REG - Mineral & Financial - Investment Update: Ascendant / Redcorp

Mineral & Financial InvestmentsAnnouncement

29/02/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 8451E  Mineral & Financial Invest. Limited  29 February 2024

MINERAL AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED

Investment Update: Ascendant / Redcorp Announce Gravity Survey Results Which
Identify High Impact Massive Sulphide Exploration Targets Near Current Deposit
at Lagoa Salgada Project

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

·    Ascendant / Redcorp identified four new high priority targets near
existing Venda Nova deposits.

·    Results point to the possibility of rapidly expanding the Venda Nova
VMS Mineralization deposits within the Lagoa Salgada project and enhance the
recent Feasibility Study

·    Highest priority target located below and west of current high-grade
Venda Nova-North Deposit.

·    Second priority target sits above known copper corridor in South
Deposit

·    EDM's Option to gain a 15% interest in the Project extended to
September 30, 2024 due to upcoming election and the resulting dissolution of
parliament.

 

Camana Bay, Cayman Islands - 28 February 2024 - Mineral and Financial
Investments Limited (LSE-AIM: MAFL) ("M&F" "MAFL" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce the results of the recent high-resolution gravity survey
completed by Redcorp Empreedimentos Mineros Lda. ("Redcorp") and Ascendant
Resources Inc. ("Ascendant") over the Venda Nova North and South Deposits at
the Lagoa Salgada VMS Project, in Portugal. Redcorp and Ascendant are
developing the Lagoa Salgada Polymetallic Project in Portugal (the "Project").
The Project is being managed by Ascendant. M&F owns a conditional 20%
carried interest in Redcorp and Ascendant owns the balance (please see the
announcement dated 28 November 2022 for further details).

 

Jacques Vaillancourt, President & CEO of M&F Investments stated: "The
results of this most recent high-resolution gravity survey combined with
reinterpreted previous IP data have identified two strong drill ready targets
that have the potential to add material tonnage and value to the existing
mineralization at Venda Nova and potentially enhance the overall economics
relative to the recently completed feasibility study. The presence of
additional massive sulphide lenses would be congruent with existing deposits
on the Iberian Pyrite Belt ("IPB") which typically consist of multiple stacked
massive sulphide lenses."

He added. "Additionally, in light of upcoming elections in Portugal, and the
ensuing change in government, M&F Investments and Ascendant are pleased to
grant an extension to EDM for its option on the project. We see EDM, and by
extension both the government and communities of Portugal, as integral
partners for the development of this project as Ascendant aim to build the
next producing mine on the Iberian Pyrite Belt. "

As per the most recent NI 43-101 Feasibility Study published on 25 July 2023,
the existing Massive Sulphides at the Venda Nova North deposit represents 4.4
million tonnes of the total 14.6 million tonne Reserve, but given the high
grade nature of this material it contributes significantly to the overall NPV
of the project due to the significantly higher NSR value per tonne (US$>100
per tonne) as compared to the average  material including the other
lithologies. As such, the ability to expand the overall massive sulphide ore
content could enhance the overall project economics significantly.  The
targets have been identified by their gravity signature that closely matches
the existing high value, dense massive sulphide orebody we currently have at
the Venda Nova North Zone.  As a result, the Directors understand that
Redcorp is planning a drill program to more fully evaluate this potential in
the near future.

 

The high-resolution survey was designed to map the known gravity footprint of
the existing Massive Sulphide Resource of Venda Nova at a much higher
resolution than previous surveys, and then use the common characteristics to
search for additional potential Massive Sulphide lenses within and surrounding
the Venda Nova deposit. The results outlined here have identified four high
priority exploration targets each with the potential to add additional
meaningful tonnage to the existing Primary Massive Sulphide endowment. The
results of the survey also validate the targets suggested by previous IP/Res
and TDEM surveys.  The location of these targets and the high-resolution
gravity survey are summarized in Figure 1. below and described in more detail
subsequently.

Figure 1 - Exploration Targets. Locations of targets is laid over Downward
Continuity Bouguer gravity map (Downward Continued 60 m). Blocks from current
MRE with densities above 3.5 g/cm3 are shown to highlight zones where the
source of the anomalies is known.

TARGET DESCRIPTIONS

Target 1: SW North Zone Target

SW of the North Zone the gravity anomaly bulges to the west of the southern
half of the North Massive Sulphide ore body. According to the geophysical
interpretation, based on upward and downward continuation of the Bouguer
Gravity, the high-density mass sits deeper than the known ore deposits.  Its
center coincides with the projection of a notable volume that has
chargeability and resistivity features identical to the known massive
sulphides. Redcorp believes this can be explained geologically by a faulted
displaced block of the known ore body or by a new lens occurring in the
western limb of the north zone anticline. In both cases the potential massive
sulphide source could extend for over 250 m along strike.

 

 

Target 2 & 3: South Sector West & East Flanks

The gravity anomaly in the Northern part of the South Zone is flanked by two
discrete trends, i) The eastern flank is partially explained by two known semi
massive Lenses (Pyritic)  previously encountered by drilling, but suggests an
extension to the north of the known area; and ii) the West Flank is untested
and could represent an additional massive sulphide lens in the footwall of the
south Zone trend up dip from the Stockwork mineralization. Interestingly, this
Gravity anomaly sits above some of the higher-grade Copper and less
transpositional mineralization intercepted at depth as part of the previous
infill campaign. This may suggest the potential to have a more copper rich
massive sulphide lens in this area.

 

Target 4: Anomaly Delta

The fourth gravity anomaly corresponds to a previously announced IP anomaly,
Anomaly Delta. However, the new gravity data locate the target a few hundred
meters to the north of previous drilling.

DETAILED GRAVITY SURVEY

The survey was conducted between January and February 2024 by McKeown
Exploration Services, using a Scintrex CG-6 gravimeter and a Trimble real-time
Differential GPS. It consisted of 788 unique gravity stations spaced at a
nominal 25 and 50m station spacing on an inclined grid with an azimuth of
66.3°/246.3° true, with lines nominally spaced 100m and 200m apart. In areas
of interest, e.g., the profiles across the known North Zone VMS deposit, the
station spacing was tightened to 25m separation in order to permit detailing
of the gravitational variation across the known mineralization. A 25m station
spacing can define the local profiles well enough to permit downward
continuation filtering of the data, to sharpen the resolution of targets
deeper than the base of the Tertiary cover. Data analysis was conducted by
Intelligent Exploration.

Figure 2 - Survey Grid Showing Actual Station Locations

The Bouguer gravity map exhibited in Figure 3, below, shows a clear anomaly
over the known VMS deposit in the North Zone. The overall axis of the gravity
high is NNW-SSE, parallel to the inferred axial plane of a tight, near
vertical fold long believed to host this deposit.

A saddle separates the mass excess over the North VMS zone from a clear second
peak about 500m to the south-southeast in the South Zone. This peak extends
farther toward the SSE where it is less intense but coincides with the known
South Zone of re-mobilized stockwork mineralization. It should be noted that
this gravity signature would typically not be explained by the density of the
known stockwork mineralization and suggests that additional higher density
material is present.

Figure 3 - Bouguer Gravity

It is clear from Figure 4 below that 1) the VMS anomaly in the North extends
farther west than the known deposit and that 2) a second significant anomaly
occupies the northern extent of the South Zone where it is largely undrilled.

Figure 4 - Bouguer Gravity map of Lagoa Salgada showing the gravity anomalies
in relation to the drilling. The known VMS deposit is outlined in light blue.

 

EDM Option Extension

Additionally, Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro ("EDM") requested and has
been granted an extension to the term of its option agreement for a 15%
interest in the Lagoa Salgada Project. The extension has been granted by
Redcorp and extends the deadline for exercise from 3 February 2024 to 30
September 2024.

Although EDM had shown interest in the Lagoa Salgada project, after the
resignation of the Prime Minister of Portugal, on November 7, 2023, which led
to the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic and the scheduling of
elections for March 10, 2024, a request for an extension was made. With the
interim nature of the current government, the ability for EDM to make a
commitment is constrained. Given this scenario, the Directors understand that
an extension of the option for EDM was mutually agreed. In the meantime, a
memorandum of cooperation has been signed between Redcorp and EDM for the
support to the development and licensing of the Lagoa Salgada project.

Under the various agreements EDM, the Portuguese State Mining Development
Agency, has an option to participate in a 15% interest in the Project by
making an election by September 30, 2024 (the "EDM Option"). A right of First
refusal is held, in the event EDM choose to exercise and sell their interest.
If EDM elects to exercise the EDM Option, then Ascendant is entitled to
exercise call options causing the transfer of the free carried interest
M&FI held shares of the Lagoa Salgada concessionaire, Redcorp , to
Ascendant such that Ascendant will continue to own an 80% interest in the
Project and M&FI will hold 5%.

The agreements also provide that M&FI shall have the right and option, but
not the obligation, to exercise its put option commencing on the date on which
EDM makes its election and terminating four (4) months thereafter, to require
Ascendant to purchase all of the Redcorp shares then held by M&FI,
representing a 5% interest in Redcorp by paying the put price to M&FI. The
put price would be an amount in US dollars, payable in cash, equal to 5% of
the post-tax net present value of the Project provided in the then current
feasibility study using a 10.5% discount rate (the "Put Option").

If both the EDM Option and the Put Option are executed, the Company will hold
an 85% interest in the Project and EDM will hold a 15% fully contributing
interest, with each party required to contribute pro rata, subject to standard
dilution clauses.

 

 

Review of Technical Information

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been
reviewed and approved by Joao Barros, BSc (Engineering), MSc (Geology), who
has more than 18 years of relevant experience in the field of activity
concerned. Mr. Barros is a Member of the Portuguese Engineers Association. Mr.
Barros is employed by Redcorp Empreedimentos Mineiros, Lda., a 20% owned
subsidiary of M&FI, and has consented to the inclusion of the material in
the form and context in which it appears.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jacques Vaillancourt, Mineral & Financial Investments
Ltd.                        +44 780 226 8247

Katy Mitchell and Sarah Mather, WH Ireland
Limited                    +44 207 220 1666

Jon Belliss, Novum Securities
Limited
+44 207 382 8300

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations
(EU) No. 596/2014 (MAR) as in force in the United Kingdom pursuant to the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this
announcement via Regulatory Information Service (RIS), this inside information
is now considered to be in the public domain.

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