Savannah Resources Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: SAV / Sector: Mining
12 February 2018
Savannah Resources Plc
Grandao Continues to Grow with Further Broad Zones of Lithium Mineralisation Identified at the Mina do Barroso Lithium Project, Portugal
Savannah Resources plc (AIM: SAV and SWB: SAV) ('Savannah' or the 'Company'), the AIM quoted resource development company, is pleased to announce further results from the ongoing reverse circulation ('RC') drill programme at the Mina do Barroso Lithium Project ('Mina do Barroso' or the 'Project') in Portugal (Figure 1). The drill programme continues to return significant intersections of lithium mineralisation as Savannah aims to increase the current JORC - 2012 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 3.2 million tonnes at 1.0% Li2O containing 32,000t of Li2O, which was defined at the Reservatorio Deposit, one of three targets currently being evaluated. To view the press release with the illustrative maps and diagrams please use the following link:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/5127E_-2018-2-9.pdf
HIGHLIGHTS:
· Total of 87 holes for 7,081m drilled to date as part of the ongoing RC drill programme across three primary targets
· Broad zones of lithium mineralisation intersected giving further confidence of significant resource potential of Mina do Barroso
· Drill programme is ongoing and has been extended as a result of the positive results received to date
· Grandao Deposit - New Mineral Resource Estimate on track for Q1 2018 to add to current Project resource
o Significant widths of lithium mineralisation identified. Key results include:
§ 59m at 1.13% Li2O from 5m, in 17GRARC31
§ 33m at 1.22% Li2O from 40m, in 17GRARC41
§ 31m at 1.07% Li2O from 40m, including 24 at 1.31% Li2O in 17GRARC25
§ 32m at 0.89% Li2O from 35m, including 17m at 1.29% Li2O in 17GRARC38
o Exploration efforts to be accelerated with a diamond drill rig to mobilise in second half of February, to test depth extensions of Grandao mineralisation and begin collecting samples for the next phase of metallurgical test work
o New high priority targets identified to the north east of Grandao: Romainho, Campo de Futebol and Peigro Negro will be drill tested
· NOA Deposit - drilling of a further six holes has confirmed the presence of lithium mineralisation over a 200m strike length together with good down dip extensions of at least 50m. Key results include:
§ 15m at 0.83% Li2O from 5m, including 9m at 1.27% Li2O in 17NOARC06
§ 14m at 0.73% Li2O from 19m, including 7m at 1.26% Li2O in 17NOARC10
· Phase 2 of the metallurgical test work programme underway - samples taken from Grandao, Reservatorio and NOA being tested with results expected in Q1 2018
Savannah's CEO, David Archer said: "We are delighted to see the expanding geometry of Grandao with both near surface and deeper mineralisation. The Grandao Deposit is shaping up as a major additional component to the overall global Mineral Resource for the Mina do Barroso Lithium Project.
"The overall tempo of activities continues to accelerate as the Project's potential becomes more apparent. We are working to an aggressive timetable to deliver on a series of major milestones over coming months, which we believe will highlight the Project's potential to be a key, up-stream component of the European lithium valued added chain."
Figure 1. Mina do Barroso Project Summary Map showing prospects and drilling completed to date - SEE PDF
Grandao
A total of 57 drill holes for 4,708m (17GRARC01-57) have been completed and results for drill holes 17GRARC24 to 42 have now been received and returned further very encouraging results (Tables 1-2 and Figure 2).
Drilling targeted at intersecting the near surface, shallowly west dipping pegmatite body has continued to meet with significant success. Drilling has further expanded the zone of lithium mineralisation, which now extends to over 400m in length, reaching up to 300m in width and with anomalous mineralisation recorded 185m below surface.
Significant drill results targeting the flat lying pegmatite body are summarised in Table 1.
Table 1. Summary of drill results for Grandao flat lying pegmatite using a 0.2% and 0.5% Li2O cut-off
Hole ID |
0.2% Li2O Cut-Off |
0.5% Li2O Cut-Off |
|
From |
Width |
Li2O |
From |
Width |
Li2O |
17GRARC25 |
40 |
31 |
1.07 |
47 |
24 |
1.31 |
17GRARC26 |
32 |
17 |
1 |
54 |
1 |
0.9 |
17GRARC26 |
54 |
2 |
0.61 |
|
|
|
17GRARC27 |
26 |
10 |
1.29 |
26 |
9 |
1.38 |
17GRARC27 |
41 |
15 |
0.67 |
41 |
15 |
0.67 |
17GRARC28 |
NSA |
|
|
|
|
|
17GRARC29 |
NSA |
|
|
|
|
|
17GRARC30 |
0 |
27 |
0.82 |
0 |
14 |
1.28 |
17GRARC32 |
0 |
24 |
0.67 |
|
|
|
17GRARC32 |
61 |
2 |
0.74 |
|
|
|
17GRARC33 |
NSA |
|
|
|
|
|
17GRARC34 |
30 |
1 |
1.1 |
30 |
1 |
1.1 |
17GRARC34 |
44 |
17 |
0.39 |
46 |
2 |
0.81 |
|
|
|
|
56 |
2 |
1.03 |
17GRARC35 |
3 |
56 |
0.64 |
3 |
1 |
0.55 |
|
|
|
|
9 |
16 |
1.27 |
|
|
|
|
39 |
4 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
|
48 |
3 |
1.07 |
17GRARC36 |
33 |
7 |
0.73 |
36 |
4 |
1.04 |
17GRARC37 |
34 |
16 |
1.11 |
58 |
10 |
1.32 |
17GRARC37 |
58 |
11 |
1.23 |
|
|
|
17GRARC38 |
8 |
3 |
0.71 |
9 |
2 |
0.96 |
17GRARC38 |
21 |
9 |
1.1 |
21 |
9 |
1.1 |
17GRARC38 |
35 |
32 |
0.89 |
35 |
17 |
1.29 |
|
|
|
|
55 |
2 |
0.81 |
|
|
|
|
61 |
2 |
0.56 |
17GRARC39 |
11 |
17 |
0.76 |
13 |
9 |
0.93 |
17GRARC39 |
34 |
16 |
0.71 |
24 |
3 |
0.74 |
|
|
|
|
36 |
8 |
1.1 |
17GRARC40 |
9 |
11 |
0.97 |
10 |
9 |
1.11 |
17GRARC40 |
28 |
15 |
1.04 |
28 |
14 |
1.08 |
17GRARC41 |
40 |
33 |
1.22 |
40 |
33 |
1.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Further drilling of the newly identified sub-vertical body has met with further success with another 59m wide zone of lithium mineralisation identified and this body remains open both along strike and down dip and is a high priority target for further drilling. Recently received results are summarised in Table 2.
Table 2. Summary of drill results for Grandao new vertical pegmatites using a 0.2% and 0.5% Li2O cut-off
Hole ID |
0.2% Li2O Cut-Off |
0.5% Li2O Cut-Off |
From |
Width |
Li2O |
From |
Width |
Li2O |
17GRARC24 |
30 |
12 |
0.67 |
31 |
1 |
0.68 |
|
|
|
|
35 |
6 |
1.05 |
17GRARC31 |
5 |
59 |
1.13 |
5 |
59 |
1.13 |
17GRARC31 |
68 |
22 |
0.48 |
72 |
2 |
0.69 |
17GRARC31 |
102 |
4 |
1.01 |
78 |
7 |
0.97 |
17GRARC31 |
121 |
11 |
0.95 |
102 |
4 |
1.01 |
17GRARC31 |
138 |
2 |
0.85 |
121 |
7 |
1.37 |
|
|
|
|
138 |
1 |
1.36 |
17GRARC42 |
3 |
1 |
0.29 |
37 |
2 |
0.79 |
17GRARC42 |
13 |
2 |
0.21 |
48 |
2 |
0.67 |
17GRARC42 |
36 |
4 |
0.56 |
110 |
1 |
0.7 |
17GRARC42 |
45 |
5 |
0.4 |
|
|
|
17GRARC42 |
55 |
1 |
0.27 |
|
|
|
17GRARC42 |
97 |
1 |
0.2 |
|
|
|
17GRARC42 |
100 |
1 |
0.28 |
|
|
|
17GRARC42 |
108 |
6 |
0.3 |
|
|
|
17GRARC42 |
126 |
1 |
0.21 |
|
|
|
Figure 2. Summary of drilling at Grandao showing significant assay results and holes with pending assays - SEE PDF
NOA
Drilling at the NOA deposit now totals 10 holes for 768m (17NOARC01-10) and results from 5 holes (17NOARC06-10) have been received. Results have been encouraging with 10m-15m wide zones of pegmatite being intersected over a strike length of 200m and a down dip depth of around 50m (Table 4 and Figure 3). Further work is now required to access the full potential of the deposit.
Table 4. Summary of drill results for NOA reported at a 0.2% and 0.5% Li2O cut-off
Hole ID |
0.2% Li2O Cut-Off |
0.5% Li2O Cut-Off |
From |
Width |
Li2O% |
From |
Width |
Li2O% |
17NOARC06 |
9 |
15 |
0.83 |
9 |
7 |
1.27 |
|
|
|
|
20 |
1 |
1.46 |
17NOARC07 |
31 |
3 |
0.18 |
51 |
3 |
1.55 |
17NOARC07 |
48 |
12 |
0.56 |
|
|
|
17NOARC08 |
6 |
6 |
1.01 |
7 |
4 |
1.35 |
17NOARC08 |
51 |
6 |
0.25 |
|
|
|
17NOARC09 |
10 |
7 |
1.04 |
11 |
5 |
1.28 |
17NOARC09 |
63 |
1 |
0.23 |
|
|
|
17NOARC09 |
65 |
1 |
0.26 |
|
|
|
17NOARC10 |
2 |
3 |
0.56 |
3 |
2 |
0.71 |
17NOARC10 |
19 |
14 |
0.73 |
23 |
7 |
1.26 |
Figure 3. Summary of recent drilling at NOA, showing drilling completed and significant assays received - SEE PDF
Ongoing Drill Programme
Based on the new results an additional 16 RC drill holes have been added to the programme at Grandao, Romainho, Campo de Futebol and Piero Negro in order to further evaluate the potential of the wider project area.
In addition, to accelerate exploration, a diamond drill rig will be mobilised to site for an initial 1,500m drill programme, which will include sample collection for the phase 3 metallurgical test work programme, stratigraphic/structural holes and the extension of six existing RC holes to depth to target the newly identified broad zone of lithium mineralisation identified at depth below Grandao.
Metallurgical Test Work
The test work programme to determine the crush size and the density at which a 6% concentrate can be produced and mass yield, together with the three fundamental design parameters for developing a gravity process flow sheet based on the dense medium (DMS) process, is ongoing. Work is expected to be completed in Q1 2018.
Competent Person and Regulatory Information
The information in this announcement 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.
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 |
Christopher Raggett / Emily Morris (Joint Broker) |
finnCap Ltd |
Tel: +44 20 7220 0500 |
Jon Belliss (Joint Broker) |
Beaufort Securities Ltd |
Tel: +44 20 7382 8300 |
Charlotte Page / Lottie Wadham (Financial PR) |
St Brides Partners Ltd |
Tel: +44 20 7236 1177 |
About Savannah
We are a diversified resources group (AIM: SAV) with a portfolio of energy metals projects - lithium in Portugal and copper in Oman - together with the world-class Mutamba Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Mozambique, which is being developed in a consortium with the global major Rio Tinto. We are committed to serving the interests of our shareholders and to delivering outcomes that will improve the lives of our staff and the communities we work with.
The group is listed and regulated on AIM and the Company's ordinary shares are also available on the Börse Stuttgart (SWB) under the ticker "SAV"