Last checked at 27 Jul 2020 14:30
27 July 2020
Power Metal Resources plc ("Power Metal" or the "Company")
Haneti Project - Nickel Sulphide Drill Programme Finalised
Power Metal Resources plc (LON:POW) the AIM listed metals exploration and development company is pleased to announce details of the planned confirmatory drilling programme targeting nickel sulphides at the Haneti Nickel Project in Tanzania ("Haneti" or the "Project").
HIGHLIGHTS:
Haneti Project | The Haneti Nickel Project covers an area of approximately 5,000 km2 in central Tanzania and comprises tenements (prospecting licences, offers and applications) prospective for nickel, platinum-group-elements and gold. The main prospective belt of rocks within the Haneti Project is the linear dyke-like, Haneti-Itiso Ultramafic Complex ("HIUC"), which sporadically crops out over a strike length of 80 km. |
Exploration Rationale | The JV partners being Power Metal & Katoro Gold Plc ("Katoro") are to undertake a phased exploration programme to assess the potential for nickel sulphide mineralisation within the HIUC. Confirmation of targeted geological structures and the discovery of a new nickel sulphide deposit or deposits would generate considerable commercial value for the JV partners. Exploration work will align with and complement discussions with third parties, who have expressed interest in the Haneti Project. |
Drill Programme | First stage exploration programme verifying and drill-testing potential chonolith-type nickel sulphide mineralisation within the HIUC. A short shallow (100m) rotary air blast drill programme will seek to verify three near-surface targets ahead of a confirmatory deep (300m) diamond drilling programme. Airborne geophysics over the wider project area will seek to delineate additional deep-seated targets. |
Programme Funding | Based on the outlined drill programme the proposed Power Metal contribution is to be funded from existing working capital, and an amount covering this has already been allocated in the Company's USD account. |
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S STATEMENT
Paul Johnson Chief Executive Officer of Power Metal Resources plc commented: "The Haneti story is one I have been following for many years and it was a great opportunity to take a project interest for Power Metal shareholders in 2019.
We have now moved the Haneti JV forward and prepared a nickel sulphide targeting drill programme, through which we aim to advance our understanding of the geological characteristics of the Project and, potentially, make a new nickel sulphide discovery.
We are being disciplined with a two-stage drill programme using shallow rotary air blast drilling to verify the proposed targets for a follow-on deeper diamond drill programme.
The next step is a practical one, as we make preparations for the launch of the drill programme, and we look forward to announcing mobilisation which will be an exciting point for both JV partners."
HANETI PROJECT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE
Power Metal currently holds a 25% interest in the Project with a 75% interest held by JV partner Katoro Gold plc (LON:KAT).
Power Metal also holds an option to increase its interest in the Project from 25%% to 35% through a payment to Katoro Gold of £25,000 by 31 August 2020.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Haneti Nickel Project ("Haneti") covers an area of approximately 5,000 km2 in central Tanzania approximately 88 km north of the capital city Dodoma. It comprises tenements (prospecting licences, offers and applications) prospective for nickel, platinum-group-elements and gold.
One of the key exploration objectives for the JV partners at the Haneti Project is seeking to delineate the potential for economic nickel mineralisation in central Tanzania.
HANETI GEOLOGY AND NICKEL PROSPECTIVITY
The main prospective belt of rocks within the Haneti Project is the, linear dyke-like, Haneti-Itiso Ultramafic Complex ("HIUC") which sporadically crops out over a strike length of 80 km and mainly comprises serpentinites (metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks such as dunite and peridotite), with metabasic rocks such as metagabbro and metadolerite.
Geologically the Haneti tenements straddle the boundary between the Archaean Dodoman Craton to the south‐west and gneisses of the Palaeo‐Proterozoic Usagaran Orogenic Complex to the northeast.
Bordering the Haneti block to the west, a new greenstone belt, the Londoni Greenstone Belt has been recognised in recent years within the Archaean Dodoman System. This greenstone geology extends southeast into the Haneti project where work on third party mining claims that occur within the Haneti prospecting licence Offer area, PLA 1162, has reported positive results.
HISTORIC EXPLORATION
The Haneti area was first explored in 1931 by a private prospector who collected a Ni‐rich magnetite sample at Mihanza Hill. Later trenching uncovered a few discontinuous green‐stained veins rich in Ni‐silicates and containing several percent nickel.
In the early 1960s the Geological Survey of Tanzania carried out mapping, pitting, soil sampling, trenching and rock chip sampling of ultramafic outcrops on the Zoani, Mindii and Mihanza hills, within the HIUC belt.
Further geological mapping and sampling was undertaken in 2006, 2007 and in 2013.
An airborne electromagnetic ("AEM") geophysics survey was completed over the Mihanza and Mwaka Hill anomalies in 2012 with further geophysics flown in 2015.
A study commissioned with a consultant expert in ultramafic geochemistry in 2015 identified the nickel, copper, platinum, palladium anomaly at Mihanza Hill as a drill ready target. This report suggested that the Itiso‐Haneti Ultramafic body may fit the Chonolith-Type Nickel exploration model which would imply that the main ultramafic belt may have small discrete sulphide bodies associated with it.
In 2019 a number of soil samples, collected during the 2013 exploration programme, were sent for analysis and the results confirmed the existing knowledge base and also identified a new ultramafic subcrop.
PROPOSED EXPLORATION DRILL PROGRAMME
Three preliminary target areas have been selected for exploratory diamond drilling; Milhanza Hill; Mwaka Hill; and Igari Hill, based on the recommendations of the 2012 AEM survey, the detailed field programme undertaken in 2013 and further supplementary exploration findings.
In order to maximise the chances of intersecting mineralisation, the diamond drilling will be preceded by a 20 hole programme of confirmatory rotary air-blast ("RAB") drilling. This phase will consist of 2,000 metres of RAB drilling consisting of two drill fences, 10 x 100 metre spaced, 100 metre deep holes.
The RAB drilling will seek to verify the existence of near surface mineralisation whilst increasing the geological understanding such that the orientation and the meterage of the follow-up diamond drill holes can be optimised to confirm the scale of potential massive sulphide mineralisation.
All RAB drill samples will be subject to multi element and base metal analysis on three metre composites with select samples analysed for platinum group elements.
The exact number and meterage of diamond drill holes will be refined by the RAB drill studies however the initial plan is for a minimum of three, 300 metre deep diamond holes.
The diamond holes are planned to provide a full intersection through the ultramafic inclusion and to provide fresh rock samples for detailed geochemical, petrographic and isotope analysis.
The aim is to identify nickel sulphide mineralisation.
In addition, an airborne Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic ("VTEM") geophysics survey with the capability to generate targets at a depth of several hundred metres, is planned, to provide coverage of a greater proportion of the Haneti Nickel Project.
COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT
The technical information contained in this disclosure has been read and approved by Mr Nick O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MAusIMM, MIMMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Competent Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O'Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Power Metal Resources PLC to provide technical support.
The information contained within this announcement is considered to be inside information prior to its release, as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No.596/2014 and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of those Regulations.
For further information please visit https://www.powermetalresources.com/ or contact:
Power Metal Resources plc | |
Paul Johnson (Chief Executive Officer) | +44 (0) 7766 465 617 |
SP Angel Corporate Finance (Nomad and Joint Broker) | |
Ewan Leggat/Charlie Bouverat | +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 |
SI Capital Limited (Joint Broker) | |
Nick Emerson | +44 (0) 1483 413 500 |
First Equity Limited (Joint Broker) | |
David Cockbill/Jason Robertson | +44 (0) 20 7330 1883 |
Notes to Editors:
Power Metal Resources plc (LON:POW) is an AIM listed metals exploration and development company seeking a large scale metal discovery.
The Company has a global portfolio of project interests including gold exploration in North America and Australia together with base metal exploration in Africa. Project interests range from early stage greenfield exploration to later stage drill ready prospects.
The Board and its team of advisors have expertise in project generation, exploration and development and have identified an opportunity to utilise the Company's position to become a leader in the London market for investors wishing to gain exposure to proactive global metals exploration.