Drilling Results: Hanns Camp Cobalt/Nickel Project

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

 

2 November 2017

 

Strategic Minerals plc

("Strategic Minerals", "SML" or the "Company")

 

Air Core Drilling Results at Hanns Camp Cobalt - Nickel Project

 

Strategic Minerals plc (AIM: SML; USOTC: SMCDY), a diversified mineral production and development company, announces the completion of the air core drilling for the nickel and cobalt targets at Central Australian Rare Earths' ("CARE") tenements at Hanns Camp, Western Australia, east of Laverton.

 

Key Highlights

 

·     Successful cobalt and nickel intersections in 23 of the 49 holes completed

 

·     Extensive air core drilling of 1,915 metres completed

 

·     Stronger intersections include:

HCAC049: 24m @ 1.05% Ni eq. from 24m (including, 24m @ 0.75% Ni and 16m @ 0.07% Co)

HCAC048: 24m @ 0.96% Ni eq. from 24m (including, 24m @ 0.72% Ni and 4m @ 0.10% Co)

HCAC039: 12m @ 1.36% Ni eq. from 16m (including, 12m @ 0.77% Ni and 12m @ 0.14% Co)

HCAC028: 21m @ 1.24% Ni eq. from 21m (including, 21m @ 0.97% Ni and 21m @ 0.06% Co)

HCAC025: 16m @ 1.10% Ni eq. from 16m (including, 16m @ 0.78% Ni and 4m @ 0.06% Co)

 

·     Substantial zone of anomalous Co-Ni mineralisation extends approximately 1,000m x 500m

 

·     Potential easy access to minerals with top of mineralisation from 4m to 24m from surface

 

·     Extensive review of the nickel sulphide potential commenced with engagement of Dr Martin Gole.  Dr Gole is an internationally recognised ultramafic Ni expert

A slightly expanded version of this RNS can also be found on our website www.strategicminerals.net under the investors/presentations tab.

 

Chairman of Strategic Minerals, Mr Alan Broome AM, commented:

"SML acquired 100% ownership of CARE in May 2017 and we are pleased to announce that the completion of the first phase of exploration drilling at Hanns Camp has supported the identification of cobalt and nickel laterite mineralisation. These results are highly encouraging for the prospectivity of the mineralisation and provide a solid base for further exploration.

 

"As stated when we commenced this programme, this drilling is the first phase of exploration of the highly prospective Hanns Camp tenements The intersection of both cobalt and nickel laterite mineralisation, over an extensive area, is encouraging and lays the ground work to further examine the initial objective of identifying a substantial nickel sulphide deposit. The addition of Dr Gole brings a fantastic level of expertise to the team and will ensure we are well placed as we move forward with exploration."

 

[1] Ni equivalent (NiEq.) calculations based on a Nickel price of US$ 5.35 / lb and a cobalt price of US$ 27.1/ lb.

 

 

 

CARE Tenements

 

In 2016, the Company funded a drilling programme at the highly prospective Hanns Camp located within CARE's Laverton Project. In doing so, it acquired 50% of the ownership of CARE from Rarus Limited ("Rarus"). Subsequently, in May 2017, the Company acquired the balance of the ownership of CARE, which is now wholly owned by the Company.

 

CARE holds tenements and has access to mining rights for cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements and gold in these tenements in Western Australia.

 

The Laverton Project is located in the 'Eastern Yilgarn Craton Nickel Sulphide Province' in Western Australia that is most notable for hosting the Mount Windarra and South Windarra nickel sulphide deposits located 12km west of the Laverton Project which together produced 8.1 million metric tonnes (Mt) at 1.51% nickel (Ni) between 1974 and 1992.  Other more recent discoveries located distally north and south along strike of the Laverton Project include;

 

·     Duketon Mining's Rosie Deposit that has a Mineral Resource estimate of 1.74Mt at 1.7% Ni including a best intercept of 5.2 metres at 9.13% Ni, 1.09% copper (Cu) and 2.22grams/ tonne platinum (Pt) from 599.71 metres down hole

·     Rox Resources' Fisher East Project (Mineral Resource 3.6Mt at 2.0% Ni)

·     Impact Minerals' Mulga Tank Project which returned a best intercept of 0.25 metres at 3.8% Ni and 0.7% Cu from 212.6 metres down hole

 

 

Hanns Camp Cobalt - Nickel Targets

 

In September 2017, a 49-hole air core drilling programme was completed across the extent of the known Hanns Camp ultramafic rocks.  The drilling targeted a concentration of cobalt and nickel within the lateritic weathering profile.   All holes were drilled vertically and drilled to the depth of weathering.  A total of 1,915 metres were drilled with an average depth of 39m. 

 

23 of the 49 holes drilled intersected mineralisation.  Nickel equivalent grades were calculated on the following parameters: Ni equivalent (NiEq.) calculations based on a Nickel price of US$ 5.35 / lb and a cobalt price of US$ 27.1 / lb.

 

The stronger intersections are included below:

 

·     HCAC049: 24m @ 1.05% Ni eq.  from 24m (including, 24m @ 0.75% Ni and 16m @ 0.07% Co)

·     HCAC048: 24m @ 0.96% Ni eq. from 24m (including, 24m @ 0.72% Ni and 4m @ 0.10% Co)

·     HCAC039: 12m @ 1.36% Ni eq. from 16m (including, 12m @ 0.77% Ni and 12m @ 0.14% Co)

·     HCAC028: 21m @ 1.24% Ni eq. from 21m (including, 21m @ 0.97% Ni and 21m @ 0.06% Co)

·     HCAC025: 16m @ 1.10% Ni eq. from 16m (including, 16m @ 0.78% Ni and 4m @ 0.06% Co)

 

A full listing of the significant intersections is included in Table 1.  Assaying was completed on 4m composite intervals.  SML propose to complete a second phase of assaying utilising the 1m sample intervals in areas of higher grade.  The 1m intervals assays will be completed before the end of 2017 and will be released when completed.

 

 

 

Significant Intersections

 

Table 1 summarises the significant drilling results from the recent air core drilling at Hanns Camp. Significant intersections being defined as a minimum of 4m at either 0.05% cobalt or 0.5% Nickel.    

 

Table 1 Significant Intersections

Hole_id	From	To	Easting	Northing	Interval	Significant Intersections	Significant Intersections	Ni Equivalent Intersections
						>0.05% Co	>0.5% Ni
HCAC004	8	20	452200	6837400	12m	8m at 0.054%	12m at 0.54%	12m at 0.78%
HCAC006	16	24	452100	6837600	8m	4m at 0.10%	8m at 0.44%	8m at 0.81%
HCAC008	12	20	452000	6837800	8m	8m at 0.051%	4m at 0.60%	8m at 0.75%
HCAC013	4	24	451600	6838900	20m	NSA	20m at 0.59%	20m at 0.72%
HCAC014	12	24	451500	6839000	12m	4m at 0.066%	12m at 0.56%	12m at 0.74%
HCAC015	16	32	451591	6839094	16m	4m at 0.048%	16m at 0.50%	16m at 0.65%
HCAC024	28	32	451596	6839291	4m	NSA	4m at 0.56%	4m at 0.71%
HCAC025	28	44	451511	6839181	16m	4m at 0.063%	16m at 0.78%	16m at 1.10%
HCAC026	20	24	451402	6839099	4m	4m at 0.063%	4m at 0.52%	4m at 0.69%
HCAC027	12	15	451907	6839801	3m	3m at 0.054%	NSA	3m at 0.69%
HCAC028	28	49	451799	6839699	21m	17m at 0.059%	21m at 0.97%	21m at 1.24%
HCAC029	16	24	451699	6839598	8m	4m at 0.067%	8m at 0.85%	8m at 1.09%
HCAC030	8	16	451602	6839504	8m	4m at 0.103%	8m at 0.55%	8m at 0.88%
HCAC032	20	35	451403	6839300	15m	8m at 0.086%	7m at 0.54%	11m at 0.78%
HCAC033	24	28	451302	6839199	4m	4m at 0.087%	4m at 0.54%	4m at 0.99%
HCAC036	20	28	451598	6839709	8m	8m at 0.065%	8m at 0.60%	8m at 0.93%
HCAC037	32	40	451504	6839601	8m	4m at 0.09%	8m at 0.61%	8m at 0.93%
HCAC039	28	44	451501	6839793	16m	12m at 0.142%	16m at 0.77%	12m at 1.36%
HCAC040	16	24	451695	6839805	8m	NSA	8m at 0.64%	8m at 0.83%
HCAC041	12	20	451600	6839902	8m	NSA	8m at 0.73%	8m at 0.94%
HCAC042	20	28	451699	6839991	8m	NSA	8m at 0.58%	8m at 0.79%
HCAC048	20	24	451291	6839991	4m	4m at 0.072%	4m at 0.57%	4m at 0.93%
	28	52	451291	6839991	24m	4m at 0.104%	24m at 0.72%	24m at 0.96%
HCAC049	40	64	451398	6839901	24m	16m at 0.069%	24m at 0.75%	24m at 1.05%

^[1] NSA:  No significant Assays

 

Nickel Sulphide Exploration

 

SML has commenced the Phase 2 of its exploration programme with a review of the historical nickel sulphide potential.  This is focused on EM generated targets, but will initially review the extensive database of geological information that was acquired from the previous owners. 

 

Dr Martin Gole, an internationally recognised nickel sulphide expert has been engaged by SML and has begun a review of the prospectivity of the Hanns Camp tenements as well as the broader Laverton Project.  The aim of this review will be to generate nickel sulphide targets both in the Hanns Camp area and for other known ultramafic host rocks within the CARE tenement holdings.  

 

 

 

Competent Persons Statement

 

 

The Exploration results in this announcement are based on information compiled by Mr. Graeme Purcell, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists (Member No. 4722).  Mr Purcell is the Principal Geologist at Petrichor and is a consultant to the Company. He has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking 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 and a qualified person as defined in the AIM Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies dated June 2009.  Mr Purcell has over 20 years' Australia and international experience in exploration for precious and base metals.

 

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Strategic Minerals plc		+61 (0) 414 727 965
John Peters
Managing Director
www.strategicminerals.net
Follow Strategic Minerals on:
Vox Markets:	https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/company/SML/
Twitter:	@SML_Minerals
LinkedIn:	https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-minerals-plc
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=strategic%20minerals%20plc
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP		+44 (0)20 3470 0470
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Ewan Leggat
Optiva Securities Limited		+44 (0)20 3411 1880
Joint Broker
Graeme Dickson
Yellow Jersey PR		+44 (0) 7825 916 715
Financial PR
Charles Goodwin
Joe Burgess

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

Strategic Minerals Plc is an AIM-quoted, diversified mineral development and production company with projects in the United States of America, the UK and Australia. The Company is focused on acquiring and developing cash generative, high quality projects which meet local market demand for commodities and utilising this cash flow to undertake value added exploration. 

 

In September 2011, Strategic Minerals purchased its first cash-generating asset; the Cobre magnetite tailings dam project in New Mexico, USA which it brought into production in 2012 and which continues to provide a revenue stream for the Company. The portfolio was expanded in January 2016 with the acquisition of shares in Central Australian Rare Earths Pty Ltd, which holds tenements in Western Australia and the Northern Territory that are prospective for cobalt, gold, nickel sulphides and rare earth elements. The Company has since acquired all shares in Central Australian Rare Earths Pty Ltd. In May 2016, an additional exploration asset was acquired when the Company entered into an agreement with New Age Exploration Limited to acquire up to 50% of the Redmoor Tin/Tungsten project in Cornwall, UK. This 50% acquisition has now been completed and drilling at the project has commenced. The Company is also currently in due diligence in relation to the acquisition of the Leigh Creek Copper Mine situated in the copper rich belt of South Australia.