REG - Great Western Mining - Operational Update

Great Western MiningAnnouncement

30/03/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 6880U  Great Western Mining Corp. plc  30 March 2023

GREAT WESTERN MINING CORPORATION PLC

("Great Western", "GWM" or the "Company")

 

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

 

Great Western Mining Corporation PLC (AIM - GWMO, Euronext Growth - 8GW),
which is exploring and developing gold, silver and copper targets in Nevada,
is pleased to provide the following operational update:

 

·    2023 WORK SEASON AND PLANS FOR FIRST DRILLING

·    MILL CONSTRUCTION STATUS

·    COPPER POTENTIAL AT M2

·    INVESTMENT ANALYSTS VISITING THIS WEEK

·    CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

 

2023 WORK SEASON

Great Western's team is now in Mineral County, Nevada, preparing for the start
of drilling operations and the 2023 exploration programme.   The team is
being strengthened by the addition of a new full-time geologist, a US citizen
who will be permanently based in Mineral County.

 

First drilling will be on the OMCO Mine prospect at the Olympic Gold project,
to follow up the 2022 discovery of an extension to the previously mined OMCO
vein, expected to commence in April when weather and ground conditions permit.

 

MILL CONSTRUCTION

It is now several weeks since groundwork was completed at the site of the
Company's 50%-owned milling joint venture in Mina, Nevada and the next stage
is currently waiting on suitable weather conditions for pouring concrete, due
to a recurrence of severe weather conditions this month.

 

As previously announced, all permit applications have been filed with the
authorities and approval is awaited, timing of which is outside the Company's
control.  Virtually all equipment needed for the assembly of the plant is now
available and there are unlikely to be significant delays in the overall
programme as a consequence of the extended winter.

 

REVIEW OF M2 COPPER POTENTIAL

As previously announced, the Company has been conducting an extensive review
of its copper prospects during the winter, including the area known as M2
located in the Black Mountains group of claims.

 

At M2, a JORC-compliant independent report in 2018 established a copper
resource, partly inferred/partly indicated, of 4.28 million tonnes at a grade
of 0.45% Cu 1 .  This is a large resource at a significant grade but falls
short of the tonnage required for commercial development.

 

Included in the 2018 JORC-compliant independent resource report were the
following two statements:

 

(1)    The deposit contains a central area, 300 meters in length, which has
only been tested by two drillholes. This area is given a high probability of
containing additional resources.  At a finding rate of 3,505 tonnes per meter
we assume a probably target of 1 to 3 million tonnes, grading 0.4 to 0.6
percent total copper.

(2)    The area of M2 IP anomaly comprises 163 hectares. Deducting the
drilled area, which comprises 33 hectares, the target area consists of 130
hectares. Assuming a 65% probability of success, this target would consist of
9 to 14 million tonnes grading 0.4 to 0.6 percent total copper.

 

As the areas referred to in (1) and (2) above have not yet been drilled, they
are categorised as Exploration Targets in JORC terminology and cannot be
categorised as Resources.  The recent review of all available data, taking
into account the independent report on M2, has re-emphasised the exciting
potential for M2 which could far exceed the Resource already reported.

 

If these independently calculated Exploration Targets prove to be correct, the
Resource and the Exploration Targets together at M2 could become 14.3 - 21.3
million tonnes at 0.4 - 0.6 % copper, being several times larger than the
existing Resource.  Such an increase would be transformative for Great
Western, but in addition it should be noted that the 1.5 km strike-length
copper Resource at M2 lies within a 6.5 km belt of along-strike potential
which is all within the Company's claims, open to the northeast and southwest
as well as down-dip to the southeast.  The strongest IP anomaly, as yet
undrilled, is located to the southwest of the existing Resource under tertiary
lavas.  To the northeast, where tertiary lavas do not obscure the host
sequences, surface showings of copper occur for a further 1.5 km on Great
Western's claims.

 

Please visit the Black Mountain page on the Company website using the link
below to view images showing (1) the M2 prospect within the Black Mountains
group and (2) an overview of the regional setting of Great Western's claims
within an extensively mined area:

 

https://www.greatwesternmining.com/projects/black-mountain-group/
(https://www.greatwesternmining.com/projects/black-mountain-group/)

 

ANALYST VISIT

Great Western is hosting investment analysts in Mineral County, Nevada this
week who are visiting the Company's claims and reviewing progress at the mill
site.

 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

Great Western Executive Chairman Brian Hall will be presenting at the 2023
Global Mining Finance Spring Conference on Thursday 20th April 2023. This is
taking place at The Armourers' Hall, 81 Coleman St, London EC2R 5BJ and will
begin at 9.30 a.m. BST.  Complimentary delegate passes can be obtained using
the following link:

 

http://www.global-mining-finance.com/ (http://www.global-mining-finance.com/)

 

Brian Hall, Executive Chairman commented: "In-depth work over recent months
has made our copper potential look ever more interesting and we are actively
seeking a development partner for M2.  Once we have completed our studies of
the Huntoon Valley and the Eastside Mine copper prospects, we will report on
these as well. Great Western's near, medium and longer term objectives remain
(1) completing the mill facility and bringing it on to production (2)
continuing the search for precious metals and pinning down a discovery for
development and (3) ensuring that the potential upside of the Company's copper
prospects is maximised.  Importantly, once the mill is producing we will
become a revenue and cash generating business and we look forward to keeping
shareholders informed on progress."

 

Qualified  Person Statement: The information in this announcement that
relates to exploration results is based on information reviewed by Dr James
Blight MGeol PhD MAusIMM who is Exploration Manager of Great Western Mining
PLC. Dr Blight is a "Qualified Person" as defined in the "Note for Mining and
Oil & Gas Companies" which form part of the AIM Rules for Companies. Dr
Blight has reviewed and consented to the inclusion in the announcement of the
information in the form and context in which it appears.

 

 

For further information:

 

 Great Western Mining Corporation PLC
 Brian Hall, Executive                                                                    +44 207 933 8780
 Chairman

 Max Williams, Finance                                                                    +44 207 933 8780
 Director

 Davy (NOMAD, Euronext Growth Listing Sponsor & Joint Broker)

 Brian Garrahy/Lauren O'Sullivan                                                          +353 1 679 6363

 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Joint Broker)

 Ewan Leggat/Harry Davies-Ball                                                            +44 203 470 0470

 Walbrook PR (PR advisers)

 Nick                                                                                     +44 207 933 8783
 Rome

 

Notes to Editors

The Company has a large tract of acreage in Mineral County, Nevada. The area
consists of rugged, mountainous terrain, which means that large parts of it
remain under-explored. Mineral potential is hosted by the regional Walker Lane
Structural Belt, the largest structural and metallogenic belt in Nevada, yet
one of the least explored in recent times, with gold, silver and copper
currently produced in Mineral County.  Great Western has seven distinct
concession areas which offer the potential for exploiting (1) short term gold
and silver deposits and (2) long-term, world-class copper deposits.

 

Six of the Company's properties are in the west of Mineral County and are 100%
owned and operated.  The Company has an option to acquire a seventh property,
the Olympic Gold Project, in the east of the county.  Great Western's small
exploration team is supported by locally based consultants and contractors.

 

The state of Nevada is generally considered to be one of the world's most
mining friendly jurisdictions.  While tightly regulated and environmentally
conscious, Nevada welcomes the mining industry.  Great Western takes care to
ensure that its claims are maintained in good standing and all regulations
observed.

 

There are numerous gold and silver prospects on the Company's acreage,
including extensive historic mine workings which offer the opportunity for
secondary recovery. The Company is party to a 50-50 joint venture known as
Western Milling LLC which is constructing a mill to process pre-mined material
for secondary recovery of gold and silver.

 

Furthermore, through extensive drilling over a five-year period, GWM has
established a Mineral Resource on its first target area known as M2, of 4.3
million tonnes at 0.45% copper, for 19,000 tonnes of contained copper metal.
This resource has been independently reported in accordance with JORC
guidelines.

 

GWM has established an Inferred Resource Estimate of 31,000 tonnes grading 1.6
g/t gold and 3.0 g/t silver in tailings for the OMCO Mine at the Olympic Gold
Project.  It has also established Exploration targets.  In addition, the
Company has reported an Exploration Target as follows:

 

·    3,400 - 6,400 tonnes grading between 0.5 and 1.2 g/t Au and 1.2 and
2.1 g/t Ag in the substrate beneath the tailings volume at the Olympic Mine.

·    9,000 - 12,000 tonnes grading between 0.9 and 2.4 g/t Au and 2.0 and
5.1 g/t Ag in a coarse stockpile at Olympic Mine.

·    4,200 - 7,700 tonnes grading between 40 and 140 g/t Ag and 0.3 and
0.3 g/t Au in spoil heaps at Mineral Jackpot.

 1  1.53 Mt at 0.45% Cu Indicated, 2.75 Mt at 0.44% Cu Inferred at 0.2% cut
off.

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