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Artemis Resources Limited — Capital/Financing Update 2013
Aug 14, 2013
10429_rns_2013-08-14_35e6b784-d9f7-4690-bf4c-96268850c25f.pdf
Capital/Financing Update
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ASX Announcement
15 August 2013
Resource Definition Drilling to Commence at Eastern Hills Antimony Project
Highlights
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3,000 metre Reverse Circulation drilling contract signed
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Drilling to commence next week to upgrade exploration target to a JORC compliant resource
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Current Exploration target: 410,000t-1.25Mt @ 1.5-1.9% Sb and 2.1-2.7% Pb
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WA Government (Exploration Incentive Scheme) co-funding of up to $140,000 to drill antimony deposit
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New extensional targets to antimony deposit recently defined
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Antimony demand from China strong: prices have surged almost 400% over past 10 years and remain robust, currently at ~US$9,500 per tonne
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Part underwritten Rights Issue to eligible shareholders closing 23 August 2013
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Offer includes free attaching options
Artemis Resources Limited (ASX: ARV) is pleased to announce that it has appointed drilling contractor Macquarie Drilling Pty Ltd to undertake a 3,000 metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme at the Eastern Hills antimonylead (Sb-Pb) deposit, located in the Ashburton region of Western Australia (Figure 2).
The aim of the current drilling programme is to:
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Validate the historical drilling, geological interpretation and analyses – at least two twin holes will be drilled;
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Establish a maiden JORC compliant resource at Eastern Hills;
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Expand known mineralisation down dip and along strike, where the main lode is currently still “open”; and
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Test an adjoining zone immediately to the northeast of the Eastern Hills antimony-lead lode, where recent remodelling of geophysical data defined a new Electromagnetic (EM) conductor with similar properties to the known antimony-lead lode, in what is interpreted to be a sub-parallel structure (Figure 1).
At the Eastern Hills Antimony Project the company has previously defined an exploration target of 410,000t-1.25Mt at 1.5-1.9% Sb and 2.1-2.7% Pb (as previously reported [1] ). This exploration target has been defined over a 600 metre strike length in what is now thought to be a mineralised system, based on EM conductors, of at least 1 kilometre in strike length and which is considered open at depth. It should also be noted that the current exploration target does not take into account the newly identified Northern EM Conductor which shows the same characteristics as the previously defined Southern Conductor mineralisation. This new zone has potential to add significant tonnage.
As the Eastern Hills mineralisation is an exploration target only, the potential quantity and grade remains conceptual in nature. There has so far, been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource in compliance with the JORC Code and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource as defined by the JORC
1 As reported in ASX Announcements dated 16 and 18 January 2013
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Artemis Resources Limited ABN: 80 107 051 749 Telephone: +61 2 9078 7670 | Facsimile: +61 2 9078 7661 | Email: [email protected] Level 9, 50 Margaret Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000 | PO Box R933 Royal Exchange, NSW 1225 Australia www.artemisresources.com.au
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Code. Artemis has now finalised all details relating to the drill programme and anticipates commencement of drilling within the next week.
WA GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS DRILL PROGRAMME
On 12 June, Artemis’ application for co-funding of up to $140,000 of direct drilling costs under the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS – Round 7) was successfully granted by the WA Mines Department.
Artemis has awarded Macquarie Drilling the contract for the completion of the 3,000m RC programme. Given that Artemis will receive up to $140,000 to fund 50% of direct drilling costs through the EIS co-funding this drilling programme, Artemis believes that all of the stated aims, including sufficient drilling to realise a maiden JORC compliant resource at the Eastern Hills Antimony Project, can be achieved in a very cost effective manner.
The successful co-funding approval provides further support for the Eastern Hills deposit, just months after it was “reevaluated”.
The RC drill programme at Eastern Hills will entail up to 16 drill holes (Figure 1), for a total drilling metreage of approximately 3,000m. The programme is to be part funded from the rights issue which is due to close on 23 August 2013.
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Figure 1 Eastern Hills EM Conductors and drill hole plan
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Artemis Resources Limited ABN: 80 107 051 749 Telephone: +61 2 9078 7670 | Facsimile: +61 2 9078 7661 | Email: [email protected] Level 9, 50 Margaret Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000 | PO Box R933 Royal Exchange, NSW 1225 Australia
www.artemisresources.com.au
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RIGHTS ISSUE UPDATE
As recently announced Artemis is seeking to raise up to $1.17m through a Rights Issue to eligible shareholders. The proceeds will be used to fund the drilling and the next phase of exploration which will follow on from the upcoming RC drilling programme including establishment of an initial maiden JORC compliant resource at Eastern Hills.
The Rights Issue is part underwritten by Patersons Securities Limited for $730,000, which includes an amount underwritten by directors.
The rights issue is conducted on the basis of 2 new shares for every 5 existing shares held, at an issue price of $0.006 per share, together with 1 free attaching 2014 Short-Dated Option (1.2 cents expiry 31 March 2014) and 1 free attaching 2016 Long-Dated Option (2 cents expiry 31 August 2016) for every 2 new shares subscribed for under the Rights Issue.
All eligible shareholders should now have received a copy of the Rights Issue Prospectus plus Entitlement and Acceptance forms and are reminded that the final date for receipt of acceptance and payment in full is the 23[rd] August 2013 at 7pm AEST.
EASTERN HILLS ANTIMONY DEPOSIT
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Antimony-lead mineralisation discovered by Taipan Resources NL in the mid 1990s;
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“Re-evaluated” by Artemis in January 2013 and an initial Exploration Target in the range of 410,000t-1.25Mt at 1.5-1.9% Sb and 2.1-2.7% Pb (plus 0.22g/t gold and 26g/t silver) was estimated;
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Currently defined antimony-lead mineralisation exhibits a strike length of at least 600 metres (Figure 1) and a vertical depth of 120 metres, but remains open, both at depth and along strike.
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Consists of a zone of massive sulphide mineralisation (Figure 1) up to two metres wide associated with a fault structure within a broader zone of disseminated sulphide mineralisation up to 15m wide;
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Sulphide mineralogy consists of pyrite, arsenopyrite and boulangerite – a leadantimony sulphide – with minor pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and galena;
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Initial metallurgical testing by Taipan Resources NL indicated favourable recoveries for antimony and lead up to 98% are possible.
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Figure 2 – Eastern Hills & Mt Clement Projects - Location map
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Artemis Resources Limited ABN: 80 107 051 749 Telephone: +61 2 9078 7670 | Facsimile: +61 2 9078 7661 | Email: [email protected] Level 9, 50 Margaret Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000 | PO Box R933 Royal Exchange, NSW 1225 Australia
www.artemisresources.com.au
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ANTIMONY USAGE AND MARKETS
Antimony is a specialty metal, commonly found in nature in its sulphide form of stibnite. Saleable products include antimony metal (ingot) and antimony trioxide (a white powder). Its uses include:
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fire retardant agent
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hardening/strengthening agent for lead and zinc alloys
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lead batteries, ammunition
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catalyst in PET (plastics) production
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ceramics
In 1997, when the Eastern Hills mineralisation was discovered, the antimony price was depressed, at or below US$2,000 per tonne and the lead price was around US$550 per tonne.
Since the record monthly average price for antimony ingot reached US$16,800 per tonne in March 2011, antimony prices have remained well above long term averages, currently trading at around US$9,500 per tonne, a five-fold increase since the Eastern Hills deposit was first reported in 1997. This has the potential to significantly enhance the economic parameters of the Eastern Hills deposit.
Global antimony output has been dominated by the Chinese for many years (China supplies approximately 85% of world production). However, with lower output from China since 2009, alternative sources of antimony are required.
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Global output rose almost 70% from 2003 to 2008 and has stabilised post GFC
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Despite post GFC falls, China dominates global production (~85% in 2011 - USGS)
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China has imposed export quotas on strategic commodities such as antimony over recent years
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China production decreases reinforce the need for new antimony sources
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Alternative output currently from high sovereign risk countries
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Non-Chinese off-takers are searching for stable non-Chinese sources of antimony
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Corporate transactions are being completed on non-Chinese antimony projects
This reliance on China as a source of global antimony has led to the European Commission placing antimony on its list of 14 Critical Raw Materials, based on supply risk, economic importance and environmental country risk.
RECENT ANTIMONY TRANSACTIONS AND TAKE OVERS
Over the past two years there have been substantial commercial deals undertaken which affirm the strategic appeal of the antimony sector. These deals have included:
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May 2011 - China Shandong Jinshunda Group Co Ltd acquired 96% of ASX-listed Anchor Resources for AU$15.5M to secure ownership of the Bielsdown antimony deposit in NSW, Australia (1,060,000t @ 1.77% Sb and 0.23 g/t Au)[2]
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March 2013 – Bracken Resources Pty Ltd acquired the Hillgrove gold-antimony deposit (6,349,000t@ 1.59% Sb and 4.3 g/t Au) for $30M from ASX-listed Straits Resources Ltd[3]
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May 2013 – AIM-listed Tri-Star Resources PLC acquires the Bald Hill antimony deposit from Canadian explorer Portage Minerals Inc (exploration target of 725,000 – 1,000,000t range grading 4.11% to 5.32% Sb) in a deal worth £3.5M[4]
2 Anchor Resources Ltd (ASX: AHR) June 2011 Quarterly Report released to the ASX 29th July 2011
3 Straits Resources Ltd (ASX: SRQ) announcement released to the ASX 11th March 2013
4 Tri-Star Resources PLC (AIM: TSTR) announcement released to AIM 2nd May 2013
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ABOUT ARTEMIS RESOURCES
Artemis Resources Limited is a resources exploration company with a focus on its prospective Mount Clement (gold and antimony), Yandal (gold) and West Pilbara (gold and base metals) projects in Western Australia. These projects have significant exploration potential and close proximity to existing important deposits or producing mines. Artemis aims to develop a significant gold inventory through exploration and acquisitions which have the potential to become mines and create shareholder value.
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For further information, please contact:
Guy Robertson Executive Director Phone: +61 2 9078 7670 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.artemisresources.com.au
James Moses Mandate Corporate
Mob: 0420 991 574 Email: [email protected]
Tony Dawe
Professional Public Relations
+61 8 9388 0944 Email: [email protected]
Competent Person Statements
The information in this document that relates to Exploration Results and Exploration Targets is based on information compiled or reviewed by Mr Trevor Woolfe, who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Woolfe is a consultant to the Company, and is employed by Alexander Cable Pty Ltd. Mr Woolfe 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 2004 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Mr Woolfe consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
The Company’s Exploration Target includes potential quantity and grade and is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define these mineral resources and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of mineral resources.
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