Quarterly Activities - period to 31 March 2023

Celsius Resources Limited

28 April 2023

 

28 APRIL 2023

celsius resources limited

QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT - PERIOD ENDED 31 mARCH 2023

mcb project awaiting permit approval from the Philippine National Government

HIGHLIGHTS

· Substantial progress on key activities to develop the MCB Copper-Gold project including:

o  Undertaking various studies in preparation for hydrogeological and geotechnical drilling that would feed into a more detailed mine plan

o  Receiving further shallow high-grade copper-gold assay results

o  Securing initial binding deed and agreement with local partners

· Additional desktop studies to update the geologic and mineralisation models for the Sagay Copper-Gold Project

· Closing cash as of 31 March 2023 of $3.139 million

Celsius Resources Limited ("Celsius" or the "Company") (ASX: CLA) is pleased to provide the following summary of the Company's activities for the quarter ended 31 March 2023.

Projects

Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project ("MCB Project"),
Philippines (100%)

Makilala Mining Company Inc., Celsius' Philippine subsidiary, continues to advance its exploration and feasibility work program for the MCB Project located in the Cordillera Administrative region, approximately 320km north of Manila.

Drilling

Preparations are well-underway for the upcoming hydrogeological and geotechnical drilling for additional ground stability and underground mining studies. Detailed mapping on the geology, alteration, and mineralisation of exposed rocks with extensive porphyry-related mineralisation was also conducted to delineate a near surface mineralisation at the eastern segment of the MCB ore body.

Further shallow high-grade copper-gold results were confirmed from three additional drill hole assay results which include:

§ 51.3m @ 0.93% copper and 0.06g/t gold from 7.7m in drill hole MCB-042

§ 101.5m @ 0.90% copper and 0.18g/t gold from 9m in drill hole MCB-043

§ 131.1m @ 0.93% copper and 0.23g/t gold from 11m in drill hole MCB-044

The results continue to identify new positions of shallow mineralisation in line with previous drilling results from holes completed at MCB over the last two years, and historical drilling information completed earlier by Freeport-McMoRan. These extensions are anticipated to form part of the shallow underground mining options.

Future testing will be carried out on possible extensions to these higher-grade copper zones which will presumably continue to improve the proposed production schedule, specifically during the early years as part of the Feasibility Study work program.

The full impact of the additional drill hole information will be assessed during the optimisation of the MCB mine plan. (See CLA Announcement dated 28 February 2023)

Figure 1. Location of MCB-042 to MCB-044 drill holes relative to recent and historical drilling at MCB

Table 1. Significant intersections from drill holes MCB-042 to MCB-044

Figure 2. Cross section 1 (see location at Figure 1) of drill hole MCB-042 to MCB-044 and significant assay results (looking northeast).

Environmental Program

More than 600 seedlings of endemic species (bamboo, pine tree, and mahogany) were planted during the period as part of the company's rehabilitation efforts in the project site in addition to contributing to the Philippine National Government's reforestation and climate change programs. Progressive rehabilitation of completed drill sites was also undertaken to revegetate and reinstate the impacted areas to their pre-disturbed condition. Agreements with landowners were also secured for the identified hydrogeological and geotechnical drilling sites.

Community Development

Community development activities continued to be supported whilst concluding related commitments under the existing exploration permit.  Interventions to build and strengthen the capacity of tribal leaders have been instrumental during planning and decision-making for the community. Likewise, the construction of infrastructure projects has provided the community with much-needed access to basic social and economic facilities and services.

Social, Environmental Licenses and Government Approvals

Technical requirements to obtain the required environmental and mining permits have been submitted and are awaiting government approval. Once approved, the Company will lodge its application for a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) to commence the pathway for the development of the MCB Project.

MMCI also entered into an initial binding deed and agreement with local companies to fund approximately US$43 million for a 30% economic interest in the MCB Project, while meeting the 60% Filipino legal ownership as a pre-requisite to an MPSA application.

Opuwo Cobalt Project, Namibia (95%)

The Opuwo Cobalt Project is one of the largest undeveloped Cobalt projects outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has a JORC Mineral Resource of 225.5 million tonnes at a grade of 0.12% cobalt, 0.43% copper, and 0.54% zinc.

The tenement permit EL4346 expired during March 2023, as such the Company has lodged the necessary documentation to have the permits renewed with favourable feedback from the Ministry of Mines. 

The tenement remains active until such time that it is renewed by the Ministry of Mines.

It is the Company's view that all permit obligations have been met during the existing permit tenure, and therefore the permit renewal is expected for a period of 2 years. 

Metallurgical Test Work

Metallurgical test work is ongoing to further refine the cobalt and copper recoveries, with the end view to improve overall metal recoveries.

Maelgawyn Laboratories in South Africa was engaged to test various collectors on floatation tests and a total of 5 tests were undertaken.  Results of these are expected to be reported in the next quarter.

Mintek completed 5 sets of roasting and subsequent leaching test during the quarter.  The objectives of these were to optimise retention times, operating temperatures and reagent consumptions.  Results for these tests are expected to be reported during May 2023. 

The above metallurgical test results will be utilised as input criteria to develop a processing flowsheet, which will be the basis of an Economic Scoping Study planned later during 2023. 

The Company has received strong interest from parties interested in partnering on the Opuwo Project; a data room has been established with a number of non-disclosure agreements being signed.

SAGAY Copper-Gold Project, Philippines (100%)

Celsius Resources' Philippine subsidiary, Tambuli Mining Company, Inc., on the island of Negros, continues to focus on carrying out additional desk stop studies of all drilling results and exploration data to update the geologic and mineralisation models in support of the initial mineral resource estimate. These are conducted in parallel with the preparation of a final exploration report to support its application for a Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility.

Groundwater monitoring of completed drill holes is ongoing for the formulation of hydro-geotechnical models.

Cullarin West Project, NSW (100%)

The Company will now assess the viability of the opportunity and gauge interest from other possible partners. No development activities were conducted during the quarter.

Corporate and Expenditure 

On 30 January 2023, the Company listed on the London Stock Exchange, and as part of the listing the Company raised GBP 2.4 million.

USD 1.2 Million was utilised to pay the third payment to the prior holders of the Philippine tenements which were purchased as part of the share sale agreement back in 2021 which was approved by Celsius shareholders. A further amount of approximately AUD 910k was utilised to settle AIM listing invoices that had accumulated given that the process had been ongoing for approximately 18 months. 

At the end of the quarter, the Company held approximately $3.139 million in cash reserves. Approximately $315,000 was spent on exploration expenditure primarily relating to the development of the MCB project, together with ongoing metallurgical test work at the Opuwo Cobalt Project.

$45k in payments were made to related parties of the Company and their associates during the quarter, for Director and consultancy fees.

This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Directors of Celsius Resources Limited.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

 

For further information contact:

Celsius Resources Limited
Peter Hume	P: [phone] E: [e-mail] W: www.celsiusresources.com
Multiplier Media
Jon Cuthbert	M: [phone] E: [e-mail]
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Andrew Price	[phone]
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Broker)
Ewan Leggat	[phone]

Tenement Table: ASX Listing Rule 5.3.3 Mining tenement interests held at the end of the quarter and their location

Western Australia
Cullarin West	EL 8996	Cullarin Metals Pty Ltd	Granted	17/08/2026	100%
Namibia
	EL 4346*	Gecko Cobalt Holdings	Permit application, pending approval	TBA	95%
Philippines
Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog	EP 003-2006-CAR	Makilala Mining Company Inc.	Granted	25/05/2023	100%
Colayo	EXPA-073-CAR	Makilala Mining Company Inc.	Permit application, pending approval	TBA	100%
Panaon	EXPA-000127-VIII	PDEP, Inc.	Complying with further permitting requirements	TBA	100%
Sagay	EP-000003-VI	Tambuli Mining Company Inc.	Granted	10/02/2024	100%

*Tenement expired on 7 March 2023 and a permit application is pending approval.

The mining tenement interests expired during the quarter:

Tenement EL 4540 in Namibia was relinquished on 9 February 2023 to meet Ministry of Mines requirements. The relinquishment of EL 4540 has no impact on the Opuwo mineral resource estimate.

The mining tenement interests acquired during the quarter and their location:

Nil.

Beneficial percentage interests held in farm-in or farm-out agreements at the end of the quarter:

Not applicable.

Beneficial percentage interests in farm-in or farm-out agreements acquired or disposed of during the quarter:

Nil.

Competent Persons Statement

Information in this report relating to Exploration Results and Mineral Resources for the MCB Project is based on information compiled, reviewed and assessed by Mr. Steven Olsen, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr. Olsen is a consultant to Celsius Resources and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.  Mr. Olsen consents to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this Report that relates to the estimate of Mineral Resources for the Opuwo Project is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Kerry Griffin, a Competent Person, who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Mr Griffin is a Principal Geology Consultant at Mining Plus Pty Ltd and an independent consultant engaged by Celsius Resources Pty Ltd for this work and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (the JORC Code). Mr Griffin consents to the inclusion in this announcement of matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the Mineral Resource for the MCB Project or the Opuwo Project. The Company also confirms that all material assumptions and parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed. Please refer to the ASX Announcement of 28 February 2023.

 

END