For Immediate Release London AIM
28 June 2017 Symbol: ARS
Vancouver, British Columbia
Asiamet Resources BKM Resource Update
Copper contained in Measured and Indicated Resources increases 207%
Asiamet Resources Limited ("ARS" or the "Company") is pleased to report an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Beruang Kanan Main ("BKM") deposit within the Company's 100% owned KSK Contract of Work in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Resource has been independently estimated by Duncan Hackman of Hackman & Associates Pty Ltd (Australia) and a Technical Report compliant with NI 43-101 will be published and available on the Company's website and SEDAR (www.sedar.com) within 45 days of publication of this news release. As required under NI 43-101 Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources are reported separately below.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Resource confidence significantly upgraded with contained copper in Measured and Indicated Resources increased by 207% in comparison to the October 21, 2015 BKM Mineral Resource estimate. The BKM Copper deposit is now estimated to contain Measured and Indicated Resources of 49.2 million tonnes at 0.70% copper containing 711.3MIbs (322,600 tonnes) of copper at a 0.2% copper cut-off grade (see Table 1 for details).
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o Measured Resources of 20.5 million tonnes at 0.7% Cu containing 325.7MIbs (147,700 tonnes) of copper at a 0.2% copper cut-off grade (refer Table 1). The October 21, 2015 BKM Mineral Resource estimate contained no Measured Resources.
o Indicated Resources of 28.7 million tonnes at 0.6% Cu containing 385.6MIbs (174,900 tonnes) of copper at a 0.2% copper cut-off grade (refer Table 1). The October 21, 2015 BKM Mineral Resource estimate contained 15.0 million tonnes at 0.7% Cu containing 231MIbs (105,000 tonnes) of copper.
o Inferred Resources of 17.7 million tonnes at 0.6% Cu containing 241.0MIbs pounds (109,300 tonnes) of copper at a 0.2% copper cut-off grade (refer Table 1). The October 21, 2015 BKM Mineral Resource estimate contained 49.7 million tonnes at 0.6% Cu containing 657MIbs (298,000 tonnes) of copper.
The 2017 updated Mineral Resource estimate will be the subject of ongoing mining engineering and metallurgical studies as part of a BKM Feasibility Study and further optimisation of the BKM PEA open pit design is expected.
A leachable copper model for the BKM deposit will be constructed using sequential copper analysis data from all post 2013 drill core samples and an initial Mineral Reserve will in turn be generated from the Measured and Indicated component of this leachable copper Resource model. The Company expects to complete the feasibility study in early 2018 and make a development decision at that time.
The BKM Mineral Resource estimate is based on assays from 269 diamond drill core holes that were drilled from 1998 to 2007, from 2012 to 2013 and by ARS from 2015 to 2017. Mineralisation is contained within a near-surface, shallow-dipping and strongly mineralised system, that extends over an area of 1300m (N-S) and 800m (E-W) with depth extents ranging from surface to between 100m and 400m below surface (top to bottom). The 2015 Resource drilling programme undertaken by ARS was designed to delineate the extent and continuity of the BKM mineralisation and the 2016-2017 Resource drilling program designed to test for geological and grade continuity of the BKM mineralisation. Both programmes were completed successfully, meeting their objectives of both expanding and increasing the robustness and integrity of the Mineral Resource estimate.
Asiamet Resources CEO Peter Bird commented: The outcomes from the Resource evaluation work completed on the BKM deposit over the past year have been outstanding. Copper grades and tonnages have proven to be very robust with a 207% increase in the higher confidence level Measured and Indicated Resources and approximately 30,000 tonnes of copper added to the overall copper inventory. Most importantly 75% of the contained copper is now in high confidence Resources and 73% sits inside the PEA pit design. As such the conversion to Mineral Reserves is anticipated to be strong when mining and metallurgical studies are completed in coming months. We are very pleased with the outcome of Resource work and expect it will provide a solid base to build upon an already very robust Preliminary Economic Assessment.
Mineral Resource Estimate - Beruang Kanan Main Deposit - June 2017
Table 1 - Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource (NI 43-101)
|
|
| Measured Mineral Resources |
Reporting cut
(Cu %) |
Tonnes
('000) |
Cu Grade
(Cu %) |
Contained Cu
('000 tonnes) |
Contained Cu
('000,000 lbs) |
| 0.2 |
20.5 |
0.7 |
147.7 |
325.7 |
| 0.5 |
15.4 |
0.8 |
126.8 |
279.6 |
| 0.7 |
8.5 |
1.0 |
85.8 |
189.2 |
| |
|
| Indicated Mineral Resources |
Reporting cut
(Cu %) |
Tonnes
('000) |
Cu Grade
(Cu %) |
Contained Cu
('000 tonnes) |
Contained Cu
('000,000 lbs) |
| 0.2 |
28.7 |
0.6 |
174.9 |
385.6 |
| 0.5 |
16.9 |
0.8 |
127.7 |
281.6 |
| 0.7 |
7.7 |
1.0 |
73.8 |
162.7 |
| Inferred Mineral Resources |
Reporting cut
(Cu %) |
Tonnes
('000) |
Cu Grade
(Cu %) |
Contained Cu
('000 tonnes) |
Contained Cu
('000,000 lbs) |
| 0.2 |
17.7 |
0.6 |
109.3 |
241.0 |
| 0.5 |
12.1 |
0.7 |
86.2 |
190.1 |
| 0.7 |
4.7 |
0.9 |
41.9 |
92.4 |
Notes: Mineral Resources for the BKM deposit have been estimated in conformity with generally accepted CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines. In the opinion of Duncan Hackman, the block model Resource estimate and Resource classification reported herein are a reasonable representation of the copper Mineral Resources found in the defined area of the BKM mineralisation. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted into Mineral Reserve. Computational discrepancies in the table and the body of the Release are the result of rounding.
Methodology
The Mineral Resource estimate incorporates data from ARS's drilling programs undertaken in 1998 through to 2007, August 2012 to July 2013, June 2015 to September 2015 and June 2016 to April 2017. Drill spacing of westerly drilled holes across the BKM mineralisation now stands at a nominal 50m by 50m spacing. Seventeen holes have been drilled with easterly azimuths, two northerly, seven southerly and sixteen vertically. Mineralisation considered for Measured Resources is restricted to those areas where holes are drilled in multiple orientations that confirms the geological and mineralisation continuity in these areas. The 2017 Resource estimate dataset totals 269 drill holes for 44,214 metres of diamond core, an increase of 124 holes and 12,614m over the dataset utilised in generating the 2015 Resource estimate. Mr. Hackman verified components of the exploration activities and mineralisation features during site visits conducted between the 4th and 6th September 2014, between the 21st and 28th June 2015 and again between 22nd and 23rd June 2016.
The 2017 Resource model covers the 1300m north-south strike extent and 800m width of the BKM vein style mineralised system. Mineralisation crops out to the west, is closed-off by drilling to the north and has some potential to be extended to the north-east and south. Three deep holes under the main zones have failed to intersect significant copper mineralisation, however the depth repetition of mineralisation has not been fully tested. There are indications from the structural interpretation that repeat systems at depth and proximal to the BKM zone may exist.
Copper mineralisation occurs as covellite, chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite replacement of pyrite in veins and less common fracture fill settings. The copper is of both hypogene and supergene origin. Veins and mineralisation are hosted in both blocky fractured volcanics and sediments, mainly in the south of the prospect and, in strongly sheared and tectonically milled breccias related to thrusting mainly in the central and northern sections of the prospect. Phyllic-style alteration is pervasive throughout the prospect.
Modelled copper mineralisation has been intercepted in 868 nominal 3m drill intervals (2486m) in historical drill holes, in 1920 nominal 1m drill intervals (2377m) in holes drilled in 2015 and in 5014 nominal 1m intervals (5131m) in holes drilled from 2016 to 2017. Topographic control is achieved through the use of a highly detailed LIDAR generated surface to which all drill hole collar coordinates comply. Sample data was composited to 3m intervals and flagged by domains defined from copper assay grades and directed by the Hackman and Associates and ARS structural interpretation. Three passes of Ordinary Kriging grade interpolation methodology were employed to interpolate copper grades within domains into a sub-blocked model (parent block size of 25mE x 25mN x 10mRL). High grade copper assays were included in the interpolation with limits to their area of influence applied. The Mineral Resource estimate has been classified based on data density, data quality and reliability, confidence in the geological interpretation, confidence in the copper grade modelling and interpolation and confidence in tonnage factors employed.
The limits of the BKM Mineral Resource are mostly defined by the historic and ARS Resource drilling, mapping and sampling campaigns. Pending funding, Stage IV infill and expansion drilling will focus on confirming mineralisation and geological continuity and tonnage factors in areas currently classified as Indicated Resources in the north and central areas of the BKM mineralisation to facilitate the conversion of part or all of these areas to the Measured Resource Category.
The Company is currently undertaking sequential copper analysis on all post 2013 drill core samples which assayed above 0.1% copper to determine the leachable copper within each sample. Approximately 8000 samples have been sent for analysis and the results, expected in late July, will be used to create a leachable copper model for the BKM deposit. A similar process completed for the PEA using sequential assays undertaken in 2015-2016 estimated the average leachable copper within the BKM Resource to be 74% of the total copper grade.
Exploration Potential
Other priority targets in the vicinity of the BKM deposit are the focus of planned scout drilling programs, and include Beruang Kanan South ("BKS"), Beruang Kanan West ("BKW") and KSK's standalone polymetallic BKZ (BKZ) prospect; each within 1.5km of the BKM Mineral Resource (Figure 1). Geologic observations during field mapping and geochemical data from drill core and/or surface rock chip samples at BKS and BKW prospects indicate near surface and similar style copper mineralisation to BKM. Prospect details are summarised as follows:
· BKS prospect: Drill hole KBK-28 (151.30m end of hole 'EOH') intersected 10.5 metres @ 0.88% Cu from 14.5 metres depth and BKM30500-01 (63.9m EOH) intersected 10.0 metres @ 2.52% Cu from 19.5 metres depth. Drill hole KBK-28 also intersected high grade gold mineralisation from 11.5m, returning 3m @ 11.52g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 21.7g/t Au (refer ARS Release February 23, 2017)
· BKW prospect: Multiple copper mineralised sheeted vein zones with wide spread alteration similar to BKM are observed within a 2.5 sqkm area, and three well defined copper in soil anomalies occur coincident with these sheeted vein zones, the largest measuring 1.7km x 1km. Historic rock chip sampling yielded highly anomalous copper values, with individual rock chip samples assaying up to 7.1% Cu.
· BKZ Polymetallic prospect: A continuous 15m rock channel sample averaged 19.5% Zinc, 8.1% Lead, 121g/t Silver, 0.69g/t Gold and 0.50% Copper (refer ARS Release June 9, 2017). Drill hole BKZ-1 (300.0m deep) tested outcropping massive sulphide style mineralisation and intersected 16m @ 5.75% Zn, 2.78% Pb, 0.64g/t Au, 57.5g/t Ag and 0.16% Cu, including 6m @ 11.63% Zn, 5.99% Pb, 0.71g/t Au, 98g/t Ag and 0.32% Cu (refer ARS Release February 23, 2017) A grid-based soil sampling program defined a 400m by 200m anomalous zone of Pb-Zn soil geochemistry, which remains untested.
To view the graphic, please click here
Figure 1: Beruang Kanan District project location map, showing copper in soils
KSK Contract of Work
The Beruang Kanan project is located within the KSK Contract of Work. The holder of the KSK Contract of Work ("KSK CoW") is PT Kalimantan Surya Kencana ("KSK"). ARS holds 100% of the shares of Indokal Limited ("Indokal"). KSK is owned 75% by Indokal and 25% by PT Pancaran Cahaya Kahayan ("PCK"). Indokal owns 100% of PCK.
On February 16, 2017, the Company formally established with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia that the KSK CoW has now entered the Feasibility Study Period which runs for not less than two years, is extendable, and provides time to complete studies and identify the area for mining. The KSK CoW has a total of 30+ years remaining for exploration, development and operations.
The Company has previously signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia ("GOI") covering amendments to its KSK CoW. KSK continues discussions with the GOI regarding possible amendments to some of the KSK CoW terms in order to achieve closer alignment with the current Law No. 4/2009.
Qualified Person
Duncan Hackman (B. App.Sc., MSc., MAIG) of Hackman & Associates Pty Ltd (Australia) is the independent Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and the AIM Rules for Companies for the purposes of Mineral Resource estimates contained within this press release. Data disclosed in this press release have been reviewed and verified by ARS's qualified person, Stephen Hughes, P. Geo. a director of ARS and a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and the AIM Rules for Companies.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Peter Bird, Deputy Chairman and CEO, Asiamet Resources Limited
For further information, please contact:
-Ends-
Peter Bird
Deputy Chairman and CEO, Asiamet Resources Limited
Telephone: +61 3 8644 1300
Email: [email protected]
Tony Manini
Executive Chairman, Asiamet Resources Limited
Telephone: +61 3 8644 1300
Email: [email protected]
FlowComms Limited
Sasha Sethi
Telephone: +44 (0) 7891 677 441
Email: [email protected]
Asiamet Resources Nominated Adviser
RFC Ambrian Limited
Andrew Thomson / Stephen Allen
Telephone: +61 8 9480 2500
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
VSA Capital Limited
Andrew Raca / Justin McKeegan
Telephone: +44 20 3005 5004 / +44 20 3005 5009
Email: [email protected]
Optiva Securities Limited
Christian Dennis
Telephone: +44 20 3137 1903
Email: [email protected]
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
This announcement contains inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) no. 596/2014 ("MAR").
Glossary of Technical Terms
| "cut-off" |
the grade threshold above which a mineral material is considered potentially economic |
| "g/t" |
grams per tonne; equivalent to parts per million ('ppm'). |
| "Mineral Resource" |
A "Mineral Resource" is a concentration or occurrence of diamonds, natural solid inorganic material, or natural solid fossilized organic material including base and precious metals, coal, and industrial minerals in or on the Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. |
| "Inferred Resource" |
An "Inferred Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. |
| "Indicated Resource" |
An "Indicated Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics, can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. |
| "Measured Resource" |
A "Measured Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. |
| "CIM" |
The reporting standard adopted for the reporting of the Mineral Resources is that defined by the terms and definitions given in the terminology, definitions and guidelines given in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral resources and Mineral Reserves (December 2005) as required by NI 43-101. The CIM Code is an internationally recognised reporting code as defined by the Combined Reserves International Reporting Standards Committee |
| "Kriging" |
an interpolation method for assigning values from samples to ore blocks that minimizes the estimation error. |
| "covellite" |
Covellite is a copper sulfide mineral with the formula CuS. This indigo blue mineral is ubiquitous in some copper ores |
| "chalcocite" |
Chalcocite is a copper sulfide mineral with the formula Cu2S, and is an important copper ore mineral. It is opaque and dark-gray to black with a metallic luster. |
| "bornite" |
Bornite, also known as peacock ore, is a copper sulfide mineral with the formula Cu5FeS4 |
| "chalcopyrite" |
Chalcopyrite is a copper sulfide mineral with formula CuFeS2. It has a brassy to golden yellow color |
| "hypogene" |
Hypogene ore processes occur deep below the earth's surface, and form deposits of primary minerals, such as chalcopyrite and bornite. |
| "supergene" |
Supergene ore processes occur near surface, and form deposits of secondary minerals, such as malachite, azurite, chalcocite, covellite, digenite, etc. |
| "breccia" |
Breccia is a rock classification, comprises millimeter to meter-scale rock fragments cemented together in a matrix, there are many subclassifications of breccias. |
| "veins" |
A vein is a sheet-like or anastomosing fracture that has been infilled with mineral ore (chalcopyrite, covellite etc) or mineral gangue (quartz, calcite etc) material, within a rock. Veins form when minerals carried by an aqueous solution within the rock mass are deposited through precipitation and infill or coat the fracture faces. |
| "volcanics" |
Volcanic rock such as andesite or basalt that is formed from magma erupted from a volcano, or hot clastic material that erupts from a volcano and is deposited as volcaniclastic or pyroclastics |
| "sediments" |
Sedimentary rocks formed by the accumulation of sediments. There are three types, Clastic, Chemical and Organic sedimentary rocks |
| "surface rock chip samples" |
Rock chip samples approximately 2kg in size that are typically collected from surface outcrops exposed along rivers and mountain ridgelines |
| azimuth |
the "compass direction" refers to a geographic bearing or azimuth as measured by a magnetic compass, in true or magnetic north |
| "diamond drilling" |
A drilling method in which penetration is achieved through abrasive cutting by rotation of a diamond encrusted drill bit. This drilling method enables collection of tubes of intact rock (core) and when successful gives the best possible quality samples for description, sampling and analysis of an ore body or mineralised structure.
|
| "grade" |
The proportion of a mineral within a rock or other material. For copper mineralisation this is usually reported as % of copper per tonne of rock (g/t) |
"assay" |
The laboratory test conducted to determine the proportion of a mineral within a rock or other material. For copper, usually reported as percentage which is equivalent to percentage of the mineral (i.e. copper) per tonne of rock |
| "sequential assays" |
Sequential copper analysis is a technique to semi-quantitatively define the zonations associated with some copper deposits. The method is based on the partial dissolution behavior displayed by the prevalent copper minerals to solutions containing sulfuric acid and sodium cyanide. Results from sequential analyses can theoretically determine the amounts of leachable oxide minerals, leachable secondary sulfide minerals, and primary copper minerals, respectively. |
| "dip" |
A line directed down the steepest axis of a planar structure including a planar ore body or zone of mineralisation. The dip has a measurable direction and inclination from horizontal |
| "open pit mining" |
A method of extracting minerals from the earth by excavating downwards from the surface such that the ore is extracted in the open air (as opposed to underground mining) |
| "Resource block" |
A 3-Dimensional model of the ore/mineralised body containing a Mineral resource estimation |
| "intercept" |
Refers to a sample or sequence of samples taken across the entire width or an ore body or mineralized zone. The intercept is described by the entire thickness and the average grade of mineralisation |
| "channel sample" |
Samples collected across a mineralised rock exposure. The channel is typically orientated such that samples are collected perpendicular to the mineralised structure, if possible |
| "lbs" |
Pounds (measure of weight) |
| "Mlbs" |
Million pounds (measure of weight) |
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The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Asiamet Resources Limited via Globenewswire
