Pan African
Resources PLC
(Incorporated and registered in
England and Wales under Companies Act 1985 with registered
number 3937466 on 25 February
2000)
AIM Code: PAF
JSE Code: PAN
ISIN: GB0004300496
(“Pan African” or the
“Company” or the “Group”)
UPDATE ON
BARBERTON MINES’ ROYAL SHEBA PROJECT (“ROYAL SHEBA”)
Shareholders are referred to previous announcements relating to
Royal Sheba, specifically, the announcement of 6 September 2018 pertaining to the update on the
exploration drilling programme and the Mineral Resource Estimate
(“MRE”). The Group has finalised the exploration drilling
programme on the Royal Sheba project and can now provide an updated
MRE, signed off by an independent mining consultant - SRK
Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd
(“SRK”) in accordance with the South African Code for the
Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resource and Mineral
Reserve, 2016 edition (the “SAMREC Code”). The exploration
results have exceeded expectations and the salient features of the
updated MRE are as follows:
-
Royal Sheba’s total Mineral Resources declared and independently
signed off by SRK at 0.8Moz (8.97Mt at 2.62g/t);
-
A 6% increase in the near surface Mineral Resource from 0.35Moz
(2.84Mt at 3.81g/t) to 0.37Moz (5.85Mt at 1.96g/t). The updated MRE
is considered conservative, exhibiting a high level of confidence,
and the Company believes there is further exploration upside;
-
The near surface Mineral Resource of 0.37Moz is conducive to
open-pit mining;
-
The Royal Sheba Project’s near surface drilling programme (Phase
1, 2 and 3, totalling 4,311.6m of
drilling) confirms robust mineralisation extending from the surface
along a 900m strike and 150m down dip of the Royal Sheba orebody;
-
Summarised drilling results confirms the mineralisation ranges
in a width from 5m to 25m with in-situ gold grades ranging
between 0.5g/t to 376g/t and averaging 3.14g/t;
-
The underground Mineral Resource is delineated at 0.39Moz
(3.12Mt at 3.87g/t) and;
-
The Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) undertaken by
DRA Global (Pty) Ltd (“DRA”) is progressing well and is
expected to be completed in February
2019.
The Company has commenced an extended exploration drilling
programme at Barberton Mines’ mining right at New Consort Mines,
targeting the Main Maiden Reef (“MMR”) orebody as a
potential satellite deposit for the Royal Sheba project.
Pan African CEO Cobus Loots commented:
“Pan African is very pleased with the
outcome of our in-fill drilling programme and the updated Mineral
Resource Estimate for the Royal Sheba Project. The drilling
programme has confirmed that the orebody extends to surface, with
the potential to establish a new open pit mining operation, which
will transition to an underground mining operation only after a
number of years. The scale and grade of the Royal Sheba Mineral
Resource gives us confidence to advance the near-surface mineral
resource to a definitive feasibility study status, which DRA is
currently undertaking, with this full study expected in
February 2019.
We are excited by the further
prospectivity of our mining lease specifically New Consort, where
drilling has recently commenced to identify similar near-surface
mineral resources at the Main Maiden Reef orebody, targeting 0.2Moz
to 0.3Moz at an in-situ grade of between 2g/t and 4g/t.
Royal Sheba’s opencast has the
potential to sustainably increase production from our flagship
Barberton operations at a very competitive cost, further bolstering
Pan African’s low cost, long-life asset portfolio. In conjunction
with the feasibility process, we have commenced work on planning
and permitting. We look forward to working with all stakeholders in
advancing this project, to the benefit of all our stakeholders –
including our shareholders, the Mpumalanga province and the greater
Barberton area.”
MRE results
Project geology
The Royal Sheba orebody is associated and aligned along the
prominent regional shear zone of the Sheba Fault, within the
north-western quadrant of the Archaean - aged Barberton Greenstone
Belt. The Sheba Fault juxtaposes the Fig Tree Group’s deep marine
sediments, namely the greywacke and banded chert and carbonatised
shale in the Ulundi Syncline, adjacent to the shallow marine
sediments of the Moodies Group in the Eureka Syncline.
The mineralisation of the Royal Sheba orebody is encapsulated in
a shear envelope of the Sheba Fault, ranging in width from
5m to 25m. The gold mineralisation occurs predominantly
in sulphide minerals and as native gold. In-situ gold grades
range up to 376g/t averaging 3.14g/t. The Royal Sheba orebody has a
potential strike length of more than 900m and the down dip extension has been drill
tested to a depth of 600m and remains
open. The Royal Sheba orebody is therefore open ended along strike
and down dip.
Drilling results
Drillhole Number |
Intersection depth downhole (m) |
Intersection depth below collar (m) |
Full composite |
Significant intersection |
Corrected intersected width
(m) |
Average grade intersected (g/t) |
Corrected intersected
width
(m) |
Average grade intersected (g/t) |
RSPE001 |
34.75 |
31.49 |
11.50 |
3.38 |
0.65 |
19.16 |
RSPE002 |
56.63 |
51.32 |
9.89 |
2.53 |
3.28 |
5.10 |
RSPE003 |
24.34 |
22.06 |
12.94 |
0.91 |
1.36 |
2.31 |
RSPE004 |
47.32 |
42.89 |
6.28 |
1.36 |
0.62 |
5.96 |
RSPE005 |
26.34 |
23.87 |
15.59 |
1.91 |
0.34 |
9.96 |
RSPE006 |
35.02 |
31.74 |
8.77 |
1.41 |
3.50 |
2.98 |
RSPE007 |
26.73 |
24.23 |
14.17 |
1.38 |
2.13 |
5.45 |
RSPE008 |
6.97 |
6.32 |
13.60 |
3.17 |
1.81 |
12.79 |
RSPE009 |
69.56 |
63.04 |
11.48 |
6.10 |
1.73 |
30.43 |
RSPE010 |
25.54 |
23.15 |
8.01 |
0.63 |
1.00 |
2.12 |
RSPE011 |
38.70 |
35.07 |
8.33 |
0.72 |
1.05 |
1.83 |
RSPE012 |
24.05 |
19.70 |
24.05 |
1.53 |
2.42 |
6.35 |
RSPE013 |
67.91 |
61.55 |
10.97 |
2.67 |
5.96 |
3.37 |
RSPE014 |
42.88 |
35.13 |
7.83 |
1.50 |
3.80 |
2.51 |
RSPE015 |
60.23 |
13.55 |
8.51 |
0.62 |
1.60 |
2.32 |
RSPE016 |
84.59 |
10.31 |
13.85 |
1.38 |
3.11 |
3.12 |
RSPE017 |
68.87 |
49.54 |
15.98 |
0.84 |
1.83 |
2.22 |
RSPE018 |
105.10 |
89.13 |
21.54 |
0.25 |
0.91 |
1.01 |
RSPE019 |
56.96 |
18.54 |
18.60 |
0.47 |
0.30 |
4.97 |
RSPE020 |
92.54 |
67.68 |
8.84 |
0.33 |
1.23 |
1.71 |
RSPE026* |
153.55 |
26.66 |
6.27 |
0.52 |
1.93 |
1.07 |
RSPF001 |
105.00 |
95.16 |
4.32 |
0.68 |
1.07 |
1.37 |
RSPF004 |
54.10 |
49.03 |
9.54 |
0.20 |
0.39 |
1.00 |
RSPF005 |
45.50 |
41.24 |
7.52 |
0.15 |
0.29 |
0.76 |
RSPF006 |
53.73 |
48.70 |
8.73 |
0.35 |
0.31 |
1.32 |
RSPF010* |
110.22 |
99.89 |
32.62 |
0.13 |
0.35 |
0.82 |
RSPF011* |
98.30 |
89.09 |
1.76 |
0.39 |
0.37 |
0.76 |
RSPF012* |
150.73 |
136.61 |
8.07 |
0.20 |
0.76 |
0.77 |
RSPF014* |
137.98 |
125.05 |
6.86 |
0.64 |
0.75 |
2.85 |
RSPF016* |
74.53 |
67.55 |
8.10 |
0.23 |
0.40 |
0.32 |
* Drill holes not incorporated into the updated MRE due to the
assaying results being released after completion of the MRE. The
assay results of an additional nine drill holes’ assay results are
still outstanding. All drill hole results will be incorporated into
the annual Mineral Resource update. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The in-fill drilling programme of 4,311.6m (Phase 1, 2 and 3) comprising 39 drill
holes was completed in November 2018.
The 25 drill-hole results presented above were used in the updated
MRE, confirming robust mineralisation extending from surface over a
strike length of more than 900m at
grades above economic break-even concentrations (0.5g/t).
Mineral Resource
SRK audited the updated geological model and MRE for the Royal
Sheba Project and is of the opinion that the Mineral Resource
statement, as tabulated below, effective 27
November 2018, is a reasonable representation of the
in-situ grade, tonnage and metal content as contained in the
mineralised envelope. Mr. Ivan Doku,
who is responsible for the audit on behalf of SRK, has signed off
on the Mineral Resource statement below.
The following new Mineral Resource tabulation has been reported
from the 3D geological model and resource block model, using a
0.5g/t cut-off grade for near-surface ore (within a ZAR 600 000 per kilogram of gold Whittle pit
shell at a revenue factor of 1.5) and 1.7g/t for down-dip
extensions to be mined from underground workings. The underground
Mineral Resource excludes a 30m crown
pillar beneath the pit and is reported within the modelled
mineralisation envelope based on current drill holes available.
|
|
|
Contained gold |
As at
30 June 2018 |
Category |
Tonnes |
Grade |
Tonnes |
Ounces |
(Million) |
(g/t) |
(Gold) |
(K’oz) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open-pit Mineral Resource (0.5g/t cut-off) |
Measured |
3.10 |
2.10 |
6.52 |
210 |
Indicated |
2.32 |
1.84 |
4.28 |
138 |
Inferred |
0.43 |
1.56 |
0.67 |
22 |
Total |
5.85 |
1.96 |
11.47 |
369 |
Underground Mineral Resource (1.7g/t cut-off) |
Measured |
0.95 |
3.62 |
3.45 |
111 |
Indicated |
1.52 |
4.24 |
6.46 |
208 |
Inferred |
0.64 |
3.38 |
2.16 |
69 |
Total |
3.12 |
3.87 |
12.07 |
388 |
Resources |
Total |
8.97 |
2.62 |
23.54 |
757 |
Mineral Resources are reported in accordance to the South
African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC) Code. Mineral Resources
would be the same if it is reported according to the guidelines of
the Canadian Institute of Mining’s (CIM) National Instrument
43-101. Cut-off values are calculated at 0.5g/t and 1.7g/t for
open-pit and underground Resources, respectively, applying a gold
price of ZAR 600 000/kg (USD 1 435/oz and ZAR 13.00/1 USD).
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Open-pit Mineral Resources are reported within an optimised ZAR
600 000 per kg Au pit shell with a revenue factor of 1.5. All
Mineral Resources reported exclude geological structures and a
crown pillar of 30m below the
open-pit shell. Mineral Resources are reported as in-situ tonnes.
Any discrepancies in totals are due to rounding. Additional effects
of geological, mining and recovery losses have been considered in
the cut-off grade calculations.
Exploration
The Company has achieved its objective of generating 0.37Moz
(5.85Mt and 1.96g/t) near-surface Mineral Resources for the Royal
Sheba Project and is now exploring the Jamestown Shear Zone, within
the New Consort mining right for near-surface Mineral Resources.
The exploration team is excited to advance the prospective MMR
orebody at New Consort. This brownfield project targets
near-surface mineral resource definition drilling to yield between
0.2Moz to 0.3Moz, at grades between 2g/t and 4g/t.
The exploration programme comprises of two phases. Phase 1
drilling commenced on 13 November
2018 and will comprise 10 drill holes, totalling
1,035m, testing 600m of strike length and 200m of dip extension of the MMR orebody and the
associated Consort Bar. Phase 2 will comprise a further 11
drill holes, totalling 1,350m, which
will test a further 500m of westerly
strike and dip extension of the MMR deposit.
Several historic satellite deposits have also been identified in
the Jamestown Shear Zone and Sheba
Hills namely the Bluejackets, Betty, Hard Cash and No. 3
Shaft orebodies, as well as Clutha, Golden
Quarry, Oriental Quarry, Eureka, Margaret and Sheba West for resource definition
drilling.
Next steps
A DFS for the development of the Royal Sheba Project is being
undertaken by DRA which is progressing well and is expected to be
completed in February 2019. Pan
African has also started with the process of obtaining the
regulatory permitting required for the project.
The information contained in this announcement has not been
reviewed or reported on by Pan African’s auditors and is the
responsibility of the directors of Pan African.
The competent person for the Mineral Resource is Mr Hendrik Pretorius, the Group Project Geologist,
who signs off the Mineral Resources for Evander Mines and Barberton Mines Limited. He is
a member of the South African Council for Scientific Professions
(400051/11 – Management Enterprise Building, Mark Shuttleworth Street, Innovation Hub,
Pretoria, Gauteng Province,
South Africa), as well as a member
in good standing of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA – CSIR Mining Precinct,
Corner Rustenburg and Carlow Roads, Melville, Gauteng Province,
South Africa). Mr Pretorius has 15
years of experience in economic geology and mineral resource
management (MRM). Mr Pretorius holds a BSc. (Hons) degree in
Geology from the University of Johannesburg as well as a Graduate Diploma in
Engineering (GDE) from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is
based at The Firs Office Building, 2nd Floor, Office 204, Cnr.
Cradock and Biermann Avenues, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr Pretorius has
confirmed in writing that he has reviewed the information disclosed
in this announcement, which is compliant with section 12 of the JSE
Listings Requirements and Table 1 of the SAMREC Code, and that it
may be published in the form and context in which it is
intended.
For further information on Pan African, please visit the
Company’s website at www.panafricanresources.com
30 November 2018
Contact
information |
Corporate Office
The Firs Office Building
1st Floor, Office 101
Cnr. Cradock and Biermann Avenues
Rosebank, Johannesburg
South Africa
Office: + 27 (0) 11 243 2900
Facsimile: + 27 (0) 11 880 1240 |
Registered Office
Suite 31
Second Floor
107 Cheapside
London
EC2V 6DN
United Kingdom
Office: + 44 (0) 207 796 8644 |
Cobus
Loots
Pan African Resources PLC
Chief Executive Officer
Office: + 27 (0) 11 243
2900 |
Deon Louw
Pan African Resources PLC
Financial Director
Office: + 27 (0) 11 243 2900 |
Phil Dexter
St James's Corporate Services Limited
Company Secretary
Office: + 44 (0) 207 796 8644 |
John Prior / Paul
Gillam
Numis Securities Limited
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
Office: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 |
Taryn Carter
One Capital
JSE Sponsor
Office: + 27 (0) 11 550 5000 |
Ross Allister/James
Bavister/David McKeown
Peel Hunt LLP
Joint Broker
Office: +44 (0) 207 418 8900 |
Julian Gwillim
Aprio Strategic Communications
Public & Investor Relations SA
Office: +27 (0)11 880
0037 |
Jeffrey Couch/ /Thomas
Rider
BMO Capital Markets Limited
Joint Broker
Office: +44 (0) 207 236 1010 |
Bobby
Morse
Buchanan
Public & Investor Relations UK
Office: +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Email: PAF@buchanan.uk.com |
Website:
www.panafricanresources.com |
Glossary of technical terms:
Au |
Chemical symbol for gold |
Cut-off Grade |
The lowest grade value that is
included in a resource statement |
Grade |
The proportion of a mineral within a
rock or other material. For gold mineralisation this is usually
reported as grams of gold per tonne of rock (g/t) |
g/t |
Grams per tonne |
Indicated Mineral Resource |
That part of a mineral resource for
which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade
and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of
confidence. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing
information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations
such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The
locations are too widely or inappropriately spaced to confirm
geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely enough
for continuity to be assumed |
Inferred Mineral Resource |
That part of a mineral resource for
which tonnage, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a
low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence
and assumed but not verified geological and/or grade continuity. It
is based on information gathered through appropriate techniques
from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill
holes that may be limited, or of uncertain quality and
reliability |
Life of Mine |
The time in which, through the
employment of the available capital, the ore reserves--or such
reasonable extension of the ore reserves as conservative geological
analysis may justify--will be extracted. |
M |
Metre |
Mineral Resource |
A concentration or occurrence of
material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such a
form, quality, and quantity that there are reasonable and realistic
prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity,
grade, continuity and other geological characteristics of a Mineral
Resource are known, estimated from specific geological knowledge,
or interpreted from a well constrained and portrayed geological
model |
Measured Resource |
That part of a Mineral Resource for
which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade
and mineral content can be estimated with a high level of
confidence. It is based on detailed and reliable exploration,
sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate
techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits,
workings and drill holes. The locations are spaced closely
enough to confirm geological and grade continuity |
Moz |
Million troy ounces |
Orebody |
Mining term to de?ne a solid mass of
mineralised rock which can be mined pro?tably under current or
immediately foreseeable economic conditions. "Ore" a mineral
deposit that can be extracted and marketed profitably |
Ore Reserves |
The economically mineable part of a
Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a
Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate
information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and
other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting,
that economic extraction can be justified. A Mineral Reserve
includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may
occur when the material is mined |
Ounce / oz |
Troy ounce, equivalent to 31.103477
grams |
Probable Mineral Reserve |
The economically mineable part of an
Indicated and, in some circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource
demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This
Study must include adequate information on mining, processing,
metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that
demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can
be justified |
Proven Mineral Reserve |
The economically mineable part of a
Measured Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary
Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on
mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant
factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic
extraction is justified |
t |
Tonne (1-million grams) |