Savannah Resources Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: SAV / Sector: Mining
8 November 2016
Savannah Resources Plc
Initial 3.5 Billion Tonnes Heavy Mineral Sands Resource Defined
Mutamba Consortium, Mozambique
Savannah Resources plc (AIM: SAV) ('Savannah' or 'the Company'), announces an initial resource estimation over two of the four deposits currently defined at the Mutamba project in Mozambique (the 'Project' or 'Mutamba') (Figures 1-4). Mutamba, which was previously operated solely by Rio Tinto, forms part of the larger Mutamba/Jangamo Project currently being developed under a Consortium Agreement between Savannah and Rio Tinto, as announced on 11 October 2016. Savannah holds a 10% interest in the joint project with the right to earn up to 51%, subject to key milestones being met. To view the press release with the illustrative maps, diagrams and JORC Table 1 please use the following link:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/5296O_-2016-11-7.pdf
HIGHLIGHTS:
· Initial Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 3.5 billion tonnes at 3.8% Total Heavy Minerals (THM)
· Mineral Resource Estimate contains 81 million tonnes ("Mt") of ilmenite, 2.2Mt rutile and 3.8Mt zircon
· 52% of Mineral Resource in the Indicated Category, 48% in the Inferred Category
· Initial resource calculation covers the Jangamo and Dongane deposits at Mutamba - note the Jangamo deposit includes both Rio Tinto's Jangamo deposit and Savannahs Jangamo deposit where an established resource of 65Mt at 4.2% THM was previously defined
· Resource compares favourably against Mozambique mineral sands producer Kenmare Resources 31 December 2015 global resource of 6.5Bt at 2.9% THM and mining reserve of 1.6Bt at 3.3%THM
· Resource estimation in respect of the Ravene and Chilubane deposits still to be completed
· Mineral Resource Estimate of the Jangamo and Dongane deposits has defined large areas of >5%THM, which will form the focus of the upcoming scoping study
· A scoping study which is expected to take 3-4 months will commence shortly
Savannah's CEO, David Archer said:
"The completion of our initial Mineral Resource Estimation of the Jangamo and Dongane deposits is a major milestone for Savannah and our consortium partner, Rio Tinto. The results underscore the fact that the Mutamba project is one of the largest ilmenite dominant, mineral sands accumulations on the east coast of Africa.
"While we are delighted with the outcome, what it really means is that we now have an exceptional foundation for our scoping study of the Project. The scoping study will focus on the areas of mineral occurrence which are most prospective in terms of size and grade, with little to no overburden factors, which should facilitate simple, low cost mining. Savannah believes that there is an excellent opportunity to potentially define an initial phase, low capex, long life, dry mining project of around a 200Mt well graded resource, associated with a series of reworked coastal dunes.
"The Project is well located with easy access to a power line, the EN1 highway, the Inhambane bay (which is naturally protected from the elements) and the Inhambane airport, providing significant advantages to any potential development. We believe that the Inhambane and Gaza Provinces, where the deposits are located, are an excellent investment destination within the country."
Figure 1. Mutamba Project Location Map - see PDF link
Jangamo and Dongane Mineral Resource Estimation
The Mutamba Project comprises four main deposits, namely Jangamo, Dongane, Ravene and Chilubane. The initial Mineral Resource Estimation covers the Jangamo and Dongane deposits only, with work now underway on defining the JORC resources for Ravene and Chilubane.
The resource being defined at the Mutamba includes the current established resource of 65Mt at 4.2% THM defined at Savannahs Jangamo Project. The two projects together form the unified Mutamba Project being developed by Savannah in conjunction with Rio Tinto.
Table 1. Mineral Resource Estimates for the Jangamo and Dongane deposits
Resources | Category | Sand (Mt) | % THM* | % Ilmenite in THM | % Ilmenite in sand | % Rutile in sand | % Zircon in sand | THM (Mt) | Ilmenite (Mt) | Rutile (Mt) | Zircon (Mt) |
Jangamo Indicated 1336L | Indicated | 1780 | 3.8 | 62 | 2.4 | 0.06 | 0.11 | 68 | 42 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
Jangamo Inferred 1336L | Inferred | 200 | 3.5 | 63 | 2.2 | 0.03 | 0.11 | 7.1 | 4.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
Jangamo Inferred 3617L | Inferred | 65 | 4.2 | 60 | 2.5 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Dongane | Inferred | 1400 | 3.8 | 61 | 2.3 | 0.07 | 0.10 | 54 | 33 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
Total Jangamo & Dongane ** | | 3500 | 3.8 | 62 | 2.35 | 0.06 | 0.11 | 130 | 81 | 2.2 | 3.8 |
* THM is "Total Heavy Mineral", minerals with specific gravity greater than 2.85g/cm3.
** Tonnes and grades have been rounded and small differences appear in the totals.
The Mineral Resource Estimation was based on an assimilation of the data produced by Rio Tinto together with updated block models and by applying economic cut-offs to produce current estimates of the Jangamo and Dongane resources.
Variography conducted on the drilling samples of Jangamo and Dongane provided the necessary ranges to specify the following ellipsoids for the different geological units.
Unit | Major Azimuth | Major Diam | Minor Diam | Z Diam |
Dune 1 | 135 | 2600 | 2000 | 28 |
Dune 2 | 45 | 700 | 660 | 24 |
Dune 3 | 0 | 760 | 340 | 30 |
Fluvial | 0 | 700 | 380 | 18 |
The wireframe shapes provided by Rio Tinto were imported and simplified. For the Jangamo model, this resulted in a 94% reduction in file size, while honouring the original shapes. For Dongane, a less manually intensive method was tried, and a 50% reduction in size was achieved using open-source software tools. This reduction was sufficient to allow subsequent block modelling.
New block models were created within the simplified wireframe models using the same block size and coordinate offset as the Rio Tinto models.
The Valuable Heavy Mineral ("VHM") values in the block models were used to calculate "Supported Grade" values. The same process was also applied to the models where Supported Grade values had previously only been calculated for THM.
Using a number of cost, recovery and revenue assumptions (partly based on other operations of similar scale), an economic cut-off of 1.7% VHM has been estimated, equating to about 2.6% THM, depending on the mineral assemblage. The 1.7% VHM supported grade surface was used to define the base of the resource. This resource was subsequently trimmed to exclude poorly drilled areas, or small isolated outliers.
Figure 2. Mutamba Project Deposit Location Map - see PDF link
Figure 3. Drill hole location map for the Jangamo and Dongane Deposits - see PDF link
Figure 4. Heavy Mineral grade distribution for the Jangamo and Dongane Deposits - see PDF link
Competent Person
The information in this document that relates to exploration results is based upon information compiled by Mr Dale Ferguson, Technical Director of Savannah Resources Limited. Mr Ferguson is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the December 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Mr Ferguson consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.
The information in this document that relates to the resource estimation is based upon information compiled by Mr Colin Rothnie, an independent consultant. Mr Rothnie is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the December 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Mr Rothnie consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014.
**ENDS**
For further information please visit www.savannahresources.com or contact:
David Archer | Savannah Resources plc | Tel: +44 20 7117 2489 |
David Hignell / Gerry Beaney (Nominated Adviser) | Northland Capital Partners Ltd | Tel: +44 20 3861 6625 |
Jon Belliss / Elliot Hance (Corporate Broker) | Beaufort Securities Ltd | Tel: +44 20 7382 8300 |
Charlotte Page / Lottie Brocklehurst | St Brides Partners Ltd | Tel: +44 20 7236 1177 |
Notes
Savannah Resources Plc (AIM: SAV) is a growth oriented, multi-commodity, development company.
Mozambique
Savannah operates combined projects with Rio Tinto, and can earn a 51% interest in heavy mineral sands projects in Mozambique, which have a combined exploration target of 7-12Bn tonnes at 3-4.5% THM (published in 2008). Under the terms of the agreement with Rio Tinto Savannah must deliver the following to earn corresponding interest in the combined projects: Scoping Study - 20%; pre-feasibility study - 35%; feasibility study - 51%. Additionally, the Consortium Agreement includes an offtake agreement on commercial terms for the sale of 100% of production to Rio Tinto (or an affiliate).
Oman
Savannah has interests in two copper blocks in the highly prospective Semail Ophiolite Belt in Oman. The projects, which have an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7Mt @ 2.2% copper and high grade intercepts of up to 56.35m at 6.21% Cu, with additional gold upside potential, provide Savannah with an excellent opportunity to potentially evolve into a mid-tier copper and gold producer in a relatively short time frame. Together with its Omani partners, Savannah aims to outline further mineral resources to provide the critical mass for a central operating plant to develop the deposits, and in December 2015 outlined exploration targets of between 10,700,000 and 29,250,000 tonnes grading between 1.4% and 2.4% copper.
Finland
Savannah has Reservation Permits over two new lithium projects, Somero and Erajarvi, covering an area of 159km² in Finland. Savannah holds a 100% interest in these projects through its Finnish subsidiary Finkallio Oy. Geological mapping by the Finnish Government within the project areas has highlighted the presence of lithium minerals spodumene, lepidolite and petalite with the Government also identifying Somero and Erajarvi as one of the most prospective areas to discover lithium deposits in Finland. Savannah plans to initiate an exploration programme including data compilation, geological mapping and surface sampling with the aim of generating drill ready targets during 2016.