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Managing Director James Allchurch commented: “Mandrake has organically secured a potentially world-class lithium project in the heart of the US, at a time when the US federal government is actively funding and supporting domestic sources of strategic and critical materials such as lithium.
Utah is among the most mining and investment friendly jurisdictions in the US with the State Government heavily involved in aiding Utah-based projects play a role in the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Our 100%-owned Utah Lithium Project comprises over 56,000 acres of prime lithium brine�prospective ground in the Paradox Basin in proximity, and incorporating, a multitude of Date: 22 February 2023 ASX Code: MAN Capital Structure Ordinary Shares: 552,499,920 Current Share Price: 5.3c Market Capitalisation: $29.3M Cash: $17.2M (Dec 2022) EV: $12M Debt: Nil Directors Lloyd Flint Non-Executive Chairman Company Secretary James Allchurch Managing Director Roger Fitzhardinge Non-Executive Director Contact Details First Floor 10 Outram Street West Perth WA 6005 Australia Tel: +61 9200 3743 mandrakeresources.com.au Mandrake Resources Limited I ACN: 006 569 124 2 www.mandrakeresources.com.au First Floor, 10 Outram Street West Perth WA dormant oil and gas wells that can be relatively quickly and inexpensively accessed for the purposes of sampling and eventual production.
The Paradox Basin includes nearby operators such as lithium developer Anson Resources (ASX: ASN), who have a Mineral Resource of over 1MT of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent at an average grade of 124mg/L Li1, as well as the biggest potash producer in the US, Intrepid Potash.
The opportunity presented by Mandrake’s large-scale Utah Lithium Project is clearly recognised by ASX lithium developer Galan Lithium Limited (ASX: GLN; MC: $344M) who are investing $1.5 million for a 5% stake in Mandrake and will be involved in the project on an ongoing basis in a technical advisory capacity.
Mandrake will leverage the significant technical work already undertaken over the preceding months to move rapidly into exploration as we head towards the Company’s maiden lithium Resource.”
Highlights
- Mandrake has secured a large-scale lithium project in the prolific ‘lithium four corners’ Paradox Basin southeast Utah, USA.
- The Utah Lithium Project comprises a land position of over 56,000 acres (~226 km2) – includes a Binding Agreement with the Utah State Govt for over 34,000 acres.
- Staking is still underway; the Company will update shareholders with increases in project acreage.
- Compilation of geological and petrophysical data is well advanced to potentially generate a lithium Exploration Target in the short term and to guide exploration work toward a maiden Mineral Resource in the second half 2023.
- Located proximal to Anson Resources’ (ASX: ASN) Paradox Lithium Project in the pro-mining jurisdiction of Utah with access to Tier 1 infrastructure including power and water.
- ASX-listed lithium developer Galan Lithium Limited (market cap: $344M) to provide technical support and invest $1.5M for a ~5% stake in Mandrake.
- US governmentt and industry aggressively promote domestic exploration/production of strategic/critical materials via myriad funding and grant schemes.
- Project generated internally – no payments to third parties.
- Mandrake fully funded - $19M cash post Galan placement.
Utah Lithium Project
Mandrake Resources Limited (ASX: MAN) (Mandrake or the Company) has secured over 56,000 acres (approximately 226 km2) of lithium brine prospective ground in the Paradox Basin. The lithium brine land tenure comprises:
- 34,670 acres of leases pursuant to an Other Business Agreement (OBA) with the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), the organization which manages the Utah State Government’s trust lands and mineral rights.
- Over 1,000 claims have been acquired on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land which totals over 21,383 acres. Claim staking has targeted the most prospective lithium brine areas in the Paradox Basin.
A global review undertaken by Mandrake of several lithium assets and numerous lithium hard-rock, clay and brine prospective areas throughout the world identified the Paradox Basin in the United States as the most attractive opportunity for the Company to successfully develop a world-class lithium project.
The Utah Lithium Project was generated by Mandrake internally meaning there is no vend or acquisition cost to reduce Mandrake’s cash position or dilute its existing shareholders.
The Paradox Basin in the south-eastern Utah ‘lithium four corners’ area hosts hypersaline brine historically documented to contain significant concentrations of lithium, boron, potassium salts (potash) and other elements. The United States’ biggest potash producer, Intrepid Potash (NYSE: IPI MC: US$427M) operates the Cane Creek potash mine which is located approximately 50km to the north west of the Utah Lithium Project whilst mid-tier ASX-listed lithium developer Anson Resources (ASX: ASN MC: AUD$224M) is located approximately 60km north west (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Location of the Utah Lithium Project
Project Geology and Lithium Brines
The Paradox Basin is composed of sedimentary rocks that overlie an Early Proterozoic basement of metamorphic gneiss and schist that is locally intruded by granite (Nuccio and Condon, 19962; Tweto,19873). The prospective reservoir brine occurs in deep-seated, confined Paleozoic sedimentary reservoirs, or aquifers, that are still being assessed and may vary in depth between 2,000 and 7,000 feet (610 and 2,134 metres) below surface.
The geological units of most interest to Mandrake currently include the Pennsylvanian age Paradox Member (within the Hermosa Formation) and the Mississippian Leadville-Ouray Limestone Formation (Leadville Limestone; Figure 2).
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High grade Assay Results Continue at Youanmi
- The latest batch of assays have been received from the 11,000m drilling program (both diamond core and reverse circulation) at the high gold-grade Youanmi Gold Project, located centrally in Western Australia’s prolific gold fields
- The recently-completed infill/exploration program aimed to improve resource confidence and open up corridors for resource growth; to underpin the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), and, additionally, provide sample material for ongoing metallurgical optimisation test-work for the DFS program
- Latest highlights from the program include:
- RXDD131: 4.38m @ 19.07 g/t Au from 387.98m,
- incl. 1.73m @ 41.43 g/t Au from 389.96m
- RXDD119: 4.56m @ 14.60 g/t Au from 220.64m
- RXDD115: 2.99m @ 21.11 g/t Au from 249.88m
- RXDD119: 4.0m @ 7.37 g/t Au from 162.0m
- RXDD132: 7.19m @ 3.90 g/t Au from 263.61m
- RXDD133: 2.83m @ 6.53 g/t Au from 431.00m
- RXDD128: 3.82m @ 4.51 g/t Au from 364.59m,
- incl. 1.73m @ 8.22 g/t Au from 364.59m
- incl. 1.73m @ 8.22 g/t Au from 364.59m
- RXDD122: 0.95m @ 13.50 g/t Au from 204.44m
- §These results further demonstrate the continuity of high- grade gold mineralisation along the Youanmi greenstone belt belt, and the potential for resource growth both at depth and along-strike, with discovery potential to the south
- 35,000m Step-up drill campaign well underway with the plan to bring forward ounces and increase the mine plan
The program focused on converting Inferred stopes at Pollard, United North and Youanmi Main to higher confidence Indicated classification and providing material for metallurgical testing for the upcoming Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) – on track for H2 CY25.
This final consignment of diamond assay results are the fourth batch of assays results returned from the drill program and have been entirely drilled from the Pollard, Youanmi and United North areas (Figure 1).
Rox Resources’ Chief Executive Officer, Phillip Wilding, commented:
“It’s pleasing to round out the 11,000m RD and DD drilling program with another batch of excellent intercepts.
“More importantly, the program has significantly improved our knowledge of the high grade and underexplored Youanmi ore system, and shown that mineralisation remains open at depth.
“Next steps are to convert Inferred areas of the Resource to the higher confidence Indicated classification, and finalise key intercepts of sample material for metallurgical test work to feed into the Youanmi DFS.
“We are excited to have commenced the 35,000m Step-up program to potentially bring forward ounces in the mine plan and significantly increase the size of the Pollard ore zone.”
Youanmi Major Growth Drill program
Resource drilling has focused on converting selected Inferred stopes in the current Mineral Resource of 16.2Mt at 4.4g/t Au for 2.3Moz (Indicated: 10.7Mt at 4.5g/t Au for 1.6 Moz : Inferred 5.5Mt at 4.2g/t Au for 0.7 Moz) 1 to higher confidence Indicated classification at Pollard, United North and Youanmi Main as shown in plan on Figure 1. The drilling has also provided both sample material for metallurgical testing and valuable geological data for the pending Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) planned for second half of 2025.
Figure 1: Plan view of the Youanmi Gold Project featuring drill hole collar locations and 2024 Resource outline overprinted on aerial photography
Outside of the immediate resource area, drilling was also conducted on near-mine exploration and focused on the Youanmi South prospect area, or Paddy’s Lode, first reporting high-grade intercepts in 20232. The drilling at Paddy’s has complimented the Company’s exploration strategy moving south along the Main Lode Shear Zone (MLSZ) and adding additional gold ounces to the Resource. Youanmi South has the potential to grow the Resource above the 103kozpa Production Target outlined in the recently completed Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”)3.
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Drilling Commenced at Viani in Fiji
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Phase 1, three-hole diamond drilling program has commenced at the Viani Project, Fiji and will test for extensions to the quartz vein gold mineralisation at depth.
- Phase 1 is expected to be completed in early 2025, with plans for additional drilling under the same program dependent on the initial results
- The Viani Project (SPL1513) covers an area of approximately 200km2 and is largely underexplored.
- At the Dakuniba prospect within Viani, low sulphidation epithermal high-grade gold mineralisation has been mapped over >3km strike length.
- Diamond drilling completed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1995 to 1997 intersected high-grade gold in low sulphidation epithermal quartz veins, including 0.6m @ 27.6 g/t Au.
Alice Queen’s Managing Director, Andrew Buxton said,
With drilling underway, Alice Queen is positioned to test the epithermal gold-style mineralisation identified in historic drilling at the Viani Project. Weather permitting, we anticipate completing the Phase 1, three-hole diamond drilling program in early 2025. Following this, our exploration team will mobilise the drill rig to the Sabeto Project in Fiji to maintain the momentum of this campaign. To deliver timely results to shareholders, we intend to accelerate the analysis of the drill core at ALS Brisbane.”
Image 1 – Diamond drilling at Viani
Details
Geology
The geology of the Viani Project (SPL 1513) comprises olivine basalts and volcaniclastics of the Natewa Volcanic Group which are intruded by andesite sills and dykes. In the 1940s, gold mineralisation was found by local prospectors near the village of Dakuniba. At Dakuniba, low sulphidation style epithermal gold occurs in quartz veins, and silicified rocks along a 3km long NE trending zone.
In 1995-1997, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) drilled six diamond holes at Dakuniba and intersected high-grade gold in chalcedonic, crustiform, colloform banded quartz veins at depths of 50m to 100m below surface (i.e. MJVFV-5 intersected 2.2m @ 11.3 g/t Au, incl 0.6m @ 27.6 g/t Au at 121m downhole). This high-grade gold mineralisation is open in all directions.
Proposed Drill program
The initial Phase 1 drill program at Viani (see Table 1) will comprise three diamond drillholes designed to test continuity to the epithermal gold mineralisation previously intersected in JICA drillhole MJVFV- 5 (2.2m @ 11.3 g/t Au) (see Figure 2). The drilling will test for extensions to the gold mineralisation at depth and along strike.
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