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Apollo Minerals – September 2018 Quarterly Report
Completed transaction to increase ownership of Couflens Project to 100% and commenced the re-installation of mine services
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2018 QUARTER
• Completed the acquisition of the remaining 20% interest in the Couflens Project in France which includes the historical high grade Salau tungsten mine
• Commenced with a program to reinstall mine services at Salau. With the exception of ventilation, all work on the main level 1230 has now been completed
• Received firm bids from a shortlist of drilling contractors for the initial drilling campaign to test multiple high-grade tungsten and gold targets within the mine
• Commenced with geophysics programs to assist with the definition of exploration targets and to improve the Company’s understanding of regional geological structures
• Commenced baseline environmental impact assessment studies initially focused on water sampling • Strengthened local community relationships with a ceremony at site to commemorate the start of works, attended by former miners and senior local politicians
• Held introductory meetings with the newly appointed Prefect of Ariege
• The Couflens Project continues to deliver increasing economic and social benefits to the local region as the Company hired more local staff and contracted more local businesses for construction and study work
• Submitted plans in support of the final phase of health and safety risk assessments within the historical mine environment. The assessments will be conducted after the reinstallation of mine services and are subject to approvals
• Tungsten prices ended the quarter at US$284/mtu
LOOKING AHEAD
Salau Mine Area:
• Interpret geophysical data obtained from initial program and submit applications for further work • Review drilling proposals, select preferred bidder and submit drill program applications after the completion of health and safety risk assessments 2
• Complete the program to reinstall mine services after relevant approvals have been obtained • Continue with the final phase of health and safety risk assessments
• Advance applications for drilling at the Aurenere project in Spain as part of the ongoing Investigation Permit application CORPORATE:
• The Company held A$4.4 million in cash and no debt at the end of the quarter
For further information please contact:
Hugo Schumann Robert Behets
Tel: +44 207 478 3900
Tel: +61 8 9322 6322
Email: info@apollominerals.com
Apollo Minerals (AON) takes a significant step as it commences reinstallation of mine services at historical Salau mine
- Apollo Minerals has commenced a program to re-install mine services within the historical Salau tungsten mine at the Couflens Project in France
- The work program includes the installation of modern ventilation systems, power and cabling in the proposed working levels of the mine for the exploration phase
- The new mine services will support the exploration programs including sampling and drilling targeted at tungsten and gold, which are planned to commence after the final phase of health and safety risk assessments
- The Company has procured its goods from local businesses where possible and is using local contractors to complete the installation works
- A battery storage inverter and an electric vehicle have been purchased for mine access in order to reduce energy consumption as part of the Company’s commitment to responsible mining
Apollo Minerals Limited (“Apollo Minerals” or “Company”) is pleased to advise that it has commenced with the re-installation of mine services within the historical Salau tungsten mine following the receipt of approvals by the French authorities. The Salau tungsten mine, which was one of the world’s highest-grade tungsten mines before its closure in 1986, forms the central part of the Company’s 100% owned Couflens tungsten and gold project (“Couflens Project”).
The program of works includes the widening of the current mine portal to facilitate access into the mine by truck, the installation of ventilation and cabling, the construction of walls and gates within the mine, and the removal of piping, waste material and any hazards. Permission for the works was granted by way of a prefectural approval which followed an extensive initial phase of health and safety risk assessments including air quality monitoring and geotechnical stability.
The Company anticipates completing the installations within two months, using local contractors and having sourced goods and services locally as part of its commitment to bring
benefits to the local region.
Once the installations have been completed, a final phase of health and safety risk assessments will be conducted after which exploration inside the mine will formally commence.
The Company is currently reviewing final bids from a shortlist of drilling contractors for an initial drilling campaign to test numerous high grade tungsten and gold targets within the mine.
Hugo Schumann, Executive Director, commented:
“The re-installation of mine services at Salau represents a very significant moment for the Company and for the local population after more than 30 years of the mine’s closure. The program of installations, drawing on the goods and services of local service providers, will pave the way for major exploration campaigns to follow.”
Apollo Minerals (ASX:AON) – June 2018 Quarterly Report
Received government approval for 100% ownership of the Couflens Project whilst finalising drill programs and strengthening management team
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE JUNE 2018 QUARTER
- Received approval from the French Ministry of Economy and Finance of the proposed acquisition of the remaining 20% interest in the Couflens Project
- Completed the initial phase of health and safety risk assessments within the historical Salau tungsten mine, focused on geotechnical stability, air quality monitoring, ventilation tests and water quality
- Tests confirmed excellent infrastructure servicing the historical mine and excellent ground conditions within competent granite or marble host rock
- Submitted a proposed program of works to the French authorities for the restoration of mine services including ventilation
- Ranked and prioritised numerous drill targets for gold and tungsten based on historical drilling data and 3D modelling completed by Company geologists
- Submitted applications for an extensive airborne geophysics survey at the Couflens Project
- Submitted applications for a drill program at the Aurerene Project in Spain as part of the application for an Investigation Permit
- Strengthened management team with the appointment of Mr Hugo Schumann, an experienced European mining executive, as Executive Director
- Co-founded the Club de Mécènes Mines du Salat to support the cultural and historical heritage of the Couserans province of France
- Completion of A$6 million placement leading European Institutional Investors
- Completed the listing of the Company’s former subsidiary Constellation Resources Limited, which holds Fraser Range nickel-copper and gold assets, via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in July 2018
- Tungsten prices continued to strengthen, rising 6% during the quarter and ending at US$347 per mtu, the highest level since 2014
LOOKING AHEAD
Salau Mine Area:
- Finalise and submit applications for drill programs for gold and tungsten within the Salau mine area
- Final round of health and safety risk assessments to be completed in the coming months
- Planning geotechnical stability tests and additional sampling programs at the tailings disposal areas outside the Salau mine where gold grades of up to 8.94 g/t were recorded and tungsten grades averaged 0.49% WO3
Within the broader ground holding including the Couflens Project (France) and the adjacent Aurenere Project (Spain):
- Extensive airborne geophysical surveys to refine regional targets and enhance understanding of regional geological structures
- Based on the results of the airborne surveys, complete drill program applications to assess the identified tungsten and gold prospects
CORPORATE:
- Appointment of Mr Dylan Browne as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
- The Company held A$5.5 million in cash and no debt at the end of the quarter
Executive Director Hugo Schumann commented:
“Our geological team has successfully digitised the assay results of more than 650 historical drill holes at the Couflens Project and constructed 3D geological models focused on the historical Salau mine. Using this 3D modelling, we have now developed multiple drill targets for gold and tungsten and will be advancing planning and applications for drilling in the coming quarter.
The historical Salau mine has been closed for more than 30 years and we have been working closely with the authorities on health and safety risk assessments to ensure safe working conditions for our exploration campaigns. These assessments have so far confirmed excellent infrastructure and ground conditions within the mine, with wide development drives and competent host rock as well as shown numerous visible areas of mineralisation prospective for gold and tungsten.
As we look ahead we plan to finalise the risk assessments, re-establish mine services, and then commence an extensive exploration program including underground drilling and channel sampling. In the wider region across our large licence holding we have planned an airborne geophysics program which will assist with drill targeting across where high-grade gold and tungsten have been identified from field campaigns.”
For further information please contact:
Hugo Schumann Robert Behets
Tel: +44 207 478 3900 Tel: +61 8 9322 6322
Email: info@apollominerals.com.au
Top Countries for Tungsten Production – France to feature again? – Apollo Minerals (ASX:AON)
Top Countries for Tungsten Production
(Tungsten Investing News article first published by Amanda Kay on April 24th, 2018)
What countries account for the most tungsten production? China took the top spot last year, and eight other countries also put out significant amounts.Tungsten, also known as wolfram, has many uses. It is commonly used to produce electrical wires, heating and electrical contacts.
But it is also used in welding, heavy metal alloys, heat sinks, turbine blades and as a substitute for lead in bullets.
According to the most recent US Geological Survey report on the metal, world tungsten production came in at 95,000 MT in 2017, up from 2016’s 88,100 MT.
This increase came despite reduced output from Mongolia, Rwanda and Spain. A large boost in production came from the UK, where production increased around 50 percent.
The price of tungsten started to rise at the beginning of 2017, and has been booming since then. The bump in prices has been attributed to supply constraints, especially in China.
Tungsten’s importance in industrial applications, from smartphones to car batteries, means that demand won’t disappear anytime soon. With that in mind, it’s worth being aware of which countries produce the most tungsten.
Given its unique and valuable properties, the European Union ranked tungsten as one of Europe’s most critical raw materials, with the highest supply risk of all materials on the list.
Before we look at them in more detail, it is worth noting that France could re-enter the list of top producing nations in the next few years.
The Couflens Project is located in the Pyrenees region in Southern France, and comprises a 42km2license area. Owned and operated by ASX listed Apollo Minerals (ASX: AON), the area includes Salau, previously one of the world’s highest-grade historical tungsten mines, which in the 1970s and 80s produced approximately 930,000 tonnes at 1.5% tungsten for around 11,500 tonnes of high grade tungsten concentrate during its 15 years of operation.
If Salau reopened and produced that level of tungsten today, it would not only immediately put France onto the table as a top tungsten producer, but it would propel the nation to the forefront as a producer of some of the world’s highest grade tungsten, offering end users security of supply from its location in the heart of the European Union
Here’s a brief overview of the nations that produced the most of the metal last year.
- China
Mine production: 79,000 MT
China produced more tungsten in 2017 than it did in 2016, and was still the world’s largest producer of the metal by an incredibly wide margin. In total, it put out 79,000 MT of tungsten last year, up from 72,000 MT the year before. China has limited the quantity of tungsten-mining and export licenses it awards, and has imposed quotas on concentrate production. The country has also recently increased environmental inspections. Nonetheless, the Asian nation still came out on top.
In addition to being the world’s largest tungsten producer, China is also the world’s top consumer of the metal. China was also the main source of tungsten imported into the US in 2017.
- Vietnam
Mine production: 7,200 MT
Unlike China, Vietnam experienced another jump in tungsten production in 2017. It put out 7,200 MT of the metal compared to 6,500 MT the previous year. Privately owned Masan Resources runs the Vietnam-based Nui Phao mine, which it says is the largest tungsten-producing mine outside China. It is also one of the lowest-cost producers of tungsten in the world.
- Russia
Mine production: 3,100 MT
Russia’s tungsten production was flat from 2016 to 2017, coming in at 3,100 MT both years. This plateau came in spite of President Vladimir Putin’s order that production resume at the Tyrnyauz tungsten-molybdenum field. Putin would like to see a large-scale mining and processing complex established.
Wolfram Company is the country’s largest producer of tungsten products, according to its website, and the company claims that each year it produces up to 1,000 tons of metal tungsten powder, plus up to 6,000 tons of tungsten oxide and up to 800 tons of tungsten carbide.
- Bolivia
Mine production: 1,100 MT
Bolivia tied with the UK for tungsten production in 2017. Despite moves to promote the tungsten industry in the country, Bolivia’s output remained flat at 1,100 MT.
Bolivia’s mining industry is heavily influenced by Comibol, the country’s state-owned mining umbrella company. The company reported a profit of $53.6 million for the 2017 fiscal year.
- United Kingdom
Mine production: 1,100 MT
The UK saw a huge leap in tungsten production in 2017, with output rising to 1,100 MT compared to 736 MT the year before. Wolf Minerals (ASX:WLF, LSE:WLFE) is likely largely responsible for the increase; in the fall of 2015, the company opened the Hemerdon tungsten mine in Devon. As per its 2017 annual report, the company mined 2,266,958 tons of ore and produced 112,270 MTU of tungsten in the year.
According to the BBC, Hemerdon was the first tungsten mine to open in Britain in over 40 years.
- Austria
Mine production: 950 MT
Austria produced 950 MT of tungsten in 2017 compared to 954 MT the previous year. Much of that production can be attributed to the Mittersill mine, which is located in Salzburg and hosts the largest tungsten deposit in Europe. The mine is owned by Sandvik (STO:SAND).
- Portugal
Mine production: 680 MT
Portugal is one of the few countries on this list that saw an increase in tungsten production in 2017. It put out 680 MT of the metal, up from 549 MT the previous year.
The Panasqueira mine is Portugal’s largest tungsten-producing mine. The past-producing Borralha mine, once the second-largest tungsten mine in Portugal, is currently owned by Blackheath Resources (TSXV:BHR). Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU) is another smaller company with a tungsten project in Portugal.
- Rwanda
Mine production: 650 MT
Tungsten is one of the most common conflict minerals in the world, meaning that at least some of it is produced in conflict zones and sold to perpetuate fighting. While Rwanda has promoted itself as a source of conflict-free minerals, concerns remain about tungsten output from the country. Fairphone, a company that promotes “fairer electronics,” is supporting conflict-free tungsten production in Rwanda.
Rwanda produced just 650 MT of tungsten in 2017, down a fair bit from 820 MT in 2016.
- Spain
Mine production: 570 MT
Spain’s tungsten production dropped in 2017, coming in at 570 MT. That’s down from 650 MT the previous year.
There are a number of companies engaged in the exploration, development and mining of tungsten assets in Spain. Examples include Almonty Industries (TSXV:AII), Ormonde Mining (LSE:ORM), aforementioned Apollo Minerals (ASX:AON) and W Resources (LSE:WRES).
Link to the original article here