Riley DSO Project on hold but remains ready and well positioned should future iron ore prices support a production decision
Introduction
The September Quarter saw Venture complete reconnaissance exploration over the Company's first two granted prospects namely 'Pak Yang' and 'Thali'. The two prospects are located in the highly prospective Loei Belt, in north eastern Thailand, host to world class copper and gold deposits.
During the Quarter the Company received surface sampling results from the Thali Prospect. Results from the initial programs have delineated a significant and high grade copper/lead/silver system. The newly identified system hosts particularly high grade silver and lead, with grades peaking at 1,860g/t and 27% respectively. The mineralized zone has been defined over 300m of strike and remains open to the north and south.
Venture continues to implement a series of substantial cost cutting measures including up to a 60% voluntary salary reductions for directors, management and staff. This strategy has seen the Company maintain a strong financial position, with cash at the end of the Quarter equating to $3.2m.
During the Quarter the Company continued to keep the Riley DSO Project on hold due to the sharp fall in iron ore prices over the past 12 months. However, the Company has completed extensive pre-production work at the Riley Project affording Venture the opportunity to commence production, on relatively short notice, should future iron ore prices support a production decision.
Venture Minerals Limited
PO BOX 8234 Subiaco East WA 6008 288 Churchill Avenue Subiaco WA 6008
Telephone: +61 8 9381 4222
Fax: +61 8 9381 4211
ACN 119 678 385
ABN 51 119 678 385
Venture Fast Facts
ASX Code: VMS
Shares on Issue: 287 million Market Cap: $6.3 million Current Cash: $3.2 million (30 Sept 2015)
Recent Announcements
Venture confirms high grade copper/lead/silver | Thali Prospect (22/10/2015)
First pass exploration identifies rock chip assay 296g/t Silver
| Thali Prospect, Thailand (08/09/2015)
Riley DSO Project Approvals Upheld (26/06/2015)
Copper Prospects Granted in Southeast Asia (18/05/2015)
Exploration success defines additional target | Mt Lindsay (19/11/2014)
EM defines New Targets (23/10/2014)
Riley DSO Project Update (19/08/2014)
Mining Lease Granted - Mt Lindsay Tin/Tungsten Project (03/07/2014)
Riley DSO Project Update (11/06/2014)
Riley DSO Project Appeal Lodged to Federal Court
Judgement (06/06/2014)
Riley DSO Project
Federal Court Challenge Dismissed (16/05/2014)
Federal Environment Minister Approves Riley DSO Project (05/08/13)
Capital Items Secured and Mining Contract Signed
(02/07/13)
Riley DSO Project Receives EPA Approval and Conditions (16/05/13)
W: www.ventureminerals.com.au E: [email protected]
Mt Lindsay Project, North West Tasmania
Introduction
The Mt Lindsay Project (148km2) is located in north-western Tasmania (refer to Figure 1) within the contact metamorphic aureole of the highly perspective Meredith Granite. The project sits between the world class Renison Bell Tin Mine (Metals X Ltd/Yunnan Tin Group>231kt of tin metal produced since 1968) and the Savage River Magnetite Mine (operating for > 45 years, currently producing approximately 2.5 Mtpa of iron pellets). Mt Lindsay has excellent access to existing infrastructure including hydro-power, water, sealed roads, rail and port facilities.
Venture owns 100% of the tenure that hosts both the Mt Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Deposit and all of the surrounding prospects.
Figure 1 | Location Map for Mt Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Deposit/Riley DSO Deposit/Livingstone DSO Deposit
Since commencing exploration on the project in 2007, Venture has completed approximately 83,000m of Diamond core drilling at Mt Lindsay and defined JORC compliant Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources.
Tin-Tungsten Resources
Table 1 | Tin-Tungsten Resources October 2012
Lower Cut (Tin equiv)
|
Category
|
Tonnes
|
Tin Equiv. Grade
|
Tin Grade
|
Tungsten Grade (WO3)
|
Mass Recovery of Magnetic Iron (Fe) Grade
|
Copper Grade
|
Contained Tin Metal (tonnes)
|
Contained Tin/ Tungsten Metal (tonnes)
|
0.20%
|
Measured
|
8.1Mt
|
0.6%
|
0.2%
|
0.1%
|
17%
|
0.1%
|
18,000
|
29,000
|
Indicated
|
17Mt
|
0.4%
|
0.2%
|
0.1%
|
15%
|
0.1%
|
32,000
|
43,000
|
Inferred
|
20Mt
|
0.4%
|
0.2%
|
0.1%
|
17%
|
0.1%
|
32,000
|
41,000
|
TOTAL
|
45Mt
|
0.4%
|
0.2%
|
0.1%
|
17%
|
0.1%
|
81,000
|
113,000
|
0.45%
|
Measured
|
4.3Mt
|
0.8%
|
0.3%
|
0.2%
|
18%
|
0.1%
|
12,000
|
22,000
|
Indicated
|
5.2Mt
|
0.7%
|
0.3%
|
0.2%
|
15%
|
0.1%
|
14,000
|
22,000
|
Inferred
|
3.9Mt
|
0.6%
|
0.3%
|
0.1%
|
9%
|
0.1%
|
12,000
|
17,000
|
TOTAL
|
13Mt
|
0.7%
|
0.3%
|
0.2%
|
14%
|
0.1%
|
38,000
|
61,000
|
Note: Reporting to two significant figures. Figures have been rounded and hence may not add up exactly to the given totals. Full details of the estimate are in the ASX announcement for the Quarterly Report on 17 October 2012.
Notes:
-
The Sn equivalent formula used to calculate the Sn equivalent values for the Main and No.2 Skarns is as follows: Sn Equivalent (%) = Sn% + (WO3% x 1.90459) + (mass recovery % of magnetic Fe x 0.006510) + (Cu% x 0.28019). Whereas for the Sn equivalent formula used to calculate the Sn equivalent values for the Stanley River South and Reward Skarns is as follows: Sn Equivalent (%) = Sn% + (WO3% x 1.65217) + (Cu% x 0.34783).
-
The mass recovery of the magnetic iron is determined mostly by Davis Tube Results ('DTR').
-
The Sn equivalent formulae uses a tin metal price of US$23,000/t, an APT (Ammonium Para Tungstate) price of US$380/mtu (1mtu
=10kgs of WO3), a magnetite concentrate price of US$110/t and a copper metal price of US$8,000/t.
-
Pilot scale metallurgical testwork has been completed on the Main and No.2 Skarns with results indicating the metallurgical recovery for tin is 72%, for WO3 is 83%, for iron in the form of magnetite is 98% and for copper is 58%. The results of this testwork are stated in the ASX announcement of August 31 2012.
-
It is the Company's opinion that the tin, WO3 and copper as included in the metal equivalent calculations for the Stanley River South and Reward Skarns have a reasonable potential to be recovered for when the Mt Lindsay Project goes into production.