ALBA MINERAL RESOURCES PLC Surface drilling has recommenced
Processing of small bulk sample at a third-party processing facility has validated the Company's process flowsheet and confirmed the production of a 20.7 grams per tonne gold concentrate
The Company's dedicated pilot processing plant is expected to be operational in the week commencing
George Frangeskides, Alba's Executive Chairman, commented : 'We are very pleased to report that the independent bench-scale testing has validated our process flow-sheet for Clogau ore, as well as confirming the production of a gold concentrate with good recoveries of gold to concentrate. This gives us great encouragement as we near the commencement of operation of our own dedicated pilot processing plant.'
'Surface drilling has restarted after the Christmas break. While drill hole LL004 encountered difficult ground, this is part and parcel of exploration drilling. As announced on
Surface Drilling
The Company's Phase 1 Surface Drilling campaign at the Mine has recommenced. Drill hole LL004 was drilled to 62.4 metres, but due to difficult ground conditions encountered, the end of the hole was called before the hole had intersected the expected quartz zone. The Company's drilling contractors are currently preparing the drill collar for LL005. The trajectory of LL005 will be steeper (-55-degree) to obtain a deeper lode intersection around 20 metres below the intersections obtained in LL001-003.
Pilot Processing Plant
Final minor adjustments and tests are being carried out in respect of the Company's pilot gold processing plant, and the Company accordingly expects to be able to commence processing the 36 tonne bulk sample collected in September-
A small amount of bulk sample material was sent by the Company to an independent laboratory for bench-scale testing, in order to validate the process flowsheet which has been designed by the Company for ore having the particular characteristics of Clogau ore. The Company is pleased to report that the bench-scale testing was successful. In particular: good gold recoveries were achieved, with 78.06% of the total gold content being captured in the Gravity concentrate plus Concentrate 1 of the Gravity tailings fractions and a gold concentrate was produced, grading 20.7 grams per tonne.
The Company is pleased to confirm, therefore, that the independent bench-scale testwork undertaken has confirmed that a gold concentrate can be produced from the bulk sample with good recoveries of gold to concentrate.
Processing of the bulk sample at the Company's pilot processing plant is expected to be ongoing throughout much of Q1 2021. The Company does not expect to be in a position to release results until all processing has been completed and the results have been verified.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from working in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, uncertainties also exist in connection with the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which may result in further lockdown measures and restrictions being imposed by Governments and other competent regulatory bodies and agencies from time to time in response to the pandemic, which measures and restrictions may prevent or inhibit the Company from executing its work activities according to the timelines set out in this announcement or indeed from executing its work activities at all. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may also affect the Company's ability to execute its work activities due to personnel and contractors testing positive for COVID-19 or otherwise being required to self-isolate from time to time.
Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.
Contact:
George Frangeskides
Tel: +44 20 3950 0725
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