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Eclipse Metals Ltd (Eclipse or the Company) (ASX: EPM) is pleased to announce that it has delineated a rare earth element (REE) exploration target at Grønnedal within its 100% owned Ivigtût multi-commodity project in SW Greenland. While the rare earth mineralisation at Grønnedal extends over 5 km by 2 km of nepheline syenite, the exploration target currently encompasses an approximately 3 km by 800 m section of ferrocarbonatite intruding the syenite (Targeted Area). This Targeted Area is highlighted in Figure 1 and is derived from a combination of recent exploration, a geophysical assessment and review of public domain data.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Rare earth mineralisation at Grønnedal extends over 5 km by 2 km, with an exploration target focusing on 3 km by 800 m of ferrocarbonatite defined.
- Extrapolating the outcropping area of ferrocarbonatite to a depth of 50m indicates a potentially significant exploration target of REE mineralisation.
- The grade range for the exploration target comprises a notable proportion of magnet REE (Nd, Pr, Dy, and Tb), which has the potential to be competitive with other REE projects globally.
- A grid-based diamond drilling program is planned, along with detailed geological mapping and petrological studies to better understand REE mineralisation controls.
Data from a 1995 DIGHEM airborne magnetic survey highlights several ovoid shaped responses associated with brecciated ferrocarbonatite bodies (Fig. 2) (refer ASX announcement 9 February 2021). Comparative analysis of the magnetic response with the mapped extent of the ferrocarbonatite suggests a more widespread presence of these formations than previously mapped. Furthermore, 3D inversion interpretation of the magnetic data shows that the carbonatites extend to at least one kilometre below the surface where the two discrete bodies coalesce. In addition, the DIGHEM electromagnetic data revealed seven conductive targets, potentially sulphide mineralisation, recommended for follow up investigation with drilling.
Figure 1. MEL 2007-45 Location Map, showing the geology of the Grønnedal nepheline syenite with ferrocarbonatite plugs (Target Area)
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This article includes content from Eclipse Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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Eclipse Metals
Overview
Eclipse Metals Ltd. (ASX:EPM) is an exploration and mining development company focusing on multi-commodity assets that support the world’s decarbonization goals. The company has a robust portfolio of projects in Australia and Greenland targeting crucial minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs), lithium, zinc, manganese, high-purity quartz, gold, copper, vanadium and uranium.
Governments worldwide have set ambitious goals to reach net-zero emissions in the coming decades, highlighting miners that supply the critical minerals required for low-carbon technologies, which is expected to consume a growing percentage of the world’s total mineral production, with vital elements growing by over 100 percent by 2050, according to the World Bank.
Greenland REE deposits
Eclipse Metal’s flagship asset in Greenland, the Ivigtût project, contains known REE mineralization, industrial minerals and lithium potential.
Multiple academic research and significant rare earths results obtained by Eclipse Metals to date imply that the Grønnedal prospect (located 10 kilometers northeast of Ivigtût) has the potential to contain significant rare earth mineralization. This presence is consistent with other rare earth-bearing carbonatite-syenite intrusive complexes and has elevated ratios in praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), with enriched in dysprosium (Dy),
zirconium (Zr) and niobium (Nb) — elements that are crucial in the global journey toward a low-carbon, net-zero-emission future. As a mining-friendly jurisdiction, Greenland has an established infrastructure, reducing future development costs.
Additionally, the Ivigtût project contains a high-grade quartz body, a required material for high-end electronics and semiconductors. Eclipse Metals has begun its initial exploration drilling campaign and developed the project’s environmental impact assessment.
Eclipse Metals’ portfolio also includes Australian assets targeting uranium, copper and manganese as part of the company’s mission to support decarbonization. Its Northern Territory and Queensland assets allow the company to capitalize on existing infrastructure and mining-friendly local governments. The company’s uranium assets are in close proximity to other world-class deposits, allowing Eclipse to benefit from existing infrastructure and community support.
A sound management team with decades of experience in the natural resource industry leads Eclipse Metals. The team’s breadth of expertise includes mineral exploration, geology, corporate administration, metallurgy and international trade, creating confidence in the company’s ability to capitalize on its assets.
Company Highlights
- Eclipse Metals is an exploration and mining development company with assets in Greenland and Australia, supporting the world’s decarbonization goals.
- The company’s flagship Ivigtût multi-commodity asset in Greenland exposes the company to REEs, high-purity quartz, and other industrial metals required for emerging technologies.
- Greenland is a mining-friendly yet underexplored jurisdiction, creating tremendous opportunities for the company.
- Eclipse Metals’ portfolio of assets in Australia includes projects in Queensland and the Northern Territory in world-class mining jurisdictions.
- The company has begun its initial exploratory drilling campaign in Greenland and is progressing on the project’s environmental impact assessment for the mining license.
- An experienced management team leads Eclipse Metals with decades of experience in the mining industry.
Key Projects
Ivigtût Multi-commodity Project
The flagship Ivigtût project has a 120-year mining history, having produced 3.8 million tons of cryolite to support aluminum production. The settlement of Kangilinnguit (Grønnedal) approximately 5.5 kilometers to the northeast of Ivigtut provides access to an existing port. In addition, the project is close to existing infrastructure, including a power station, wharf and heliport, which minimizes future development costs.
Project Highlights:
- A Multi-commodity Project: The asset is known to host REEs and undiscovered polymetallic potential. In addition to REEs, the project contains other minerals, which include:
- Cryolite
- Fluorite
- High silica-grade quartz (99.9 percent SiO2)
- Zinc
- Iron
- Lithium
- Rich Exploration Potential: The asset’s area includes a source of carbonatite minerals and REEs, with deposits occurring in the project area that offers additional exploration opportunities to expand known resources. Eclipse Metals is presently strategically exploring the asset, with a drill program, planned pit dewatering, and sampling of 19,000 meters of historical drill cores.
- High-grade Quartz Opportunity: High-grade quartz is necessary to produce photovoltaic products, such as semiconductors and other high-end electronics. The asset contains over 5 million tonnes of quartz mineralization with up to 99.99 percent silica grade.
The company completed scoping phase reports of social and environmental impact assessments for its Ivigtût project with the assistance of Danish consultancy, COWI. The reports are integral to applying to Greenland’s Mineral Licence and Safety Authority for a mining license.
Eclipse also completed its maiden percussion drilling and trench sampling program at the Ivigtût mine site and Grønnedal carbonatite complex.
MEL2007-45 Location map and exploration drill targets
Northern Territory Uranium projects
Liverpool Uranium Project
The Liverpool project comprises five exploration licenses totalling 1,464 square kilometers in the Northern Territory, a proven uranium district. The advanced exploration target contains multiple drill-ready targets.
Project Highlights:
- Nearby World-class Deposits: The Devil’s Elbow prospect within the asset is near several world-class deposits, including:
- Ranger 1 No 1: 0.34 percent uranium
- Ranger 1 No 3: 0.17 percent uranium
- Nabarlek: 1.95 percent uranium
- Jabiluka 1: 0.25 percent uranium
Encouraging Sample Results:
- Samples from shallow trenching yielded high-grade uranium assays including 3.2 percent uranium oxide, 3.7 percent uranium oxide, 4.40 percent uranium oxide, and 5.8 percent uranium oxide, with 38.1 g/t gold and 28.02 g/t palladium, related to fractures within altered amygdaloidal basalt of the Nungbalgarri Volcanics.
- Samples from the radioactive volcanic boulders returned assays of up to 1,720 ppm uranium (0.17 percent uranium), 1,210 ppm uranium (0.12 percent uranium) and a peak value of 3,300 ppm uranium (0.33 percent uranium).
Ngalia Basin Uranium Project
As Eclipse Metals’ second Northern Territory project, the Ngalia Basin project comprises eight exploration licenses totaling 7,280 square kilometers.
Project Highlights:
- Drill-ready Targets Identified: The company has identified two high-priority drill-ready targets within granted tenements.
- Benefitting from Previous Explorers: The asset’s previous explorers discovered anomalous uranium values, streamlining Eclipse’s exploration program and creating a clear progression path.
Mary Valley Manganese Project
The company’s Queensland project covers 35 square kilometers and is 16 kilometers southwest of Gympie Township. The Mary Valley hosts historic mines, such as Amamoor, which produced roughly 20,000 tonnes at 51 percent manganese. In addition, existing road and power infrastructure significantly reduce future development costs.
Project Highlights:
- Promising Historical Results: Drill results from the previous explorer include:
- 2018 drilling: 3.2 meters at 59.8 percent manganese dioxide
- 2020 shallow drilling: 3.5 meters at 24.9 percent manganese dioxide from the surface
- High-grade Manganese Potential: As an essential component in lithium-ion batteries, high-grade manganese is growing in demand. The Mary Valley deposit may support mill feed for a beneficiation plant capable of producing marketable, high-grade manganese.
- Encouraging Intersection: Previous diamond drill holes produced encouraging results, including:
- ADD 006 – 8.8 to 12 meters manganese oxide = 59.8 percent
- ADD 007 – 14.9 to 17.3 meters manganese oxide = 26.3 percent
- ADD 010 – 0.0 to 5.0 meters manganese oxide = 16.8 percent
Rock Hill Copper Project
The Northern Territory Rock Hill copper project contains encouraging copper-silver mineralization. Eclipse Metals plans to conduct airborne electromagnetic surveys and reverse circulation drilling over the mineralized zones, followed by diamond drilling. The potential mineralized corridor extends for over 10 kilometers.
Project Highlights:
- Promising Historical Results: Historical results indicate upside potential including:
- 3.0 meters at 1,420 g/t silver from 6.1 meters
- 11.6 meters at 0.43 percent copper from 58.2 meters
- 0.3 meters at 4.6 percent copper and 10 g/t silver
- 0.3 meters at 10.20 percent copper, 27 g/t silver
Management Team
Carl Popal - Executive Chairman
Carl Popal has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience covering a diverse range of commodities trading, corporate management, minerals exploration, asset management and construction, to name some. Previously, Popal was chief executive director of ASX-listed company Paynes Find Gold Ltd. He is the managing director of Ghan Resources Pty Ltd and Popal Enterprise Pty Ltd. Since 2001, Popal has managed several entities conducting international trading. He has more than 12 years’ experience in property development and has managed various commercial dealings within a network of companies around the world including in India, China and Malaysia.
Rodney Dale - Non-executive Director
Rodney Dale holds a Fellowship Diploma in geology from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. His experience covers more than 60 years, working in many parts of Australia, Indonesia and Africa on gold, tin, wolfram, base metals and industrial mineral exploration and mining, including trial mining and export of high-grade quartz. He has worked in and managed small gold mines in Western Australia. Since 1970, Dale has been an independent geological consultant with three periods as a director of ASX-listed companies. More recently, he has been involved with the assessment of iron ore projects in Australia, South America, India, China and Africa.
Oliver Kreuzer - Non-executive Director
Dr. Oliver Kreuzer is a registered professional geoscientist and company director with a broad skill set in structural, generative and corporate geology honed within more than a 20-year career in applied research and mineral exploration across a wide range of gold, base, energy and battery metals projects worldwide. His generative work laid the foundations for several new company floats, project acquisitions and new discoveries. Kreuzer is currently a non-executive director of ASX-listed exploration companies 92 Energy Ltd and NickelX Ltd.
Ibrar Idrees – Non-executive Director
Ibrar Idrees has a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting and Finance) from Deakin University and has over 10 years of professional and corporate experience gained in a diverse range of industries in Australia and South Asia. Idrees, a practicing accountant, has worked in a variety of business development and financial positions in small and large companies.
Sebastian Andre - Company Secretary
Sebastian Andre is a chartered secretary with over 14 years of experience in corporate advisory, governance, compliance, and risk services. Andre has previously acted as an adviser at the ASX and has a thorough understanding of the ASX listing rules. He holds qualifications in accounting, finance and corporate governance and is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia
Reconnaissance Sampling Program Commences at Ngala Hill PGE Project to Follow up Historical Targets
HIGHLIGHTS
- Targeted reconnaissance sampling program commences at DY6’s highly prospective PGE, Cu & Ni project at Ngalla Hill, Southern Malawi
- At Ngala Hill, 3 key target zones of palladium rich Pd+Pt+Au+Cu mineralisation have been identified from historical trenching and limited drill testing
- DY6 will undertake a rock chip and soil sampling program to follow up on known high grade areas as well as aiming to expand the zone of mineralisation
- No significant modern exploration including electromagnetics (EM) to target massive sulphides has been undertaken at Ngala Hill
- Trenching by Placer Dome in 2000 included results of:
- 12m at 3g/t PGE+Au; and
- 70m at 1.12g/t PGE+Au, including 8m at 3.3g/t PGE+Au
- The main mineralised zone has only had limited modern drilling
The Company’s CEO, Mr Lloyd Kaiser said:“Our team in Malawi has actively built strong relationships with local communities across our projects and this early engagement at Ngala Hill is setting the foundation between the Company and the community as we prepare to mobilise the geo team and embark on our first exploration campaign at Ngala.”
Figure 1: Location of the Ngala Hill PGE Project in southern Malawi
Background on the Project
The Ngala Hill ultramafic chonolith is an arcuate-shaped intrusion, with dimensions of approximately 2.4km by 0.7km and was intruded into the underlying Proterozoic Basement Complex gneisses. The Ngala Hill Project is characterised by an intrusive ultramafic suite of pyroxenites and hornblende- pyroxenites that intrude basement gneisses. The pyroxenite facies of the ultramafic complex is prospective for platinum group elements (PGEs), predominantly palladium, and associated copper.
Initial work at Ngala Hill in the late 1960s included geochemical sampling programs undertaken by the British and Malawian Geological Surveys. Phelps Dodge started an exploration program for PGEs on Ngala Hill in 1999 with approximately 600 m of trenching. Metapyroxenite and amphibolite with an PGE- gold-copper nickel association was intersected trenching and yielded 1.41g/t Pt+Pd+Au and 1,430 ppm Cu over a length of 64m.
In 2000, Placer Dome confirmed further anomalies with encouraging results received from several trenches including 12m at 3g/t PGE+Au and 70 m at 1.12g/t PGE+Au, including 8m at 3.3g/t PGE+Au.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from DY6 Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
ChemX Materials
Overview
ChemX Materials (ASX:CMX) is a critical materials company developing innovative processing technology to produce high purity alumina for advanced technology and clean energy applications.
ChemX Materials’ 100 percent owned, Australian patented HiPurA® process technology offers a low cost and energy intensity production method to produce high purity alumina (HPA).
HPA is used in advanced technology and clean energy applications including lithium-ion batteries, LEDs, semiconductors and synthetic sapphires. Synthetic sapphires are critical in the production of applications such as smart watches, iPhones and laptop screens.
Company Highlights
- ChemX Materials Limited (ChemX Materials) is an Australian company developing an innovative, processing technology to produce high-purity alumina (HPA), this process is called HiPurA®.
- ChemX Materials owns 100 percent of HiPurA® and was granted an Australian patent for this technology in January 2024.
- High purity alumina is used in advanced technology and clean energy applications including lithium-ion batteries, LEDs, semiconductors, smart watches and iPhones.
- The HiPurA® process is modular, scalable and uses a readily available aluminous chemical as its feedstock, therefore is not reliant on mine production offtake, all of which enable the technology to be deployed close to end users' manufacturing operations.
- ChemX Materials has proven HiPurA® can produce above 4N (99.99 percent) high purity alumina at micro plant scale. This testwork indicates HiPurA® is low in cost and energy intensity.
- ChemX Materials is constructing a pilot plant to demonstrate HiPurA® can work at scale, which is the next step towards commercialisation. The pilot plant construction is underway and on track for commissioning in June 2024.
Key Business Segments
High Purity Alumina Processing Technology - HiPurA®
ChemX Materials is developing an innovative processing technology to produce high-purity alumina (HPA). This process is called HiPurA®. ChemX Materials owns 100 percent and holds an Australian patent for HiPurA®. ChemX Materials has proven HiPurA® can produce above 4N (99.99 percent) pure HPA at micro plant scale. This test work has also demonstrated that HiPurA® is superior compared to alternative technologies, offering several advantages, including:
- Lower costs – both capital and operating.
- Independent feedstock - – process is not tied to mine production and uses a readily available aluminous industrial chemical.
- Easily scalable – production output can increase based on demand.
- Modular – can be built near end users’ manufacturing operations.
- Optionality – patented technology can be licenced to end users.
- Lower carbon footprint – technology is not energy intensive.
HPA has several applications, the most important being lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage applications. HPA is used in the coating of the battery separator to enhance safety and performance. The outlook for EVs is very promising. With the adoption of EVs growing rapidly year on year as governments across the globe deploy domestic incentives and regulations to reduce the use of internal combustion engines to meet net zero targets.
HPA is also a key in the production of synthetic sapphire, which is used in LEDs, semiconductors, lasers, optical lenses and medical devices.
ChemX Materials has proven its HiPurA® technology can achieve above 99.99 percent (4N) HPA purity at micro plant scale. Following the technical success of the micro plant, ChemX Materials is constructing a 24 tpa pilot plant in Western Australia. The pilot plant is expected to be operational in June 2024.
In January 2024, ChemX Materials was granted an Australian Patent for its innovative HiPurA® technology. Based on the success of the Australian patent, it is anticipated that ChemX Materials will be afforded similar protections in other international jurisdictions. The patent is important as it provides intellectual property protection as ChemX Materials seeks to commercialise the technology globally.
HPA production from the pilot plant will be used for customer qualification and marketing purposes. ChemX Materials is actively pursuing commercial opportunities globally. Commercialisation options include:
- Build, own, operate a commercial scale plant to sell high purity alumina to end users.
- Licence the HiPurA® technology for deployment at end users’ manufacturing locations.
High Purity Manganese Project
ChemX Materials is developing a high purity manganese project. The Jamieson Tank project is located on two exploration tenements, EL 5920 and EL 6634 in the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. These tenements collectively cover an area of 718 km2.
ChemX Materials completed a 94-hole drill program at the Jamieson Tank project, totaling 6,164 metres and released its maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in September 2023. The Mineral Resource Estimate reported 13.1 Mt at 5.7 percent manganese, with 21 percent classified as Indicated and 79 percent classified as Inferred.
High purity manganese has essential applications in lithium-ion batteries as a cathode material. Manganese provides energy density, stability and lower costs and is a critical material for modern battery chemistries. As the world pursues decarbonisation it is forecasted that the demand for manganese will grow.
With the objective of the United States Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to reduce its reliance on Chinese sources of critical minerals, by 2025, the Jamieson Tank project is an important prospect. China currently supplies around 95 percent of the global manganese sulphate.
The South Australian jurisdiction offers excellent infrastructure. The Jamieson Tank project is in a province that is characterised by rapidly growing renewable energy infrastructure (wind, solar and hydrogen) and access to a local skilled workforce. The Jamieson Tank project is accessible by road, approximately 160 kms from the port of Whyalla and near a major regional airport.
The tenements in which the Jamieson Tank project is located also host kaolin and rare earth elements (REE) deposits. The area has historically been well known and explored for its potential for kaolin. The Kelly Tank exploration target is estimated to be 55 - 130 Mt of extractable kaolin.
In 2022, ChemX Materials undertook a drilling program and identified REE hosted within the kaolin throughout the tenements. The drilling program intersected high-grade REE mineralisation with intervals of up to 5 metres @2,468 parts per million total rare earth oxides from 7 metres. Importantly, it remains open in various directions, providing potential exploration upside for future drill programs.
Management Team
Peter Lee – Chief Executive Officer
20+ years’ experience across mining, metals processing and chemical industries within Canada and Australia. Lee has held technical leadership roles with companies including Rio Tinto, BHP, Roy Hill and WSPGolder. He is an expert in refining and electrochemical processes and a registered P. Eng Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, Canada, and a member of AusIMM and AICD.
Warrick Hazeldine – Non-executive Chair
Warrick Haseldine has more than 20 years of experience across capital markets and strategic communications with a focus on battery materials. He is the co-founder of advisory firm Cannings Purple, and former chair and non-executive director of Global Lithium Resources Ltd (ASX:GL1). Hazeldine is currently a director of Surfing WA, advisory board member of Curtin University, and a non-executive director of Purple.
Stephen Strubel – Non-executive Director and Company Secretary
Stephen Strubel is the company founder with 20 years’ experience in finance and corporate governance. Struber held a senior leadership role with Patersons Securities and has been a director and company secretary for ASX-listed companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in banking and international trade from Victoria University and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.
Alwyn Vorster – Non-executive Director
Alwyn Vorster has 30+ years’ experience in the resources industry, spanning several commodities including rare earths, iron ore, bauxite, potash and salt. Vorster has several senior leadership positions including chief executive officer of Hastings (ASX:HAS) and managing director of BCI Minerals (ASX:BCI) and Iron Ore Holdings (ASX:IOH). Vorster is currently non-executive director of Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN) and Arrow Minerals (ASX:AMD).
CuFe Limited: Multi-Commodity Assets in Western Australia and Northern Territory
CuFe Limited (ASX:CUF) is a multi-commodity exploration and development company with projects situated in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company focuses on its high-grade premium product iron ore projects as well as its exposure to copper, lithium and niobium.CuFe's portfolio includes mature copper targets at Tennant Creek, drill-ready lithium targets at North Dam, and greenfield exploration ground in close proximity to WA1's recent niobium discovery.
CuFe also has exposure to a near-term iron ore price upside via the high-grade JWD iron ore mine. It plans to leverage the mine to take advantage of elevated iron ore price cycles with the ability to cost-effectively suspend production as the market dictates. CuFe is also evaluating the Yarram project, as its close proximity to Darwin port gives it the potential for low opex.
Tennant Creek hosts a mineral resource estimate of 7.3 million tons (Mt) at 1.7 percent copper and 0.6 grams per ton (g/t) gold for 127 kt copper and 145 koz gold. CuFe currently owns a 55 percent interest over 240 kilometres of the highly-prospective tenure, situated in the Northern Territory. CuFe's near-term plan for the mine, based on detailed mine planning, involves a staged cutback of the Orlando open pit to gain access to an ore supply for fast start options.
Company Highlights
- CuFe Limited is an ASX-listed iron, copper, lithium and niobium exploration and development company with a multi-commodity portfolio of assets.
- The company's assets are situated in mature mining regions in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with access to extensive pre-existing infrastructure.
- CuFe's projects are highly prospective in copper (Tennant Creek, Bryah Basin), lithium (North Dam, Tambourah) and niobium (West Arunta).
- CuFe has 100 percent interest in the iron ore mining rights at the operating Wiluna West JWD mine, known to contain high-grade iron ore product.
- Additionally, the company has a 50 percent interest in the Yarram project, an advanced iron ore development project with potential for low-cost production.
- CuFe also has a 2 percent net smelter royalty over the Crossroads gold project in Kalgoorlie.
- The company is led by a proven and experienced in-house team with expertise in identification, discovery, evaluation, deployment and operations.
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HiPurA® HPA Pilot Plant Early-Stage Commissioning Commenced
The leach circuit is a key part of ChemX’s unique flowsheet and comprises the first part of the patented, HiPurA® purification process. It takes the aluminous chemical feedstock and sufficiently upgrades its purity for the solvent extraction (SX) stage.
Figure 1 – CMX Operations Manager (Russell Vallis) pictured in front of the commissioned leach circuit
ChemX, CEO Peter Lee said: “Our 24tpa HiPurA® HPA Pilot Plant is starting to rapidly take shape, and we are pleased to have commissioned the leach circuit. Achieving this milestone delivers on our commitment to commence early-stage commissioning in Q2 of the 2024 calendar year”.
“Structural, mechanical, piping (SMP) activities are progressing well with electrical and control infrastructures accelerating ahead. As with any project integration, key work scopes require careful planning and the HiPurA® HPA Pilot Plant is on track to achieve operational readiness toward the end of the next quarter”.
” We look forward to sharing further commissioning updates in the coming months as we advance towards full Pilot Plant commissioning”.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from ChemX Materials, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
CuFe Limited
Overview
CuFe Limited (ASX:CUF) is a multi-commodity exploration and development company with interest in eight projects situated throughout mature mining jurisdictions in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company's value proposition is predicated on its high-grade premium product iron ore projects as well as its exposure to copper, lithium and niobium. Its exploration portfolio includes mature copper targets at Tennant Creek, drill-ready lithium targets at North Dam, and greenfield exploration ground in close proximity to WA1's recent niobium discovery.
Tennant Creek hosts a mineral resource estimate of 7.3 million tons (Mt) at 1.7 percent copper and 0.6 grams per ton (g/t) gold for 127 kt copper and 145 koz gold. CuFe currently owns a 55 percent interest over 240 kilometres of the highly-prospective tenure, situated in the Northern Territory. CuFe's near-term plan for the mine, based on detailed mine planning, involves a staged cutback of the Orlando open pit to gain access to an ore supply for fast start options.
The JWD iron ore operation is an ultra-flexible high-grade, low-impurity iron ore operation optimised for efficiency, the mine benefits from a low capex, with the capacity to export 60 kt of lump and 15 kt of fines per month at current production rate. CuFe owns 100 percent interest in this operation.
In addition to taking advantage of the growing market for strategic metals, CuFe also has exposure to a near-term iron ore price upside thanks to the high-grade JWD iron ore mine. It plans to leverage the mine to take advantage of elevated iron ore price cycles with the ability to cost-effectively suspend production as the market dictates. CuFe is also evaluating the Yarram project, as its close proximity to Darwin port gives it the potential for low opex.
Lastly, CuFe has a low-risk 2 percent NSR gold royalty over the Northern Star Crossroads project, where mining is expected to commence in 2024.
CuFe is led by a highly experienced management team adept at identifying opportunities, making discoveries, evaluating and developing projects and maintaining operations. The team is led by executive director Mark Hancock, who has 25 years experience in resource projects across a variety of commodities in senior finance, commercial and marketing roles.
Company Highlights
- CuFe Limited is an ASX-listed iron, copper, lithium and niobium exploration and development company with a multi-commodity portfolio of assets.
- The company's assets are situated in mature mining regions in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with access to extensive pre-existing infrastructure.
- CuFe's projects are highly prospective in copper (Tennant Creek, Bryah Basin), lithium (North Dam, Tambourah) and niobium (West Arunta).
- CuFe has 100 percent interest in the iron ore mining rights at the operating Wiluna West JWD mine, known to contain high-grade iron ore product.
- Additionally, the company has a 50 percent interest in the Yarram project, an advanced iron ore development project with potential for low-cost production.
- CuFe also has a 2 percent net smelter royalty over the Crossroads gold project in Kalgoorlie.
- The company is led by a proven and experienced in-house team with expertise in identification, discovery, evaluation, deployment and operations.
Key Projects
Copper
Tennant Creek
The Tennant Creek project is located in the highly prospective Gecko-Goanna copper-gold corridor of the Northern Territory. A mature project comprising three high-grade copper and gold mineral resources, it contains a combined JORC 2012 mineral resource of 7.3 at 1.7 percent copper and 0.6 g/t gold for 127 kt copper and 145 koz gold. Highly-prospective for further resource growth from resource extensions and new discoveries, Tennant Creek is also located in close proximity to grid power, a gas pipeline, the Stuart highway and the rail line to Darwin.
The area where Tennant Creek is hosted is a re-emerging mineral field with recent neighbouring exploration success from companies such as Emmerson Resources (ASX:ERM) and Tennant Minerals (ASX:TMS). Near-mine targets include the potential to extend resources and open enrichment within the Orlando and Gecko structural corridors.
The current focus for Tennant Creek is to identify and drill high-potential exploration targets with a view to growing the resource base while considering a staged cutback of the existing Orlando open pit to gain access to an ore supply for a fast start option.
Bryah Basin JV projects
Through wholly owned subsidiary Jackson Minerals, CuFe has a 20 percent interest in roughly 804 square kilometres of highly-prospective tenements proximal to the former Sandfire Resources' (ASX:SFR) Doolgunna project and Degrussa copper gold mine, as well as several other prominent gold and copper prospects. Collectively known as the Bryah Basin JV projects, the tenements are currently subject to joint ventures and farm-ins with several companies. The most prominent of these is the Morck Well project, which is under an exploration licence with Auris Minerals (ASX:AUR) alongside the Forrest project.
The Morck Well project tenements cover an area of 600 square kilometres in the highly-prospective region, which has been recognized to have high iron ore potential.
Lithium
North Dam
The North Dam project is a highly prospective lithium tenure situated in the emerging Yilgarn Lithium Belt. Located roughly 50 kilometres south-southeast of the township of Coolgardie, the project is contained within the same lithium belt that contains known spodumene deposits such as Mt Marion, Pioneer Dome, Bald Hill, Manna and Buldania. There have also been several well-known junior exploration successes immediately adjacent to the tenement, including Kali Metals (ASX:KM1), Marquee Resources (ASX:MQR) and Maximum Resources.
To date, work on the project has included defining prospective pegmatites through rock chip sampling, soil sampling and geological mapping. Anomalous lithium and key pathfinder elements have also defined a prospective corridor of roughly 3.5 kilometres in strike length. Columbite and tantalite rock chips selected from a stream bed also contain up to 44 percent niobium and 14.53 percent tantalum.
CuFe has also completed a recent heritage survey and, pending results and conditions, plans to commence a maiden drill program.
Tambourah
The 100 percent owned Tambourah Tenure is a prospective lithium tenure with known gold occurrences. Located roughly 90 kilometres south of the Pilgangoora and Wodgina lithium complexes, and 175 kilometres south of Port Hedland, the project was historically explored for gold and contains known gold occurrences within alluvial material and reef systems. Current work on the project to date has involved geological mapping and rock chip sampling.
Niobium
West Arunta
The fully owned West Arunta consists of three tenements located in the highly-prospective region of the same name. The tenure is known to be prospective for carbonatite-hosted niobium and rare earth element mineralization. Spanning roughly 220 square kilometres, it surrounds Lycaon Resources' (ASX:LYN) Stansmore project and is located 70 kilometres north of several prominent recent discoveries.
CuFe has not yet finalised native title arrangements to commence work in the ground so in the meantime it engaged Southern Geoscience Consulting to undertake a geophysical review of publicly available airborne magnetic data for the tenements including re-processing of said data and 3D unconstrained inversion modeling. Analysis of the total magnetic imagery revealed three anomalous areas across the package, resulting in nine target anomalies for further investigation and exploration.
Iron
JWD iron ore mine
The JWD iron ore operation is an optimised and flexible high-grade, low impurity iron ore operation over the Wiluna West JWD deposit. CuFe has 100 percent interest in the iron ore mining rights agreement for the project, which was started for less than $5 million and produces a high-grade, low-impurity lump iron ore for direct shipping.
At its current production rate, the mine has capacity for 60 kt of lump and 15 kt of fines per month. Mining and crushing is conducted by contractors, with the finished product trucked 800 kilometres to the Geraldton port for export in vessels of circa 6Ma0 kt. The mine also benefits from flexible operating contracts and price hedging, allowing CuFe to more readily react to iron ore price volatility.
Although no JORC reserve has been reported, a JORC resource dated June 30, 2023 reveals an estimate of 9.6 Mt at 63.7 percent iron using a 55 percent iron cut-off.
Yarram
The Yarram iron ore project is a mature development opportunity with the potential for low-cost production. CuFe currently holds a 50 percent interest in the project, which includes operatorship. Partially located on an existing mining lease on freehold land, Yarram has a high-grade DSO resource of 5.6 MT at +60 percent iron as well as a low-grade component of 7.1 Mt with the potential for beneficiation.
Situated 110 kilometres from Darwin Port and adjacent to underutilised mining infrastructure, Yarram also features favourable ore body geometry, with existing infrastructure and services contributing to its low capex and opex.
An initial diamond drilling program provided HG core from two deposits within the project. Physical and thermal metallurgical testing confirms the generation of a lump product with roughly 41 percent yield, elevated gangue levels in the very fine fractions and acceptable thermal and materials handling properties, making it suitable as a blast furnace lump burden feed.
CuFe has also undertaken geotechnical testwork on the diamond drill core to provide parameters for pit optimizations and designs. Final pit shells and a high-level mine schedule have been developed for use in regulatory approvals.
Gold Royalty
Crossroad gold project
Through fully owned subsidiary Jackson Minerals, CuFe holds a 2 percent net smelter royalty over M24/462, which contains Northern Star's (ASX:NST) Crossroads gold project. This project is the subject of a recently approved mining proposal envisaging the mining of 2.67 Mt of gold-bearing ore. The project is expected to commence sometime in 2024 and run for a 36-month period, with the majority of ore mined in the second and third years after pre-stripping.
This project represents a potential near-term revenue source for CuFe with no associated costs.
Management Team
Tony Sage — Executive Chairman (BCom, FCPA, CA, FTIA )
Tony Sage is an entrepreneur with over 36 years of experience in corporate advisory services, funds management and capital raising, predominantly within the resource sector. He is based in Western Australia and has continued to be involved in managing and financing listed mining and exploration companies with a diverse commodity base.
Sage has developed global operational experience within Europe, North and South America, Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Middle East. He is currently executive chairman of ASX-listed Cyclone Metals Limited (ASX:CLE) and European Lithium (ASX:EUR).
Mark Hancock — Executive Director
Mark Hancock has over 30 years’ experience in key financial, commercial and marketing roles across a variety of industries with a strong focus on natural resources. During his 13 years at Atlas Iron Ltd, Hancock served in numerous roles including CCO, CFO, Executive Director and Company Secretary. He has also served as a director on a number of ASX listed entities and is currently a director of Centaurus Metals Ltd and Strandline Resources Ltd.
Hancock holds a Bachelor of Business (B.Bus) degree, is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (F FIN).
Nicholas Sage — Non-executive Director
Nicholas Sage is an experienced marketing and communications professional with in excess of 25 years in various management and consulting roles. Sage is based in Western Australia and currently consults to various companies and has held various management roles within Tourism Western Australia. He also runs his own management consulting business.
Scott Meacock — Non-executive Director
Scott Meacock has a wealth of experience as external counsel acting in, and advising on, complex corporate and commercial law transactions and disputes for clients in a wide range of industry sectors including natural resources and financial services.
Meacock currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of the Gold Valley Group. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree from the University of Western Australia.
Matthew Ramsden – GM Development
Matthew Ramsden is an experienced geologist and project developer commencing his career in Tasmania before stints in the Pilbara with Rio Tinto and Atlas Iron, where he played a key role in the development and ramp-up of six iron ore mines.
He joined CuFe in 2021 to commence the JWD operations and now has oversight over the company’s exploration and development projects.
Ramsden is a member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists.
Siobhán Sweeney — Geology Manager
Siobhán Sweeney brings over 13 years’ geology experience to the CuFe team, from greenfield’s exploration to resource development with a strong focus on target generation and development of iron ore projects. During her 8 years at Atlas Iron Ltd, Sweeney was instrumental in developing critical iron ore projects in the Pilbara such as Miralga Creek and Corunna Downs. Her background in managing complex and challenging exploration programs has been key to delivering successful projects.
Since joining Cufe in July 2021, Sweeney has been tasked with developing and implementing mine geology processes during the start-up phase of the JWD mine. Most recently she has delivered a successful exploration drill campaign to further define the Yarram iron ore deposit.
Sweeney is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and holds a Bachelor of Science degree (hons) in geology from the National University of Ireland Galway.
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