Last checked at 10 Jul 2018 07:00
B"H
10 July 2018
Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.) Ltd
("Shefa Yamim" or the "Company")
Encouraging results from Bulk Sample of Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2
Total of 1,380.69 carats of gemstones recovered from 568.9 tonnes in BS-1230
Shefa Yamim (LSE: SEFA), a precious stone exploration company in Northern Israel, announces processing results from bulk sample BS-1230, the first of five bulk samples collected at the end of 2017 to determine the potential resource for the Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2.
Bulk Sample BS-1230 Highlights
· Largest gemstones recovered were a 6.20 ct spinel and a garnet of 3.61 carats (cts)
· Sample was dominated by gemstones (99%) with spinel accounting for 57% of the Target Mineral Assemblage ("TMA") followed by garnet (18%), ilmenite (15%), sapphire (5%), Carmel Sapphire™ (3%) and the remaining (2%) between hibonite, moissanite and ruby
· Significant increase in the overall grade following the update of the Company's TMA to include spinel in the Kishon Mid-Reach placer gemstones assemblage and with the formation of a revised "Gem Box" suite that incorporates 9 gemstones
A total of 1,380.69 cts of gemstones were recovered from 568.9 tonnes ('t') of basal gravels with an overall TMA recovered grade of 242.69 carats per hundred tonnes ("cpht") at a bottom screen size of 1mm. Of this, the "Gem Box" suite comprised 99% of the TMA, with the heavy industrial minerals "HIM" suite of zircon and rutile accounting for the balance of 1%.
BS-1230 is the first sample from Zone 2 to incorporate spinel, ilmenite and garnet in the "Gem Box" suite, following the update of the Company's TMA announced 3 July 2018, due to their gem quality. The addition of spinel resulted in a significant increase in the overall TMA grade of BS-1230.
The size range distribution of the TMA recovered from BS-1230 is summarised below in Table 1
Extra Fines (0.01 to 0.65 carats)
| Fines (0.66 to 1.19 carats) | Mids (1.2 to 2.49 carats) | Coarse (2.5 cts and more) |
90.2% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 1.1% |
Commenting on the results, Avi Taub, CEO of Shefa Yamim, said:
"The results from the bulk sample of Zone 2, together with the excellent grade achieved in Zone 1 reported by the Company last week, further highlight the potential of the Kishon Mid-Reach deposits and have led to a significant increase in the level of confidence in the project.
"The multi-commodity findings, of nine different types of gemstones, led the Company and its professional geological consultants to name the assemblage of gemstones found in the permitted areas as Shefa Yamim "GEM-BOX".
Kishon Mid-Reach Zone 2 Bulk Sampling Programme:
The bulk samples are sourced from short trenches excavated approximately perpendicular to the paleo-flow direction of the ancient Kishon course preserved in low terraces flanking the modern river course. In following the system adopted for Zone 1, the bulk samples in Zone 2 will also be sited across the paleo-valley to form part of a sample grid to systematically investigate the gemstones content of the paleo-Kishon River basal placer gravels.
The bulk sample trenches, some 8 - 20 m long by 4 - 8 m wide, are excavated down to the bedrock (footwall) contact through a total sediment thickness of some 5 - 8 m, of which the basal target gravels comprise some 1 - 4 m. Approximately 250 to 550 tonnes of coarse basal gravels are removed from the field site to the dedicated treatment facility operated by Shefa Yamim in Akko. There the bulk sample is scrubbed, screened (bottom screen size is 1 mm) and jigged (vibrated and washed) to concentrate the heavy minerals which are then hand-picked in a secure laboratory by trained personnel. All sample concentrates are kept for audit purposes and the basal gravel tailings are returned to the original bulk sample trench where, together with the overburden fines, the excavations are back-filled and rehabilitated.
- Ends -
Competent Person:
This release has been approved by Dr. J.D. Ward, Consulting Geologist at Majimba Geo-Consulting. Dr. Ward is a qualified geologist (Pr.Sci.Nat), and a leading alluvial diamond exploration geologist with over 35 years' field experience.
Enquiries
Shefa Yamim (A.T. M.) Ltd |
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Avi Taub, Chief Executive Officer www.shefayamim.com | +44 20 7618 9100 |
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VSA Capital Limited - Financial Adviser and Broker |
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Andrew Raca, Stephanie Jury | +44 20 3005 5000 |
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Daniel Stewart & Company - Joint Broker |
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Jon Levinson, Richard Potts | +44 20 7796 4648 |
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Luther Pendragon |
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Harry Chathli, Ana Ribeiro, Alexis Gore | +44 20 7618 9100 |
Notes to Editors
About Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.)
Shefa Yamim is a multi-commodity precious stone exploration and prospecting Company in Northern Israel. It has two flagship projects, Mount Carmel (volcanic primary bedrock sources of gemstone and industrial minerals) and the Kishon Mid Reach (secondary alluvial placer deposits hosting the gemstone and industrial minerals derived from primary bodies).
After 18 years of exploration in a "greenfields" terrain, Shefa Yamim established a "Source to Sink" geological model and the presence of a Target Mineral Assemblage ("TMA") in both primary volcanic sources and in secondary alluvial deposits lying within the Kishon catchment, on Mount Carmel and in the Ramot Menashe area.
The TMA comprises gemstones and industrial minerals. The gemstones collectively make up the "Gem Box" suite, comprised of diamond (rare and small macro-diamond to microdiamond sizes), natural moissanite (that is rare globally), sapphire, ruby, Carmel Sapphire™ (a new sapphire type found, to date, only in northern Israel), hibonite (another rare gem), garnet, ilmenite and spinel. The heavy industrial minerals constitute the "HIM" suite hosting zircon (which may be gem grade at larger sizes) and rutile.