December 2022 Quarterly Activities Report

RNS Number : 3316N

Castillo Copper Limited

20 January 2023

 

20 January 2023

CASTILLO COPPER LIMITED
("Castillo", or the "Company")

December 2022 Quarterly Activities Report

Castillo Copper Limited (LSE and ASX: CCZ), a base metal explorer primarily focused on copper across Australia and Zambia, is pleased to present shareholders its latest quarterly report for the period 1 October to 31 December 2022

HIGHLIGHTS:

· EAST ZONE, BHA PROJECT, NEW SOUTH WALES

· Assays from seven drill-holes across the Fence Gossan (FG) and Tors Tank (TT) Prospects, confirm a significant shallow clay-hosted Rare Earth Elements (REE) discovery - up to 2,410ppm Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO)¹ - the best intercepts comprise:

o  20m @ 1,780ppm TREO (28.9% Magnet REO) from surface including 4m @ 2,410ppm TREO from 16m (FG_003RC)¹

o  7m @ 1,048ppm TREO (29.9% Magnet REO) from 12m (TT_002RC)¹

o  19m @ 847ppm TREO (29.6% Magnet REO) from surface (TT_003RC)¹

· LUANSHYA PROJECT ZAMBIA

· Incremental development work on known key targets - scheduled to commence in 1H2023 - focusing on the highly prospective Luanshya Project¹ 

· The Board remains committed to aligning with a development partner or undertaking a trade sale for the Zambia Copper Projects - efforts will be redoubled to deliver this outcome during 2023¹ 

ACTIVITIES REPORT 

During the period, most of the focus remained on developing the REE potential at the East Zone, BHA Project in Broken Hill. 

An overview of key events follows: 

DEVELOPMENT WORK 

Castillo has four properties comprising the NWQ Copper Project in Mt Isa's copper-belt, the BHA Project near Broken Hill's world class silver-zinc-lead deposit in NSW, the historic Cangai Copper Mine and four assets across Zambia's copper-belt.

East Zone, BHA Project, NSW

On 3 October 2022, a four-week long, cobalt-focused drilling campaign at the East Zone commenced, comprising one diamond core and 17 RC drill-holes for 2,100m across four prospects¹ (Figure 1 & 2).

FIGURE 1: PROPOSED DRILLING CAMPAIGN BHA PROJECT EAST ZONE 

Prospects	# Drillholes	Target Commodity	Depth range (m)	Type	Objective
Reefs Tank, Tors Tank, Fence Gossan	16	Co, Au, Ag, Cu	100-160	RC, DDH	Target primary cobalt whilst assays to investigate PGE & REE potential
The Sisters	2	Co, Cu, REE	120-160	RC	Test known EM interpretation; drill extensions north & south

Source: CCZ geology team

A key focus for the campaign is drilling two lower potentially cobalt-rich zones at Fence Gossan (FG), Reefs Tanks (RT) & Tors Tank (TT), which are interpreted to host higher-grade mineralisation than modelled to date¹.

Overall, the Board's strategic intent is to extend known mineralisation plus enhance the confidence and grade of the current global Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) - 21,556t cobalt (64Mt @ 318 ppm Co) and 44,260t copper (63Mt @ 0.07% Cu)¹.

FIGURE 2: DRILLING UNDERWAY AT BHA PROJECT'S EAST ZONE 

Location: 6460000mN, 570000mE

Source: CCZ geology team

On 12 October 2022, Castillo announced four drill-holes for 488m were completed at the Tors Tank Prospect which delivered encouraging initial observations, including:

·   All four drill-holes hit targeted cobalt mineralisation zones, evidenced by intersecting sequences comprising clay, amphibolite, schist, and gneiss;

· Qualitative logging identified multiple disseminated sulphide layers (mostly pyrite), up to 12m thick, associated with amphibolite layers that can potentially host cobalt mineralisation;

·   Field XRF observations, which are subject to final assay results, indicated the presence of cobalt mineralisation within these amphibolite zones; and

·   The intersected geology was interpreted to be consistent with observations by previous explorers, including Broken Hill North, across the 1970-80s¹.

In addition, proximal to the amphibolite layers, there are significant magnetite-rich zones - associated with pegmatite up to 14m thick - that potentially hosts REEs. Notably, this interpretation is based on recently re-assayed diamond core from drill-hole DD90_IB3 at the Iron Blow Prospect which returned up to 1,270ppm TREO¹.

On 24 October 2022, Castillo provided an update on drilling at the Fence Gossan Prospect, where four drill-holes for a total of 516m were completed, with positive initial observations comparable to the Tors Tank Prospect:

·   Targeted cobalt mineralisation zones were hit across the four drill-holes, as sequences intersected comprised clay, amphibolite, schist and gneiss;

· Numerous disseminated sulphide layers (mostly pyrite linked to amphibolite), up to 17m thick, were logged which could potentially host cobalt mineralisation; and

·   Interpreting the intersected geology suggests it is consistent with observations noted by North Broken Hill in the 1970-80s, while XRF field observations (subject to final assays) indicated cobalt mineralisation is apparent¹.

Similar to the Iron Blow Prospect, there are significant magnetite-rich zones - associated with pegmatite up to 19m thick - which potentially hosts REEs. These are based on field XRF observations and are subject to final assays¹.

On 31 October 2022, after reconciling geochemical and geophysical data for the Iron Blow Prospect, Castillo announced several viable targets for drill-testing with significant exploration potential. These findings were based on a re-interpretation of geophysical campaigns from 2000, 2001 and 2017 which identified several significant bedrock conductors that could host mineralisation¹.

The primary focus will be REEs since diamond core assays from drill-hole DD90_1B3 (sourced from the core library) returned positive readings - on a cumulative basis - over 35m, with the best intersections¹:

· 8m @ 1,460ppm TREO from 150m¹

· 12m @ 297ppm TREO from 199m¹

· 6.4m @ 290ppm TREO from 189m¹

· 4.8m @ 311ppm TREO from 232m¹

Since there is still untested diamond core from DD90_1B3 at the core library, the geology team are planning for this to be fully re-assayed for REEs.

Contingent on the outcome of the current drilling campaign, the Board has earmarked the Iron Blow Prospect as the next priority target to drill-test with nine holes planned.

On 15 November 2022, assays from seven drill-holes across the Fence Gossan and Tors Tank Prospects, confirmed a significant shallow clay-hosted REE discovery - up to 2,410ppm TREO, with high-value Magnet REOs representing up to 29.9% of the grade - the best intercepts are highlighted in Figure 3 below¹:

FIGURE 3: BEST ASSAYED INTERCEPTS - FENCE GOSSAN / TORS TANK PROSPECTS1

v 20m @ 1,780ppm TREO (28.9% Magnet REO) from surface including 4m @ 2,410ppm TREO from 16m (FG_003RC)

v 7m @ 1,048ppm TREO (29.9% Magnet REO) from 12m (TT_002RC)

v 19m @ 847ppm TREO (29.6% Magnet REO) from surface (TT_003RC)

v 8m @ 773ppm TREO (24.0% Magnet REO) from 48m (FG_004RC)

v 4m @ 732ppm TREO (27.1% Magnet REO) from 24m (TT_001RC)

v 19m @ 661ppm TREO (28.0% Magnet REO) from surface (FG_002RC)

v 32m @ 636ppm TREO (25.7% Magnet REO) from 52m (FG_003RC)

v 28m @ 614ppm TREO (27.8% Magnet REO) from 4m (FG_004RC)

Source: CCZ geology team

Of significance, the assays for FG_002-4RC delineated an initial 800m strike event starting near Fence Gossan's eastern boundary. Moreover, with REE mineralisation open in all directions, and Fence Gossan circa 4km long by 1km wide (W-E), the Board has ordered follow up geological mapping, sampling and auger drilling to target extending the known strike event to the west¹. 

While cobalt assays were consistent with previous observations, the new REE discovery has pivoted the Board's strategic focus for the current drilling campaign and beyond to fully understanding the extent of REE mineralisation across the BHA Project's East Zone¹. 

On 23 November 2022, Castillo announced new assays for RT_001RC and FG_001RC were positive for TREO, confirming REEs are more widely apparent across the East Zone than initially envisaged - the best intercepts comprise:

· 11m @ 1,078 TREO from 8m (RT_001RC)¹

· 20m @ 609ppm TREO from surface incl. 4m @ 1,709ppm REO from 8m (FG_001RC)¹

· 11m @ 862ppm TREO from 58m (FG_001RC)¹

More significantly, all the assays returned to date from Fence Gossan, Tors Tank and Reefs Tank highlight the REE mineralisation discovered is extensive and shallow¹.

On 20 December 2022, following the receipt of drill assays for the Fence Gossan, Tors Tank and partly Reefs Tank Prospects, Castillo's Board confirmed that shallow REE mineralisation is more widely apparent across the BHA Project's East Zone than initially envisaged. As an immediate next step, the Board commissioned an extensive auger sampling campaign¹.

Encouragingly, the auger sampling campaign, which covered a 6.5km² area proximal to the Fence Gossan Prospect, was designed to identify the full extent of REE mineralisation and new targets to test-drill. As an immediate follow up, all samples were sent to the laboratory for further analysis, with subsequent interpretation charting the next phase of REE-focused exploration across the BHA Project's East Zone¹.

Zambia Copper Projects

On 7 December 2022, Castillo's Board approved incremental development work on known key targets - scheduled to commence in 1H2023 - focusing on the highly prospective Luanshya Project which is in the heart of Zambia's copper belt¹.

Specifically, the geology team plan to roll out an Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysics campaign to build on earlier work undertaken in 2021 which focused on a 6km zone of copper surface anomalism that delineated up to 14 chargeable zones. A key focus of the upcoming IP campaign will be to refine targets for test drilling and enhance the confidence of finding structurally controlled copper mineralisation¹.

The plans for development work follow London-based, Metallea Group's (previously Hyperion Copper) decision to cancel plans to list on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), due to extremely difficult equity market conditions. As this was a key requirement to secure funds to progress development work, Metallea has further advised it will not be exercising the option - which delivered a US$100,000 non-refundable deposit to Castillo - to acquire the Zambia Copper Projects¹.

Moving forward, as Castillo's Board remains committed to aligning with a development partner or undertaking a trade sale for the Zambia Copper Projects, efforts will be redoubled to deliver this outcome during 2023¹ .

NWQ Copper Project, Queensland

No work was undertaken at the NWQ Copper Project during the review period.

However, on 20 December 2022, Castillo announced that the geology team planned to visit several prospects at the NWQ Copper Project during 1Q 2023 to determine the potential to host copper mineralisation¹.

Cangai Copper Mine

No work was undertaken at Cangai Copper Mine during the review period.

CORPORATE

· Result of AGM: On 29 November 2022, Castillo advised that all fives resolutions put to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) were passed on a poll. The resolutions included: 1) Adopting the remuneration report; 2) Re-electing Dr Dennis Jensen as a director: 3) Re-electing Mr Geoff Reed as a director: 4) Approving the 7.1A mandate; and, 5) Replacing the constitution.

PAYMENTS TO, OR TO AN ASSOCIATE OF, A RELATED PARTY OF THE ENTITY DURING QUARTER DURING THE QUARTER

$97,000 was paid to related parties of Castillo relating to executive director and non-executive director fees.

SUMMARY OF THE EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING THE QUARTER

	Consulting fees	Rates and mines departments fees
Cangai	$14,000	$10,000
Broken Hill Alliance	$710,000	$14,000
Mt Isa	$67,000	$17,000
Zambia	$26,000	$5,000
Total	$817,000	$46,000

For further information, please contact:   

Castillo Copper Limited	[phone]
Dr Dennis Jensen (Australia), Managing Director  Gerrard Hall (UK), Chairman
SI Capital Limited (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker)	[phone]
Nick Emerson
Gracechurch Group (Financial PR)	[phone]
Harry Chathli, Alexis Gore, Henry Gamble

About Castillo Copper   

Castillo Copper Limited is an Australian-based explorer primarily focused on copper across Australia and Zambia. The group is embarking on a strategic transformation to morph into a mid-tier copper group underpinned by its core projects: 

·  A large footprint in the Mt Isa copper-belt district, north-west Queensland, which delivers significant exploration upside through having several high-grade targets and a sizeable untested anomaly within its boundaries in a copper-rich region. 

·  Four high-quality prospective assets across Zambia's copper-belt which is the second largest copper producer in Africa. 

·   A large tenure footprint proximal to Broken Hill's world-class deposit that is prospective for zinc-silver-lead-copper-gold and platinoids.  

·   Cangai Copper Mine in northern New South Wales, which is one of Australia's highest grading historic copper mines. 

The group is listed on the LSE and ASX under the ticker "CCZ." 

References

1)  Note - All information referenced is from CCZ ASX Releases, as dated in text, from 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2022 inclusive

APPENDIX A: KEY PROJECTS

FIGURE A1: WEST AND EAST ZONE - BHA PROJECT, BROKEN HILL REGION

Source: CCZ geology team

FIGURE A2: ZAMBIA COPPER-BELT PROJECTS

Source: CCZ geology team

FIGURE A3: NWQ COPPER PROJECT, MT ISA REGION

Source: CCZ geology team

 

APPENDIX 1: INTEREST IN MINING TENEMENTS HELD

JACKADERRY (CANGAI)
New England Orogen in NSW
Tenement ID	Ownership at start of Quarter	Ownership at end of Quarter	Change during the Quarter
EL8635	100%	100%	-
EL8625	100%	100%	-
EL8601	100%	100%	-

BROKEN HILL
located within a 20km radius of Broken Hill, NSW
Tenement ID	Ownership at start of Quarter	Ownership at end of Quarter	Change during the Quarter
EL8599	100%	100%	-
EL8572	100%	100%	-
EL 8434	100%	100%	-
EL 8435	100%	100%	-

MT OXIDE
Mt Isa region, northwest Queensland
Tenement ID	Ownership at start of Quarter	Ownership at end of Quarter	Change during the Quarter
EPM 26513	100%	100%	-
EPM 26525	100%	100%	-
EPM 26574	100%	100%	-
EPM 26462	100%	100%	-
EPM 27440	100%	100%	-

ZAMBIA
Project	Tenement ID	Ownership at start of Quarter	Ownership at end of Quarter	Change during the Quarter
Lumwana North	23914-HQ-SEL	100%	100%	-
Lumwana North	23913-HQ-SEL	100%	100%	-
Mkushi	24659-HQ-LEL	100%	100%	-
Luanshya *	22448-HQ-LEL	-	-	-
Luanshya	25195-HQ-LEL	55%	55%	-
Luanshya	25273-HQ-LEL	55%	55%	-
Mwansa	25261-HQ-LEL	100%	100%	-

*  CCZ can earn up to 80% by meeting previously disclosed milestones

Appendix 5B

Mining exploration entity or oil and gas exploration entity
quarterly cash flow report

Name of entity
Castillo Copper Ltd
ABN		Quarter ended ("current quarter")
52 137 606 476		31 December 2022

Consolidated statement of cash flows		Current quarter $A'000	Year to date (6 months) $A'000
1.	Cash flows from operating activities
1.1	Receipts from customers
1.2	Payments for
	(a)  exploration & evaluation
	(b)  development
	(c)  production
	(d)  staff costs
	(e)  administration and corporate costs	(474)	(725)
1.3	Dividends received (see note 3)
1.4	Interest received	3	3
1.5	Interest and other costs of finance paid
1.6	Income taxes paid
1.7	Government grants and tax incentives
1.8	Other (provide details if material)
1.9	Net cash from / (used in) operating activities	(471)	(722)
2.	Cash flows from investing activities
2.1	Payments to acquire or for:
	(a)  entities
	(b)  tenements
	(c)  property, plant and equipment
	(d)  exploration & evaluation	(863)	(1,123)
	(e)  investments
	(f)  other non-current assets	10	(82)
2.2	Proceeds from the disposal of:
	(a)  entities
	(b)  tenements
	(c)  property, plant and equipment
	(d)  investments
	(e)  other non-current assets
2.3	Cash flows from loans to other entities
2.4	Dividends received (see note 3)
2.5	Other (provide details if material)
2.6	Net cash from / (used in) investing activities	(853)	(1,205)
3.	Cash flows from financing activities
3.1	Proceeds from issues of equity securities (excluding convertible debt securities)
3.2	Proceeds from issue of convertible debt securities
3.3	Proceeds from exercise of options
3.4	Transaction costs related to issues of equity securities or convertible debt securities
3.5	Proceeds from borrowings
3.6	Repayment of borrowings
3.7	Transaction costs related to loans and borrowings
3.8	Dividends paid
3.9	Other (provide details if material)
3.10	Net cash from / (used in) financing activities	-	-
4.	Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the period
4.1	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	5,090	5,754
4.2	Net cash from / (used in) operating activities (item 1.9 above)	(471)	(722)
4.3	Net cash from / (used in) investing activities (item 2.6 above)	(853)	(1,205)
4.4	Net cash from / (used in) financing activities (item 3.10 above)	-	-
4.5	Effect of movement in exchange rates on cash held	82	21
4.6	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,848	3,848

5.	Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter (as shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows) to the related items in the accounts	Current quarter $A'000	Previous quarter $A'000
5.1	Bank balances	3,756	4,998
5.2	Call deposits	92	92
5.3	Bank overdrafts
5.4	Other (provide details)
5.5	Cash and cash equivalents at end of quarter (should equal item 4.6 above)	3,848	5,090

 

6.	Payments to related parties of the entity and their associates	Current quarter $A'000
6.1	Aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates included in item 1	601
6.2	Aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates included in item 2	372
1 Comprises director's fees for the quarter. 2 Comprises consulting fees paid to the Managing Director.

7.	Financing facilities Note: the term "facility' includes all forms of financing arrangements available to the entity. Add notes as necessary for an understanding of the sources of finance available to the entity.	Total facility amount at quarter end $A'000	Amount drawn at quarter end $A'000
7.1	Loan facilities
7.2	Credit standby arrangements
7.3	Other (please specify)
7.4	Total financing facilities
7.5	Unused financing facilities available at quarter end
7.6	Include in the box below a description of each facility above, including the lender, interest rate, maturity date and whether it is secured or unsecured. If any additional financing facilities have been entered into or are proposed to be entered into after quarter end, include a note providing details of those facilities as well.

8.	Estimated cash available for future operating activities	$A'000
8.1	Net cash from / (used in) operating activities (item 1.9)	(471)
8.2	(Payments for exploration & evaluation classified as investing activities) (item 2.1(d))	(863)
8.3	Total relevant outgoings (item 8.1 + item 8.2)	(1,334)
8.4	Cash and cash equivalents at quarter end (item 4.6)	3,848
8.5	Unused finance facilities available at quarter end (item 7.5)
8.6	Total available funding (item 8.4 + item 8.5)	3,848
8.7	Estimated quarters of funding available (item 8.6 divided by item 8.3)	2.9
	Note: if the entity has reported positive relevant outgoings (ie a net cash inflow) in item 8.3, answer item 8.7 as "N/A". Otherwise, a figure for the estimated quarters of funding available must be included in item 8.7.
8.8	If item 8.7 is less than 2 quarters, please provide answers to the following questions:
	8.8.1  Does the entity expect that it will continue to have the current level of net operating cash flows for the time being and, if not, why not?
	Answer: N/A
	8.8.2  Has the entity taken any steps, or does it propose to take any steps, to raise further cash to fund its operations and, if so, what are those steps and how likely does it believe that they will be successful?
	Answer: N/A
	8.8.3  Does the entity expect to be able to continue its operations and to meet its business objectives and, if so, on what basis?
	Answer: N/A
	Note: where item 8.7 is less than 2 quarters, all of questions 8.8.1, 8.8.2 and 8.8.3 above must be answered.

Compliance statement

1  This statement has been prepared in accordance with accounting standards and policies which comply with Listing Rule 19.11A.

2  This statement gives a true and fair view of the matters disclosed.

Date:  20 January 2023

Authorised by:  The Board of Directors

(Name of body or officer authorising release - see note 4)

Notes

1.             This quarterly cash flow report and the accompanying activity report provide a basis for informing the market about the entity's activities for the past quarter, how they have been financed and the effect this has had on its cash position. An entity that wishes to disclose additional information over and above the minimum required under the Listing Rules is encouraged to do so.

2.             If this quarterly cash flow report has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards, the definitions in, and provisions of, AASB 6: Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources and AASB 107: Statement of Cash Flows apply to this report. If this quarterly cash flow report has been prepared in accordance with other accounting standards agreed by ASX pursuant to Listing Rule 19.11A, the corresponding equivalent standards apply to this report.

3.             Dividends received may be classified either as cash flows from operating activities or cash flows from investing activities, depending on the accounting policy of the entity.

4.             If this report has been authorised for release to the market by your board of directors, you can insert here: "By the board". If it has been authorised for release to the market by a committee of your board of directors, you can insert here: "By the [name of board committee - eg Audit and Risk Committee]". If it has been authorised for release to the market by a disclosure committee, you can insert here: "By the Disclosure Committee".

5.             If this report has been authorised for release to the market by your board of directors and you wish to hold yourself out as complying with recommendation 4.2 of the ASX Corporate Governance Council's Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, the board should have received a declaration from its CEO and CFO that, in their opinion, the financial records of the entity have been properly maintained, that this report complies with the appropriate accounting standards and gives a true and fair view of the cash flows of the entity, and that their opinion has been formed on the basis of a sound system of risk management and internal control which is operating effectively.

 

 

END

 

 

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