Agoracom Blog Home

Posts Tagged ‘#mining’

#Nickel star performance underpinned by old and new drivers $TN.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:49 AM on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018
  • Nickel is turning out to be the star performer of the major industrial metals so far this year
  • LME three-month nickel is up 16 percent on the start of the year

By Andy Home

LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) – Nickel is turning out to be the star performer of the major industrial metals so far this year.

True, the London Metal Exchange (LME) price has retreated from April’s three-year high of $16,690 as panic that U.S. sanctions on Russia might be extended to Norilsk Nickel has dissipated.

But at a current $14,650 per tonne, LME three-month nickel is still up 16 percent on the start of the year. Tin, the second strongest performer among the LME base metals pack, is up by just two percent.

In China the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) contract largely ignored London’s Russian jitters but has also just notched up its highest trading level in three years.

Both London and Shanghai markets are being buoyed by falling visible inventory, which is reinforcing a bullish narrative of supply shortfall.

Graphic on relative performance of major LME contracts:

tmsnrt.rs/2LiDHlT

Graphic on LME and ShFE nickel stocks:

tmsnrt.rs/2LgOOvX

FALLING STOCKS, RISING DEFICIT

LME stocks of nickel have fallen every month since August last year.

At 303,576 tonnes, they are down by 63,036 tonnes, or 17 percent, on the start of 2018 and are now at their lowest level since June 2014.

Stocks registered with the ShFE closed last week at 33,000 tonnes, their lowest level since October 2015, when the Shanghai contract was in its infancy.

Combined exchange stocks of 336,600 tonnes are now a long way off the highs above 500,000 tonnes seen during the first quarter of 2016.

This erosion of visible inventory reinforces the picture of a supply shortfall painted by the International Nickel Study Group (INSG).

The INSG forecast in April that the world refined nickel market would register a shortfall of 117,000 tonnes this year.

It follows a similar sized deficit in 2017 and marks a significant revision from the Group’s previous assessment in October 2017 that the deficit this year would be around 53,000 tonnes.

Key to that revision is an upgrade of expected global consumption growth from 5 percent to 7 percent this year.

OLD DRIVER

A core driver of that strong demand growth is nickel’s traditional usage sector, stainless steel.

Global stainless production rose by 5.8 percent to a record 48.1 million tonnes last year, according to the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF).

China is the world’s largest producer of stainless steel and the country’s output increased by almost 5 percent last year.

But every other region saw production growth as well, ranging from 1.3 percent in Western Europe to 22 percent in the ISSF’s “others” category, which comprises Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and South Korea.

Stainless production, and therefore nickel consumption, is expected to rise again this year, albeit at a slightly less stellar pace.

However, if this were just a stainless steel story, the impact on nickel’s fortunes would be more muted.

Nickel production is also rising fast, particularly in Indonesia, the core supplier of nickel ore to China’s nickel pig iron (NPI) sector, which is itself increasingly integrated with the country’s stainless steel producers.

The part reversal of a 2014 ban on the export of unprocessed nickel ore has reinvigorated Indonesian production.

The country’s mined production jumped by 74 percent to 345,000 tonnes in 2017 and maintained that rate of growth in the first two months of this year, according to the INSG.

The impact is there to see in China’s trade figures, with imports of Indonesian nickel ore accelerating to 3.3 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2018 from just 300,000 tonnes in the same period of 2017.

The resumption of this raw materials flow is expected to cause a rebound in China’s own NPI output as well as underpin continued growth in the off-shored NPI capacity now located in Indonesia itself.

If this were just a stainless steel story, in other words, the supply gap would be narrowing over the course of this year, as originally expected by the INSG in its October 2017 assessment.

NEW DRIVER

However, the nickel price is no longer just a function of being an input into the stainless steel production process.

Nickel is an increasingly bifurcated market, one part oriented towards stainless and the other towards use in the super-alloys and battery sectors.

Indeed, “nickel-containing batteries” got their first specific mention in the INSG April forecast for having “a positive effect on nickel usage”, a trend that “is expected to continue”.

None of the current Indonesian production surge is going anywhere near a lithium battery. Neither nickel ore nor nickel pig iron is suitable for conversion into the form of the metal, sulfate, that is used for batteries.

Battery-makers need refined metal, or what the nickel industry terms “Class 1” material.

Precisely the sort of nickel that qualifies for good delivery on the LME and the Shanghai exchanges and precisely the sort of nickel that is now leaving those exchanges.

Not that the battery sector is by itself causing the run on visible inventory.

There are other factors in the mix, not least the decision by the world’s largest nickel producer Vale to idle capacity in response to what were until very recently super-low prices.

But there is a sense that the battery supply chain may be starting to stock up on what is already a key metallic input and one that is expected to gain in importance as battery-makers use more nickel and less cobalt in their configurations.

Moreover, the battery story has charged investor enthusiasm ever since it burst onto the nickel scene during LME Week last October.

LME broker Marex Spectron estimates that speculators are currently long nickel to the tune of 9 percent of open interest, making it the largest speculative long in the base metals pack.

Nickel’s traditional price driver, the stainless sector, is the foundation on which the current price strength rests but the extra spice is coming from the battery sector, even if somewhat preemptively via supply chain hoarding and investor interest.

There remains an underlying tension between booming production of nickel for usage by stainless steel mills and lagging output of Class 1 nickel that could be used by battery-makers.

But for now, old and new drivers are both pushing nickel in the same direction.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-ecb-graphic/graphic-little-evidence-that-ecb-would-use-quantitative-easing-to-play-politics-idUSKCN1IN1SS

Monarques Gold $MQR.ca To Commission Its Beacon Mill In The Last Quarter Of 2018 $MUX.ca $SII.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:07 AM on Thursday, May 17th, 2018

Emerging gold producer in Abitibi (CNW Group/Monarques Gold Corporation)

  • Strong demand for its custom milling services spurs the Company to start up its mill
  • mill is located on Route 117, within 500 metres of the railway line and less than 10 km from the Beaufor Mine
  • Allocated a budget of $1.5 million to upgrade the facility
  • Expects to commission the 750 tonne-per-day plant in the last quarter of 2018

MONTREAL, May 17, 2018  – MONARQUES GOLD CORPORATION (“Monarques” or the “Corporation”) (TSX.V: MQR) (OTCMKTS: MRQRF) (FRANKFURT: MR7) is pleased to announce that it has decided to start up its Beacon mill in Val-d’Or. The mill is located on Route 117, within 500 metres of the railway line and less than 10 km from the Beaufor Mine. The Corporation has allocated a budget of $1.5 million to upgrade the facility, and expects to commission the 750 tonne-per-day plant in the last quarter of 2018.

The Beacon mill remained in a very good condition over the shutdown period. It has its operating permits, including a certificate of authorization from the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change to process 1,800,000 tonnes of tailings, or approximately nine years of mineral processing at full capacity.

The Corporation has retained SNC-Lavalin to do the engineering work required to upgrade and restart the tailings management facility, and in May will file an updated closure plan with the MERN (Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources), which must approve the plan before the mill can be commissioned.

“This is a strategic decision for Monarques, as we expect to be able to operate the Beacon mill at full capacity for a long time,” said Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarques. “We are also proud to have excess demand for our custom milling services, as it reflects the quality of the service provided by our employees at the Camflo mill, which is currently operating at full capacity. These activities are also profitable for Monarques, of course, and will be even more so once we are producing at our full authorized capacity of 2,350 tonnes-per-day for the Beacon and Camflo mills.”

The technical and scientific content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Marc-André Lavergne, P.Eng., the Corporation’s qualified person under National Instrument 43‑101.

ABOUT MONARQUES GOLD CORPORATION

Monarques Gold Corporation (TSX.V:MQR) is an emerging gold producer focused on pursuing growth through its large portfolio of high-quality projects in the Abitibi mining camp in Quebec, Canada. The Corporation currently owns close to 300 km² of gold properties (see map), including the Beaufor Mine, the Croinor Gold (see video), Wasamac, McKenzie Break and Swanson advanced projects, and the Camflo and Beacon mills, as well as six promising exploration projects. It also offers custom milling services out of its 1,600 tonne-per-day Camflo mill. Monarques enjoys a strong financial position and has more than 150 skilled employees who oversee its operating, development and exploration activities.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Monarques‘ actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cision View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monarques-gold-to-commission-its-beacon-mill-in-the-last-quarter-of-2018-300650322.html

SOURCE Monarques Gold Corporation

View original content with multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2018/17/c7947.html

Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer, 1-888-994-4465, [email protected], www.monarquesgold.com; Elisabeth Tremblay, Senior Geologist – Communications Specialist, 1-888-994-4465, [email protected], www.monarquesgold.comCopyright CNW Group 2018

$NSM.ca Northern Sphere Mining Corp. Enters Blockchain Market by Forming a Strategic Alliance with Blockchain Ready Inc. $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 9:32 AM on Tuesday, May 15th, 2018

Nsm

  • Entered into a strategic alliance with Blockchain Ready Inc.
  • Company will work with BCR, using Northern Sphere’s Arizona and Ontario properties, to create, develop and commercialize the Blockchain Ready platform, which will include regulatory assistance, material tracking, and more.

Northern Sphere Mining Corp. (CSE: NSM) (OTCQB: NSMCF) (“Northern Sphere” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has entered into a strategic alliance with Blockchain Ready Inc. (“Blockchain Ready” or “BCR”) to advance a blockchain platform in the mineral exploration space.

The Company will work with BCR, using Northern Sphere’s Arizona and Ontario properties, to create, develop and commercialize the Blockchain Ready platform, which will include regulatory assistance, material tracking, and more. Northern Sphere’s properties offer exploration and potential for near term and small-scale production, which is an ideal combination for BCR to develop all aspects of its program in two mine friendly geographic locations. In consideration, Northern Sphere will have access to the Blockchain Ready platform.

The Blockchain Ready-Northern Sphere model will use blockchain technology in a strategic format that has the potential to revolutionize the way junior mining exploration is accomplished. Northern Sphere and BCR are also working with the Aboriginal Community to establish a blockchain model specifically designed to manage and streamline their relationships with mining companies. Northern Sphere has an excellent ongoing relationship with the Aboriginal Community, which will prove to be essential for all parties during BCR blockchain development.

The Company believes that this strategic alliance will place it at the front of this fast-emerging market and will provide Northern Sphere with an advantage over similar companies in the mining industry. The Company believes that blockchain is here to stay and will become the standard for the way mining companies move forward with their projects.

Northern Sphere believes in using leading edge technologies such as blockchain as well as artificial intelligence AI, hyperspec, advanced geophysics, geochem and 3 D modelling methods to advance its properties expeditiously and economically to the benefit of all of its stakeholders.

About Northern Sphere Mining Corp.

Northern Sphere is dedicated to growth through the acquisition and development of mining assets with an emphasis on gold, silver and copper. In efforts to expedite and optimize mineral targeting on its assets, the Company is employing cutting-edge exploration technologies to generate robust mining projects. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Northern Sphere has a strong project pipeline of properties with a focus on gold, silver and other metal production in pro-mining jurisdictions.

About Blockchain Ready Inc.

Blockchain Ready is a private company that aims to forge strong relationships with Aboriginal Communities, mining and exploration companies, and governments, in order to help them realize the full potential of blockchain technology within the natural resource sector. Blockchain Ready was formed to develop and incorporate blockchain technology into the mining industry by working cooperatively with all stakeholders in order to simplify and streamline databases, increase security and efficiency, provide easier communication between Aboriginal Communities, industry, government, and other stakeholders, and to revolutionize the way companies and individuals explore and invest in mining properties. This advanced blockchain technology will mutually benefit the government, indigenous populations, and other mining companies by increasing the accountability of all parties, and by redirecting time and money to further discovery and development of mineral resources.

Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect Northern Sphere’s current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. Northern Sphere disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

A. John Carter
Chief Executive Officer
Northern Sphere Mining Corp.
Tel: 905-302-3843

 

#Nickel Prices to Move Higher as Demand Outstrips Supply $TN.ca $NI.ca $GP.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:36 PM on Friday, May 11th, 2018

Scotiabank predicts nickel prices will trend higher heading into 2019 and beyond on the back of increasing demand.

  • Price of nickel is finally beginning to tick upwards after a decade of surplus in supply saw prices fall from US$25 per pound in 2007 to a low of US$3.50 per pound in 2016
  • Nickel is currently (May 10) trading at US$6.26 per pound – though Scotiabank predicts that the price of the base metal will continue to push upwards heading into 2019 and beyond

Demand has finally started to outstrip supply for nickel, but the market will require multi-year deficits to draw down the significant glut of excess metal that has been built up in warehouses.

That’s according to Scotiabank’s Metals Market Outlook Q2 update released today.

According to the report, the price of nickel is finally beginning to tick upwards after a decade of surplus in supply saw prices fall from US$25 per pound in 2007 to a low of US$3.50 per pound in 2016.

Nickel is currently (May 10) trading at US$6.26 per pound – though Scotiabank predicts that the price of the base metal will continue to push upwards heading into 2019 and beyond.

“Nickel prices are expected to gradually move higher over the next half decade as inventories normalize, averaging $6.00/lb in 2018 and $6.50/lb in 2019,” says the report.

Scotiabank notes that the increase in demand has a long way to go in drawing down excess inventory of nickel in global exchanges, as they are currently sitting on more than 70 days of global nickel demand, while other base metals are comparatively svelte. Copper has 11 days worth of supply, and zinc is all the way down at 7 days.

Demand has so far reduced inventory by 30 percent since early 2016.

The reports thoughts on why there’s more appetite for nickel echo those of FocusEconomics’ latest report, which said that “the strengthening in nickel prices over last year’s lows is being driven by solid global demand… Increasing demand for electronic vehicles, which use batteries with a higher nickel content, is supporting prices for nickel.”

Scotiabank’s take leans on electric vehicles and batteries less though.

“While EV batteries could provide significant to future nickel demand, it is worth remembering that nickel demand over the next five years will remain governed primarily by the stainless-steel sector—stainless steel accounted for 69 percent of end-use nickel demand in 2018 vs only 3 percent for EV batteries,” says the report.

There are also “early warning signs” that China will be demanding less nickel through the rest of 2018.

“Stainless steel demand has been weaker than expected following the Chinese New Year and inventories are building up at domestic mills, which will likely lead to stainless run-cuts and reduce nickel demand from its primary end-use sector.”

Scotiabank also said that increasing demand is being met with uncertainty in supply, with the world’s former champion in nickel mining, the Philippines shuttering mines and slashing production from 347,000 million tonnes in 2016 to 230,000 million tonnes last year.

President Rodrigo Duterte has also shown no sign of softening his approach in the time since.

Over half of the Philippines nickel producing mines have been shuttered over the past two years following an environmental audit, and the report said that the department responsible for the action is slow in reopening them despite a change in leadership.

For that, the Philippines gave up first place in nickel production to Indonesia, which has relaxed its own laws on exporting low-grade nickel.

“(Indonesia) is exporting ever-more nickel ore after the unprocessed ore ban was lifted last year, and the raw material is being accompanied by nickel pig iron sourced from Indonesia’s growing domestic processing industry.”

The report also said that the higher price is being helped along by lingering fears over sanctions after the US started handing them out earlier this year.

Currently, nickel is trading at US$6.26 per pound.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!

Source: https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/base-metals-investing/nickel-investing/that-nickel-in-your-pockets-worth-more-scotiabank/

FEATURE: New Age Metals $NAM.ca Canada’s Largest Undeveloped Primary PGM Resource, with M&I 4,626,250 Palladium Equivalent Ounces$WG.ca $XTM.ca $WM.ca $PDL.ca $GLEN

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:20 PM on Wednesday, May 9th, 2018

New age large

(NAM:TSXV)

Two Divisions: PGM and Lithium

  • PGM Division: focus on Development of the 100% owned River Valley PGM Project. Canada’s Largest Undeveloped Primary PGM Resource, with M&I 4,626,250 Palladium Equivalent Ounces
  • Lithium Canada: with a focus on Exploration of Hard Rock Lithium, in Manitoba, Canada and Lithium Brine in Nevada. The company uses the Prospector Generator Model.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • 100% owned River Valley Extension Project (RVE), is undergoing its first NI 43-101 resource calculation.
  • To date, River Valley has M&I 4,626,250 Palladium Equivalent Ounces
  • Excellent infrastructure and are within 100 kilometers of the Sudbury Metallurgical Complex.
  • Ground IP geophysics to test T4-T9 targets are now complete, final report slated for early April.
  • Drilling is slated for Summer/Fall 2018/Winter 2019.
  • Advanced stage mineralogical testing is ongoing in Sudbury at Expert Process Solutions (XPS).

FEATURE: Monarques Gold $MQR.ca A PRODUCER With $9.8M In Quarterly Revenues $MUX.ca $SII.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:15 AM on Wednesday, May 9th, 2018

<

Why Monarques Gold?

  • A gold producer with the Beaufor Mine, located in one of the best mining jurisdictions in Canada.
  • $9.8M in quarterly revenue
  • A large portfolio of mining assets, including the Beaufor Mine, two mills (Camflo and Beacon), two advanced projects (Wasamac and Croinor Gold) and eight exploration projects covering more than 240 km2 in the Abitibi region.
  • Upside potential and leverage to the gold price with the Wasamac project.
  • NI 43-101 proven and probable reserves of 162,790 ounces of gold, measured and indicated resources of 1.76 million ounces and inferred resources of 1.67 million ounces
  • Over 150 highly experienced, qualified employees will join the Monarques team.
  • Strong financial position, with cash of $18.2 million

Q3 Highlights (March 31st)

  • Produced 4,932 ounces of gold in its third quarter, a decrease of 9% from the 5,444 ounces produced the previous quarter, mainly due to the breakdown of ore haulage equipment at the Beaufor Mine and a planned shutdown for maintenance at the Camflo mill. As soon as the equipment was repaired, production resumed at the same pace as in the previous quarter.
  • Revenues of $9.8 million in the third quarter, from the sale of 4,823 ounces of gold at an average price of $1,624 per ounce (US $1,284), combined with revenue from custom milling, which was up 17% for the quarter.
  • Final results of its 2017 drilling program at the Beaufor Mine. The results were from 52 holes totalling 7,157 metres of drilling, including 5 exploration holes (2,651 metres) and 47 definition holes (4,506 metres). The holes were drilled on several areas of the mine, including Zone Q, Zone QH2, Zone 32, and projects 350H, 1700 and Granodiorite East (see press release dated March 27, 2018).

New Age Metals $NAM.ca Announces 4,626,250 PdEq Ounces, With 2,713,933 Ounces in Inferred NI 43-101 Update River Valley Platinum Group Metal Deposit, Sudbury $WG.ca $XTM.ca $WM.ca $PDL.ca $GLEN

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:10 AM on Tuesday, May 8th, 2018

New age large

  • River Valley is the largest undeveloped primary PGM resource in Canada, the March 2018 NI 43-101 has updated the 2012 resource. The River Valley PGM Project has excellent infrastructure and is within 100 kilometers of the Sudbury Metallurgical Complex. The project is 100% owned by New Age Metals.
  • 4,626,250 PdEq ounces, with 2,713,933 ounces in Inferred at a 0.4 g/t cut-off.
  • The company objective of increasing the resource beyond 1Moz in the northern portion was achieved.
  • Footwall PGM mineralization, “The Pine Zone/T3”, a new discovery and additional source of PGMs at the River Valley Project (RVP), was included in the new resource model.
  • The River Valley Extension mineralization in the south end of the deposit was added to the NI 43-101 Resource Calculation
  • The 43-101 is filed on Sedar at www.sedar.com or on the NAM website at 2018 NI 43-101.
  • Lithium Division: A minimum of $600,000 will be expended in 2018 on the companies Lithium division by New Age Metals option/joint venture partner Azincourt Energy Corp. (TSX.V: AAZ) (news release May 2nd, 2018) The 2018 budget will allow for 2 out of the 3 drill ready projects to be drilled. New Age Metals technical team is the field manager (press release dated Jan 15th, 2018).

May 8th 2018 / Rockport, Canada – New Age Metals Inc.(NAM) (TSX.V: NAM; OTCQB: NMTLF; FSE: P7J.F) The company is very pleased to announce that the NI43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resource calculation at a cut-off grade of 0.4 g.t PdEq is complete and has been posted on Sedar and the company website. The River Valley PGM Project is located 100 km from the world-class Sudbury Ni-Cu-PGM Mining Camp and has excellent infrastructure. The project is 100% owned by New Age Metals (NAM).

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on our website (www.newagemetals.com) to receive our updated news or click here.

New NI 43-101 Compliant Resource Estimation

WSP Canada, under the supervision of Todd McCracken, P. Geo (Manager-Mining at WSP Canada) has completed the new NI 43-101 compliant resource estimation of the River Valley PGM Deposit in the Sudbury Mining District of Ontario, Canada. The new resource estimation has incorporated all the past data, geophysics, new drilling since 2015 and the River Valley Extension (RVE), including the additional drilling in the new footwall discoveries Pine Zone and T3.

The results of the new resource estimation are tabulated in Table 1 below (0.4 PdEq cut-off).

Class Tonnes

‘,000

Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Rh (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ni (%) Co (%) PdEq (g/t)
Total Measured 62,877.5 0.49 0.19 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.01 0.002 0.99
Total Indicated 97,855.2 0.40 0.16 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.01 0.002 0.83
Total Meas +Ind 160,732.7 0.44 0.17 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.01 0.002 0.90
Inferred 127,662.0 0.27 0.12 0.01 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.002 0.66

 

Class PGM + Au (oz) PdEq (oz) PtEq (oz) AuEq (oz)
Total Measured 1,440,248 1,999,575 1,999,575 1,136,930
Total Indicated 1,856,925 2,626,675 2,626,675 1,463,793
Total Meas +Ind 3,297,173 4,626,250 4,626,250 2,600,724
Inferred 1,578,367 2,713,933 2,713,933 1,323,809

 

Table 1: River Valley 2018 Resource Calculation (WSP Canada, Todd McCracken, P.Geo)

 

Notes:

  1. 1.CIM definition standards were followed for the resource calculation.
  2. 2.The 2018 resource models used Ordinary Krig grade estimation within a three-dimensional block model with mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids.
  3. 3.A base cut-off grade of 0.4 % g/t PdEq was used for reporting resources.
  4. 4.Palladium Equivalent (PdEq) calculated using (US$): $1,000/oz Pd, $1,000/oz Pt, $1,350/oz Au, $1750/oz Rh, $3.20/lb Cu, $5.50/lb Ni, $36/lb Co.
  5. 5.Numbers may not add exactly due to rounding.
  6. 6.Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have economic viability
  7. 7.The quantity and grade of reported inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or measured mineral resource category.

To date, approximately 45 million dollars has been expended by NAM and previous partners on the projects. The River Valley mineralized contact extends throughout the 16 kilometers of the project as well as the additional possibility of other footwall mineralization zones. To date footwall PGM mineralization has been identified the Pine and T3 Zone.


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: River Valley Geology and Zone Map, 2018

Zone Tonnes Pd (g/t) Pt
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
Ni
(%)
Cu
(%)
Co
(%)
Rh (g/t) PdEq (g/t)
Measured Resources
Dana 32,631,150 0.52 0.20 0.04 0.01 0.06 0.002 0.02 1.05
Pine 2,568,000 0.55 0.20 0.03 0.02 0.06 0.004 0.01 1.11
Dana S 9,433,730 0.58 0.21 0.04 0.01 0.05 0.003 0.02 1.10
Lismer 18,244,630 0.38 0.16 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.002 0.01 0.80
Lismer Ext
Varley
Razor
Banshee
Azen
River Valley Ext
TOTAL 62,877,510 0.49 0.19 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.02 0.99
Indicated Resources
Dana 2,175,700 0.53 0.22 0.02 0.02 0.06 0.0003 0.01 1.00
Pine 271,600 0.49 0.21 0.02 0.01 0.07 0.001 0.01 0.97
Dana S 13,573,600 0.51 0.18 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.003 0.02 0.97
Lismer 33,356,300 0.35 0.14 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.002 0.01 0.77
Lismer Ext 19,836,300 0.46 0.19 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.02 0.93
Varley 28,632,100 0.37 0.14 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.01 0.76
Razor
Banshee 9,600 0.26 0.16 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.55
Azen
River Valley Ext
TOTAL 97,855,200 0.40 0.16 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.02 0.83
(table continues on next page)
Measured & Indicated Resources
Dana 34,806,850 0.52 0.20 0.04 0.01 0.06 0.002 0.02 1.05
Pine 2,839,600 0.55 0.20 0.03 0.02 0.06 0.003 0.01 1.10
Dana S 23,007,330 0.54 0.19 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.003 0.02 1.02
Lismer 51,600,930 0.36 0.14 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.002 0.01 0.78
Lismer Ext 19,836,300 0.46 0.19 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.02 0.93
Varley 28,632,100 0.37 0.14 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.01 0.76
Razor
Banshee 9,600 0.26 0.16 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.55
Azen
River Valley Ext
TOTAL 160,732,710 0.44 0.17 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.002 0.02 0.90
Inferred Resources
Dana 272,000 0.56 0.21 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.94
Pine 51,000 0.37 0.21 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.66
Dana S
Lismer 2,453,000 0.22 0.10 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.002 0.01 0.54
Lismer Ext
Varley 125,000 0.20 0.11 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.002 0.01 0.58
Razor 42,744,000 0.26 0.11 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.001 0.01 0.63
Banshee 13,893,000 0.25 0.14 0.03 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.57
Azen 35,903,000 0.27 0.09 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.00 0.01 0.70
River Valley Ext 32,221,000 0.29 0.17 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.70
TOTAL 127,662,000 0.27 0.12 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.002 0.01 0.66

 

Table 2: River Valley Detailed Resource Summary (using 0.4 g/t PdEq Cutoff)

 


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Northern Portion of the River Valley PGM Deposit Showing Regions of Recent IP Geophysics and grade at a 0.4g/t cut-off. NOTE: Image only represents approximately 3.5 km of the 16 km of the overall strike length of the River Valley PGM deposit. Note: The Yellow Band represents the footwall potential area of the River Valley Deposit based on the results of the Pine Zone where footwall mineralization was noted to extend 150 meters eastward from the Pine Zone/ T3 main deposit. At present the only area that has confirmed footwall mineralization is in the Pine Zone (defined from 2015 to 2017 drilling). Geophysics and exploration are in progress to test other areas of the project.

River Valley 2018 Exploration & Development Objectives

  1. 1.Ground IP geophysics from T3 south to T9 (Completed);
  2. 2.Utilize the new resource estimation to establish further drill targets (Q1-Q3 2018);
  3. 3.Continue with drilling in the northern portion of the project (slated for Q3-Q4 2018 & Q1 2019);
  4. 4.Explore more target areas based on recommendations of the updated 43-101 and the 2018 geophysics (slated for Q3-Q4 2018 & Q1-Q2 2019);
  5. 5.Complete mineralogical studies (Complete), ongoing Metallurgical studies;
  6. 6.Continue to advance the River Valley PGM Project towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the River Valley PGM Deposit; and
  7. 7.Our Corporate Mandate is to build a series of open pits (bulk mining) over the 16 kilometers of mineralization. We will mine, crush, and concentrate on site, then ship the concentrates to Sudbury. The objective of NAM before the March 2018 43-101 was to increase the resource in the northern portion (Pine Zone/Dana North/Dana South/Lismer North) to over 1Moz of PGMs. The new 43-101 accomplished this.

 


Click Image To View Full Size

 

Figure 3: Zone map of the River Valley PGM Deposit Note: The Yellow Band represents the footwall potential area of the River Valley Deposit based on the results of the Pine Zone where footwall mineralization was noted to extend 150 meters eastward from the Pine Zone/ T3 main deposit. At present the only area that has confirmed footwall mineralization is in the Pine Zone (defined from 2015 to 2017 drilling). Geophysics and exploration are in progress to test other areas of the deposit. Management’s specific focus is to outline a sufficient economic resource in the northern portion of the project, and then develop a series of open pits (bulk mining), crush, and concentrate on site, then ship the concentrates to Sudbury.

 

River Valley PGM Exploration Plan Going Forward

 

To date an approximate 140,659 meters (461,480 feet) in 628 drill holes have been conducted by the company as operator on the River Valley Project. Several independent NI 43-101 compliant resource calculations have previously been generated for the deposit through the exploration and development phases. In 2016, the company purchased 100% of Mustang Minerals’ southern portion of the River Valley contact (River Valley Extension, News Release – Oct 5th, 2016). This added 4 kilometers of mineralized strike length to the southern portion of the company’s main River Valley Project. The River Valley Deposit’s present resource, with approximately 4.6M PdEq ounces in Measured Plus Indicated mineral resources (0.4 g/t cut-off) and near-surface mineralization, covers over 16 kilometers of continuous strike length. The acquisition of the RVE adds an additional 4 kilometers for a total of 16 kilometers of strike. The March 2018 NI 43-101 report added a new inferred resource of PdEq (Oz) for a total of 729,658 ounces at a 0.4 g/t PdEq cut off on the River Valley Extension (RVE). The company continues to explore and enhance the River Valley PGM Deposit and is progressing towards the completion of a preliminary economic assessment, (PEA).

 

ABOUT NAM’S PGM DIVISION

 

NAM’s flagship project is its 100% owned River Valley PGM Project (NAM Website – River Valley Project) in the Sudbury Mining District of Northern Ontario (100 km east of Sudbury, Ontario). Presently the River Valley Project is North America’s largest undeveloped primary PGM deposit with Measured + Indicated resources of 160 million tones @ 0.44 g/t Palladium, 0.17 g/t Platinum, 0.03 g/t Gold, with a total metal grade of 0.64 g/t at a cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t equating to 3,297,173 ounces PGM plus Gold and 4,626,250 PdEq Ounces. This equates to 4,626,250 PdEq ounces M+I and 2,713,933 PdEq ounces in inferred (see March 21st, 2018 press release). Having completed a 2018 NI-43-101 resource update the company is finalizing its 2018 exploration programs which will include geophysics, and extensive drill programs, which are all working towards the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). Our objective is to develop a series of open pits (bulk mining) over the 16 kilometers of mineralization, concentrate on site, and ship the concentrates to the long-established Sudbury Metallurgical Complex. Alaska: April 4th, 2018, NAM signed an agreement with one of Alaska’s top geological consulting companies. The companies stated objective is to acquire additional PGM and Rare Metal projects in Alaska. On April 18th, 2018, NAM announced the right to purchase 100% of the Genesis PGM Project, NAM’s first Alaskan PGM acquisition related to the April 4th agreement. The Genesis PGM Project is a road accessible, under explored, highly prospective, multi-prospect drill ready Pd-Pt-Ni-Cu property.

 

ABOUT NAM’S LITHIUM DIVISION

 

The Company has six pegmatite hosted Lithium Projects in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, located in SE Manitoba. Three of the projects are drill ready. This Pegmatite Field hosts the world class Tanco Pegmatite that has been mined for Tantalum, Cesium and Spodumene (one of the primary Lithium ore minerals) in varying capacities, since 1969. NAM’s Lithium Projects are strategically situated in this prolific Pegmatite Field. Presently, NAM is the largest mineral claim holders for Lithium in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field. On January 15th 2018, NAM announced an agreement with Azincourt Energy Corporation (see Jan 15, 2018, Feb 22nd, 2018 and April 11th, 2018, May 2nd, 2018 Press Releases) whereby Azincourt will commit up to $4.1 million dollars in exploration, up to 3.25 million shares of Azincourt stock to NAM, up to $210,000 in cash, and a 2% net smelter royalty on all 6 projects. Exploration plans for 2018 are currently in progress, whereby a minimum of $600,000 will be expended this year. For complete details on the terms and conditions of the NAM/AAZ option joint venture please see the press release dated Jan 15th, 2018.

 

QUALIFIED PERSON

The contents contained herein that relate to Exploration Results or Mineral Resources is based on information compiled, reviewed or prepared by Carey Galeschuk, a consulting geoscientist for New Age Metals. Mr. Galeschuk is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

The Mineral Resources for the River Valley Project disclosed in this news release have been calculated by Mr. Todd McCracken, P.Geo., an employee of WSP and independent of New Age Metals. By virtue of his education and relevant experience, Mr. McCracken is a “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. The Mineral Resource has been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, (May 2014). Mr. McCracken, P.Geo., has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource calculation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Harry Barr”

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Should you have additional inquiries, please contact Paul Poggione, Corporate Development, Tel: 1-613-659-2773, email: [email protected].

New Age Metals

Ontario Field Office: 59 Burtch’s Lane |1000 Islands, Rockport, ON, K0E 1V0 [email protected]

+1-613-659-2773 www.newagemetals.com

 

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as “continue”, “efforts”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “confident”, “intend”, “strategy”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “calculation”, “project”, “goal”, “target”, “prospects”, “optimistic” or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company’s ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates/calculations or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

FEATURE: Glacier Lake Resources Silver Vista Assays Pending $JAX.ca $AMI.ca $GTT.ca $HBM.ca

Posted by AGORACOM at 8:39 AM on Tuesday, May 8th, 2018

Developing Silver Vista Project into Bulk Tonnage Silver & Copper

  • Completed 2018 Phase 1 drill program
  • Seven holes, totalling 1,273 metres drilled
  • Silver Vista Project, a sediment hosted Cu & Ag deposit with potential to host bulk mineralization
  • Sediment-hosted copper deposits include some of the richest and larges deposits in the world
  • Soil Geo-Chem survey defined anomaly 2.0KM by 1.5KM named the “MR prospect area”
  • Drilling focused at “MR”
  • Drill program results expected within 2Q/2018

 

Glacier Lake Power Point

FEATURE: Tartisan Nickel $TN.ca Kenbridge Property Hosts M&I Resource of 7.14 Million Tonnes at 0.62% Nickel, 0.33% Copper

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:32 PM on Monday, May 7th, 2018

TN:CSE

Investment Highlights

  • Acquisition of Canadian Arrow Mines Limited includes two Ontario-based nickel-copper-(cobalt) properties
  • Canadian Arrow’s Kenbridge property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper
  • 20 percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property with drill program in progress
  • Strong management team with proven experience in advancing projects to production readiness and increasing shareholder value
  • Tightly held share structure with 50 percent owned by approximately 10 investors

Kenbridge Ni Project (ON, Canada)

  • Advanced  stage  deposit  remains open  in  three  directions,  is  equipped with a 623m  deep  shaft  and  has  never  been  mined.
  • Preliminary  Economic Assessment completed in   2008   and later updated returned robust project
    economics and operating costs including  a  NPV  of  C$253M  and  cash costs of US$3.47/lb of nickel net of
    copper credits.
  • Plans for Kenbridge include updating the 2008 PEA, advancing the project through to feasibility and exploring
    the open mineralization at depth

$GRAT.ca Gratomic Announces Successful Startup of Aukam Proccesing Plant

Posted by AGORACOM at 9:02 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2018

 

  • Aukam processing plant has been commissioned successfully
  • An initial shipment of graphite concentrate has been delivered
  • 4.5 tonnes of graphite concentrate grading between 88%-95% Carbon as Graphite delivered
  • Perpetuus Carbon Technologies will manufacture graphenes to be used in the tire industry.

TORONTO, May 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Gratomic Inc. (“Gratomic” or the “Company”) (GRAT.V) (CB81.F) a vertically integrated graphite to graphenes, advanced materials development company is pleased to announce that its Aukam processing plant has been commissioned successfully and an initial shipment of graphite concentrate has been made.

The Aukam processing plant was constructed between December 2017 and March 2018, with initial throughput and optimization reached during March and April 2018. To date, the plant has generated 4.5 tonnes of graphite concentrate grading between 88%-95% Carbon as Graphite (“Cg”) of which 2.25 tonnes of concentrate has been shipped to Perpetuus Carbon Technologies (“Perpetuus”) for the manufacture of graphenes to be used in the automobile bicycle tire industry. Gratomic and Perpetuus are currently in collaboration to build on Perpetuus’ capability to initially provide 500 tonnes of surfaced modified graphenes per annum to support the volumes required by the tire manufacturing industry (see March, 4, 2018 news release). The first cycle tire order for the graphenes to a globally recognised brand is planned for delivery at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Additional applications that have now been generated in a preproduction format include radiant heating membranes and super hydrophobic coatings with an addressable market that includes: marine, oil & gas, power generation, industrial (repair & maintenance), infrastructure (new build) and automotive & transportation among others.

Gratomic’s CO-CEO Arno Brand stated, “The successful start-up of our Aukam processing plant is a major milestone for the Company, one that allows us to begin feeding concentrate to Perpetuus for the manufacturing of graphenes for use as a material enhancing filler within tire elastomers.”

The Aukam processing plant uses a simple crushing, grinding and flotation system with a current capacity of 600 tonnes per annum. Construction is already underway for the installation of a larger mill with a 10,000 tonne per annum capacity.

Graphite Feed for the Aukam processing plant is obtained from screening and sorting of stockpiles existing from historical and recent mining. An average feed grade of 56.29% Cg with a range of 41.55% Cg to 63.87% Cg was determined from ten, 2kg to 30kg, grab samples from across the stockpiled lumps (see June 3, 2016 and July 12, 2016 news releases). Note that assays of grab samples should not be taken as representative of the mineralization on the Aukam property as a whole.

The technical content of this News Release was reviewed and approved by Roger Moss Ph.D., P.Geo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Gratomic Inc.
Gratomic is an advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products most notably high value graphene-based components for a range of mass market products. We are collaborating with a leading European manufacturer of graphenes to use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. The company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GRAT.

For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:

Arno Brand, Co-CEO, +1 416-561-4095

E-mail inquiries: [email protected]

“Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current expectations and assumptions.  Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com).