Adavale Resources has commenced mobilisation of a multi-purpose reverse circulation diamond drill rig following completion of the 9 recent HEM surveys conducted over the company’s Kabanga and Luhuma Nickel Projects located within the East African Nickel Belt of Tanzania.

The drill program will initially focus on 7 high-priority nickel target areas
within the Kabanga North-East/Luhuma extension, Kabanga East and Kabanga West Licences. The program will be subject to ongoing refinement based on drill results, field
assessments and the final processed data from the HEM contractor.

“I’m very pleased that having completed the recent comprehensive geophysical survey work, the company is now entering into a very exciting phase of drill testing multiple targets. We are preparing for a highly active exploration period in the December quarter and expect a similar level of regular updates to the market.” said Adavale’s Executive Director, David Riekie.

Adavale’s Technical Director, John Hicks stated that the company’s initial high-priority target drill program will focus on 7 broad target areas which encompass the HEM survey areas 1 to 4 and 7 to 9.The drill rig will initially mobilise to Kabanga West to evaluate the HEM areas 7-9, which are on a similar latitude to our neighbor’s 58Mt @ 2.62% Ni, Kabanga Nickel deposit.

“We will remain flexible to ongoing adjustments to the drill program based on ongoing field
assessment of drill locations, drill results and the receipt of all final processed HEM survey data from the contractor, which is due over the coming weeks. Interpretation and modelling of the HEM data therefore remains ongoing at this point.

“We plan to test a number of anomalies identified within the broader target areas with diamond drill holes up to 500m deep, typically targeted at deeper coincident gravity and EM anomalies. Shallower RC holes may be drilled into individual gravity anomalies, to confirm the presence of prospective mafic-ultramafic bodies at depth. Down hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys will be performed on most holes to aid ongoing drill targeting.” he added.

The current drilling program is scheduled to continue over the 3-month period to December 2022 and be reviewed for ongoing refinement and reassessment including extensions to the program, based on results and additional drill target locations.

Uganda’s National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has approved the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for IonicRE’s majority owned (51%) Makuutu Rare Earth Project in Uganda.

This vote of confidence positions the Makuutu Rare Earth Project as Uganda’s next mining development, set to unlock unprecedented social and economic benefit through mineral development. The approval follows a 9-month assessment by NEMA culminating in two large public hearings with over 3,800 registered attendees demonstrating strong governmental and local stakeholder support.

The Makuutu Rare Earth Project is operated by Rwenzori Rare Metals Limited (“RRM”), a Ugandan company which is 51% owned by IonicRE at present, with the Company moving to 60% ownership on the completion of a Feasibility Study supporting the Mining Lease Application expected to be submitted to the Ugandan government at the end of October 2022.

“This is a significant milestone and vote of confidence by the Government and community groups – signifying the pivotal role Makuutu will play in the social, economic development and growth of Uganda. The Project aspires to be a significant contributor over a long period of time in Uganda.

To employ and train directly from within the local communities, source from local businesses and create further improved services, leading to an overall improved quality of life across the districts that host the Project.” commented Tim Harrison, IonicRE’s Managing Director.

RELATED:

IonicRE begins mining licence application process for Makuutu

The detailed ESIA report was submitted to NEMA in December 2021. After a review by government stakeholders and respective authorities, a public disclosure process was initiated in May 2022 with stakeholders providing feedback on the ESIA to NEMA.

The mining lease application (MLA) will focus on the Makuutu Central Zone (MCZ), located within RL 1693, and will provide the basis for initial mining at Makuutu. This area contains an Indicated Resource of 259 million tonnes at 740 ppm TREO-CeO2. Pending the award of the MLA, expected in 2023, the Company, via RRM, will be working with Ugandan authorities on a Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) which will establish the fiscal terms for the mine development in Uganda.

“This Project will set its sights on becoming Uganda’s flagship sustainable mine. Our vision is that Makuutu will provide global customers with an alternative supply of magnet and heavy rare earth elements needed for a Net-Zero Carbon world for 50 years and beyond.” concluded Harris.

Akobo Minerals has broken ground at its Segele gold mine in Ethiopia. This marks an important milestone on the path to gold production in early 2023.

 Jørgen Evjen, CEO of Akobo Minerals, stated:

“When excavation began today to remove the overburden at our mining site in south-west Ethiopia, it was the culmination of over a decade of tireless work for the company.”

“The next steps will be to undertake a short geotechnical evaluation, after which the ground supports will be set in place to allow for the safe establishment of a portal and the subsequent start of underground mining of gold in the first quarter of 2023 – marking a true landmark moment in the development of Akobo Minerals.”

RELATED:
Akobo Minerals starts Segele mine development

As well as ongoing mining development activities, the coming weeks will see the progression of civil engineering and construction of support facilities. The company also expects major equipment for the processing plant to be received shortly.

The primary short-term tasks for the newly arrived contract mining staff from IW Mining will be to work with Akobo’s engineers to develop the box cut for the incline shaft. The box cut is a small open cut built to supply a secure and safe entrance as access to a slope to an underground mine.

In addition, the contract staff will be recruiting and training local staff to join the company as they advance towards production. Securing positions for those living in the local community is a key element in Akobo Minerals’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) program.

The answer is that we started Minexx to bring traceability, transparency and trust to the mineral supply chains and help improve efficiency, health and safety on site and protect the environment.

Why are minerals important?  Isn’t mining an old unnecessary industry? The industry of the future is technology surely? 

Well minerals such as cobalt, copper, tungsten, tin and gold enable technology such as smartphones, electric cars and computers to function. In fact, smartphones contain about 60 different minerals in total. 

How do you meet the world’s demand for minerals whilst protecting people and planet?

The answer lies in capital for investment and semi-industrialisation. Access to capital for small mines in Africa is a major barrier to cleaner, fairer and a more transparent mineral supply chain. Mining sites in Africa need to purchase newer and better equipment to make their operations safer and more efficient. 

RELATED:
Minerals Council puts foot down on illegal miners
Illegal mining: Dealing with the scourge that is crippling our country
South Africa’s mining industry: corrupt, lethal, and criminal

Currently there is no formal finance available for small-scale mining sites. The local retail banks do not serve the sector. Minexx is helping fill this gap in the market. Our finance also explicitly ties in the recipients to using the Minexx traceability and due diligence platform – increasing transparency and trust. 

In terms of improving efficiency and safety in the gold extraction sector, the use of mercury in processing can cause environmental damage and damage human health. Gold recovery rates using the more traditional sluicing techniques result in very low gold capture.

The ‘UN Minamata Convention on Mercury’ came into effect in 2017. It is named after the bay in Japan where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-tainted industrial wastewater poisoned thousands of people, leading to severe long term health conditions that became known as the “Minamata disease.” 

The Minamata Convention aims to control the supply of mercury, reduce its use, reduce its gasification and release; raise public awareness; and build the necessary monitoring and enforcement institutions to #MakeMercuryHistory. 

Minexx is proud to support this convention and the work we do helps deliver on its aims by providing finance to small mining sites so they can buy more modern and efficient equipment to phase out the use of mercury. 

The more modern mining equipment purchased with these loan funds means that more of the mineral (eg gold, tungsten and tin) is recovered, which leads to higher production to meet high demand, which leads to more money in miners’ pockets AND a safer workplace AND less negative environmental impacts.

I firmly believe Minexx can help the global mineral supply chains help meet the world’s demand for technology in a way that is fair for both people and planet. 

A miner at on one of our client’s mines in Burkina Faso recently put it: “The new equipment that the loan from Minexx helped us buy, helps us waste less and produce more from the material we dig up. But more than that it is safer to use – meaning less accidents.  The new equipment also means we can use less mercury which is tricky stuff to handle and can harm my fellow miners and me.”

Volt Resources has provided a summary of progress achieved to date on its strategy to become a battery materials producer in the United States and Europe, based on an integrated supply chain using flake graphite from its mine and processing plant in Ukraine, and in time, from its development ready Bunyu graphite project in Tanzania.

Volt MD, Trevor Matthews, commented:

“The company is excited to summarise for investors the strong progress made across our downstream processing initiatives in the US this year, given the significant value uplift in creating finished graphite battery products. We have partnerships with several key groups, which allows us to develop products that utilise all graphite feedstock which supports excellent economics.

“These partners include Energy Supply Developers which has chosen Volt to be the CSPG supplier for its Super Site; Urban Electric Power for graphite coatings for the Alkaline battery market; and Apollo Energy Systems for Lead acid battery markets.

“We see these partnerships, and an additional soon-to-be-announced partnership, as highly valuable opportunities for Volt’s shareholders and we look forward to continuing to update you as they progress”.

Highlights

Volt through its US subsidiary, Volt Energy Materials LLC, has progressed its battery materials businesses in the United States to provide graphite products for key battery markets including:

1. Coated spheronised purified graphite (CSPG) for the Lithium-ion battery (LIB) market
2. Graphite coatings and electrode additivesfor the Alkaline battery market
3. Graphite expander additive for negative electrode for the lead acid battery market

• Recent appointment of Prashant Chintawar as Senior Advisor – Battery Materials, who joined Michael Lew, Vice President – Business Development
• USA and other advisers
• The continuation and development of the technical partnership with American Energy Technologies Corporation (AETC)
• LIB cell developer collaboration agreements for the supply of CSPG in progress

Adavale Resources has commenced mobilisation of a multi-purpose reverse circulation diamond drill rig following completion of the 9 recent HEM surveys conducted over the company’s Kabanga and Luhuma Nickel Projects located within the East African Nickel Belt of Tanzania.

The drill program will initially focus on 7 high-priority nickel target areas
within the Kabanga North-East/Luhuma extension, Kabanga East and Kabanga West Licences. The program will be subject to ongoing refinement based on drill results, field
assessments and the final processed data from the HEM contractor.

“I’m very pleased that having completed the recent comprehensive geophysical survey work, the company is now entering into a very exciting phase of drill testing multiple targets. We are preparing for a highly active exploration period in the December quarter and expect a similar level of regular updates to the market.” said Adavale’s Executive Director, David Riekie.

Adavale’s Technical Director, John Hicks stated that the company’s initial high-priority target drill program will focus on 7 broad target areas which encompass the HEM survey areas 1 to 4 and 7 to 9.The drill rig will initially mobilise to Kabanga West to evaluate the HEM areas 7-9, which are on a similar latitude to our neighbor’s 58Mt @ 2.62% Ni, Kabanga Nickel deposit.

“We will remain flexible to ongoing adjustments to the drill program based on ongoing field
assessment of drill locations, drill results and the receipt of all final processed HEM survey data from the contractor, which is due over the coming weeks. Interpretation and modelling of the HEM data therefore remains ongoing at this point.

“We plan to test a number of anomalies identified within the broader target areas with diamond drill holes up to 500m deep, typically targeted at deeper coincident gravity and EM anomalies. Shallower RC holes may be drilled into individual gravity anomalies, to confirm the presence of prospective mafic-ultramafic bodies at depth. Down hole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys will be performed on most holes to aid ongoing drill targeting.” he added.

The current drilling program is scheduled to continue over the 3-month period to December 2022 and be reviewed for ongoing refinement and reassessment including extensions to the program, based on results and additional drill target locations.