Panton Drilling Results

RNS Number : 8871D
Future Metals NL
07 March 2022
 

 Panton Drilling Returns 140m of PGM & Base Metal Mineralisation from 28m

 

Future Metals NL ("Future Metals" or the "Company", ASX|AIM: FME ), a platinum group metals ("PGM") focused company, is pleased to report further shallow, wide PGM assay results from the resource definition drilling undertaken at its 100% owned Panton PGM Project ("Panton") in northern Western Australia.

Highlights  

§ Assay results received for a further two resource definition holes (refer to Table One and Appendix Two for full details).

§ Drill hole PS400 returned an unconstrained bulk intersection of 140.8m @ 1.07g/t PdEq3 from 28m down hole including a broad zone of sulphide mineralisation and included intercepts (at a 0.5g/t PGM(3E) cut-off, maximum 4m internal dilution) of:

39.48m @ 1.20 g/t PdEq3 (0.81 g/t PGM 3E2 & 0.17% Ni) from 37.1m

25.66m @ 1.17 g/t PdEq3 (0.74 g/t PGM 3E2 & 0.19% Ni) from 104.34m

12.2m @ 1.15g/t PdEq3 (0.66 g/t PGM 3E2 & 0.18% Ni) from 135.4m

§ Drill hole PS398 also returned broad widths of shallow PGM and nickel mineralisation, including:

20.6m @ 2.14g/t PdEq3 (1.79 g/t PGM 3E2 & 0.20% Ni) from 39m

11m @ 1.12 g/t PdEq3 (0.72 g/t PGM 3E2 & 0.15% Ni) from 64m

30.6m @ 1.21 g/t PdEq3 (0.75 g/t PGM 3E2 & 0.21% Ni) from 83m

§ Unconstrained intersections within the zone of sulphide mineralisation from drill hole PS400 included intercepts of:

34.05m @ 0.16 g/t Au + 0.14% Cu + 0.17% Ni from 208.7m

18.3m @ 0.08 g/t Au + 0.13% Cu + 0.16% Ni from 266.5m

§ Assay results pending for a further 47 drill holes comprising 14 holes recently drilled by the Company and 33 historical drill holes that were not previously sampled through the footwall of the Upper Reef

§ Once the remaining assay results have been received, the Company will incorporate the new results into an updated JORC Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") that will encompass shallow, bulk PGM-Ni mineralisation up to 20-40 metres in thickness, that importantly sits outside of the current JORC MRE of 14.32Mt @ 4.89g/t PGM6E1 and 0.31g/t gold for 2.4Moz of contained PGM and gold (refer to Appendix One) (refer to the Company's announcement of 8 December 2021 and Figures Two and Three)

§ Metallurgical flotation test work is underway on both high-grade and low-grade representative composite samples from the previously reported metallurgical holes

§ The Company is reviewing all geophysical and geological data accumulated over the 30+ years of work completed at Panton to identify trends in mineralisation which sit outside of the known chromitite reefs in order to identify potential follow-up disseminated or massive sulphide targets, both lateral to the known chromitite-driven mineralisation and at depth, below the drilled vertical extent of the chromitite reefs

§ The Company remains in a strong financial position, with cash at bank of A$5.6 million as at 31 December 2021

1 PGM6E = Palladium (Pd) + Platinum (Pt) + Rhodium (Rh) + Ruthenium (Ru) + Osmium (Os) + Iridium (Ir)

2 PGM3E = Palladium (Pd) + Platinum (Pt) + Gold (Au)

3 PdEq (Palladium Equivalent g/t) = Pd(g/t) + 0.76471xPt(g/t) + 0.875xAu(g/t) + 1.90394xNi(%) + 1.38936xCu(%) + 8.23xCo(%)

 

 

 

Mr Jardee Kininmonth, CEO of Future Metals, commented :

"These results exceed expectations on the mineralised width of the Panton orebody, providing further evidence of mineralisation extending well beyond the footwall of the middle reef. The intercept of 140.8m @ 1.07 g/t PdEq includes significant zones of sulphide mineralisation cross cutting the chromitite reefs, demonstrating the presence of disseminated or massive sulphide zones outside of the currently targeted chromitite reef-driven mineralisation. Evidence of these broad sulphide zones exists through much of the historical drill data which the Company is currently analysing to provide follow up targets for the next drill season."

Exploration Drillhole Assay Results

A total of 19 resource definition holes were drilled as part of the Company's approximate 6,000m diamond core drilling programme. Additionally, the Company sampled core from 33 historical diamond drill holes to support the modelling of an updated MRE based on the bulk tonnage mineralisation at Panton.

Assay results for a further two of the 19 resource definition holes drilled (PS398, PS400) have now been received and continue to confirm much broader widths of shallow PGM mineralisation than modelled in the current 2.4Moz MRE (refer to Appendix One) .  Assays are pending for a further 47 drill holes being 14 resource definition holes drilled by the Company and the 33 historical drill holes. Assay results from these two latest holes are set out in Table One below (refer to Appendix Two for the drill hole details) :

Hole

From (m)

To

(m)

Interval (m)

Pd (g/t)

Pt

(g/t)

Au (g/t)

PGM3E 1 (g/t)

Ni

(%)

Cu

(%)

Co (pm)

PdEq 2 (g/t)

PS398

39

59.6

20.6

0.75

0.86

0.17

1.79

0.2

0.03

157

2.14

PS398

64

75

11

0.34

0.28

0.09

0.72

0.15

0.04

158

1.12

PS398

83

113.6

30.6

0.42

0.29

0.03

0.75

0.21

0.01

150

1.21

PS398

118.6

121.5

2.9

0.29

0.16

0.02

0.48

0.2

0.02

167

0.97

PS398

126

127

1

0.43

0.21

0.18

0.54

0.1

0.25

170

1.06

PS398

134.6

135.85

1.25

0.4

0.18

0.05

0.63

0.12

0.05

171

1.02

PS398

187

196.6

9.6

0.31

0.16

0.06

0.53

0.09

0.1

163

0.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS400

37.1

76.58

39.48

0.37

0.35

0.09

0.81

0.17

0.03

143

1.20

PS400

90.65

101.4

10.75

0.35

0.31

0.02

0.68

0.19

0.01

140

1.08

PS400

104.34

130

25.66

0.44

0.28

0.02

0.74

0.19

0.02

137

1.17

PS400

135.4

147.6

12.2

0.38

0.21

0.07

0.66

0.18

0.05

163

1.15

Table One | Drilling Assay Results

1 3E= Palladium (Pd) + Platinum (Pt) + Gold (Au)

2 PdEq (Palladium Equivalent g/t) = Pd(g/t) + 0.76471xPt(g/t) + 1.90394xNi(%) + 0.875x(Au(g/t) + 1.38936xCu(%) + 8.23xCo(%)

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8871D_1-2022-3-7.pdf

Figure One | Panton Drill Hole Plan

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8871D_1-2022-3-7.pdf

Figure Two | Future Metals' Exploration Drilling (PS398) - Panton Cross Section

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8871D_1-2022-3-7.pdf

Figure Three | Future Metals' Exploration Drilling (PS400) - Panton Cross Section

 

Drilling Programme Overview

As previously reported, the Company has completed approximately 6,000m of diamond core drilling designed to:

§ provide samples for further metallurgical test work;

§ test continuity and depth extensions to the existing MRE;

§ test the potential for defining a much larger and shallower mineralised zone at lower cut-off grades; and

§ test parallel zones of highly anomalous PGM at surface (i.e. the Northern Anomaly)

The Company has completed 27 drill holes to date. Eight holes were drilled to provide metallurgical samples as announced on 28 October 2021 and 17 January 2022. Assay results have now been received for 5 resource definition holes drilled, with results from two reported in this announcement and three holes previously reported on 17 February 2022. Assay results from the remaining 14 resource definition holes remain pending.

Historical drill holes were often terminated once the hole reached the 'Upper Reef' or the 'Middle Reef' and were not drilled through the entire prospective footwall horizon to the 'Lower Reef' (refer to the Company's announcement of 8 December 2021) . Furthermore, several historical drill holes only had samples and assays taken within the visible chromitite in the Upper and Middle Reef and were not sampled between or below in the host dunite rock.

The Company sampled partially unassayed historical holes that were drilled into the mineralised footwall dunite. A total of 33 historical drill holes that were not previously completely assayed have now been sampled and submitted for assaying in December 2021 and January 2022.

The Company expects to progressively report assay results from a further 47 drill holes (comprising the 14 recently drilled holes not yet reported and 33 historical holes) regularly throughout the remainder of Q1, 2022 and into early Q2, 2022.

Once received, all new assay data will be incorporated into a new MRE for the Panton PGM Project. The planned updated MRE will take into consideration shallow, bulk PGM-Ni mineralisation of up to 20-40 metres in thickness that sits outside of the current MRE (refer to the Company's announcement of 8 December 2021) . It should be noted that in the Company's previous announcement, 'Panton Drilling Continues to Confirm Bulk Tonnage Potential' on 17 February 2022, the cross sections erroneously implied the mineralised dunite which sits between the Upper and Middle Reef as being included in the Company's current JORC Resource. This portion of the mineralisation is not included in the current Mineral Resource Estimate.

Geology & Geophysics Data Review

The Company has initiated an extensive review of all existing geological and geophysical data accumulated throughout the Panton project's 30+ year history. The project's prior owners were solely focussed on the chromitite reefs given they were outcropping, high grade and demonstrate continuous mineralisation.

The PGM, gold and base metal mineralisation targeted by the Company is the result of two mineralization processes. The first, and primary mineralisation event led to the formation of Au and PGM mineralisation closely associated with chromitite reefs and disseminated chromite within dunite. Gold, copper, nickel, cobalt and PGM mineralisation has further been enriched as the result of a secondary hydrothermal mineralisation event which has overprinted the primary mineralisation.  It is interpreted that this secondary hydrothermal event is largely controlled by structures - shears and faults that both parallel, or sub parallel the primary layering of the chromitite reefs and also cross cut the trend of the reefs at a high angle. The secondary hydrothermal event is also possibly responsible for the sulphide-rich zones which have been intersected in current and historical drilling. The cross-cutting vein and shear structures are predominantly normal to the chromitite reefs, and therefore sub-parallel to the majority of the drilling at Panton. There has been no drilling or other work to date to follow up on the mineralisation potential of these cross-cutting structures.

The Company is completing 3D analysis of its aeromagnetic data using modern geophysical techniques not previously applied to the data. This analysis will aid the Company's understanding of how the chromitite reefs are orientating at depth and potentially show anomalous zones to target with follow up deeper drilling. The analysis has been initiated following a preliminary review of the characteristics of other PGM deposits which demonstrated projects that have a similar hydrothermal 'overprinting' may host larger, thicker sulphide-dominant zones of mineralisation at depth where the chromitite reefs flatten out.

Palladium Equivalent (PdEq)

Based on metallurgical test work completed on Panton samples, all quoted elements included in the metal equivalent calculation (palladium, platinum, gold, nickel, copper and cobalt) have a reasonable potential of being ultimately recovered and sold. 

Metal recoveries used in the palladium equivalent (PdEq) calculations are in the midpoint of the range of recoveries for each element based on metallurgical test work undertaken to date at Panton. It should be noted that palladium and platinum grades reported in this announcement are lower than the palladium and platinum grades of samples that were subject to metallurgical test work (grades of other elements are similar).

Metal recoveries used in the palladium equivalent calculations are shown below:

§ Palladium 80%, Platinum 80%, Gold 70%, Nickel 45%, Copper 67.5% and Cobalt 60%

Metal prices used are also shown below:

§ Palladium US$1,700/oz, Platinum US$1,300/oz, Gold US$1,700/oz, Nickel US$18,500/t, Copper US$9,000/t and Cobalt US$60,000/t

Metal equivalents were calculated according to the follow formula:

§ PdEq (Palladium Equivalent g/t) = Pd(g/t) + 0.76471 x Pt(g/t) + 0.875 x Au(g/t) +1.90394 x Ni(%) + 1.38936 x Cu(%) + 8.23 x Co(%)

 

This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Future Metals NL.

 

For further information, please contact :

 

 

Future Metals NL

+61 8 9480 0414

Jardee Kininmonth

info@future-metals.com.au

 

 

Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)

+44 (0) 20 7409 3494

James Harris

 

 

 

W H Ireland Limited (UK Broker)

Harry Ansell/Katy Mitchell

+44 (0) 207 220 1670

 

 

 

Competent Person's Statement:

The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr Shane Hibbird, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Hibbird is the Company's Exploration Manager and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a competent person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Exploration Targets, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Mr Hibbird consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based upon his information in the form and context in which it appears.

 

The information in this announcement which relates to Mineral Resources was stated in the Company's ASX Prospectus dated 18 May 2021. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the Prospectus relating to Mineral Resources, and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource Estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.

 

The information in this announcement that relates to Metallurgical Results is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Dr Evan Kirby, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Dr Kirby is a full-time employee of Metallurgical Management Services (MMS) a specialist metallurgical consultancy and an independent consultant of the Company. Dr Kirby has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as a competent person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Exploration Targets, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Dr Kirby consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based upon his information in the form and context in which it appears.

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as is forms part of United Kingdom domestic law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended.
 

Notes to Editors:

About Panton PGM Project

The 100% owned Panton PGM project is located 60 kilometres north of the town of Halls Creek in the eastern Kimberly region of Western Australia, a tier one mining jurisdiction. The project is located on three granted mining licences and situated just 1 kilometre off the Great North Highway which accesses the Port of Wyndham (refer to Figure Four) .

The Panton PGM Project has a JORC Mineral Resource estimate of 14.32Mt @ 4.89g/t PGM, 0.31g/t Au and 0.27% Ni (refer to Appendix One) .

The Panton mineralisation occurs within a layered, differentiated mafic-ultramafic intrusion referred to as the Panton intrusive which is a 10km long and 3km wide, south-west plunging synclinal intrusion. PGM mineralisation is hosted within two stratiform chromite reefs, the Upper and Middle reefs, within the ultramafic sequence. 

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8871D_1-2022-3-7.pdf

 

 

About Platinum Group Metals (PGMs)

PGMs are a group of six precious metals being Platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir), osmium (Os), rhodium (Rh), and ruthenium (Ru). Exceptionally rare, they have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur, in varying proportions, together in the same geological deposit. The usefulness of PGMs is determined by their unique and specific shared chemical and physical properties.

PGMs have many desirable properties and as such have a wide variety of applications. Most notably, they are used as auto-catalysts (pollution control devices for ICE vehicles), but are also used in jewellery, electronics, hydrogen production / purification and in hydrogen fuel cells.  The unique properties of PGMs help convert harmful exhaust pollutant emissions to harmless compounds, improving air quality and thereby enhancing health and wellbeing.

 

 

Appendix One

Panton JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8871D_1-2022-3-7.pdf

 

Appendix Two

Exploration Drill Hole Details

Hole ID

Hole Type

Easting

Northing

RL (m)

Total Depth (m)

Inc (deg)

Azi (deg)

PS380

HQ core

375665

8035289

422

471.3

-60

145

PS381

HQ core

377799

8036419

435

350.8

-55

65

PS390

HQ core

377338

8036007

430

667

-80

135

PS391

HQ core

377815

8036257

435

238

-70

65

PS392

HQ core

375363

8035224

412

561.5

-60

135

PS393

HQ core

376853

8037187

460

195.4

-55

330

PS394

HQ core

376866

8037157

459

213.1

-55

330

PS395

HQ core

376520

8037070

460

196.8

-55

330

PS396

HQ core

376527

8037035

459

190.1

-55

330

PS397

HQ core

377054

8037268

459

120.2

-55

330

PS398

HQ core

377057

8037251

459

202

-55

330

PS399

HQ core

377550

8036873

452

209.8

-55

65

PS400

HQ core

376376

8036819

469

284.8

-55

330

PS401

HQ core

375066

8034871

406

352

-60

135

PS402

HQ core

375957

8036543

447

150

-50

330

PS403

HQ core

375874

8037098

436

211.4

-50

144

PS404

HQ core

376798

8037634

453

100.8

-50

324

PS405

HQ core

376809

8037569

455

101.9

-50

324

PS406

HQ core

376797

8037504

458

168.4

-50

324

 

 

Appendix Three | JORC Code (2012) Edition Table 1

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria

JORC Code explanation

Commentary

Sampling techniques

§ Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

§ Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

§ Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.

§ Sampling methods used for samples in this announcement were HQ3 Diamond Core which was cut in half, one half is sent for assay, the remaining half is retained for reference. Sample intervals were generally 1m in length but modified to honor geological changes such as lithology contacts. Minimum sample length was 30cm.

§ All sampling was either supervised by, or undertaken by, qualified geologists.

§ ½ core samples were sent to Bureau Veritas, Canning Vale, Western Australia.

§ To ensure representative sampling, for each hole, the same half of the original core was sent for assay, for example when looking at the core down hole, the right-hand side was retained in the core tray as a reference sample, and the left-hand side of the core was always sent for assay. At the laboratory the entire ½ core sample was crushed, a 300g split was pulverised to provide material for fire assay and ICP-MS.

Drilling techniques

§ Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.).

§ All drill holes in this release were drilled HQ3 (61.0mm diameter). The top 10 to 50 metres was drilled with PQ3 diamond core drilling to ensure penetration of the weathered zone.

§ Core is orientated using a BLY TruCore UPIX Orientation Tool.

§ The drilling contractor was Terra Drilling. Triple tubes are utilised in the weathered horizon (less than 10m) and standard tubes for the remainder of the drill hole.

Drill sample recovery

§ Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

§ Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

§ Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material.

§ Each core run is measured and checked against the drillers core blocks. Any core loss is noted. To date core recoveries have been excellent with very little core loss reported.

§ The drilled widths of mineralisation in these drill holes are larger than the true widths.

§ No relationship between recovery and grade has been identified.

Logging

§ Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

§ Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography.

§ The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.

§ All drill core has been logged onsite by geologists to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

§ Logging is qualitative and records lithology, grain size, texture, weathering, structure, alteration, veining and sulphides. Core is digitally photographed.

§ All holes are logged in full .

Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation

§ If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

§ If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

§ For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

§ Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

§ Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

§ Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.

§ All core that is sampled is cut using a diamond saw. PQ3 core is cut in half, and then one half cut again into quarters. One quarter core is sent to the laboratory for assay, and the remaining core is kept as a reference. HQ3 core is cut in half and one half sent to the laboratory for assay, and the remaining half core kept as a reference.

§ Generally, core samples are 1 metre in length, with a minimum sample length of 30 centimetres. Sample lengths are altered from the usual 1 metre due to geological contacts, particularly around the chromitite reefs.

§ The sample size is considered appropriate for the material being sampled.

Quality of assay data and laboratory tests

§ The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

§ For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

§ Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established.

§ For Future Metals NL drill holes ½ core samples were sent  to Bureau Veritas, Canning Vale, Western Australia.

§ Future Metal NL analysis of samples had Pt, Pd and Au determined by lead collection fire assay with a 40 gram charge with ICP-MS finish providing a lower detection limit of 1ppb. Determination of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and S was by Inductively Coupled Plasma following a mixed acid digest. Both ICP and fire assay analytical methods are total.

§ No geophysical tools were used.

§ Laboratory repeat analysis is completed on 10% of the samples submitted for assay.

Verification of sampling and assaying

§ The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

§ The use of twinned holes.

§ Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

§ Discuss any adjustment to assay data.

§ Significant intercepts are calculated as composites and reported using 0.50g/t PGM 3E (Pt + Pd + Au) cut-off grade. A maximum of 4m consecutive internal waste is allowed in composites.

§ All significant intercepts are calculated by the Company's Exploration Manager and checked by management.

Location of data points

§ Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

§ Specification of the grid system used.

§ Quality and adequacy of topographic control.

§ Drill hole collars are located using a hand-held GPS. Down hole surveys are taken with a north seeking gyroscope at regular intervals of 30m down hole.

§ Grid system used is Map Grid of Australia 1994, Zone 52.

§ The topographic control is considered better than <3m and is considered adequate.

Data spacing and distribution

§ Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

§ Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

§ Whether sample compositing has been applied.

§ Data spacing down hole is considered appropriate at between 0.3 and 1m intervals.

§ Samples have not been composited.

Orientation of data in relation to geological structure

§ Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

§ If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.

§ The orientation of the drill hole relative to the geological target is as orthogonal as practicable however drilled intersections will be larger than true widths.

Sample security

§ The measures taken to ensure sample security.

§ All core sample intervals are labelled in the core boxes, recoded digitally and captured with the core photography. Cut core samples are collected in bags labelled with the sample number. Samples are delivered to the Company's transport contractor in Halls Creek directly by Company personnel. Samples are then delivered to the laboratory by the transport contractor.

Audits or reviews

§ The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.

§ The Company employed industry-standard protocols.  No independent audit has been conducted.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria

JORC Code explanation

Commentary

Mineral tenement and land tenure status

§ Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

§ The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.

§ The Panton PGM Project is located on three granted mining licenses M80/103, M80/104 and M80/105 ('MLs'). The MLs are held 100% by Panton Sill Pty Ltd which is a 100% owned subsidiary of Future Metals NL.

§ The MLs were granted on 17 March 1986 and are currently valid until 16 March 2028.

§ A 0.5% net smelter return royalty is payable to Elemental Royalties Australia Pty Ltd in respect of any future production of chrome, cobalt, copper, gold, iridium, palladium, platinum, nickel, rhodium and ruthenium.

§ A 2.0% net smelter return royalty is payable to Maverix Metals (Australia) Pty Ltd on any PGMs produced from the MLs.

§ There are no impediments to working in the area.

Exploration done by other parties

§ Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.

§ The Panton deposit was discovered by the Geological Survey of Western Australia from surface mapping conducted in the early 1960s.

§ Pickland Mather and Co. drilled the first hole to test the mafic-ultramafic complex in 1970, followed by Minsaco Resources which drilled 30 diamond holes between 1976 and 1987.

§ In 1989, Pancontinental Mining Limited and Degussa Exploration drilled a further 32 drill holes and defined a non-JORC compliant resource.

§ Platinum Australia Ltd acquired the project in 2000 and conducted the majority of the drilling, comprising 166 holes for 34,410 metres, leading to the delineation of a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate. 

§ Panoramic Resources Ltd subsequently purchased the Panton PGM Project from Platinum Australia Ltd in May 2012 and conducted a wide range of metallurgical test work programmes on the Panton ore.

Geology

§ Deposit type , geological setting and style of mineralisation .

§ The Panton intrusive is a layered, differentiated mafic to ultramafic body that has been intruded into the sediments of the Proterozoic Lamboo Complex in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.  The Panton intrusion has undergone several folding and faulting events that have resulted in a south westerly plunging synclinal structure some 10km long and 3km wide.

§ PGM mineralisation is associated with several thin cumulate Chromitite reefs within the ultramafic sequence.  In all there are three chromite horizons, the Upper group Chromitite (situated within the upper gabbroic sequence), the Middle group Chromitite (situated in the upper portion of the ultramafic cumulate sequence) and the Lower group Chromitite (situated toward the base of the ultramafic cumulate sequence). The top reef mineralised zone has been mapped over approximately 12km.

Drill hole Information

§ A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes:

easting and northing of the drill hole collar

elevation or RL (Reduced Level elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar

dip and azimuth of the hole

down hole length and interception depth

hole length.

§ If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case.

§ Details of all drill holes reported in this announcement are provided in Appendix Two.

Data aggregation methods

§ In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

§ Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

§ The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated.

§ Significant intercepts are reported as down-hole length weighted averages of grades above 0.50g/t PGM 3E (Pt/Pd/Au). No top cuts have been applied to the reporting of the assay results.

§ 4 metres of internal dilution is allowed in the reported intervals.

§ Higher grade intervals are included in the reported grade intervals; and have also been split out on a case-by-case basis where relevant.

§ Where palladium equivalents are reported, these values are based on the following assumptions

§ Prices in USD

 

$/(t or oz)

Cu %

9,000

Pt ppm

1,300

Au ppm

1,700

Pd ppm

1,700

Ni %

18,500

Co ppm

60,000

§ Metal recoveries are based on past metallurgical test work.

 

Recovery

 

%

Cu

67.5%

Pt

80.0%

Au

70.0%

Pd

80.0%

Ni 

45.0%

Co

60.0%

 

Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths

§ These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

§ If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

§ If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. 'down hole length, true width not known').

§ Metallurgical drill holes have been deliberately orientated at a low angle to the dip of the mineralised chromitite reefs to maximise the amount of material recovered for metallurgical test work. The drilled thickness is considerably greater than the true thickness in these drill holes as a result.

Diagrams

§ Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.

§ Drill hole plan included in Figure One of the body of this announcement.

Balanced reporting

§ Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results.

§ All results at hand at the time of this announcement have been reported.

Other substantive exploration data

§ Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.

§ No other exploration data is relevant.

Further work

§ The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

§ Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.

§ Next stage of work will consist of additional mineralogical and metallurgical test work. The Company plans to undertake a new JORC Mineral Resource model and estimate once all assays from the recently completed drilling have been received.

 

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
DRLJRMJTMTMMBLT
UK 100

Latest directors dealings