Global projects and exploration
Australia Favourable geology intersected
Great Western Exploration has reached the mid-point of its initial greenfields drilling of the May Queen gold-in-soil anomaly at Yandal West Gold Project in Western Australia . To date 22 reverse circulation ( RC ) holes for 2 097m have been completed .
Favourable geology that is commonly associated with Archaean greenstone hosted gold mineralisation was intersected in most of the holes . This includes significant amounts of quartz veining and alteration . Importantly , the favourable geology was intersected in the three consecutive lines that were completed along a 2km strike .
The drill samples will be received by the laboratory today and they will endeavor to turn the results around as quickly as possible . The company anticipates assay results to be received in the next two to three weeks . Once these initial assay results have been received , drilling is scheduled to re-commence with an additional 1 500m drilling planned .
South Africa Sibanye-Stillwater signs wage agreement
Sibanye-Stillwater has signed a threeyear wage agreement with all three unions at its Kroondal platinum group metals ( PGM ) operations in South Africa .
According to the company the agreement is effective from 1 July 2017 and includes a R1 000 a month increase year-on-year for the next three years for category B employees ( lower category employees ) with CPI related increases for the next three years for category A employees .
Medical aid subsidies will also increase from R300 by R50 a month year-on-year for three years for category A and B employees . The increase represents an average escalation of about 7 % in the wage bill for the Kroondal operations .
“ It was pleasing to note the acceptance of the wage agreement by all the unions namely the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union ( AMCU ), the National Union of Mineworkers ( NUM ) and Solidarity . These unions have acted in the interest of their members to protect jobs and at the same time considered the sustainable future of the Kroondal operations ,” says Neal Froneman , CEO of Sibanye-Stilwater .
Mexico Rock chips return exciting results
ASX listed Consolidated Zinc has discovered further high-grade zinc mineralisation 2.5km along strike from the Plomosas underground mine at its project in northern Mexico .
First pass rock chip sampling at the Alfonsitos prospect returned exciting results with grades up to 18.53 % and 24.34 % Zinc ( Zn ) and Lead ( Pb ) from workings and 15.05 % Zn + Pb from outcrop .
Alfonsitos is the first of several prospects identified by reconnaissance exploration and geophysical surveys previously reported by Consolidated Zinc in 2016 .
“ The ongoing regional exploration in proximity to the existing underground mine continues to reveal promising results ,” says managing director , Will Dix .
“ The Alfonsitos area , north-west of the current Plomosas mine , has the same geological setting to the mine itself and displays a similar style of mineralisation at surface . This provides further encouragement that there is potential for significant new discoveries and additional resource tonnes at Alfonsitos and within the existing tenement portfolio .
“ Our immediate intention is to move straight to exploration drilling at Alfonsitos to determine the extent of the surface mineralisation at depth and continue assessment of other prospects identified within the region ,” adds Dix .
Germany Licence issued for lithium project
BCN ’ s jointly controlled entity , Deutsche Lithium ( 50 % BCN with an option to acquire the remaining 50 %), has been granted a mining licence covering 256.5 hectares of its Zinnwald Lithium Project which is in southern Saxony , Germany , close to the key German automotive and downstream lithium chemical industries .
The 30-year licence has been issued by the Saxony State Mining Authority ( Sächsisches Oberbergamt ) in accordance with § 8 of the German Mining Act ( Bundesberggesetz ). Zinnwald is in a granite hosted Sn / W / Li belt that has been mined historically for tin , tungsten and lithium .
Recent testwork on Zinnwald concentrates has shown that several downstream lithium products can be produced from the Zinnwald ores , utilising chemicals and infrastructure available in the Dresden area .
[ 10 ] MINING MIRROR JANUARY 2018