Manica alluvial gold & corporate update

RNS Number : 9575H
Xtract Resources plc
08 December 2020
 

 

 

For immediate release

8 December 2020

 

Xtract Resources Plc

("Xtract" or the "Company")

Manica Alluvial Gold & Corporate Update

 

The Board of Xtract Resources Plc ("Xtract" or the "Company") announces the preliminary unaudited results for alluvial mining contractors for the Manica Concession for the three-month period ended 30 September 2020 (the "Period").

 

Highlights

· Total alluvial mining contractor gold production of 24.48 Kg for the quarter (equivalent to approximately 787 ounces)

· Total of 6.85 Kg (equivalent to approximately 220 ounces) attributable to Explorator

· Combined attributable revenue to Explorator from gold sales and other income for the Period amounted to US$250,968

· Cost per ounce decrease on previous quarters

· Good progress on additional production sources on the Manica concession

 

 

Colin Bird, Executive Chairman said : "The total production for the quarter has increased moderately compared to previous quarters. The cost per ounce was lower and it appears that the operation has stabilised around these stated levels. Our activities regarding increased production around Manica are all advancing satisfactorily, with the Guy Fawkes plant having been built and hard rock access mining commencing. Our second alluvial concession is making good progress with equipment on site, the camp erected and production to commence later this week.

 

The Fair Bride hard rock open pit project continues to progress on all fronts with the tailings dam in construction, plant earthworks in progress and heavy plant being completed in South Africa.

 

Overall, we expect consistent gold production in December, advancing in January with a target for Fair Bride production being towards the latter part of the first half of 2021."

 

 

Production summary

Preliminary unaudited results for alluvial mining contractors for the Manica Concession for the three-month periods ended September 2020, 30 June 2020, 31 March 2020, 31 December 2019 and are set out in the table below. In addition to the information included in the table, the table below provides a further breakdown of costs between operational costs, production tax and land resettlement costs. The Company currently expects that at current rates of activity, the alluvial mining contractors will conclude their operations during the first half of the next year. The Company's current focus is to progress the Manica hard rock operations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Quarter

 ended

30 September

 2020

2nd Quarter

 ended

30 June

 2020

3rd Quarter

 ended

30 September 2020

4th Quarter

 ended

31 December 2019

Production and Sales :

 

 

 

 

Total contractor alluvial gold production (equivalent ounces) (Note 3)

787

566

467

1,045

Explorator share of gold produced (equivalent ounces)

220

158

131

293

Value of Explorator share of gold produced (value in US$)(Note 3)

US$426,916

US$274,959

US$208,396

US$438,119

Explorator share of gold sold (equivalent ounces)

 

145

162

354

163

Explorator attributable revenue from gold sales

US$250,968

US$261,679

US$508,573

US$241,284

Direct Operational Production Costs:

 

 

 

 

Explorator total direct alluvial operational production costs (Note 1)

 

US$72,630

US$75,158

US$147,575

US$173,419

Total Costs:

 

 

 

 

Explorator total direct alluvial production costs (Note 2)

 

US$134,688

US$109,898

US$175,982

US$239,470

Cost per ounce of gold produced

US$611

US$694

US$1,346

US$818

 

 

 

Note 1:    Direct operational production costs include and not limited to Explorator salaries, rent, vehicles expenses and utilities.

Note 2:   Total costs comprises direct operational production costs plus total Production Tax (6% of the value of total production which varies according to the level of production) and Land Resettlement Costs as detailed below:

 

 

 

3rd Quarter ended

30 September  2020

2nd Quarter ended

30 June

2020

1st Quarter

ended

 31 March

 2020

4th Quarter

ended

31 December 

 2019

Production Tax

US$30,136

US$18,854

US$16,109

US$42,066

Land resettlement costs

US$31,922

US$15,887

US$12,297

US$23,985

 

Note 3:  Calculation based on the number of ounces produced during each month of the quarter multiplied by

 the closing month end spot rate.  

 

Note 4: Presence of gold in alluvial deposits is unpredictable and therefore operational results will vary month-to-month.

 

As announced on 12 August, negotiations to introduce further mining and processing for alluvial production was progressing and the Company subsequently agreed an alluvial processing agreement with Omnia Mining Limitada ("Omnia") over the Company's existing licence 7569L at Manica. The contract covers an area of 1,727 hectares. Good progress has been made by Omnia with equipment on site, the camp erected and production is expected to commence later this week.

 

Further details are available from the Company's   website which details the company's project portfolio as well as a copy of this announcement:  www.xtractresources.com  

 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation No. 596/2014 on market abuse.   The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was Joel Silberstein, Director.

 

Enquiries :

 

Xtract Resources Plc

Colin Bird,

Executive Chairman

 

+44 (0)20 3416 6471

www.xtractresources.com

Beaumont Cornish Limited

Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker

Roland Cornish

Michael Cornish

Felicity Geidt

+44 (0)207628 3369

www.beaumontcornish.co.uk

 

Novum Securities Limited

Joint Broker  

 

Colin Rowbury 

 

+44 (0) 207 399 9427

www.novumsecurities.com  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENDS

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