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Mount Burgess Mining Ltd (MTB:ASX, the “Company”) is pleased to update on 21 December 2023, after several months of review and amendments to an initial DRAFT EIA (Scoping Report) the Botswanan Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirmed it had approved that Scoping Report and requested a Final EIA be lodged following MTB’s receipt of DEP’s comments.
The final EIA was lodged with DEP early in February 2024.
On 4 September 2024, the DEP in Maun, Botswana, emailed the Company’s Environmental Consultants advising that following its review of the Revised EIA for the Nxuu Project it can now proceed to the next step being a Public Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Nxuu Deposit Infill drilling programme.
DEP has requested the Company submit a draft public review notification to them for endorsement prior to placement in a Government Gazette and newspaper, inviting written comments and/or objections. The draft notification should state:
a) The nature and magnitude of activity.
The nature and magnitude of activity can only be described as being negligible, consisting of some 2,600m of infill HQ diamond core drilling.
b) The location of the activity.
The location of the activity is within Tribal Land used for cattle grazing.
c) The anticipated environmental impacts of the activity.
The anticipated environmental impacts of the drilling activity can only be described as being negligible as previous drilling in the area has all been approved by local communities.
d) The proposed mitigation measures to respond to negative environmental impacts.
Mitigation measures to respond to negative environmental impacts have not been required when conducting previous drilling. The HQ diamond core is cased for extraction. Chemicals used during cased core extraction do not cause any environmental hazards. All onsite personnel are required to comply with the Company’s Environmental Plan.
Progress Summary
The Company has now reached a stage where:
- A DRAFT of a proposed FINAL EIA was approved by DEP on 21 December 2023.
- After amendments requested by the DEP and applied to the DRAFT EIA, DEP advised on 4 September 2024 that the Final EIA, subject to their endorsement, is now ready to proceed to the Public Review stage.
- This allows for the publication of a FINAL EIA to be reviewed and responded-to within a two-week timeframe, by anyone involved in the area.
- Subject to there being no further issues raised through the publication of the EIA, the timeframe to the completion of the EIA review period is estimated to be in the region of four to six weeks.
- This will then allow the Company to schedule its 2,600m program of infill HQ diamond core drilling at the Nxuu Deposit, which will enable preparation of a Pre-feasibility Study to be followed by a Definitive Feasibility Study.
Prospecting Licence PL43/2016 – 100% Owned and Operated by MTB
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MCA Announces Women in Resources Award Winners
A former mining opponent, a brilliant materials engineer and a respected leader in the male-dominated offshore drilling space are among the winners of Australia’s 2024 Women in Resources National Awards announced in the nation’s capital this week.
Queensland University of Technology PhD student and BHP portfolio lead Ashara Moore followed up her Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland Resources award earlier this year by taking out the national award.
Group manager of materials and innovation at Western Australia-based Callidus Process Solutions, Dr Evelyn Ng, took out the Maptek Woman in Resources Technological Innovation award.
Dr Evelyn Ng
Head of energy group Woodside Energy’s global wells and seismic arm, Josie Fourie, received the Dyno Nobel Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources award. The winner of the 2024 WA Outstanding Woman in Resources award is a chemical engineer who has spent 25 years in the upstream energy sector, becoming the most senior woman in offshore drilling in Australia.
Josie Fourie
Moore, Ng and Fourie were among 29 women and four organisations nominated for six awards at the 11th annual Women in Resources National Awards in Canberra, hosted by the Minerals Council of Australia in partnership with the New South Wales Minerals Council, the Queensland Resources Council, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA, the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council and the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy.
The awards are supported by Women in Mining Network state branches.
Queensland-based Kanae Dyas, workplace support manager at Anglo American, took out the Rio Tinto Inclusion and Diversity Champion in Australian Resources Award.
Nadine Hill, an openpit supervisor at Evolution Mining’s Cowal gold operation in NSW, won The Bloomfield Group Outstanding Tradeswoman/Operator/Technician Award.
Major mining services group Thiess headed four groups who were vying for the Mitsubishi Corporation Development Diversity Programs and Performance Award with its Mt Arthur South Indigenous/Inclusive Trainee Employment nomination.
WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy CEO Rebecca Tomkinson said Fourie and Ng were shining examples of the growing pool of talented women breaking new ground in the resources industry.
“Women comprise a growing proportion of the sector’s work force and they’re not just making up the numbers. In so many instances they are highly respected leaders driving innovation in their fields,” Tomkinson said.
“The industry has a long-standing focus on improving diversity. The benefits of that approach are on full display through the field of hugely impressive finalists selected for the 2024 awards.
“While much work has already been done, boosting female participation – from mine sites and laboratories through to the boardroom – remains a priority for the sector.
“Highlighting the achievements of exceptional women like Josie Fourie and Dr Evelyn Ng is a vital part of continuing to promote diversity and attracting the next generation of inspirational leaders.”
Ng, who started her career with First Quantum Minerals at Africa’s largest copper mine in Zambia, has worked on five continents and in her current role at Perth-based Callidus is said to be the only materials engineer among more than two dozen mechanical engineers in a company with over 300 employees.
Ng leads forensic investigations of plant and machine failures, developing quality assurance specifications, as well as overseeing the group’s R&D and intellectual property.
Two recent Callidus patents – one for a bi-metallic coating system and another involving titanium-nitride surface hardening – are seen to have potential to be game-changers in the mining industry.
Ashara Moore, who wants to change tailings management in mining, admitted in an interview after she won a 2023 Women in Industry Award in Queensland she had gone into a work experience interview with Rio Tinto “morally opposed” to the industry.
She said after early exposure to the industry and then starting her career she came to see it “was trying to do and be better [and] it was a sector that I thought I could make a positive difference within”.
Through her QUT PhD study Moore wants to develop a new carbon reduction technology (CRT) that can help mines cut emissions and positively impact future management of tailings.
“I am pro finding solutions to ensuring that our sector can peacefully co-exist with our environment,” Moore has said.
“Tailings management … is the avenue in which I wish to play my part.
“My PhD study is just one very small, very niche segue toward achieving that goal.
“By targeting mining waste, one of the most substantial potential environmental impactors within industry, and hopefully finding more sustainable and responsible ways of managing this waste, I hope to contribute to the ESG agenda gaining momentum in the sector.
“I am hoping to achieve a new normal about the way we think about tailings waste.”
Last August she presented her preliminary findings to the World Chemistry Conference in the Hague, Netherlands.
IMARC applauds winners of this year’s 2024 Women in Resources National Awards.
So far, more than 130 confirmed speakers at this year’s International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney are women, ranging in roles from the C-suite through to undergraduate students. IMARC's Balance for Better commitment also includes the working partnerships with industry groups IWIMRA, WISER, WIMnet NSW, WIMARA, to name a few.
IMARC chief operating officer Anita Richards says the large contingent of female speakers reflects the event’s “unwavering commitment to balance for better, an initiative dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout the mining sector”.
McFarlane Samples 87.4 Grams Per Tonne(Gpt) Gold Containing 0.59% Copper at its Past Producing McMillan Gold Mine; Provides Exploration Update on Upcoming Drill Program
- Recent field sample of 87.4 gpt gold and 0.59% copper demonstrating strong potential for high grade gold and polymetallic mineralization at past producing McMillan Gold Mine
- Fully funded 3,000 metre winter drill program commencing in Q4 2024
- Drilling to confirm and expand on numerous historic high grade gold intercepts including an intercept of 27.9 metres of 6.4 gpt gold containing 8.1 metres of 15.7 gpt gold
The McMillan Gold Mine was a past producer of gold and is located within 3 km from major highways and power lines. Located geologically in the Huronian Gold Belt 70 km west of Sudbury (Figure 1), this area of the province has been consistently identified as a top gold and polymetallic exploration opportunity as highlighted in the Ontario Geological Survey's "Recommendation for Exploration 2010 to 2011" and "Recommendation for Exploration 2017 to 2018".
FIGURE 1 - Property Location - McMillan Gold Mine
Drilling Program
The company has applied for an exploration permit to conduct an initial 3,000 metre drill program, with plans to commence drilling in Q4 2024. The program is fully funded and designed to test and expand on historic high-grade gold intercepts at the McMillan Gold Mine (Figure 2) and to better understand the geology of the deposit.
A recent sample taken at the site, from what is interpreted to have been historic ore from the McMillan Gold Mine, returned 87.4 gpt gold, 0.59% copper and anomalous cobalt and nickel (Figure 3). This has demonstrated the potential for high-grade gold within the setting of a polymetallic mineralized system. Thus far, McFarlane has not seen any historic assays for copper and other base metals in historic data from the mine. This presents an opportunity to add significant value to the property. The company is also testing for platinum and palladium values, these have yet to be received.
FIGURE 2 - McMillan Mine Longitudinal Section - Historic Gold Intercepts and Mine Workings
FIGURE 3 - Recent High-Grade Gold and Copper Samples from McMillan Mine Site
The property has not been drilled since the early 2000's where exploration intersected 27.9 metres of 6.4 gpt gold including 8.1 metres of 15.7 gpt below the historic mine. In addition to testing historic intercepts, the company also plans to test the system along strike and at depth to materially expand the mineralization for a future resource estimate. Historic drill core is not available for analysis, hence upcoming diamond drilling will help understand the sub surface geology and allow for polymetallic analysis of drill core samples (ie gold, copper, cobalt and nickel).
Advancing Regional Surface Targets
The company has recently completed its regional geological data compilation on the property which was performed by ORIX Geoscience. This information is being used to assess exploration targets on the property. Multiple high-priority targets have been outlined across the underexplored 32 sq. km property (Figure 4). Evaluation of the targets has been based on positive magnetic anomalies and historic surface sampling. Historic ore at the McMillan Gold Mine contains pyrrhotite and is magnetic. Magnetic anomalies identified from historic geophysical surveys may be expressions of additional areas of mineralization and will be explored. Surface sampling -conducted in 2022 by McFarlane- associated with some of the magnetic anomalies returned assays up to 10.9 gpt gold and 0.12% copper, as well as anomalous cobalt and nickel up to 487 and 468 ppm respectively. The identification of polymetallic mineralization suggests strong potential exists across the property that was not historically tested. Prior to the upcoming drill program, the company plans to evaluate these regional targets for polymetallic gold mineralization in hopes to discover additional prospects for drilling.
Figure 4. McMillan Mine Property Regional Surface Target
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Wesley Whymark, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist for the company, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.
Technical Information
The samples collected by McFarlane Lake Mining and described in this news release were transported in secure sealed bags for preparation and assay by Agat Labs. The samples reported were crushed in their entirety to 80% passing -10 mesh, with one 500 g subsample split and pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh. One 50 g aliquot was taken from the subsample for fire assay (FA) with an AAS finish. Samples over 10 g/t gold were subject to a 50 g aliquot FA with gravimetric finish. Multi-element assays were done by ICP-OES finish.
Compliant Resources
McFarlane has compliant gold resources within its property portfolio. In 2023 McFarlane delineated a National Instrument standard 43-101 compliant gold resource for its High Lake Property located 40 kilometres west of Kenora, Ontario near the Ontario/Manitoba border. See Table 1 for the resource statement. https://mcfarlanelakemining.com/news-april-9-mcfarlane-finds-more-gold-extends-gold-mineralization-on-the-purdex-zone/
Table 1: Current Purdex Zone Mineral Resource at 2.6 g/t Au cut-off
About McFarlane Lake Mining Limited
McFarlane is a gold exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of properties. The past producing McMillan and Mongowin gold properties, located 70 km west of Sudbury, Ontario, the past producing West Hawk Lake property located immediately west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, and the High Lake gold property (see Table 1 for resource statement) located immediately east of the Ontario-Manitoba border and 8 km from the West Hawk lake property. McFarlane also owns the Michaud/Munro mineral property situated 115 km east of Timmins along the so-called "Golden Highway". McFarlane is a "reporting issuer" under applicable securities legislation in the provinces of, British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
Additional information on McFarlane can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, including without limitation; anticipated results of geophysical surveys or drilling programs, estimated timing, geological interpretations and potential mineral recovery processes. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of McFarlane to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Filing Statement dated as of January 14, 2022, which is available for view on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release, and McFarlane disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Mark Trevisiol, Chief Executive Officer
McFarlane Lake Mining Limited
info@mcfarlanelakemining.com