REG - Shanta Gold Limited - New Luika Gold Mine Reserve and Resource Upgrade
18 November 2019
Shanta Gold Limited
("Shanta Gold", "Shanta" or the "Company")
New Luika Gold Mine Reserve and Resource Upgrade
Shanta Gold (AIM: SHG), the East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer, is pleased to provide a reserve and resource update as at 30 September 2019 at the New Luika Gold Mine ("NLGM") in South Western Tanzania.
Highlights
· New resources and reserves estimated following drilling programme for the 6-month period from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019, which totalled c.8.5 km and consisted of 81 holes all located within 4 km of the plant, at a cost of c.US$1m;
· This drilling has added new probable gold reserves totalling 135,438 ounces grading 4.07g/t Au at Bauhinia Creek Deep West, Elizabeth Hill North, Bauhinia Creek North and Black Tree Hill (the "Newly Drilled Targets");
· At these Newly Drilled Targets, drilling has resulted in Indicated resources of 219,408 ounces grading 3.19 g/t (inclusive of the abovementioned reserves and the 83,543 ounces already announced on 15 July 2019) up 219% from 57,916 ounces grading 1.77 g/t at end-December 2017;
· In addition, new Inferred resources of 94,007 ounces grading 2.75 g/t up 26% from 74,427 ounces grading 1.71 g/t have been estimated at the Newly Drilled Targets, with further drilling planned to prove this up;
· At one of the Company's existing mining areas, Ilunga underground reserves have decreased 44,000 oz since the reserves declared in March 2017 following grade control drilling and a revised resource model design;
· Since 30 September 2019, drilling has been ongoing on the Mining Licences and across other regional targets in the Lupa Goldfield;
· Approximately 4,000 meters of exploration drilling is planned for Q4 2019; and,
· Exploration update is expected prior to year-end 2019 with a consolidated reserves and resources statement expected in Q1 2020.
Eric Zurrin, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"The Company is pleased to announce a significant increase in reserves and resources at the Newly Drilled Targets, following a short and low-cost campaign that was completed in September. We have high expectations that the targets will continue to grow both in size and number as we look to add to our mine life at New Luika."We have restated the Reserve at Ilunga, which was insufficiently drilled ahead of declaration in 2017. Grade control undertaken during the period provides for a more accurate representation and increases confidence in Ilunga's contribution to the plant over the coming years."
On-mine reserve and resource upgrade
Shanta's exploration strategy at NLGM is focused on the existing Mining Licences totaling 30 sq km and across regional targets in the Lupa Goldfield within 20 km of the processing plant. New reserves and updated resources at the Bauhinia Creek Deep West and East, Elizabeth Hill North, Bauhinia Creek North and Black Tree Hill deposits are all on the existing Mining Licences and are within 4 km of the central processing plant.
All of the deposits remain open at depth and along strike. Additional drilling in Q4 2019 and into 2020 is aimed to test the extension of each deposit. Encouraging drilling results have been achieved since 30 September 2019.
Minimal capital expenditure is required to bring these deposits into production, which have now been scheduled in the Company's life of mine plan, based on probable JORC reserves, which has been extended through to 2024.
Table 1*: JORC Compliant Additional Mine Resource Summary - 30th September 2019 vs 31st December 2017 (at a cut-off grade of 1.0g/t Au)
Deposit
At 30 September 2019
At 31 December 2017
Indicated
Inferred
Indicated
Inferred
Tonnes (t)
Grade (g/t)
Ounces (Oz)
Tonnes (t)
Grade (g/t)
Ounces (Oz)
Tonnes (t)
Grade (g/t)
Ounces (Oz)
Tonnes (t)
Grade (g/t)
Ounces (Oz)
Elizabeth Hill
1,582,800
2.25
114,550
638,220
1.52
31,240
1,016,882
1.77
57,916
1,230,787
1.38
54,802
BC North
228,542
2.90
21,315
43,058
3.04
4,214
-
-
-
-
-
-
BC Deep West & East
331,041
7.85
83,543
380,336
4.79
58,553
-
-
-
125,342
4.87
19,625
Total
2,142,383
3.19
219,408
1,061,614
2.75
94,007
1,016,882
1.77
57,916
1,356,129
1.71
74,427
Table 2*: Conversion of Resources into new JORC Compliant Probable Reserves totaling 135,438 Ounces for the period of 1st January 2018 to 30th September 2019
Deposit
Mine 1
COG (Au_g/t)
Tonnes
Au_g/t
Ounces
Bauhinia Creek
UG
1.9
361,821
6.32
73,471
Bauhinia Creek North
OP/UG
0.6/1.9
174,651
3.21
18,037
Black Tree Hill
OP
0.6
292,395
1.33
12,469
Elizabeth Hill
OP
0.6
205,054
4.77
31,460
Total
1,033,920
4.07
135,438
* Reserve figures converted during a period of Jan to Sept 2019 by source
1. OP denotes Open pit; UG denotes underground
Ilunga Underground Mine revised reserve estimate
As noted in the Company's Q3 2019 Operations and Financial Report announced 17 October 2019, following prudent grade control drilling, the average orebody widths and gold grades at the Ilunga underground deposit in the first four sublevels have been found to be lower than estimated in the March 2017 ore reserves and Revised Mine Plan. As a result, probable gold reserves at Ilunga underground mine have decreased by 44k oz driven by a change of model and mine design including the introduction of sill pillars, in addition to depletion of 14k oz up to 30 September 2019.
Table 3*: JORC Compliant Ilunga Underground Reserve Summary comparison between 31st Oct 2018 against 30th Sep 2019
Ilunga Underground - Probable Reserves Comparison
31st Oct 2018
30th Sept 2019
Variances
COG
Au_g/t
2.5
2.3
Tonnes
Kt
688
442
246
Grade
Au_ g/t
5.56
4.52
1.04
Ounces
koz Au
122
64
58
* Figures as of 31st October 2018 with depletion of 14koz applied to September 2019
Regional Exploration Drilling
Regional exploration drilling across Shanta's holding of tenements in the Lupa Goldfield has commenced. A total of 2,030 meters of drilling is planned across prioritised exploration targets in Q4 2019, representing approximately half of all drilling planned for the Quarter. An additional drill rig has been procured and is now operational.
Enquiries:
Shanta Gold Limited
Eric Zurrin (CEO)
+255 (0) 22 292 5148
Luke Leslie (CFO)
Nominated Adviser and Broker
Numis Securities Limited
Paul Gillam / Alamgir Ahmed
+ 44 (0) 20 7260 1000
Financial Public Relations
Tavistock
Charles Vivian / Barnaby Hayward / Gareth Tredway
+44 (0) 20 7920 3150
About Shanta Gold
Shanta Gold is an East Africa-focused gold producer. It currently has defined ore resources on the New Luika and Singida projects in Tanzania and holds exploration licences covering approximately 1,500km2 in the country. Shanta's flagship New Luika Gold Mine commenced production in 2012 and produced 81,872 ounces in 2018. The Company has been admitted to trading on London's AIM and has approximately 787 million shares in issue.
For further information please visit: www.shantagold.com.
Qualified Person
The technical information contained within this announcement has been reviewed by Juma Kisunda (the Company's Chief Mine Geologist) and George Kondela (the Company's Senior Resource Geologist), who are Members of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (Aus.I.M.M). They have sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Persons as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' and for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note on Mining and Oil & Gas Companies dated June 2009.
Glossary
Glossary of Technical Terms
"Au"
chemical symbol for gold
"artisanal mining"
A subsistence miner who works independently, mining using their own resources
"cut off grade" (COG)
the lowest grade value that is included in a resource statement. It must comply with JORC requirement 19: "reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction" the lowest grade, or quality, of mineralised material that qualifies as economically mineable and available in a given deposit. It may be defined on the basis of economic evaluation, or on physical or chemical attributes that define an acceptable product specification
"g/t"
grammes per tonne, equivalent to parts per million
"Inferred Resource"
that part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not verified geological and/or grade continuity. It is based on information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes which may be limited or of uncertain quality and reliability
"Indicated Resource"
that part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are too widely or inappropriately spaced to confirm geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely enough for continuity to be assumed
"JORC"
The Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves 2012 (the "JORC Code" or "the Code"). The Code sets out minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for Public Reporting in Australasia of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves
"koz"
thousand troy ounces of gold
"Measured Resource"
that part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a high level of confidence. It is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are spaced closely enough to confirm geological and grade continuity
"Mineral Resource"
a concentration or occurrence of material of intrinsic economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. Mineral Resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories when reporting under JORC
"Mt"
million tonnes
"oz"
troy ounce (= 31.103477 grammes)
"Reserve"
the economically mineable part of a Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource
"t"
tonne (= 1 million grammes)
APPENDIX 1: SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND DATA
Sampling techniques
· Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.
· Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.
· Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.
· In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.
· Trenches were excavated to bedrock and sampled at the base by cutting a continuous channel (10 cm wide and 5 cm deep)
· Trenching samples were obtained from cut channels using geological and alteration contacts as a guide but limiting the sampling interval to between 30 - 100 cm to obtain about 3 kg per sample and submitted to the on-site lab (Quality Laboratory Services) or to the SGS Laboratory in Mwanza for analysis.
· At least 3kg sample pulverized and a 50g charge fire assayed with AAS finish for gold.
Drilling techniques
· Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).
· Diamond core drilling; NQ core size
Drill sample recovery
· Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.
· Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.
· Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material.
· Core sample recoveries routinely measured and recorded in spreadsheet database
· Samples split half core perpendicular to strike of structures
Logging
· Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.
· Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.
· The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.
· Logging of geology, alteration, and geotechnical aspects recorded in drill logs for diamond core drilling
· Logging is qualitative; All drill core photographed
· Entire intervals that were drilled and/or trenched were logged
Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation
· If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.
· If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.
· For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.
· Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.
· Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.
· Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.
· Half core taken; sawn
· For trench samples, the entire sample for the respective interval aggregated, not riffled or split
· Aggregated half core; Entire 3kg sample pulverized at laboratory prior to fire assay in order to minimize bias.
· Drilling and channels planed orthogonal to the strike of structures/lithologies in order to maximize representivity
· Field duplicates sampled at appropriate intervals
Quality of assay data and laboratory tests
· The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.
· For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.
· Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established.
· Fire assay is appropriate for the nature of gold mineralization being assayed
· No geophysical tools used to generate exploration results
· Registered reference material inserted at the interval of 20 samples
· Levels of accuracy and precision (detection limit) for gold is 0.01 ppm which is suitable for the level of assays reported
Verification of sampling and assaying
· The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.
· The use of twinned holes.
· Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.
· Discuss any adjustment to assay data.
· Significant intersections that were reported by field personnel are yet to be verified by an independent CP
· No twinning of drill holes
· Primary data was logged onto paper and later transferred into database, verified by a Senior Geologist and stored in electronic database, which is regularly backed up. Database is verified and compared with standard assays stored in using established company protocols
· No adjustments have been made to assay data
Location of data points
· Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.
· Specification of the grid system used.
· Quality and adequacy of topographic control.
· Drill holes and trenches were accurately surveyed using Trimble DGPS survey equipment
· Drill holes and trenches surveyed in UTM Coordinates System Arc 1960
· Topographical surveys were done using Aerial Lidar Survey
Data spacing and distribution
· Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.
· Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.
· Whether sample compositing has been applied.
· Drilling assayed on a maximum of 1 m downhole.
· The data spacing was enough to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the mineral resource estimation procedures
· Samples were not composited
Orientation of data in relation to geological structure
· Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.
· If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.
· Drilling and trenching planned perpendicular to the interpreted strike of lithological units and geological structures
· No sampling bias was interpreted
Sample security
· The measures taken to ensure sample security.
· Samples secured by senior personnel on site and transported directly by company vehicle to the laboratories (Quality Labs in NLGM and SGS in Mwanza)
Audits or reviews
· The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.
· Internal reviews are regularly completed but no external audits were carried out for the currently reported results
APPENDIX 2: REPORTING OF EXPLORATION RESULTS
Mineral tenement and land tenure status
· Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.
· The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.
· ML408/2010
· Valid to 20/09/2020
Exploration done by other parties
· Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.
· Historical colonial exploration and mining works
Geology
· Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation.
· Underlain by a complex association of high grade metamorphic- and intrusive lithologies, commonly intruded by dykes of variable composition. Modally, granodioritic and granitic lithologies are most commonly encountered.
· These granodiorites and granites have been interpreted as late-orogenic intrusive phases associated with gold mineralisation in the area. Subordinate diorite, porphyroblastic hornblende gabbro, quartzo-feldspathic felsite and migmatite are also regularly observed.
· Dyke intrusives include dolerite, pegmatite and common aplite and alaskite, seemingly randomly crosscutting major lithologies, and therefore regarded as younger than the country rock.
Drill hole Information
· A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes:
o easting and northing of the drill hole collar
o elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar
o dip and azimuth of the hole
o down hole length and interception depth
o hole length.
· If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case.
· Relevant tables included summarizing drill holes and trenches locations, RL, azimuth, length/depth, and significant intersection intervals
Data aggregation methods
· In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.
· Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.
· The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated.
· Exploration results from drilling and trench sampling have been weighted by interval
· No high-grade caps have been applied
· Lower cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au has generally been applied to significant intersections
· Aggregate drilling and trenching intervals do not incorporate longer lengths of low-grade results
· No metal equivalent reported
Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths
· These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.
· If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.
· If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known').
· Drill holes and trenches have been drilled/excavated as perpendicular as possible to the general strike of the mineralized zones and structures so that the intersected lengths are close to true widths
Diagrams
· Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.
· Maps and sections are being generated
Balanced reporting
· Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results.
· All significant drilling and trench results have been reported
Other substantive exploration data
· Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.
· Metallurgical studies on mineralised material from the Bauhinia Creek deposit during 2010/2011 indicated that the ore is amenable to direct cyanidation leaching with an average of 85% gold liberated
Further work
· The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).
· Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.
· Drilling to be continued to test the down-dip continuity of the delineated mineralization
APPENDIX 3: ESTIMATION AND REPORTING OF MINERAL RESOURCES
Database integrity
· Measures taken to ensure that data has not been corrupted by, for example, transcription or keying errors, between its initial collection and its use for Mineral Resource estimation purposes.
· Data validation procedures used.
· The data capturing access database is linked to a superseding access database on the geological server.
· Queries allow specially selected information from the captured data and create core data sheets which include Collar, Survey, Lithology and Assay logs. These logs are essentially used to display in the mining software by an OBDC link.
· An independent validation process is run for each log sheet in Micromine. Should there be any queries, a report file is created and exported to excel. The report will be mailed to the personnel responsible for data capturing to correct on the original data.
· Once confirmation is given of the updates, all databases are refreshed and the validation process in Micromine repeated with the use of form sets.
· Once all data validates, a number for the tear of validation is indicated in the collar file of the superseding database
Site visits
· Comment on any site visits undertaken by the Competent Person and the outcome of those visits.
· If no site visits have been undertaken indicate why this is the case.
· The site was visited on regular basis from April to August 2018 and the outcome was used in the resource estimation
Geological interpretation
· Confidence in (or conversely, the uncertainty of ) the geological interpretation of the mineral deposit.
· Nature of the data used and of any assumptions made.
· The effect, if any, of alternative interpretations on Mineral Resource estimation.
· The use of geology in guiding and controlling Mineral Resource estimation.
· The factors affecting continuity both of grade and geology.
· Diamond drilling was done perpendicular to the strike of the ore body at a dip designed to give a true intersection width of the mineralized body at a spacing less than 42m.
· The downhole survey was done at every 15m.
· Core meter marking, geological logging, structural interpretation, core sampling, Data validation and QAQC analysis was done by competent and experienced geologists
· Only samples submitted to the accredited laboratory (SGS Mwanza) were used in the estimate
· The limits of the structural features hosting the mineralized zone was interpreted by overlaying the assays against geological logging section by section using section strings.
Dimensions
· The extent and variability of the Mineral Resource expressed as length (along strike or otherwise), plan width, and depth below surface to the upper and lower limits of the Mineral Resource.
· Drill hole spacing is generally between 25 to 42m along with a vertical spacing of approximately 20 to 38m in the upper to mid-level portions of the mineralized zones. This drilling spacing combined with the surface exposures and trench sampling, along with the geophysical data, permits the assumption that both the mineralized structures are continuous and persistent, and the mineralization within the structures has the continuity necessary to consider these deposits as Mineral Resources
Estimation and modelling techniques
· The nature and appropriateness of the estimation technique(s) applied and key assumptions, including treatment of extreme grade values, domaining, interpolation parameters and maximum distance of extrapolation from data points. If a computer assisted estimation method was chosen include a description of computer software and parameters used.
· The availability of check estimates, previous estimates and/or mine production records and whether the Mineral Resource estimate takes appropriate account of such data.
· The assumptions made regarding recovery of by-products.
· Estimation of deleterious elements or other non-grade variables of economic significance (eg sulphur for acid mine drainage characterisation).
· In the case of block model interpolation, the block size in relation to the average sample spacing and the search employed.
· Any assumptions behind modelling of selective mining units.
· Any assumptions about correlation between variables.
· Description of how the geological interpretation was used to control the resource estimates.
· Discussion of basis for using or not using grade cutting or capping.
· The process of validation, the checking process used, the comparison of model data to drill hole data, and use of reconciliation data if available.
· Compositing the data into regular composite intervals was done to moderate the presence of extreme short sample interval grade values in the data by combining them with adjacent data to form the composite
· A combination of several methods was used to decide what constituted an appropriate capping value. The spatial position of the outlier values as well as coefficient of variation plots, lognormal probability plots and decile analysis were all used in the determination of capping values
· Scatter plots were generated of the gold grade composites versus location to assess any potential non-stationarity in the data.
· Block models were created to represent the mineralized body contained within the wireframe solids for each target. Cell sizes were chosen based on the average drill hole spacing
· Geostatistics was done using Micromine 2018 to determine the estimation parameters
· The mineralized target of Bauhinia Creek was modelled for gold grade using Ordinary Kriging with the shell of the wireframe solid as a hard boundary. Only data within the solid was used in the estimate. Where a target was bisected by faulting, only the data within a fault block was used to estimate that block. The Estimation process was done using Micromine software 2018 for all block grade estimates
Moisture
· Whether the tonnages are estimated on a dry basis or with natural moisture, and the method of determination of the moisture content.
· Dry tonnages
Cut-off parameters
· The basis of the adopted cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters applied.
· The cutoff grade(s) was generated by Shanta's experienced senior mining engineer based on current operating cost and gold price.
Mining factors or assumptions
· Assumptions made regarding possible mining methods, minimum mining dimensions and internal (or, if applicable, external) mining dilution. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential mining methods, but the assumptions made regarding mining methods and parameters when estimating Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made.
· An optimization study was conducted on the mineralization contained within the Bauhinia Creek target to ascertain whether they fulfil the criteria of "reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction" using current operating costs
· The mineral resource was deemed amenable to extraction by underground mining methods and were declared at a cut-off of 2.0g/t
Metallurgical factors or assumptions
· The basis for assumptions or predictions regarding metallurgical amenability. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential metallurgical methods, but the assumptions regarding metallurgical treatment processes and parameters made when reporting Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the metallurgical assumptions made.
· Shanta Mining Company Ltd commissioned the first of a series of gold deportment and metallurgical studies on mineralised material from the Saza tenement in June 2009. Reverse circulation drill chips from five mineralised targets were submitted for gold deportment testing
· Further metallurgical studies commissioned on mineralised material from the Bauhinia Creek deposit during 2010/2011 have supported initial gold deportment findings, with the following conclusion being reached. "The diagnostic leach results showed the samples to be amenable to direct cyanidation leaching with an average of 85% gold liberated" (Janse van Rensburg & Mashaba, 2011).
Environmental factors or assumptions
· Assumptions made regarding possible waste and process residue disposal options. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider the potential environmental impacts of the mining and processing operation. While at this stage the determination of potential environmental impacts, particularly for a greenfields project, may not always be well advanced, the status of early consideration of these potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an explanation of the environmental assumptions made.
· NLGM (of which Bauhinia Creek is a part) is fully permitted mining operation under Tanzanian law with the prerequisite environmental impact assessments and dedicated tailings storage facility
Bulk density
· Whether assumed or determined. If assumed, the basis for the assumptions. If determined, the method used, whether wet or dry, the frequency of the measurements, the nature, size and representativeness of the samples.
· The bulk density for bulk material must have been measured by methods that adequately account for void spaces (vugs, porosity, etc), moisture and differences between rock and alteration zones within the deposit.
· Discuss assumptions for bulk density estimates used in the evaluation process of the different materials.
· Density determinations have been carried out on the diamond cores at the Saza exploration office. The results ranged from 2.330 g/cm³ to 3.000 g/cm³, with the mean being 2.711 g/cm³.
Classification
· The basis for the classification of the Mineral Resources into varying confidence categories.
· Whether appropriate account has been taken of all relevant factors (ie relative confidence in tonnage/grade estimations, reliability of input data, confidence in continuity of geology and metal values, quality, quantity and distribution of the data).
· Whether the result appropriately reflects the Competent Person's view of the deposit.
· The resources have been classified as Indicated and Inferred based primarily on sample spacing as determined by drilling density and proximity to informing data as well as the grade distribution of the supporting data. For the resource classification, a solid shape was constructed around the parts of the mineralised body where most estimates were informed by data not more than 50m from the estimated block, are estimated within the primary search volume, and where the estimates have been interpolated rather than extrapolated. All blocks located within these areas were classified as Indicated resources. All blocks located outside of these areas, around the periphery of the drilling were classified as Inferred resources
Audits or reviews
· The results of any audits or reviews of Mineral Resource estimates.
· Only internal audit completed
Discussion of relative accuracy/ confidence
· Where appropriate a statement of the relative accuracy and confidence level in the Mineral Resource estimate using an approach or procedure deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For example, the application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate.
· The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should include assumptions made and the procedures used.
· These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate should be compared with production data, where available.
· Refer Estimation and modelling techniques comments above
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