Vast Resources PLC (AIM:VAST) Phase 1 Drill Results at Baita Plai Mine

Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, is pleased to announce that, further to the announcement made on 27 February 2023 regarding the technical programme at its Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine in Romania (‘Baita Plai’),  it has received positive drilling results from Phase 1 of an extensive exploration programme, which confirms the potential to extend the mining area. This process is part of the Company’s plans to establish a JORC compliant Mineral Resource and in due course an Ore Reserve for its licence renewal in August 2024.  

OVERVIEW

·    Drilling results, which represent 5% of the total planned exploration programme, include:

o  Drill Hole F5 from 44m to 45m 2.18 % Cu;

o  Drill Hole F6 from 24.9m to 33m avg. 3.69% Cu; and

o  Drill Hole F13 From 33m-34m 2.10% Cu.

·    Samples were collected from seven drill holes and based on the assay the ore was intercepted in six holes with a thickness from 1-10 metres and an average of 1.87% Cu.

·    Based on the performed economic composite, a total 45 metres were classified as ore with an average of 0.71% Cu.

·    From a total of 164 metres that were assayed, 27.4% or 45 metres is ore.

Andrew Prelea, CEO of Vast Resources plc, commented: “As the mine management focuses on confirming precise details  of the implementation of underground works to coincide with the Phase 1 drilling report at our Baita Plai Polymetallic mine, these exciting drill results, which exceed the initial estimation for the next working areas,  give us increased confidence in the potential to extend the mining area at Baita Plai from its existing base and then to report a JORC compliant  Mineral Resource.  We look forward to providing the market with updates as further results are received.”

DETAILS

The Company remains focused on optimising operations at its producing Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romania’s largest polymetallic mines.  Accordingly, it engaged a third-party technical contractor to review and reprofile the mine resources in order to report a JORC compliant Resource report for Baita Plai to be incorporated into a new independent competent person’s report.

Figure 1: Map to show the drilling program at Baita Plai Mine

As part of this, an extensive drilling programme is underway, with results from Phase 1 of the programme, representing approximately 5% of the total programme, now received.  This includes assay results from 164 samples that were collected from seven drill holes, with ore intercepted in six holes with a thickness from 1-10 metres and an average of 1.87% Cu. Based on the performed economic composite, a total of 45 meters were classified as ore with an average of 0.71% Cu and from the total 164 metres that were sampled, 27.4% or 45 metres is ore.

In the centre section of the ore, the initial thickness, based on historical data, was estimated at 6.7 metres and the actual intersected thickness, based on current drilling, is at 14 metres.  The best results were intercepted in drill hole F6_ug at a thickness of 14 metres with an average grade of 1.8% Cu and in F5_ug at a thickness of 14.7 metres with an average grade of 0.53% Cu.

Below are the preliminary drilling results for the immediate area below Level 4 at a depth of approximately 430m from mine entry surface  (approximately 170m above sea level) in the current mining areas that will determine the next nine months of production. The results to date exceed the interpretation of historic data by Formin published by the Company on 27 February 2023.

Table 1. Table with high Cu% assay values

Table 2.Table with economic composited copper grades

Table 3.Summary table with Ore length and average grade

Further work

The current drilling stage has the purpose of  confirming the extension of the orebody at higher depth and along strike. The second stage will consist of infill drillholes with the aim of classifying a JORC-compliant resource ratified by an independent Competent Person.

Report Signatories

Negru Vlad Andrei is a ‘Certified Person’ from the National Agency for Mineral Resource in Romania.  He is a geologist with more than 12 years’ experience in Mineral Resource estimation.  He has worked for a large number of projects in Romania and also as an SRK consultant.  Mr Andrei consents to the inclusion of his name in this announcement in the form and context to which it appears.

Competent Person

The forward-looking technical views made in this announcement are based on information interpreted by Mr Nicolae Turdean, the Our Romanian Country Manager and a full-time employee of the Company.  Mr Nicolae Turdean is a Qualified Person who is a member in good standing of the:

·    Romanian National Association of Specialists in Mining Industry

·    General Association of Romanian Engineers

·    Romanian National Committee of Mining Engineers

Nicolae has 40 years’ experience in the Romanian mining industry. He was most recently President of the National Agency for Mineral Resources.  Prior to this, Nicolae was the Chief Executive of Cupru Min SA, the Romanian state-owned copper producer.  Nicolae has worked closely with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Minister of Economy and Finance, and the World Bank, as well as serving on the Board of Administration for a number of companies.  Nicolae holds both a Bachelor of Mining Science and a MSc. in the Management of Mining Activities from the Technical University of Petrosani in Romania.