Sarama Resources Ltd.Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (ASX:SRR, TSX-V:SWA) is pleased to announce that it has commenced a +50,000m drill program at its 100%-owned(4), multi-million ounce Sanutura Project (the "Project"). This follows a successful listing on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") and a strongly supported A$8M public offering.
The drill program will focus on near-surface, extensional targets designed to grow the oxide component of the already large Mineral Resource of 0.6Moz Au (Indicated) plus 2.3Moz Au (Inferred)(1) as well as regional greenfields targets.
Highlights
Sarama's President, CEO & MD, Andrew Dinning commented:
"Sarama is delighted to have commenced drilling at the Sanutura Project following its recent successful A$8M equity raising and ASX listing. The +50,000m drill program is the first exploration program to be conducted on the Project after a significant hiatus and we look forward to drilling a suite of targets that offer an immediate opportunity to increase the early-stage value of any development scenario contemplated.
The program has been structured to increase the oxide component of the already large Mineral Resource by targeting near-surface material in extensions to the currently modelled Tankoro Deposit as well as testing a number of regional targets. We look forward to providing updates as the program continue and assay results come to hand."
Commencement of Drilling at the Sanutura Project
An Already Large Mineral Resource with Potential to Grow
The Company's primary focus is its 100%-owned(4) Sanutura Project, which hosts a large Mineral Resource and covers an area of 1,420km2. The Project lies 60km south of Endeavour Mining's Houndé Mine (5Moz Au); 120km south of Fortuna Silver's high-grade Yaramoko Mine (1Moz), and 140km south of Endeavour Mining's Mana Mine (5Moz), highlighting the significant gold endowment of the Houndé Belt.
The Company's flagship Sanutura Project has an existing multi-million ounce Mineral Resource of 0.6Moz Au (Indicated) plus 2.3Moz Au (Inferred)(1) with significant growth potential available from its commanding position along 70km of strike in the prolific Houndé Belt (refer Figure 1).
Figure 1 -Sanutura Project Location Plan
Tankoro Deposit - Further Opportunity within a Current 16km of Strike Length
The key contributor to the Sanutura Project's large Mineral Resource is the Tankoro Deposit; extending for a semi-continuous, drill-defined strike length of 16km for which the bulk has only been tested to 70m depth. Drilling of certain higher-grade zones has shown the system extends 550m deep where it remains open, illustrating the size of the mineralised system and the potential for additions.
The Mineral Resource is principally contained in an extensive package of mineralised lenses, presenting as gold-quartz-sulphide veinlets and disseminated gold-pyrite within quartz-feldspar-porphyry dykes and bounding sedimentary rocks. The package is interpreted to sit in a trend that spans approximately 1.4km across the strike (refer Figure 2). The mineralized corridor, as presently defined by drilling, lies within a greater 30km-long, gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly that remains a focus for ongoing regional exploration.
Figure 2 - Tankoro Deposit - Western Corridor Mineralisation & Geology Plan
Oxide-Focussed Drill Program
It is anticipated that this program will deliver a meaningful increase to the oxide and transition component of the Mineral Resource (currently 0.2Moz (Inferred) plus 0.8Moz Au (Indicated)(2)), which will assist in positioning the Project as a multi-stage, long-life, carbon-in-leach ("CIL") mine development utilising this shallow, high-margin, material for early feed.
Significant brownfields and greenfields potential remain within the Mineral Resource at the Tankoro Deposit. Approximately 220 individual targets have been presently identified within 28 prospect areas; all to be tested by the current +50,000m program that will be undertaken using air-core ("AC") and reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling. The near-surface drill targets are principally located in the Western Trend of the Tankoro Deposit and comprise 4 categories:
The individual targets are distributed throughout the footprint of the Mineral Resource and the greater mineralised corridors with certain areas being the main focus and consuming the majority of the initial drilling (refer Table 1 and as located in Figure 2). Initial drilling will be conducted in the higher-priority targets to facilitate timely geological interpretation of the results prior to commissioning of any follow-up drilling.
Table 1 - Focus Areas of Drilling Program
Prospect Area | Planned Drilling (Approx.) | Portion of Program |
MM | 9,000m | 16% |
MC | 9,000m | 16% |
Obi & Ben | 6,000m | 10% |
Kenobi | 5,000m | 9% |
Djimbake | 4,000m | 8% |
Further Drilling Planned at Bondi Deposit
In addition to the current drill program at the Tankoro Deposit, the Company is planning several drill programs for the Bondi Deposit, which has potential to provide high-grade early feed for mine development. The programs will test targets of an extensional nature within the area of the current Mineral Resource and will progress regional targets identified in reconnaissance drilling which produced downhole intersections of 22m @ 3.85g/t Au from 5m, 5m @ 4.54g/t Au from 15m and 29m @ 1.44g/t Au from 1m; all of which are yet to be followed-up. Further details of these compelling targets will be communicated as planning is finalised.
For further information on the Company's activities, please contact:
Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600
For media enquiries, please contact:
Angela East
Media & Capital Partners
e: Angela.east@mcpartners.com.au
t: +61 428 432 025
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Sarama Resources. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
ABOUT SARAMA RESOURCES LTD
Sarama Resources Ltd (ASX: SRR, TSX-V: SWA) is a West African focused gold explorer/developer with substantial landholdings in south-west Burkina Faso. Sarama is focused on maximising the value of its strategic assets and advancing its key projects towards development.
Sarama's 100%-owned(4) Sanutura Project is principally located within the prolific Houndé Greenstone Belt in south-west Burkina Faso and is the exploration and development focus of the Company. The project hosts the Tankoro and Bondi Deposits which have a combined Mineral Resource of 0.6Moz gold (Indicated) plus 2.3Moz gold (Inferred)(1,2).
Together, the deposits present a potential mine development opportunity featuring an initial, long-life CIL project which may be established and paid for by the significant oxide Mineral Resource base.
Sarama has built further optionality into its portfolio including an approximate 470km² exploration position in the highly prospective Banfora Belt in south-western Burkina Faso. The Koumandara Project hosts several regional-scale structural features and trends of gold-in-soil anomalism extending for over 40km along strike.
Sarama also holds an approximate 18% participating interest in the Karankasso Project Joint Venture ("JV") which is situated adjacent to the Company's Sanutura Project in Burkina Faso and is a JV between Sarama and Endeavour Mining Corp ("Endeavour") in which Endeavour is the operator of the JV. In February 2020, an updated Mineral Resource estimate of 709koz gold(3) was declared for the Karankasso Project JV.
The Company's Board and management team have a proven track record in Africa and a strong history in the discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits. Sarama is well positioned to build on its current success with a sound strategy to surface and maximise the value of its property portfolio.
FOOTNOTES
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's future exploration and development plans and the use of proceeds from the offering of CDIs, the potential for the Sanutura and Karankasso Projects to host economic mineralisation, the potential to expand the present oxide component of the existing estimated Mineral Resources at the Sanutura Project, the potential for the receipt of regulatory approvals and the timing and prospects for the issuance of the arrêtés for the Tankoro 2 and Djarkadougou 2 Exploration Permits by the Government of Burkina Faso. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents.
There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.
COMPETENT PERSONS' & QUALIFIED PERSONS' STATEMENT
Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the preparation of the Mineral Resource estimate for the Sanutura Project is based on information compiled or approved by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.
Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration activities at the Sanutura Project is based on information compiled or approved by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Géologues du Québec and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Guy Scherrer consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.
Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the quotation of the Karankasso Project's Mineral Resource estimate and exploration activities is based on information compiled by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Paul Schmiede and Sarama have not independently verified Semafo's (now Endeavour's) Mineral Resource estimate and take no responsibility for its accuracy.
The exploration results and Mineral Resource estimates referred to in this announcement were first disclosed in accordance with ASX Listing Rules 5.7 and 5.8 in the Company's ASX Prospectus dated 11 March 2022. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the ASX Prospectus and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed.
Sarama Resources (TSXV:SWA, ASX:SRR) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on developing a new mining district in southwest Burkina Faso. The company's lead project is located in the southern Houndé belt, one of the most prolific gold belts in Africa, which features a growing gold endowment of more than 19 million ounces. The company's second fully owned project is situated in the neighboring Banfora belt which is widely considered underexplored and highly promising.
Burkina Faso is one of the most prospective countries and largest gold producers in Africa. The country is a well-established mining jurisdiction with the most recent developments being West African Resources' (ASX:WAF) 200,000-ounce-per-annum Sanbrado Gold Mine, and Orezone Gold’s (TSXV:ORE) 140,000-ounce-per-annum Bomboré Gold Mine. The country hosts nine operational and developmental gold mines with annual gold production of approximately two million ounces. Mining companies operating out of Burkina Faso present a compelling opportunity for investors, particularly given the proliferation of low-cost discoveries, low operating costs and the potential for high-margin gold mines and significant returns.
Sarama Resources’ land package spans more than 1,900-square-kilometers across two 100-percent-owned projects, plus interest in a third project, a joint venture with Endeavour Mining Corp. The company's total attributable resource base exceeds three million ounces of contained gold.
Sarama's 100-percent-owned flagship Sanutura Project is a 1,450-square-kilometer late-stage exploration project located in the southern Houndé belt in Burkina Faso and contains approximately three million ounces of gold in resource, including over two million ounces of high-grade material grading more than 2 g/t gold and one million ounces of oxides within a pit shell. The project's large oxide and a free milling gold resource will allow a new mine to be financed and established using a simple CIL process flow sheet, lowering technical risk and upfront capital needs. Recent exploration drilling intersected new, shallow, high-grade mineralization outside the modelled resource within the central and southern areas of the Tankoro Deposit, with new downhole intersections including 21 meters @ 7.5g/t gold, 23 meters @ 4.26 g/t gold, 18 meters @ 3.63 g/t gold and 11 meters @ 4.33 g/t gold.
The company has recently completed 21,000 meters out of a planned 50,000-meter drilling program across multiple prospective targets on the Sanutura Project, with the aim of growing the pit-shell constrained oxide resource well through one million ounces of contained gold. The company is optimistic that mine development on the Sanutura Project will require relatively modest up-front capital expenditure and yield rapid payback with high margins through the formative years and ultimately culminating in a multi-faceted, long-life mining operation.
Sarama Resources' other projects in Burkina Faso include the Koumandara and Karankasso Projects. The 100-percent-owned Koumandara Project is an early exploration-stage project in the northern Banfora greenstone belt. Exploration has delineated +80 kilometers of gold anomaly with the largest gold anomaly spanning more than 35 kilometers in length and three to five kilometers in width. Scout drilling has encountered multiple high-grade gold occurrences including 4 meters @ 10.6 g/t gold and 7 meters @ 6.9 g/t gold in RC drilling, 10 g/t gold in auger drilling and 4 g/t gold in gold-in-soil sampling.
The Karankasso Project is a joint venture with Endeavour Mining and is an exploration-stage project which hosts 700,000 ounces of gold in resource and is adjacent to Sarama’s 100-percent-owned Sanutura Project.
Sarama Resources believes significant brownfields and greenfields exploration potential remains and with the project already of a size to support development, any new discovery will add incremental ounces that will ultimately drive high-margin resource growth and add to the project scale and life.
In addition to the exploration and development potential, there is also a significant consolidation opportunity to create a world-class asset by combining the Sanutura Project with the Karankasso Project JV and Endeavour Mining’s Bantou Project, which are all contiguous and together host more than five million ounces of gold.
The company also has a compelling valuation on all comparable metrics relative to its peers. Sarama Resources has strong resource grades when compared to companies such as Montage Gold (TSXV:MAU), Orezone Gold (TSXV:ORE) and Newcore Gold (TSXV:NCAU). It believes that its resource has the potential to materially increase, which will make the current enterprise value of US$4 per gold resource ounce even more compelling.
The company is led by an experienced management team and board, most of whom have more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry and a proven track record of discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits in Africa. Sarama Resources' CEO Andrew Dinning was the president of Moto Goldmines and, along with a number of the company's key management executives, was responsible for the discovery of more than 22 million ounces of gold from Moto’s Gold Project (Kibali Gold), taking it from exploration to pre-development prior to the $600 million takeover by Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti in October 2009. The mine is currently operated by Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD,TSX:ABX) and produces 800,000 ounces of gold per year.
The Sanutura Project is a 100-percent-owned, 1,450-square-kilometer near-term development project located approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Ouagadougou in the southern Houndé belt in Burkina Faso. The Houndé belt features many gold discoveries, including Endeavour Mining's 1.2-million-ounce Bantou Deposit, which is six kilometers from Sarama's Sanutura Project. The Sanutura Project hosts close to a three–million-ounce gold resource within the Tankoro and Bondi Deposits.
The Tankoro Deposit forms the major part of a regional-scale gold camp and is situated in a large mineralized corridor over 15 kilometers in length and up to 1.5 kilometers wide and has 0.6 million ounces of measured and indicated and 1.9 million ounces of inferred gold resources. The Bondi Deposit has an inferred gold resource of 0.5 million. The broader Sanutura Project area also contains numerous exploration targets including high-grade prospects at Zanawa and Bamako.
Sarama Resources commenced a +50,000-meter drill program at the Sanutura project in May 2022 and has so far intersected seven new areas of mineralization outside but proximal to the current mineral resource. The program also identified a significant new geological model targeting flat, high-grade oxide material. Sarama intends to follow up on the outstanding results from its current program that has been designed to materially increase the pit-shell constrained oxide resource, which currently sits around one million ounces of contained gold.
The fully owned Koumandara project is a 467-square-kilometer, early exploration-stage project located approximately 30 kilometers from Bobo-Dioulasso in the northern Banfora Greenstone belt in Burkina Faso. Banfora is relatively underexplored and is considered to be geologically similar to the Houndé belt. The Koumandara project benefits from excellent access to infrastructure and proximity to the regional power grid.
The property features a gold mineralized corridor that overlies a 45-kilometer-long section of a district-scale litho-structural break. To date, the company has identified +80 kilometers of strike length of gold-soil anomalies. Reconnaissance exploration on the Koumandara project intersected 10 g/t of gold in RC and auger drilling and 4 g/t of gold values in gold-in-soil geochemistry. Historical scout drilling on the property returned 4 meters at 10.6 g/t gold, 7 meters at 6.9 g/t gold, 15 meters at 1.8 g/t gold, 13 meters at 2.9 g/t gold, 17 meters at 1.2 g/t gold and 3 meters at 8.9 g/t gold.
The Karankasso project is a 750-square-kilometer exploration-stage project, located approximately 130 kilometers southwest of Endeavour Mining's Mana mine and Fortuna Silver's Yaramoko Mine. The Karankasso project is also located approximately 60 kilometers south of Endeavour Mining's Houndé mine and is adjacent to Sarama Resources' Sanutura project. The project is a joint venture with Endeavour Mining where Sarama Resources owns approximately 18 percent interest.
The property features mostly narrow quartz vein mineralization. In 2020, the mineral resource estimate on the property was 12.74 million tonnes at 1.73 g/t for 709,000 ounces of gold, of which Sarama's equity share is 130,000 ounces. The Karankasso project has also returned high-grade hits including 21 meters at 14.6 g/t in the Tiébe zone.
The Karankasso project is operated by Endeavour Mining which is currently reviewing and upgrading historical exploration as well as conducting follow-up work. The operator is focused on exploring the full 50-kilometer-long corridor that has been identified through drilling, soil anomalies and artisanal workings.
Andrew Dinning is a founder, managing director and CEO of Sarama Resources Ltd. Dinning is committed to development in Africa and recently retired as a board member of The Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG) after eight years of service. AAMEG is a peak body representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa's resource industry.
Dinning has over 35 years of experience in the international mining arena and has worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo, West Africa, the UK, Russia and Australia. He has extensive mine management, operations and capital markets experience and has spent most of his career in the gold sector. Dinning was a director and president of the Democratic Republic of Congo-based Moto Goldmines Ltd from 2005 to 2009. He oversaw the development of the company's Moto Gold Project (Kibali Gold) from two million to more than 22 million ounces of gold. Dinning took the project from exploration to pre-development. The Moto Gold project was later taken over by Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti for $600 million in October 2009. Dinning has an MBA, a first-class mine managers certificate in Western Australia and South Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining degree.
Jack Hamilton is a founder and the vice president of exploration at Sarama Resources. Hamilton has 35 years of experience as a professional geologist. Hamilton has worked around the world for international resource companies. Before Sarama, he was the exploration manager for Moto Goldmines Ltd. in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At Moto Goldmines, he led the team that discovered the main deposits and resource at the world-class Moto Gold Project (now Kibali Gold) which has a resource of more than 22 million ounces.
Hamilton specializes in precious metal exploration in Birimian, Archean and Proterozoic greenstone belts. He has worked and consulted in West, Central and East Africa for the past 20 years with various companies, including Barrick Gold Corporation, Echo Bay Mines, Etruscan Resources Inc, Anglo American, Geo Services International and Moto Goldmines Ltd. Whilst at Moto Goldmines, he led the exploration team that took the Moto gold deposit from discovery to bankable feasibility. The Moto gold deposit was later sold to Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti in October 2009.
Paul Schmiede is a major shareholder and the vice president of corporate development at Sarama Resources Ltd. He is a mining engineer with over 25 years of experience in mining and exploration. Before joining Sarama Resources in 2010, Schmiede was vice president of operations and project development at Moto Goldmines Ltd. At Moto Goldmine, he managed the pre-feasibility, bankable and definitive feasibility study for the more than 22 million-ounce Democratic Republic of Congo-based Moto Gold Project (now Kibali Gold). Whilst at Moto Goldmines, he also managed the in-country environment, community studies and pre-construction activities. Before joining Moto Goldmines, he held senior operational and management positions with Gold Fields Ltd. and WMC Resources Ltd. At these companies, Schmiede was responsible for underground and open-pit operations as well as project development and planning.
Schmiede holds a first-class mine managers certificate in Western Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining degree. He is also a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Lui Evangelista is Sarama's Chief Financial Officer with 35 years of experience in accounting, finance and corporate governance with public companies. He has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry –– 10 years of which have been at the operational and corporate level with companies operating in Francophone Africa.
Evangelista held the positions of group financial controller and acting CFO at Anvil Mining Ltd. which operated 3 mines in the DRC. He was an integral part of the senior management team that saw Anvil's market capitalization grow from C$100 million in 2005 to C$1.3 billion upon takeover by Minmetals in 2012.
Evangelista holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting degree, a graduate diploma in business administration and a graduate diploma in applied corporate governance.
Guy Scherrer is the exploration manager for Sarama Resources Ltd. in Mali and Burkina Faso. Scherrer has over 15 years of experience working as an exploration geologist in Canada, DRC, the Republic of Congo, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali. Scherrer has worked on several advanced exploration projects including the more than 22 million ounce Moto gold project (Moto Goldmines) and the Kalana gold project (Avnel). He has also worked on the start-up of several mineral exploration projects in Africa including Lindian Resources in Guinea and Elemental Minerals in the Republic of Congo.
Scherrer has a bachelor's degree in geology from Laval University in Quebec and a master's degree in earth sciences from the National Institute for Scientific Research in Quebec.
Simon Jackson is a founder, shareholder and non-executive chairman of Sarama Resources Ltd. Simon is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience in the mining sector. He is the Chairman of Predictive Discovery and non-executive director of African gold producer Resolute Mining. He has previously held senior management positions at Red Back Mining Inc., Orca Gold Inc. and Beadell Resources Ltd.
Jackson specializes in M&A, public equity markets management and corporate finance. His career has included corporate transactions in Canada, Australia, Africa and Indonesia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
Adrian Byass has more than 25 years of experience in the mining industry. He has focused his career on the economic development of mineral resources. He is skilled in economic and resource geology. Byass has experience ranging from production in gold and nickel mines to the evaluation and development of mining projects with listed and unlisted entities in several countries. He has also held several executive and non-executive board roles on both ASX and AIM-listed companies.
Byass presently operates in a corporate and market-focused capacity on a national and international basis. He has board-level experience in mine development, capital raising and M&A in Australia and on overseas stock exchanges. Byass has played key roles in a range of exploration and mining projects in Australia, Africa, North America and Europe. These projects were based on a suite of commodities including gold, base and specialty metals.
Byass holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Economics. Byass is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, a fellow of the Society of Economic Geology and a competent person for the reporting of mineral resources (JORC 2012).
Byass is currently on the board of multiple ASX-listed companies, including Galena Mining Ltd., Kaiser Reef Ltd., Kingwest Resources Ltd. and Infinity Lithium Ltd.
Steve Zaninovich has spent over 25 years in project development, maintenance and operational readiness in the mining industry. Zaninovich has held several executive and non-executive board roles with public and private companies.
Zaninovich has extensive experience in the development of multiple mining operations across various commodities and jurisdictions in West Africa, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana. He served as COO at Gryphon Minerals before their takeover by Teranga Gold Corporation. Zaninovich was the vice president of major projects at Teranga Gold Corporation. While at Teranga Gold Corporation, he completed the bankable feasibility study on the Wahgnion Gold Project which is now a mine in Burkina Faso.
Zaninovich is currently a non-executive director of Maximus Resources Ltd. and Mako Gold. He was previously an executive director at Lycopodium Minerals and held non-executive director roles at Centaurus Metals, Gryphon Minerals and Orway Minerals Consultants.
Formal Commencement of International Arbitration Proceedings for Significant Damages Claim
Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (TSX-V:SWA)(ASX:SRR) announces that it has formally commenced arbitration proceedings against the State of Burkina Faso in relation to a dispute concerning the expropriation of the Company's Sanutura Project (refer to news release dated 5 September 2023
The Company will seek full compensation for the loss and damages the Company has suffered as a result of certain acts and omissions by the Government of Burkina Faso. Based on a preliminary estimate, the Company will be seeking damages of no less than A$180 million and as the arbitration proceeds, the Company expects to appoint a quantum expert who will prepare a professional damages assessment for review by the arbitration tribunal.
Following the establishment of a non-recourse litigation funding facility of A$6.7M (refer to news release dated 24 October 2024), the Company has submitted a Request for Arbitration ("RFA") to the International Centre for Investment Disputes ("ICSID"), a division of the World Bank Group. The submission of the RFA setting out the preliminary details of the case and addressing certain procedural matters marks the formal commencement of the arbitration process.
The Company's arbitration claim will be pursued according to the established and enforceable legal framework of ICSID which has heard numerous investor-state disputes, including recent proceedings brought by Indiana Resources (IDA:ASX) and GreenX Metals (ASX:GRX) which resulted in awards in favour of the claimants of A$180M and A$490M respectively.
The submission of the RFA follows the prior issuance of a Notice of Intent to Submit Claims to Arbitration to the Government of Burkina Faso (refer to news release dated 30 November 2024) which initiated a 60-day consultation period between the parties to amicably resolve the dispute. Despite the Company's best efforts, the Government of Burkina Faso neglected to respond and no settlement was reached, leaving Sarama with no alternative but to initiate international arbitration proceedings.
The Company has engaged Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP ("BSF"), a leading international law firm, to assist with legal matters pertaining to the dispute (refer to news release dated 17 October 2023). BSF is an internationally recognised dispute resolution law firm with extensive experience representing investors in international investment arbitrations in the mining and natural resources sectors worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Dinning
Sarama Resources Ltd
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the quantum and pursuit of compensation for the loss and damages; the intention to appoint a quantum expert and preparation of a professional damages assessment; and the pursuit and outcome of the arbitration claim. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, foreign country and political risks, including risks relating to foreign operations and expropriation or nationalization of mining operations; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain governmental permits, or non-compliance with permits; as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Sarama Resources.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE: Sarama Resources Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Majority Ownership of Underexplored, Belt-Scale Gold Project in Western Australia
Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (ASX:SRR)(TSXV:SWA) is pleased to advise that it has completed the acquisition of a majority interest(1) in the Cosmo Gold Project (the "Project") in Western Australia. This follows satisfaction of all outstanding conditions precedent and receipt of final securities exchange approval
The 580km² Cosmo Gold Project(2)covers the entirety of the Cosmo-Newbery Greenstone Belt and is located approximately 85km north-east of Laverton in a region known for its prolific gold endowment (refer Figure 1). As one of the last effectively unexplored greenstone belts in Western Australia, the Project presents a unique and compelling opportunity for the Company.
Highlights
Sarama's President, CEO & MD, Andrew Dinning commented:
"We are very pleased to have completed the acquisition and gained control of the Cosmo Gold Project which we view as a compelling greenfields exploration opportunity in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields. The Project has excellent access and importantly scale, favorable lithological and structural settings and historical high-grade workings dating back to the 1890's. Sarama has already commenced a broad-scale, systematic exploration program and looks forward to working up the Project's first drill targets. We would also like to acknowledge the work done on the Project by Cosmo Gold Ltd and look forward to the ongoing support of the Traditional Owners for Sarama's planned endeavors."
Cosmo Newbery Project
The Project is comprised of 7 contiguous exploration tenements covering approximately 580km² in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, approximately 85km north-east of Laverton and 95km west of the world-class Gruyere Gold Mine. The Project is readily accessible via the Great Central Road which services the Cosmo Newbery Community.
The Project captures one of the last unexplored greenstone belts in Western Australia and with a strike length of +50km, the Cosmo Newbery Belt represents a large and prospective system with gold first being discovered in the area in the 1890's. Multiple historical gold workings are documented within the Project area and work undertaken to date has identified multiple exploration targets for follow up.
Despite this significant prospectivity, the Project has seen virtually no modern explorationor drilling of merit due to a lack of land access persisting over a significant period. As a result, the Project has not benefited from the evolution of geochemical and geophysical techniques which now facilitate effective exploration in deeply weathered and complex regolith settings which is particularly pertinent given approximately 75% of the Project area is under cover.
Following the relatively recent securing of land access, the Project is now available for systematic and modern-day exploration programs to be conducted on a broad-scale. It is anticipated that future exploration programs will initially follow-up preliminary targets generated from regional soil sampling and limited reconnaissance drilling programs, a majority of which extended to approximately 5m below surface with a small percentage extending up to 30m below surface.
Transaction & Joint Venture Summary
Pursuant to the binding Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement executed by Sarama and a 100%-owned subsidiary with Cosmo Gold Limited ("Cosmo") and Adelong Gold Limited ("Adelong"), Sarama has acquired an initial 80% of Cosmo's interest in the Project (the "Transaction").
An unincorporated joint venture has been formed between Sarama (via its subsidiary) and Cosmo on industry-standard terms to advance exploration on the Project, with the initial participating interests being 80% Sarama and 20% Cosmo. The joint venture structure will ensure continuity of exploration and Traditional Owner relationships and provide for transfer of technical knowledge for the benefit of the Project. Under the terms of the joint venture, Sarama has been appointed as operator and will assume sole responsibility for funding all activities on the Project up to the point of a ‘Decision to Mine' being made. Within a 2-year period following completion of the Transaction, Sarama has, subject to the prior approval of TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"), the right to acquire the remainder of Cosmo's interest in the Project for consideration of A$1,250,000, payable in cash or shares at Sarama's election. In the event the right is not exercised, the parties will continue under the established joint venture relationship. Upon a ‘Decision to Mine' being made, the parties will be required to contribute to joint venture costs in proportion to their participating interests. In the event a party does not contribute its share of proportional joint venture costs, the participating interest of that party shall be diluted according to an industry standard formula and if a party's interest is diluted to 10% or less, that party's interest shall be automatically converted to a 0.5% net smelter return royalty and the non-diluting party shall have a 100% interest.
The following information is provided for exchange compliance purposes:
The Asset Sale & Purchase Agreement in relation to Sarama, via a 100%-owned subsidiary, acquiring an interest in the Project is dated 12 August 2024, was fully executed 13 August 2024 and disseminated on TSX-V newswire services on 13 August 2024 and on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") platform on 14 August 2024. The Transaction is being conducted at arm's length and no Finders' Fees are payable.
In consideration for Sarama, via a 100%-owned subsidiary, acquiring an initial 80% interest of Cosmo's interest in the Project, Sarama has made the following payments:
Cash consideration payment of A$100,000 to Cosmo;
Issuance to Adelong, as directed by Cosmo, of 25,000,000 Chess Depository Instruments ("CDIs") in Sarama and 7,500,000 options (exercisable at A$0.05/option for a period of 2-years after issue and converting to Sarama CDIs at a rate of 1:1) to settle and fully release Cosmo from indebtedness to Adelong;
Cash payments for project-related expenses of: approximately A$76,000 to various governmental agencies in connection with mineral tenure fees; approximately A$139,000 to various mining services suppliers in connection with soil geochemistry works; and approximately A$112,000 to Native Title groups in connection with land access agreement fees.
Sarama advises it has issued news releases in relation to the acquisition of an interest in the Project on the following dates:
5 November 2024
14 October 2024
25 September 2024
13 August 2024
16 July 2024
17 June 2024
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede
Sarama Resources Ltd
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600
FOOTNOTES
Sarama, via its 100%-owned subsidiary, has acquired from Cosmo an 80% interest in all the Project's Exploration Licences, with the exception of E38/2274 for which Sarama has acquired an effective 60% interest (with Cosmo retaining a 15% interest and an existing joint tenement holder retaining a 25% interest). The tenements in which Sarama has acquired an 80% interest account for approximately 80% of the total area of the Project. For a period of 2-years following completion of the Transaction, Sarama has the right to acquire Cosmo's remaining 20% interest, which would result in Sarama having an aggregate 100% interest, in all the Project's Exploration Licences (with the exception of Exploration Licence E38/2274 which would be held 75% by Sarama and 25% by an existing joint tenement holder in the event that Sarama exercises the option to acquire Cosmo's remaining interest in the Project).
The Project is comprised of the following contiguous Exploration Licences: E38/2851, E38/3456, E38/2627, E38/2274, E38/3525, E38/3249 and E38/2774 covering approximately 580km². Prior to completion of the Transaction, Cosmo had a 100% interest in all the Project's Exploration Licences with the exception of E38/2274 for which Cosmo held a 75% interest.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the prospectivity of the Cosmo Gold Project, information with respect to Sarama having or acquiring mineral interests in areas which are considered highly prospective for gold and other commodities and which remain underexplored, costs and timing of future exploration, the potential for exploration discoveries and generation of targets, the intention to gain the best commercial outcome for shareholders of the Company, timing and receipt of approvals, consents and permits under applicable legislation and the completion of a transaction to acquire Cosmo's residual interest in the Cosmo Gold Project. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents.
There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political and security-related events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.
QUALIFIED PERSON'S STATEMENT
Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration is based on information compiled or approved by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information in the form and context in which it appears.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Sarama Resources.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE:Sarama Resources Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (ASX:SRR)(TSX-V:SWA) is pleased to report that on 29 November 2024, it closed Tranche 1 of its previously announced A$2m equity placement (the "Placement") (refer to Sarama's news release dated 21 November 2024
Tranche 1 of the Placement raised aggregate gross proceeds of A$2,000,000 with the Company issuing 66,666,666 Chess Depository Instruments ("CDIs") at an issue price of A$0.03 per CDI. Each new CDI issued under the Placement will rank equally with existing CDIs on issue and each CDI will represent a beneficial interest in one common share of the Company. Tranche 2 of the Placement will consist of 16,666,666 free attaching unlisted options (each a "Placement Option") and 14,000,000 broker options (each a "Broker Option" and together with the Placement Options, the "Options"), with each Option exercisable at A$0.09 and expiring on 30 November 2028. The issuance of the Options is subject to shareholder approval at a general meeting expected to be held in late January/early February 2025. No funds will be received from Tranche 2.
The Placement was issued to institutional and other sophisticated and professional investors pursuant to the shareholder approval obtained at Sarama's annual general meeting held on 11 September 2024.
Funds raised from the Placement will be used for exploration activities, general working capital purposes and for general and administration costs. None of the proceeds from the Placement will be used for payments to non-arm's length parties or persons conducting investor relations activities. A management corporate fee and broker commission of A$120,000 was paid to Ventnor Capital Pty Ltd in connection with the closing of Tranche 1 of the Placement.
Proceeds from the Placement will not be used to fund fees and expenses related to the Company's damages claim in respect of an investment dispute with Burkina Faso, which is subject to arbitration proceedings. These costs are fully funded via a A$6.7m non-recourse loan facility (refer to Sarama's news release dated 24 October 2024).
The Placement remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The CDIs issued under Tranche 1 of the Placement were not subject to any TSXV hold periods as all subscribers under Tranche 1 of the Placement were located outside of Canada.
Members of Sarama's Board and Management did not subscribe for any CDIs in the Placement; however, concurrent with the Placement and subject to exchange and shareholder approval, the Company's executives and non-executive directors intend to receive a portion of their deferred salaries and director fees, in an aggregate amount of approximately A$394,000, in CDIs of the Company (the "Compensation Securities"). In September 2023, the Company's executives and non-executive directors agreed to suspend the payment of salaries and fees to ensure the Company had sufficient financial resources to work through the period of uncertainty created by the illegal withdrawal of the Company's rights to the Tankoro 2 exploration permit in Burkina Faso in August 2023. The Company intends to issue the Compensation Securities at the same price as the Placement (however, attaching options will no longer be included).
The Placement Securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from registration is available. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Securities within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined under Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), nor shall there be any sale of these Securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Notice under section 708A(S)(e) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ("Corporations Act") restricts the offer for sale of securities without a disclosure document unless the relevant sale satisfies an exemption set out in section 708 or section 708A of the Corporations Act. ASIC Class Order [CO 14/827] ("Class Order") provides relief so that an offer of CDIs over underlying foreign securities is regulated as an offer of securities under the Corporations Act. The Company seeks to rely on an exemption in section 708A of the Corporations Act (as modified by the Class Order) with respect to any sale of the CDIs.
As required by section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act as modified by the Class Order, the Company gives notice that:
1. The CDIs were issued without disclosure to investors under Part 60.2 of the Corporations Act. a) the provisions of section 601CK of the Corporations Act as they apply to the Company; and 3. As at the date of this notice, there is no information, for the purposes of section 708A(7) and 708A(8): a) that has been excluded from a continuous disclosure notice in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules; (i) the assets and liabilities, financial position and performance, profits and losses and prospects of the Company; or |
Where applicable, references in this notice to sections of the Corporations Act are to those sections as modified by the Class Order.
This announcement was authorised by the Board of Sarama.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information, please contact:
Company Activities
Andrew Dinning
Sarama Resources Ltd
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the timing for closing tranche 2 of the Placement, the intended use of proceeds from the Placement, the intention to hold a general meeting and receiving the approval of the TSXV. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; mineral resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents.
There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political and security-related events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.
SOURCE:Sarama Resources Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE IN THE UNITED STATES
Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (ASX:SRR)(TSXV:SWA) is pleased to announce it has received binding commitments to undertake a A$2 million (before costs) equity placement (the "Placement
Funds raised will be used to undertake exploration activities, general administration and for general working capital purposes. The Placement was well supported by existing shareholders and professional and sophisticated investors.
The Placement will comprise the issue of up to 66,666,666 Chess Depository Interests ("CDIs") at an issue price of A$0.03 per CDI to raise gross proceeds of up to A$2 million. The issue price represents a ~15% discount to Sarama's 10-day VWAP and a 21% discount to the last traded CDI price on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") on Monday, 18 November 2024 of A$0.038 and a ~24% discount to Sarama's 10-day VWAP and a 7% discount to the last traded share price on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on Friday, 15 November 2024 of C$0.03. Each new CDI issued under the Placement will rank equally with existing CDIs on issue and each CDI will represent a beneficial interest in 1 common share of the Company. The Placement CDIs will be issued pursuant to the shareholder approval obtained at the annual general meeting.
Subject to the receipt of shareholder approval, Sarama will issue 1 free attaching unlisted option ("Placement Option") for every 4 new CDIs issued pursuant to the Placement. Each Placement Option will be exercisable at A$0.09 and will expire on 30 November 2028.
Australian resources brokers, Ventnor Securities Pty Ltd and RM Capital will act as Advisor and Lead Manager for the Placement and will receive up to 14,000,000 broker options, depending on quantum of funds raised, ("Broker Options") at an exercise price of A$0.09 each and expiring on 30 November 2028. Ventnor Securities Pty Ltd will also receive a capital raising fee of 6% of funds raised. The issue of the Broker Options is subject to shareholder approval.
The Placement is comprised of two tranches:
Tranche 1 consists of 66,666,666 new CDIs which will be issued pursuant to the approval granted by shareholders at the annual general meeting held on 11 September 2024. The Company expects to complete allotment of the new CDIs under Tranche 1 by 27 November 2024.
Tranche 2 consists of up to 16,666,666 Placement Options and up to 14,000,000 Broker Options which are subject to shareholder approval at a special meeting of shareholders anticipated to be held in late January 2025 ("Special Meeting"). No funds will be received from Tranche 2.
The Placement remains subject to the approval of the TSXV.
Members of Sarama's Board and Management do not intend to subscribe for any CDIs in the Placement, however concurrent with the Placement the Company's executives and non-executive directors have agreed to receive a portionof their deferred salaries and director fees, in an aggregate amount of A$393,981.18 in common shares or CDIs of the Company.
In September 2023, the Company's executives and non-executive directors agreed to suspend the payment of salaries and fees to ensure the Company had sufficient financial resources to work through the period of uncertainty created by the illegal withdrawal of the Company's rights to the Tankoro 2 exploration permit in August 2023.
The Company intends to issue shares (CDIs) and warrants (options) on the same terms as the Placement in part settlement of deferred executive salaries and director fees, subject to the ASX Listing Rules and the prior approval of the TSXV.
Pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, the Company has sought approval to implement this shares-for-debt arrangement to issue up to 13,132,706 shares (CDIs) and 3,283,174 warrants (options) to the executives and non-executive directors. The deemed issue price of each common share (CDI) is A$0.03, which is equivalent to the issue price of the Placement detailed above. One warrant (or option) will also be issued for every 4 common shares or CDIs issued as part settlement of deferred executive salaries and fees, exercisable at A$0.09 and expire November 30, 2028 (collectively, the "Compensation Equity"). The issuance of the Compensation Equity is subject to prior disinterested shareholder approval as required by the Listing Rules of the ASX, which will be sought at the Special Meeting, expected to be held in late January 2025. The application for the shares-for-debt arrangement remains subject to the approval of the TSXV. The TSXV application must be lodged within 30 days of the proposed date of issue of the Compensation Equity (the "Application"). However, as shareholder approval is required and the associated notice is to be included in the Information Circular (for which preparation and mail to shareholders is greater than the 30 days required for the Application), the Application was made on 20 November 2024. The closing price of the Company's common shares as traded on the TSXV on 15 November 2024, was C$0.03. Following the issuance of the Compensation Equity, Sarama will have 336,070,521 common shares, 19,431,664 stock options and 46,449,840 warrants issued and outstanding.
This announcement was authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of Sarama Resources Ltd.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information, please contact:
Company Activities
Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede
Sarama Resources Ltd
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the terms of the Placement, the intended use of proceeds from the Placement, timing and completion of the Placement, timing and completion of the second tranche issuance, timing and receipt of approval from the TSXV for the Placement, terms of the Placement Options, terms of the Broker Options and payment of the capital raising fee, the holding of a special meeting of shareholders, and timing and receipt of approval from the TSXV for the shares for debt issuance. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; mineral resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents.
There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political and security-related events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.
SOURCE:Sarama Resources Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Cosmo Gold Shareholders Vote in Favour of Transaction
Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (ASX:SRR)(TSX-V:SWA) is pleased to advise that the shareholders of Cosmo Gold Ltd ("Cosmo") have voted in favour of Sarama's acquisition of a majority interest(1) in the Cosmo Gold Project (the "Project") in Western Australia. This shareholder approval was a key outstanding condition to be satisfied for the Transaction (defined below) to be completed
The acquisition now has approval from the shareholders of both Sarama and Cosmo and Sarama has received requisite approval and conditional approval from securities exchanges in Australia and Canada respectively. It is anticipated the Transaction will be completed in mid-November 2024.
The 580km² Cosmo Gold Project(2) covers the entirety of the Cosmo-Newbery Greenstone Belt and is located approximately 85km north-east of Laverton in a region known for its prolific gold endowment (refer Figure 1). As one of the last effectively unexplored greenstone belts in Western Australia, the Project presents a unique and compelling opportunity for the Company.
Highlights
Sarama acquiring a majority interest in, and control of, Cosmo Gold Project in Western Australia
Sarama acquiring an initial 80% interest(1) with ability to increase to 100% in the majority of the Project(1)
580km² landholding capturing +50km strike length in highly prospective gold producing region; 95km from both the world-class Gruyere Mine and Laverton gold district
Project captures one of the last effectively unexplored greenstone belts in Western Australia; virtually no effective exploration undertaken for several decades
Project is very well located being only a 4 hour drive from Kalgoorlie on predominantly paved roads
All shareholders approvals for the Transaction secured
Key conditions precedent satisfied and completion of transaction anticipated in mid-November 2024
Meetings with Traditional Owners confirm support for Sarama's involvement and its planned endeavours
Soil geochemistry program underway to generate regional targets in unexplored areas
Sarama's Executive Chairman, Andrew Dinning commented:
"We are pleased to have passed this major milestone and look forward to finalizing the acquisition of a majority interest in the Cosmo Gold Project in the coming weeks. Together with Cosmo, we have commenced our first soil geochemistry program which will continue over the next 6-8 weeks and feed into larger targeting efforts and work up of drill targets for the 2025 exploration season."
Cosmo Newbery Project
The Project is comprised of 7 contiguous exploration tenements covering approximately 580km² in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, approximately 85km north-east of Laverton and 95km west of the world-class Gruyere Gold Mine. The Project is readily accessible via the Great Central Road which services the Cosmo Newbery Community.
The Project captures one of the last unexplored greenstone belts in Western Australia and with a strike length of +50km, the Cosmo Newbery Belt represents a large and prospective system with gold first being discovered in the area in the 1890's. Multiple historical gold workings are documented within the Project area and work undertaken to date, has identified multiple exploration targets for follow up.
Despite this significant prospectivity, the Project has seen virtually no modern exploration or drilling of merit due to a lack of land access persisting over a significant period. As a result, the Project has not benefited from the evolution of geochemical and geophysical techniques which now facilitate effective exploration in deeply weathered and complex regolith settings which is particularly pertinent given approximately 75% of the Project area is under cover.
Following the relatively recent securing of land access, the Project is now available for systematic and modern-day exploration programs to be conducted on a broad-scale. It is anticipated that future exploration programs will initially follow-up preliminary targets generated from regional soil sampling and limited reconnaissance drilling programs, a majority of which extended to approximately 5m below surface with a small percentage extending up to 30m below surface.
Figure 1 - Cosmo Gold Project Location, Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia
Transaction Progress
Pursuant to the binding Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement executed (on 12 August 2024) by Sarama, and a 100%-owned subsidiary, with Cosmo and Adelong Gold Limited ("Adelong"), Sarama will acquire 80% of Cosmo's interest in the Project (the "Transaction") and will be granted the right to acquire the remainder of Cosmo's interest in the Project within a 2-year period post completion(1). Further, an existing debt obligation of Cosmo to Adelong will be satisfied and discharged as part of the Transaction. Refer Sarama news release 13 August 2024 for further details.
Since the execution of a memorandum of understanding and the binding agreement Sarama and Cosmo have been working to satisfy the conditions precedent to enable completion of the Transaction.
Sarama has successfully gained regulatory approval for the Transaction from the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") and conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). Final TSX-V approval for completion of the transaction is anticipated once various compliance items are filed. The Transaction has enjoyed support from the shareholders of both Sarama and Cosmo shareholders.
Sarama and Cosmo have been jointly working on the maintenance of the mineral tenure for the 7 exploration licences comprising the Project. These efforts have culminated in the extension of several licences for new terms and receipt of recent advice from the Western Australian Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has confirmed that all tenements are current and in good standing.
Introductions to the Traditional Owners of lands within the Project area have been made and these groups are supportive of Sarama's involvement in the Project, which will be confirmed with the procedural assignment of access agreements closer to the time of completion of the Transaction.
Cosmo has generated valuable base level data that has identified a number of target areas including kilometre-scale gold-in-soil anomalies and multiple structural and geophysical targets. Soil geochemistry exploration programs have commenced in regional areas and are expected to provide first-pass, broad-scale coverage in prospective but underexplored areas. It is anticipated that results from this initial program will inform design of expanded soil geochemistry programs to be undertaken post completion of the Transaction that will ultimately feed into drilling targeting. Whilst Sarama's exploration focus is gold, the Project is prospective for other commodities including nickel and rare earth elements, for which soil anomalism at a kilometre-scale has been already identified.
For further information, please contact:
Company Activities
Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede
Sarama Resources Ltd
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600
FOOTNOTES
Upon completion of the Transaction, Sarama, via its 100%-owned subsidiary, will acquire from Cosmo an 80% interest in all the Project's Exploration Licences, with the exception of E38/2274 for which Sarama will acquire an effective 60% interest (with Cosmo retaining a 15% interest and an exisitng joint tenement holder retaining a 25% interest). The tenements in which Sarama will acquire an 80% interest account for approximately 80% of the total area of the Project. For a period of 2-years following completion of the Transaction, Sarama will have the right to acquire Cosmo's remaining 20% interest, which would result in Sarama having an aggregate 100% interest, in all the Project's Exploration Licences (with the exception of Exploration Licence E38/2274 which would be held 75% by Sarama and 25% by an exisitng joint tenement holder in the event that Sarama exercises the option to acquire Cosmo's remaining interest in the Project).
The Project is comprised of the following contiguous Exploration Licences: E38/2851, E38/3456, E38/2627, E38/2274, E38/3525, E38/3249 and E38/2774 covering approximately 580km². Cosmo currently has a 100% interest in all the Project's Exploration Licences with the exception of E38/2274 for which Cosmo holds a 75% interest.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the prospectivity of the Cosmo Gold Project, information with respect to Sarama having or acquiring mineral interests in areas which are considered highly prospective for gold and other commodities and which remain underexplored, costs and timing of future exploration, the potential for exploration discoveries and generation of targets, the intention to gain the best commercial outcome for shareholders of the Company, timing and receipt of approvals, consents and permits under applicable legislation and the completion of a transaction to acquire the Cosmo Gold Project. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents.
There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political and security-related events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.
QUALIFIED PERSON'S STATEMENT
Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration is based on information compiled or approved by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information in the form and context in which it appears.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Sarama Resources.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE:Sarama Resources Ltd.
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) ("the Company" or "Green River") is pleased to announce the completion of four drill holes for the 2024 season: WK-24-01, WK-24-02, WK-24-03, and DH-24-01. WK-24-01 to 03 were drilled with a portable Winkie drill rig (WK) using an AQTQ core barrel and DH-24-01 with a standard-sized diamond drill rig (DH) using an NQ barrel. The Company has received assay results for holes WK-24-01, WK-24-02, and WK-24-03. These holes were drilled along the Deep Purple magnetic anomaly at the Company's 100%-owned Quesnel Nickel Project, located 40 kilometres east of Quesnel, British Columbia, in the Cariboo Mining District of South Central British Columbia, Canada.
Green River Gold Corp. is pleased to report assay results for drill holes WK-24-01, WK-24-02, and WK-24-03 from the 2024 drilling season at the Quesnel Nickel Project. Significant Ni, Co, Cr and Mg concentrations commenced at the surface in all 3 holes drilled in the Slide Mountain Terrane ultramafic rocks. Hole WK-24-01, drilled to a depth of 100.58 meters, returned an average nickel grade of 0.185%, cobalt at 0.009%, chromium at 0.100%, and magnesium at 21.87%. Hole WK-24-02, drilled to a depth of 102.11 meters, reported an average nickel grade of 0.171%, cobalt at 0.009%, chromium at 0.124% and magnesium at 20.96%. Lastly, hole WK-24-03, with a depth of 62.48 meters, returned an average nickel grade of 0.189% ppm, cobalt at 0.008% , chromium at 0.119%, and magnesium at 21.27%.
Figure 1. Drill Collar Locations WK-24-01, WK-24-02, and WK-24-03.
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| Hole ID | Depth/m | Ni/% | Co/% | Cr/% | Mg/% |
| WK-24-01 | 100.58 | 0.185 | 0.009 | 0.100 | 21.87 |
| WK-24-02 | 102.11 | 0.171 | 0.009 | 0.124 | 20.96 |
| WK-24-03 | 62.48 | 0.189 | 0.008 | 0.119 | 21.27 |
Table 1. Assay results for WK-24-01, WK-24-02, and WK-24-03.
Drill hole DH-24-01 began in the Snowshoe Group-Ramos Succession, composed of compacted metasediments, sandstone, and conglomerate. It then intersected a different lithology which still belongs to the Ramos Succession, characterized by black phyllite, before encountering sulphide-bearing quartz veins containing pyrite and chalcopyrite. From 105.1 to 125.0 meters, the entire drill core was composed of quartz veins, with an associated sulphide content estimated at approximately 5%. Additionally, at a depth of 233.78 meters, the quartz vein section measured approximately 23.11 meters, predominantly hosted within the black phyllite. The quartz veins share a similar mineralogical characteristic with those from WK-23-01 (refer to the June 12, 2023 press release, https://greenrivergold.com/green-river-gold-provides-drilling-update-and-reports-assay-results-from-the-alteration-zone-of-drill-hole-wk-23-01-including-7583-grams-per-tonne-zinc-4340-grams-per-tonne-lead-5-3-grams-per-tonne/). The project geologist logged the drill core in the company's Quesnel facility and sent the samples to Actlabs in Kamloops for a multielement tracing level diagnosis.
Assay results revealed notable mineralization in gold and silver. The highest gold grade recorded was 0.761 g/tonne from 108.0 to 109.0 meters, followed by 0.568 g/tonne from 105.0 to 106.0 meters. Similarly, silver grades peaked at 14.7 ppm from 105.0 to 106.0 meters and 11.3 ppm from 115.0 to 116.0 meters. Elevated gold concentrations were also identified at 106-107 m (0.184 g/tonne Au), 115-116 m (0.292 g/tonne Au), 141-142 m (0.125 g/tonne Au), and 147-148 m (0.199 g/tonne Au).
Project Geologist Tyler Tian commented that the presence of pyrite, chalcopyrite, and elevated gold concentrations within the Snowshoe Group-Ramos Succession multi-quartz veins is highly encouraging. These veins exhibit a similar mineralogical characteristic to those in drill hole WK-23-01, indicating possible continuity in a potential mineralized system. The Eureka Thrust Fault runs closeby to this area, and it could potentially be associated with an orogenic deposit, similar to our neighbour Osisko Development Corp.'s Cariboo Gold Project. We plan to drill additional holes in the Snowshoe Group rocks to further explore and potentially discover orogenic gold associated with shearing along the Eureka Thrust Fault.
Figure 2. Drill collar locations WK-24-01 to 03 and DH-24-01.
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Figure 3 Cross-section of DH-24-01, showing lithology.
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Green River Gold Corp. will include 20 planned NQ diamond drill holes, comprising a 6,000-meter drilling campaign designed to core depths down to 300 meters. This phase aims to expand exploration along the 14-kilometer Slide Mountain Terrane strike length between and around Zone 1 and Zone 2 (see Figure 4). In addition, the 2025 program includes plans for extensive exploration work in Snowshoe Group rocks on the Fontaine Gold Project. This will involve bedrock mapping, soil and rock sampling, and a comprehensive geophysical program. Further details about these initiatives will be announced as they are finalized.
Figure 4. Quesnel Nickel Project, locations of zone one and zone two.
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Quality Assurance, Quality Control
An AQTK (35.5 mm or 1 3/8 in) and NQ (47.6 mm or 1 7/8 in) diameter core barrel was used for the 2024 diamond drill program at the Quesnel Nickel and Talc Property. The drill stem dips and azimuths were orientated at each collar location by a qualified geologist before drilling. Core samples selected for anaylses were generally between 0.6 and 1.5-meter intervals, depending on the identified lithology and mineralization style. The core was cut in half with a diamond core saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Green River's office in Quesnel. The standard samples of high-grade (CDN-ME-2001) and low-grade (CDN-PGMS-29) nickel concentrations, repeat samples which returned from previous assaying, and blanks (BL-10) were systematically inserted into each batch of samples at regular intervals and submitted to MSA and Actlabs laboratory. The standard samples were purchased from CDN Resource Laboratories in Langley, British Columbia. The assay lab preparation procedure included crushing the entire sample to 80% passing 2 millimetres, riffle splitting 250 grams, and pulverizing the split to 95% passing 105 micrometres. Base metal analyses were determined using the four-acid digestion method with an ICP-OES finish. Gold analyses were determined using the fire assay method with an ICP-EM finish. Analytical results were verified with the application of industry-standard Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Procedures. The MSA Labs has an ISO 17025 certificate.
Qualified Person:
Stephen P. Kocsis (P.Geo) is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and he has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.
About Green River Gold Corp.
Green River Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on its wholly-owned Fontaine Gold Project, Quesnel Nickel/Magnesium/Talc Project, and Kymar Silver Project which are located in renowned mining districts in British Columbia.
The Fontaine Gold and Quesnel Nickel properties cover an area exceeding 200 square kilometres and straddle a 32-kilometre length of the Barkerville and Quesnel Terranes. They are contiguous to Osisko Development Corp.'s mineral claim group containing a proposed mine location at its Cariboo Gold Project.
The Kymar Silver Project is located in southeast BC, approximately 28 kilometres west of the town of Invermere in the Golden Mining Division. The property is made up of two mineral tenures, totalling 1,625 hectares, along the southeast flank of Mount Catherine.
For more information contact:
Green River Gold Corp.
Mr. Perry Little - President and Chief Executive Officer
perry.little@greenrivergold.ca
780-993-2193
Additional information about Green River Gold Corp. can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca
Forward-Looking Information: This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
In addition, the forward-looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances.
The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/233506
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(All amounts expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted)
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) (" Agnico Eagle ") and O3 Mining Inc. (TSXV: OIII) (OTCQX: OIIIF) (" O3 Mining ") are pleased to jointly announce that they have entered into a definitive support agreement (the " Definitive Agreement "), pursuant to which Agnico Eagle has agreed to offer to acquire, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding common shares of O3 Mining (the " Common Shares ") at $1.67 per Common Share in cash by way of a take-over bid (the " Offer "). The Offer is valued at approximately $204 million on a fully diluted in-the-money basis.
The Premium Cash Offer
The offer price of $1.67 per Common Share represents a premium of 57% to the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange for the 20-day period ended December 11, 2024 (the last trading day prior to announcement of the Offer).
O3 Mining's primary asset is its 100%-owned Marban Alliance property located near Val d'Or , in the Abitibi region of Québec, and is adjacent to Agnico Eagle's Canadian Malartic complex. The Marban Alliance property includes the Marban deposit, which is an advanced exploration project that could support an open pit mining operation similar to Agnico Eagle's Barnat open pit operations at the Canadian Malartic complex. O3 Mining has estimated that the Marban pit contains 52.4 million tonnes of indicated mineral resources grading 1.03 g/t gold for 1.7 million ounces of gold and 1.0 million tonnes of inferred mineral resources grading 0.97 g/t gold for 32 thousand ounces of gold (effective date of February 27, 2022 ). O3 Mining also owns 100% of the Alpha property and 100% of the Kinebik property.
The potential integration of the Marban Alliance property to the Canadian Malartic land package will create significant and unique synergies by leveraging Agnico Eagle's regional operational expertise and existing infrastructure, including the Canadian Malartic mill and existing open pit workforce and equipment fleet.
Agnico Eagle's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ammar Al-Joundi commented: "Consistent with our regional strategy, this transaction is a tuck-in of the Marban deposit to our Canadian Malartic complex. The Marban deposit is expected to be complementary to other "Fill-the-Mill" opportunities at Canadian Malartic, further improving the production profile at a long-life world class asset. Our extensive operation, exploration and community experience is expected to enhance the value generated from the Marban Alliance property and unlock further potential at our Abitibi platform. We are looking forward to working with our partners and all stakeholders in the region as we continue to advance this opportunity".
O3 Mining's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. José Vizquerra commented: "The all-cash offer at a significant premium to market is an excellent outcome for our shareholders and is validation of the efforts made by the O3 Mining team. Having diligently advanced the Marban Alliance project over the past five years, the timing is right for O3 Mining to sell to a more experienced operator that can efficiently navigate the project through permitting and construction. This represents a substantial non-dilutive alternative to shareholders. We believe Agnico Eagle is the gold standard in the precious metals space – it not only has the financial strength and the mining expertise to advance the Marban Alliance project, but shares our commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders in a socially responsible manner. Today's Offer represents a significant milestone for O3 Mining, and I would like to thank our employees, shareholders, First Nations partners, community partners and the Province of Québec for their support over the years."
Transaction Details
Agnico Eagle, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Agnico Eagle Abitibi Acquisition Corp. (the " Offeror "), intends to formally commence the Offer by mailing a take-over bid circular to O3 Mining shareholders on or about December 19, 2024 , and O3 Mining's directors' circular is also expected to be mailed to O3 Mining shareholders on or about that date. The Offer will be open for acceptance for a minimum of 35 days following the date of commencement. Accordingly, the Offer will be open for acceptance until 5:00 p.m. ( Toronto time) on January 23, 2025 .
Special Committee and Board Recommendations
The Board of Directors of O3 Mining (the " Board "), having received a unanimous recommendation from a special committee comprised solely of independent directors of O3 Mining (the " Special Committee ") and after receiving outside legal and financial advice, is recommending that O3 Mining shareholders tender their Common Shares and accept the Offer. The recommendation of the Board is supported by fairness opinions provided by Fort Capital Partners (" Fort Capital ") to the Board and Special Committee and by Maxit Capital LP (" Maxit Capital ") to the Board, each stating that the Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to O3 Mining shareholders (other than Agnico Eagle and its affiliates).
Conditions
The Offer is conditional upon, among other conditions, there having been deposited pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn at the expiry of the initial deposit period not less than two-thirds of the Common Shares then outstanding, excluding the Common Shares beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, by Agnico Eagle and any person acting jointly or in concert with Agnico Eagle. Agnico Eagle owns 906,238 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.8% of the outstanding Common Shares on a basic basis, and holds 270,000 warrants to purchase Common Shares and a senior unsecured convertible debenture of O3 Mining in the principal amount of $10 million that is convertible into 4,878,049 Common Shares at a price equal to $2.05 per Common Share. Upon the exercise of such warrants and conversion of the convertible debenture, Agnico Eagle would own 6,054,287 Common Shares, representing approximately 5.3% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis.
Lock-Up Agreements
All directors and officers of O3 Mining, Extract Advisors LLC and certain Franklin Templeton managed funds (collectively representing approximately 22% of the outstanding Common Shares on a basic basis) have agreed under lock-up agreements with Agnico Eagle (the " Lock-Up Agreements "), to tender their Common Shares to the Offer, including Common Shares beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is exercised, by them, at any time up to and including the expiry time of the Offer.
The Definitive Agreement provides for, among other things, a non-solicitation covenant on the part of O3 Mining (subject to customary fiduciary-out provisions). The Definitive Agreement also provides the Offeror with a right to match any competing offer which the Board determines to be a superior proposal within the meaning of the Definitive Agreement. The Offeror is entitled to a termination payment of $10 million if the Definitive Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances, including if O3 Mining enters into an agreement with respect to a superior proposal within the meaning of the Definitive Agreement.
Additional information regarding the Offer will be included in the Offeror's take-over bid circular and in O3 Mining's directors' circular, each of which is expected to be delivered to registered shareholders of O3 Mining on or about December 19, 2024 . These materials, as well as the Definitive Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreements, will also be available under O3 Mining's profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ) and on O3 Mining's and Agnico Eagle's respective websites.
How to Tender Your Shares; Postal Strike
Only O3 Mining shareholders who tender their Common Shares will receive the cash consideration of $1.67 per Common Share. For information on tendering your Common Shares please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group at assistance@laurelhill.com .
Shareholder type: | How do I tender my Common Shares to the Agnico Eagle Offer? |
Beneficial Most O3 Mining shareholders are beneficial shareholders. This means your Common Shares are held through a broker, bank or other financial intermediary, and you do not have a share certificate or DRS advice. | Contact your bank or your broker immediately and instruct them to tender your Common Shares to the Offer. |
Registered You are a registered shareholder if you hold your Common Shares directly and may have a share certificate or DRS advice. | Contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group: |
In light of the Canada Post labour strike , shareholders are encouraged to stay up to date on the Offer by visiting: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/Offer-for-O3-Mining/default.aspx . Shareholders are also asked not to mail in any Letter of Transmittal or share certificates. Instead, shareholders may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group.
Advisors
Edgehill Advisory Ltd. is acting as financial advisor to Agnico Eagle. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is acting as legal advisor to Agnico Eagle.
Maxit Capital is acting as financial advisor to O3 Mining. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal advisor to O3 Mining. Fort Capital is acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting as legal advisor to the Special Committee.
The Depositary and Information Agent for the Offer is Laurel Hill Advisory Group. If you have any questions or require assistance with tendering to the Offer, please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, by phone at 1-877-452-7187 or by e-mail at assistance@laurelhill.com .
About O3 Mining Inc.
O3 Mining Inc. is a gold explorer and mine developer in Québec, Canada , adjacent to Agnico Eagle's Canadian Malartic mine. O3 Mining owns a 100% interest in all its properties (128,680 hectares) in Québec. Its principal asset is the Marban Alliance project in Québec, which O3 Mining has advanced over the last five years to the cusp of its next stage of development, with the expectation that the project will deliver long-term benefits to stakeholders.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Louis Gariépy, P.Eng (OIQ #107538), VP Exploration of O3 Mining, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects .
About Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada , Australia , Finland and Mexico . It has a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects in these countries as well as in the United States . Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading environmental, social and governance practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on current expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations about future events as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information and statements are based on estimates of management by O3 Mining and Agnico Eagle, at the time they were made, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Offer, including the anticipated timing of commencement and expiration, mechanics, funding, completion, settlement, results and effects of the Offer; the anticipated timing of the delivery of the Offeror's take-over bid circular and O3 Mining's directors' circular; the reasons to accept the Offer; the value inherent in O3 Mining's portfolio of projects, including the Marban Alliance project; the ability for the Marban Alliance project to support an open pit mining operation; the expected outcomes of completion of the transaction, including the integration of the Marban Alliance property to the Canadian Malartic land package, synergies arising therefrom, improved production profile, enhanced value generated and unlocked further potential; and the other benefits of the transaction. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking information contained herein include, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of Agnico Eagle and O3 Mining that the Offer will be made in accordance with the Definitive Agreement and will be successful, that all required regulatory consents and approvals will be obtained and all other conditions to completion of the transaction will be satisfied or waived, and the ability to achieve goals, including the integration of the Marban Alliance property to the Canadian Malartic land package and the ability to realize synergies arising therefrom. Agnico Eagle and O3 Mining caution that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what Agnico Eagle and O3 Mining believe, or believed at the time, to be reasonable expectations and assumptions, there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither O3 Mining, nor Agnico Eagle nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. O3 Mining and Agnico Eagle do not undertake, and assume no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Agnico Eagle or any of its affiliates or O3 Mining.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
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SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2024/12/c5600.html
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has undertaken a work program at the historical Junkyard Stockpile at the La Colorada Mine and plans to recommence crushing and stacking in January 2025. The planned restart would initially augment and then replace the current gold production from residual leaching at the mine.
Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, "Recommencing mining operations at La Colorada is a key step for Heliostar to start 2025. The plan to recommence crushing and stacking, paused since September 2023, will drive the Company's guidance forecast next year. Over recent months the Junkyard Stockpile has been a focus with fifty-seven holes completed, a metallurgical assessment undertaken and quotes have been sought and received to select a mining contractor. A restart and the pending technical report for La Colorada has it strongly placed to drive Heliostar towards our goal of becoming a mid-tier gold producer."
Figure 1: Plan Map of the La Colorada Mine with pits and stockpiles/waste dumps, Junkyard drill collars, crusher circuit and leach pad location shown.
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Junkyard Stockpile
The Junkyard Stockpile is a historic waste rock storage facility that is named after mining equipment that was stored on there. The stockpile is located ~800 metres southwest of the La Colorada crushing circuit and contains material that was mined from the Gran Central Pit in the mid to late 1990's.
The Company initiated an evaluation of the Junkyard Stockpile in August that consisted of drilling, resource modeling, and metallurgical testing. Drill holes were completed on a ~35-metre grid across the stockpile with some drill holes completed on a 7-metre grid for variability testing. In total, 57 holes totalling 2,290 metres were completed.
Results of the drilling, resource modelling and metallurgy for the Junkyard Stockpile, in conjunction with an expansion of the Creston Pit, will be published in a technical report in January 2025.
The drilling program also delineated a historic tailings facility beneath the Junkyard Stockpile. Additional metallurgical testing, beyond the timeline of the technical report, is required on the tailings. Should this be positive it represents a potential future upside opportunity.
Figure 2: Cross section of drilling through the Junkyard Stockpile. Stockpile domain in green and historic tailings in orange.
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Statement of Qualified Person
Sam Anderson, CPG and Gregg Bush, P.Eng., Qualified Persons, as this term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, have reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Anderson is Vice President Projects, and Mr. Bush is Chief Operating Officer for the Company.
Investor Relations Agreements
The Company has entered into agreements with Triomphe Holdings Ltd. (dba Capital Analytica) ("Capital Analytica") and Investor News Network ("INN") for investor relations and communication services.
The agreement with Capital Analytica (the "Capital Analytica Agreement") has an initial term of six months, commencing December 5, 2024, under which the Company will pay Capital Analytica $120,000.
The services to be provided under the Capital Analytica Agreement include ongoing capital markets consultation, ongoing social media consultation regarding engagement and enhancement, social sentiment reporting, social engagement reporting, discussion forum monitoring and reporting, corporate video dissemination, and other related investor relations services.
Jeff French is the principal of Capital Analytica and will be responsible for all activities related to the Company. Capital Analytica currently has no direct or indirect interest in the securities of the Company, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.
The agreement with INN (the "INN Agreement") has a term of three months, commencing on December 5, 2024 under which the Company will pay to INN $25,000, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the Consulting Agreement. The services to be provided under the INN Agreement include advertising services to increase awareness of the issuer.
Nick Smith is the CEO of INN and will be responsible for all activities related to the Company. INN currently has no direct or indirect interest in the securities of the Company, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.
The Capital Analytica Agreement and the INN Agreement are subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.
About Heliostar Metals Ltd.
Heliostar is a gold producer with production from operating mines in Mexico. This includes the La Colorada Mine in Sonora and San Agustin Mine in Durango. The Company also has a strong portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the USA. These include the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, the Cerro del Gallo project in Guanajuato, the San Antonio project in Baja Sur and the Unga project in Alaska, USA.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Charles Funk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com
Phone: +1 844-753-0045
Rob Grey
Investor Relations Manager
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com
Phone: +1 844-753-0045
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, Heliostar plans to restart mining operations in January, 2025, Mining to commence at the Junkyard Stockpile, the plan to recommence crushing and stacking, paused since September 2023, will drive the Company's guidance forecast next year and that a restart and the pending technical report for La Colorada has it strongly placed to drive Heliostar towards our goal of becoming a mid-tier gold producer.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to the terms and completion of the Facility, any future mineral production, liquidity, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the receipt of necessary approvals, price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises or ongoing military conflicts; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; and the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.
These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
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Highlights
The geophysics has identified 14 new structural antimony targets at Yallalong analogous to the Discovery Target, where historic drilling intercepted high-grade antimony.
Octava’s Managing Director Bevan Wakelam stated, "The new gravity data redefines the exploration model for high grade antimony at Yallalong. It explains the presence of anomalous antimony along the structural corridor and predicts potential hot spots along it. It is exciting to consider the possibility of a continuous system extending under cover for more than 10 kilometers and having a method to pinpoint the most prospective zones. Planning work is already underway for drilling of these new targets "
Antimony
The Yallalong project is located ~ 220km to the northeast of the port town of Geraldton in Western Australia. The antimony (Sb) mineralisation identified at Yallalong appears within a 10km north- south striking mineralised corridor.
Previous exploration identified four principal antimony targets where antimony mineralisation was exposed at surface. Only the Discovery Prospect had previous drilling and recorded high-grade antimony intercepts over a strike length of ~300m, including 7m @ 3.27% Sb.
A detailed geophysical survey was undertaken to identify underlying structures, such as shears and faults, which act as conduits to mineralising fluids. It also outlines key lithological boundaries. These factors are important in the formation of antimony deposits worldwide.
Interpretation of the geophysical data and the historic drilling has re-defined the exploration model for high grade antimony at Yallalong. Fourteen new targets analogous to the Discovery Target have been identified and will be evaluated through planned drilling. See Figure 1.
Figure 1. Summary structural interpretation and with existing and newly identified Sb targets at Yallalong.
Atlas Geophysics conducted the gravity survey using a 100m x 100m grid pattern, with additional measurements on a 50m x 50m grid over the Discovery Target. NewGen Geo, a geophysical consultancy, carried out the gravity data processing and interpretation.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Alex Passmore, NMG’s CEO commented: "We are very pleased to announce the Ore Purchase Agreement with Westgold as it sees both companies working together to support the development of NMG’s Crown Prince deposit in a capitally efficient manner.
We see this Agreement as beneficial to all shareholders with Westgold acquiring additional high grade oxide ore feed to supplement its Meekatharra operations and NMG transitioning to a producer for modest capital.
The Bluebird Processing Plant owned by Westgold is ideal for NMG due to its close proximity and well-matched metallurgical process. We believe the robust frameworks and protocols we have put in place in this Agreement aligns both operational teams to a common goal of maximizing operational efficiency.
We thank the Westgold team for the technical and commercial work that has led to this Agreement and look forward to working collaboratively in making the development of Crown Prince a success”
Crown Prince is located to the north of Meekatharra, around 33km via road to the Bluebird Gold Processing Plant (Bluebird) owned and operated by BBGO. Westgold and NMG have been working collaboratively on the OPA to manage technical risks and to share economic synergies which are available via the partnering of production from the Crown Prince deposit and milling at Bluebird.
Key Terms of the OPA are outlined in the Table below and will be explained fully in a Notice of Meeting to be sent to NMG shareholders in December. The NMG shareholder meeting is likely to be held in late January or early February 2025. As a result of Westgold’s 18.7% ownership of NMG, it is deemed a related party under the ASX Listing Rules and so the OPA includes a condition precedent of NMG obtaining shareholder approval under Listing Rule 10.1.
BDO Corporate Finance Australia Pty Ltd (BDO) has been engaged to provide an opinion and Independent Expert’s Report to accompany the Notice of Meeting to assist shareholders in their considerations of whether or not to approve the OPA moving into operation.
Should the conditions precedent be met (shareholder approval) the OPA will come into effect with NMG expecting mining approvals to be received in early April 2025. Once mining operations commence, and ore stockpiles are built up, it is anticipated that first Ore Parcel sales will occur in September 2025.
The company is working towards an ore reserve estimate to provide further detail on the economics of the project which is to be released shortly.
Plan of Access and Water Infrastructure - Crown Prince
Authorised for release to ASX by the Board of New Murchison Gold Limited.
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This article includes content from New Murchison Gold Limited, 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.