22 May 2019
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside information according to REGULATION (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR).
Greatland Gold plc
("Greatland" or "the Company")
Greatland to Commence Exploration Programme at Paterson Range East
High-resolution, low level aeromagnetic survey covering entire Paterson Range East licence to commence in early June
Greatland Gold plc (AIM: GGP), the precious and base metals exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it expects to commence a detailed, low level aeromagnetic survey over the entire Paterson Range East licence in early June.
The Paterson Range East licence, E45/4928, is 100% owned by Greatland and lies approximately 25 kilometres north of the Company's Havieron gold-copper prospect. The Paterson Range East licence covers 224 square kilometres of Proterozoic basement rocks prospective for Havieron style gold-copper mineralisation.
Key Highlights
- Greatland to conduct a new, detailed, low level airborne magnetic survey to cover the entire Paterson Range East licence.
- The survey comprises approximately 5,200-line kilometres at a line spacing of 50m and is expected to commence in early June.
- New survey will significantly increase the resolution of approximately twenty magnetic targets previously identified across the licence and will assist in the geological and structural interpretation of those targets.
- Resultant data will be used with other geophysical and geochemical data sets to prioritise targets within the Paterson Range East licence.
- High priority targets are expected to be subject to additional geophysical and geochemical work and further detailed modelling and drill testing.
Gervaise Heddle, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Greatland's 2019 exploration programme in the Paterson is advancing on a number of fronts, with a detailed aeromagnetic survey planned at Paterson Range East, a 6,000 metre drilling programme expected to commence at Black Hills within the next few weeks, and Newcrest's first drilling programme at Havieron underway.
"The aeromagnetic survey at Paterson Range East is part of an important and ongoing process to prioritise the multiple geophysical targets that we have across our Paterson licences. We look forward to providing investors with more detail on the high priority targets at Paterson Range East over the next few months as we apply the knowledge gained at Havieron to our exploration efforts across the region."
Overview of Paterson Project and Paterson Range East licence
The Company's Paterson project comprises the Havieron, Paterson Range East, and Black Hills licences, located in the Paterson region of northern Western Australia. The three licences collectively cover more than 385 square kilometres and are prospective for Telfer style gold-copper deposits.
The Paterson region is currently one of the most active exploration areas in Australia. Recent exploration success achieved by Greatland Gold and Rio Tinto (https://www.riotinto.com/media/media-releases-237_27052.aspx) demonstrates the region has been underexplored, particularly the extensive areas under cover. As well as hosting several large gold and copper deposits such as Telfer and Nifty, more recent exploration has outlined several other deposits including Magnum (Au), Calibre (Au), O'Callaghans (W, Cu) and Maroochydore (Cu). The region is remote, however infrastructure is good with several operating mines, roads, formed tracks and rail networks nearby which branch out from the regional industrial hub of Port Hedland 500km to the west.
The Paterson Range East licence, E45/4928, lies approximately 25 kilometres north of the Havieron gold-copper prospect. The Havieron prospect is currently under a Farm-In agreement with Newcrest Operations Limited, while Paterson Range East remains 100% owned and operated by Greatland. The Paterson Range East licence covers 224 square kilometres of Proterozoic basement rocks prospective for Havieron style gold-copper mineralisation. Basement rocks are covered by varying amounts of younger Permian sediments ranging in depth from less than 100m up to more than 400m based on sparse historical drilling.
It is widely recognised that additional gold-copper discoveries in the Paterson will come from areas under cover, and that geophysics is a critical component of the discovery process. For example, Greatland's exploration success at Havieron was largely driven by the application of detailed aeromagnetic and ground gravity geophysical data sets and subsequent modelling.
Following an internal review of historical regional geophysical and geochemical data over the western Paterson region approximately fifty targets have been identified with some twenty five in ground held by Greatland, and around twenty within the Paterson Range East licence. Basement rocks are interpreted to be predominantly calcareous rich sandstones intruded by several late stage granitic bodies. Historically, several of these targets have been subject to initial first-pass work and show promise at hosting mineralisation as seen at Havieron. The geophysical signature of these targets is similar to that at Havieron, i.e. the targets display a strong magnetic response relative to the host rocks.
A detailed, low level 50m line spaced aeromagnetic survey was collected over Havieron in 2005 (by a previous operator) and this data was critical in delineation and drill targeting for Greatland's highly successful 2018 campaign (HAD001-HAD009). To expand this successful approach Greatland has commissioned a new, detailed, low level airborne magnetic survey to cover the entire Paterson Range East licence. The survey comprises approximately 5,200 line kilometres at a line spacing of 50m with an estimated mean terrain clearance of 40m. Current aeromagnetic coverage of the area includes 200m and 400m line spaced surveys.
The new survey commissioned by Greatland will significantly increase resolution of the currently identified magnetic targets and assist in geological and structural interpretation. Resultant data will be used with other geophysical and geochemical data sets to prioritise the many targets within the Paterson Range East licence. More favourable targets will undergo further detailed modelling and drill testing. Commencement of the airborne survey is currently scheduled for early June 2019 with completion later that month.
Additional information on the Paterson Range East licence can be found at the Company's web site www/greatlandgold.com
Competent Person:
Information in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Mr Mick Sawyer, Exploration Manager for Greatland Pty Ltd, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and is a Registered Professional Geoscientist (R.P.Geo #10194). Mr Sawyer has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which has been undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code) and under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr Sawyer consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.
Enquiries:
Greatland Gold PLC
Gervaise Heddle/Callum Baxter
Tel: +44 (0)20 3709 4900
Email: [email protected]
www.greatlandgold.com
SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (Nominated Adviser)
Andrew Emmott/James Keeshan
Tel: +44 (0)20 3368 3550
SI Capital Limited (Broker)
Nick Emerson/Alan Gunn
Tel: +44 (0)14 8341 3500
Luther Pendragon (Media and Investor Relations)
Harry Chathli/Alexis Gore/Joe Quinlan
Tel: +44 (0)20 7618 9100
Notes for Editors:
Greatland Gold plc is London listed (LON:GGP) natural resource exploration and development company with a current focus on gold, copper and nickel exploration projects.
The Company has six main projects; four situated in Western Australia and two in Tasmania. All projects are 100% owned by Greatland.
In March 2019, Greatland signed a Farm-in Agreement with Newcrest Operations Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM), to explore and develop Greatland's Havieron gold-copper project in the Paterson region of Western Australia. Newcrest has the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in a 12 block area within E45/4701 that covers the Havieron target by spending up to US$65m.
Greatland is seeking to identify large mineral deposits in areas that have not been subject to extensive exploration previously. It is widely recognised that the next generation of large deposits will come from such under-explored areas and Greatland is applying advanced exploration techniques to investigate a number of carefully selected targets within its focused licence portfolio.
The Company is also actively investigating a range of new opportunities in precious and strategic metals and will update the market on new opportunities as and when appropriate.
