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% |
Ta2O5Â 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 Â |
32.14 Â |
3.00 Â |
2.62 Â |
15 Â |
1128 Â |
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 Â |
52.23 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.69 Â |
84 Â |
1787 Â |
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 Â |
117.30 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.00 Â |
48 Â |
2981 Â |
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 Â |
136.18 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.55 Â |
21 Â |
2880 Â |
ZDD013
|
139.12
|
143.70
|
4.58
|
1.00
|
28
|
2154
|
Incl. |
140.12 Â |
141.12 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.81 Â |
21 Â |
2452 Â |
ZDD015
|
73.61
|
79.23
|
5.62
|
0.98
|
42
|
1903
|
Incl. |
75.61 Â |
76.61 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.66 Â |
34 Â |
1322 Â |
ZDD016
|
27.73
|
35.95
|
8.22
|
1.37
|
54
|
1457
|
Incl. |
28.73 Â |
29.73 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.27 Â |
35 Â |
1271 Â |
Incl. |
34.44 Â |
35.55 Â |
1.11 Â |
2.49 Â |
29 Â |
899 Â |
ZDD016
|
40.80
|
48.22
|
7.42
|
0.91
|
36
|
2170
|
Incl. |
41.80 Â |
42.80 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.46 Â |
88 Â |
1891 Â |
Incl. |
47.22 Â |
48.22 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.51 Â |
14 Â |
1673 Â |
ZDD016
|
51.79
|
58.48
|
6.69
|
1.29
|
53
|
1817
|
Incl. |
54.82 Â |
55.92 Â |
1.10 Â |
2.22 Â |
15 Â |
516 Â |
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 Â |
59.36 Â |
1.36 Â |
1.59 Â |
47 Â |
2326 Â |
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 Â |
35.97 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.92 Â |
204 Â |
364 Â |
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 Â |
21.60 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.25 Â |
72 Â |
1376 Â |
ZDD037
|
37.67
|
41.00
|
3.33
|
0.99
|
57
|
872
|
Incl. Â |
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 Â |
73.78 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.95 Â |
69 Â |
914 Â |
Incl. |
78.91 Â |
79.91 Â |
1.00 Â |
1.76 Â |
28 Â |
1144 Â |
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 Â |
104.26 Â |
2.00 Â |
2.44 Â |
11 Â |
771 Â |
Incl. |
108.26 Â |
109.26 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.92 Â |
11 Â |
1311 Â |
Incl. |
112.26 Â |
113.31 Â |
1.05 Â |
1.91 Â |
94 Â |
730 Â |
ZDD045
|
120.69
|
143.00
|
22.31
|
1.41
|
37
|
1234
|
Incl. |
121.69 Â |
122.69 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.27 Â |
84 Â |
161 Â |
Incl. |
128.31 Â |
129.31 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.35 Â |
14 Â |
497 Â |
Incl. |
134.00 Â |
138.00 Â |
4.00 Â |
2.31 Â |
12 Â |
684 Â |
Incl. |
140.00 Â |
141.00 Â |
1.00 Â |
2.38 Â |
26 Â |
220 Â |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 Â |
-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 |