REG - Strategic Minerals - Redmoor Project & Tamar Valley Exploration Updates

Strategic MineralsAnnouncement

09/05/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 6969N  Strategic Minerals PLC  09 May 2024

 

9th May 2024

Strategic Minerals plc

("Strategic Minerals" or the "Company")

Redmoor core samples dispatched & commencement of Tamar Valley
reconnaissance exploration

Strategic Minerals plc (AIM: SML USOTC: SMCDY), a profitable producing mineral
company, is pleased to update shareholders on the current progress and
operations at its 100% owned subsidiary Cornwall Resources Limited ("CRL").
CRL is continuing to develop the Redmoor Project through a process of
relogging and sampling of its historic drill core, whilst undertaking regional
exploration within its newly acquired Tamar Valley Licence Area.

Highlights:

·    3,786 m of historical core re-logged from six boreholes (c27% of
CRL's existing drill core).

·    Potential for resource upside identified from previously unsampled
mineralisation.

·    A total sample length of 177.45m from 129 diamond drill core samples,
has been selected and shipped for geochemical analysis, with results expected
within 2 months. Re-logging and sampling continue with additional samples in
preparation for dispatch.

·    Initial reconnaissance mapping of CRL's new Tamar Valley Licence Area
("TVLA") has begun, along with desk studies. Encouragingly, previously
unidentified mineralised zones at surface have been located and sampled.

·    Within the TVLA, desk studies have particular focus on the Plantation
Vein, a historical Tin-Tungsten (Sn-W) target. Between 1967 and 1970, 22
diamond drill holes were drilled targeting the Plantation Vein that
established this target, followed by minor underground exploration of the lode
in early 1970's.

·    Follow up on targets, generated both during the Deep Digital Cornwall
project and within the TVLA, is planned through extensive soil sampling and
stream sediment sampling programs. These studies are being undertaken to
clarify historical data and generate baseline geochemical datasets, aiding in
the delineation of potential new targets.

·    Several meetings have been held with the Duchy of Cornwall, its
tenants and local parish councils, maintaining CRL's excellent record of
effective stakeholder engagement.

Commenting, Dennis Rowland, Project Manager of CRL, said:

"CRL's geological team, led by Senior Geologist Rowan Thorne, are advancing
the relogging and sampling project with potential for significant results. The
pace of this project has increased with shipments of additional drill core
samples expected at regular intervals in coming months.

"Following completion of this program of works, both our understanding of the
mineralised zones and the structural geology within the Redmoor deposit will
have increased and the potential for resource(s) upside, prior to further
drilling, would have been thoroughly assessed from the invaluable data
generated by the works."

Commenting, Peter Wale, Executive Director of Strategic Minerals and Director
of CRL, said:

"A substantial amount of excellent work has been completed as part of the
re-logging process. This process has the potential to have positive upsides at
a low cost. We look forward to the lab results confirming our expectations
which we anticipate will allow a review of both our existing resource size and
grade. These results will also assist in completing the remainder of the
re-logging program in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

"Initial work on the Tamar Valley Licence Area has been very encouraging.
Plans for stream sediment and soil sampling are underway as well as work on
the highly prospective Plantation Vein. We have also successfully commenced
initial engagement with the Duchy of Cornwall's tenants and local parish
councils.

"Project economics have been bolstered by recent upward moves in Tin, Tungsten
and Copper prices even prior to the likely impact of material exploration
upside from the existing area and the TVLA."

"We look forward to updating the market on the external results from
re-examination of the existing cores and findings in relation to the Tamar
Valley License Area."

Redmoor Project - Re-Logging and Sampling of Historical Drill Core

CRL has continued to review historical diamond drill core and associated data
over the past year, coupled with identification of additional, previously
unsampled sections of drill core that exhibit zones of additional
mineralisation worthy of analysis and evaluation; all culminating in the
shipment of the first batch of 129 samples at the end of April 2024 to ALS
Laboratories, Loughrea.

Re-logged and sampled diamond drill core at CRL's core logging facility

Steady progress has been made with regards to re-logging of historical diamond
drill core, with six of these drill holes being geologically logged, totalling
3,782m of drill core, or 27% of CRL's core. The objective of the re-logging
program is to identify new geological structures, detailed variations in
alteration that relate to mineralisation and previously unidentified
mineralised vein systems and structures. As a result, CRL aims to further
increase its understanding of the Redmoor deposit and the potential for
resource upside through additional sampling and modelling. To date, detailed
vein and structural logging has identified numerous additional vein types that
host mineralisation, coupled with this, CRL's use of an Olympus Vanta pXRF
(portable X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer) has aided CRL geologists in
targeting and identifying changes in alteration and locating zones of subtle
mineralisation which were previously unsampled.

Sampled diamond drill core prepared for dispatch to ALS Laboratories, Loughrea

The results of these analyses will be used to update and revise the current
resource and geological model at Redmoor, along with informing CRL as to the
best logging procedures and analytical methodologies to employ whilst
progressing with the current program and in preparation for future drill
programs at Redmoor. CRL are continuing with the re-logging program and
ongoing evaluation and interpretation of information and data is currently
being evaluated and incorporated with historical datasets; with additional
drill core samples already selected for laboratory analysis.

Tamar Valley Licence Area- Local Engagement and Reconnaissance Program

CRL has commenced activities at its newly acquired Tamar Valley Licence Area
(TVLA), with field operations being preceded by an open event held at CRL's
offices on 3(rd) April 2024, attended by a representative from the Duchy of
Cornwall and its farming tenants. This resulted in positive engagement and
informative feedback on CRL's proposed work program and plans. Subsequent
attendances at local parish council meetings have been undertaken by CRL
management, resulting in positive engagement and informative feedback from
local councillors and representatives. CRL continues to engage with local
councils and authorities to foster a relationship within the community where
it operates and maintains its commitment to strong ESG principles.

Whilst desk studies continue, CRL has initiated preliminary reconnaissance
mapping within the TVLA. On the first day of this fieldwork, CRL geologists
found previously unidentified mineralised zones at surface, which were then
logged and sampled. Fieldwork continues and results from this reconnaissance
mapping, combined with interpretation of historical data from the desk studies
will be used to develop a prospectivity analysis to target potential targets
worthy of further investigation.

Outcrop of Cassiterite and Wolframite enriched vein within the TVLA

As part of the desk studies, CRL is currently evaluating datasets from
historical diamond drilling programmes from different historical targets
within the TVLA. One target of interest is the Plantation Vein, a historical
Tin- Tungsten (Sn-W) target, less than 5 km from CRL's Redmoor Project, which
had 22 diamond drill holes drilled at the target between 1967-70, along with
minor exploitation of the lode. CRL is actively digitising and modelling the
historical data from this target, with the aim of assessing its prospectivity
and identifying what further exploration work is necessary to validate the
target as a viable prospect.

Sample of Cassiterite (Sn) and Wolframite (W) rich outcrop from the TVLA

Following the initial reconnaissance mapping, CRL is planning on undertaking
stream sediment and soil sampling campaigns at historical targets, with the
aim of applying modern exploration and analytical techniques on these
historical targets to determine their potential prospectivity.

Exploration Target Evaluation - Soil Sampling

Along with continuing the current drill core re-logging program and
reconnaissance mapping and desk studies of the TVLA, CRL is continuing to
evaluate and explore targets identified by the Deep Digital Cornwall Project
and is planning to undertake further soil sampling programs around identified
targets.

About Cornwall Resources
Limited
       https://www.cornwallresources.com
(https://www.cornwallresources.com)

Cornwall Resources Limited ("CRL") is a wholly owned subsidiary of Strategic
Minerals Limited ("SML") (AIM: SML; USOTC: SMCDY). SML bought into CRL in
2016, and in 2019 completed the purchase of the project. CRL is focussed on
advancing the high-grade, underground Redmoor Tungsten-Tin-Copper Project,
through a current relogging and sampling campaign of historic drill core, and
work towards securing further funding to advance Redmoor, as well as exploring
its significant and expanding minerals rights licence areas in east Cornwall,
Southwest England.

CRL through mineral rights agreements, with Redmoor Minerals Limited and The
Duchy of Cornwall, has exclusive access to a mineral rights operating area of
87.95 km² in the highly prospective and historically mined Tamar Valley
Mining District. CRL is undertaking regional and targeted exploration
activities to develop critical minerals resources.

The Redmoor Project is situated within the historically significant Tamar
Valley Mining District, yet the sheeted vein system ("SVS") forming the basis
of CRL's inferred resource is unmined. CRL's most recent, JORC-compliant,
Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for Redmoor utilised a
comprehensive archive of historical data and combined this with information
from the completion of two exploration campaigns, in 2017 and 2018, which
encompassed 32 boreholes for 14,000m of diamond core drilling. Based on this
high-grade resource, an updated Scoping Study, published in 2020 shows that
Redmoor has potentially economic viability as a new, underground mine.

JORC Compliant (2012) Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate published 14 February
2019, as summarised below:

 Cut-off (SnEq%)          Tonnage (Mt)  WO(3)  Sn    Cu    Sn Eq(1)  WO(3) Eq

                                        %      %     %     %         %
 >0.45 <0.65              1.50          0.18   0.21  0.30  0.58      0.41
 >0.65                    10.20         0.62   0.16  0.53  1.26      0.88
 Total Inferred Resource  11.70         0.56   0.16  0.50  1.17      0.82

1 Equivalent metal calculation notes; Sn(Eq)% = Sn%*1 + WO3%*1.43 + Cu%*0.40.
Commodity price assumptions: WO3 US$ 33,000/t, Sn US$ 22,000/t, Cu US$
7,000/t. Recovery assumptions: total WO3 recovery 72%, total Sn recovery 68%
& total Cu recovery 85% and payability assumptions of 81%, 90% and 90%
respectively

Subject to receipt of necessary funding, CRL has in place all necessary
permissions for drill programs for further significant exploration of the
Redmoor Tungsten-Tin-Copper resource.

 For further information, please contact:

 Strategic Minerals plc                                   +61 (0) 414 727 965
 John Peters
 Managing Director
 Website:               www.strategicminerals.net (http://www.strategicminerals.net)
 Email:                 info@strategicminerals.net (mailto:info@strategicminerals.net)

 Follow Strategic Minerals on:
 Vox Markets:           https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/company/SML/
                        (https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/company/SML/)
 Twitter:               @SML_Minerals (https://twitter.com/SML_Minerals)
 LinkedIn:              https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-minerals-plc
                        (https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-minerals-plc)

 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP                           +44 (0) 20 3470 0470
 Nominated Adviser and Broker
 Matthew Johnson
 Ewan Leggat
 Charlie Bouverat

 

Notes to Editors

Strategic Minerals
plc:
                              https://www.strategicminerals.net
(https://www.strategicminerals.net/)

Strategic Minerals plc is an AIM-quoted, profitable operating minerals company
actively developing projects tailored to materials expected to benefit from
strong demand in the future. It has an operation in the United States of
America along with development projects in the UK and Australia. The Company
is focused on utilising its operating cash flows, along with capital raisings,
to develop high quality projects aimed at supplying the metals and minerals
likely to be highly demanded in the future.

In September 2011, Strategic Minerals acquired the distribution rights to the
Cobre magnetite tailings dam project in New Mexico, USA, a cash-generating
asset, which it brought into production in 2012 and which continues to provide
a revenue stream for the Company. This operating revenue stream is utilised to
cover company overheads and invest in development projects aimed at supplying
the metals and minerals likely to be highly demanded in the future.

Since June 2020, the Company has been a 100% owner of Cornwall Resources
Limited (CRL) having been involved in the project since early 2016. CRL is the
developer of the Redmoor Tin/Tungsten project in Cornwall, UK. Exploration
drilling programs were undertaken in 2017 & 2018 resulting in subsequent
upgraded resource definitions & a scoping study in 2020. In April 2024,
CRL gained access to substantial additional exploration rights in the
prospective Tamar Valley area, quadrupling its overall mineral rights
footprint.

In March 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of the Leigh Creek Copper
Mine situated in the copper rich belt of South Australia and brought the
project temporarily into production in April 2019. In July 2021, the project
was granted a conditional approval by the South Australian Government for a
Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR) in relation to
mining of its Paltridge North deposit and processing at the Mountain of Light
installation. In late June 2022, an updated PEPR, addressing the conditions
associated with the July 2021 approval, was approved.

 

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