Tati Project Botswana - Due Diligence Update

RNS Number : 8670C

Power Metal Resources PLC

23 June 2021

 

23 June 2021

Power Metal Resources PLC

("Power Metal" or the "Company")

Tati Project Botswana - Due Diligence Update

Significant arsenic, nickel and gold-in-soil anomalies identified from historical data review.  Geochemical sampling, mapping and prospecting now underway to validate findings.

Power Metal Resources PLC (LON:POW) the AIM listed metals exploration and development company is pleased to announce an update from the ongoing due diligence work at the gold-nickel properties (the "Tati Project" or the "Project") in the Tati Greenstone Belt, Botswana where Power Metal has an option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in the Project.

BACKGROUND

Readers wishing to review the background should refer to the Company's announcement dated 6 May 2021 detailing the full terms of the Option and which may be viewed here:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/POW/option-agreement-botswana-gold-nickel-properties/14966683

Should Power Metal exercise the Option it will acquire a 100% interest in two prospecting licences ("PLs") PL127/2019 and PL126/2019 prospective for gold and nickel and located upon the Tati Greenstone Belt, Botswana.

The Option allows for a 60 business day due diligence period, and should Power Metal exercise the Option, it will undertake the licence acquisitions through its newly formed 100% owned subsidiary Power Metal Resources Botswana (Pty) Limited ("Power Metal Botswana").

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMENT

Paul Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Power Metal Resources, commented:

"Power Metal has three current project interests in Botswana (Molopo Farms Complex, Kalahari Copper Belt South Ghanzi Project and the Ditau Camp Project) with active exploration underway at present and where we have already announced significant positive developments including to date:

-  The confirmation of significant nickel sulphide intersections at the Molopo Farms Complex project targeting large scale nickel sulphide/PGE discoveries and where Power Metal has a total current effective economic interest of 50.8%.

-  The identification of 7 large anomalies from airborne electromagnetic ("AEM") surveys at the South Ghanzi Project in the Kalahari Copper Belt targeting large scale copper-silver discoveries and where Power Metal has a 50% interest.  To date two primary targets, Morula and Acacia, will be the focus of initial planned drilling where intensive soil sampling revealed high copper and zinc in soils confirming the AEM targets.

The announcement today in respect of our potential fourth project interest in Botswana, the Tati Project, is another significant development with our historical review identifying substantial arsenic, nickel and gold anomalies extending over multi-kilometre lengths within the two licence areas.

These findings compel us to move quickly with ground exploration work to validate and confirm the data which, if successful, could mean the Tati Project holds considerable potential for large scale gold and nickel discoveries.

Further updates from our work programmes will follow as ground operations continue."

DUE DILIGENCE FINDINGS TO DATE AND PROPOSED WORK PROGRAMMES

Multi-Kilometre Scale Anomalies Identified

· A historical data compilation, completed on the recently acquired prospecting licences, has led to the identification of multi-kilometre-scale nickel, arsenic and gold in-soil anomalies on PL127/2019 and PL126/2019.

· The historic data collected and interpreted is of widely spaced soil sampling surveys which were undertaken by previous operators.

Prospecting Licence 127/2019

This licence is located near the southern extent of the north-northwest striking Tati Greenstone Belt, roughly 40km southwest of Francistown, Botswana, and less than 7km from the Mupane underground gold mine.

The licence covers a total area of 89km² and is prospective for orogenic gold and intrusive magmatic nickel mineralisation. The licence is also believed to cover the southern extent of prolific gabbroic-troctolitic intrusions which host the Phoenix, Selkirk and Tekwane nickel-copper-PGE rich deposits located along the periphery of the Tati Greenstone Belt less than 7km from the licence.

Notably, a >2.5km nickel-in-soil anomaly, with values up to 360ppm nickel, has been highlighted near the north-western border of the licence where the interpreted extension of the gabbroic intrusions is believed to outcrop below thin Kalahari cover.

Additionally, the historic data shows a northeast-southwest trending >5km long arsenic-in-soil anomaly on PL127/2019 as well as multiple kilometre-scale arsenic-in-soil anomalies which extend directly from the Signal Hill gold deposit located southeast of the licence.

Prospecting Licence PL126/2019

This licence is located near the northern extent of the Tati Greenstone Belt, less than 10km southeast of Francistown and is adjacent to the Golden Eagle deposit (Shashe Mining Licence).

The licence covers a total area of 35km² and is prospective for orogenic gold and magmatic nickel mineralisation.

The historic data analysis has uncovered a >2km long, northwest-southeast trending gold-in-soil anomaly, as well as a >1km long, nickel-in-soil anomaly which is coincident with a government mapped mafic intrusive unit.

Additionally, several mine dumps were identified in the north-western part of the licence which will be evaluated by the Company.

Next Steps - Due Diligence Ground Exploration

The Company will shortly commence a Phase I ground exploration programme as part of its due diligence which will include infill geochemical survey grids, as well as mapping and prospecting over these newly uncovered historic geochemical anomalies.

This Phase I exploration work will allow the Company to take a decision on Option exercise and should the Company exercise the Option, to develop a Phase II ground exploration programme which is expected to include drilling at the earliest opportunity.

TATI GREENSTONE BELT INFORMATION

The Tati Greenstone Belt ("TGB") is located in the vicinity of Francistown, adjacent to the Zimbabwe border, in north-eastern Botswana. With a total strike length of 65km and up to 20km in width the TGB hosts a large number of orogenic style gold deposits and several economically significant intrusive magmatic Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements ("Ni-Cu-PGE") rich sulphide deposits.

A gold rush started at Tati in 1867 leading to the establishment of Francistown and over 70 reported small scale gold mining operations. 

The TGB is Botswana's only gold producing region with the Mupane gold mine (held by Galane Gold Ltd) being the country's only major gold producer. Mupane was formerly an open-pit operation and is now an underground mine. It is located in the southern part of the TGB.

The known nickel deposits on the greenstone belt consist almost entirely of disseminated to semi massive sulphide bodies hosted by a series of late stage gabbroic-troctolitic intrusive bodies. Significant nickel operations operated until 2016, including the former Tati Nickel Mining's Selkirk underground mine which commenced production in 1989 and the Phoenix open pit which started in 1995. Both deposits are located in the south-central portion of the TGB.

Geologically the TGB is part of the Francistown Arc Complex within the southern margin of the Archean age Zimbabwe Craton in the northern contact zone of the Limpopo Belt. The principal lithologies of the TGB are lower greenschist to lower amphibolite facies volcanic and sedimentary rocks, constrained by three fault-bounded volcano-plutonic sequences which are intruded by granitoids.  

Whilst there is a long history of small scale gold mining on the TGB, the Company believes it to be  under explored by modern standards and systematic exploration focussing on areas with sand cover and geophysics targeting greater depths are likely to yield further gold and nickel discoveries.

GLOSSARY

Orogenic Gold (Deposits) - Gold deposits found within metamorphic belts which form as a result of major crustal deformation events.

Intrusive Magmatic Nickel (Deposits) - Nickel deposits found at the base of large mafic and ultramafic intrusive bodies. 

Arsenic-in-soil anomaly - Geochemical anomaly defined by increased arsenic levels over background.

Gold-in-soil anomaly - Geochemical anomaly defined by increased gold levels over background.

PGE - Platinum group elements (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum)

Gabbroic-troctolitic intrusives - Coarse grained, dark coloured, intrusive rocks composed mainly of pyroxene, plagioclase and minor amounts of amphibole and olivine.  

Fault-bounded volcano-plutonic sequences - Groupings of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks which are separated by large-scale regional fault structures.

M afic I ntrusive U nit - Igneous rock that is dominated by magnesium and iron rich silicate minerals including pyroxene, amphibole, olivine, and mica.

COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT

The technical information contained in this disclosure has been read and approved by Mr Nick O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Competent Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O'Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Power Metal Resources PLC to provide technical support.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.

For further information please visit https://www.powermetalresources.com/ or contact:

Power Metal Resources plc
Paul Johnson (Chief Executive Officer)	[phone]
SP Angel Corporate Finance (Nomad and Joint Broker)
Ewan Leggat/Charlie Bouverat	[phone]
SI Capital Limited (Joint Broker)
Nick Emerson	[phone]
First Equity Limited (Joint Broker)
David Cockbill/Jason Robertson	[phone]

Notes to Editors:

Power Metal Resources plc (LON:POW) is an AIM listed metals exploration and development company seeking a large scale metal discovery.

The Company has a global portfolio of project interests including precious and base metal exploration in North America, Africa and Australia. Project interests range from early stage greenfield exploration to later stage prospects currently subject to drill programmes.

The Board and its team of advisors have expertise in project generation, exploration and development and have identified an opportunity to utilise the Company's position to become a leader in the London market for investors wishing to gain exposure to proactive global metals exploration.

 

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