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#SVML Sovereign Metals LTD – September 2024 Quarterly Report

SEPTEMBER 2024 QUARTERLY REPORT

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM, AIM:SVML, OTCQX:SVMLF) (Sovereign or the Company) is pleased to provide its quarterly report for the period ended 30 September 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS DURING AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE QUARTER

Rio Tinto Invests Additional A$19m Increasing Shareholding to 19.9%

·    In July 2024, Rio Tinto invested a further A$18.5 million via the exercise of options to increase its shareholding in Sovereign to 19.76%

·    In September 2024, Rio Tinto made an additional investment of A$0.7 million to increase its shareholding to 19.9% pursuant to Rio Tinto’s first right of refusal on equity issues up to a maximum of 19.9%

Sovereign Presents at Minerals Security Partnership Event During UN General Assembly

·    In September 2024, Sovereign presented at the inaugural 2024 MSP Finance Meeting during the UN General Assembly in New York following an invitation from the U.S. Department of State and SAFE Center for Critical Minerals

·    Panel discussion titled “Mining Titans and New Horizons” took place between Rio Tinto CEO, Mr Jakob Stausholm, and Sovereign Chair, Mr Ben Stoikovich

Spiral Plant Successfully Installed for Graphite Offtake Discussions

·    Industrial scale spiral concentrator plant successfully installed and commissioned at Sovereign’s expanded laboratory and testing facility in Lilongwe, Malawi

·    Graphite pre-concentrate from spiral plant will facilitate ongoing testwork and offtake discussions with lithium-ion battery makers and traditional graphite markets

Hydraulic Mining Trial Commenced Following Successful Dry Mining Trial

·    In July 2024, dry mining trial confirms Kasiya can be efficiently mined using standard mobile excavators and trucks, demonstrating operational alternatives

·    In August 2024, hydraulic mining trial commenced at Kasiya Pilot Site test pit as part of ongoing PFS Optimisation Study

Outstanding Battery Anode Material Produced from Kasiya Graphite

·    Very high quality Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) anode material produced from Kasiya graphite concentrate with performance characteristics comparable to highest quality natural graphite battery material produced by dominant Chinese anode manufacturers

·    Outstanding results are attributed to unique geological setting of highly weathered Kasiya orebody compared to fresh rock hosted graphite deposits including very low levels of sulphur and other impurities

Infill Drilling Program to Upgrade Kasiya Resource

·    During the quarter, Sovereign undertook an infill drilling program designed to upgrade Kasiya’s Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and facilitate conversion of Ore Reserves from Probable to Proven category for upcoming study phase

·    Program focused on southern Kasiya, which is the area intended to supply ore feed for first eight years of production; all planned drilling was completed subsequent to the quarter

Corporate Update

·    Following increased U.S. investor and strategic interest in Kasiya, Sovereign commenced trading on OTCQX Market in the quarter providing access to broader eligible U.S. investor base

·    Following the additional A$19 million invested by Rio Tinto, Sovereign remains in a strong financial position with cash at bank of approximately A$41 million and no debt

Classification 2.2: This announcement includes Inside Information

 

Enquires

 

 

 

Frank Eagar, Managing Director & CEO

South Africa / Malawi

+27 21 065 1890

Sapan Ghai, CCO

London

+44 207 478 3900

 

Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

+44 20 3470 0470

Ewan Leggat

Charlie Bouverat

 

 

Joint Brokers

 

Stifel

+44 20 7710 7600

Varun Talwar

 

Ashton Clanfield

 

 

 

Berenberg

+44 20 3207 7800

Matthew Armitt

 

Jennifer Lee

 

 

 

Buchanan

+ 44 20 7466 5000

 

Rio Tinto Invests Additional A$19 million Increasing Shareholding to 19.9%

In July 2024, Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited (Rio Tinto) exercised all its share options for proceeds of A$18.5 million (before costs) to increase its shareholding in Sovereign to 19.76%.

In September 2024 and following the exercise of its options, Rio Tinto made an additional investment of A$0.7 million in Sovereign increasing its shareholding in Sovereign to 19.9%. Pursuant to the Investment Agreement between Rio Tinto and Sovereign, Rio Tinto has a first right of refusal on equity issues up to 19.9%

The Company will use the proceeds from Rio Tinto’s additional strategic investments to continue advancing Sovereign’s Tier 1 Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project (Kasiya or the Project) in Malawi. This includes progressing the current PFS Optimisation Study for Kasiya which is focused on the development of a world-class mine capable of supplying critical minerals to the titanium pigment, titanium metal and lithium-ion battery industries. Under the Investment Agreement between Sovereign and Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto continues to provide assistance and advice on technical and marketing aspects of Kasiya.

Sovereign Presents at Minerals Security Partnership Event During UN General Assembly

In September 2024, Sovereign was invited to and participated in a panel discussion at the inaugural 2024 MINVEST / Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Finance Meeting (Meeting) in New York, U.S., during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The panel titled “Mining Titans and New Horizons” was moderated by Dr Zainab Usman, Senior Fellow and Director, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and participants were Mr Jakob Stausholm, CEO, Rio Tinto, and Mr Ben Stoikovich, Chair, Sovereign.

The discussion highlighted factors that attract major mining companies and investment, exploring how initiatives like the MSP can support investment flow into resource-rich countries, while spurring economic development.

Speaking at the Meeting on its importance, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, The Hon. Kurt Campbell, commented: “If we are going to be successful ultimately not only in the clean energy revolution but generally in technology, it will be because of this pursuit.”

 

A group of people sitting in a room Description automatically generated

Figure 1 (Left to Right): Dr Zainab Usman, Senior Fellow and Director, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm, Sovereign Chair Mr Ben Stoikovich at the MSP Finance Meeting in New York

Sovereign attended the Meeting following an invitation to present, alongside Rio Tinto CEO Mr Jakob Stausholm, by the Minerals Investment Network for Vital Energy Security and Transition (MINVEST), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and SAFE Center for Critical Minerals. The Meeting took place during UNGA in New York, presenting an opportunity for convergence of several MSP government officials, as well as representatives from their development finance institutions, and export credit agencies.

About the MSP

In June 2022, the U.S. Government and key partner countries announced the establishment of the MSP – a collaboration of 14 countries and the EU to catalyse public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally.

About MINVEST

MINVEST is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and The Center for Critical Minerals Strategy (SAFE) to promote public-private dialogue and spur investment in strategic mining, processing, and recycling opportunities that adhere to high environmental, social, and governance standards.

Spiral Plant Successfully Installed for Graphite Offtake Discussions

During the quarter, the Company successfully installed and commissioned an industrial-scale spiral concentrator plant at the Company’s laboratory and testing facility in Lilongwe, Malawi. The plant enables Sovereign to process material from the test pit mined as part of the ongoing Pilot Mining and Land Rehabilitation (Pilot Phase) at Kasiya.

 

A building with a green and yellow metal structure Description automatically generated

Figure 2: Spiral Plant installed at Sovereign’s Lilongwe facility

The spiral plant will prepare a graphite gravity concentrate from the Pilot Phase test pit’s run of mine at a bulk scale. The concentrate will then be sent to specialised laboratories where flotation, purification, spheronisation and coating testwork for the battery anode segment in line with Sovereign’s strategy to commercialise Kasiya’s graphite by-product. Graphite concentrate will also be provided to traditional industrial graphite users, including refractories and foundries, expandable graphite, graphite foil, brake lining pads, and lubrication.

Hydraulic Mining Trial Commenced Following Successful Dry Mining Trial

In July 2024, Sovereign announced that as part of the Pilot Phase, the dry mining trial concluded with a test pit successfully excavated at the Pilot site. The test pit covered the planned area of 120 metres by 110 metres and was excavated to a depth of 20 metres through the weathered ore at Kasiya. The dry mining trial confirmed that Kasiya ore can be efficiently mined using conventional dry-mining techniques and a simple mobile excavator fleet. The dry mining fleet consisted of four excavators, 20 trucks and a support fleet including two bulldozers and a motor grader. Approximately 170,000 bench cubic metres of material was dry mined during the trial. Steady-state operations envisage 24 million tonnes of material being mined annually.

 

The saprolite-hosted mineralisation at Kasiya is largely homogenous and has relatively consistent physical properties throughout the 1.8 billion tonnes MRE that is reported in accordance with JORC (2012). Data collected from the pilot phase confirmed that no drilling, blasting, crushing, grinding or milling will be required prior to stockpiling material for processing into rutile and graphite products; an indication of potentially lower mining costs and a lower carbon footprint comparable to hard rock deposits.

A large open pit with many layers of dirt Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Figure 3: Kasiya Pilot Phase Test Pit mined to 20 metres depth

A screenshot of a video game Description automatically generated

Figure 4: Kasiya mining and front-end processing vs. hard rock peers

Subsequently, in August 2024, the Company commenced a hydraulic mining trial at the test pit. The temporary water storage pond, constructed and sealed with natural clay from excavated material, was filled with six million litres of groundwater, predominantly from eight water boreholes on site.

This water was used during the hydraulic mining trial and continuously recycled from the constructed holding cells, where sand and fine fractions are stored respectively prior to the planned deposition and rehabilitation testwork.

A large open pit with a water pipe Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Figure 5: Hydraulic mined material (slurry) flowing freely to the collection point in the bottom of the sump

Outstanding Battery Anode Material Produced from Kasiya Graphite

In September 2024, Sovereign announced an update on the downstream testwork conducted at leading independent consultancy ProGraphite GmbH (ProGraphite) in Germany.

The test work program demonstrated that CSPG produced from Kasiya natural flake graphite has performance characteristics comparable to the leading Chinese natural graphite anode materials manufacturers such as BTR New Material Group (BTR). Electrochemical testing of the CSPG samples at a leading German institute achieved first cycle efficiencies (FCE) of 94.2% to 95.8%, with results above 95% a key specification for highest quality natural graphite anode materials under the Chinese standard.

Following spheronisation and purification testwork which produced spherical graphite with very high purities of 99.99%, the purified spherical graphite (PSG) samples were pitch coated and carbonised to produce CSPG.

The coating process produced CSPG with very low BET (low specific surface area) specific surface area of 2.0m2/g and lower and high tap densities of 1.11-1.18g/cm3 (Table 1). A low specific surface area is required for anode materials to minimise the loss of lithium in forming a secondary protective coating on the anode material known as the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI). The pitch coating process also assists in increasing the density of the anode material as measured by the tap density – a higher density assists in storing more electrical energy in the lithium-ion battery.

 

Table 1: CSPG Results

CSPG Sample

Sample

Units

1

2

3

D10

µm

11.05

11.08

14.86

D50

µm

17.46

17.27

23.71

D90

µm

26.75

27.5

36.72

Tap Density

g/cm3

1.11

1.12

1.18

BET (low specific surface area)

m2/g

1.6

2.0

1.4

Electrochemical testing of the CSPG samples at a leading German institute achieved FCE of 94.2% to 95.8%, with results above 95% a key specification for highest quality natural graphite anode materials under the Chinese standard. A very high FCE minimises lithium losses in the initial formation cycles of a lithium-ion battery, supporting battery life. Kasiya CSPG also met the criteria for an initial discharge capacity of more than 360mAh/g (ampere-hours per gram) for highest quality anode materials, with initial capacities of 362-366mAh/g. These results will be used to fast-track discussions with potential offtakers.

Table 2: Electrochemical Results – China CSPG Standard

 

 

CSPG Sample

China Standard GB/T-24533-2019

1

2

3

Grade I

Grade II

Grade III

First Cycle Efficiency

%

95.8

94.2

95.8

95

93

91

Initial Capacity

mAh/g

362

364

366

360

360

345

Furthermore, the testwork demonstrated that CSPG produced from Kasiya natural flake graphite has initial performance characteristics comparable to the leading Chinese natural graphite anode materials manufacturers such as BTR. BTR has a 20-year track record in the production of lithium-ion battery anode materials, is a dominant player in the market and has recently concluded anode material offtake agreements with global automotive companies including Ford. BTR’s highest specification CSPG materials, that have low swelling, long cycle life, good processability and outstanding electrochemical performance include their GSN17 and LSG17 products (with D50 of 17.0+/- 1.5μm).

Table 3: Electrochemical Results – BTR CSPG products

 

CSPG Sample

BTR3

1

2

GSN 17

LSG 17

First Cycle Efficiency

%

95.8

94.2

95

94

Initial Capacity

mAh/g

362

364

360

355

D50

μm

17.5

17.3

17.0+/- 1.5

17.0+/- 1.5

Infill Drilling Program to Upgrade Kasiya Resource

An infill drilling program to infill the southern part of Kasiya commenced during the quarter and was completed in October 2024. The drilling was focused on the designated pits proposed to provide ore feed in the first eight years of the Project’s production schedule. Ore Reserves in these areas are expected to convert from the Probable to Proven category with an upgrade of the current MRE from Indicated to the Measured category under the JORC (2012) Code. Offsite laboratories in South Africa and Australia will assay all samples for rutile and graphite. The drilling program’s results and subsequent Resource upgrade are expected in early 2025. Kasiya is already the world’s largest rutile deposit and second-largest flake graphite deposit, with over 66% of the current MRE in the Indicated category.

An offset 200×200 metre program was designed, resulting in an average drill spacing of 142 metres. The offset spacing had the advantage of allowing analysis of geology and grade continuity in both orthogonal and diagonal directions.

The drilling program consisted of:

1.   281 aircore holes drilled over 5,607m, with an average depth of 20 metres

2.   309 hand auger holes drilled over 1,280m, with an average depth of 4 metres

3.   30 push tube and diamond core holes drilled over 663m, providing samples for verification twinning and geotechnical sampling with an average depth of 22 metres

The current MRE identifies broad and continuous high-grade rutile and graphite zones, extending over a vast area of more than 201 km². Rutile mineralisation is concentrated in laterally extensive, near-surface, flat “blanket” deposits in areas where the weathering profile remains intact and largely uneroded. Graphite is largely depleted near the surface, with grades generally improving at depths greater than 4 metres, down to the base of the saprolite zone, which averages around 22 metres.

Corporate Update

During the quarter, Sovereign’s shares commenced trading on the OTCQX® Best Market (OTCQX) under the ticker symbol SVMLF. The OTCQX is the highest market tier of OTC Markets on which over 12,000 U.S. and global securities trade. Sovereign previously traded on the OTC Pink Market and has been upgraded to the OTCQX as it meets high financial standards, follows best-practice corporate governance and has demonstrated compliance with applicable securities laws. Trading on OTCQX began on 5 July 2024 and will enhance the visibility and accessibility of Sovereign to U.S. investors.

Next Steps

Sovereign is currently conducting a PFS Optimisation Study, including the Pilot Phase, prior to advancing to the DFS. The Company aims to become the world’s largest, lowest cost and lowest-emissions producer of two critical minerals – titanium (rutile) and graphite. The Company plans to update the market on the progress of the following in coming months.

·      Ongoing progression of the Pilot Phase, including:

Completion of hydraulic mining trials;

preparation of additional bulk samples for product qualification; and

backfilling of test pits and soil rehabilitation.

·      Further graphite testwork results as the Company continues to advance the qualification of its graphite product for the lithium-ion battery and traditional graphite sectors;

·      Progress on the optimisation work streams alongside Rio Tinto via the project Technical Committee;

·      MRE upgrade in early 2025; and

·      Additional community and social development programs.

 

Competent Person Statement

The information in this announcement that relates to the Exploration Results is extracted from announcements dated 8 May 2024, 15 May 2024 and 4 September 2024, which are available to view at www.sovereignmetals.com.au. Sovereign confirms that a) it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement; b) all material assumptions included in the original announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed; and c) the form and context in which the relevant Competent Persons’ findings are presented in this report have not been materially changed from the announcement.

 

The information in this announcement that relates to the Mineral Resource Estimate is extracted from Sovereign’s 2024 Annual Report and is based on, and fairly represents information compiled by Mr Richard Stockwell, a Competent Person, who is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Mr Stockwell is a principal of Placer Consulting Pty Ltd, an independent consulting company. Sovereign confirms that a) it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement; b) all material assumptions included in the 2024 Annual Report continue to apply and have not materially changed; and c) the form and context in which the relevant Competent Persons’ findings are presented in 2024 Annual Report have not been materially changed from the disclosure in the 2024 Annual Report.

 

The information in this announcement that relates to Ore Reserves is extracted from Sovereign’s 2024 Annual Report. Sovereign confirms that: a) it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement; b) all material assumptions included in the 2024 Annual Report continue to apply and have not materially changed; and c) the form and context in which the relevant Competent Persons’ findings are presented in 2024 Annual Report have not been materially changed from the disclosure in the 2024 Annual Report.

Ore Reserve for the Kasiya Deposit

 

Classification

Tonnes
(Mt)

Rutile Grade
(%)

Contained Rutile
(Mt)

Graphite Grade (TGC) (%)

Contained Graphite
(Mt)

RutEq. Grade*
(%)

Proved

Probable

 538

1.03%

5.5

1.66%

8.9

2.00%

Total

 538

1.03%

5.5

1.66%

8.9

2.00%

* RutEq. Formula: Rutile Grade x Recovery (100%) x Rutile Price (US$1,484/t) + Graphite Grade x Recovery (67.5%) x Graphite Price (US$1,290/t) / Rutile Price (US$1,484/t). All assumptions are from the Kasiya PFS ** Any minor summation inconsistencies are due to rounding

Kasiya Total Indicated + Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate at 0.7% rutile cut-off grade

Classification

Resource
(Mt)

Rutile Grade
(%)

Contained Rutile
(Mt)

Graphite Grade (TGC) (%)

Contained Graphite
(Mt)

Indicated

 1,200

1.0%

12.2

1.5%

18.0

Inferred

 609

0.9%

5.7

1.1%

6.5

Total

 1,809

1.0%

17.9

1.4%

24.4

 

Forward Looking Statement

This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “projects”, “plans”, and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on Sovereign’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Sovereign, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Sovereign makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.

 

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 (‘MAR’). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service (‘RIS’), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

APPENDIX 1: SUMMARY OF MINING TENEMENTS

As at 30 September 2024, the Company had an interest in the following tenements:

Licence

Holding Entity

Interest

Type

Licence Renewal Date

Expiry Term Date1

Licence Area (km2)

Status

EL0609

MML

100%

Exploration

25/09/2026

25/09/2028

219.5

Granted

EL0582

SSL

100%

Exploration

15/09/2025

15/09/2027

141.3

Granted

EL0492

SSL

100%

Exploration

29/01/2025

29/01/2025

454.9

Granted

EL0528

SSL

100%

Exploration

27/11/2025

27/11/2025

16.2

Granted

EL0545

SSL

100%

Exploration

12/05/2026

12/05/2026

24.2

Granted

EL0561

SSL

100%

Exploration

15/09/2025

15/09/2027

61.9

Granted

EL0657

SSL

100%

Exploration

3/10/2025

3/10/2029

2.3

Granted

EL0710

SSL

100%

Exploration

1/02/2027

1/02/2031

38.4

Granted

Notes:

SSL: Sovereign Services Limited, MML: McCourt Mining Limited

1  An exploration licence (EL) covering a preliminary period in accordance with the Malawi Mines and Minerals Act (No 8. Of 2019) (2019 Mines Act) is granted for a period not exceeding three (3) years. Thereafter two successive periods of renewal may be granted, but each must not exceed two (2) years. This means that an EL has a potential life span of seven (7) years. ELs that have come to the end of their term can be converted by the EL holder into a retention licence (RL) for a term of up to 5 years subject to meeting certain criteria. On 28 June 2024, the Mines and Minerals Act (2023) (New Act) was gazetted and came into force. As previously disclosed, The New Act introduces amendments to improve transparency and governance of the mining industry in Malawi. Sovereign notes the following updates in the New Act which may affect the Company going forward: (i) ELs will now be granted for an initial period of 5 years with the ability to extend by 3 years on two occasions (total 11 years); (ii) the Malawian Government maintains a right to free equity ownership for large-scale mining licences but the New Act has removed the automatic free government equity ownership with the right to be a negotiation matter; and (iii) A new Mining and Regulatory Authority will be responsible for implementing the objectives of the New Act.

APPENDIX 2: RELATED PARTY PAYMENTS

During the quarter ended 30 September 2024, the Company made payments of A$310,000 to related parties and their associates. These payments relate to existing remuneration arrangements (executive salaries, director fees, superannuation and bonuses (A$212,000)) and provision of serviced office facilities, company secretarial services and administration services (A$98,000).

APPENDIX 3: MINING EXPLORATION EXPENDITURES

During the quarter, the Company made the following payments in relation to mining exploration activities:

Activity

A$’000

 Optimisation, Pilot Phase, Reserve/Resource Estimation

4,245

Drilling related

602

Assaying and Metallurgical Test-work

310

 ESG related

905

 Malawi Operations – Site Office, Personnel, Field Supplies, Equipment, Vehicles and Travel

1,684

 Total as reported in Appendix 5B

7,746

There were no mining or production activities and expenses incurred during the quarter ended 30 September 2024.

 

Appendix 5B

Mining exploration entity or oil and gas exploration entity
quarterly cash flow report

Name of entity

Sovereign Metals Limited

ABN

 

Quarter ended (“current quarter”)

71 120 833 427

30 September 2024

 

Consolidated statement of cash flows

Current quarter
$A’000

Year to date
(3 months)
$A’000

1.

Cash flows from operating activities

1.1

Receipts from customers

1.2

Payments for

(7,746)

(7,746)

(a)   exploration & evaluation

(b)   development

(c)   production

(d)   staff costs

(276)

(276)

(e)   administration and corporate costs

(644)

(644)

1.3

Dividends received (see note 3)

1.4

Interest received

381

381

1.5

Interest and other costs of finance paid

1.6

Income taxes paid

1.7

Government grants and tax incentives

1.8

Other – Business Development

(489)

(489)

1.9

Net cash from / (used in) operating activities

(8,774)

(8,774)

2.

Cash flows from investing activities

2.1

Payments to acquire or for:

(a)   entities

(b)   tenements

(c)   property, plant and equipment

(736)

(736)

(d)   exploration & evaluation

(e)   investments

(f)    other non-current assets

2.2

Proceeds from the disposal of:

(a)   entities

(b)   tenements

(c)   property, plant and equipment

(d)   investments

(e)   other non-current assets

2.3

Cash flows from loans to other entities

2.4

Dividends received (see note 3)

2.5

Other (provide details if material)

2.6

Net cash from / (used in) investing activities

(736)

(736)

3.

Cash flows from financing activities

19,174

19,174

3.1

Proceeds from issues of equity securities (excluding convertible debt securities)

3.2

Proceeds from issue of convertible debt securities

3.3

Proceeds from exercise of options

3.4

Transaction costs related to issues of equity securities or convertible debt securities

(37)

(37)

3.5

Proceeds from borrowings

3.6

Repayment of borrowings

3.7

Transaction costs related to loans and borrowings

3.8

Dividends paid

3.9

Other (provide details if material)

3.10

Net cash from / (used in) financing activities

19,137

19,137

4.

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the period

4.1

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

31,562

31,562

4.2

Net cash from / (used in) operating activities (item 1.9 above)

(8,774)

(8,774)

4.3

Net cash from / (used in) investing activities (item 2.6 above)

(736)

(736)

4.4

Net cash from / (used in) financing activities (item 3.10 above)

19,137

19,137

4.5

Effect of movement in exchange rates on cash held

4

4

4.6

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

41,193

41,193

 

5.

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents
at the end of the quarter (as shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows) to the related items in the accounts

Current quarter
$A’000

Previous quarter
$A’000

5.1

Bank balances

4,153

253

5.2

Call deposits

37,040

31,309

5.3

Bank overdrafts

5.4

Other (provide details)

5.5

Cash and cash equivalents at end of quarter (should equal item 4.6 above)

41,193

31,562

 

6.

Payments to related parties of the entity and their associates

Current quarter
$A’000

6.1

Aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates included in item 1

(310)

6.2

Aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates included in item 2

Note: if any amounts are shown in items 6.1 or 6.2, your quarterly activity report must include a description of, and an explanation for, such payments.

 

7.

Financing facilities
Note: the term “facility’ includes all forms of financing arrangements available to the entity.

Add notes as necessary for an understanding of the sources of finance available to the entity.

Total facility amount at quarter end
$A’000

Amount drawn at quarter end
$A’000

7.1

Loan facilities

7.2

Credit standby arrangements

7.3

Other (please specify)

7.4

Total financing facilities

 

7.5

Unused financing facilities available at quarter end

7.6

Include in the box below a description of each facility above, including the lender, interest rate, maturity date and whether it is secured or unsecured. If any additional financing facilities have been entered into or are proposed to be entered into after quarter end, include a note providing details of those facilities as well.

 

8.

Estimated cash available for future operating activities

$A’000

8.1

Net cash from / (used in) operating activities (item 1.9)

(8,774)

8.2

(Payments for exploration & evaluation classified as investing activities) (item 2.1(d))

8.3

Total relevant outgoings (item 8.1 + item 8.2)

(8,774)

8.4

Cash and cash equivalents at quarter end (item 4.6)

41,193

8.5

Unused finance facilities available at quarter end (item 7.5)

8.6

Total available funding (item 8.4 + item 8.5)

41,193

8.7

Estimated quarters of funding available (item 8.6 divided by item 8.3)

5

Note: if the entity has reported positive relevant outgoings (ie a net cash inflow) in item 8.3, answer item 8.7 as “N/A”. Otherwise, a figure for the estimated quarters of funding available must be included in item 8.7.

8.8

If item 8.7 is less than 2 quarters, please provide answers to the following questions:

8.8.1     Does the entity expect that it will continue to have the current level of net operating cash flows for the time being and, if not, why not?

Answer: Not applicable

8.8.2     Has the entity taken any steps, or does it propose to take any steps, to raise further cash to fund its operations and, if so, what are those steps and how likely does it believe that they will be successful?

Answer: Not applicable

8.8.3     Does the entity expect to be able to continue its operations and to meet its business objectives and, if so, on what basis?

Answer: Not applicable

Note: where item 8.7 is less than 2 quarters, all of questions 8.8.1, 8.8.2 and 8.8.3 above must be answered.

 

Compliance statement

1        This statement has been prepared in accordance with accounting standards and policies which comply with Listing Rule 19.11A.

2        This statement gives a true and fair view of the matters disclosed.

 

Date:                30 October 2024

 

Authorised by:  Company Secretary

(Name of body or officer authorising release – see note 4)

 

Notes

1.          This quarterly cash flow report and the accompanying activity report provide a basis for informing the market about the entity’s activities for the past quarter, how they have been financed and the effect this has had on its cash position. An entity that wishes to disclose additional information over and above the minimum required under the Listing Rules is encouraged to do so.

2.          If this quarterly cash flow report has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, the definitions in, and provisions of, AASB 6: Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources and AASB 107: Statement of Cash Flows apply to this report. If this quarterly cash flow report has been prepared in accordance with other accounting standards agreed by ASX pursuant to Listing Rule 19.11A, the corresponding equivalent standards apply to this report.

3.          Dividends received may be classified either as cash flows from operating activities or cash flows from investing activities, depending on the accounting policy of the entity.

4.          If this report has been authorised for release to the market by your board of directors, you can insert here: “By the board”. If it has been authorised for release to the market by a committee of your board of directors, you can insert here: “By the [name of board committee – eg Audit and Risk Committee]”. If it has been authorised for release to the market by a disclosure committee, you can insert here: “By the Disclosure Committee”.

5.          If this report has been authorised for release to the market by your board of directors and you wish to hold yourself out as complying with recommendation 4.2 of the ASX Corporate Governance Council’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, the board should have received a declaration from its CEO and CFO that, in their opinion, the financial records of the entity have been properly maintained, that this report complies with the appropriate accounting standards and gives a true and fair view of the cash flows of the entity, and that their opinion has been formed on the basis of a sound system of risk management and internal control which is operating effectively.

 

#AYM Anglesey Mining PLC – Fundraise to raise £220,000

Anglesey Mining plc (AIM:AYM), the UK minerals development company, is pleased to announce that as follow up to the placing and subscription announced on 28 June 2024, the Company has raised £220,000 (before expenses) by way of a direct subscription of 22,000,000 ordinary shares at a price of 1pence per share (the “Subscription Shares”).

 

Fundraising Highlights

  • Subscription to raise approximately £220,000 (before expenses).
  • Issue Price of 1 pence per share

 

Reasons for the Fundraising

In line with the objectives outlined in the fundraising announced in June 2024, the Company has undertaken this Fundraise and its previous fundraise to progress its corporate and operational strategy and the net proceeds will therefore be applied towards:

 

  • Developmental work at Parys Mountain
  • Advancing development options at Grängesberg Iron Ore Mine
  • Debt repayment; and
  • General working capital purposes

 

The Company is advancing a number of initiatives with a view to supporting its cash position, however if these are not successful the Company will need to raise further funds towards the end of the calendar year to continue to progress its activities.

 

The Subscription is conditional only on Admission.

 

Admission

Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the Subscription Shares to trading on AIM (“Admission”). It is expected that Admission will become effective and dealings in the Subscription Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on or around 30 September 2024.

 

The Subscription Shares will be issued fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Company’s existing Ordinary Shares.

 

Following Admission, the total number of Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company in issue will be 483,593,017 with voting rights. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company’s share capital pursuant to (i) the Company’s Articles, (ii) the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and/or (iii) the AIM Rules for Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange plc as amended from time to time.

For further information, please contact:

Anglesey Mining plc

Rob Marsden, Chief Executive Officer    Tel: +44 (0)7531 475111

Andrew King, Interim-Chairman     Tel: +44 (0)7825 963700

 

Davy

Nominated Adviser & Joint Corporate Broker

Brian Garrahy / Daragh O’Reilly – Tel: +353 1 679 6363

 

Zeus Capital

Joint Corporate Broker

Harry Ansell/Katy Mitchell – Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000

#BRES Blencowe Resources PLC – MoU signed for Graphite Beneficiation in Uganda

Blencowe Resources (LSE: BRES.L) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Singaporean graphite sales and marketing specialist Triessence Limited (“Triessence”) and a leading Asian SPG and Anode material producer (“SPG Partner”). This partnership aims to establish Joint Venture (JV) for a graphite beneficiation facility in Uganda producing 99.95% purified graphite for lithium-ion batteries. This venture will set Blencowe apart from competitors focused solely on producing graphite concentrate and provides a life-of-mine offtake partner near the Orom-Cross Project, offering significant additional commercial advantages.

With this JV, Blencowe’s has strategically aligned with two highly experienced Asian graphite specialists to ensure successful delivery.

Highlights:

·      JV Formation: Blencowe and Triessence will each hold a 50% stake in in the SPG facility, with the SPG Partner providing operational expertise. Blencowe retains 100% ownership of Orom-Cross.

·      Value Addition: Upgrading 96% graphite concentrate to high-value battery ready 99.95% uncoated SPG significantly enhances commercial returns compared to selling concentrate.

·      Risk Mitigation: Partnering with graphite industry experts mitigates operational risk.

·      Capital Investment:  Triessence will fund 50% of capital costs for the SPG facility.

·      SPG Offtake Secured: Triessence will purchase all end product, ensuring consistent revenue and premium pricing for some of the first 99.95% SPG produced ex-China.

·      Non-China Focus: SPG product ultimately to be sold to OEMs outside China via Triessence, providing strong political, commercial and funding advantages.

·      Next steps:  Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the SPG facility will be integrated with Orom-Cross DFS for a comprehensive development strategy.

 

Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce commented:

Blencowe has long recognised the substantial advantages downstream upgrading of graphite in-country can offer and securing experienced partners who have the expertise to help us deliver successful SPG production was essential.  I am delighted to say that this MOU is another significant milestone in enhancing both the value and distinctiveness for our Company.”

“Our JV team will now focus on the SPG facility feasibility study and integrating it with the Orom-Cross DFS, providing a comprehensive solution that adds considerable value.  We anticipate minimal additional costs for this study as we are utilising our partners’ existing vast experience for all costings and design work, and no further bulk sample testing or further resource drilling is needed.”

 

In-Country SPG Strategy

Selling 99.95% uncoated SPG (spheronised purified graphite) unlocks significantly higher returns than small flake 96% concentrate, leveraging the value from additional processing. Providing high-value SPG products into world markets, and particularly products generated outside of China, addresses a significant market gap, especially if China restricts purified graphite exports.

Blencowe’s exclusive sale of Orom-Cross concentrate to the proposed SPG facility ensures a life-of-mine offtake partner, whilst also allowing the Company to benefit by participating in the downstream sale of higher-value 99.95% uncoated SPG products.  As one of the only ex-China producers of uncoated SPG this facility will likely command premium prices from OEMs seeking to diversify their SPG supply chains outside of China.

This downstream SPG strategy focuses only on upgrading the lower value small flake concentrate, which is roughly half of Orom-Cross’s output, while the more valuable large flake concentrate will continue to be sold into traditional graphite markets as concentrate.  Blencowe recently announced its first MOU for sale of 15,000tpa large flake concentrate.

 

SPG Joint Venture

A new Ugandan company will be established for the JV to develop the SPG facility.

A feasibility study for the SPG facility, using Orom-Cross concentrate, will be initiated and will leverage the SPG Partner’s experience for costing and design work, with Blencowe handling in-country requirements.  With the upgrade of substantial Orom-Cross concentrate to uncoated SPG as part of the 600-tonne bulk sample test process, a key part of the technical DFS has already been completed and paid for.  This SPG study will later integrate into the broader Orom-Cross DFS, aligning both projects.  Triessence will finance 50% of construction and handle international SPG sales.  The SPG Partner, a global leader and one of the largest graphite companies in the world currently producing around 100,000tpa of uncoated SPG, will oversee operations under a management contract.

The SPG facility’s proximity to the Orom-Cross mine considerably reduces logistics costs for Blencowe and access to low-cost Ugandan hydropower supports a premium grade green 99.95% SPG product.

Commercial Advantages

By channelling Orom-Cross small flake concentrate into the nearby JV SPG facility Blencowe bypasses pricing pressures that other graphite peers will face selling their concentrate into competitive Asian markets.  This will secure both sales volumes and favourable market pricing for Orom-Cross.

With a 50% stake in the SPG facility, Blencowe will further benefit from selling uncoated 99.95% SPG at a higher ~US$2,000 per tonne compared to ~US$500 per tonne for 96% concentrate. Proximity to the SPG facility will materially lower Orom-Cross current logistics and operating costs, enhancing overall project economics.

This downstream processing strategy, backed by experienced partners, may attract additional funding options from entities who recognise this long-term value opportunity.  The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) remains the preferred funding partner for Orom-Cross and supports this strategy, as does the Ugandan Government.  Both offer valuable backing.

 

For further information please contact:

  Blencowe Resources Plc

 Sam Quinn

 

www.blencoweresourcesplc.com

Tel: +44 (0)1624 681 250

info@blencoweresourcesplc.com

Investor Relations

Sasha Sethi

Tel: +44 (0) 7891 677 441

sasha@flowcomms.com

Tavira Financial

Jonathan Evans

Tel: +44 (0)20 3192 1733

jonathan.evans@tavira.group

#GRX GreenX Metals LTD – Acquiring Large Scale Copper Project in Germany

GREENX TO ACQUIRE LARGE SCALE SEDIMENT-HOSTED COPPER PROJECT IN CENTRAL GERMANY

GreenX Metals Limited (“GreenX” or “Company”) is pleased to advise that it has entered into an Earn-in Agreement through which GreenX can earn a 90% interest in Group 11 Exploration GmbH, a private German company which holds the Tannenberg exploration licence (“Project”) and is highly prospective for sediment-hosted (Kupferschiefer type) copper deposits.

The Project

·      The Tannenberg exploration licence covers 272 km2 in the State of Hesse in central Germany, encompassing the historical “Richelsdorf” copper – silver mines.

·      Prior to closure in the 1950’s, the Richelsdorf mines produced 416,500 t of copper and 33.7 Moz of silver from Kupferschiefer type deposits. These historic mines consisted of shallow underground workings originally accessed from surface outcrops.

·      The Project also contains multiple drill intercepts over the high priority 14 km-long Richelsdorf Dome target, including:

2.1 m at 2.7% Cu and 48g/t Ag from 365.48 m; 1.5 m at 3.7% Cu and 33 g/t Ag from 209.50 m; 2.5 m at 1.8% Cu and 19 g/t Ag from 339.5 m in the southwest of the license area.

2.0 m at 1.6% Cu and 19 g/t Ag from 268 m in the north-east of the license area.

Figure 1: The Project is located in the industrial centre of Europe.

·      Kupferschiefer style deposits are a well-known and prolific subtype of sediment-hosted copper deposit that:

are the second most prevalent source of copper production and reserves in the world; and

have been historically mined in Germany and are still mined in Poland where KGHM produced 592 kt of electrolytic copper in 2023.

·      Excellent potential for new discoveries of shallow (50 m to 500 m), large scale and high grade Kupferschiefer style copper and silver mineralisation, with much of licence area remaining untested by modern exploration whereby thicker sections of footwall/ hanging wall mineralisation will be targeted.

·      Modern understanding of Kupferschiefer mineralisation from prolific mining in Poland places new emphasis on hanging wall and footwall mineralisation, structural controls and metal zonation.

In Polish Kupferschiefer mines, mineralisation typically forms within the Kupferschiefer shale and in strata up to 60 m below and 30 m above the shale. E.g., KGHM’s Rudna Mine in Poland, where footwall sandstone hosts 80% of the total copper resource, hanging wall limestone hosts 15%, and Kupferschiefer shale hosts only 5%.

GERMANY & EU MINING INDUSTRY

·      Germany has been a significant mining jurisdiction in the past and continues its mining tradition, including:

The K+S potash mines which operate 4 km away from the license area and are located in the State of Hesse.

Anglo American are actively exploring the Löwenstern and Leine-Kupfer copper projects nearby. Löwenstern is 25 km away to the south in the German state of Thüringia, where drilling targeting the Kupferschiefer commenced in 2023. Leine-Kupfer was granted in January 2024 and is 60 km away to the north in the state of Lower Saxony.

AMG Graphite operates a graphite mining and processing complex at Kropfmühl near Passau, Bavaria

Vulcan Energy is successfully permitting lithium brine and geothermal power projects in the German states of Rheinland-Pfalz, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse.

·      Copper is a designated a Strategic Raw Material (“SRM”) under the EU’s Critical Raw Material Act, that entered into force on 23 May 2024. The CRMA signals the EU’s political commitment to strengthen EU supply of SRM’s (including copper) by giving the European Commission the power to designate Strategic Projects that will benefit from easier access to financing, expedited permitting processes and matchmaking with off-takers.

·      The manufacturing sector, including the automotive, mechanical engineering, chemical and electrical industries, accounts for over 25% of Germany’s economic output, and 18% of GDP; these figures are significantly higher than in most other advanced economies

The manufacturing sector provides 16% of national employment, some 8 million jobs, with mechanical engineering being the largest segment and dominated by SMEs.

The automotive sector is a key industry and with around four million automobiles produced in 2023. Electric Vehicles are being adopted in Germany with numerous OEM’s investing in new production facilities and supply chains, such as Volkswagen’s Battery and Electric Drive production facilities and Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory.

Many of these industries are reliant on critical raw materials such as copper.

·      German government recently announced creation of a EUR 1.1 billion (A$1.8 billion) investment fund to fortify Germany’s access to SRM’s (including copper) essential for high-tech and green projects. The fund will be managed by the state-owned KfW Development Bank.

GreenX Metals’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ben Stoikovich, commented:

“We are very excited to be adding the Tannenberg project to our exploration portfolio. Kupferschiefer style deposits are widely acknowledged as the most prolific source of modern-day copper production, with copper mining from the Polish Kupferschiefer deposits (KGHM) presently being Europe’s largest domestic source of strategic copper supply. We believe that Tanneberg has the potential to host large scale and high-grade copper deposits located in the heartland of German industry in the vicinity of major OEM’s such as Volkswagen’s Battery and Electric Drive production facilities and Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory.

Copper is officially recognised by the EU as a strategic raw material for European industry and ongoing decarbonisation in Europe. This acquisition comes at a time when the German government and the EU have recently announced major policy initiatives to enhance security of supply of strategic raw materials such as copper by facilitating expedited permitting processes and access to project development funding. Germany, and in particular the State of Hesse, has a well-established mining industry with practical and efficient mine permitting processes. Furthermore, we anticipate increased political support for new copper projects in accordance with Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action critical raw materials policies and the EU’s newly introduced Critical Raw Material Act.

Tannenberg is complementary to our Arctic Rift Copper project in Greenland and provides GreenX shareholders with enhanced exposure to strategic raw materials that are now a policy priority in both Germany and the wider EU. We are looking forward to updating shareholders over the coming months as we commence our exploration activities in Germany.”

Classification:   2.2 Inside Information

2.5 Total number of voting rights and capital

ENQUIRIES

Ben Stoikovich
Chief Executive Officer

+44 207 478 3900

 

Sapan Ghai
Business Development

+44 207 478 3900

 

SUMMARY OF TERMS

GreenX has entered into an Earn-in Agreement (“Agreement”) through which GreenX can earn a 90% interest in Group 11 Exploration GmbH (“Group 11”). Key terms of the Agreement are as follows:

·      GreenX to issue the vendor 500,000 fully paid ordinary shares (“Shares”) upfront.

·      GreenX will fund a Work Program up to EUR 500,000 by 31 December 2025 (“Minimum Commitment”). The Work Program will be sufficient to satisfy requirements for the grant of an extension of the exploration license.

·      Once the Minimum Commitment has been discharged, GreenX can elect to acquire 90% of the fully diluted share capital of Group 11 on or before 31 December 2025 in return for:

GreenX paying A$3,000,000 to the vendor in Shares (based on the higher of the 10-day VWAP or A$0.30 per Share).

The vendors’ 10% interest in Group 11 will then be free carried until completion of a feasibility study by Group 11 or GreenX.

The Agreement also includes usual drag along and tag along rights, and an Area of Influence provision.

Once GreenX has earned its 90% interest, the vendor may elect to exchange their remaining 10% interest in return for a 0.5% Net Smelter Royalty.

·      If a Scoping Study is published by GreenX on the ASX regarding the license area or any area within the Area of Influence within 5 years of execution of the Agreement, GreenX will issue the vendor 5 million Shares on the completion of the first such Scoping Study.

·      GreenX will act as the project manager.

Project Geology

Historical drilling and mine workings confirm the widespread presence of the crucial Kupferschiefer sequence within the Tannenberg licence (Figure 2). The sedimentary sequence forms a broad dome that outcrops near the centre of the licence area and extends down to approximately 500 m at the periphery (Figure 3). Regional and small-scale faults cut the licence area with the dominant orientation trending northwest-southeast, perpendicular to the Variscan Orogen. Zones of copper enrichment within the licence area correspond to fault intersections. Structure is a key targeting consideration at the Project.

Figure 2: The Kupferschiefer is gently folded to form the Richelsdorf Dome that extends from surface down to 500 m depth within the licence area. Historical mining around Richelsdorf exploited mineralisation near the surface. Historical drilling intercepted mineralised Kupferschiefer down to 436 m. Much of the Kupferschiefer between 50 to 500 m remains untested.

 

Figure 3: Interpreted cross-section through Tannenberg exploration licence with simplified stratigraphy. The historical Richelsdorf District is located at the apex of a large-scale anticline, the Richelsdorf Dome. The approximate extent of historical mining is shown. The cross-section passes between drill holes Ro23 and Ro45.

 

In the south of the licence area near the town of Ronshausen, drill holes intersected mineralised Kupferschiefer sequence at depths ranging from 211 to 368 m below the surface (e.g., Ro18 and Ro23). Near the town of Nentershausen in the north, an isolated drill hole intersected 2 m at 1.6% Cu (Ro45).

Table 1: Selected Drill Holes.

Locality

Hole ID

Intersect (m)

Cu (%)

From

To

Interval

Ronshausen

Ro23

365.48

367.58

2.10

2.7

Ro18

209.50

211.00

1.50

3.7

Ro19

339.50

342.00

2.50

1.7

Ro15

285.86

289.31

3.45

1.0

Nentershausen

Ro45

268.00

269.63

2.00

1.6

 

Historical exploration and sampling might have been too focussed on the Kupferschiefer shale horizon. For example, in Ro45, the isolated drill hit near Nentershausen, the last sample from the footwall assayed at 1% Cu (Figure 4). In bothRo45 and Ro23 shown in Figure 4, the historical sampling only covers one mineralised interval. Drilling at the Rudna Mining in Poland shows that copper mineralisation can occur in multiple intervals, above and below the Kupferschiefer shale. 

Figure 4: Selected historical drill results from the Richelsdorf Dome target with comparison to drilling at the Rudna Mine, Poland. Sample coverage did not typically extend much above or below the shale unit. 

 

Kupferschiefer copper deposits feature a distinct metal zonation pattern. The zonation transitions from iron, to copper, lead then zinc (Figure 5). Adjacent to every known copper deposit is the iron rich zone known as “Rote Fäule”, or “red rot” in English. Within the Tannenberg licence, a distinct zone of red rot has been identified in the south near Ronshausen. As well as the copper, historical drill core was also assayed for lead and zinc. This data will allow the Company to identify important metal zonations in the Project area.   

A diagram of a red and blue color scheme Description automatically generated

Figure 5: Metal zonation pattern associated with Kupferschiefer type copper deposits. The zonation cuts across stratigraphy and progresses from iron to copper, lead, then zinc. Note: hem = hematite, cc = chalcocite, bo = bornite, cpy = chalcopyrite, ga = galena, sph = sphalerite, py = pyrite. Modified from Borg, 2017.

 

GreenX’s exploration hypothesis for the Project is that historical exploration was mainly based on an outdated deposit model that focussed on the 30-60 cm-thick Kupferschiefer shale horizon. Modern understanding of the Kupferschiefer deposit model now shows that up to 95% of mineable copper can be hosted in the footwall sandstone and hanging wall limestone.

Project History

Pre-industrial mining in central Germany dates back to the 12th Century. Copper was exploited from the Kupferschiefer in the Mansfield, Sangerhausen, and Richelsdorf mining districts. Most of the historical copper mining in central Germany was prior to the Industrial Revolution and well-before mechanised mining technology was widely available. Once surface accessible deposits were depleted, adits and shallow shafts were used to access deeper underground Kupferschiefer copper ores (Figure 6).

In the Richelsdorf district, historical production is estimated at 416,500 t of copper and 1,050 t (33.7 Moz) of silver. Production commenced in the 13th Century and ceased in 1955.

The Project area remains ostensibly undeveloped, comprised predominantly of small-holding farmland and woodland, since it was located in the Cold-War border zone between West and East Germany. During the Cold War (1947-1991), the Richelsdorf district sat within the strategically-important Fulda Gap. The Fulda Gap hosts two lowland corridors through which NATO military planners believed the Soviet Union could launch a land attack. The US military observation post “Romeo” was active at the Hesse-Thuringia border in the vicinity of the Project area during the Cold War and was only disbanded in 1991.

Between 1980 and 1987, St Joes Exploration GmbH (“St Joes Exploration”) were active in the region. St Joes Exploration’s drilling campaigns identified Kupferschiefer mineralisation near the towns of Ronshausen and Nentershausen (Appendix 1, Table 2).  

The major mining activity in Hesse is potash mining operated by K+S Group, an international fertiliser company with production sites in Europe and North America. The major potash mining complex “Werra” has been operating for over 100 years and produces some 19 Mtpa of crude salt from underground workings between 700 – 1000m depth. K+S Group’s Werra plant is recognised as an important pillar for the economic and demographic development of the region.

In 2021, Anglo American’s ‘Kupfer Copper Germany GmbH’ (“Anglo”) began exploration activities in Thuringia, 25 km from the Tannenberg licence. There, historical drilling intercepted 0.5 m at 1.4% Cu from 761.9 m. Anglo initiated seismic, gravity, and magnetic surveys in 2021 and exploratory drilling in 2023.

 

Figure 6: Left: Underground extraction of the Kupferschiefer shale at the Wolfsberg mine in 1954. Miners laid on their sides to excavate the ore-bearing material. Right: Schematic of pre-industrial underground mining in Germany.

Modified from Zientek et al., 2015.

 

EU CrITICAl RAW MATERIAL ACT

On 23 May 2024, the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (“CRMA”), published as Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, entered into force following its adoption by the Council of the EU and European Parliament. The main objective of the CRMA is to maintain and establish a secure and sustainable supply of Critical Raw Materials to the EU. The CRMA lists Strategic Raw Materials (SRM’s), which are those most crucial for strategic technologies used for the green, digital, defence and aerospace applications. Copper is a designated a Strategic Raw Material (SRM’s) under the act

The CRMA sets benchmarks for domestic capacities along the strategic raw material supply chain and for diversifying EU supply by 2030:

·      EU extraction capacity of at least 10% of the EU’s annual consumption of strategic raw materials;

·      EU processing capacity of at least 40% of the EU’s annual consumption of strategic raw materials;

·      EU recycling capacity of at least 25% of the EU’s annual consumption of strategic raw materials; and

·      Not more than 65% of the Union’s annual consumption of each strategic raw material relies on a single third country for any relevant stage of the value chain.

The CRMA further demonstrates the EU’s political commitment to strengthening supply of SRM’s (including copper) by giving the European Commission the power to designate Strategic Projects that will benefit from easier access to financing, expedited permitting processes and matchmaking with off-takers.

In terms of permitting processes, under the CRMA EU Member States will be required to give priority to Strategic Projects in their administrative processes. The Act sets clear timelines for decisions to be taken on permitting applications linked to Strategic Projects. i.e., for Strategic Projects, the total duration of the permit granting process should not exceed 27 months for extraction projects or 15 months for processing and recycling projects.

To help companies through permitting, Member States are also required to designate single points of contact for critical raw materials projects. The single point of contact will provide guidance to project promoters on administrative issues and will serve as the sole contact point throughout the permit granting process.

Exploration Targeting Model

The Project is prospective for Kupferschiefer style copper-silver mineralisation. Kupferschiefer is a subtype of the sediment-hosted copper deposit model. Mineralisation typically forms around the Kupferschiefer shale, but is known to occur up to 60 m below and 30 m above the shale in Poland (Figure 7). In KGHM’s Rudna Mine in Poland, footwall sandstone hosts 80% of the total resource, hanging wall limestone hosts 15%, and Kupferschiefer shale hosts only 5%. Modern insights from mining the Kupferschiefer in Poland will be applied to our exploration strategy in Germany.

A diagram of copper mines Description automatically generated

Figure 7: Comparison of current-day Kupferschiefer mining in Poland with historical mining in Germany.

Note: Modified from Zientek et al., 2015.

 

Historical mining and exploration in Germany mainly focussed on the Kupferschiefer shale unit (Figure 6 & 7). The Company’s exploration hypothesis is that as in Poland, significant footwall and hanging wall accumulations of Kupferschiefer copper are potentially present at the Project.

The historical thinking about Kupferschiefer deposits in Germany was that mineralisation was syngenetic with the sediments. Meaning that the copper was deposited at the same time as the shale. Accordingly, historical mining and exploration was highly focussed on the shale. Modern mining and research challenges the historical deposit model. In Poland, copper is being mined up to 60 m below and 30 m above the Kupferschiefer shale.

The modern understanding of Kupferschiefer mineralisation recognises epigenetic deposition. This means that the copper mineralisation came after the sediments were deposited (Figure 8). Modern Kupferschiefer mining recognises the importance of structures, metal zonation patterns, and footwall and hanging wall host rocks.

A diagram of a soil layer Description automatically generated

Figure 8: Deposit model of Kupferschiefer mineralisation and alteration. Note: Compared to pre-industrial times, copper mineralisation is now known to extend from the hanging wall limestone, through the Kupferschiefer shale, and well into the footwall sandstone. Source: Zientek et al., 2015.

Regional Geological Setting

The Project is hosted in the Southern Permian Basin (“SPB”) of Europe. The SPB is an intracontinental basin that developed on the northern foreland of the Variscan Orogen. Two Groups make up the SPB, the Rotliegend and the Zechstein (Figure 9). The Lower Rotliegend Group marks the boundary between the Permian and Carboniferous and is comprised of bi-modal volcanics with interbedded sedimentary rocks. After a 20- to 30-million-year-long- hiatus, the Upper Rotliegend Group was deposited towards the end of the Permian. The Upper Rotliegend Group strata transitions from terrestrial to a shallow marine environment.

The Zechstein Group formed in the late Permian when the Barents Sea flooded the continental SPB. The organic-rich reduced Kupferschiefer shale marks the base of the Zechstein Group. “Kupferschiefer” is German for “Copper Shale” and is also called “T1” by geologists. The shale is typically 30-60 cm thick but can also be missing from the stratigraphy.

Very high-grade copper mineralisation is generally associated with the Kupferschiefer shale unit. However, minable copper mineralisation also occurs in the footwall sandstone and hanging wall limestone units in Poland. Mineralisation can also be offset from the shale by up to 30 m above and 60 m below. Pre-industrial mining in Germany focussed on the high-grade but thin shale. Modern mining in Poland extracts copper from the footwall sandstone, shale, and hanging wall limestone. Mining intervals at the Rudna mine is 3 m on average but reach over 12 m in places.

A diagram of a geological structure Description automatically generated

Figure 9: Generalised Kupferschiefer stratigraphic sequence from Germany and Poland. Mineralisation can extend below and above the T1 shale. Source: Borg, 2017.

 

In Poland, copper deposits are hosted in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, a sub-basin of the SPB. KGHM’s current mining operations take place over multiple adjacent deposits at depths ranging from 844 m to 1,385 m below ground. In 2023, KGHM’s Polish operations produced 592 kt of electrolytic copper and 1,403 t of silver (45.8 Moz).

Upcoming Work Programs

Future work programs at the Project will aid drill targeting. Initially, an in-country search for additional historical drilling and mining records will be undertaken. Geophysical methods such as seismic and magnetic surveys will be evaluated for their effectiveness in delineating subsurface structures at the high-priority Richelsdorf Dome target. Historical drill assays will be used to identify metal zonation patterns useful for exploration targeting. The area of primary interest covers 14 km-long stretch of the Richelsdorf Dome where Kupferschiefer strata outcrop at surface in the centre and extend down to approximately 500 m at the periphery.

A European based technical team will be assembled to manage exploration activities at the Project.

Risk Factors

Whilst GreenX has undertaken a due diligence process (including title and other risks) with respect to the Project, it should be noted that the usual risks associated with companies undertaking exploration and development activities of projects in Germany will remain at completion of the acquisition.

A number of additional risk factors specific to the Project and associated activities have also been identified, including, but not limited to:

(a)        The Project is located in Germany, and as such, the operations of the Company will be exposed to related risks and uncertainties associated with the country, regional and local jurisdictions. Opposition to the Project, or changes in local community support for the Project, along with any changes in mining or investment policies or in political attitude in Germany and, in particular to the mining, processing or use of copper, may adversely affect the operations, delay or impact the approval process or conditions imposed, increase exploration and development costs, or reduce profitability of the Company.

(b)        The Company’s exploration and any future mining activities are dependent upon the grant, maintenance and/or renewal from time to time of the appropriate title interests, licences, concessions, leases, claims, permits and regulatory consents which may be withdrawn or made subject to new limitations. Maintaining title interests or obtaining renewals of or getting the grant of title interests often depends on the Company being successful in obtaining and maintaining required statutory approvals for its proposed activities (including a licence for mining operations) and that the title interests, licences, concessions leases, claims, permits or regulatory consents it holds will be maintained and when required renewed.

There is no assurance that such title interests, licences, concessions, leases, claims, permits or regulatory consents will be granted, or even if granted, not be revoked, significantly altered or granted on terms or with conditions not acceptable to the Company, or not renewed to the detriment of the Company or that the renewals thereof will be successful.

Shareholders should note that some of the risks may be mitigated by the use of appropriate safeguards and systems, whilst others are outside the control of the Company and cannot be mitigated. Should any of the risks eventuate, then it may have a material adverse impact on the financial performance of the Project, the Company and the value of the Company’s securities.

TENEMENT INFORMATION

Table 2: Tenement information.

Licence Name

Commodities

Area (km2)

Issue Date

Expiry Date

Tannenberg

 

1copper, silver

2antimony, arsenic, lead, gallium, germanium, gold, indium, cadmium, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium, selenium, thallium, vanadium, bismuth, and zinc

271.92

07.06.2022

07.06.2025

Notes

1 Target commodities

2 Commodities included in the licence

 

ISSUE OF SHARES

GreenX Metals Limited has today issued 600,000 Shares in relation to the Agreement.

An application will be made for admission of the Shares to the standard listing segment of the Official List of the FCA (Official List) and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange for listed securities (LSE Admission). LSE Admission is expected to take place on or before 9 August 2024.

 

For the purposes of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTRs), following LSE Admission, the Company’s issued ordinary share capital will be 279,501,032 ordinary shares. The above figure of 279,501,032 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they can determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company following LSE Admission

 

Following the issue of Shares, GreenX has the following securities on issue:

·      279,501,032 ordinary fully paid shares;

·      4,775,000 unlisted options exercisable at A$0.45 each on or before 30 November 2025;

·      5,525,000 unlisted options exercisable at A$0.55 each on or before 30 November 2026; and

·      11,000,000 performance rights that have an expiry date 8 October 2026.

 

-ENDS-

Competent Persons Statement

Information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr Thomas Woolrych, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Woolrych is a Director Group 11 Exploration GmbH and will hold an indirect interest in GreenX shares and deferred consideration for the Project. Mr Woolrych has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Mr Woolrych consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “projects”, “plans”, and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on GreenX’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of GreenX, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. GreenX makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.

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 (‘MAR’). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service (‘RIS’), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain

1 Production numbers sourced from Zientek et al., 2015, Table 4.

Appendix 1: Exploration Results and JORC Tables

Table 1: Historical drill hole information

Hole ID

Easting

Northing

Elevation

(m MSL)

Dip (°)

Depth (m)

Assay available

Bebra-1

4346428

5649690

n/a

90

n/a

No

C/77-B10

4353728

5660165

235

90

68.2

No

Cornberg

4349990

5658105

302

90

151.6

No

Iba-1

4349160

5650548

n/a

90

n/a

No

Iba-3

4349120

5649684

n/a

90

n/a

No

Iba-4

4348366

5649523

n/a

90

n/a

No

KB1

4356129

5659867

288.83

90

15

No

Nesselroeden-1

4368324

5655767

252

90

193.7

No

Obergude

4339370

5662062

308.88

90

200.2

Yes

Ro1

4349714

5649065

n/a

90

n/a

No

Ro3

4348224

5648740

n/a

90

n/a

No

Ro6

4348997

5648337

n/a

90

n/a

No

Ro8

4348234

5648558

n/a

90

n/a

No

Ro10

4347033

5647996

n/a

90

n/a

No

Ro15

4348595

5647200

255

90

351

Yes

Ro18

4348389

5647549

235

90

227

Yes

Ro19

4349107

5647350

280

90

360.5

Yes

Ro21

4348105

5647941

203

90

211

Yes

Ro23

4347684

5647433

300

90

380

Yes

Ro26

4347272

5647775

270

90

400

Yes

Ro27

4346047

5649652

215

90

432

Yes

Ro30

4347604

5647936

240

90

292.3

Yes

Ro31

4346844

5651396

217

90

159.2

Yes

Ro33

4347521

5648340

205

90

251.9

Yes

Ro34

4347363

5651850

220

90

244.75

Yes

Ro36

4347359

5650524

310

90

320.45

Yes

Ro39

4358152

5656842

200

90

197.2

Yes

Ro41

4346982

5647411

250

90

426.2

Yes

Ro42

4348170

5647070

249

90

307

Yes

Ro45

4356946

5656716

407

90

289

Yes

Ro46

4358278

5658088

200

90

228

No

Note: Coordinates are DHDN / 3-degree Gauss-Kruger zone 4.

Table 2: Historical drill hole assays

Hole

ID

Intersect (m)

Cu

(%)

Ag

(ppm)

From

To

Interval

Ro15

285.857

286.018

0.161

0.532

10

Ro15

286.018

286.068

0.05

0.846

15

Ro15

286.068

286.243

0.175

0.72

13

Ro15

286.243

286.288

0.045

0.919

16

Ro15

286.288

286.388

0.1

0.638

12

Ro15

286.388

286.438

0.05

0.681

13

Ro15

286.438

286.532

0.094

0.59

12

Ro15

286.532

286.619

0.087

0.562

11

Ro15

286.619

286.695

0.076

0.64

12

Ro15

286.695

286.812

0.117

0.707

13

Ro15

286.812

286.942

0.13

0.811

13

Ro15

286.942

287.043

0.101

0.737

11

Ro15

287.043

287.17

0.127

1.6

21

Ro15

287.17

287.272

0.102

1.437

19

Ro15

287.272

287.372

0.1

0.835

13

Ro15

287.372

287.463

0.091

0.499

11

Ro15

288.021

288.093

0.072

0.313

4

Ro15

288.151

288.206

0.055

0.441

5

Ro15

288.206

288.261

0.055

0.651

5

Ro15

288.261

288.281

0.02

0.506

5

Ro15

288.281

288.323

0.042

0.642

6

Ro15

288.323

288.388

0.065

1.573

12

Ro15

288.388

288.472

0.084

4.708

28

Ro15

288.472

288.51

0.038

3.837

24

Ro15

288.559

288.588

0.029

8.823

57

Ro15

288.588

288.623

0.035

4.774

30

Ro15

288.623

288.651

0.028

4.382

32

Ro15

288.651

288.721

0.07

3.554

98

Ro15

288.721

288.763

0.042

3.511

32

Ro15

288.763

288.793

0.03

2.814

28

Ro15

288.793

288.823

0.03

1.573

11

Ro15

288.823

288.865

0.042

2.313

17

Ro15

288.865

288.883

0.018

0.567

7

Ro15

288.883

288.901

0.018

0.469

7

Ro15

288.901

288.972

0.071

0.645

10

Ro15

288.972

289.004

0.032

0.617

8

Ro15

289.004

289.057

0.053

0.641

9

Ro15

289.057

289.117

0.06

0.523

9

Ro15

289.117

289.129

0.012

0.349

0

Ro15

289.151

289.159

0.008

1.033

18

Ro15

289.159

289.169

0.01

0.641

14

Ro15

289.169

289.179

0.01

0.477

15

Ro15

289.179

289.235

0.056

0.817

10

Ro15

289.235

289.257

0.022

0.312

4

Ro15

289.257

289.312

0.055

0.321

4

Ro18

209.5

210

0.5

0.9

20

Ro18

210

210.25

0.25

7.2

70

Ro18

210.25

210.53

0.28

8.6

50

Ro18

210.53

210.76

0.23

3.3

35

Ro18

210.76

211

0.24

0.3

-2

Ro19

339.5

339.71

0.21

7.6

80

Ro19

339.71

340

0.29

2.5

30

Ro19

340

340.5

0.5

1.5

15

Ro19

340.5

341

0.5

1

10

Ro19

341

341.5

0.5

1.3

10

Ro19

341.5

342

0.5

0.43

10

Ro21

199

199.18

0.18

0.94

10

Ro21

199.18

199.4

0.22

0.49

6

Ro23

365.48

366

0.52

2

21

Ro23

366

366.45

0.45

0.88

17

Ro23

366.45

367

0.55

3.2

78

Ro23

367

367.49

0.49

5

80

Ro23

367.49

367.58

0.09

0.97

12

Ro26

388.3

388.48

0.18

2.1

Ro26

388.48

388.72

0.24

0.88

Ro26

388.72

389

0.28

0.74

Ro33

242.5

243.1

0.6

1.2

35

Ro33

243.1

243.5

0.4

0.31

10

Ro34

196.75

197

0.25

0.45

10

Ro41

414.35

414.85

0.5

0.45

10

Ro45

268

268.5

0.5

0.35

2

Ro45

268.5

269

0.5

2.3

25

Ro45

269

269.28

0.28

4.8

75

Ro45

269.28

269.63

0.35

0.59

3

Ro45

269.63

270

0.37

1

5

Note: Only assay results equal to or greater than 0.3% copper are reported.

 

JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1 Report

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria

JORC Code explanation

Commentary

Sampling techniques

Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Due to the historic nature of the drilling results reported herein, it is not possible to comment on the quality of the sampling used to produce the results described. It is known from historic reports that the drill core was sawn. Sampling of ¼ core was conducted during multiple exploration phases between 1980 and 1987 within the licence area by St Joes Exploration GmbH (“St Joes Exploration”). The information shown here was collated from scans of hard copy reports from that era and a State Survey Database. Assays, geological logging and gamma ray logs were conducted by St Joes Exploration.

 

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

No QAQC was reported.

 

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg ‘reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.

Work was not conducted to modern industry standards.

Drilling techniques

Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).

St Joes Exploration

·          10 cm drill cores were collected, further specifications are not known.

State Survey Database

·          Unknown drilling techniques.

Drill sample recovery

Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

 

Due to the historic nature of the drilling results reported herein, it is not possible to comment on the recoveries achieved at the time.

 

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Not reported.

 

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material.

Not reported.

Logging

Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Information available is not appropriate for a Mineral Resource estimate.

 

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.

Available logs are qualitative only.

 

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.

The entire hole was logged, the target zone is typically 2 m thick.

Sub-sampling techniques

If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

A reference to ¼ core is reported by St Joes Exploration however this is not specific to every hole/phase.

and sample preparation

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

N/A

 

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

N/A

 

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

N/A

 

 

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

N/A

 

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.

N/A

Quality of assay data and laboratory tests

The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

A St Joes Exploration reference reports that geochemical analysis was carried out by Robertson Research Ltd, Wales, however it is not specified if this was for each hole/phase.

 

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

N/A

 

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established.

N/A

Verification of sampling and assaying

The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

 

No verification carried out.

 

The use of twinned holes.

No twinned holes.

 

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Limited data is available via hard copy reports. Data was digitised by Group 11 Exploration and merged with State/Federal databases.

 

Discuss any adjustment to assay data.

N/A

Location of data points

Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Location accuracy is unknown. The location of holes drilled by St Joes Exploration comes from collar tables in historical reports.  All other collar locations come from State/Federal databases.

 

Specification of the grid system used.

Latitude and Longitude in degree, minutes and seconds were provided by St Joes Exploration. All drill collar coordinates are reported here in the DHDN / 3-degree Gauss-Kruger zone 4 grid system.

 

Quality and adequacy of topographic control.

N/A

Data spacing and distribution

Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Drillholes within the Ronshausen mineralised area are spaced between 400 – 700m. Outside of this area the drilling is sparce.

 

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Not sufficient for the establishment of a JORC compliant resource.

 

Whether sample compositing has been applied.

N/A

Orientation of data in relation to geological structure

Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

The target Kupferschiefer layer is flat to slightly dipping, vertical drilling therefore intercepts at right angles and is appropriate.

 

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.

No sampling bias.

Sample security

The measures taken to ensure sample security.

N/A

Audits or reviews

The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.

N/A

 

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria

JORC Code explanation

Commentary

Mineral tenement and land tenure status

Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The “Tannenberg” exploration licence is held 100% by Group 11 Exploration GmbH. The licence was granted on the 7th of June 2022 and is valid for 3 years. The licence is free from overriding royalties and native titles interests. There are historical mine workings within the licence area, but no known historical sites of cultural significance outside of mining.

Within and surrounding the licence area, there are environmental protections zones with differing levels of protections. There are small areas identified as Natura 2000 Fauna Flora Habitat Areas and Bird Sanctuaries. Other environmental protection designated areas include Nature Reserves, National Natural Monuments, Landscape Protection Area, and Natural Parks. Based on due diligence and discussions with various stakeholders and consultants, the presence of environmental protection areas does not preclude exploration or eventual mining if conducted in accordance with applicable standards and regulations.

The landform across the license area comprises mostly of farmland, forested areas, and small towns and villages.

 

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.

The licence is in good standing.

Exploration done by other parties

Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.

Exploration was carried out by St Joes Exploration (in JV with the Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd later BHP-Utah) between 1980 and 1987. Two projects were undertaken. The Richelsdorf project within the licence area as well as the Spessart-Rhoen project 85 km to the south. Hole IDs starting with ‘Ro’ were drilled by St Joes Exploration.

All other drill holes come from State Survey databases with unknown history.

Historical mining took place within the licence area. Mining activities ceased in the 1950’s. Comprehensive records of all mine workings are not available to the Company (and may not exist).

Geology

Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation.

Mineralisation is of the classic Kupferschiefer type (copper slate) within the Permian Zechstein Basin of Germany and Poland.

The Zechstein Basin is hosted within the Southern Permian Basin (“SPB”) of Europe. The SPB is an intracontinental basin that developed on the northern foreland of the Variscan Orogen.

Very high-grade copper mineralisation is generally associated with the Kupferschiefer shale unit. However, minable copper mineralisation also occurs in the footwall sandstone and hanging wall limestone units in Poland. Mineralisation can be offset from the shale by up to 30 m above and 60 m below.

Drill hole Information

A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes:

easting and northing of the drill hole collar

elevation or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar

dip and azimuth of the hole

down hole length and interception depth

hole length.

Appendix 1 contains all relevant drillhole information.

 

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case.

All available drill collars are provided. The availability of historical assay results are listed in Appendix 1 Table 1.  Assay results less than 0.3% Cu are not reported.

Data aggregation methods

In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

N/A

 

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

N/A

 

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated.

N/A

Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths

These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

Drilling is perpendicular to mineralisation. Detailed sampling was done to lithological contacts on a range of scales from 1-50cm.

 

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg ‘down hole length, true width not known’).

Intercepts are true width.

Diagrams

Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.

Appropriate diagrams, including a maps, cross sections, and tables are included in the main body of this announcement.

Balanced reporting

Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results.

All available results are reported. Only assays above or equal to 0.4% Cu are reported for practical reasons.

Other substantive exploration data

Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples – size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.

All substantive results are reported. Geological logs and downhole gamma logs are not reported here.

Further work

The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Infill and step out drilling required to assess the full potential of mineralisation near Ronshausen is planned. The search for additional archive material and historical records will continue. Desktop analysis and drill targeting will be conducted in consultation with subject-matter experts. Geophysical methods (such as seismic, magnetic, electrical, and gravity) will be evaluated and used if deemed appropriate for the project.

 

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.

These diagrams are included in the main body of this release.

 

#SVML Sovereign Metals LTD – Trading on OTCQX Market

·    Sovereign upgrades to the OTCQX Market, the top tier of the OTC Markets, providing access to a broader eligible U.S. investor base

·   OTCQX quotation follows increased U.S. investor and strategic interest in Sovereign and its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi

·    Kasiya has the potential to be the world’s largest, lowest-cost producer of rutile, which is the purest form of titanium feedstock, and a long-term secure source of graphite supply outside of China

·   U.S. Department of Energy has designated both titanium and graphite as critical minerals due to national security concerns. China currently dominates global supply of both minerals

·                      

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX: SVM; AIM: SVML; OTCQX: SVMLF) (Sovereign or the Company) is pleased to announce that its shares have commenced trading on the OTCQX® Best Market (OTCQX) under the ticker symbol SVMLF.

 

The OTCQX is the highest market tier of OTC Markets on which over 12,000 U.S. and global securities trade. Sovereign previously traded on the OTC Pink Market and has been upgraded to the OTCQX as it meets high financial standards, follows best-practice corporate governance and has demonstrated compliance with applicable securities laws. Trading on OTCQX began on 5 July 2024 and will enhance the visibility and accessibility of Sovereign to U.S. investors.

 

Sovereign is focused on becoming a market leader in supplying two critical minerals to global markets: titanium, in the form of rutile, and graphite. China currently dominates the supply of both critical minerals.

 

Rutile is the purest, highest-grade natural form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is the preferred feedstock in manufacturing titanium pigment and producing titanium metal. Titanium is essential for various industries, including aerospace, defence, pigments, medical and consumer technologies. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, China and Russia control ~70% of the global primary titanium supply chain. Currently, the U.S. relies entirely on foreign sources for titanium sponge, yet based on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, titanium supports 15 out of 16 critical infrastructure sectors deemed essential by the federal government.

 

Graphite is vital for the energy transition as the largest component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and other energy storage solutions. Graphite anode material can be up to 50% of the mass of a typical lithium-ion battery. According to S&P Global, in 2023, 77% of the world’s graphite production came from China, with the U.S. importing 42% of its graphite supply from China. In December 2023, China imposed several restrictions on the export of Graphite concentrate. In May 2024, the US government imposed a 25% tariff on all natural graphite imported from China from 2026 onwards.

 

Sovereign’s 100% owned Tier-One Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project (Kasiya), located in the southeast African country of Malawi, is both the world’s largest known rutile deposit and second-largest flake graphite deposit. Kasiya can become a long-term secure source of natural graphite supply outside of China.

 

Through numerous technical studies, Sovereign has already confirmed that the Kasiya project could be the world’s largest and lowest-cost producer of rutile and graphite and is currently undertaking an optimisation study. Sovereign’s strategic investor and one of the world’s largest and most accomplished global mining companies, Rio Tinto continues to provide assistance and advice on technical and marketing aspects of Kasiya. With sustainability a core pillar of Sovereign’s strategy, Kasiya would also have the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any high-grade titanium feedstock or graphite producer.

 

NOTICE OF CHANGE OF INTERESTS OF SUBSTANTIAL HOLDER

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX: SVM, AIM: SVML) (Sovereign or the Company) advises that it was notified today via the filing of a Form 604 with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) that Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited (Rio Tinto) provided a notice of change of interests of substantial holder (as defined by the Corporations Act 2001) of the Company as of 4 July 2024, having increased its shareholding in the Company from 83,095,592 ordinary shares, representing 15% of the Company’s issued share capital as at the date of its previous notice, to 118,085,108 ordinary shares, representing 19.76% of the Company’s issued share capital, following the issue of 439,918 shares as approved by Sovereign shareholders on 23 August 2023 and the issue of 34,549,598 shares pursuant to the exercise of options on 4 July 2024.

The Form 604 can be viewed in full via the below link:

https://www.investi.com.au/api/announcements/svm/511e90f4-659.pdf

 

ENQUIRIES

 

Dylan Browne
Company Secretary

+61(8) 9322 6322

 

Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

+44 20 3470 0470

Ewan Leggat

Charlie Bouverat

 

 

Joint Brokers

 

Stifel

+44 20 7710 7600

Varun Talwar

 

Ashton Clanfield

 

 

 

Berenberg

+44 20 3207 7800

Matthew Armitt

 

Jennifer Lee

 

 

 

Buchanan

+ 44 20 7466 5000

 

Frank Eagar (South Africa/Malawi)
Managing Director

+27 21 065 1890

Sam Cordin (Perth)
Business Development

+61(8) 9322 6322

Sapan Ghai (London)
CCO

+44 207 478 3900

 

 

Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

+44 20 3470 0470

Ewan Leggat

Charlie Bouverat

 

 

Joint Brokers

 

Stifel

+44 20 7710 7600

Varun Talwar

 

Ashton Clanfield

 

 

 

Berenberg

+44 20 3207 7800

Matthew Armitt

 

Jennifer Lee

 

 

 

Buchanan

+ 44 20 7466 5000

 

Forward Looking Statement

This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “projects”, “plans”, and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on Sovereign’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Sovereign, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Sovereign makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.

 

#SVML Sovereign Metals LTD – Capabilities Strengthened with Key Appointments

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML) (the Company or Sovereign) is pleased to announce three senior appointments and promotions across key legal, permitting, and technical functions in Malawi. The appointments have strengthened the Company’s in-country capabilities as it continues to advance its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project (Kasiya).

Mr Maxwell Kazako has been appointed Acting In-Country Manager following the promotion of Frank Eagar to Managing Director. Mr Kazako has a strong background in human resources management, general administration and government relations. He brings over 18 years of experience to the role, having worked across Malawian commerce and industry, including for First Merchant Bank and Malawian Airlines.

Ms Natasha Namisengo has been appointed General Legal Counsel. Ms Namisengo is a qualified lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Malawi. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Ms Namisengo has prior experience acting as legal counsel and in company secretary roles in Malawi.

Mr Pilirani Bangula has been appointed Legal Counsel – Compliance. Mr Bangula is a qualified lawyer with 12 years of experience as a legal practitioner, including five years specifically as in-house legal counsel. Mr Bangula has wide-ranging experience in compliance, project oversight and risk management, contract negotiation, and policy drafting.

A group of people standing together Description automatically generated

Figure 1: (left to right) Mr Maxwell Kazako, Acting In-Country Manager, Ms Natasha Namisengo, General Legal Counsel and Mr Pilirani Bangula, Legal Counsel – Compliance

The Company has also promoted Ms Tupoche Kayange to Laboratory Manager in line with its employee training and development program. Ms Kayange has been instrumental in developing and managing the Company’s laboratory facility in Lilongwe, Malawi. Recently, Ms Kayange led the facility’s expansion and commissioning of new equipment to support bulk sample programs that are currently underway.

A person in a white coat Description automatically generated

Figure 2: Ms Tupoche Kayange, Laboratory Manager at the Company’s facility in Lilongwe, Malawi

Sovereign understands Kasiya’s significant potential to deliver material and long-lasting social and economic benefits for Malawi, including fiscal returns, job creation, skills transfer, and sustainable community development initiatives. Sovereign also recognises the importance of training programs to enhance the capabilities of its employees. The Company has structured training and skills transfer programs, covering on-the-job training for full-time employees and programs for local graduates and interns.

These appointments and promotions align with the Company’s initial targets, ensuring equal opportunity and fairness in employing a diverse workforce and Malawian nationals where possible. Sovereign employs over 80 individuals in Malawi, with at least 30% of the staff being women.

 

ENQUIRIES

Frank Eagar (South Africa/Malawi)
Managing Director

+61(8) 9322 6322

Sam Cordin (Perth)
+61(8) 9322 6322

Sapan Ghai (London)
+44 207 478 3900

 

 

Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

+44 20 3470 0470

Ewan Leggat

Charlie Bouverat

Harry Davies-Ball

 

 

Joint Brokers

 

Berenberg

+44 20 3207 7800

Matthew Armitt

 

Jennifer Lee

 

 

 

Buchanan

+ 44 20 7466 5000

 

Forward Looking Statement

This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “projects”, “plans”, and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on Sovereign’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Sovereign, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Sovereign makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.

#FCM First Class Metals Plc – SPODUMENE IN ALL NINE ZIGZAG DRILL INTERSECTIONS

First Class Metals PLC (“First Class Metals” “FCM” or the “Company”) the UK listed metals exploration company seeking economic metal discoveries across its extensive Canadian Schreiber-Hemlo, Sunbeam and Zigzag land holdings is pleased to announce that spodumene-bearing pegmatites have been intersected in every targeted hole drilled at First Class Metals’ Zigzag lithium Property. The identified mineralization remains open along strike and down dip.

HIGHLIGHTS

·      Spodumene (a high-grade lithium mineral – Li[AlSi 2O6].) bearing pegmatite intersected in all nine targeted holes drilled.

·      Over 50m of pegmatite intersections recorded (see figure 1 for area of drilling)

·      Multiple mineralised pegmatite zones were intersected in holes targeting 400m of the known 800m strike.

·      Pegmatite thickness exceeded 5m thick, down hole, and the potentially multiphase mineralised system remains open along strike and down dip / plunge.

·      All holes are being systematically logged and marked up for sampling before cutting / sample collection.

First Class is pleased to announce the completion of the final hole of its inaugural drill programme at the Company’s Zigzag Property (the “Property”), located in the Seymour-Falcon corridor in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The drill programme included 9 holes targeting the pegmatite bearing zone and one hole (the tenth, final hole) being a scissor to ZIG-23-06, to confirm the interpreted dip of the structure. The 10-hole, 450-metre drill programme was completed successfully on the 16th December within budget and time schedules

 

Photo 1 Drill rig completing FCM-23-09, step back to FCM-23-05

The drilling targeted the 400m central section of the property which had been subject to a non-mechanised stripping and channel sampling programme reporting up to 2.36% lithium (Li2O) over 5.5m (See RNS 28th November), see figure 1. Historic drill holes also reported an intersection grading 1.08% Li2O over 6.1m from 12.45m and a separate intersection of 399.8ppm Ta2O 5over 2.92m from 15.50m.

 

Figure 1Drilling covered the area of channel sampling and ‘grabs’ on roughly 50 m centres (note historic grid lines are on 200ft (60m) centres).

Visual observations undertaken whilst logging the core have recorded spodumene-bearing pegmatite in all holes which targeted the pegmatite, (see Photo 2-drill hole FCM-23-01) The core is now being logged in detail then it will be ‘marked-up’ for cutting (sampling), it is anticipated that circa 100 samples will be sent for analyses in Thunder Bay. Results from the initial batch are expected in early Q1 2024.

 

A group of rectangular objects in a wooden box Description automatically generated

Photo  2-Shallow intersection of pegmatite hosting spodumene (pale green ‘blades’ in hole ZIG-23-01).

Marc J Sale Chief Executive Officer Commented-

“The completion of the drilling at Zigzag has consolidated the undertaking to shareholders / investors that FCM would bring 4 properties to ‘drill ready status’ and drill one this season. I am extremely pleased with the (visual) indications of the drill core and the robust intersections that I have seen so far. I look forward with positive anticipation to the first results. We are already planning the next stages of exploration.”

For further information, please contact:

 

James Knowles, Executive Chairman

JamesK@Firstclassmetalsplc.com

07488 362641

Marc J Sale, CEO

MarcS@Firstclassmetalsplc.com

07711 093532

 

First Equity Limited

(Financial Adviser & Broker)

 

Jonathan Brown

0207 3742212

Jason Robertson

0207 3742212

#SVML Sovereign Metals LTD – Result of AGM

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sovereign Metals Limited (Company) (ASX:SVM, AIM:SVML) was held today, 24 November 2023, at 10.00am (AWST).

The resolutions voted on were in accordance with the Notice of AGM previously advised to shareholders. All resolutions were decided on and carried by way of poll.

In accordance with Section 251AA of the Corporations Act 2001 and ASX Listing Rule 3.13.2, the details of the poll and proxies received in respect of each resolution are set out in the below summary.

ENQUIRIES

Dylan Browne

Company Secretary
+61(8) 9322 6322

info@sovereignmetals.com

 

Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

+44 20 3470 0470

Ewan Leggat

Charlie Bouverat

Harry Davies-Ball

 

 

Joint Brokers

 

Berenberg

+44 20 3207 7800

Matthew Armitt

 

Jennifer Lee

 

 

 

Tavistock PR

+44 20 7920 3150

 

Resolution

Number of Proxy Votes

Number and Percentage of Votes cast on the Poll

Voting Method and Result

For

Against

Abstain

Proxy’s Discretion

For

Against

Abstain

1.    Remuneration Report

5,664,686

22,000

19,101,151

2,471,598

9,795,986
(99.8%)

22,000
(0.2%)

19,101,151

Carried on vote by poll

2.    Re-election of Director – Mr Ian Middlemas

23,241,037

1,546,800

2,471,598

27,372,337
(95%)

1,546,800
(5%)

Carried on vote by poll

3.    Re-election of Director – Dr Julian Stephens

23,241,037

1,546,800

2,471,598

27,372,337
(95%)

1,546,800
(5%)

Carried on vote by poll

4.    Renewal of Employee Incentive Equity Plan

19,359,686

10,000

5,418,151

2,471,598

23,490,986
(99.9%)

10,000
(0.1%)

5,418,151

Carried on vote by poll

5.    Issue of Performance Rights to a Director – Mr Benjamin Stoikovich

4,116,886

1,569,800

19,101,151

2,471,598

8,248,186
(84%)

1,569,800
(16%)

19,101,151

Carried on vote by poll

6.    Issue of Performance Rights to a Director – Mr Mark Pearce

4,116,886

1,569,800

19,101,151

2,471,598

8,248,186
(84%)

1,569,800
(16%)

19,101,151

Carried on vote by poll

7.    Issue of Performance Rights to a Director – Mr Nigel Jones

4,116,886

1,569,800

19,101,151

2,471,598

8,248,186
(84%)

1,569,800
(16%)

19,101,151

Carried on vote by poll

8.    Approval of Additional 10% Placement Capacity

24,715,837

72,000

2,471,598

28,847,137
(99.8%)

72,000
(0.2%)

Carried on vote by poll

 

Issue of Performance Rights

Following the shareholder approval of resolutions 5 to 7 today, the Company has issued 1,750,000 unlisted performance rights to Directors as disclosed in the Notice of AGM as follows:

·      700,000 performance rights subject to the “Grant of Mining Licence Milestone” that have no exercise price and expire 31 March 2026; and

·      1,050,000 performance rights subject to the “Final Investment Decision Milestone” that have no exercise price and expire 30 June 2026.

Following the issue of these performance rights, the Company has the following securities on issue:

·      563,003,401 fully paid ordinary shares;

·      34,549,598 unlisted options exercisable at A$0.535 each on or before 21 July 2024;

·      9,110,000 unlisted performance rights subject to the “Definitive Feasibility Study Milestone” expiring on or before 31 October 2025;

·      3,150,000 unlisted performance rights subject to the “Grant of Mining Licence Milestone” that have no exercise price and expire 31 March 2026; and

·      4,150,000 unlisted performance rights subject to the “Final Investment Decision Milestone” that have no exercise price and expire 30 June 2026.

Change of Directors’ Interest Notices are provided below.

Appendix 3Y

 

Change of Director’s Interest Notice

 

Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available.  Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.

Introduced 30/09/01  Amended 01/01/11

 

Name of entity                  SOVEREIGN METALS LIMITED

ABN                                    71 120 833 427

A)              

We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act. 

 

Name of Director

Benjamin Stoikovich

Date of last notice

29 September 2023

 

Part 1 – Change of director’s relevant interests in securities

In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust

 

Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (i) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

 

Direct or indirect interest

Direct and Indirect

 

Nature of indirect interest

(including registered holder)

Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.

 

Selwyn Capital Limited (beneficial interest)

 

Date of change

24 November 2023

No. of securities held prior to change

(a)   4,190,000

(b)   600,000

(c)   –

(d)   –

Class

(a)   Ordinary Fully Paid Shares

(b)   Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the “Definitive Feasibility Study Milestone” expiring 31 October 2025

(c)   Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the Grant of Mining Licence Milestone” expiring 31 March 2026

(d)   Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the “Final Investment Decision Milestone” expiring 30 June 2026

Number acquired

(c)   350,000

(d)   500,000

Number disposed

Not applicable

Value/Consideration

Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation

 

Not applicable – see nature of change below

No. of securities held after change

(a)   4,190,000

(b)   600,000

(c)   350,000

(d)   500,000

Nature of change

Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back

Issue of Performance Rights following shareholder approval

 

Part 2 – Change of director’s interests in contracts

 

Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (ii) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

 

Detail of contract

Not applicable

Nature of interest

 

Not applicable

Name of registered holder

(if issued securities)

 

Not applicable

Date of change

Not applicable

No. and class of securities to which interest related prior to change

Note: Details are only required for a contract in relation to which the interest has changed

 

Not applicable

Interest acquired

Not applicable

Interest disposed

Not applicable

Value/Consideration

Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and an estimated valuation

 

Not applicable

Interest after change

Not applicable

 

Part 3 – +Closed period

 

Were the interests in the securities or contracts detailed above traded during a +closed period where prior written clearance was required?

No

If so, was prior written clearance provided to allow the trade to proceed during this period?

Not applicable

If prior written clearance was provided, on what date was this provided?

Not applicable

 

Initial notification/Amendment

Initial

LEI

213800NSPXSASTENFQ34

Place of transaction

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)

 

Appendix 3Y

 

Change of Director’s Interest Notice

 

Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available.  Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.

Introduced 30/09/01  Amended 01/01/11

 

Name of entity                  SOVEREIGN METALS LIMITED

ABN                                    71 120 833 427

B)              

We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act. 

 

Name of Director

Mark Pearce

Date of last notice

29 September 2023

 

Part 1 – Change of director’s relevant interests in securities

In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust

 

Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (i) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

 

Direct or indirect interest

Direct and Indirect

 

Nature of indirect interest

(including registered holder)

Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.

 

·  Mr Mark Pearce and Mrs Natasha Pearce <NMLP Family A/C> (trustee and beneficial interest)

·  Apollo Group Pty Ltd (director and indirect shareholder)

·  Crystal Brook Investments Pty Ltd (director and beneficial interest)

 

Date of change

24 November 2023

No. of securities held prior to change

(a)     4,520,842

(b)     300,000

(c)     –

(d)     –

Class

(a)     Ordinary Fully Paid Shares

(b)     Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the “Definitive Feasibility Study Milestone” expiring 31 October 2025         

(c)     Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the Grant of Mining Licence Milestone” expiring 31 March 2026

(d)    Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the “Final Investment Decision Milestone” expiring 30 June 2026            

Number acquired

(c)     250,000

(d)     400,000

 

Number disposed

Not applicable

 

Value/Consideration

Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation

 

Not applicable – see nature of change below

 

No. of securities held after change

(a)     4,520,842

(b)     300,000

(c)     250,000

(d)     400,000

Nature of change

Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back

Issue of Performance Rights following shareholder approval

 

Part 2 – Change of director’s interests in contracts

 

Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (ii) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

 

Detail of contract

Not applicable

Nature of interest

Not applicable

Name of registered holder

(if issued securities)

Not applicable

Date of change

Not applicable

No. and class of securities to which interest related prior to change

Note: Details are only required for a contract in relation to which the interest has changed

 

Not applicable

Interest acquired

Not applicable

Interest disposed

Not applicable

Value/Consideration

Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and an estimated valuation

 

Not applicable

Interest after change

Not applicable

 

Part 3 – +Closed period

 

Were the interests in the securities or contracts detailed above traded during a +closed period where prior written clearance was required?

No

If so, was prior written clearance provided to allow the trade to proceed during this period?

Not applicable

If prior written clearance was provided, on what date was this provided?

Not applicable

 

Initial notification/Amendment

Initial

LEI

213800NSPXSASTENFQ34

Place of transaction

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)

 

Appendix 3Y

 

Change of Director’s Interest Notice

 

Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available.  Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.

Introduced 30/09/01  Amended 01/01/11

 

Name of entity                  SOVEREIGN METALS LIMITED

ABN                                    71 120 833 427

C)              

We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.2 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act. 

 

Name of Director

Nigel Jones

Date of last notice

29 September 2023

 

Part 1 – Change of director’s relevant interests in securities

In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust

 

Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (i) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

 

Direct or indirect interest

Indirect

 

Nature of indirect interest

(including registered holder)

Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest.

 

Redbeck Partners Ltd (beneficial interest)

Date of change

24 November 2023

No. of securities held prior to change

(e)   225,000

(f)    300,000

(g)   –

(h)   –

 

Class

(e)   Ordinary Fully Paid Shares

(f)    Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the “Definitive Feasibility Study Milestone” expiring 31 October 2025

(g)   Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the Grant of Mining Licence Milestone” expiring 31 March 2026

(h)   Unlisted Performance Rights subject to the “Final Investment Decision Milestone” expiring 30 June 2026

Number acquired

(c)   100,000

(d)   150,000

Number disposed

Not applicable

Value/Consideration

Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and estimated valuation

 

Not applicable – see nature of change below

No. of securities held after change

(a)  225,000

(b)  300,000

(c)  100,000

(d)  150,000

 

Nature of change

Example: on-market trade, off-market trade, exercise of options, issue of securities under dividend reinvestment plan, participation in buy-back

Issue of Performance Rights following shareholder approval

 

Part 2 – Change of director’s interests in contracts

 

Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (ii) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.

 

Detail of contract

Not applicable

Nature of interest

 

Not applicable

Name of registered holder

(if issued securities)

 

Not applicable

Date of change

Not applicable

No. and class of securities to which interest related prior to change

Note: Details are only required for a contract in relation to which the interest has changed

 

Not applicable

Interest acquired

Not applicable

Interest disposed

Not applicable

Value/Consideration

Note: If consideration is non-cash, provide details and an estimated valuation

 

Not applicable

Interest after change

Not applicable

 

Part 3 – +Closed period

 

Were the interests in the securities or contracts detailed above traded during a +closed period where prior written clearance was required?

No

If so, was prior written clearance provided to allow the trade to proceed during this period?

Not applicable

If prior written clearance was provided, on what date was this provided?

Not applicable

 

Initial notification/Amendment

Initial

LEI

213800NSPXSASTENFQ34

Place of transaction

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)

 

 

#KAV Kavango Resources PLC – KCB – Acquisition of six new PLs completes

Kavango Resources plc (LSE:KAV), the Southern Africa-focused metals exploration company, is pleased to confirm completion of its acquisition of a 90% working interest in six Prospecting Licences (“PLs”) located in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt (“KCB”) (the “Acquisition”)

The Acquisition provides the Company with an extensive single contiguous project area in the KCB covering 7,629km2. Kavango is now one of the KCB’s largest individual mineral rights holders.

Kavango believes its expanded project area is underlain by similar stratigraphy to that along strike of Sandfire Resources’ (ASX:SFR) A4 deposit and Motheo Mine. Analysis of existing exploration data by the Company suggests this could incorporate a regional system that contains domal structures with folded and sheared trap sites. These are key exploration targets in the search for large-scale copper/silver mineralisation.

Kavango plans to commence follow-up work in the KCB later this month, and an update on this programme will follow.

Figure 1: Kavango’s expanded, contiguous KCB land package

Ben Turney, Chief Executive Officer of Kavango Resources, commented:

“These new licences grant us complete control of a contiguous, prospective system in an underexplored section of the KCB, a proven copper/silver region that hosts numerous mines and deposits.

I’d like to thank ENRG Elements for its support during our due diligence process. The mapping, soil geochemistry and drilling data it has provided has been highly valuable.

Kavango has strengthened its geological understanding of its new licences by mapping their lithological sequences and stratigraphy. Meanwhile, the presence of galena and sphalerite – two important pathfinder minerals for copper mineralisation – is also encouraging.

We will now continue to advance our understanding of the new licences’ mineral potential by investigating the potential sub-basin we have identified and interpreting their structure with satellite imagery.

Both of these workflows will help us to develop priority drill targets over the coming months.

Further details

Kavango’s six new PLs cover ground adjacent to its existing Karakubis Block next to the Namibian border. This is currently the priority focus area for the Company’s KCB copper/silver exploration programme. The new PLs are also adjacent to the Company’s South Ghanzi licence block.

In preparation for the completion of the Acquisition, Kavango carried out a detailed review of ENRG’s previous exploration work, including mapping, soil geochemistry and drilling together with historical exploration work.

As a result of this review, Kavango believes the lower D’Kar Formation it mapped across PL049/2020 & PL052/2020 (two of its Karakubis PLs) extends into PL203/2016, PL127/2017 & PL205/2016 (three of its six new PLs).

During the review, Kavango received drill samples and logs from 5,566m of historical drilling completed by Icon and Ashmead.

Kavango’s geologists have begun to interpret the lithological sequences on its new PLs by completing geological work on these drill logs in combination with systematic magnetic susceptibility measurements. The sequences comprise siltstones, carbonates and sandstones.

The Company’s geologists have also begun to compile a stratigraphy for the new PLs that they believe to match existing field mapping and conform to sequences in the lower D’Kar Formation present across other parts of the KCB.

During its review, Kavango identified visible galena and sphalerite hosted in quartz-carbonate veins in the drill core and chips taken from this area. These are two important pathfinder minerals for copper mineralisation.

Additionally, systematic pXRF analysis along the cores and drill chips has confirmed the presence of elevated copper, lead and zinc at correlatable intervals.

Finally, Kavango’s geologists and geophysicists believe they may have identified a gravity low likely related to a deeper sub-basin during a review of ENRG’s previously acquired Airborne Electromagnetic (“AEM”), Gravity and Magnetic data over the Kara Antiform. The margins of this sub-basin could provide priority targets for trap site development and deposit formation. They can be further prioritised when cross-referenced with ENRG’s historic magnetic, AEM, and soil geochemical datasets.

Background to the agreement

Kavango entered an agreement to acquire a 90% interest in the six new PLs earlier this year (announced >>> 25 September 2023) with Global Exploration Technologies (Pty) Limited (“GET”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ENRG Elements (ASX:ENRG) (“ENRG”).

Under the terms of the agreement, Kavango has now paid a total of AUD$1.5 million in cash to acquire 90% of the issued shares of Icon Trading (Pty) Ltd (“Icon”) and Ashmead Holdings (Pty) Ltd (“Ashmead”), two of GET’s subsidiary companies. Kavango will pay GET two further instalments of AUD$500,000 within 90 days and 180 days of the acquisition’s completion.

The names of the six new PLs, along with their holding company, status, and expiry date, are found below.

PL Number

Company

Status

Expiry Date

PL127/2017

Ashmead Holdings (Pty) Ltd

2nd Renewal 

30/06/2024

PL128/2017

Ashmead Holdings (Pty) Ltd

2nd Renewal 

30/06/2024

PL129/2017

Ashmead Holdings (Pty) Ltd

2nd Renewal 

30/06/2024

PL203/2016

Icon Trading (Pty) Ltd

3rd Renewal 

30/09/2025

PL204/2016

Icon Trading (Pty) Ltd

3rd Renewal 

30/09/2025

PL205/2016[1]

Icon Trading (Pty) Ltd

3rd Renewal 

30/09/2025

Figure 2: Details of the GET PLs

Planned work

Kavango is currently procuring satellite imagery to advance its structural interpretation and mapping of alterations across the new PLs. The Company will share more details of its upcoming work plans in due course.

The Company is also in the final stages of awarding a contract for the flying of an AEM survey over its KCB PLs. The goal will be to map possible sub-basin and domal structures.

Further information in respect of Kavango and its business interests is provided on the Company’s website at www.kavangoresources.com and on Twitter at #KAV.

For further information please contact:

Kavango Resources plc 

Ben Turney

+46 7697 406 06

First Equity (Broker)

Jason Robertson

+44 207 374 2212

Kavango Competent Person Statement

The technical information contained in this announcement pertaining to geology and exploration have been read and approved by Brett Grist BSc(Hons) FAusIMM (CP).  Mr Grist is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy with Chartered Professional status.  Mr Grist has sufficient experience that is relevant to the exploration programmes and geology of the main styles of mineralisation and deposit types under consideration to act as a Qualified Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’.

#FCM First Class Metals – Operations:- ‘Big Four’ Exploration Update and Directorate Change

First Class Metals PLC (“First Class Metals” “FCM” or the “Company”) the UK listed metals exploration company seeking economic metal discoveries across its extensive Canadian Schreiber-Hemlo, Sunbeam and Zigzag land holdings is pleased to announce the launch of systematic exploration campaign at the Zigzag lithium project in the Province of Ontario Canada. (“Zigzag” or the “Project”) alongside a general portfolio exploration update.

First Class Metals’ stated aim was to bring four properties to drill ready status with the intention of drilling one property this field season. With the exception of Esa, the company will achieve its aim. Once the soil sampling results are available from Esa this property too will be close to being ‘drill ready.’ It is still the Company’s intention to drill one of the ‘Big Four’ this season. FCM-Report-The-Big-Four-How-we’re-moving-towards-drilling.pdf (squarespace.com)

Highlights:

·    Noth Hemlo-Dead Otter Trend, further gold occurrences reported from grab samples return values up to 13.6ppm (13.6 g/t) gold (Au) giving further confidence to the project, supporting priority drill targets.

 

·    Sunbeam-Further stripping underway at the sites of the historical Sunbeam Mine, Roy & Pettigrew workings. Visual similarities noted to the reported economic mineralisation that was historically mined. Channel sampling undertaken with results pending which will help define drill targets.

 

·    Zigzag-Preliminary results from thirty-nine samples received with numerous results over 1% Li2O (full results pending). Extensive channel sampling campaign now completed with assays awaited, visual observations of coarse spodumene evidenced across many of samples taken.

 

·    Esa-an extensive infill soil sampling program now completed; 500 samples taken and awaiting analysis. Purpose of the work is to ‘infill’ the successful definition of the Esa Shear in 2022.  Property moves closer to a drill ready status.

 

Marc J. Sale First Class Metals CEO commented:

“I am pleased with the progress that First Class metals has made this field season, and despite the advance of Autumn there are still two teams out on the ground. I feel we are well on track to achieve the Company’s intentions. Both Sunbeam and Zigzag properties are permitted for drilling and with the support of the First Nations either of these properties or indeed North Hemlo (permit notwithstanding) are veritable maiden drill targets for FCM. Furthermore, the preliminary results from Zigzag have added significantly to our confidence in the property.”

North Hemlo

During the season extensive work: prospecting, sampling, and mapping has been undertaken along the Dead Otter trend, the focus has been around the historical showing (3.1ppm Au 0.59% Mo) and the area reporting 19.6ppm Au over three kilometres to the south east. There are still assays to be reported, however whilst sampling to date has not replicated the historic value there is limited outcrop exposed. The presence of visible gold and gold being ‘panned’ from crushed rock may indicate that there is potentially an issue with ‘coarse gold’ in the area of the historic showing. Other assays methods are being investigated.

Furthermore, the zone is reporting very high values of pathfinder elements including molybdenum as well as telluride which is strongly associated with gold deposits especially in the Hemlo area. Additionally, over 750m SE along trend from the historic showing an isolated outcrop returned 2.29ppm Au. This confirms the trend is auriferous. Furthermore, in the area of the 19.6ppm sample other samples have reported 13.6ppm and 4.6ppm Au.  Future work will include detailed prospecting along the trend to prove the continuity of the structure along strike from the known gold occurrences, leading to stripping and drilling once permitting allows.

Photo 1-showing the sampling in the area of the 19.6ppm result.

Sunbeam

An initial stripping and channel sampling programme at the historic production sites of Pettigrew and Roy has been completed and provisional results received. Some of the higher values have been resubmitted for check assay. The results from Roy indicate a semi continuous zone across strike of multi-gramme material. However, further stripping and sampling is currently underway in order to better define the potential drill targets. Exposed structure evidencing numerous visible sheared mafic volcanic horizons with sulphide rich quartz veining, within broader envelope of sheared, altered, and mineralized felsic intrusive. A similar situation exists at Pettigrew. The additional stripping has revealed some very ‘interesting’, prospective rocks including sheared mafic volcanics with sulphide rich quartz veining with visible gold reported. Sampling is currently being undertaken.

Stripping and channel sampling at Sunbeam is also now under way in the area of the historic shaft.

Photo 2- showing one of the ‘quartz blowouts’ in the new area stripped., the second photo show a close up with ‘VG’ (visible gold).

Photo 3- VG in the channel at Roy.

Zigzag

The preliminary results from the 39 grab samples from recent prospecting are considered very encouraging and full results will be available soon, there are a number of the samples reporting over 1% Li2O.

In parallel to the prospecting a channel sampling programme was undertaken, and nine channels completed with two in excess of 10m in length with over 250m of strike being covered.  Over 80 samples have been submitted for analysis. The samples contain significant spodumene and are considered visually encouraging with multiple zones of spodumene across the channels, see photos 4 and 5.

Photo 4- channel at Zigzag with the sample next to tape. Sampling entered the host of the pegmatite in order to check the selvages for possible mineralisation.

Photo 5- close up of sample from sawn channel. Note coarse spodumene crystals.

Esa

To the end of the 2022 field season over 500 soil samples were collected predominantly along eleven lines on average 400m apart, orthogonal to an inferred 4km shear which transects the property roughly east to west. This structure was highlighted by the airborne magnetic survey. The results of the initial soil sampling were encouraging and defined an anomalous zone mimicking the inferred position of the shear.

This season ‘infill’ sampling lines were conducted in two programmes again totalling over 500 samples. The analysis results for the last programme, only recently completed, are not yet available.

It is anticipated that the results of the infill lines will ‘tighten-up’ the potential target location to enable a more focussed stripping / trenching programme once the permit is granted. Drilling the most encouraging sectors would then be the next exploration phase.

Map showing the historical as well as ’23 season infill soil lines.

Summary

First Class Metals is entering a period of significant news and progress across its four core properties. The company has made significant strides towards achieving a “drill ready status.” Throughout the summer field campaign, extensive work has been conducted on each of these properties, which is expected to pay off in the next phase of exploration.

One property that has particularly excited First Class Metals is Zigzag, which has produced promising early-stage results. Further results from the prospecting and the channel sampling are still awaited. The property is strategically located in a corridor of established and expanding pegmatite lithium discoveries. This has garnered significant interest from the global lithium industry, positioning this region in North West Ontario as a new focus for battery metal discovery and development.

Moving forward, the company aims to assess and report on multiple assays that are still pending across all four properties. Additionally, plans are underway to initiate a drilling campaign on one of the properties before the end of the year. These developments highlight First Class Metals’ commitment to exploration and to bring ‘four projects to a drill ready status in 2023’.

First Class Metals PLC (“First Class Metals” “FCM” or the “Company”) the UK metals exploration company seeking economic metal discoveries across its extensive Canadian Schreiber-Hemlo, Sunbeam and Zigzag land holdings is pleased to announce the appointment and resignation of Non-Executive Directors.

 

First Class Metals is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Andrew Williamson as Non-Executive Director of First Class Metals PLC, effective from the 15th October 2023. With Andrew’s extensive experience in listing companies on major stock markets globally, as well as his expertise in public and private corporate transactions and the establishment of domestic and international funds, his addition to our team brings immense value. Andrew is a former institutional corporate stockbroker, nomad, and sponsor to the full list.

 

We are confident that Andrew’s wealth of knowledge and expertise will greatly contribute to the growth and success of First Class Metals.

 

First Class Metals also announces the resignation of Mr. Danesh Varma, effective from the 15th October as Non-Executive Director, as he has decided to pursue other interests. However, due to his extensive experience in Canada, Mr. Varma will continue to support the company in a consulting capacity regarding corporate matters when required.

 

We extend our appreciation to Mr. Varma for his valuable contributions during his tenure as a Non-Executive Director and look forward to his continued involvement in an advisory role.

 

Ayub Bodi, Executive Director of First Class Metals PLC, commented

“On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Danesh for his contributions as Non-Executive Director; we are grateful for his efforts at First Class Metals and wish him well in his future endeavours. At the same time, we are pleased to welcome Andrew whose experience and international network will support the growth of the business”

For further information, please contact:

 

James Knowles, Executive Chairman

JamesK@Firstclassmetalsplc.com

07488 362641

Marc J Sale, CEO

MarcS@Firstclassmetalsplc.com

07711 093532

Ayub Bodi, Executive Director

AyubB@Firstclassmetalsplc.com

07860 598086

 

First Equity Limited

(Financial Adviser & Broker)

 

Jonathan Brown

0207 3742212

Jason Robertson

0207 3742212

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