Skip to main content

AI assistant

Sign in to chat with this filing

The assistant answers questions, extracts KPIs, and summarises risk factors directly from the filing text.

Sheffield Resources Ltd. Capital/Financing Update 2015

Jul 30, 2015

44780_rns_2015-07-30_01fa336f-2f2d-4b5b-a0c7-c8f095d09a2d.pdf

Capital/Financing Update

Open in viewer

Opens in your device viewer

==> picture [102 x 66] intentionally omitted <==

ASX and Media Release 31 July 2015

THUNDERBIRD HIGH GRADE RESOURCE UPDATE

KEY POINTS

  • Infill drilling triples the Measured category of the high grade component of resource to 110 million tonnes (Mt) @ 14.9% heavy mineral (HM)

  • Exceptionally high in-situ zircon (1.09%) and ilmenite (4.0%) grades in the Measured category of the high grade component of the resource

  • Coherent high grade zone of 1.09Bt @ 11.9% HM (7.5% HM cut-off)

  • Confirms Thunderbird as a globally significant zircon deposit

  • Provides strong platform for upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study update due Q4 2015, which will incorporate this resource update

Mineral sands company Sheffield Resources (“Sheffield”) (ASX:SFX) today announced an updated mineral resource of 3.240Bt @ 6.9% HM, which includes a coherent high grade zone of 1.09Bt @ 11.9% HM at 7.5% HM cut-off (Measured, Indicated and Inferred), for the Thunderbird heavy mineral sands (HMS) Project near Derby in northwest Western Australia (Figure 7).

Table 1: Thunderbird Deposit Mineral Resource[1] Summary


Mineral Resources

Valuable HMGrade (In-situ)2
Resource
Category
Cut-off
HM%
Material
Million
Tonnes3
HM
%
Zircon
%
HiTi
Leucoxene
%
Leucoxene
%
Ilmenite
%
Measured
3.0
230
9.4
0.74
0.21
0.20
2.5
Indicated
3.0
2,410
6.9
0.58
0.19
0.22
1.9
Inferred
3.0
600
5.6
0.47
0.16
0.20
1.5
Total
3.0
3,240
6.9
0.57
0.18
0.21
1.9
Measured
7.5
110
14.9
1.09
0.31
0.28
4.0
Indicated
7.5
850
11.8
0.90
0.28
0.25
3.3
Inferred
7.5
130
10.7
0.82
0.25
0.23
3.0
Total
7.5
1,090
11.9
0.91
0.28
0.25
3.3

The high grade zone of 1.09Bt @ 11.9% HM contains 9.9Mt of zircon, 3.0Mt of high-titanium leucoxene, 2.8Mt of leucoxene and 36Mt of ilmenite.

The most significant aspect of the resource update is the increase in the Measured category to 110Mt @ 14.9% HM (at a 7.5% HM cut-off) with very high in-situ zircon and ilmenite grades of 1.09% and 4.0% respectively (Table 1, Figure 1).

1 Data is sourced from Appendix 2, and also presented in Tables 2 & 3 (below). Refer to Appendix 1 for further information. 2 The in-situ grade is determined by multiplying the percentage of HM by the percentage of each valuable heavy mineral within the heavy mineral assemblage at the resource block model scale.

3 Tonnes and grades have been rounded to reflect the relative uncertainty of the estimate, thus the sum of columns may not equal.

Sheffield Resources Ltd ACN 125 811 083 L1, 57 Havelock Street West Perth WA 6005 T: +61(0) 8 6424 8440 F: +61(0) 8 9321 1710

  • 2 -

The majority of the Measured Resource occurs in the shallow up-dip portion of the deposit which is being scheduled for early production years (Figure 2).

==> picture [436 x 306] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 1: Thunderbird high-grade resource growth (contained VHM at 7.5% HM cut-off)

Managing Director Bruce McQuitty said the resource update is expected to have a positive impact on the Thunderbird project economics.

“This resource update demonstrates that the Thunderbird deposit is superior in size and grade to the vast majority of existing mineral sands operations and projects under investigation globally.

“The updated resource will allow us to undertake detailed mine planning to schedule higher grade feed in early production years. The aim is to increase revenues and to shorten the payback period.

“In addition, the 2015 drill program has recently been completed, with assay results expected Q3 2015 which will be factored into an updated mineral resource targeted for Q4 2015. The recent drilling program was designed to further increase the amount of resource in the Measured category to cover the first 8 to 10 years of scheduled production from this globally significant deposit.

“The Thunderbird PFS update is also progressing well and will be completed during Q4 2015, incorporating this resource update.”

  • 3 -

==> picture [381 x 384] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 2: Thunderbird Resource block model resource category plan, and comparison with December 2014 resource category boundaries and May 2015 PFS pit shells

==> picture [480 x 193] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 3: Cross-section F-F’ through the Thunderbird resource block model showing the current Resource HM grade and May 2015 PFS pit shell outlines

  • 4 -

==> picture [480 x 194] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 4: Cross-section F-F’ through the Thunderbird resource block model showing the current Resource Zircon grade and May 2015 PFS pit shell outlines

==> picture [480 x 193] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 5: Cross-section F-F’ through the Thunderbird Resource block model with the current Resource Titanium minerals grade and May 2015 PFS pit shell outlines

==> picture [483 x 199] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 6: Thunderbird Resource block model >0.9% in-situ zircon left and >3% TiO2 minerals right

  • 5 -

About the Thunderbird Deposit

The Thunderbird deposit is located on the Dampier Peninsula about 60km west of Derby, and 25km north of the sealed Great Northern Hwy joining Derby and Broome (Figure 7).

Thunderbird is the first major mineral sands deposit to be discovered in the Canning Basin, which is rapidly emerging as an important new mineral sands province. Sheffield has a strategic tenement holding in the region of over 5,795km[2] .

The Thunderbird deposit has many attributes that favour large scale mining. Mineralisation occurs as a gently-dipping, thick, broad sheet-like body. A high grade zone (+7.5% HM) averaging 16m thickness is encased within a halo of lower grade (+3% HM)

==> picture [274 x 216] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 7: Location of the Thunderbird Deposit and Sheffield’s tenement holding in the Canning Basin

mineralisation averaging 38m thickness (Figure 3). In the north-east sector of the deposit, the upper part of the mineralised sequence has been eroded, leaving an extensive zone of high grade mineralisation with minimal overburden. Sheffield is prioritising this area of the deposit for early production years.

The May 2015 PFS, based on the previous Resource, indicated a very low waste-to-ore ratio of 0.22:1 for the first 10 years and 0.68:1 for the life of mine (32 years).

The continuity of high grade mineralisation is exceptionally strong, with high grade zircon (+0.9%) and titanium mineralisation (+3.0%) occurring as coherent bodies (Figures 4 to 6).

The shallower half of the deposit has higher in-situ VHM grades, while the overall mineralised package thickens down-dip (Figures 3 to 5).

Mineral Resource

This updated mineral resource incorporates results from 560 drill holes for a total 33,608.5m drilled by Sheffield between 2012 and 2014, including 51 new infill holes drilled towards the end of 2014 (refer to ASX releases dated 9 February 2015 and 12 December 2014). The resource in this announcement supercedes all previously announced Mineral Resources for Thunderbird.

At 3% HM cut-off the Resource covers an area which is 8.5km long and between 3km and 6.5km wide and remains open in most directions. The mineralisation occurs as a thick, broad sheet-like body striking northwest, extending from surface to a maximum depth of 155m. The average depth to the top of main body of mineralisation is 36m and the average mineralised thickness is 38m (Figures 3-5). The deposit is flat-lying along the north-eastern flank, but the dip steepens to 4 degrees along the south-western flank. Around 30% of the total resource area occurs within 6m of surface.

At 7.5% HM cut-off the Resource covers an area about 7.5km long by 2.5km to 6.5km wide, and remains open to the north and south. This higher grade mineralisation is enclosed within the 3% cut-off Resource envelope, but has a north-south long axis orientation which is oblique to the regional strike. The high grade mineralisation extends from surface to a maximum modelled depth of 126m. The average depth to the top of the high-grade mineralisation is

  • 6 -

35m and the average mineralised thickness is 16m (Figures 3-5). Approximately 26% of the >7.5% resource area is within 15m of surface.

The Resource includes the results of 702 samples which were analysed to determine the HM assemblage, representing 69% of the metres drilled within mineralisation. The analytical method used a combination of screening, magnetic separation, QEMSCAN and XRF. The method was developed following mineralogical trials guided by bulk sample metallurgical test work.

At a 3% HM cut-off, the HM assemblage of the total Resource comprises 8.3% zircon, 2.7% hightitanium leucoxene, 3.1% leucoxene and 28% ilmenite for a total VHM component of 42%. Process test work has shown that these valuable heavy minerals can be recovered using standard mineral sands processing techniques.

Further information relating to the Mineral Resource is included in Appendix 1 and 2 of this announcement.

Geology

The Thunderbird deposit is hosted by deeply weathered Cretaceous-aged formations. Its areal extent, thickness, grainsize, excellent grade and geological continuity are thought to indicate an off-shore, sub-wave base depositional environment.

Sheffield geologists have defined five stratigraphic units within the deposit area using a combination of surface mapping and drill hole lithological logs. These are referred to locally as the Fraser Beds, Reeves, Melligo, Thunderbird and Jowlaenga Formations. Of these, the Thunderbird Formation is the main mineralised unit.

The Thunderbird Formation comprises medium to dark brown/orange, fine to very fine wellsorted loose sands. It is over 90m thick and is very rich in heavy minerals (up to 40% HM). Within the Formation are layers of iron cemented sandstone, interpreted to have been formed by post-depositional chemical processes involving ancient water table movements leaching iron oxides from iron-bearing minerals such as ilmenite. They are a minor component of the overall mineralised sequence and have a patchy distribution, they are typically 5-10cm thick and cannot be traced between adjacent drill holes (closest drill spacing is currently about 60m).

Within the Thunderbird Formation is a continuous zone of very high grade HM (>7.5%) named the “GT Zone”. The GT Zone is up to 43m thick (average 15m) over an area about 7.5km x 4km, strikes approximately north-south, follows the dip of the Thunderbird Formation and is open along strike. The GT Zone is interpreted to have formed in off-shore higher wave energy shoals.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Bruce McQuitty Managing Director Tel: 08 6424 8440 [email protected]

Media: Luke Forrestal/Annette Ellis Cannings Purple Tel: 08 6314 6300 [email protected]

Website: www.sheffieldresources.com.au

  • 7 -

Table 2: Thunderbird Deposit Mineral Resource[1]

Mineral Resources Resources Mineral Assemblage2 Mineral Assemblage2 Mineral Assemblage2 Mineral Assemblage2
Resource
Category
Cut off
(HM%)


Material
(Mt)

Bulk
Density
HM
%
Slime
s %
Osize
%

In-situ
HM
(Mt)
Zircon
%
HiTi
Leuc
%

Leuc
%

Ilmenite
%
Measured
3.0
230 2.1 9.4 19 10 21 7.9 2.2 2.1 27
Indicated 3.0 2,410 2.0 6.9 16 8 167 8.4 2.7 3.1 28
Inferred 3.0 600 2.0 5.6 16 9 33 8.4 2.8 3.5 28
Total 3.0 3,240 2.1 6.9 16 9 222 8.3 2.7 3.1 28
Measured
7.5
110 2.2 14.9 17 13 16 7.3 2.1 1.9 27
Indicated 7.5 850 2.1 11.8 15 10 100 7.6 2.4 2.2 28
Inferred 7.5 130 2.0 10.7 14 9 14 7.6 2.3 2.2 28
Total 7.5 1,090 2.1 11.9 15 10 131 7.6 2.3 2.1 28

Table 3: Thunderbird Deposit contained Valuable HM (VHM) Resource Inventory[1]

Resource Cut off
Zircon
HiTi Leucoxene Leucoxene Ilmenite
Total VHM
Category (HM%)
(kt)
(kt) (kt) (kt) (kt)
Measured 3.0 1,700 500 500 5,800 8,400
Indicated 3.0 14,000 4,500 5,300 46,700 70,500
Inferred 3.0 2,800 900 1,200 9,300 14,200
Total 3.0 18,500 5,900 6,900 61,800 93,100
Measured 7.5 1,200 300 300 4,300 6,100
Indicated 7.5 7,700 2,400 2,200 27,800 40,000
Inferred 7.5 1,100 300 300 3,900 5,700
Total 7.5 9,900 3,000 2,800 36,000 51,700

1 All tonnages and grades have been rounded to reflect the relative uncertainty of the estimate, thus sum of columns may not equal.[2] Estimates of Mineral Assemblage are presented as percentages of the Heavy Mineral (HM) component of the deposit, as determined by magnetic separation, QEMSCAN and XRF. Magnetic fractions were analysed by QEMSCAN for mineral determination as follows: Ilmenite: 40-70% TiO2 >90% Liberation; Leucoxene: 70-94% TiO2 >90% Liberation; High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi Leucoxene): >94% TiO2 >90% Liberation; and Zircon: 66.7% ZrO2+HfO2 >90% Liberation. The nonmagnetic fraction was submitted for XRF analysis and minerals determined as follows: Zircon: ZrO2+HfO2/0.667 and High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi Leucoxene): TiO2/0.94.

==> picture [412 x 220] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 8: Thunderbird resource grade-tonnage curve.

  • 8 -

COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS

MINERAL RESOURCES

The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources is based on information compiled under the guidance of Mr Mark Teakle, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr Teakle is a full-time employee of Sheffield Resources Ltd and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken 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 Teakle consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this report that relates to the estimation of Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Trent Strickland, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr Strickland is a full time employee of QG Australia Pty Ltd and 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’. Mr Strickland consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED INFORMATION

This report includes information that relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Technical Studies which were prepared and first disclosed under the JORC Code 2012. The information was extracted from the Company’s previous ASX announcements as follows:

  • Thunderbird PFS Update progress: “QUARTERLY REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING 30 JUNE 2015” 27 July 2015

  • Thunderbird pre-feasibility study: “PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY CONFIRMS THUNDERBIRD AS NEXT MAJOR MINERAL SANDS PROJECT IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE” 14 May 2015

  • Thunderbird infill drilling results: “EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH GRADES FROM INFILL DRILLING AT THUNDERBIRD MINERAL SANDS PROJECT” 9 February, 2015

  • Thunderbird Resource Update: “THUNDERBIRD HIGH GRADE RESOURCE SURPASSES ONE BILLION TONNES” 12 December 2014

  • Thunderbird Scoping Study: “SCOPING STUDY HIGHLIGHTS THUNDERBIRD’S EXCEPTIONAL FINANCIAL RETURNS” 14 April, 2014

These announcements are available on Sheffield Resources Ltd’s web site www.sheffieldresources.com.au.

The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, Scoping and Pre-Feasibility studies, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person’s findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this report regarding estimates or future events are forward-looking statements. They involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from estimated results. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s exploration programme, outlook, target sizes and mineralised material estimates. They include statements preceded by words such as “anticipated”, “expected”, “likely” “should”, “scheduled”, “intends”, “potential”, “prospective” and similar expressions.

In this report the term “mining inventory” is used to report that part of the Mineral Resource that has been considered in the Pre-feasibility Study. The mining inventory does not meet the requirements of an Ore Reserve as defined under the 2012 edition of the JORC Code and should not be considered an Ore Reserve. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mining inventory will be converted into Ore Reserves.

  • 9 -

ABOUT SHEFFIELD RESOURCES

Sheffield Resources Limited ( Sheffield ) is a rapidly emerging heavy mineral sands (HMS) company.

ASX Code – SFX Market Cap @ 48cps - $64.5m
Issued shares – 134.4m Cash - $5.1m (at 30 June 2015)

Sheffield’s projects are all situated within the state of Western Australia and are 100% owned by the Company.

HEAVY MINERAL SANDS

The Dampier project, located near Derby in WA’s northwest, contains the large, high grade zircon-rich Thunderbird HMS deposit. Sheffield’s pre-feasibility study shows Thunderbird can generate strong cash margins from globally significant levels of production over a 32 year mine life.

The Eneabba project comprises multiple HMS deposits and is located near Eneabba approximately 140km south of the port of Geraldton in WA’s Mid-West region.

Sheffield is also evaluating the large McCalls chloride ilmenite project, located 110km to the north of Perth.

NICKEL-COPPER

Sheffield has over 2,000km[2] of tenure in the Fraser Range region, including the Red Bull project which is within 20km of Sirius Resources NL’s (ASX:SIR) Nova Ni-Cu deposit.

  • 10 -

Glossary

Heavy Mineral (“HM”) Material (individual minerals or mineral aggregates) which does not pass through a screen (mesh) of nominated size (the “Slimes” screen, eg. 38µm) and does pass through a screen of nominated size (the “Oversize” screen, eg. 1mm) and has density greater than a nominated amount (typically 2.85 to 2.96g/ml). HM% Weight percentage of Heavy Mineral in a sample. Oversize (“OS” or “Osize”) Material that does not pass through a screen of nominated size, for Thunderbird this is universally 1mm. OS% Weight percentage of Oversize material in a sample. Slimes (“SL”) Material that passes through a screen of nominated size, for Thunderbird 38µm and 45µm screens were used. SL% Weight percentage of Slimes material in a sample. Valuable Heavy Mineral (“VHM” or “Valuable HM”) Component of Heavy Mineral which has the potential to become marketable products; eg. zircon, ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene, HiTi Leucoxene, etc.

Appendix 1: JORC (2012) Table 1 Report

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
Sampling Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut NQ and HQ diameter aircore drilling used to
techniques channels, random chips, or specific collect 2-3kg samples at 1.5m intervals down-
specialised industry standard hole.
measurement tools appropriate to the Mineral sands industry-standard drilling
minerals under investigation, such as technique.
down hole gamma sondes, or See below for sample and assay QAQC
handheld XRF instruments, etc). These procedures and analysis.
examples should not be taken as
limiting the broad meaning of
sampling.
Include reference to measures taken to
ensure sample representivity and the
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, Aircore system; NQ size for 39% of drill
techniques open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, database (13,148m); HQ diameter for 57%
auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (19,324m), 75mm diameter aircore 3% of drill
(eg core diameter, triple or standard database (1,137m).
tube, depth of diamond tails, face- Blade drill bit used for majority (88%) of drilling.
sampling bit or other type, whether Where hard rock layers were intersected and
core is oriented and if so, by what unable to drill with blade bit,apencil(open-
  • 11 -
Criteria
JORC Code explanation
Commentary
method, etc). hole) or reverse circulation hammer was used
to penetrate the layer.

System used as an industry standard for HMS
deposits.
Drill sample
recovery

Method of recording and assessing
core and chip sample recoveries and
results 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.

An orientation process was undertaken at the
beginning of the program to optimise the
sampling system to collect a 2-3kg sub-
sample from 1.5m intervals. The remainder of
the drill sample (spoil) has been retained as
3m-composites for future analysis if required.

Sample weight is recorded at the laboratory

Duplicate samples are collected at the drill
site (see below) to enable analysis of data
precision.

Sample condition (wet to dry and good to
poor qualitative recovery) is logged at the drill
site. Of the total database, 35% were
collected as wet samples and 4% were
classed as having poor recovery.

There is a small negative bias in HM% and
OS% and a small positive bias in SL% for dry
compared with wet samples.

There is a small negative bias in HM% and
OS% and a positive bias in SL% for samples
with good recovery compared to those with
poor recovery.

Recovery has a greater influence than
wetness on HM%, OS% and SL% values.

The very small number of wet-poor recovery
samples in the database (2%), and the
conservative bias in HM grade suggests no
significant effect on the resource estimate
due to sample condition.

The sample quality is considered appropriate
for the Mineral Resource estimation
procedure and classification applied.
Logging

Whether core and chip samples have
been geologically and geotechnically
logged to a level of detail to support
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.

Every drill sample is washed and panned,
then geologically logged on-site in 1.5m
intervals, recording primary, secondary and
oversize lithology, qualitative hardness,
grainsize, rounding, sorting, and washability,
visual estimates of HM%, SL% and OS%, and
depth to water table.

The entire length of the drill hole is logged;
minimum (nominal) interval length is 1.5m.

Logging is suitable such that interpretations of
grade and deposit geology can be used to
support the Mineral Resource estimation
procedure and classification applied.

Recent Pre-feasibility work at Thunderbird
included 20 sonic core holes drilled as part of
geotechnical investigations. The results of this
program are not incorporated into this
resource estimate, however visual
observations have been incorporated into the
geological interpretation of the deposit (see
below)
Sub-sampling
techniques
and sample
preparation

If core, whether cut or sawn and
whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube
sampled, rotary split, etc and whether
HM%, SL% OS% Determination
Drill Site

A 2-3kg sample is collected at 1.5m intervals
in numbered bags at the drill site via rotary
  • 12 -
Criteria
JORC Code explanation
Commentary
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.
splitter at the cyclone discharge point.

Duplicate samples (field duplicates) collected
at drill site 1 in every 40 samples.

Reference standard and blank material
samples inserted 1 each in every 40 samples.

Samples submitted to an external laboratory
for heavy liquid separation (HLS)
determination of weight per cent heavy
mineral (HM%), Slimes (SL%) and Oversize
(OS%).
Laboratory

The 2-3kg drill sample is sub-sampled via a
rotary splitter to approx. 200g for analysis.

The 200g sub-sample is soaked overnight in
water.

2012 samples: (23% of sample database) then
screened and weighed.

2013 & 2014 samples: (77% of sample
database) a 5 minute attrition in a plastic
bucket with low solids density, then screened
and weighed.

HM%, SL% and OS% calculated as
percentage of total sample weight (see
below). Laboratory repeats are conducted 1
in every 20 samples (97% of the assay
database) or 1 in every 15 samples (3% of the
assay database).

Laboratory internal standard inserted 1 in
every 40 samples (97% of the assay
database).

Laboratory provides a sachet containing the
Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC) for each
sample – this is used in HM assemblage
determination (see below).
All

Spacing of duplicate, standard, blank and
lab repeat samples are designed to identify
sample misplacement or misallocation during
sample collection and laboratory analysis.

Visual estimates of HM%, SL% and OS% logged
at the drill site are compared against
laboratory results to identify significant errors.

Analysis of field duplicate samples and
laboratory repeats show the data has
acceptable precision, indicating the sub-
sampling and sample preparation techniques
are appropriate for the deposit style and the
Mineral Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
HM Assemblage Determination

Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC) from
individual samples is combined according to
HM grade and weight into (nominal) 50g –
100g composite samples for HM assemblage
determination.

Weighed HMC is split via a micro-riffle to
ensure HM%, SL% and OS% of the final
composite sample can be correctly
calculated.

HM assemblage determination was bya
  • 13 -
Criteria
JORC Code explanation
Commentary
combination of screening, magnetic
separation, QEMSCAN™ and XRF assay to
determine the component mineralogy.

This is considered an industry standard
method, typically optimised according to the
HM characteristics of individual deposits.

For Thunderbird the method was designed
and optimised using an iterative trial process
and the results of 6t and 5t bulk sample
process metallurgical testwork.

3% of samples in the HM assemblage
database were repeated from the original
drill sample and 4% of samples were repeated
from the composite HMC.

Analysis of these repeats show the data has
acceptable precision, indicating the sub-
sampling and sample preparation techniques
are appropriate for the deposit style and the
Mineral Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
Quality of
assay data
and
laboratory
tests

The nature, quality and
appropriateness of the assaying and
laboratory procedures used and
whether the technique is considered
partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers,
handheld XRF instruments, etc, the
parameters used in determining the
analysis including instrument make and
model, reading times, calibrations
factors applied and their derivation,
etc.

Nature of quality control procedures
adopted (eg standards, blanks,
duplicates, external laboratory checks)
and whether acceptable levels of
accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision
have been established.
HM%, SL% OS% Determination

Assay and laboratory procedures are industry
standard, although method specifics and
heavy liquid composition can vary.

SL% was determined using a 45µm (30% of
samples) or 38µm (70% of samples) screen.

OS% was determined using a +1mm screen.

HM% was determined using heavy liquid TBE
(2.96g/ml).

The method produces a total grade as weight
per cent of the primary sample.

Method does not determine the relative
amounts of valuable (saleable or marketable)
and non-valuable heavy mineral species. See
below for details of HM assemblage
determination.

Reference standard and blank material
samples inserted at the drill site 1 each in
every 40 samples.

Laboratory internal standard inserted 1 in
every 40 samples (97% of the assay
database).

The HM reference samples used are field-
homogenised bulk samples with expected
values and ranges determined by the
Company from assay results. Blank material
used is commercially available builder’s sand.

Reference standards and blanks are
examined for performance over time and
within laboratory batches. Batches or sub-
batches are re-analysed if unacceptable
QAQC data are returned.

In total QAQC samples represent 15% of the
total assay database.

Analysis of reference standards, blanks and
laboratory repeats show the data to be of
acceptable accuracy and precision for the
Mineral Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
HM Assemblage Determination
  • 14 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
HM assemblage determination was by a
combination of screening, magnetic
separation, QEMSCAN™ and XRF assay to
determine the component mineralogy of the
HMC.
This method is considered an industry
standard, typically optimised according to
the HM characteristics of individual deposits.
For Thunderbird the method was designed
and optimised using an iterative trial process
and the results of 6t and 5t bulk sample
process metallurgical testwork.
HMC was screened at 106µm and each
fraction weighed (studies show Thunderbird
HM with grainsize >106µm does not contain
significant amounts of VHM). The -106µm
fraction was then magnetically separated
into highly-susceptible (H/S), magnetic 1,
magnetic 2 and non-magnetic fractions, with
each fraction weighed. The magnetic 1 & 2
fractions were combined and analysed by
QEMSCAN™ for mineral determination as
follows:
- Ilmenite: 40-70% TiO2>90% Liberation
- Leucoxene: 70-94% TiO2>90% Liberation
- High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi
Leucoxene): >94% TiO2>90% Liberation
- Zircon: 66.7% ZrO2+HfO2>90% Liberation
The non-magnetic fraction was submitted for
XRF analysis and minerals determined as
follows:
- Zircon: ZrO2+HfO2/0.667
- High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi
Leucoxene): TiO2/0.94
Reference material was not used, other
measures of accuracy and the method
design is considered sufficient to establish
acceptable accuracy of the data for the
Mineral Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
Analysis of laboratory repeats and
comparison with bulk metallurgical testwork
results show the data to be of acceptable
accuracy and precision for the Mineral
Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
Verification The verification of significant Data is logged electronically using “validation
of sampling intersections by either independent or at point of entry” systems prior to storage in
and assaying alternative company personnel. the Company’s drill hole database, which is
The use of twinned holes. managed by Company personnel and an
Documentation of primary data, data external consultancy.
entry procedures, data verification, Documentation related to data custody and
data storage (physical and electronic) validation is maintained by the Company.
protocols. A copy (“snapshot”) of the Mineral Resource
Discuss any adjustment to assay data. database is retained separately from the
primary drill hole database.
No assay data have been adjusted.
101 twinned drillholes have been examined
for comparison of assay data between
factors such as year drilled, hole diameter, drill
type and assaymethod.
  • 15 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
Analysis of drill hole twins show the 2012 assay
data (45µm screen and no attritioning step) is
biased low in HM% compared with 2013 assay
data (45µm screen or 38µm screen, with
attritioning step). A similar high bias is seen in
OS%. The bias is explained by the low energy
attritioning step liberating HM from loosely-
held aggregates, and the change in slimes
screen from 45 µm to 38 µm used in 2013 and
2014. All data was used for the current
Resource estimate, this is considered
appropriate because the 2012 data
introduces a conservative bias. As a
consequence HM grade remains
underestimated for 2012 holes rather than
overestimated. The 2013 & 2014 dataset is
dominant in terms of number of samples, and
are distributed throughout the Resource area,
therefore any spatial bias is considered
insignificant.
43 twinned drillholes have been examined for
comparison of HM assemblage data
between factors such as determination
method, year drilled, and HM assay method.
Analysis shows HM assemblage determined
by QEMSCAN™ alone on 2012 samples (90
data), and by combination magnetic
separation/ QEMSCAN™/XRF on 2012 samples
(106 data), has a significant bias low
compared with combination magnetic
separation/ QEMSCAN™/XRF on 2013 and
2014 samples (702 data). This bias cannot be
explained by natural (ie. deposit-related)
factors, and is a result of a change in sample
preparation from 2012 to 2013 (as discussed
above). As a result of this analysis, HM
assemblage data used in the Resource
estimate includes only samples from holes
drilled in 2013 and 2014 (87% of the database)
in order to ensure a consistent determination
method across the deposit. The mineralogical
data was also supplemented with the
average mineralogy of a 6t bulk sample,
sourced from the 2012 ‘cross’ of 60m spaced
drilling.
The verification and treatment of the data is
considered sufficient for the Mineral Resource
estimation procedure and classification
applied.
Location of Accuracy and quality of surveys used Drill hole collar locations were surveyed by
data points to locate drill holes (collar and down- licenced surveyors using a RTK GPS system
hole surveys), trenches, mine workings with expected accuracy of +/- 0.02m
and other locations used in Mineral horizontal and +/- 0.03m vertical.
Resource estimation. 12 drill holes of the 560 (2%) in the estimate
Specification of the grid system used. database were not surveyed, for these holes
Quality and adequacy of topographic planned or approximated coordinates have
control. been used.
Coordinates are referenced to the Map Grid
of Australia (MGA) zone 51 on the
Geographic Datum of Australia (GDA94).
Vertical datumgeoid model is AUSGEOID09
  • 16 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
(Australia).
Drill hole RL for Resource estimation is
determined by projection of surveyed hole
collars to a regional (Landgate) DTM model.
The Mineral Resource estimate uses this model
as surface topography. The average
difference between surveyed and modelled
RL is 0.5m which is considered negligible given
the nature of the mineralisation, and the size
of the Thunderbird deposit.
The quality and accuracy of the topographic
control is considered sufficient for the Mineral
Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
Data spacing
Data spacing for reporting of See figures in body of announcement for hole
and Exploration Results. distribution.
distribution Whether the data spacing and The nominal spacing of most drill holes is 250m
distribution is sufficient to establish the x 500m, with edges at 500m x 500m and
degree of geological and grade 1000m x 500m. Infill drilling has reduced the
continuity appropriate for the Mineral nominal spacing to 125m x 250m in the up-dip
Resource and Ore Reserve estimation area of the resource. Four areas are drilled at
procedure(s) and classifications nominal 60m hole spacing for bulk sample
applied. collection and geostatistical data analysis.
Whether sample compositing has been
The drill database used in the Resource
applied. estimate comprises 560 holes, totalling
33,608.5m, with 22,378 samples assayed
totalling 33,453.4m (99.5% of metres drilled).
Of that, 13,030 assayed samples totalling
19,460.4m (58%) are within the mineralised
zones of the Resource (see below for criteria).
Samples for HM assemblage determination
are composited on intervals according to a
combination of grade and geology
appropriate to reflect resource estimation
domains.
702 composites from 331 holes totalling
13,454m are used in the resource estimate.
This represents 69% of the total length of
drillholes within mineralised zones of the
resource.
The data spacing and distribution is sufficient
to establish the degree of geological and
grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral
Resource estimation procedure and
classification applied.
Orientation Whether the orientation of sampling Mineralisation is flat-lying to less than 4deg.
of data in achieves unbiased sampling of possible dip, vertical drill holes therefore approximate
relation to structures and the extent to which this is true thickness and perpendicular intersection
geological known, considering the deposit type. of mineralisation.
structure If the relationship between the drilling Note sections in the body of the
orientation and the orientation of key announcement are displayed with vertical
mineralised structures is considered to exaggeration.
have introduced a sampling bias, this
should be assessed and reported if
material.
Sample The measures taken to ensure sample Sample security is not considered a significant
security security. risk given the location of the deposit and bulk-
nature of mineralisation.
Nevertheless, the use of recognised transport
providers, sample dispatch procedures
directlyfrom the field to the laboratory,and
  • 17 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
the large number of samples are considered
sufficient to ensure appropriate sample
security.
Audits or The results of any audits or reviews of All data has been validated and reviewed by
reviews sampling techniques and data. at least 2 Company geologists, and by
consultants QG Australia.
No external audit or review of sample
techniques or data, apart from that by QG
Australia, has been conducted.
External audits are not considered necessary
at this stage of the Project’s development.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria Statement Statement Commentary Commentary
Mineral Type, reference name/number, The Mineral Resource reported is entirely
tenement location and ownership including within Exploration Licence E04/2083, located
and land agreements or material issues with third on the Dampier Peninsula about 60km west of
tenure status parties such as joint ventures, Derby, and 25km north of the sealed Great
partnerships, overriding royalties, native Northern Hwy joining Derby and Broome
title interests, historical sites, wilderness E04/2083 was granted on 05/09/2011 and is
or national park and environmental due to expire on 04/09/2016; it is held 100% by
settings. Sheffield Resources Ltd. On 16/07/2014
The security of the tenure held at the Sheffield lodged a Mining Lease Application
time of reporting along with any known (M04/459) over the Thunderbird deposit.
impediments to obtaining a licence to There are no known or experienced
operate in the area. impediments to obtaining a licence to
operate in the area.
Sheffield has been operating successfully in
the region for more than 3years to date.
Exploration Acknowledgment and appraisal of The Dampier project area was explored by
done by exploration by other parties. Rio Tinto (“Rio”) between 2003 and 2009. Rio
other parties completed four broadly spaced aircore drill
traverses, identifying heavy mineral
concentrations at Thunderbird averaging
8.07% HM with 8.0% zircon. Rio surrendered
the tenements following the 2008 global
financial crisis.
Further details are included in Sheffield’s ASX
release entitled ‘New Licence Granted Over
High Grade Zircon Project’ dated 7
September, 2011 (available from the
company’s website:
www.sheffieldresources.com.au).
Geology Deposit type, geological setting and The Dampier Project is within the Canning
style of mineralisation. Basin in the Kimberley region of Western
Australia. The Canning Basin is an
intracratonic basin which contains Ordovician
to Cretaceous deposits covered by Cenozoic
sediments.
Thunderbird is a heavy mineral sand (HMS)
deposit hosted by deeply weathered
Cretaceous-aged formations. Valuable heavy
minerals (VHM) contained within the deposit
include ilmenite, zircon, leucoxene and rutile.
The mineralisation is in a thick, broad anticlinal
sheet-like body striking northwest. In the core
of the anticline it is at surface, rolling at about
4deg. dipabout the axis,extendingunder
  • 18 -
Criteria Statement Statement Commentary Commentary
cover to the southwest. The areal extent,
width, grade, geological continuity and
grainsize of the Thunderbird mineralisation are
interpreted to indicate an off-shore, sub-wave
base depositional environment.
Five stratigraphic units have been defined by
Sheffield geologists within the deposit area
using a combination of surface mapping and
drill hole lithological logs. These are referred to
locally as the Fraser Beds, Reeves, Melligo,
Thunderbird and Jowlaenga Formations. Of
these the Thunderbird Formation is the most
important, with the Thunderbird Formation
representing the main mineralised unit. Also
important, the Fraser Beds act as a distinct
marker unit toward the base of the
Thunderbird Formation, enabling confidence
in interpretation of the extent, strike and dip of
the stratigraphy.
The Thunderbird Formation is described as
medium to dark brown/orange, fine to very
fine well sorted loose sands. It is up to 90m
thick (average 46m) and is very rich in heavy
minerals (up to 40% HM). It is modelled over
the Resource area as at least 8.5km along
strike and more than 3km to 6.5km wide.
Within the Formation are layers of iron
cemented sandstone. These layers are
interpreted to have been formed by post-
depositional chemical processes of
ferruginisation from ancient water table
movements with iron oxides leached from the
sand (eg. ilmenite). They occur throughout
but are patchy. Pre-feasibility work at
Thunderbird included 20 sonic core holes
drilled as part of geotechnical investigations.
Whilst the results of this program are not
incorporated into this resource estimate,
visual observations have confirmed
observations of hard rock bands within the
deposit to be narrow (typically 5-10cm thick
and rarely >30cm thick) and not extensive
(not extending as a single layer further than
<60m).
Also within the Formation is a continuous,
very-high grade HM (>7.5%) zone named the
GT Zone. This Zone is up to 43m thick (average
16m) over an area at least 7.5km x 4km, strikes
approximately north-south, follows the dip of
the Thunderbird Formation and is open along
strike. The high-grade of HM in the GT zone is
interpreted to result from deposition in off-
shore higher wave energyshoals.
Drill hole A summary of all information material Exploration results relating to the drillholes
Information to the understanding of the exploration used in the resource have been publicly
results including a tabulation of the released in numerous previous Company
following information for all Material drill announcements referring to the Dampier
holes: Project and Thunderbird deposit.
o easting and northing of the drill hole
Information relating to the number of
collar drillholes, assayed samples, location
o elevation or RL(Reduced Level – accuracy,orientation etc. is included in this
  • 19 -
Criteria Statement Statement Commentary Commentary
elevation above sea level in metres) table, and in the body of the announcement.
of the drill hole collar Diagrams in the body of the announcement
o dip and azimuth of the hole show the location of and distribution of
o down hole length and interception drillholes in relation to the Mineral Resource.
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, N/A
aggregation weighting averaging techniques,
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 Mineralisation is flat-lying to less than 4deg.
between important in the reporting of Exploration dip, vertical drill holes therefore approximate
mineralisation Results. true thickness.
widths and If the geometry of the mineralisation Refer to diagrams in the body of the
intercept with respect to the drill hole angle is announcement for visual representation of
lengths known, its nature should be reported. drill hole orientation vs. deposit orientation,
If it is not known and only the down note the vertical exaggeration used.
hole lengths are reported, there should
be a clear statement to this effect (eg
‘down hole length, true width not
_known’). _
Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with See body of announcement for plan and
scales) and tabulations of intercepts cross section views and Mineral Resource
should be included for any significant tabulations.
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 All information considered material to the
reporting Exploration Results is not practicable, reader’s understanding of the database,
representative reporting of both low estimation procedure and classification of the
and high grades and/or widths should Mineral Resource has been reported.
be practiced to avoid misleading
reporting of Exploration Results.
Other Other exploration data, if meaningful Sheffield has previously reported deposit
substantive and material, should be reported information for Thunderbird including a
exploration including (but not limited to): maiden Mineral Resource estimate
data geological observations; geophysical (December 2012), Mineral Resource Updates
survey results; geochemical survey (March, 2014 and December 2014), Scoping
results; bulk samples – size and method Study results (April, 2104) and Pre-feasibility
of treatment; metallurgical test results; Studyresults(May2015). These include
  • 20 -
Criteria Statement Statement Commentary Commentary
bulk density, groundwater, information on mineral assemblage, mineral
geotechnical and rock characteristics; processing, VHM product recoverability,
potential deleterious or contaminating quality and marketability and mining and
substances. financial performance.
Where relevant this information has been
included in the bodyof this announcement.
Further work The nature and scale of planned Further work comprising closer-spaced drilling
further work (eg tests for lateral is in progress.
extensions or depth extensions or large- Sheffield announced results from its PFS for
scale step-out drilling). Thunderbird on 15 May, 2015. Following from
Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas this, a PFS Update is in progress and is
of possible extensions, including the scheduled for completion in Q4 2015. This will
main geological interpretations and incorporate results from the updated Mineral
future drilling areas, provided this Resource reported in this announcement.
information is not commercially
sensitive.

Section 3 Estimation and Reporting of Mineral Resources

(Criteria listed in section 1, and where relevant in section 2, also apply to this section)

Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
Database Measures taken to ensure that data Drill hole data was extracted directly from the
integrity has not been corrupted by, for Company’s drill hole database which
example, transcription or keying errors, includes internal data validation protocols.
between its initial collection and its use Where necessary, original drill hole log files are
for Mineral Resource estimation consulted to rectify any errors identified.
purposes. Validation of the exported data was
Data validation procedures used. confirmed using mining software (Micromine)
validation protocols, and visually in plan and
section views.
Compilation of data external to the drill
database (eg. HM assemblage source data)
is cross-checked manually, and through
statistical comparison.
A copy (“snapshot”) of the Mineral Resource
database is retained separately to the
primary drill hole database.
Data is further verified and validated by QG
Australia upon receipt, and prior to use in the
estimation.
Site visits Comment on any site visits undertaken Mr Teakle has visited the Thunderbird site and
by the Competent Person and the the primary assay laboratory on numerous
outcome of those visits. occasions during 2012, 2013 and 2014, during
If no site visits have been undertaken operations.
indicate why this is the case. Mr Strickland inspected the Thunderbird site
and the primary assay laboratory in 2013,
during operations.
Where material, information relating to
observations from these visits has been
included in this announcement.
Geological Confidence in (or conversely, the As described above, Sheffield geologists have
interpretation uncertainty of) the geological defined five stratigraphic units within the
interpretation of the mineral deposit. deposit area using a combination of surface
Nature of the data used and of any mapping and drill hole lithological logs. For
assumptions made. the purposes of resource estimation, these
The effect, if any, of alternative units were used in combination with grade
interpretations on Mineral Resource criteria to define four mineralised domains, as
estimation. follows:
The use of geology in guiding and - B1 (north) and B2 (south): within Reeves
controlling Mineral Resource estimation. Fm., grade criteria >1% HM, >6m width,
The factors affecting continuity both of >6m separation stratigraphicallyabove
  • 21 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
grade and geology. the Thunderbird Fm.
- T1: Thunderbird Fm., grade criteria: HM >1-
2% and <7.5-10%, >6m width, <6m internal
waste
- T2: Thunderbird Fm. GT Zone within T1,
grade criteria HM >7.5-10%, >6m width,
<6m internal waste, marked change in HM
grade at boundary
Domain boundaries are guided by grade
rules; however geological continuity overrides
grade rules where necessary. It is useful to
note however that primary HM% (and SL%
and OS%) is a physical characteristic of the
geological units related to unit deposition.
There is good confidence in the geological
interpretation of the deposit. Logged data
from 560 drillholes as well as surface geology
has been used to develop the interpretation
and this is supported by HM%, SL% and OS%
assays. The result is excellent geological (and
grade) continuity in the model (see diagrams
above), as expected for this style of HM
deposit.
Examination of grade shells and the resource
grade-tonnage curve indicate the greatest
change in the deposit in terms of tonnage vs
grade occurs between cutoff grades of 2.5
and 5.5%HM. Also, the deposit outline remains
coherent up to 14% HM cutoff. These
thresholds are well within the corresponding
geological domains and so changes to these
domains through alternative interpretations
are unlikely to significantly affect the Mineral
Resource as reported.
The resource T1 domain imposes an
approximately 1-2% HM cutoff on the
resource, and at its upper boundary
corresponds closely with a natural geological
boundary (between Reeves and Thunderbird
Formations). This allows higher cutoff grades
(eg. 3% as reported) to be applied and as
such any change to this boundary is unlikely
to significantly affect the Mineral Resource as
reported.
Dimensions The extent and variability of the Mineral
At 3% HM cut-off the resource block model
Resource expressed as length (along covers an area about 8.5km long by 3km to
strike or otherwise), plan width, and 6.5km wide, and remains open in all
depth below surface to the upper and directions. The mineralisation occurs as a
lower limits of the Mineral Resource. thick, broad anticlinal sheet-like body striking
northwest, extending from surface to a
maximum depth of up to 155m. For the main
body of the resource (ie. excluding small
isolated pods of mineralisation) the average
depth to the top of mineralisation is 36m
(range 0m to 134m) and the average
mineralised thickness is 38m (range 3m to
86m). The dip of the deposit changes from flat
to low angle along the north-eastern flank, to
4 degrees along the south-western flank,
resulting in around 30% of the total resource
area occurringwithin 6m of surface.
  • 22 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
At 7.5% HM cut-off the resource block model
covers an area about 7.5km long by 2.5km to
6.5km wide, and remains open to the north
and south. The mineralisation follows the dip
of the resource above 3% HM but strikes north-
south, extending from surface to a maximum
depth of 126m. For the main body of the
resource (ie. excluding small isolated pods of
mineralisation) the average depth to the top
of mineralisation is 35m (range 0m to 92m)
and the average mineralised thickness is 16m
(range 3m to 44m). Approximately 26% of the
>7.5% HM resource area is within 15m of
surface.
Estimation The nature and appropriateness of the Heavy mineral (HM), slime, oversize, zircon, HiTi
and estimation technique(s) applied and leucoxene, leucoxene, ilmenite, monazite
modelling key assumptions, including treatment of and ‘other’ material percentages were
techniques extreme grade values, domaining, estimated using ordinary kriging (OK) into
interpolation parameters and blocks of dimension 62.5m East, by 125m
maximum distance of extrapolation North by 3m RL. These block dimensions were
from data points. If a computer assisted selected to reflect the variability of the
estimation method was chosen include deposit, as a concession between the drill
a description of computer software density and the model’s practicality for future
and parameters used. mine planning. Sub-cells to a minimum
The availability of check estimates, dimension of 12.5m E by 25m N by 1m RL were
previous estimates and/or mine used to represent volume.
production records and whether the The nominal drill spacing is approximately
Mineral Resource estimate takes 250m x 500m with the margins of the deposit
appropriate account of such data. drilled at a spacing of 500m x 500m and
The assumptions made regarding 1000m x 500m. Infill drilling in the area where
recovery of by-products. the high grade domain outcrops at surface,
Estimation of deleterious elements or conducted as part of the 2014 drilling
other non-grade variables of economic campaign, has reduced the nominal spacing
significance (eg sulphur for acid mine to 125m x 250m. Four separate close-spaced
drainage characterisation). ‘crosses’ have been drilled at a nominal
In the case of block model spacing of 60m both along and across strike.
interpolation, the block size in relation Exploratory data analysis and estimation was
to the average sample spacing and undertaken in Isatis software.
the search employed. Drill samples were composited to 3m for
Any assumptions behind modelling of estimation.
selective mining units. New wireframe solid model interpretations of
Any assumptions about correlation mineralisation were made by SFX based on
between variables. geological logging and heavy mineral (HM)
Description of how the geological content, using thresholds of ~1% HM to define
interpretation was used to control the a low grade domain and 7.5% HM to define a
resource estimates. high grade domain. QG assessed the
Discussion of basis for using or not using robustness of these domains by critically
grade cutting or capping. examining the geological interpretation and
The process of validation, the checking using a variety of measures including
process used, the comparison of model statistical and geostatistical analysis. The
data to drill hole data, and use of domains are considered geologically robust in
reconciliation data if available. the context of the resource classification
applied to the estimate. Hard boundaries
were applied to estimation within
mineralisation domains.
Maximum extrapolation distance considered
in grade domain determination was 1000m;
however, this was reduced to, on average,
250m through the classification of the
resource.
All variables were estimated separatelyand
  • 23 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
independently.
Grade capping was applied to HM% (waste
only), slime% and oversize%. The cap-values
were based on examination of the tail of the
histogram.
Estimation parameters were chosen after
taking into account output kriging estimation
statistics, variogram models and data
geometry.
The search used for the estimation of HM was
1125m x 1500m x 150m (high grade domain),
1250m x 1250m x 150m (low grade and B1
domains), 1500m x 1500m x 150m (B2
domain), 1400m x 1150m x 150m (waste
domain) with long axis oriented towards 310°
and a 1.5° dip towards 220°. The estimation of
slime used a search of 2800m x 1500m x 150m
and oversize used a search of 3200m x 1600m
x 150m in the same orientation. The search
used a single sector with a minimum of six
samples a maximum of 30 (low grade, B1 and
B2 domains) or 40 (high grade, slime and
oversize).
The optimum and maximum number of
samples used per drill hole was between two
and four.
The searches used for the estimation of zircon
was 3200m x 2200m x 150m; ilmenite 2500m x
2000m x 150m (3000m x 2400m x 150m for B1
and B2 domains to populate the required
number of blocks); HiTi leucoxene and
leucoxene 2200m x 2000m x 150m (2800 x
2600m x 150 for B1 and B2 domains); monazite
3200m x 1500m x 150m or 3200m x 1800m x
150m depending on the mineral assemblage
domain being estimated (3200m x 2500m x
150m for B1 and B2 domains); and ‘other’
material 3200m x 2500m x 150m. The long axis
of the searches was orientated towards 310°
and a 1.5° dip towards 220°. The search used
a minimum of four samples and a maximum
of 20.
Estimates were validated visually in
Minesight’s 3D graphical environment, by
examining reproduction of global estimation
statistics, and by comparing semi-local
reproduction of grade in swath plots.
Moisture Whether the tonnages are estimated Tonnages are estimated on a dry basis
on a dry basis or with natural moisture,
and the method of determination of
the moisture content.
  • 24 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
Cut-off The basis of the adopted cut-off The Mineral Resource estimate of the
parameters grade(s) or quality parameters applied. Thunderbird deposit has been reported at a
3% HM and 7.5% HM cut-off. These cut-off
grades were selected by SFX based on
technical and economic assessment carried
out during Scoping and Pre-Feasibility studies,
and also by comparison with similar deposits
currently or recently being mined in Australia
and globally. QG have reviewed the
parameters used to support these cut-offs
grades and believe these to be reasonable.
At a 3% HM cut-off, the HM grade of the
Thunderbird Resource is 6.9%, and the in-situ
VHM grade is approximately 2.9%. This
compares favourably with other HMS deposits
either recently or currently being mined.
The 7.5% HM cut-off is chosen to represent the
very-high grade, continuous component of
the Mineral Resource, which may become
the starting point of any future mining
operations. In addition, spatially the 7.5% HM
threshold is associated with a grade-
geological boundary throughout the deposit,
which was domained separately for the
purposes of resource estimation.
The grade-tonnage curve is included in the
body of the announcement (Figure 8) to show
the impact of cut-off grade versus total
resource tonnage.
Mining Assumptions made regarding possible In determining the reasonable prospects for
factors or mining methods, minimum mining eventual economic extraction, potential
assumptions dimensions and internal (or, if mining methods considered are either dry-
applicable, external) mining dilution. It mining dozer-trap, or dredge mining
is always necessary as part of the operations, similar to those commonly and
process of determining reasonable currently in use in HM mining operations both
prospects for eventual economic in Australia and globally.
extraction to consider potential mining The thickness, areal extent, and continuous
methods, but the assumptions made nature of the mineralisation at Thunderbird
regarding mining methods and are such that both selective and non-
parameters when estimating Mineral selective bulk mining methods can be
Resources may not always be rigorous. appropriately considered.
Where this is the case, this should be These assumptions were also considered
reported with an explanation of the when determining resource block sizes, and
basis of the mining assumptions made. resource classification.
In addition, Sheffield has previously
announced positive financial results from
Scoping and Pre-Feasibility Studies (see ASX
release dated 14 April, 2014 and 14 May
2015).
On the basis of these assumptions, the
Company considers there are no mining
factors which are likely to affect the
assumption that the deposit has reasonable
prospects for eventual economic extraction.
Metallurgical The basis for assumptions or predictions As discussed earlier in this table, and in the
factors or regarding metallurgical amenability. It body of the announcement, the Company
assumptions is always necessary as part of the has conducted bulk process metallurgical
process of determining reasonable studies on 6t, 5t and 12.5t bulk samples from
prospects for eventual economic Thunderbird for the purpose of developing a
extraction to consider potential process flowsheet for the deposit. The results
metallurgical methods, but the of this work were used to design and optimise
  • 25 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
assumptions regarding metallurgical the method used to determine the HM
treatment processes and parameters assemblage reported in the Mineral Resource.
made when reporting Mineral The results of this work are sufficient for the
Resources may not always be rigorous. Company to expect the Thunderbird
Where this is the case, this should be mineralisation will be amenable to treatment
reported with an explanation of the with conventional mineral sands processing
basis of the metallurgical assumptions techniques.
made. Sheffield has previously announced positive
results relating to product processing and
marketing in its Thunderbird Scoping and Pre-
Feasibility Studies (see ASX release dated 14
April, 2014 and 14 May 2015).
On the basis of these studies, the Company
considers there are no metallurgical factors
which are likely to affect the assumption that
the deposit has reasonable prospects for
eventual economic extraction.
Environmen- Assumptions made regarding possible The Company has completed Level 1 and
tal factors or waste and process residue disposal Level 2 flora and fauna surveys at
assumptions options. It is always necessary as part of Thunderbird, and preliminary hydrogeological
the process of determining reasonable investigations.
prospects for eventual economic On the basis of these studies, the Company
extraction to consider the potential considers there are no environmental factors
environmental impacts of the mining which are likely to affect the assumption that
and processing operation. While at this the deposit has reasonable prospects for
stage the determination of potential eventual economic extraction.
environmental impacts, particularly for
a greenfields project, may not always
be well advanced, the status of early
consideration of these potential
environmental impacts should be
reported. Where these aspects have
not been considered this should be
reported with an explanation of the
environmental assumptions made.
Bulk density Whether assumed or determined. If No direct measurements of bulk density have
assumed, the basis for the assumptions. been taken.
If determined, the method used, Bulk density is assumed from an industry-
whether wet or dry, the frequency of standard formula which accounts for the HM
the measurements, the nature, size and and slimes content of sand deposits. The
representativeness of the samples. resultant values are considered to be
The bulk density for bulk material must consistent with observations of the material
have been measured by methods that compared with other HM deposits with known
adequately account for void spaces bulk density values.
(vugs, porosity, etc), moisture and
differences between rock and
alteration zones within the deposit.
Discuss assumptions for bulk density
estimates used in the evaluation
process of the different materials.
Classification The basis for the classification of the The estimate has been classified according to
Mineral Resources into varying definitions of the JORC Code (2012), into
confidence categories. Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources
Whether appropriate account has taking into account data quality, data
been taken of all relevant factors (ie density, geological continuity, grade
relative confidence in tonnage/grade continuity and confidence in estimation of
estimations, reliability of input data, heavy mineral content and mineral
confidence in continuity of geology assemblage. In plan, polygons were used to
and metal values, quality, quantity and define zones of different classification.
distribution of the data). Measured Resources encompass an area
Whether the result appropriately inclusive of the 125m x 250m infill drillingand
  • 26 -
Criteria JORC Code explanation JORC Code explanation Commentary Commentary
reflects the Competent Person’s view the four separate ‘crosses’ of close-spaced
of the deposit. drilling, where drill spacing is 60m along strike
and 60m across strike.
Indicated Resources are defined where
drilling is at 500m centres along strike, by 250m
or better.
Inferred Resources are defined around the
margins of Indicated Resource, where the drill
spacingis reduced to 500m x 500m.
Audits or The results of any audits or reviews of The Mineral Resource has been audited
reviews Mineral Resource estimates. internally as part of normal validation
processes both by the Company and QG.
No external audit or review of the Mineral
Resource has been conducted.
Discussion of Where appropriate a statement of the The relative accuracy of the Mineral Resource
relative relative accuracy and confidence estimate is reflected in the level of
accuracy/ level in the Mineral Resource estimate classification applied, which takes into
confidence using an approach or procedure account metrics of estimation quality.
deemed appropriate by the Global estimates of tonnage and heavy
Competent Person. For example, the mineral content are considered to have a
application of statistical or high level of confidence. Local estimates are
geostatistical procedures to quantify inevitably less confident, but the relative level
the relative accuracy of the resource of risk is considered low, with the relative level
within stated confidence limits, or, if of risk reflected by classification.
such an approach is not deemed The factors considered to present relatively
appropriate, a qualitative discussion of higher sources of risk in the estimate are data
the factors that could affect the quality and mineral assemblage. Geological
relative accuracy and confidence of interpretation and estimation are considered
the estimate. to present low risk.
The statement should specify whether it
No production has occurred from the deposit.
relates to global or local estimates,
and, if local, state the relevant
tonnages, which should be relevant to
technical and economic evaluation.
Documentation should include
assumptions made and the procedures
used.
These statements of relative accuracy
and confidence of the estimate should
be compared with production data,
where available.
  • 27 -

Appendix 2: QG Thunderbird Mineral Resource Statement Memorandum

  • Following pages (p28 to p33) -

==> picture [596 x 263] intentionally omitted <==

Memorandum

To: Sheffield Resources Ltd From: Trent Strickland

Date: 30 July 2015 Subject: Thunderbird Mineral Sands Deposit Resource Statement

This document presents the Mineral Resource Statement for the Thunderbird deposit, Western Australia.

Thunderbird Mineral Resource Statement

QG Australia Pty Ltd (QG) has provided Sheffield Resources Ltd (SFX) with a resource model for the Thunderbird heavy mineral sands deposit. The estimate is based on aircore (AC) and reverse circulation (RC) drilling data collected by SFX in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The Thunderbird deposit is located within the Canning Basin in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Thunderbird is a heavy mineral sand (HMS) deposit hosted by deeply weathered Cretaceous sand formations. At a 3% HM cut-off the Resource covers an area which is 8.5km along strike and at least 3km to 6.5km wide, and remains open in most directions. Mineralisation occurs from surface to depths of up to 155m, with an average depth to the top of the main body of mineralisation of 36m, and an average mineralised thickness of 38m. The areal extent, width, grade, geological continuity and grainsize of the Thunderbird mineralisation are suggestive of an off-shore, sub-wave base depositional environment.

The drill database used to define the mineral resource comprises 560 vertical AC and RC drillholes, for a total of 33,608.5m, with 22,378 samples assayed totalling 33,453.4m. Of that,

==> picture [548 x 67] intentionally omitted <==

  • 29 -

13,030 assayed samples totalling 19,460.4m are within the mineralised zones of the resource.

The nominal drill spacing is approximately 250m x 500m with the margins of the deposit drilled at a spacing of 500m x 500m and 1000m x 500m. Infill drilling in the area where the high grade domain outcrops at surface, conducted as part of the 2014 drilling campaign, has reduced the nominal spacing to 125m x 250m. Four separate close-spaced ‘crosses’ have been drilled at a nominal spacing of 60m both along and across strike.

QG have reviewed the quality of drill data (location, recovery, sampling and assay quality) and conclude that the data is of acceptable quality for use in resource estimation and subsequent mine planning.

New wireframe solid model interpretations of mineralisation were made by SFX based on geological logging and heavy mineral (HM) content, using thresholds of ~1% HM to define a low grade domain and 7.5% HM to define a high grade domain. QG assessed the robustness of these domains by critically examining the geological interpretation and using a variety of measures including statistical and geostatistical analysis. The domains are considered geologically robust in the context of the resource classification applied to the estimate.

Ordinary Kriging was used to estimate HM%, slime% and oversize%. The search neighbourhood employed was optimised using Quantitative Kriging Neighbourhood Analysis (QKNA). Density was calculated per block. Hard boundaries were applied to estimation within mineralisation domains. Grade capping was applied to slime% and oversize%. The cap values were based on examination of the tail of the histogram and local grade distribution.

The mineral assemblage of the Thunderbird mineral resource was estimated from mineralogical analyses of 702 composites created from 331 holes totalling 13,454m from the 2013 and 2014 drilling programs. Analysis was by a combination of screening, magnetic separation followed by QEMSCAN analysis of the magnetic component, and XRF determination of the non-magnetic component. Details of mineralogical calculations are provided in the footnotes to resource tabulations. The mineralogical data was also supplemented with the average mineralogy of a 6t bulk sample, sourced from the 2012 ‘cross’ of 60m spaced drilling. The composites consisted of samples taken from discrete intervals from within five geological units across multiple holes and combined. The composites were well distributed throughout the deposit. Ordinary Kriging was used to estimate zircon%, high titanium (‘HiTi’) leucoxene %, leucoxene %, ilmenite %, monazite % and other material %.

The estimate was validated by QG as follows:

  • Visual checking of the interpolation results compared with drilling in both plan and section;

  • Comparison of the global input (composites) vs. output (model) statistics, including clustered and declustered composites; and

Semi-local input vs. output statistics using moving window averages.

The estimate is considered to be robust on the basis of the above checks.

The estimate has been classified according to the definitions of the JORC Code (2012), into Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources taking into account data quality, data density, geological continuity, grade continuity and confidence in estimation of heavy mineral content

==> picture [595 x 91] intentionally omitted <==

  • 30 -

and mineral assemblage. In plan, polygons were used to define zones of different classification. Measured Resources encompass an area inclusive of the 125 x 250m infill drilling and the four separate ‘crosses’ of close-spaced drilling, where drill spacing is 60m along strike and 60m across strike. Indicated Resources are defined where drilling is at 500m centres along strike, by 250m or better. Inferred Resources are defined around the margins of Indicated Resource, where the drill spacing is reduced to 500m x 500m.

The Thunderbird mineral resource estimate has been reported at both a 3% HM and a 7.5% HM cut-off. These cut-off grades were selected by SFX based on technical and economic assessment carried out during the Pre-Feasibility study, and on comparison with similar deposits currently or recently being mined. Refer to the ASX announcement “Pre-Feasibility study confirms Thunderbird as next major mineral sands project in global development pipeline” dated 14[th] May 2015 for further details, including the parameters used during pit optimisation. The announcement is available on Sheffield Resources Ltd’s web site www.sheffieldresources.com.au. Based on the same technical and economic assessment, and taking into consideration the thickness, grades and depth of the deposit, it is considered that the entire deposit has a reasonable prospect of eventually being mined, and that the current extents of the deposit are limited by drilling. The Thunderbird mineral resource estimate, as at the 30[th] July 2015, is summarised in Table 1 and Table 2.

==> picture [595 x 91] intentionally omitted <==

  • 31 -
Mineral
Resource
Category
Material
Million Tonnes1
Bulk Density HM % Slimes % Osize % In-situ HM
Million Tonnes1
Measured 230 2.1 9.4 19 10 21
Indicated 2,410 2.0 6.9 16 8 167
Inferred 600 2.0 5.6 16 9 33
TOTAL 3,240 2.1 6.9 16 9 222
Mineral
Resource
Category
Material
Million Tonnes1
HM % Valuable HM Grade (% In-situ)2
Zircon HiTi Leucoxene Leucoxene Ilmenite
Measured 230 9.4 0.74 0.21 0.20 2.5
Indicated 2,410 6.9 0.58 0.19 0.22 1.9
Inferred 600 5.6 0.47 0.16 0.20 1.5
TOTAL 3,240 6.9 0.57 0.18 0.21 1.9
Mineral
Resource
Category
In-situ HM
Million Tonnes1
Mineral Assemblage (as % of HM Tonnes )3
Zircon HiTi Leucoxene Leucoxene Ilmenite Valuable HM%
Measured 21 7.9 2.2 2.1 27 39
Indicated 167 8.4 2.7 3.1 28 42
Inferred 33 8.4 2.8 3.5 28 42
TOTAL 222 8.3 2.7 3.1 28 42

1 All tonnages and grades hav e been rounded to reflect the relativ e uncertainty of the estimate, thus sum of columns may not equal. 2 The In-situ grade is determined by multiplying the percentage of HM by the percentage of each v aluable heav y mineral within the heav y mineral assemblage. 3 Estimates of Mineral Assemblage are presented as percentages of the Heav y Mineral (HM) component of the deposit, as determined by magnetic separation, QEMSCAN and XRF. Magnetic fractions were analysed by QEMSCAN for mineral determination as follows: Ilmenite: 40-70% TiO2 >90% Liberation; Leucoxene: 70-94% TiO2 >90% Liberation; High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi Leucoxene): >94% TiO2 >90% Liberation; and Zircon: 66.7% ZrO2+HfO2 >90% Liberation. The non-magnetic fraction was submitted for XRF analysis and minerals determined as follows: Zircon: ZrO2+HfO2/0.667 and High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi Leucoxene): TiO2/0.94.

==> picture [595 x 91] intentionally omitted <==

Table 1. Thunderbird Mineral Resource Estimate at a cut-off grade of 3% HM.

  • 32 -
Mineral
Resource
Category
Material
Million Tonnes1
Bulk Density HM % Slimes % Osize % In-situ HM
Million Tonnes1
Measured 110 2.2 14.9 17 13 16
Indicated 850 2.1 11.8 15 10 100
Inferred 130 2.0 10.7 14 9 14
TOTAL 1,090 2.1 11.9 15 10 131
Mineral
Resource
Category
Material
Million Tonnes1
HM % Valuable HM Grade (% In-situ)2
Zircon HiTi Leucoxene Leucoxene Ilmenite
Measured 110 14.9 1.09 0.31 0.28 4.0
Indicated 850 11.8 0.90 0.28 0.25 3.3
Inferred 130 10.7 0.82 0.25 0.23 3.0
TOTAL 1,090 11.9 0.91 0.28 0.25 3.3
Mineral
Resource
Category
In-situ HM
Million Tonnes1
Mineral Assemblage (as % of HM Tonnes )3
Zircon HiTi Leucoxene Leucoxene Ilmenite Valuable HM%
Measured 16 7.3 2.1 1.9 27 38
Indicated 100 7.6 2.4 2.2 28 40
Inferred 14 7.6 2.3 2.2 28 40
TOTAL 131 7.6 2.3 2.1 28 40

1 All tonnages and grades hav e been rounded to reflect the relativ e uncertainty of the estimate, thus sum of columns may not equal. 2 The In-situ grade is determined by multiplying the percentage of HM by the percentage of each v aluable heav y mineral within the heav y mineral assemblage. 3 Estimates of Mineral Assemblage are presented as percentages of the Heav y Mineral (HM) component of the deposit, as determined by magnetic separation, QEMSCAN and XRF. Magnetic fractions were analysed by QEMSCAN for mineral determination as follows: Ilmenite: 40-70% TiO2 >90% Liberation; Leucoxene: 70-94% TiO2 >90% Liberation; High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi Leucoxene): >94% TiO2 >90% Liberation; and Zircon: 66.7% ZrO2+HfO2 >90% Liberation. The non-magnetic fraction was submitted for XRF analysis and minerals determined as follows: Zircon: ZrO2+HfO2/0.667 and High Titanium Leucoxene (HiTi Leucoxene): TiO2/0.94.

Table 2. Thunderbird Mineral Resource Estimate at a cut-off grade of 7.5% HM.

Yours faithfully,

==> picture [113 x 41] intentionally omitted <==

Trent Strickland Senior Consultant

==> picture [595 x 91] intentionally omitted <==

  • 33 -

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this report that relates to the estimation of Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Trent Strickland, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr Strickland is a full time employee of QG Australia Pty Ltd and 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’. Mr Strickland consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

==> picture [595 x 91] intentionally omitted <==