Zulu Assay Results and Pilot Plant Update

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 (m)

To (m)

Width* (m)

Li2O%

Ta2O5 ppm

Rb 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% Li2O 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 (m)

To (m

Width* (m)

Li2O%

Ta2O5 ppm

Rb 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% 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 3 - Drill Holes Collar Coordinates - This RNS

Dhole

UTM 35S*

Easting

UTM 35S*

Northing

Elevation (AMSL)

Azimuth TN ( ° )

Collar Dip

( ° )

EOH

(m)

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 Completed

Metres (m)

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 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.

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identified 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 reflect 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

(Nominated Adviser)

 

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396

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)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 (KLi 2 Al(Si 4 O 10 )(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(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 Li

Convert to Li 2 O

Lithium

Li

1.000

2.153

Lithium Oxide

Li 2 O

0.464

1.000

 
Ends

 

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