REG - Alba Mineral Resrcs. - Clogau Operational Update

Alba Mineral ResourcesAnnouncement

29/10/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 9336J  Alba Mineral Resources PLC  29 October 2024

Alba Mineral Resources Plc / EPIC: ALBA / Market: AIM / Sector: Mining

29 October 2024

Alba Mineral Resources Plc

("Alba" or the "Company") 

 

Clogau Operational Update

Alba Mineral Resources Plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to report on the progress of
ongoing works at the Company's 100% owned Clogau-St David's Gold Mine in north
Wales ("Clogau" or the "Mine").

Key Points

-    Underground operations are ongoing at the Llechfraith Target, Alba's
priority target at Clogau, with blasting having taken place at Levels 4.5 and
5.  Newly blasted ore currently remains underground but will be removed to
surface for sample processing and assaying.

 

-    The volume of ore found in situ at Levels 4 and 5 from historic mining
operations has greatly exceeded what was anticipated, leading to a significant
ore extraction exercise being completed prior to blasting, involving some 25
tonnes. Although this has added to the Company's development timeline, it is
considered overall positive as this additional ore will be processed for its
gold content.

 

-    Site visits completed by HM Inspectorate of Mines, part of the Health
and Safety Executive ("HSE"), and Natural Resources Wales ("NRW"), with some
further remedial works requested by HSE having since been completed.

 

-   While these developments have pushed out the Company's timelines for the
completion of bulk sampling at the Llechfraith Target, Alba now expects the
next sequence of blasting to commence on Level 5 later this week. Following
the completion of the next sequence, the Company expects to be able to provide
an update on overall timings.

 

-   Blasts undertaken to date have been successful and confirmed that the
rocks at Clogau are amenable to blasting by low-impact deflagrating
explosives, which is a major positive as the Company moves forward with the
development of the Project.

 

-   From the test gold production to date, the Company intends to auction a
limited run of commemorative coins in the coming weeks. Further details will
be announced in due course.

George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman, commented:

"Since our last update, we have completed a substantial amount of work
underground. The need to clear out a large volume of residual ore, combined
with additional remedial measures requested by the Mines Inspector, has pushed
out our planned blasting timeline, however our mining team anticipate being
able to recommence blasting on No.5 Level later this week.

"The blasting we have undertaken to date, both on 4.5 and 5 Levels, has been
successful and confirmed the suitability of the deflagrating explosives we are
currently using. This also gives us confidence that the blasting programme
should be able to proceed efficiently from here.

"In related news, we have been working hard also on our plans for the
commercialisation of gold produced from Clogau. We intend to release soon the
details of a limited run of commemorative coins which are being produced from
our test gold production to date."

Works Completed Since Last RNS

Since the last operational update RNS on 30 August 2024, the Company has
completed the following works, among others:

Underground Works

Adit Level

-   Concrete bed laid and winch installed at the Main Shaft.

-   Main Shaft sheave wheel rehabilitated.

No.4 Level

-   Sampling completed on No.4 Level.

-   Old ladders stripped out of Sub Shaft and new ladderways installed from
No.4 to 4.5 Level.

-   Vent ducting installed from Drainage Level to No.4 Level fan.

-   Electrical reticulation extended to No.4 Level for connection of fan and
winch.

-   Old pipes cut and removed on No.4 Level.

-   Concrete laid for No.4 Level Sub Shaft winch bed and winch
installed.

-   Concrete laid for Sub Shaft station
area.

-   Roof bolts installed for sheave wheel at Sub Shaft.

-   Pressure washing of walls.

-   New Kubota KC70VHD-4 tracked loader delivered to No.4 Level in
preparation for transport to No.5 Level.
 

No.4.5 Level

-   Pressure washing of walls.

-   Ladderway installed from 4.5 to 5 Level.

No.5 Level

-   Back up pump installed on No.5 Level.

-   Air line installed from Mine Yard compressor to No.5 Level.

-   25 tonnes of rock from previous periods of mining dug out from No. 5
Level and extracted to Llechfraith Mine Yard.

-   Sump dug out on No.5 Level for siting of pump below floor level.

-   Water supply fitted for drilling of blast holes.

-   Pressure washing of walls.

-   Drilling of blast holes and blasting on No.5 Level.

 

Pilot Processing Plant

 

-   New sump installed in plant to create a closed water system.

-   Tailing pipes and water supply
reconfigured.

-   New hammers fitted to the mill.

-   Pump motor changed and extraction fan repaired on the primary crusher.
 

-   On-going test processing of various
ores.

Surface Works

-   Cleared land access across the bridge from the Llechfraith Mine Yard to
gain access to the historic explosives storage magazine.

-   Bridge integrity inspection carried out by engineering
consultant.

-   Historic mine material cleaned from between the rails on surface for
possible gold content.

-   Fitted additional pipework on outflow side of the settlement
tank.

-   Fitted out a dry room in the Llechfraith Mine Shed for the use of
personnel.

-   PAT electrical testing completed, as well as upgrade of electricity
supply from hydro plant.

-   Removal of tailings to temporary storage
zone.

-   Reclaiming of rails for use on shaft doors.

Safety

-    Additional anchor points fitted. All anchor points pull tested and
registered.

-    Fall arrests installed at all
ladderways.

-    Safety gates fitted at Main Shaft (Adit Level and No.4
Level).

-    Pneumatic shaft doors installed on Main Shaft.

-    Shaft doors and gates installed at Sub Shaft (No.4 Level).

-    Underground signalling and telephone systems installed for Main
Shaft.

Regulatory

-   NRW and HSE site visits
completed.

 

-   Extension of European Protected Species Licence ("EPSL") applied for and
granted, now valid for continuous underground operations until 30 September
2025.

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or
anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in
nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such
as general economic, market, financial and business conditions, competition
for and availability of qualified staff and contractors, regulatory processes
and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from
potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from working in
a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of
exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting
rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and
other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the
Company's or any third party's ability to finance, execute and implement
future plans and programmes, and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual
results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of
numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.

**ENDS**

For further information, please visit www.albamineralresources.com
(http://www.albamineralresources.com/)  or contact:

 Alba Mineral Resources plc                 +44 20 3950 0725

 George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman
 SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (Nomad)    +44 20 3368 3555

 Andrew Emmott
 CMC Markets plc (Broker)                   +44 20 3003 8632

 Thomas Smith / Douglas Crippen

 

 

 Alba's Projects & Investments
 Projects Operated by Alba                            Location   Ownership
 Clogau (gold)                                        Wales      100%
 Dolgellau Gold Exploration (gold)                    Wales      100%
 Gwynfynydd (gold)                                    Wales      100%
 Investments Held by Alba                             Location   Ownership
 GreenRoc Strategic Materials Plc (graphite - anode)  Greenland  34.34%
 Horse Hill (oil)                                     England    11.765%

 

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