KEFI UPDATE 31 JAN 07
KEFI Minerals plc
27-28 Eastcastle Street London W1W 8DH United Kingdom
Tel: +90 232 381 9431
Fax: +90 232 381 9071
Email: [email protected]
4 March 2015
KEFI Minerals plc
("KEFI" or the "Company")
EXPLORATION UPDATE - SAUDI ARABIA
KEFI Minerals (KEFI), the gold exploration and development company with projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is pleased to report the latest exploration results in Saudi Arabia. KEFI is the operator of the Company's 40%-owned Gold & Minerals Joint Venture ("G&M").
HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT RESULTS Jibal Qutman:
Ongoing drill and trench results at the recently discovered Red Hill prospect continue to expand the zone of
mineralisation, with best results including:
17m at 2.65 g/t Au and 14m at 1.00 g/t Au from drilling
24m at 1.90 g/t Au, 20m at 2.92 g/t Au and 26m at 2.23 g/t Au from trenching; and
34m at 1.41 g/t Au from rock chips along channels.
The trenching results extend the Red Hill zone of mineralisation by 600m, to 1,600m long
Extension drilling at the 3K Hill prospect returned best results of 13m at 1.12 g/t Au and 9m at 1.72 g/t Au
Trenching at 4K Hill returned best results of 24m at 1.90 g/t Au (including 4m at 5.12 g/t Au)
Mineral resources (non JORC-compliant) at 15 December 2014 stand at 201,237 ounces at 0.93 g/t Au within the oxidised zone, with an additional 428,711 ounces at 0.90 g/t Au in the deeper sulphide ore which
could potentially be mined at a stage subsequent to the contemplated heap leach (HL) project
Diamond drilling for (HL) metallurgical testwork has been completed in four of the prospects and the HL
simulations are underway at ALS-Ammtec in Perth, with results expected in Q2 2015
Hawiah:
Following the granting of the Hawiah Exploration Licence ("Hawiah EL") in December 2014, a first pass trenching program has been completed. A total of 53 trenches have been excavated over a 6km long gossanous horizon which is thought to overlie volcanogenic massive sulphide copper-gold style of mineralization
From results received to date, almost all trenches contained anomalous gold, including 6m at 2.22 g/t Au,
2m at 8.69 g/t Au, 6m at 1.94 g/t Au, 3m at 5.76 g/t Au, 2m at 7.54 g/t Au and 8m at 3.04 g/t Au
A self-potential (SP) geophysical survey has commenced to identify metals at depth. Initial survey results indicate the presence of a low resistivity anomaly directly below the gossans and a parallel anomaly 200m further east. An induced polarization (IP) survey will test the SP anomalies in preparation for deeper Diamond drill testing
The foregoing results serve the following business plan objectives: Jibal Qutman:
To assemble sufficient mineral resources (c. 250,000 ounces Au in oxidised material) at surface to justify the staged development of a series of shallow open pits and processing by HL methods
To demonstrate economic metallurgical recovery by the HL process. Surface trench samples demonstrated fast leach kinetics and +90% gold recovery in 2014 bottle-roll test work. Testing is now being performed on oxides in drill core down to 40-50m depths using column leaching
To initiate a bankable feasibility study in 2015 to develop a low-cost HL mining operation
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To permit regional Exploration Licence Applications ("ELAs") which have high prospectivity for additional resources
To develop Jibal Qutman as an opportunity to self-fund:
the capex to build a carbon-in-leach processing plant for the deeper sulphide ore; and
the Company's program of exploring G&M's large portfolio of targets as part of the development of a strong Saudi mining operation for the long term.
Hawiah:
To demonstrate the potential for economic gold resources at surface (in the gossan)
To apply geophysical techniques to identify large base metal (copper, gold and zinc) targets at depth
To then follow through with targeted drilling programs within this second of the Company's two mineral provinces in Saudi Arabia
Jeff Rayner, Exploration Director of KEFI Minerals, commented:
"We are pleased to report good progress at both licences in Saudi Arabia. At Jibal Qutman, we keep adding ounces that have real potential for development in the short term and, at the other Saudi region where we are active, Hawiah, our initial exploration has confirmed that the 6km-long gossanous zone is enriched in gold and the mineralisation has good continuity. This is also an affirmation of establishing our operating platforms within the highly prospective Arabian Nubian Shield. Excellent progress in Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia pave the way for us to judiciously pursue larger regional targets over the longer term."
KEFI Minerals plc
Harry Anagnostaras-Adams (Executive Chairman) +357 99457843
Jeffrey Rayner (Exploration Director) +90 533 928 1913
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Adviser)
Ewan Leggat, Katy Birkin +44 20 3470 0470
Brandon Hill Capital Ltd (Broker)
Oliver Stansfield, Alex Walker, Jonathan Evans +44 207 936 5200
Luther Pendragon (Financial PR)
Harry Chathli, Claire Norbury, Oliver Hibberd +44 207 618 9100
Further information can be viewed on KEFI's website at www.kefi-minerals.com
References in this announcement to exploration results, resources, interpretations and prospects have been approved for release by Mr. Jeffrey Rayner. Mr. Rayner is a geologist and has more than 25 years' relevant experience in the field of activity concerned. He is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurg y (AusIMM) and has reviewed and consented to the inclusion of the material in the form and context in which it appears.
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Jibal Qutman: Exploration Drilling and Trenching
Positive results have been returned from the ongoing exploration drilling (reverse circulation or "RC" drilling) and trenching campaigns at Jibal Qutman, expanding along strike the known mineralisation to the north and south of the recently discovered Red Hill prospect. Gold mineralisation is related to quartz vein stockwork hosted in carbonate-silica altered serpentinite ("Listwaenites"), exposed along the eastern flank of a 600m long NS trending ridge. In the discovery zone results from drilling on a 30 by 50m spaced grid confirms the presence of two subparallel and subvertical continuous mineralised bodies. A total of 8 RC drillholes were drilled, returning multiple intercepts including 14m at 1.00 g/t Au, 9m at 1.18 g/t Au, 31m at 1.64 g/t Au (including 17m at 2.65 g/t Au). Three infill rock chip channels, performed across the top and the eastern flank of the ridge, returned best results of 34m at 1.41 g/t Au. Further trenching and RC drilling are in progress in the area.
Trenching results extend the mineralization 600m further north of the discovery zone (trench JQT315 with a best result of 20m at 2.92 g/t Au), and 1km south of the discovery zone (trench JQT307 with best results of 26m at 2.23 g/t Au and 4m at 14.12 g/t Au).
At 3K Hill further drilling extends the mineralisation 100m to the north. Drillhole JQRC387 returned 9m at 1.72 g/t Au and 4m at 3.94 g/t Au; and JQRC388, drilled where the mineralisation is covered under "Wadi" sand cover, returning best result of 13m at 1.12 g/t Au
Further drilling is now warranted at the 4K Hill prospect, as new trench results extends the mineralisation to the North-East, returning best results of 3m at 4.86 g/t Au, 24m at 1.90 g/t Au (including 4m at 5.12 g/t Au) and 7m at 1.08 g/t Au.
A metallurgical Diamond drilling program, for a total 10 holes and 436m drilled, was completed in January 2015 at Jibal Qutman. Drillholes targeted the oxidised and transitional mineralisation at South Zone, Main Zone, West Zone and 3K Hill prospects. Samples were dispatched to ALS Ammtec Metallurgy lab in Perth, and column leach testwork is in progress. Initial results of tests are expected in Q2 2015.
The following tables summarise the best drilling and trenches not reported previously:
Hole
JQRC387
From To Interval Gold
M m m g/t
0 9 9 @ 1.72
14 18 4 @ 3.94
Zone
3K Hill
JQRC388 2 15 13 @ 1.12 3K Hill JQRC391 31 39 8 @ 0.94 3K Hill JQRC393 58 72 14 @ 1
JQRC394 7 16 9 @ 1.18
22 53 31 @ 1.64 incl 35 52 17 @ 2.65
JQRC396
JQRC397
11 16 5 @ 4.88
25 48 23 @ 1.07
62 67 5 @ 1.22
81 92 11 @ 1.36
97 105 8 @ 1.27
Red Hill
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Trench and From To Interval Gold channels M m M g/t JQT287 11 21 10 @ 0.73
incl 16 19 3 @ 1.11
JQT285 90 94 4 @ 1.08
JQT284NE 219 243 24 @ 1.9 including 227 230 3 @ 4.86
JQT306 14 21 7 @ 1.08
JQT307 260 279 19 @ 0.71
JQT315 0 20 20 @ 2.92 incl 16 19 3 @ 10.02
JQT322 22 26 4 @ 7.81
38 39 1 @ 3.14
JQT323 9 11 2 @ 1.35
27 34 7 @ 1
JQT234 29 35 6 @ 1.02
44 46 2 @ 0.89
JQT325 33 37 4 @ 1.54
JQT337 13 39 26 @ 2.23 incl 21 35 14 @ 3.61
52 56 4 @ 14.12
JQC008 25 26 3 @ 1.09
JQC009 46 47 34 @ 1.41
JQC009 79 80 2 @ 2.56
JQC009 82 83 1 @ 1.51
JQC009 84 85 1 @ 1.1
Zone
4K HILL
RED HILL
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Drilling at Jibal Qutman Red Hill Prospect
Hawiah: First Pass Exploration Trenching Results
At Hawiah a first pass, wide spaced trenching program was completed in February 2015. A total of 53 trenches, for a total of 1,620m, were excavated over a 6km almost continuous north-south exposure of highly silicified and variably gossanous horizon, with abundant secondary copper showings. This zone was mapped and trenched by France's Bureau De Recherches Geologiques et Minieres (BRGM) in the 1980s, wh ich identified its gold-bearing potential. KEFI's newly performed trenches repeated some of the BRGM's trenches and also extended the well- known exposure both to the south and to the north.
Best results from this initial trenching program include 6m at 2.22 g/t Au, 5m at 1.08 g/t Au, 4m at 2.64 g/t Au,
2m at 8.64 g/t Au, 6m at 1.93 g/t Au, 8m at 1.33 g/t Au, 3m at 5.76 g/t Au, 2m at 2.26 g/t Au, 2m at 7.54 g/t Au,
8m at 3.04 g/t Au. Results of trenching confirm that gold grades occur with good continuity along the strike length, and the shallow potential of the Au mineralisation. Results from multi-element analyses (base metals and path finder elements) are pending.
A geophysical orientation Self Potential (SP) survey is in progress in Hawiah: A total of 69 east-west trending
1.7km long survey lines, covering the whole extension of the 6km mineralised exposure, has been designed, targeting potentially deep seated disseminated to sub-massive sulphide (Cu-Au-Zn) bodies associated with volcanically hosted massive sulphides (VHMS) bodies. Low resistivity targets generated by the SP survey will be
followed-up with a more detailed geophysical IP survey. The IP survey is designed to test for electrical
conductors (i.e. massive sulphides) down to vertical depth of 200-250m.The IP anomalies will provide vertical depths to target and will be tested by Diamond drilling.
The following table summarises the trenching results received to date (assay results for 4 more trenches are pending):
Trench From m
To Interval m m
Gold g/t
HAT001 4 6 2 @ 1.26
HAT004 9 13 4 @ 1.06
HAT005 12 18 6 @ 2.22
HAT006 12 17 5 @ 1.43
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incl 14 16 2 @ 2.87
HAT007 11 16 5 @ 1.08
HAT008 14 18 4 @ 2.64
HAT010 16 19 3 @ 1.98
HAT012 11 13 2 @ 1.16
HAT012 23 25 2 @ 1.78
HAT013 24 26 2 @ 8.69
HAT015 18 21 3 @ 1.01
HAT016 10 16 6 @ 1.93
HAT017 9 11 2 @ 3.22
HAT017 19 20 1 @ 2.23
HAT019 7 9 2 @ 1.03
HAT022 8 16 8 @ 1.33
HAT023 10 13 3 @ 1.59
HAT025 7 9 2 @ 1.60
HAT027 9 10 1 @ 1.41
HAT028 8 9 1 @ 1.67
HAT029 9 12 3 @ 5.76
HAT030 7 9 2 @ 1.01
HAT033 5 7 2 @ 2.26
HAT034 18 20 2 @ 7.54
HAT036 15 23 8 @ 3.04
HAT042 10 15 5 @ 1.00
HAT043 12 13 1 @ 1.77
HAT045 4 5 1 @ 1.92
HAT049 14 15 1 @ 2.67
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NOTES TO EDITOR KEFI Minerals plc
KEFI is the operator of two advanced gold development projects within the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian Shield, with an attributable 2.1M ounces (100% of Tulu Kapi's 1.9M ounces and 40% of Jibal Qutman's 0.6M ounces) Au Mineral Resources (JORC 2012) plus significant resource growth potential. KEFI targets that production at these projects generate cash flows for further exploration and expansion as warranted, recoupment of development costs and, when appropriate, dividends to shareholders.
Expected milestones for the remainder of 2015 at Tulu Kapi include:
Mining Licence for Tulu Kapi, comprising all major permits for construction and operation
Independently refined and verified mine plan
Independently verified capex, opex & closure costs
Independently verified Ore Reserves
Independently updated Definitive Feasibility Study for banking purposes
Formalisation of bank syndicate, agreement of final terms for project finance
Full development funding and commencement of construction
In addition, during 2015 KEFI anticipates submitting a Mining Licence Application for Jibal Qutman in Saudi
Arabia through its joint venture company, Gold & Minerals Ltd ("G&M").
KEFI in Ethiopia
The Tulu Kapi gold project in Western Ethiopia is being rapidly progressed towards development. In October
2014, KEFI Minerals reactivated the Mining Licence Application and assembled indicative project finance terms.
A Definitive Feasibility Study is evaluating construction of a 1.2Mtpa processing plant with estimated annual gold production 86,000 ounces at total operating costs of $626/ounce. The planning parameters for the DFS have already been independently confirmed. The Company's milestones for 2015 include licencing, resettlement of affected households, arranging project finance in mid-2015 for major works to commence in the final quarter of 2015 and production commissioning at the end of 2016.
The Company has received strong support from the Ethiopian authorities, who have confirmed their intention to expedite the processing of the Mining Licence Application and issue approvals in early 2015.
KEFI in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
KEFI Minerals has a 40% interest in the G&M joint Venture (G&M) and is the operating partner. G&M holds, other than Hawiah and Jibal Qutman, 23 ELAs that cover an area of approximately 1,484km2. EL's are renewable for up to five years and bestow the exclusive right to explore and to obtain a 30-year exploitation (mining) lease within the area.
In 2009, KEFI formed G&M, with Saudi partner ARTAR, to explore for gold and associated metals in the Arabian Shield. To date, G&M has conducted preliminary regional reconnaissance and had five EL's granted. Three have been relinquished after initial testing.
At Jibal Qutman Exploration Licence, G&M's flagship project, the total inferred category Mineral Resources, not yet JORC compliant, are estimated at 22.0Mt at 0.90 g/t Au for 633,461contained gold ounces compared with a JORC resource of 16.7 Mt at 0.92g/t Au for 495,194 contained gold ounces previously estimated in March 2014, both at a cut-off grade of 0.2g/t Au.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has instituted policies to encourage minerals exploration and development and KEFI Minerals supports this priority by serving as the technical partner within G&M. ARTAR also serves this government policy as the major partner in G&M, which is one of the early movers in the modern resurgence of the Kingdom's minerals sector.
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