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ECLIPSE METALS LIMITED. — Capital/Financing Update 2023
Jun 20, 2023
64863_rns_2023-06-20_59d04d7a-909d-4971-b5c1-856c4a1f4bcf.pdf
Capital/Financing Update
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21[st] June 2023 ASX Announcement
PROMISING MINERALOGICAL RESULTS AT GRØNNEDAL RARE EARTH PROSPECT, GREENLAND
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Encouraging mineralogical determinations from Grønnedal
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Composite ferro-carbonate mineral containing elevated medium to heavy REE
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Grønnedal Pr+Nd account for 55% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd)
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On-going assessment of material found over a wide area in Grønnedal
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Located within the Ivigtût multi-commodity project in SW Greenland
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Assays from drilling at Ivigtût project are expected this quarter
Eclipse Metals Ltd ( Eclipse or the Company ) (ASX: EPM) is pleased to provide an update on the Company’s mineralogical determinations and percussion drilling program for its Grønnedal prospect within the Ivigtût multi-commodity project in SW Greenland.
Ongoing mineralogical assessment of pink-orange mineralised material found over a wide area (1.5 km x 3 km) in Grønnedal , including scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination at CSIRO, has identified composite ferro-carbonate minerals containing elevated medium to heavy REE .
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Figure 1: Grønnedal surface sample shows pink/orange REE mineral. Visually estimated to comprise of ~25% pink-orange material and 75% iron oxides and oxidised carbonatite.
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Figure 2: 2022 Maiden drilling and sampling program at Ivigtût multi-commodity project
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Cautionary Statement
Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.
Executive Chairman Carl Popal commented : “These initial results at Grønnedal are of great significance for Eclipse and follow up the sampling of drill core from the Ivigtût pit which also confirmed the presence of REE mineralisation. The REE prospectivity at both Ivigtût and Grønnedal aligns with our strategy of becoming a leading supplier of metals and minerals used in the green energy industry. Eclipse will continue to actively explore the historic Ivigtût pit and the nearby Grønnedal prospect during 2023.”
Previous ambiguous mineralogical determination attempts could not name the pink/orange coloured minerals containing these REEs with anomalous Pr, Nd and Dy content. Precise mineralogical identification is essential in processing REE and is an important step in prefeasibility studies.
The pink-orange coloured minerals were first submitted by Eclipse for mineralogical determinations in 2021, which initial assessment determined that there is a possible combination of several minerals. During 2022, an XRD assessment was conducted by the St Andrews University School of Earth Science which identified possible bastnasite and proposed further thorough assessment to identify the precise composite nature of the minerals (ASX release 1 November 2022).
Previous laboratory and pXRF assay results from Grønnedal rock chip samples using polished thin sections (ASX release 17 November 2021) and now Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have confirmed the presence of rare earth minerals in three of the four rock samples examined at CSIRO. SEM/EDS (SEM with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) analysis of one sample returned chemistry corresponding to the rare earth minerals Parisite and Ancylite. These two minerals were distinguished by the difference in CaO values showing a composite mineral structure containing REEs with elevated Pr, Nd and Dy values.
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Figure 3. Grønnedal trenching area marked in yellow.
Drilling and trenching at Grønnedal identified this material within part of a widespread dolerite dyke system intruding the carbonatite. Analysis of historical geological and geophysical work has indicated that the dolerite dykes are deep-seated.
Drill and trench samples collected at Ivigtût and Grønnedal in October 2022 are currently being analysed by a laboratory in Australia, with results due during the next few weeks. The laboratory has confirmed significant progress in its work with some samples exceeding the limit of detection (MEMS61L method). The Company anticipates assay results to be received by the end of July. To ensure accuracy, these samples will undergo further testing using the over-limit methods by the laboratory.
Grønnedal Carbonatite
Drill sample analysis using a portable XRF analyzer (pXRF) on five 1.5m composite samples from drillhole L3-9, returned an intersection average of 7.5m @ 0.8% La2O3+Ce2O3+Pr2O3+Nd2O3 (4REO), with praseodymium (Pr)/lanthanum (La) and neodymium (Nd)/cerium (Ce) ratios of about 1:2, plus base metal values of 0.49% Zn+Pb+Ni (Refer ASX announcement 28 November 2022)
Importantly, the pXRF readings suggest that Pr and Nd are significantly enriched in drillhole L3-9 compared to La and Ce , an observation that is consistent with academic studies as well as laboratory results received previously (Refer ASX announcement 28 November 2022).
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Previous laboratory and pXRF assay results from Grønnedal rock chip samples
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On 17[th] November 2021, the Company reported pXRF results indicating potentially significant rare ‐ earth element content. Subsequent laboratory results from samples tested by pXRF confirmed significant 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd) (reported on 9 March 2022).
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On 22[nd ] November 2021, Eclipse reported laboratory assays from historical Grønnedal drill core sample IVT 21-4, which yielded 2.1% TREO, including 0.12% Pr2O3 and 0.46% Zn.
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On 9[th] March 2022, the Company reported highly anomalous heavy REE laboratory assay results for six rock chip samples (G21010, G21011, G21014, G21016, G21017 and G21019), demonstrating that the Grønnedal carbonatite complex is – at least in part – enriched in Pr and Nd.
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On 24[th] March 2022, Eclipse reported the final laboratory assay results for the above samples with G21016 having returned 4.66% TREO, 0.13% Gd2O3 and 3.3% BaO, and sample G21011, collected from an aplite cutting the Grønnedal complex, returned analyses of 0.93% Nb2O5, 0.07% Rb2O and 1.77% ZrO2.
Discussion
Overall, analysis of the Grønnedal rock chip samples demonstrated unusual patterns for Pr/La and Nd/Ce ratios compared with other REE-mineralised carbonatite complexes such as Mountain Pass (California) and Mt Weld (Western Australia).
Lower La and Ce content measured by pXRF, if confirmed by laboratory assay results across the Grønnedal complex or a significant part thereof, would indicate that REE mineralisation at Grønnedal contains a higher proportion of the commercially more valuable magnetic REE, Pr and Nd. The latter are often termed the ‘magnet feed’ REE which are critical elements for high-performance magnets in high demand from the automotive sector and for wind turbines.
More specifically, pXRF readings and laboratory assay results recorded thus far show a relatively large proportion of Pr and Nd, comprising up to 55% of the measured 4REE.
This can be compared with other rare earth deposits:
i) Grønnedal Pr+Nd: 55% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd) ii) Mountain Pass Pr+Nd: 17% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd) iii) Mount Weld CLD Pr+Nd: 25% of the measured 4REE (La+Ce+Pr+Nd)
* Reference: Technology Metals Research, TMR (2015)
Such a difference in composition for the project could have positive implications for the so-called “basket price”. The basket price is described as the sum of proportions of individual REOs in the product multiplied by the price of the individual REOs.
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Figure 4. MEL 2007-45 Location Map, showing the geology of the Grønnedal covering nepheline syenite with a carbonatite plug.
Authorised for release by the Board of Eclipse Metals Ltd.
Carl Popal Aiden Bradley Executive Chairman Investor Relations [email protected]
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Figure 5. Greenland REE Deposits and location of Grønnedal and Ivigtût
About Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX: EPM)
Eclipse Metals Ltd is an Australian exploration company focused on mineral exploration in South-western Greenland, Northern Territory and Queensland for multi commodity mineralisation. Eclipse Metals Ltd has an impressive portfolio of assets prospective for cryolite, fluorite, siderite, quartz, REE, gold, platinum group metals, manganese, palladium, vanadium and uranium mineralisation. The Company’s mission is to increase shareholders’ wealth through capital growth and ultimately dividends. Eclipse Metals Ltd plans to achieve this goal by exploring for and developing viable mineral deposits to generate mining or joint venture incomes.
Competent Persons Statement
The information in this report / ASX release that relates to Exploration Results and Exploration Targets is based on information compiled and reviewed by Mr. Rodney Dale, Non-Executive Director of Eclipse Metals Ltd. Mr. Dale holds a Fellowship Diploma in Geology from RMIT, is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM) and has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation under consideration and to the activity being reported 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. Mr Dale consents to the inclusion in this report / ASX release of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. Additionally, Mr Dale confirms that the entity is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information contained in the ASX releases referred to in this report.
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JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1
Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data
(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)
| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling | • Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut | • | Grønnedal carbonatite samples |
| techniques | channels, random chips, or specific | represent outcropping rock | |
| specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples |
• | formations; qualitative only. Initial field tests by hand-held XRF assumed to be indicative only. Instrument not calibrated. |
|
| should not be taken as limiting the broad | • | Chemical analyses to assess levels | |
| meaning of sampling. | of elements contained, not for ore- | ||
| • Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the |
grade estimates. | ||
| appropriate calibration of any | |||
| measurement tools or systems used. | |||
| • Aspects of the determination of | |||
| mineralisation that are Material to the | |||
| Public Report. | |||
| • In cases where ‘industry standard’ work | |||
| has been done this would be relatively | |||
| simple (eg ‘reverse circulation drilling | |||
| was used to obtain 1 m samples from | |||
| which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a | |||
| 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other | |||
| cases more explanation may be | |||
| required, such as where there is coarse | |||
| gold that has inherent sampling | |||
| problems. Unusual commodities or | |||
| mineralisation types (eg submarine | |||
| nodules) may warrant disclosure of | |||
| detailed information. | |||
| Drilling | • Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, | •No drilling was undertaken as part of the | |
| techniques | open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, | grab sampling program. | |
| auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details | |||
| (eg core diameter, triple or standard | |||
| tube, depth of diamond tails, face- | |||
| sampling bit or other type, whether core | |||
| is oriented and if so, by what method, | |||
| _etc). _ | |||
| Drill | • Method of recording and assessing core | •No drilling was undertaken as part of this | |
| sample | and chip sample recoveries and results | grab sampling program. | |
| recovery | assessed. | ||
| • Measures taken to maximise sample | |||
| recovery and ensure representative | |||
| nature of the samples. | |||
| • Whether a relationship exists between | |||
| sample recovery and grade and whether | |||
| sample bias may have occurred due to | |||
| preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse | |||
| material. |
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| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Logging | • Whether core and chip samples have | •Samples geologically logged before |
| been geologically and geotechnically | submission for analysis for identification | |
| logged to a level of detail to support | only. Not quantitative. | |
| appropriate Mineral Resource | ||
| estimation, mining studies and | ||
| metallurgical studies. | ||
| • Whether logging is qualitative or | ||
| quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, | ||
| channel, etc) photography. | ||
| • The total length and percentage of the | ||
| _relevant intersections logged. _ | ||
| Sub- | • If core, whether cut or sawn and whether | •Samples for geological determination |
| sampling | quarter, half or all core taken. | and identification only. Not quantitative. |
| techniques | • If non-core, whether riffled, tube |
•No duplicates collected or determined. |
| and sample | sampled, rotary split, etc and whether |
|
| preparation | sampled wet or dry. | |
| • For all sample types, the nature, quality | ||
| and appropriateness of the sample | ||
| preparation technique. | ||
| • Quality control procedures adopted for | ||
| all sub-sampling stages to maximise | ||
| representivity of samples. | ||
| • Measures taken to ensure that the | ||
| sampling is representative of the in situ | ||
| material collected, including for instance | ||
| results for field duplicate/second-half | ||
| sampling. | ||
| • Whether sample sizes are appropriate to | ||
| the grain size of the material being | ||
| sampled. | ||
| Quality of | • The nature, quality and appropriateness | •Diamantina Laboratories, Report 24693, |
| assay data | of the assaying and laboratory | SEM Analysis for Rare Earths in Rock |
| and | procedures used and whether the | Sample #2. |
| laboratory | technique is considered partial or total. | •No new laboratory results reported. |
| tests | • For geophysical tools, spectrometers, | Previous reports cited- |
| handheld XRF instruments, etc, the | •Standard laboratory procedures for | |
| parameters used in determining the | sample preparation, elemental | |
| analysis including instrument make and | determination, QA / QC. | |
| model, reading times, calibrations factors | •XRF instrument used only to select |
|
| applied and their derivation, etc. | mineralised samples for shipment to | |
| • Nature of quality control procedures | reduce quantity and weight of samples | |
| adopted (eg standards, blanks, | sent from Greenland to Australia. | |
| duplicates, external laboratory checks) | •Standard laboratory procedures with | |
| and whether acceptable levels of | blanks and duplicates. No external | |
| accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision | laboratory checks warranted at this | |
| have been established. | stage. | |
| Verification | • The verification of significant |
•No drilling was undertaken as part of this |
| of | intersections by either independent or | grab sampling program. |
| sampling | alternative company personnel. | |
| and | • The use of twinned holes. | |
| assaying | • Documentation of primary data, data | |
| entry procedures, data verification, data |
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| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| storage (physical and electronic) | ||
| protocols. | ||
| • _Discuss any adjustment to assay data. _ | ||
| Location of | • Accuracy and quality of surveys used to |
•Handheld GPS locations:- |
| data points | locate drill holes (collar and down-hole |
Grønnedal – within 100m of 658880mE : |
| surveys), trenches, mine workings and | 6791300mN. | |
| other locations used in Mineral Resource | No grid. Handheld GPS only and |
|
| estimation. | correlation with hard-copy maps. | |
| • Specification of the grid system used. | ||
| • Quality and adequacy of topographic | ||
| control. | ||
| Data | • Data spacing for reporting of Exploration | •Grab samples were collected at random |
| spacing | Results. | sites, determined by outcrop availability. |
| and | • Whether the data spacing and | •No assumption of continuity or resource |
| distribution | distribution is sufficient to establish the |
estimation. |
| degree of geological and grade | •Samples not composited. | |
| continuity appropriate for the Mineral | ||
| Resource and Ore Reserve estimation | ||
| procedure(s) and classifications applied. | ||
| • Whether sample compositing has been | ||
| _applied. _ | ||
| Orientation | • Whether the orientation of sampling |
•No drilling was undertaken as part of this |
| of data in | achieves unbiased sampling of possible | grab sampling program. |
| relation to | structures and the extent to which this is | |
| geological | known, considering the deposit type. | |
| structure | • If the relationship between the drilling | |
| orientation and the orientation of key | ||
| mineralised structures is considered to | ||
| have introduced a sampling bias, this | ||
| should be assessed and reported if | ||
| material. | ||
| Sample | • The measures taken to ensure sample | •Samples secured on-site and |
| security | security. | transported by airline to Australia under |
| normalsecurity procedures. | ||
| Audits or | • The results of any audits or reviews of | •No audits have been completed yet. |
| reviews | sampling techniques and data. |
Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral | • Type, reference name/number, location | •MEL 2007 / 45 granted to Eclipse |
| tenement and | and ownership including agreements or | Metals in February 2021 for a period of |
| land tenure | material issues with third parties such | 3 years with extensions subject to |
| status | as joint ventures, partnerships, | activities and expenditure. |
| overriding royalties, native title | •Granted by Government of Greenland. | |
| interests, historical sites, wilderness or | ||
| national park and environmental | ||
| settings. | ||
| • The security of the tenure held at the | ||
| time of reporting along with any known | ||
| impediments to obtaining a licence to |
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| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| _operate inthe area. _ | ||
| Exploration | • Acknowledgment and appraisal of | GEUS Report File No. 20236 |
| done by other | exploration by other parties. |
The Planning of the Ivigtût Open Pit of |
| parties | Kryolitselskabet Oresund A/S - Mining of | |
| the Flouritic Orebody”; Outokompu OY | ||
| Mining Consultants, 1987. This report | ||
| provided 18 cross sections showing drill | ||
| traces with cryolite (kry), fluorite (fs) and | ||
| siderite (sid) values together with pit | ||
| profiles, resource blocks and tabulated | ||
| tonnage estimates on each section with an | ||
| SG of 2.95. | ||
| GEUS Report File No. 20238 | ||
| “The Planning of the Ivigtût Open Pit of | ||
| Kryolitselskabet Oresund A/S – Report of | ||
| the First Phase, Investigation of the | ||
| Quantity and Quality of Extractable Ore | ||
| from the Ivigtût Open Pit”; Outokompu OY | ||
| Mining Consultants, 1986. This report | ||
| contained 23 sections showing drillhole | ||
| traces and contoured cryolite/fluorite |
||
| grades with an overlay of resource blocks. | ||
| These sections were used to check | ||
| positions of drillholes relative to those | ||
| shown in the above report (GEUS 20236). | ||
| Resource tonnages are provided. | ||
| GEUS Report File No. 20335 | ||
| Kryolitselskabet Oresund A/S, De |
||
| Resterende Mineralreserver I |
||
| Kryolitforekomsten Ved Ivigtût, Ultimo | ||
| 1987” This report is the most useful of the | ||
| reports. It provides: - Drillhole location plan | ||
| - Complete cross section locations - Pit | ||
| survey points - Plans of underground and | ||
| in-pit ramp - 38 cross section showing | ||
| drillhole traces, geological interpretation | ||
| and ore blocks - Tabulated ore blocks with | ||
| cryolite, fluorite and siderite grades and | ||
| tonnages (back-calculated blanket SG of 3) | ||
| GEUS Report File No. 21549 | ||
| “Ivigtût Mineopmaaling, 1962” This report is | ||
| a survey record of the open pit and includes | ||
| 28 sections, each of which show the pit | ||
| profile together with drillhole traces and, on | ||
| some sections, underground workings. | ||
| GEUS Report File No. 20241 | ||
| Kryolitselskabet Oresund A/S, | ||
| Lodighedsdistribution I, Ivigtût Kryolitbrud, | ||
| 31.12.1985” (Danish) 108 pages of | ||
| drillhole analyticaldatain%: holeID,from |
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| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| to, cryolite, fluorspar, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, S | ||
| Geology | • Deposit type, geological setting and | •Late stage granitic / syenitic / |
| style of mineralisation. | carbonatite intrusions into crystalline | |
| basement. | ||
| Drill hole | • A summary of all information material | •No drilling was undertaken as part of |
| Information | to the understanding of the exploration | this grab sampling program. |
| results including a tabulation of the | ||
| following information for all Material drill | ||
| holes: | ||
o easting and northing of the drill hole |
||
| collar | ||
o elevation or RL (Reduced Level – |
||
| elevation above sea level in metres) | ||
| of the drill hole collar | ||
o dip and azimuth of the hole |
||
o down hole length and interception |
||
| depth | ||
o hole length. |
||
| • If the exclusion of this information is | ||
| justified on the basis that the | ||
| information is not Material and this | ||
| exclusion does not detract from the | ||
| understanding of the report, the | ||
| Competent Person should clearly | ||
| _explain why this is the case. _ | ||
| Data | • In reporting Exploration Results, | •No drilling was undertaken as part of |
| aggregation | weighting averaging techniques, | this grab sampling program. |
| methods | maximum and/or minimum grade | |
| truncations (eg cutting of high grades) | ||
| and cut-off grades are usually Material | ||
| and should be stated. | ||
| • Where aggregate intercepts | ||
| incorporate short lengths of high grade | ||
| results and longer lengths of low grade | ||
| results, the procedure used for such | ||
| aggregation should be stated and some | ||
| typical examples of such aggregations | ||
| should be shown in detail. | ||
| • The assumptions used for any | ||
| reporting of metal equivalent values | ||
| _should be clearly stated. _ | ||
| Relationship | • These relationships are particularly | •No drilling was undertaken as part of |
| between | important in the reporting of Exploration | this grab sampling program. |
| mineralisation | Results. |
|
| widths and | • If the geometry of the mineralisation | |
| intercept | with respect to the drill hole angle is | |
| lengths | known, its nature should be reported. | |
| • If it is not known and only the down | ||
| hole lengths are reported, there should | ||
| be a clear statement to this effect (eg | ||
| ‘down hole length, true width not | ||
| _known’). _ |
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| Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Diagrams | • Appropriate maps and sections (with | •Appropriate maps are provided in the |
| scales) and tabulations of intercepts | body of the text. | |
| should be included for any significant | ||
| discovery being reported These should | ||
| include, but not be limited to a plan | ||
| view of drill hole collar locations and | ||
| _appropriate sectional views. _ | ||
| Balanced | • Where comprehensive reporting of all | •Not applicable in relation to the |
| reporting | Exploration Results is not practicable, | project’s available data. |
| representative reporting of both low | ||
| and high grades and/or widths should | ||
| be practiced to avoid misleading | ||
| _reporting of Exploration Results. _ | ||
| Other | • Other exploration data, if meaningful | •The exploration by Eclipse Metals of |
| substantive | and material, should be reported | the Ivigtût and Grønnedal prospects is |
| exploration | including (but not limited to): geological | at an early stage with field work to date |
| data | observations; geophysical survey | consisting of reconnaissance sampling |
| results; geochemical survey results; | and a maiden drilling program. The | |
| bulk samples – size and method of | Company expects to be able to report | |
| treatment; metallurgical test results; | substantive exploration data once it has | |
| bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical | completed it’s 2023 field season at the |
|
| and rock characteristics; potential | prospects. | |
| deleterious or contaminating | ||
| _substances. _ | ||
| Further work | • The nature and scale of planned further | •Geological mapping; remote sensing; |
| work (eg tests for lateral extensions or | drilling. | |
| depth extensions or large-scale step- | •Detailed geological assessments | |
| out drilling). | planned for 2023 field season. | |
| • Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas | ||
| of possible extensions, including the | ||
| main geological interpretations and | ||
| future drilling areas, provided this | ||
| information is not commercially | ||
| sensitive. |
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