TIDMPREM
RNS Number : 6875A
Premier African Minerals Limited
24 January 2024
Premier African Minerals Limited / Ticker: PREM / Index: AIM /
Sector: Mining
For immediate release
24 January 2024
Premier African Minerals Limited
Zulu Lithium Update
The Board of Premier African Minerals Limited ("Premier" or the
"Company") is pleased to provide an update on further assay results
and current progress on Zulu Lithium and Tantalum ("Zulu").
George Roach, CEO commented : "ZDD162 and ZDD163 are very
pleasing results coming from the Southeast zone under development
which is not part of the current pit operations. This Southeast
zone appears to be Spodumene Quartz Intergrowths ("SQI") dominant
with more than 90% of the mineralisation associated with spodumene.
ZDD165 is infill from our North pit (Main zone) and supportive of
our conclusions to date.
By way of update on the Zulu plant, all components for the
thickener are now either at site or on route. The final components
and the ball mill are all expected to be loaded for planned
departure for site on 29 January 2024. The mill is expected to be
factory run on the 26 January 2024 immediately prior to
loading."
Drill Holes: Lithium, Tantalum & Rubidium Results
The table below sets out the composites determined, as per the
outlined compositing routine in the text below the table, from
analyses received from the independent external laboratory (SGS)
for core drill holes ZDD162, ZDD163 and ZDD165*.
*Notation ZDD = Zulu Diamond Drilling
ZT = Zulu (surface) Trench - all trenches
treated as horizontal drill holes
Table 1 -Assay Summary Results
Hole From To (m Width* Li(2) Ta(2) Rb ppm
(m) (m) O% O(5) ppm
ZDD162 198.00 208.80 10.80 1.11 94 853
Incl. 201.80 202.80 1.00 1.95 62 789
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD162 238.41 244.65 6.24 0.84 65 1283
Incl. 238.41 239.41 1.00 1.71 50 1011
Incl. 241.41 242.41 1.00 1.70 44 1101
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD162 356.46 359.53 3.07 1.21 83 1079
Incl. 357.86 358.86 1.00 2.46 29 916
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD163 259.00 266.68 7.68 0.74 41 1078
Incl. 261.50 263.50 2.00 1.38 33 948
Incl. 265.17 266.17 1.00 1.14 28 897
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD165 206.87 212.91 6.04 0.96 19 1244
Incl. 211.12 212.91 1.79 1.50 19 1419
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
ZDD165 215.25 219.47 4.22 1.00 26 1492
Incl. 217.86 219.10 1.24 1.90 10 1705
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- -------
*Not True Width but drilled width
**0.50% Li2O cut-off applied.
The following compositing routine has been applied:
-- 0.50% Li2O cut-off was applied to the pegmatitic
intersections only.
-- <2m standalone composites at the cut-off grade but with an
overall weighted average grade of >0.5% Li2O are not
reported.
-- Within any composite of >2m thickness, high-grade
intersections of 1m and greater are reported provided the
high-grade intersection is a multiple of x 1.5 of the overall
weighted composite grade, and
-- Within any composite, inclusions of country rock of <2m
thickness are included within the composite provided the overall
grade of the composite is not <0.50% Li2O.
Table 2 - Drill Holes/Trench Collar Coordinates
Dhole UTM 35S* UTM 35S* Elevation Azimuth Collar EOH
Easting Northing (AMSL) TN (deg) Dip (m)
(deg)
ZDD162 751414.404 7782278.521 1312.37 228.22 -48.60 363.48
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD163 751453.700 7782241.000 1312.42 226.25 -57.97 325.90
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
ZDD165 751250.610 7782569.185 1318.58 280.72 -49.91 323.08
----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------- -------
Table 3 - Drilling & Trenching Progress
A summary of the number of drill holes & trenches completed
both prior to and for the ongoing drilling is set out below:
PROGRAMME No of Drill Drill Metres No of Surface Trenched
Holes (m) Trenches Metres (m)
RST (1958) 7 903.90
------------ ------------- -------------- ------------
ZULU - Initial Exploration 6 2,312.90
------------ ------------- -------------- ------------
ZULU - PEA 43 5,809.10
------------ ------------- -------------- ------------
ZULU - Pilot Plant
/MRE 143 34,100.16 33 2,534.76
------------ ------------- -------------- ------------
Table 4 - Analytical Pipeline
A summary of the status of drill core & surface trench
analyses is set out below:
Results received to date (excluding
QA/QC samples) 10,129
# QA/QC samples analysed - blanks,
duplicates & CRMs 1,528
-------
Sample pulps at SGS Randfontein awaiting
analysis 627
-------
Sample pulps ready to be shipped to
SGS 0
-------
Samples being pulped in the laboratory 0
-------
Ongoing sampling of drill cores/trench
samples at site** 0
-------
**Estimate
*QA/QC samples = 15% of total
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
The drill holes are initially sited using a hand-held GPS
(Global Positioning System device) within the tenement areas.
Accurate coordinates and elevations of drill holes collars are
subsequently derived from a DGPS (Differential Global Position
devices) survey upon completion of the drill hole.
Drill cores are geologically logged, intersections of interest
are selected are marked-up with unique sample ID assigned before
splitting and sampling. Cores are cut in half using a core cutter,
individual samples bagged, and sent for analysis.
Alternating Certified Refence Materials (CRM), blank or
duplicate samples are inserted every 10th sample into the sample
stream sent to the laboratory to ensure QA/QC compliance. These
QA/QC samples are assessed upon receipt of analyses, checked and,
if acceptable, accepted into the analytical database. Follow-up
with the laboratory is instigated in cases were any QA/QC sample
fails the QA/QC parameters.
Currently, drill core samples are crushed and pulverised at the
Antec Laboratory, Zimbabwe to 85% passing -75 microns. Sample pulps
are couriered to the SGS Laboratory Services in Randfontein, South
Africa where pulps are fused with sodium peroxide and analysed by
ICP-OES and ICP-MS to report 51-elements. (SGS code ICP90A50 &
IMS90A50).
The Geology of Zulu
The area, located in the Fort Rixon Greenstone Belt, is
underlain by Archaean-aged meta-volcanics and meta-sedimentary
sequences of the Bulawayan Supergroup, with serpentinites and
banded iron formations at the base in the east and metamorphosed
volcano-sedimentary sequences to the west. The greenstone belt is
tear drop shaped measuring 30 km long and 19 km wide near the broad
section at the top. Metamorphism is retrograded to Greenschist
facies.
The Zulu Pegmatite is a LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) pegmatite
swarm which intrudes along the contacts between serpentine and
metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary sequences over a strike length of
several kilometres. Outcrop widths vary between 10 and 50m. The
pegmatite bodies strike N20deg and dip 70deg to 90deg to the
west.
The area was first pegged in 1955 by J.S. Willemse and intensely
explored, under option, by mapping, trenching and drilling by
Rhodesian Selection Trust Co. Ltd. ("RST") in 1958. In 1961 and
1962 a small quantity of petalite from the River Pegmatites (see
below) was mined by W. Burchett in partnership with J.S. Willemse.
Premier later acquired the claims in 2013.
Mapping and logging of drill cores within some pegmatites
semi-quantative powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)a has identified
three distinct pegmatite classes in the Mineral claims block.
Spodumene-rich, thick pegmatites named the Main Zone (North Pit) ,
South Pegmatite (South Pit) and SE Zone which are located north,
south and SE of the Machakwe River; footwall low-spodumene
pegmatites with associated tantalum and rubidium; and a suite of
petalite-bearing pegmatites of short strike length, named the River
Pegmatites.
In general, the lithium minerals, occurring in varying
quantities, are coarse grained with associated feldspars and quartz
with only very minor sulphides being observed. In several contact
zones, the lithium-bearing amphibole, holmquistite, has been
observed.
Qualified Person
Bruce Cumming, a consulting geologist to Premier, has reviewed
and approved this release to the extent that reference is made to
the geology and mineralogy of the Zulu pegmatites. Mr. Cumming is a
SACNASP and GSSA registered geoscientist with 48 years' experience
in exploration and project management, in multicommodity projects
throughout Africa.
Market Abuse Regulations
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of
UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018 ("UK MAR").
The person who arranged the release of this announcement on
behalf of the Company was George Roach.
A copy of this announcement is available at the Company's
website, www.premierafricanminerals.com
Enquiries:
Premier African Minerals Tel: +27 (0) 100
George Roach Limited 201 281
Michael Cornish / Beaumont Cornish Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20
Roland Cornish (Nominated Adviser) 7628 3396
--------------------------- -----------------
Tel: +44 (0) 20
Douglas Crippen CMC Markets UK Plc 3003 8632
--------------------------- -----------------
Toby Gibbs/Rachel Shore Capital Stockbrokers Tel: +44 (0) 20
Goldstein Limited 7408 4090
--------------------------- -----------------
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish"), which is
authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Conduct Authority, is acting as nominated adviser to the Company in
connection with this announcement and will not regard any other
person as its client and will not be responsible to anyone else for
providing the protections afforded to the clients of Beaumont
Cornish or for providing advice in relation to such proposals.
Beaumont Cornish has not authorised the contents of, or any part
of, this document and no liability whatsoever is accepted by
Beaumont Cornish for the accuracy of any information or opinions
contained in this document or for the omission of any information.
Beaumont Cornish as nominated adviser to the Company owes certain
responsibilities to the London Stock Exchange which are not owed to
the Company, the Directors, Shareholders, or any other person.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to
be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are
identi ed 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 re ect
the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on
information currently available to the Directors. A number of
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.
Notes to Editors:
Premier African Minerals Limited (AIM: PREM) is a
multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company
focused on Southern Africa with its RHA Tungsten and Zulu Lithium
projects in Zimbabwe.
The Company has a diverse portfolio of projects, which include
tungsten, rare earth elements, lithium and tantalum in Zimbabwe and
lithium and gold in Mozambique, encompassing brownfield projects
with near-term production potential to grass-roots exploration. The
Company has accepted a share offer by Vortex Limited ("Vortex") for
the exchange of Premier's entire 4.8% interest in Circum Minerals
Limited ("Circum"), the owners of the Danakil Potash Project in
Ethiopia, for a 13.1% interest in the enlarged share capital of
Vortex. Vortex has an interest of 36.7% in Circum.
Glossary of Technical Terms:
"amphibole" A class of rock-forming silicate or aluminosilicate
minerals typically occurring as fibrous or columnar
crystals.
"Banded Iron A sedimentary rock consisting of alternating layers
Formation of iron oxides and iron-poor chert.
(BIF)"
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Greenschist The Greenschist facies is at low pressure and temperature.
facies" The facies is named for the typical schistose texture
of the rocks and green colour of the minerals chlorite,
epidote and actinolite.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"feldspar" An aluminosilicate mineral consisting of potassium,
sodium, and calcium.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Holmquistite" A lithium-bearing amphibole related to hornblende
with a formula as (Na,K,Ca)Li(Mg,Fe)(3) Al(2) Si(8)
O(22) (OH)(2.)
-----------------------------------------------------------
"ICP-OES" Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"ICP-MS" Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Lepidolite" A pink to lavender coloured lithium bearing mineral
(KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2).
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Li to Li2O" x 2.153.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Li" Lithium.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Li(2) O" Lithium Oxide (Lithia) - an inorganic lithium compound
used to assess lithium minerals.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"m" Meters.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"meta-sediments" Sedimentary rocks that have been metamorphosed.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"meta-volcanics" Volcanic rocks that have been metamorphosed.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"PEA" Preliminary Economic Study.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Petalite" A white coloured lithium bearing mineral (LiAl(Si4O10)).
-----------------------------------------------------------
"ppm" Parts per million.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Rb" Rubidium.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"SC6" Is a high-purity lithium ore with approximately
6 percent lithium content being produced as a raw
material for the subsequent production of lithium-ion
batteries for electric vehicles
-----------------------------------------------------------
"serpentinite" A dark, typically greenish metamorphic rock, consisting
of serpentine or related minerals, formed when
mafic igneous rocks are altered.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Spodumene" A white to pink coloured lithium bearing mineral
(LiAlSi2O6) containing up to 8.03% Li(2) O
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Ta to Ta2O5" x 1.221.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Ta" Tantalum.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"X-Ray Diffraction" X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a widely used technique
to assess the mineral assemblage, crystallinity
and structure of rocks, cores etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------
LITHIUM CLASSIFICATION AND CONVERSION FACTORS
Lithium grades are normally presented in percentages or ppm.
Grades of deposits are also expressed as lithium compounds in
percentages, for example as a percent lithium oxide (Li(2) O)
content. The standard conversion factors are set out in the table
below:
Table: Conversion Factors for Lithium Compounds and Minerals
Convert from Convert to Convert to
Li Li(2) O
--------------- ------- ----------- -----------
Lithium Li 1.000 2.153
Li(2)
Lithium Oxide O 0.464 1.000
Ends
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