Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksThor Energy Regulatory News (THR)

Share Price Information for Thor Energy (THR)

Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
0.60    0.00 (0.00%)
Bid:
0.55
Ask:
0.65
Spread: 0.10 (18.182%)
Market Cap: £6.18m
THR Live PriceLast checked at - London Stock Exchange

Intraday Thor Energy Share Chart

Thor to Develop Gold Operation at Spring Hill

24 Jun 2013 07:00

RNS Number : 6716H
Thor Mining PLC
24 June 2013
 

24 June 2013

THOR MINING PLC

 

THOR TO DEVELOP GOLD OPERATION - SPRING HILL PROJECT

 

The Directors of Thor Mining PLC ("Thor") (AIM, ASX: THR) are pleased to announce that it is preparing for mine development, commencing within 12 months, following positive results of a study to extract near surface oxide ore from the Spring Hilgold project south of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory.

 

Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the toll treatment of gold ore with Crocodile Gold Australian Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Toronto-listed Crocodile Cold Corporation (TSX "CRK") and announced on 10th April 2013, Thor, with co-venturer Western Desert Resources (WDR), has been developing a proposal to accelerate development at Spring Hill. An opportunity has been identified which may expedite early environmental and regulatory approval to mine shallow oxidised ore by constraining the initial mine plan to extract only near surface oxide material for processing off-site. Mining of deeper transition and primary ore will be subject of subsequent studies and approval applications.

 

Highlights:

·; Notice of Intent (NOI) lodged with the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy.

·; Initial ore extraction from near surface oxide portion of the resource.

·; Plan for up to 900,000 tonnes of ore yielding between 40,000 and 45,000 ounces of gold over a 2 - 3 year period.

·; Ore to be delivered to Crocodile Gold Union Reefs processing plant for treatment.

·; Capital cost estimate below A$5million.

·; Economic studies and permitting for mining deeper primary ore will continue.

 

A pit optimisation study by independent consultants AVCS Pty Ltd has determined that 900,000 tonnes of ore from the upper portions of the resource are economic based upon criteria outlined in Table 1. below.

This represents a portion of the resource predominantly in the zone of oxidation, which is selected on economic criteria, and also because the environmental approvals process may reduce if waste material mined (along with the ore) and stored in nearby waste dumps, does not contain primary (potentially acid forming) material.

It is intended that economic studies and permitting will continue for the subsequent mining of the deeper transition and primary ore.

Further drilling is also planned to delineate additional, low cost near surface mineralisation

 

Table 1: Key Operating and Financial Assumptions (base case)

Mining

Ore mined

880,000

tonnes

Ore cut-off grade

0.8

grams / tonne

Diluted ore grade mined

1.56

grams / tonne

Waste mined

1,970,000

tonnes

Stripping ratio

2.2 : 1

Processing

Ore transported to Union Reefs & processed

880,000

tonnes

Feed grade

1.56

grams / tonne

Metallurgical recovery

90%

Ounces recovered

41,300

Financial Assumptions / Outcomes

US$ Gold price

US$1,400

per ounce

A$ / US$ exchange rate

0.95

A$ Gold price

A$1,473

per ounce

Mining costs (ore and waste)

A$4:00

per tonne

Processing costs

A$33:00

per tonne

Total Operating costs

A$1,170

per ounce

Capital Cost

Less than A$5 million

 

The capital estimate of less than A$5 million has not been subject to detailed engineering, however the project does not require the construction and provision of processing plant and camp facilities, as these are included in operating estimates for toll treatment and contract supply estimates. The principal capital expenditure requirements are the establishment of a waste dump, some minor pads, the establishment of a road from the pit to existing tracks (approximately 1 kilometre) and the upgrading of those tracks (approximately 3.5 kilometres) to the point where they meet existing public roads.

 

A Notice of Intent (NOI) has been prepared and lodged with the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy in respect of the proposed development at Spring Hill. Assessment of the NOI will determine the level of environmental and other regulatory compliance required, and therefore, an estimate of approval timing. While this process should not be underestimated, it is anticipated that a proposed mining operation which does not require a processing plant, has no requirement for a tailings storage facility, and is not expected to generate acidic liquor from waste dumps will face comparatively fewer environmental hurdles.

 

About the Spring Hill Gold Project

The Spring Hill project is located approximately 150 km south of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. The location is served by all-weather access and is in close proximity to the sealed arterial Stuart Highway, and other local infrastructure.

 

Thor holds a 51% equity interest in the Spring Hill project, and is exercising rights to increase that interest to 80%.

 

Table 2: Undiluted Resource Estimate(6.9 million tonnes @ 1.74g/t gold Cutoff grade 0.7 g/t)

Category

Measured

Indicated

Inferred

--------- Total --------

Tonnes (Mt)

Grade g/t

 Au

Tonnes (Mt)

Grade g/t

Au

Tonnes (Mt)

Grade g/t

Au

Tonnes (Mt)

Grade g/t

Au

Contained Gold

(K oz)

Zone of Oxidation

-

-

3.14

1.59

-

-

3.14

1.59

161

Transition Zone

-

-

0.87

1.78

-

-

0.87

1.78

50

Unweathered Zone

-

-

2.94

1.89

-

-

2.94

1.89

178

Total

-

-

6.95

1.74

-

-

6.95

1.74

389

Thor Mining PLC holds equity rights to 80% of this resource, including current 51% project ownership.

Estimate: McDonald Speijers, November 2012

 

Commenting, Mr Mick Billing, Executive Chairman of Thor Mining, said:

 

"This is an opportunity to achieve an attractive early return from a very modest investment in Spring Hill, with plenty of scope to further exploit this resource in the future. This does not detract from our work at Molyhil which remains a key project for Thor, and where optimisation work is continuing. We are also pleased to note a 25% increase in tungsten prices so far this year and the recent weakening of the Australian dollar against the US currency, both of which are positive for the economic outcomes for Molyhil"

 

Enquiries:

 

Mick Billing

+61 (8) 7324 1935

 

Thor Mining PLC

Executive Chairman

Allan Burchard

+61 (8) 7324 1935

 

Thor Mining PLC

CFO/Company Secretary

Colin Aaronson/ David Hignell

+44 (0) 207 383 5100

 

Grant Thornton Corporate Finance

 

Nominated Adviser

Nick Emerson/

Renato Rufus

+44 (0) 1483 413500

Simple Investments

Broker

Alex Walters

 

+44 (0) 7771 713608

+44 (0) 207 839 9260

Cadogan PR

Financial PR

Updates on the Company's activities are regularly posted on Thor's website www.thormining.com, which includes a facility to register to receive these updates by email.

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this report that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Richard Bradey, who holds a BSc in applied geology and an MSc in natural resource management and who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Bradey is an employee of Thor Mining PLC. He has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Richard Bradey 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 Spring Hill Mineral Resource is based on information compiled by Diederik Speijers who is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and published on 20 November 2012. Mr Speijers is the principal of consulting firm McDonald Speijers. He has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Diederik Speijers consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
MSCFIMATMBATMMJ
Date   Source Headline
29th Apr 20267:00 amRNSQ1 2026 Quarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report
17th Mar 20267:00 amRNSCompletion of HY-Range Phase 2 Geochemical Survey
16th Mar 202611:30 amRNSHalf-year Report for the 6 months ending 31 Dec 25
3rd Mar 20267:00 amRNSThor Energy Plc to Appoint Director to ECL Board
20th Feb 20268:00 amRNSAward of Two New Prospective Licence Applications
30th Jan 20267:00 amRNSQuarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report Q4 2025
19th Jan 20267:00 amRNSMolyhil Update - A$2,250,000 Payment Received
18th Dec 20257:00 amRNSHY-Range Seismic, Geochemistry & Portfolio Update
9th Dec 202512:27 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
13th Nov 20257:00 amRNS-RThor Energy to Present at H-NAT Paris Conference
11th Nov 20251:20 pmRNSResult of AGM
31st Oct 20257:00 amRNSQuarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report
27th Oct 20257:00 amRNSExternal Investment into EnviroCopper Limited
23rd Oct 20257:00 amRNSBinding Agreement Signed with DISA Technologies
17th Oct 20257:00 amRNSNotice of AGM
29th Sep 20257:00 amRNSResults for the year ended 30 June 2025
16th Sep 20257:00 amRNSTerm Sheet to sell FRAM JV to Tivan for A$8.75m
15th Sep 20257:00 amRNSASX Trading Halt
4th Sep 20257:00 amRNSTerm Sheet to Treat Colorado Project with DISA
13th Aug 20257:00 amRNSCompletion of Sale of 75% interest in US Uranium
30th Jul 20257:00 amRNSQuarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report
29th Jul 20258:57 amRNSIssue of Equity
25th Jul 20257:00 amRNSTerm Sheet to Sell 75% of US Uranium Claims
7th Jul 20257:00 amRNSOutstanding Geochemical Results at HY-Range
16th Jun 20257:00 amRNSGas Storage Exploration Licences - South Australia
29th May 20257:00 amRNS-RHydrogen/Helium Geochemical Survey Completed
29th Apr 20257:00 amRNSQuarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report
28th Apr 20257:00 amRNSHY-Range Exploration and Corporate Update
1st Apr 202512:00 pmRNS-RInvestor Webinar
31st Mar 20257:00 amRNSHY-Range Project Maiden Prospective Resource
14th Mar 20257:00 amRNSHalf-year report
13th Mar 20257:00 amRNSConversion of Petroleum Exploration Licence
25th Feb 20259:33 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
17th Feb 20257:00 amRNSCompletion of Acquisition and TVR
5th Feb 20257:00 amRNSAppointment of Managing Director
28th Jan 20257:00 amRNSQuarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report
27th Jan 20253:00 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
9th Dec 20247:00 amRNSUranium Drilling
4th Dec 20247:00 amRNSDirectorate Change & Company Secretary Appointment
28th Nov 20243:15 pmRNSResult of AGM and Total Voting Rights
25th Nov 20247:00 amRNSResearch and Development Rebate and Fluorite Sale
1st Nov 20247:00 amRNSNotice of AGM
30th Oct 202411:13 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
30th Oct 20247:30 amRNSQuarterly Activities and Cash Flow Report
30th Oct 20247:00 amRNSAcquisition Announcement
28th Oct 20247:15 amRNSASX Trading Halt
25th Oct 20244:30 pmRNSEquity Fundraise and Non-binding Heads of Terms
8th Oct 202412:35 pmRNSAppointing Executive Chairman & M.D. Retirement
1st Oct 202410:38 amRNSSuspension of Quotation on ASX
30th Sep 20241:11 pmRNSResults for the year ended 30 June 2024

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.