Bulk Sampling Results from Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2

RNS Number : 6090O

Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.) Ltd

31 January 2019

 

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31 January 2019

Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.) Ltd

("Shefa Yamim" or the "Company")

Results from 2018 bulk sampling campaign of Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2

Total 3,935.60 carats of gemstones recovered from five bulk samples and a total of 2,908.8 tonnes of gravels

Shefa Yamim (LSE: SEFA), a precious stone exploration company in Northern Israel, announces it has now completed the processing results for five bulk samples at the Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2, following the exploration results from bulk samples: 1223, 1224, 1225, 1229 and, as previously announced in July 2018, bulk sample 1230.

Bulk Samples Highlights

·   Largest gemstones recovered were a 3.90 ct Sapphire, 5.26 ct Carmel Sapphire™, 6.68 ct spinel and a 3.61 ct garnet

·   Samples were dominated by gemstones (99%) with spinel accounting for 55% of the Target Mineral Assemblage ("TMA") followed by garnet (20%), ilmenite (16%), sapphire (4.5%), Carmel Sapphire™ (3%) and the remaining (0.16%) between hibonite, Natural Moissanite™ and ruby 

·   Significant increase in the overall grade following the updated TMA to include spinel in the Kishon Mid-Reach placer gemstones assemblage and with the formation of a revised "Gem Box" suite that incorporates nine gemstones

·   Variety of gemstones recovered is consistent with previous bulk sample results strengthening Shefa Yamim's position as a multi-commodity company

A total of 3,935.60 cts of gemstones were recovered from 2,908.8 tonnes ('t') of basal gravels with an overall TMA recovered grade of 135.30 carats per hundred tonnes ("cpht") at a bottom screen size of 1mm.  Of this, the "Gem Box" suite comprised 99% of the TMA, with the heavy industrial minerals ("HIM") suite of zircon and rutile accounting for the balance of 1%.

The findings from bulk samples 1223, 1224, 1225, 1229 and 1230 add to previous Shefa Yamim findings from historical bulk and mini bulk samples in Zone 2, which ranged between 10 and 690 tonnes each.  To date a total of 25 bulk and mini bulk samples have been completed with a total of 3,839 tonnes of basal gravel and 6,853 carats of TMA suite recovered.

In Q2 2019, the Company plans to carry out an additional three bulk samples in Zone 2 in the area where 26 drilling surveys were completed in June 2018. The three bulk samples planned by Shefa Yamim will conclude its exploration activity in Zone 2, preparing the Company for progress towards trial mining.

Shefa Yamim's historical bulk sampling from Zone 2 (bulk sample 982 from 2012) produced approximately 6 ct of Natural Moissanite™ from 400 tonnes of gravel. The results from this bulk sample also included the discovery of the largest known Natural Moissanite™ crystal at the time, measuring 4.1mm. This finding was published by the Gemological Institute of America's (GIA) Gems & Gemology journal in Summer 2014, volume. 50.  Subsequently, the Company has discovered a larger Natural Moissanite™ crystal in Zone 1 measuring 4.14mm (bulk sample 1124 from 2015).

TMA suite bulk sample results (bottom screen size = 1 mm)

BS No	Total weight (Tonne)	Sapphire		Carmel SapphireTM		Ruby		Moissanite		Hibonite		Garnet		Ilmenite		Spinel		Zircon		Rutile		Total Ct.	CPHT
		Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT	Ct	CPHT
1223	690.50	40.79	5.91	25.79	3.73	0.08	0.01	0.14	0.02	0.00	-	190.68	27.62	146.76	21.25	329.97	47.79	7.28	1.05	0.67	0.10	742.149	107.48
1224	553.18	21.91	3.96	23.02	4.16	0.04	0.01	0.04	0.01	1.00	0.18	122.59	22.16	93.29	16.87	276.05	49.90	3.74	0.68	0.31	0.06	541.982	97.98
1225	566.22	19.77	3.49	14.24	2.52	0.00	-	0.00	-	1.46	0.26	132.39	23.38	82.04	14.49	487.21	86.05	6.35	1.12	0.10	0.02	743.561	131.32
1229	530.00	25.00	4.72	15.36	2.90	0.00	-	0.00	-	0.00	-	98.07	18.50	92.87	17.52	291.67	55.03	4.09	0.77	0.18	0.03	527.222	99.48
1230	568.90	68.90	12.11	40.61	7.14	0.08	0.01	0.07	0.01	3.25	0.57	254.18	44.68	208.68	36.68	790.04	138.87	13.94	2.45	0.94	0.16	1380.686	242.69
Total	2,908.80	176.36	6.06	119.02	4.09	0.20	0.01	0.25	0.01	5.70	0.20	797.91	27.43	623.64	21.44	2174.94	74.77	35.39	1.22	2.19	0.08	3935.60	135.30

In addition, the Technical Economic Evaluation ("TEE") report, which is being produced by Paradigm Project Management (Pty) Ltd, is in the final stages and the Company expects to be in a position to publish the results of the report in early February.

Commenting on the results, Avi Taub, CEO of Shefa Yamim, said:

"The results from the bulk sampling of Zone 2, together with the excellent grade achieved in Zone 1, further highlight the potential of the Kishon Mid-Reach deposits and have led to a significant increase in the level of confidence in the project. We look forward to building on these encouraging results and completing our exploration programme in Zone 2 with our next bulk sampling campaign scheduled for the second quarter of 2019.

"The multi-commodity findings, of nine different types of gemstones, collectively make up our Gem Box suite and forms a key part of our "mine-to-market" strategy.  Shefa Yamim is already seeing interest in its Gem Box of precious stones as demonstrated by our partnership with world-known jewellery designer, Yossi Harari, who is in the final stages of preparing a collection of unique 24k gold jewellery using Shefa Yamim gemstones from the soil of the Holy Land."

Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2 Bulk Sampling Programme:

The bulk samples are sourced from short trenches excavated approximately perpendicular to the paleo-flow direction of the ancient Kishon course preserved in low terraces flanking the modern river course. In following the system adopted for Zone 1, the bulk samples in Zone 2 will also be sited across the paleo-valley to form part of a sample grid to systematically investigate the gemstones content of the paleo-Kishon River basal placer gravels.

The bulk sample trenches, some 8 - 20 m long by 4 - 8 m wide, are excavated down to the bedrock (footwall) contact through a total sediment thickness of some 5 - 8 m, of which the basal target gravels comprise some 1 - 4 m. Approximately 530 - 690 tonnes of coarse basal gravels are removed from the field site to the dedicated treatment facility operated by Shefa Yamim in Akko. There the bulk sample is scrubbed, screened (bottom screen size is 1 mm) and jigged (vibrated and washed) to concentrate the heavy minerals which are then hand-picked in a secure laboratory by trained personnel. All sample concentrates are kept for audit purposes and the basal gravel tailings are returned to the original bulk sample trench where, together with the overburden fines, the excavations are back-filled and rehabilitated.

Information on historical bulk samples can be found on our website:

https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/ac660adf/files/uploaded/SY_CPR_10_2017.pdf 

- Ends -

Competent Person:

This release has been approved by Dr. J.D. Ward, Consulting Geologist at Majimba Geo-Consulting. Dr. Ward is a qualified geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat), and a leading alluvial diamond exploration geologist with over 35 years' field experience. 

Enquiries

Shefa Yamim (A.T. M.) Ltd
Avi Taub, Chief Executive Officer www.shefayamim.com	[phone]
VSA Capital Limited - Financial Adviser and Broker
Andrew Raca	[phone]
Daniel Stewart & Company - Joint Broker
Jon Levinson, Richard Potts	[phone]
Luther Pendragon
Harry Chathli, Alexis Gore	[phone]

Notes to Editors

About Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.)

Shefa Yamim is a multi-commodity precious stone exploration and prospecting Company in Northern Israel. It has two flagship projects, Mount Carmel (volcanic primary bedrock sources of gemstone and industrial minerals) and the Kishon Mid Reach (secondary alluvial placer deposits hosting the gemstone and industrial minerals derived from primary bodies).

After 18 years of exploration in a "greenfields" terrain, Shefa Yamim established a "Source to Sink" geological model and the presence of a Target Mineral Assemblage ("TMA") in both primary volcanic sources and in secondary alluvial deposits lying within the Kishon catchment, on Mount Carmel and in the Ramot Menashe area.

The TMA comprises gemstones and industrial minerals. The gemstones collectively make up the "Gem Box" suite, comprised of diamond (rare and small macro-diamond to microdiamond sizes), Natural Moissanite™ (that is rare globally), sapphire, ruby, Carmel Sapphire™ (a new sapphire type found, to date, only in northern Israel), hibonite (another rare gem), garnet, ilmenite and spinel. The heavy industrial minerals constitute the "HIM" suite hosting zircon (which may be gem grade at larger sizes) and rutile.

www.shefayamim.com 

 

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