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Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Sonora Lithium Investment Update
Cadence holds an interest in the Sonora Lithium Project via a 30% stake in the joint venture interests in each of MexilitS.A. de CV (“Mexilit”) and Minera Megalit S.A. de CV (“Megalit”).
Mexilit and Megalit form part of the Sonora Lithium Project (the “Project”). The Sonora Lithium Project consists of nine granted concessions. Two of the concessions (La Ventana, La Ventana 1) are owned 100% by subsidiaries of Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd (“Ganfeng”). El Sauz, El Sauz 1, El Sauz 2, Fleur and Fleur 1 concessions are owned by Mexilit S.A. de C.V. (“Mexilit”), which is owned 70% by Ganfeng and 30% by Cadence. The Buenavista and San Gabriel concessions are owned by Megalit, which is owned 70% by Ganfeng and 30% by Cadence.
Ganfeng has been developing the Project, consisting of an open pit mine and lithium chemical product processing facility in Sonora, Mexico. The principal planned lithium product for the Project is lithium hydroxide.
As previously announced by Cadence. In April 2022 and May 2023, the Mexican Government approved amendments to its Mining Law (the “Mining Law Reform”), which prohibited lithium concessions, declared lithium as a strategic sector and granted the exclusive right to engage in lithium mining operations to a state-owned entity. The Mining Law Reform is not supposed to apply to pre-existing concessions, including those held by the Mexilit and Megalit. Ganfeng’s and Cadence’s position is that these reforms cannot impact the Project’s concessions because they were granted prior to the enactment of the Mining Law Reform.
This is consistent with the terms of the Constitution of Mexico, which, among other principles and rights, recognizes the principles of legality and non-retroactivity of laws. Guided by the principles of good faith, cooperation, and mutual benefit, Ganfeng has been proactively engaging with the Mexican Government in general and with the Secretary of Economy in particular, regarding a potential collaboration on the Sonora Project while respecting Ganfeng and its subsidiaries rights (including those subsidiaries 30% owned by Cadence). Ganfeng continues to seek a mutually beneficial resolution. As of now, no agreement has been reached among the Company, Ganfeng and the Mexican Government concerning this potential collaboration.
As the operator of the Project, including the concessions held by Mexilit and Megalit, Ganfeng’s ability to develop the Project is based on a series of concessions granted in accordance with Mexican law and held by three controlled subsidiaries of the Ganfeng incorporated in Mexico (the “Mexican Subsidiaries”).
While Ganfeng was holding discussions with the Secretary of Economy, the General Directorate of Mines (“DGM”) initiated a review of nine of the lithium concessions held by the Mexican Subsidiaries, including the lithium concessions including the concessions owned by Mexilit and Megalit.
According to the DGM, if the Mexican Subsidiaries failed to submit sufficient evidence within the specified timeframe to prove that they had complied with minimum investment obligations for the development of lithium concessions in 2017-2021, there was a risk of cancellation of the above-mentioned lithium concessions.
As of May 2023, Mexlait and Megalit had submitted extensive evidence of their compliance with the minimum investment obligations of the above-mentioned lithium concessions in a timely manner. However, the DGM issued a formal decision notice to the Mexican Subsidiaries in August 2023, indicating that nine lithium concessions were cancelled, which include those owned by Mexilit and Megalit.
The lithium concessions’ cancellations issued by the DGM are not final and are subject to ongoing appeals. Ganfeng and Cadence believe that the Mexican Subsidiaries have complied with their minimum investment obligations, as required by Mexican law. Indeed, the mine development investment by the Mexican Subsidiaries has significantly exceeded the minimum investment obligations, and the Mexican Subsidiaries regularly submitted to the DGM annual reports for the 2017-2021 periods detailing their operations within the prescribed period annually. The Mexican Government did not raise any objections until it recently notified Mexican Subsidiaries that the minimum investment obligations were allegedly not met, and it took action to cancel the lithium concessions.
Moreover, Ganfeng and Cadence’s position is that the resolutions cancelling the concessions violate both Mexican law and international law as they are arbitrary, unsubstantiated in both fact and law and infringe upon the Company’s, Ganfeng’s and its Subsidiaries’ fundamental due process rights. Therefore, Ganfeng and the Mexican Subsidiaries have filed administrative review recourses before the Secretary of Economy against the aforementioned resolutions.
Impact on the Company
The lithium concessions’ cancellations issued by the DGM are not final. Depending on the progress of Ganfeng’s further actions and the outcome of the above-mentioned matters, whether cancellations will be revoked or maintained in place and the scope of the concessions affected are still uncertain.
Cadence’s investment into the Sonora Lithium project is circa £3.89 million. The total value of Cadence’s portfolio of assets is circa £41.15 million, including £28.01 million attributed to our 30% stake in the Amapa Iron Ore project.
Ganfeng’s interim results announcement published on 29 August 2023 discussed these developments as part of their post-balance sheet analysis. Therefore, there is still uncertainty about the impact on Cadence’s investment. Ganfeng is pursuing various remedies, including administrative review recourses to challenge the DGM’s resolutions. If necessary, Ganfeng will resort to additional remedies under Mexican or international law.
Cadence will continue to liaise with our joint venture partners on a regular basis and ensure within the limits of the join venture agreement that the matter is given the utmost attention and that regulatory requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner.
Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented: “While on the face of it, this development further delays the prospect of a return from the Mexalit and Megalit concessions for Cadence shareholders, it is important to remember that any opportunity to grow value at Sonora would only start to accrue once mining commences in the concessions owned by Mexilit, which is nine years into the mine life. In the board’s opinion, substantially more value is to be had from our 30% stake in the Amapa Iron Ore Project once it is brought back into production.”
“I look forward to reporting on further progress at Amapa.”
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For further information contact:
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Cadence Minerals plc |
+44 (0) 20 3582 6636 |
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Andrew Suckling |
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Kiran Morzaria |
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WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker) |
+44 (0) 207 220 1666 |
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James Joyce |
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Darshan Patel |
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Brand Communications |
+44 (0) 7976 431608 |
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Public & Investor Relations |
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Alan Green
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Qualified Person
Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe”, “could”, “should”, “envisage”, “estimate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance, future capital, and other expenditures (including the amount, nature, and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities, the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute Inside Information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (E.U.) No. 596/2014, as it forms part of U.K. domestic law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended. Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this information is considered to be in the public domain.
Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Listing of Evergreen Lithium on the Australian Stock Exchange
Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to announce that Evergreen Lithium Limited (“Evergreen”) has filed its admission Prospectus with Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the Australian Stock Exchange (“ASX”). Cadence owns approximately 15.8 million Evergreen shares which are anticipated to represent 8.7% of the issued share capital of Evergreen on admission. Evergreen’s indicative timetable for admission is 10 March 2023.
Highlights:
- Evergreen Lithium has filed a listing and offering prospectus with the ASX; the anticipated admission date is 10 March 2023.
- On admission, Cadence will own approximately 8.7% of Evergreen, which at the offer price values Cadence’s equity stake at AS$ 3.96 million.
- Evergreen intends to advance three hard rock lithium exploration projects in Australia.
- The flagship Byone Lithium Project covers the north-eastern strike extent of the lithium-and tantalum endowed Bynoe Pegmatite field;
- The project is adjacent to Core Lithium’s producing lithium mine.
- Soil sampling on the project returned geochemical anomalies indicating lithium mineralisation.
- Based on soil sampling alone an initial five target zones have been identified that contain lithium mineralisation.
- The second prospect, Kenny Lithium, is located within the Dundas Mineral Field of Western Australia, close to Mt Dean and Mt Belches-Bald Hill pegmatite fields’
- Initial field mapping on the project has confirmed the presence of substantial outcropping pegmatites
- 10km zone of pegmatite outcropping has been confirmed in the North-Eastern section of the Kenny Lithium Project
- Evergreen has recently completed a comprehensive auger program, drilling 1,731 holes. Evergreen expects the results to be available shortly after admission.
Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented: “On behalf of the Cadence board, I am pleased that our investment into Lithium Technologies and Lithium Supplies have materialised into soon to be listed Evergeen and its Byone and Kenny lithium projects. Once Evergreen lists on the ASX market, it will add further value to Cadence’s rounded portfolio of listed lithium investment vehicles, which include European Metals Holdings (AIM: EMH) and our Sonora Lithium assets. Added to this, Cadence has exposure to the world class Yangibana rare earths project through it’s shareholding in Hastings Technology Metals (ASX: HAS) and of course our flagship Amapa iron ore project, the value of which was recently estimated with the publication of a pre-feasibility study, associated post tax NPV and maiden ore reserve declaration.”
“Your board believes that considerable potential exists across our assets to deliver further progress as we move forward in 2023. I look forward to reporting back with further developments.”
Background to Cadence’s investment in Evergreen Lithium
Cadence Minerals received approximately 15.8 million shares in Evergreen in July 2022 when Cadence sold its 31.5% stake in Lithium Technologies and Lithium Supplies (“LT and LS”) to Evergreen as announced on 27 June 2022. This initial consideration was valued at AS$ 3.16 million (£1.81 million). A further AS$ 6.63 million (£3.80 million) shares in Evergreen are due to Cadence on the achievement of certain performance milestones by Evergreen. Further details of these milestones can be found in the Evergreen prospectus available here. Cadence’s shares may be subject to a 2-year escrow agreement as determined by the listing rules of the ASX.
As of 31 December 2021, the total carrying values of LT and LS in the Company’s balance sheet was approximately £803,000. Based on the anticipated admission price of Evergreen on the ASX, Cadence’s shares in Evergreen will be worth £2.27 million.
Evergreen Lithium
On acquiring LT and LS, Evergreen became the 100% owner of three exploration tenements. The Bynoe Lithium Project and Fortune Lithium Project (awaiting grant of exploration permit) are located in the Northern Territory, and the Kenny Lithium Project is located in Western Australia.
Evergreen is listing on the ASX to develop these projects further and raise up to AS$ 7 million via a share offer. Evergreen can advance its business model if the listing and the offer are successful.
Byone Lithium Project
The Bynoe Lithium Project is Evergreen’s flagship prospect. Evergreen’s primary focus is to explore and discover an economically viable lithium resource for development. The Bynoe Lithium Project is located south of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It covers the north-eastern strike extent of the lithium- and tantalum-endowed Bynoe Pegmatite Field.
The Bynoe Pegmatite Field is host to Core Lithium Ltd’s (ASX: CXO) (“Core Lithium” or “Core”) high-grade Finniss lithium deposit, which is adjacent to Core Lithium’s producing lithium mine. Core Lithium’s deposit is just 1.2km from the Bynoe Lithium Project. Soil sampling conducted on the Bynoe Lithium Project has returned geochemical anomalies that indicate the lithium mineralisation continues along the trend into the Company’s Bynoe Lithium Project. Based on the initial stages of soil sampling alone (which only covers approximately 10-20% of the Bynoe Lithium Project area, an initial five target zoneshave been identified that contain lithium mineralisation. The Bynoe Lithium Project covers an area of 231 km2, making Evergreen one of the largest tenement holders within the central Bynoe Pegmatite Field after Core Lithium.
In recent years, exploration activities within the Bynoe Field have been focused on the discovery of economic lithium mineralisation hosted in pegmatites, the most successful of which has been Evergreen’s neighbour, Core Lithium, which in a very short time frame, has delineated a JORC mineral resource of 18.9mt at 1.32% Li2O at its Finniss Project. Core Lithium has achieved excellent drilling intercepts at their BP33 prospect of 107 metres at 1.70% Li2O, located within 1km of the Bynoe Lithium Project and Core Lithium’s Finniss (BP33) mine.
After listing and completion of its capital raise, Evergreen intends to expand the geochemical soil sampling significantly. In addition, Evergreen recently completed an Ambient Noise Topography (“ANT”) Survey and is currently awaiting its geophysical interpretation. Core Lithium recently used ANT (refer to ASX announcement Core Lithium, 1 August 2022, “BP33 drilling delivers outstanding results”). Core noted the results were an “outstanding success” and showed “excellent correlation” with known pegmatite bodies that were already identified by drilling.
Once the baseline geochemical and geophysical data is collected, Evergreen plans to systematically drill test the anomalies, starting with the highest priority along strike from Core Lithium’s mineralised pegmatites.
Kenny Lithium Project
The Kenny Lithium Project is located within the Dundas Mineral Field of Western Australia and 50km East of Norseman in the Eastern Goldfields. It is close to the Mt Dean and Mt Belches-Bald Hill pegmatite fields, and there are multiple significant lithium discoveries located in close proximity to the Kenny Lithium Project
The Kenny Lithium Project covers an area of 210 km2, providing Evergreen with a large and prospective land holding within the Dundas mineral field.
The Kenny Lithium Project lies at the southern end of the Norseman-Wiluna Granite Greenstone Belt within the Archaean Yilgarn Craton. This is a well-known lithium-producing region/mineral field and is host to the significant Mount Marion, Bald Hill and Baldania mines, respectively, which are close to the Company’s Kenny Lithium Project.
Initial field mapping on the Kenny Lithium Project has confirmed the presence of substantial outcropping pegmatites, whereby an approximate 10km zone of pegmatite outcropping has been confirmed in the North-Eastern section of the Kenny Lithium Project, which significantly exceeds what has already been identified by the Government Survey of Western Australia (GSWA).
Evergreen’s goal is to explore and discover an economic lithium resource for subsequent development. As with the Company’s Bynoe Lithium Project, minimal geochemical work has been undertaken within the tenure; however, historical results have proven encouraging. Evergreen has recently completed a comprehensive auger program, drilling 1,731 holes. Evergreen expects the results to be available following the listing. After that, the Company will design a drill program to drill test any targets identified to be prospective for lithium mineralisation and test the economic potential.
Fortune Lithium Project
The Fortune Lithium Project (EL31828) is located in the Northern Territory and is currently in its application phase and undergoing Native Title procedures. Evergreen Fortune Lithium Project is 784.71km² and is located 150km northeast of Alice Springs, in the Arunta region. The tenement itself has not been historically explored for lithium.
The Fortune Lithium Project lies in the Mesoproterozoic Aileron Province of the Arunta Region. The Arunta Region comprises a sequence of Proterozoic rocks known to host tin-tantalum-tungsten pegmatites. Historic pegmatite-hosted workings targeting tin-tantalum and mica are recorded in the vicinity of the Fortune Lithium Project area. There has been no exploration activity on the Fortune Lithium Project tenement specifically. The Fortune Lithium Project is currently in the application phase and is, therefore not granted tenure.
| For further information contact:
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| Cadence Minerals plc | +44 (0) 20 3582 6636 |
| Andrew Suckling | |
| Kiran Morzaria | |
| WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker) | +44 (0) 207 220 1666 |
| James Joyce | |
| Darshan Patel |
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Qualified Person
Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ”believe” ”could” “should” ”envisage” ”estimate” ”intend” ”may” ”plan” ”will” or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended (“MAR”). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Interview with Kiran Morzaria direct from Santana, Brazil
Alan Green talks to Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria direct from Santana Port, Brazil. Today, Cadence has announced a substantial upgrade in total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, to 276.24 Million Tonnes at a grading of 38.33% Fe at the Amapa iron ore project. Valued by former owner Anglo American at $600m in 2012, an investment of just $6m has seen Cadence acquire a 27% stake in the project, with an option to increase to 49%. Kiran explains how this upgrade contributes to the current ongoing pre-feasibility study, and the steps the company needs to take to bring Amapa back into production. We look at potential revenue forecasts for the fully recommissioned mine, and how important it is for the region in regard to employment, health and education. Kiran then covers the lithium and rare earth investment returns from Australia, and in particular the Yangibana Rare Earths project, plus the Sonora and Cinovec Lithium project investments. We finish with a look at upcoming news, plus Kiran comments on the market valuation vs. assets.