.12

 

1.00

 

1.81

 

21

 

2452

 

ZDD015

 

73.61

 

79.23

 

5.62

 

0.98

 

42

 

1903

 

Incl.

75.61

 

76.61

 

1.00

 

1.66

 

34

 

1322

 

ZDD016

 

27.73

 

35.95

 

8.22

 

1.37

 

54

 

1457

 

Incl.

28.73

 

29.73

 

1.00

 

2.27

 

35

 

1271

 

Incl.

34.44

 

35.55

 

1.11

 

2.49

 

29

 

899

 

ZDD016

 

40.80

 

48.22

 

7.42

 

0.91

 

36

 

2170

 

Incl.

41.80

 

42.80

 

1.00

 

1.46

 

88

 

1891

 

Incl.

47.22

 

48.22

 

1.00

 

1.51

 

14

 

1673

 

ZDD016

 

51.79

 

58.48

 

6.69

 

1.29

 

53

 

1817

 

Incl.

54.82

 

55.92

 

1.10

 

2.22

 

15

 

516

 

ZDD019

 

34.87

 

36.87

 

2.00

 

0.60

 

106

 

2891

 

ZDD023

 

67.46

 

71.03

 

3.57

 

1.36

 

72

 

1837

 

ZDD023

 

113.46

 

117.46

 

4.00

 

1.58

 

18

 

1814

 

ZDD023

 

120.85

 

124.60

 

3.75

 

0.96

 

27

 

1957

 

ZDD027-2

 

114.45

 

124.45

 

10.00

 

1.17

 

115

 

1413

 

ZDD028

 

54.12

 

60.36

 

6.24

 

1.00

 

58

 

2069

 

Incl.

58.00

 

59.36

 

1.36

 

1.59

 

47

 

2326

 

ZDD029

 

22.58

 

24.58

 

2.00

 

1.05

 

24

 

1255

 

ZDD029

 

30.04

 

35.97

 

5.93

 

0.89

 

70

 

1280

 

Incl.

34.97

 

35.97

 

1.00

 

1.92

 

204

 

364

 

ZDD030

 

53.06

 

59.14

 

6.08

 

0.85

 

30

 

2687

 

ZDD032

 

81.12

 

84.20

 

3.08

 

0.90

 

95

 

1626

 

ZDD037

 

10.93

 

13.93

 

3.00

 

0.80

 

155

 

1448

 

ZDD037

 

20.25

 

32.58

 

12.33

 

1.29

 

64

 

1313

 

Incl.

20.60

 

21.60

 

1.00

 

2.25

 

72

 

1376

 

ZDD037

 

37.67

 

41.00

 

3.33

 

0.99

 

57

 

872

 

Incl.

 

38.67

39.67

1.00

1.88

59

913

ZDD037

 

46.68

 

53.55

 

6.87

 

1.09

 

85

 

1156

 

ZDD037

 

74.94

 

79.00

 

4.06

 

1.01

 

55

 

784

 

ZDD038

68.00

 

70.00

 

2.00

 

1.35

 

19

 

848

 

ZDD038

 

72.78

 

79.91

 

7.13

 

1.15

 

80

 

1029

 

Incl.

72.78

 

73.78

 

1.00

 

1.95

 

69

 

914

 

Incl.

78.91

 

79.91

 

1.00

 

1.76

 

28

 

1144

 

ZDD039

 

111.36

 

114.05

 

2.69

 

1.13

 

58

 

894

 

ZDD045

 

102.26

 

113.31

 

11.05

 

1.26

 

38

 

1581

 

Incl.

102.26

 

104.26

 

2.00

 

2.44

 

11

 

771

 

Incl.

108.26

 

109.26

 

1.00

 

2.92

 

11

 

1311

 

Incl.

112.26

 

113.31

 

1.05

 

1.91

 

94

 

730

 

ZDD045

 

120.69

 

143.00

 

22.31

 

1.41

 

37

 

1234

 

Incl.

121.69

 

122.69

 

1.00

 

2.27

 

84

 

161

 

Incl.

128.31

 

129.31

 

1.00

 

2.35

 

14

 

497

 

Incl.

134.00

 

138.00

 

4.00

 

2.31

 

12

 

684

 

Incl.

140.00

 

141.00

 

1.00

 

2.38

 

26

 

220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZDD045

 

145.50

 

152.53

 

7.03

 

1.31

 

40

 

1752

 

*Not True Width but drilled width

**0.50% Li2O cut-off applied.

The following compositing routine has been applied:

·                   

0.50% Li2O 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% Li2O 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% Li2O.

 

The following Table 3 sets out the drill hole collar coordinates for the drill holes reported in Table 1 above:

Table 2 - Drill Holes Collar Coordinates - This RNS

Dhole

UTM 35S*

Easting

UTM 35S*

Northing

Elevation (AMSL)

Azimuth TN (°)

Collar Dip

(°)

EOH

(m)

GT-NP-03

 

751313.001

 

7782952.020

 

1334.161

 

16.98

 

-70

 

190.44

 

ZDD003

 

751390.294

7783152.151

1352.511

129.74

-61.4

 

135.98

ZDD010

 

751387.204

7783018.316

1333.003

339.54

-46

163.13

ZDD013

 

751186.871

7782642.708

1323.252

296.04

-61.2

158.03

ZDD015

 

751074.773

7782409.552

1319.483

152.44

-59

100.33

ZDD016

 

751203.413

7782361.006

1312.172

195.34

-45.2

125.00

ZDD019

 

751308.553

7784270.773

1344.508

134.24

-60.2

125.00

ZDD023

 

751348.412

7783001.033

1334.493

340.24

-61.2

140.16

ZDD027-2

 

751179.951

7782561.657

1318.667

161.04

-60.2

140.08

ZDD028

 

751323.645

7782631.586

1320.917

225.54

-59.7

140.28

ZDD029

 

751203.084

7782697.615

1328.882

343.14

-59.3

151.55

ZDD030

 

751084.593

7782623.225

1316.967

114.34

-60

150.00

ZDD032

 

751182.236

7782229.22

1315.339

281.54

-59.6

160.95

ZDD037

 

751375.427

7782183.235

1310.078

225.28

-58.8

140.38

ZDD038

 

751437.480

7782173.457

1311.838

234.08

-59

140.28

ZDD039

 

751363.787

7781823.057

1307.616

114.78

-59.6

140.68

ZDD045

 

751356.684

7782209.746

1309.944

251.88

-60.2

271.12

 * ARC1950 Datum (10m local datum shift)

Table 3 - Drilling & Trenching Progress

A summary of the number of drill holes completed both prior to and for the ongoing updated mineral resource estimate as part of the DFS is set out below:

PROGRAMME

No of Drill Holes

Drill Metres (m)

No of Surface Trenches

Trenched Metres (m)

RST (1958)

7

903.90



ZULU - Initial Exploration

6

2,312.90



ZULU - PEA

43

5,809.10



ZULU - Pilot Plant DFS

127

29,134.54

7

832.56

ZULU - DFS (in progress)

0

0

6



Table 4 - Analytical Pipeline

A summary of the status of DFS drill core analysis is set out below:

Results received to date (excluding QA/QC samples)

7140

# QA/QC samples analysed

1027

 

Sample pulps at SGS Randfontein awaiting analysis

1661

Sample pulps ready to be shipped to SGS

0

Samples being pulped at Antec

0

Ongoing sampling of drill cores/trench samples at site*

0

*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 10th 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 N20° and dip 70° to 90° 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.

Enquiries:

George Roach

 

 

Premier African Minerals Limited

 

 

Tel: +27 (0) 100 201 281

 

 

Michael Cornish / Roland Cornish

 

 

Beaumont Cornish Limited

(Nominated Adviser)

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396

John More/Toby Gibbs

 

Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7408 4090

 

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identied 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 reect 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 accepted 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.

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)3Al2Si8O22(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 (KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2).

"Li to Li2O"

x 2.153.

"Li"

Lithium.

"Li2O"

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(Si4O10)).

"ppm"

Parts per million.

"Rb"

Rubidium.

"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 for electric vehicles

"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 (LiAlSi2O6).

"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 (Li2O) content. The standard conversion factors are set out in the table below:

Table: Conversion Factors for Lithium Compounds and Minerals

Convert from

 

Convert to Li

Convert to Li2O

Lithium

Li

1.000

2.153

Lithium Oxide

Li2O

0.464

1.000

 
Ends

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