Zulu Assay Results

RNS Number : 1149R

Premier African Minerals Limited

27 February 2023

 

27 February 2023

Premier African Minerals Limited

Zulu Assay Results

Premier African Minerals Limited ("Premier" or the "Company"), is pleased to report on assay results at Premier's Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project ("Zulu"). These results are from boreholes that are located within the area planned to be mined under operation of the Pilot Plant and will constitute a portion of the Mineral Resource update required to support the DFS.

George Roach, CEO commented , "We continue to see good intersections within the main spodumene rich pegmatite that are both encouraging for the long term and supportive of our decision to commence operations with the large-scale pilot plant as we have done."

Drill Holes: Lithium & Tantalum Results

The table below sets out the composites determined, as per the outlined compositing routine in the text below the table, from analyses received from the independent external laboratory (SGS) for holes ZDD021, ZDD047, ZDD048, MDI-GT-01A, MDI-GT-02, ZDD151, & ZDD154 .

Table 1 -Assay Summary Results

Hole	From (m)	To (m	Width* (m)	Li2O%	Ta2O5 ppm	Rb ppm
ZDD021	34.90	37.02	2.12	0.64	43	1181
ZDD021	42.26	46.38	4.12	0.79	14	1619
ZDD047	84.24	89.24	5.00	1.49	79	900
ZDD047	106.08	110.08	4.00	1.52	40	592
ZDD047	118.23	127.00	8.77	1.00	73	1142
Incl.	123.00	126.00	3.00	1.66	80	1252
ZDD048	38.40	40.40	2.00	0.80	126	450
ZDD048	47.06	56.18	9.12	0.86	68	1367
Incl.	49.00	50.00	1.00	2.68	96	435
ZDD048	119.36	122.36	3.00	1.08	75	750
ZDD048	133.36	149.36	16.00	0.82	43	1134
Incl.	133.36	134.36	1.00	1.67	7	937
Incl.	136.36	137.36	1.00	2.23	40	656
MDI-GT-01A	19.94	28.94	9.00	1.41	35	1474
Incl.	19.94	20.94	1.00	2.23	26	316
Incl.	21.94	22.94	1.00	2.20	16	846
Incl.	23.94	24.94	1.00	3.05	35	1022
MDI-GT-01A	44.68	46.96	2.28	0.53	32	1750
MDI-GT-01A	53.59	55.59	2.00	0.75	33	4254
MDI-GT-02	18.86	22.86	4.00	1.00	52	1318
Incl.	19.86	21.86	2	2.14	45	1351
MDI-GT-02	30.62	33.62	3.00	1.70	30	2135
Incl.	31.62	32.62	1.00	2.88	8	1786
MDI-GT-02	37.63	40.62	2.99	0.98	40	1872
MDI-GT-02	46.51	62.93	16.42	1.43	33	1999
Incl.	46.93	47.93	1.00	2.20	32	2177
Incl.	51.93	55.93	4.00	2.53	38	1517
MDI-GT-02	84.44	86.44	2.00	0.73	81	2196
MDI-GT-02	97.26	102.17	4.91	1.50	43	2660
ZDD151	184.26	216.77	32.51	1.56	129	1666
Incl.	189.26	190.26	1.00	2.56	156	812
Incl.	196.26	197.26	1.00	2.88	103	1513
Incl.	209.54	210.54	1.00	2.57	154	1130
ZDD151	267.55	283.86	16.31	1.49	95	1851
Incl.	275.55	277.55	2	2.93	67	961
ZDD154	110.30	112.45	2.15	1.18	79	482

*Not True Width but drilled width

**0.50% Li₂O cut-off applied.

The following compositing routine has been applied:

·	0.50% Li2O cut-off was applied to the pegmatitic intersections only.
·	<2m standalone composites at the cut-off grade but with an overall weighted average grade of >0.5% Li2O are not reported.
·	Within any composite of >2m thickness, high-grade intersections of 1m and greater are reported provided the high-grade intersection is a multiple of x 1.5 of the overall weighted composite grade, and
·	Within any composite, inclusions of country rock of <2m thickness are included within the composite provided the overall grade of the composite is not <0.50% Li2O.

The following Table 3 sets out the drill hole collar coordinates for the drill holes reported in Table 1 above:

Table 2 - Drill Holes Collar Coordinates - This RNS

Dhole	UTM 35S* Easting	UTM 35S* Northing	Elevation (AMSL)	Azimuth TN ( ° )	Collar Dip   ( ° )	EOH (m)
ZDD021	751438.462	7783147.247	1339.594	341.44	-60.4	120.48
ZDD047	751352.710	7782103.348	1309.051	26.38	-59.2	160.23
ZDD048	751356.133	7782103.526	1309.026	277.58	-60	160.28
MDI-GT-01A	751464.291	7783279.273	1355.150	200.27	-70.23	150.00
MDI-GT-02	751366.102	7783111.157	1350.944	187.99	-69.84	202.93
ZDD151	750809.107	7782183.866	1326.535	112.8	-49.53	308.54
ZDD154	751077.739	7782108.867	1320.744	291.6	-53.56	291.6

 * ARC1950 Datum (10m local datum shift)

Table 3 - Drilling & Trenching Progress

A summary of the number of drill holes completed both prior to and for the ongoing updated mineral resource estimate as part of the DFS is set out below:

PROGRAMME	No of Drill Holes	Drill Metres (m)	No of Surface Trenches	Trenched Metres (m)
RST (1958)	7	903.90
ZULU - Initial Exploration	6	2,312.90
ZULU - PEA	43	5,809.10
ZULU - Pilot Plant DFS	127	29,134.54	7	832.56
ZULU - DFS (in progress) **	0	0	6	*

* Heavy rains have delayed completion of the trenching programme 
** Resource in-fill drilling scheduled to recommence in March

Table 4 - Analytical Pipeline

A summary of the status of DFS drill core analysis is set out below:

Results received to date (excluding QA/QC samples)	7,853
# QA/QC samples analysed	1,113
Sample pulps at SGS Randfontein awaiting analysis	862
Sample pulps ready to be shipped to SGS	0
Samples being pulped at Antec	392
Ongoing sampling of drill cores/trench samples at site*	0
*Estimate

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

The drill holes are initially sited using a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System device) within the tenement areas. Accurate coordinates and elevations of drill holes collars are subsequently derived from a DGPS (Differential Global Position devices) survey.

Drill cores are geologically logged, intersections of interest are selected are marked-up with unique sample ID assigned before splitting and sampling. Cores are cut in half using a core cutter, individual samples bagged, and sent for analysis.

Alternating Certified Refence Materials (CRM), blank or duplicate samples are inserted every 10^th sample into the sample stream sent to the laboratory to ensure QA/QC compliance. These QA/QC samples are assessed upon receipt of analyses, checked and, if acceptable, accepted into the analytical database. Follow-up with the laboratory is instigated in cases were any QA/QC sample fails the QA/QC parameters.

Currently, drill core samples are crushed and pulverised at the Antec Laboratory, Zimbabwe to 85% passing -75 microns. Sample pulps are inspected for export in Harare by the competent government authorities and couriered to the SGS Laboratory Services in Randfontein, South Africa where pulps are fused with sodium peroxide and analysed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS to report 51-elements. (SGS code ICP90A50 & IMS90A50).

The Geology of Zulu

The area, located in the Fort Rixon Greenstone Belt, is underlain by Archaean-aged meta-volcanics and meta-sedimentary sequences of the Bulawayan Supergroup, with serpentinites and banded iron formations at the base in the east and metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary sequences to the west. The greenstone belt is tear drop shaped measuring 30 km long and 19 km wide near the broad section at the top. Metamorphism is retrograded to Greenschist facies.

The Zulu Pegmatite is a LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) pegmatite swarm which intrudes along the contacts between serpentine and metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary sequences over a strike length of several kilometres. Outcrop widths vary between 10 and 50m. The pegmatite bodies strike N20° and dip 70° to 90° to the west.

The area was first pegged in 1955 by J.S. Willemse and intensely explored, under option, by mapping, trenching and drilling by Rhodesian Selection Trust Co. Ltd. ("RST") in 1958. In 1961 and 1962 a small quantity of petalite from the River Pegmatites (see below) was mined by W. Burchett in partnership with J.S. Willemse. Premier later acquired the claims in 2013.

Recent mapping and interpretation of the pegmatite swarm from semi-quantitative X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) has identified three distinct phases of pegmatites. A spodumene-rich, thick pegmatite named the Main Zone which lies north and south of the Machakwe River, footwall low-spodumene pegmatites with associated tantalum and rubidium and a suite of petalite-bearing pegmatites of short strike length, named the River Pegmatites.

In general, the lithium minerals, occurring in varying quantities, are coarse grained with associated feldspars and quartz with only very minor sulphides being observed. In several contact zones, the lithium-bearing amphibole, holmquistite, has been observed.

Qualified Person

Bruce Cumming, geologist with Premier, has reviewed and approved this release to the extent that reference is made to Zulu. Mr. Cumming is a SACNASP and GSSA registered geoscientist with 46 years' experience in exploration and project management, in multicommodity projects throughout Africa.

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.

The person who arranged the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was George Roach.

Enquiries:

George Roach	Premier African Minerals Limited	Tel: [phone]
Michael Cornish / Roland Cornish	Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser)	Tel: [phone]
John More/Toby Gibbs	Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited	Tel: [phone]

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'' ''could'' "should" ''envisage'' ''estimate'' ''intend'' ''may'' ''plan'' ''will'' or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward looking statements.

Notes to Editors:

Premier African Minerals Limited (AIM: PREM) is a multi-commodity mining and natural resource development company focused on Southern Africa with its RHA Tungsten and Zulu Lithium projects in Zimbabwe.

The Company has a diverse portfolio of projects, which include tungsten, rare earth elements, lithium and tantalum in Zimbabwe and lithium and gold in Mozambique, encompassing brownfield projects with near-term production potential to grass-roots exploration. The Company has a ccepted a share offer by Vortex Limited ("Vortex") for the exchange of Premier's entire 4.8% interest in Circum Minerals Limited  ("Circum"), the owners of the Danakil Potash Project in Ethiopia, for a 13.1% interest in the enlarged share capital of Vortex. Vortex has an interest of 36.7% in Circum .

In addition, the Company holds a 19% interest in MN Holdings Limited, the operator of the Otjozondu Manganese Mining Project in Namibia.

Glossary of Technical Terms:
"amphibole"	A class of rock-forming silicate or aluminosilicate minerals typically occurring as fibrous or columnar crystals.
"Banded Iron Formation (BIF)"	A sedimentary rock consisting of alternating layers of iron oxides and iron-poor chert.
"DFS"	Definitive Feasibility Study.
"Greenschist facies"	The Greenschist facies is at low pressure and temperature. The facies is named for the typical schistose texture of the rocks and green colour of the minerals chlorite, epidote and actinolite.
"feldspar"	An aluminosilicate mineral consisting of potassium, sodium, and calcium.
"Holmquistite"	A lithium-bearing amphibole related to hornblende with a formula as (Na,K,Ca)Li(Mg,Fe)3Al2Si8O22(OH)2.
"ICP-OES"	Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy.
"ICP-MS"	Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
"Lepidolite"	A pink to lavender coloured lithium bearing mineral (KLi 2 Al(Si 4 O 10 )(F,OH) 2 ).
"Li to Li2O"	x 2.153.
"Li"	Lithium.
"Li2O"	Lithium Oxide (Lithia) - an inorganic lithium compound used to assess lithium minerals.
"m"	Meters.
"meta-sediments"	Sedimentary rocks that have been metamorphosed.
"meta-volcanics"	Volcanic rocks that have been metamorphosed.
"PEA"	Preliminary Economic Study
"Petalite"	A white coloured lithium bearing mineral (LiAl(Si 4 O 10 )).
"ppm"	Parts per million.
"Rb"	Rubidium.
"SC6"	Is a high-purity lithium ore with approximately 6 percent lithium content being produced as a raw material for the subsequent production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles
"serpentinite"	A dark, typically greenish metamorphic rock, consisting of serpentine or related minerals, formed when mafic igneous rocks are altered.
"Spodumene"	A white to pink coloured lithium bearing mineral (LiAlSi 2 O 6 ).
"Ta to Ta2O5"	x 1.221.
"Ta"	Tantalum.
"X-Ray Diffraction"	X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a widely used technique to assess the mineral assemblage, crystallinity and structure of rocks, cores etc.

LITHIUM CLASSIFICATION AND CONVERSION FACTORS

Lithium grades are normally presented in percentages or ppm. Grades of deposits are also expressed as lithium compounds in percentages, for example as a percent lithium oxide (Li ₂ O) content. The standard conversion factors are set out in the table below:

Table: Conversion Factors for Lithium Compounds and Minerals

Convert from		Convert to Li	Convert to Li 2 O
Lithium	Li	1.000	2.153
Lithium Oxide	Li 2 O	0.464	1.000

 
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