TIDMTHR
RNS Number : 4872M
Thor Mining PLC
30 April 2018
30 April 2018
THOR MINING PLC
("THOR" OR THE "COMPANY")
QUARTERLY REPORT JANUARY TO MARCH 2018
Highlights Outlook for June Quarter
2018
------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
TUNGSTEN & MULTI COMMODITIES
Molyhil, NT Australia
* Conditional acquisition of interest in Bonya project * Complete Bonya acquisition & schedule initial
adds multiple outcropping tungsten deposits adjacent drilling program
Molyhil
* Review of parameters for capital and operating
* Upgraded Open Cut Ore Reserve adds to mine life and expenses to prepare an upgraded Definitive
identifies subsequent underground mining potential. Feasibility Study (DFS).
* Continued strength in global tungsten and molybdenum
pricing.
Pilot Mountain, Nevada USA
* Internal scoping study to determine high level * Evaluation of scoping study outcomes.
operating parameters.
* Stage 2 of metallurgical testwork.
COPPER
Kapunda, SA Australia
* Release of Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate showing * Leach testing on historical core samples.
119,000 tonnes contained copper considered amenable
to In Situ Recovery.
* Preparation for field pump testing
INVESTMENTS
USA Lithium to be acquired by ASX listed Hawkstone Mining
Limited, valuing the Thor holding at >A$600,000.
CORPORATE & FINANCE
-- The Company completed a share placement to Metal Tiger PLC
raising GBP300,000 before expenses.
-- Cash position remains robust with A$3.0million in funds held
ensuring that forecast activities are fully financed into 2019.
Commenting, Mr Mick Billing, Executive Chairman of Thor Mining,
said:
"A very productive period for the Company with substantial
progress. All three of our core projects continue to make very good
progress."
"In particular, the acquisition of the interest in the tungsten
and copper deposits at Bonya has the potential to be a game changer
for Molyhil with the expectation of consequent substantial mine
life extension. We look forward to the first drill program at
Bonya, scheduled for early in the September quarter"
"Following the upgraded Open Cut Ore Reserve for Molyhil, we
have been progressing the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and
the outcomes of this are expected shortly."
"The scoping study at Pilot Mountain is nearing completion, and
we expect to have some guidance from this during the June
quarter."
"We will continue to provide investors with regular updates in
respect of progress."
TUNGSTEN PROJECTS
Tungsten and Molybdenum Price Trends
At the date of this report, the price of tungsten, per mtu of
APT (Ammonium Para Tungstate) was US$326.00/mtu, while the
molybdenum price has held its strengthened position at around
US$12.00/lb.
Industry discussion suggests that these stronger pricing levels
for both commodities are likely to continue for some time, with
molybdenum in particular forecast to have supply constraints for
several years.
MOLYHIL TUNGSTEN PROJECT - NT (100% Thor)
In January 2015, Thor announced an updated feasibility study for
its wholly-owned Molyhil tungsten project, demonstrating a project
NPV of A$67million (approximately GBP39million).
A full background on the project is available on the Thor Mining
website;
www.thormining.com/projects.
During the quarter (8 January 2018) Thor announced an upgraded
Statement of Open Pit Ore Reserve.
This new ore reserve increases the open pit mine life by 1 year
to 7 years, with increases in metal content of 10% for tungsten and
19% for molybdenum.
The study also identified portions of the Indicated and Inferred
resource estimate, remaining outside the revised pit shell, which
appear economic for mechanised underground mining techniques.
Table A:
Molyhil Open Cut Ore Reserve Statement (announced 8 January
2018)
Classification Reserve WO(3) Mo
'000 Tonnes Grade Tonnes Grade Tonnes
% %
---------------- ------------ -------- ------- -------- -------
Probable 3,500 0.29 10,200 0.12 4,300
Total 3,500 0.29 10,200 0.12 4,300
-------- --------
-- Thor Mining PLC holds 100% equity interest in this reserve.
-- The Company is not aware of any changes which could affect this reserve statement.
The review of operating and capital cost estimates to definitive
feasibility (DFS) standard continues, along with some upgraded
metallurgical balance reporting. The objective of this work is an
upgraded DFS for the benefit of prospective partners and project
financiers.
Bonya
During the quarter (28 March 2018) the Company also announced
the conditional acquisition of an interest in a licence area
containing 13 known outcropping tungsten deposits and one copper
deposit close to Molyhil. This acquisition is now conditional only
upon ministerial consent, following which an initial drilling
program is scheduled.
http://www.thormining.com/-/thor/lib/images/maps/15-001-1A%20Bonya%20Exploration%20Targets.jpg
This drilling program, the first to test the tungsten deposits
in more than 40 years, is planned to test several of these deposits
with a number of shallow (less than 100metres) reverse circulation
holes over each deposit drilled. While detailed costing is still in
progress, the program cost is expected to be in the region of
A$300,000.
PILOT MOUNTAIN TUNGSTEN PROJECT - NEVADA USA (100% Thor)
Thor's Pilot Mountain Project, acquired in 2014, is located
approximately 200 kilometres south of the city of Reno and 20
kilometres east of the town of Mina, located on US Highway 95.
The Pilot Mountain Project is comprised of four tungsten
deposits: Desert Scheelite, Gunmetal, Garnet and Good Hope. All of
these deposits are in close proximity (three kilometres) to each
other and have been subjected to small-scale mining activities at
various times during the 20th century.
In December 2014, Thor outlined a proposed exploration and
development plan with the objective of upgrading the knowledge and
status of the mineralisation of these deposits where historical
drilling outlined potentially economic mineralisation.
A full background on the project is available on the Thor Mining
website;
www.thormining.com/projects.
The directors believe Pilot Mountain resource is substantial on
a global scale, and has potential for significant growth, in
particular from the discovery in the August 2017 drilling program
of an additional parallel zone of scheelite mineralisation at the
Desert Scheelite deposit.
http://www.thormining.com/-/thor/lib/images/miscellaneous/Desert%20Scheelite%20XSection.jpg
In addition, the directors believe that the Desert Scheelite
resource, which outcrops at surface at the western end for more
than 400 metres, has potential to develop into a long term open pit
mining operation which would make it one of the higher grade open
pit tungsten operations in the western world.
Table B: Pilot Mountain Resource Summary (Announced 22 May
2017)
Resource WO(3) Ag Cu
Classification MT Grade Contained Grade Contained Grade Contained
% metal g/t metal % metal
(t) (t) (t)
------------------- ----------------- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Garnet Indicated - -
Inferred 1.83 0.36 6,590
------------------- ----------- ----- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Sub Total 1.83 0.36 6,590
------------------- ----------- ----- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Desert Scheelite Indicated 8.41 0.27 22,700 21.3 179 0.14 11,800
Inferred 1.49 0.23 3,430 9.07 13 0.17 2,500
------------------- ----------- ----- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Sub Total 9.90 0.26 26,130 19.39 192 0.14 14,300
------------------- ----------- ----- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Summary Indicated 8.41 0.27 22,690
Inferred 3.32 0.30 10,020
------------------- ----------- ----- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Pilot Mountain
Total 11.73 0.28 32,720
-------------------- ----------------- ----- ---------- ------ --------- ------ ---------
Note:
-- 100% owned by Thor Mining Plc
-- The Company is not aware of any changes which could affect this resource estimate
An internal scoping study has been commissioned which is
expected to provide a high level economic assessment, along with
initial parameters associated with project site layout options for
environmental and other permitting.
Additionally, while previous metallurgical testwork has
demonstrated the production of saleable concentrates, further
testwork is required to advance this to feasibility study standard,
and this next stage of metallurgical testwork has recently been
initiated.
KAPUNDA COPPER PROJECT - SA (Thor earning 45%)
On 1(st) August 2017 Thor announced an investment in a newly
incorporated private Australian company, Environmental Copper
Recovery SA Pty Ltd. ("ECR"), initially via convertible loan notes
of up to A$1.8 million, which will be used to fund field test work
and feasibility activities at Kapunda over the next 3 years. In
turn ECR has entered into an agreement to earn, in two stages, up
to 75% of the rights over metals which may be recovered via in-situ
recovery ("ISR") contained in the Kapunda deposit from Australian
listed company, Terramin Australia Limited ("Terramin" ASX:
"TZN").
During the quarter (12 February 2018) Thor announced an Inferred
Resource Estimate containing 119,000 tonnes of contained copper
considered amenable to Insitu Recovery techniques. The grade of the
resource, at 0.25%Cu, is considered typical for copper Insitu
Recovery operations.
Table C: Kapunda Copper Resource Estimate (Announced 12 February
2018)
Resource Copper
----------------------
Classification MT Grade Contained
% Cu (t)
------------------ --------------- ----- ----- ----------
Copper Oxide Inferred 30.3 0.24 73,000
Secondary copper
sulphide Inferred 17.1 0.27 46,000
------------------ --------------- ----- ----- ----------
Sub Total 47.4 0.25 119,000
---------------------------------- ----- ----- ----------
Notes:
-- ECR are earning a 75% interest in this resource, and Thor
have investment rights for up to 60% of ECR.
-- The Company is not aware of any changes which could affect this resource estimate.
Other near-term activities at Kapunda include continued
community liaison in respect of project activities, testwork on
historical drill core to determine the optimum leaching agent
(lixiviant) most suited to the Kapunda deposit and establishing
appropriate parameters for future field trials.
SPRING HILL GOLD PROJECT - NT (ROYALTY ENTITLEMENT)
In February 2017 Thor completed the A$3.5 million sale of its
Spring Hill Gold project(1). The sale transaction carries an
ongoing residual royalty of:
-- A$6 per ounce of gold produced from the Spring Hill tenements
where the gold produced is sold for up to A$1,500 per ounce;
and
-- A$14 per ounce of gold produced from the Spring Hill
tenements where the gold produced is sold for amounts over A$1,500
per ounce.
During the first half of the financial year, Thor received
royalties from Spring Hill production totalling A$8,124. No
royalties were received during the quarter.
(1)Refer ASX and AIM announcement of 29 February 2016
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
USA Lithium
On 14 June 2017, the Company announced the acquisition of a 25%
interest in US Lithium Pty Ltd ("USL"), along with an option to
acquire the remaining 75% of USL, subject to satisfactory
completion of project due diligence. Whilst Thor elected not to
exercise the option, its continues to hold an interest in this
company, subsequently renamed USA Lithium.
On 29th March 2018, the Company advised that USA Lithium had
accepted a conditional offer for 100% of its issued capital from
ASX listed Hawkstone Mining Limited (ASX: HWK). We have been
advised that a general meeting of shareholders of Hawkstone is
expected to be held in late May 2018 to approve this agreement.
If the acquisition proceeds, Thor will be issued 15,625,000
shares in Hawkstone. At the date of writing, Hawkstone shares
traded at A$0.041, valuing the Thor interest at approximately
A$600,000
Western Shaw
On 8th December 2017, the Company announced it had entered in to
an option agreement to acquire a licence, in application, in the
Pilbara region of Western Australia, considered prospective for
lithium and conglomerate hosted gold deposits.
Following an initial site visit conducted during January, and
assay of samples collected, the Company elected not to proceed with
this project.
CORPORATE & FINANCE
During the quarter, the Company announced a strategic placing of
GBP0.3 million at 3.0pence to Metal Tiger PLC, with Metal Tiger
securing, for a 90 day period, first right of refusal to
participate in any new joint venture, acquisition, or similar
transaction undertaken by Thor. We look forward to working with
Metal Tiger and reviewing our projects with them..
Competent Person's Report
The information in this report that relates to exploration
results, and exploration targets, is based on information compiled
by Richard Bradey, who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Bradey is an employee of Thor Mining PLC.
He has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the
activity which 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'. Richard Bradey consents to the inclusion in the report
of the matters based on his information in the form and context in
which it appears.
+Rule 5.5
Enquiries:
Mick Billing +61 (8) 7324 1935 Thor Mining PLC Executive Chairman
Ray Ridge +61 (8) 7324 1935 Thor Mining PLC CFO/Company
Secretary
Colin Aaronson/ +44 (0) 207 383 Grant Thornton Nominated Adviser
Richard Tonthat 5100 UK LLP
Nick Emerson +44 (0) 1483 413 SI Capital Ltd Broker
500
Tim Blythe/ +44 (0) 207 138 Blytheweigh Financial PR
Camilla Horsfall 3222
Updates on the Company's activities are regularly posted on
Thor's website www.thormining.com, which includes a facility to
register to receive these updates by email, and on the Company's
twitter page @ThorMining.
+Rule 5.5
Appendix 5B
Mining exploration entity and oil and gas exploration entity
quarterly report
Introduced 01/07/96 Origin Appendix 8 Amended 01/07/97,
01/07/98, 30/09/01, 01/06/10, 17/12/10, 01/05/13, 01/09/16
Name of entity
--------------------------------------------------
THOR MINING PLC
ABN Quarter ended ("current quarter")
------------ ----------------------------------
121 117 673 31 March 2018
----------------------------------
Consolidated statement of cash Current quarter Year to date
flows $A'000 (9 months)
$A'000
1. Cash flows from operating
activities
1.1 Receipts (Spring Hill Royalty) - 8
1.2 Payments for
(a) exploration & evaluation (228) (1,207)
(b) development - -
(c) production - -
(d) staff costs (52) (138)
(e) administration and corporate
costs (368) (1,032)
1.3 Dividends received (see note - -
3)
1.4 Interest received 6 7
Interest and other costs of
1.5 finance paid (2) (2)
1.6 Income taxes paid - -
1.7 Research and development refunds - -
Other (settlement of future
1.8 royalty) - (162)
---------------- -------------
Net cash from / (used in)
1.9 operating activities (644) (2,526)
----- ------------------------------------- ---------------- -------------
2. Cash flows from investing
activities
2.1 Payments to acquire:
(a) property, plant and equipment (5) (17)
(b) tenements (see item 10) - -
(c) investments - (378)
(d) other non-current assets - -
2.2 Proceeds from the disposal
of:
(a) property, plant and equipment - -
(b) tenements (see item 10) - -
commission paid on proceeds - -
(c) investments - -
(d) other non-current assets - -
2.3 Cash flows from loans to - -
other entities
2.4 Dividends received (see note - -
3)
2.5 Other (security bonds) - -
---------------- -------------
Net cash from / (used in)
2.6 investing activities (5) (395)
------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -------------
3. Cash flows from financing
activities
3.1 Proceeds from issues of shares 1,412 5,407
3.2 Proceeds from issue of convertible
notes
3.3 Proceeds from exercise of
share options
Transaction costs related
to issues of shares, convertible
3.4 notes or options (5) (91)
3.5 Proceeds from borrowings - -
Repayment of borrowings (finance
3.6 lease) (4) (11)
3.7 Transaction costs related
to loans and borrowings
3.8 Dividends paid
Other (Director Advances
3.9 repaid) - (50)
---------------- -------------
Net cash from / (used in)
3.10 financing activities 1,403 5,255
------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -------------
4. Net increase / (decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents
for the period
Cash and cash equivalents
4.1 at beginning of period 2,278 685
Net cash from / (used in)
operating activities (item
4.2 1.9 above) (644) (2,526)
Net cash from / (used in)
investing activities (item
4.3 2.6 above) (5) (395)
Net cash from / (used in)
financing activities (item
4.4 3.10 above) 1,403 5,255
Effect of movement in exchange
4.5 rates on cash held 42 55
---------------- -------------
Cash and cash equivalents
4.6 at end of period 3,074 3,074
------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -------------
5. Reconciliation of cash and Current quarter Previous quarter
cash equivalents $A'000 $A'000
at the end of the quarter
(as shown in the consolidated
statement of cash flows) to
the related items in the accounts
5.1 Bank balances 1,574 1,778
5.2 Call deposits
5.3 Bank overdrafts
5.4 Other (term deposit) 1,500 500
---------------- -----------------
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of quarter (should
5.5 equal item 4.6 above) 3,074 2,278
---- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------
6. Payments to directors of the entity and Current quarter
their associates $A'000
Aggregate amount of payments to these parties
6.1 included in item 1.2 168
----------------
6.2 Aggregate amount of cash flow from loans -
to these parties included in item 2.3
----------------
6.3 Include below any explanation necessary to understand
the transactions included in items 6.1 and 6.2
------ -----------------------------------------------------------------
The amount at Item 6.1 above represents payments to Directors
for Directors fees and other consulting services provided (Messrs
Billing and Thomas only).
7. Payments to related entities of the entity Current quarter
and their associates $A'000
7.1 Aggregate amount of payments to these parties -
included in item 1.2
----------------
7.2 Aggregate amount of cash flow from loans -
to these parties included in item 2.3
----------------
7.3 Include below any explanation necessary to understand
the transactions included in items 7.1 and 7.2
---- ----------------------------------------------------------------
8. Financing facilities available Total facility Amount drawn
Add notes as necessary for amount at quarter at quarter end
an understanding of the position end $A'000
$A'000
8.1 Loan facilities
--------------------- -------------------
8.2 Credit standby arrangements
--------------------- -------------------
8.3 Other (please specify)
--------------------- -------------------
8.4 Include below a description of each facility above, including
the lender, interest rate and whether it is secured or
unsecured. If any additional facilities have been entered
into or are proposed to be entered into after quarter
end, include details of those facilities as well.
---- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Estimated cash outflows for next $A'000
quarter
---- --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
9.1 Exploration and evaluation (505)
9.2 Development -
9.3 Production -
9.4 Staff costs (40)
9.5 Administration and corporate costs (190)
9.6 Other -
----------------------------------------
9.7 Total estimated cash outflows (735)
---- --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
10. Changes in tenements Tenement Nature of interest Interest Interest
(items 2.1(b) reference at beginning at end
and 2.2(b) above) & location of quarter of quarter
10.1 Interests in N/A
mining tenements
and petroleum
tenements lapsed,
relinquished
or reduced
----- --------------------- ------------ ------------------- -------------- ------------
10.2 Interests in N/A
mining tenements
and petroleum
tenements acquired
or increased
----- --------------------- ------------ ------------------- -------------- ------------
Compliance statement
1 This statement has been prepared in accordance with accounting
standards and policies which comply with Listing Rule 19.11A.
2 This statement gives a true and fair view of the matters disclosed.
Sign here: ........
.................................................... Date:
.......30 April 2018............
(Company secretary)
Print name: ..Ray Ridge.........................................
Notes
1. The quarterly report provides a basis for informing the
market how the entity's activities have been financed for the past
quarter and the effect on its cash position. An entity that wishes
to disclose additional information is encouraged to do so, in a
note or notes included in or attached to this report.
2. If this quarterly report has been prepared in accordance with
Australian Accounting Standards, the definitions in, and provisions
of, AASB 6: Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources and
AASB 107: Statement of Cash Flows apply to this report. If this
quarterly report has been prepared in accordance with other
accounting standards agreed by ASX pursuant to Listing Rule 19.11A,
the corresponding equivalent standards apply to this report.
3. Dividends received may be classified either as cash flows
from operating activities or cash flows from investing activities,
depending on the accounting policy of the entity.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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