REG - Alba Mineral Resrcs. - Grant of Dewatering Permits at Welsh Gold Mine

Alba Mineral ResourcesAnnouncement

04/07/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 8280E  Alba Mineral Resources PLC  04 July 2023

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

 

 4 July 2023

Alba Mineral Resources Plc

("Alba" or the "Company") 

 

Clogau Update

Grant of Dewatering Permits for Primary Gold Target

Alba Mineral Resources Plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to report that it has been
granted the ecological permits required for the planned dewatering and
associated exploration of its primary target within the Clogau-St David's Gold
Mine in north Wales ("Clogau" or the "Mine"), the Lower Llechfraith workings.

Highlights

·      Ecological permits granted at Clogau comprising a European
Protected Species Licence ("EPSL"), Water Discharge Permit, and Water
Abstraction (or Transfer) Licence, in relation to the dewatering and
associated exploration of the Lower Llechfraith workings.

 

·      Technical team and contractors now undertaking the necessary
on-site preparations so that the dewatering exercise may commence as soon as
possible.

 

·      The Lower Llechfraith workings have all the key geological
characteristics for the occurrence of high-grade gold mineralisation,
including greenstone sills, Clogau Shales and structural complexity in the
lode itself.

 

·      Alba's 2020-21 surface drilling programme proved the downward
continuation of the Llechfraith lode structure up to ~122 metres below where
it was last explored on the No.4 Level; the target structure has been
untouched by historical exploration and development.

George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman, commented: "We are delighted to have
received the ecological permits to allow us to dewater and explore the Lower
Llechfraith workings, our primary gold target within the Clogau-St David's
Gold Mine. Detailed planning has been in train for some time so that we did
not lose time once the permits were granted. Accordingly, we are well placed
to complete our preparations on site and commence the dewatering exercise
within a matter of days.

"I would like to thank our whole team as well as our highly skilled technical
consultants for supporting us throughout the permitting process and I look
forward to providing further operational updates in due course."

Background

Since 2021, the Company has sought the ecological permits to enable it to
dewater the Llechfraith Shaft and associated workings within the Lower
Llechfraith mine area (the "Lower Llechfraith workings") at Clogau and
undertake the detailed exploration of this priority gold target (Figure 1).
These permits comprise a European Protected Species Licence ("EPSL"), Water
Discharge Permit and Water Abstraction (or Transfer) Licence.

 

The permitting process, undertaken by the competent regulator, Natural Resources Wales ("NRW"), included a lengthy Habitat Regulations Assessment ("HRA"), which was supported throughout by the Company and its team of ecological, hydrogeological, acoustic, and other experts.  During the process, the Company generated a huge volume of ecological survey data and analysis and devised wide-ranging mitigation and safety measures for the protection of the environment, and the Company anticipates that this work should now provide a framework for a more streamlined and efficient process for future permitting applications.

Figure 1: Clogau-St David's mine system, with Lower Llechfraith workings shown
on left.

The Lower Llechfraith mine area was a key focus for the last large-scale
development efforts at Clogau, prior to Alba's time. Historical plans from
that period record sightings of visible gold within these lower workings. The
area has all the key geological characteristics for the occurrence of
high-grade gold mineralisation, including greenstone sills, Clogau Shales and
structural complexity in the lode itself.

Through the surface drilling programme that it completed in July 2021, Alba
has proved the downward continuation of the Llechfraith lode structure up to
~122 metres below where it was last explored on the No.4 Level. The target
structure has remained untouched by historical efforts, which to date have
only covered a vertical extent of an estimated 30-50 m. The lode system is
also believed to extend to the west, where historical work is minimal.

There is no access to the Lower Llechfraith workings currently, from Level 2
down to Level 4, as they are flooded (Figure 2).  To access the lower
workings, a dewatering programme will be undertaken, during which water will
be pumped out of the flooded workings and then treated in the Clogau mine yard
using a settlement tank to remove excess suspended solids. Preparations are
underway on site so that this process may commence as soon as possible.

Following the dewatering of the lower levels, Alba will move directly onto
safety works, mapping, sampling and, subject to the permitted development
rights notification regime, bulk sampling of the exposed development in order
to determine the gold content and test the Company's existing geological model
below Level 4. Depending on the outcome of that work, the subsequent phase of
work is expected to involve putting in new development, commencing with the
sinking of a new shaft or the extension of the existing Llechfraith Shaft.

Figure 2: Lower Llechfraith flooded workings, shown in blue.

**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 (0) 20 3003 8632

 Thomas Smith / Douglas Crippen
 St Brides Partners (Financial PR)            alba@stbridespartners.co.uk

 Isabel de Salis / Catherine Leftley

 

 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 Mining Plc (mining)       Greenland  44.67%
 Horse Hill (oil)                   England    11.765%

 

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