Almonty Industries Inc. is pleased to announce a maiden JORC 2012-compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 21.48Mt @ 0.26% MoS2 at the 0.19% MoS2 reporting cut-off for the Almonty Korea Moly Project (AKM Project), which is located on the existing Sangdong Tungsten Mine, which is currently under construction in South Korea.
Almonty's Chairman, President and CEO Lewis Black commented:
"The AKM Project is a major growth plank for Almonty and is conveniently located immediately adjacent to the tungsten mine, on our fully permitted, under construction Sangdong Tungsten Mine. We are pleased to report our maiden Mineral Resource Estimate which could be a globally relevant project in its own right.
We are pleased to note that based on a review of previous exploration work, the MRE has significant upside, given the deposit appears to be open in multiple directions and further that potential exists to delineate a high grade zone within the current orebody.
We are also excited to formulate a robust mining plan so that this project will run alongside our tungsten mine simultaneously given that both can share the same existing mining infrastructure and the dramatic development cost savings it presents. Being LME traded, it is also pleasing to note the hedging and pricing transparency of molybdenum. We look forward continuing further exploration works to integrating the AKM Project into the Sangdong Tungsten Mine."
The MRE has been independently estimated by Adam Wheeler, an independent mining consultant, was prepared according to the guidelines of the JORC Code dated 2012 and has also been prepared in accordance with the 2015 edition of the Australasian Code for Public Reporting of Technical Assessments and Valuations of Mineral Assets ("VALMIN Code").
The Resource estimate was based on a drillhole database stemming from underground drilling, and some surface drilling, completed prior to 1992 by the Korea Tungsten Mining Company Ltd. (KTMC), as well by Oriental Minerals OTL during 2006-2008. The KTMC drilling covers 14,300m over 27 holes.
Almonty notes that, based on a review of historical drilling, the molybdenum zone may continue to the northeast and northwest, where significant MoS2 was intersected in historical exploration drilling.
The molybdenum deposit of the AKM Project is located adjacent to the tungsten mine of Sangdong and appears to be hydrothermal and with two different mineralisation stages.
Further, it was noted that sections with zones of higher grade do occur, but insufficient drilling has been carried out to properly assess the grade distribution. The company will further assess both the full size and scale and higher-grade zones in future exploration work.
Mineral Resource Estimate
The current evaluation work has been carried out and prepared according to the guidelines of the JORC Code (2012). The current resource estimation is shown below, for a cut-off of 0.19%MoS2. This cut-off level was derived from a molybdenum price of 14.25$/lb Mo. The resource model uses a maximum lateral extrapolation of 100 m.
AKM Project – Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate
| Host Rock Type |
Tonnes Mt |
MoS2 % |
| Slate |
4.34 |
0.28 |
| Quartzite |
17.14 |
0.26 |
| Total |
21.48 |
0.26 |
AKM Project - Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate
Notes:
- As of 31st May, 2022
- Block Size 25 m x25 m x 5 m
- Cut-off 0.19% MoS2
- All resources categorised as Inferred
Geology and Geological Interpretation
The Jangsan quartzite underlies the main tungsten skarn deposit of the Sangdong mine. This formation contains the Sangdong Molybdenum Stockwork (SMS), a zone of quartz veins hosting predominantly molybdenum mineralisation (Kuehnbaum, 2006 and Le, 2001). The mineralisation appears to be hydrothermal in nature and with two stages of mineral deposition; the first molybdenum-poor scheelite mineralisation was related to skarn alteration, which was followed by quartz-scheelite-molybdenite-bismuthenite vein emplacement. It is currently considered that the deep molybdenum mineralisation is likely to comprise a system of sheeted or stockwork veins.
In previous evaluation work, a mineralised envelope had been defined which terminated upwards at the top of the quartzite. However, it is clear that the MoS2 mineralisation continues up into the overlying slates. The upper part of the overall MoS2 mineralisation overlaps with the tungsten-bearing beds and underground mine workings. The current interpretation has been based on capturing the majority of the +0.1%MoS2 assays.
Drilling Database
The drillhole database stems from underground drilling, and some surface drilling, completed prior to 1992 by the Korea Tungsten Mining Company Ltd. ("KTMC"), as well by Oriental Minerals OTL during 2006-2008. The KTMC drilling covers 14,300m over 27 holes. The OTL drilling which intersected the area of molybdenum mineralisation, covers 4,000m over 6 holes. The sample database is in the form of an Excel spreadsheets.
The majority of the holes are vertical with an average lateral spacing of approximately 100m. Once within the overall extents of the molybdenum zone, most of the holes exhibit marked alternating nature of high and low grade assays, consistent with an overall stockwork interpretation. The nature and dip of the higher grade intersections is not clear. The upper 25% of the overall MoS2 mineralisation continues is hosted in slates. The lower 75% of the overall MoS2 mineralisation is hosted in quartzite.
Mineral Resource Estimation Methodology
An updated mineral resource estimation was completed by the Competent Person. This estimation employed a three-dimensional block modelling approach, using Datamine software. The block model was set up with a 25m x 25m x 5m parent cell size and a cutoff grade of 0.19% MoS2. Grade estimation was done using ordinary kriging (OK) for the waste/mineralisation fractions, as well as low and high MoS2 grade portions. These estimated values were combined to give overall MoS2 grades for each parent block.
All of these modelled resources were classified with an Inferred category, reflecting the spacing and quality of available data, as well as the geological understanding of the deposit.
Drilling Techniques, Sampling and assaying
The following information was based on the Wardrop. "Sangdong Project Scoping Study" published in April 2010.
Sample Preparation
Sample preparation from core to pulps for analysis was completed on-site. Core was sawn in half, half placed in a plastic sample bag and half replaced in the core box for archival storage. Sample tags were placed in the core box and in the sample bag and the sample number was written on the sample bag as well. Standards were placed into the sample stream at this point in the sampling process, in accordance with a sample list that had been drawn up by the geologist responsible for logging the hole. Core samples were dried, split, crushed and pulverized on-site by WMC personnel in a preparation lab that was purchased as a modular unit. Equipment was cleaned by brushing and the use of compressed air between each sample. An approximately 50g split portion of the pulverized sample was sent to Perth, Australia, for analysis. Blanks are inserted one in every twenty samples to ensure there is no contamination.
Analyses
From 2006 to 2008 samples were analysed at an external laboratory in Brisbane by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP- MS) for 41 elements and for ore grade quantities of specific elements by aqua regia or four-acid digestion followed by ICP analysis. All quantities are reported in parts per million (ppm).
Sample Security and Chain of Custody
The sample preparation facility comprised a fenced area beside the WMC accommodation facility. A split portion of the pulp from each sample and coarse rejects were retained in a locked facility at the project site. The pulps are placed in brown paper envelopes and sent by courier to Perth.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
The QA/QC protocol included the insertion of the following control samples in the assay batches, as summarised below:
- Pulp duplicates (one in 50, or 2%), consisting of second splits of the pulverized samples that are submitted to the primary laboratory for analysis in the same batches as the original samples, but with different numbers.
- Certified reference materials (CRMs, three in 50, or 6%).
- Coarse blanks (one in 50, or 2%) and fine blanks (one in 50, or 2%), consisting of coarse (approximately 1" diameter) and pulverized material, respectively, whose blank character was demonstrated by laboratory analysis. Initially ground glass was used as blank for Phases #1 to #4 drilling, but was subsequently changed to coarse crystalline feldspar for Phase #5 drilling.
- Check samples (two in 50, or 4%), collected from pulps that were previously assayed at the primary laboratory, were resubmitted to another laboratory in Perth Australia for external control. The check sample batch included an appropriate proportion of control samples (pulp duplicates, CRMs and fine blanks).
The Competent Person considers that the sample preparation, security, analytical procedures and supporting QA/QC results, relating to the 2006- 2008 drilling campaign, were collected in line with industry good practice.
Data Verification
Data verification procedures were applied by at the Sangdong Project since 2006. The Competent Person last visited the Sangdong site in August 2015, and discussed with site geologists all aspects of sample collection, preparation and storage, as well as visiting the core storage and sample preparation areas. The sample database was also reviewed and during the resource estimation update, many aspects of the drillhole data were checked by communication with the Sangdong geologists.
The Competent Person, after also checking the Phase 7 (2016 drilling) results, considers these new results to be demonstrating the same accuracy as previously, which therefore supports their use in Mineral Resource Estimation. In the Competent Person's opinion, the geological data stemming from drilling data after 2006 were collected in line with good industry practice, allowing the results to be reported according to the guidelines of the JORC Code. It is not known what quality control procedures were applied to data derived prior to 2006.
Bulk Density
In the current resource estimation work, global average density values (t/m3) were applied, of 2.63 t/m3 for Quartzite and 2.7 t/m3 for Slate. It is considered that the density values applied do take adequate account of void spaces. There is no basis for any particular relationship between density and MoS2 grade values.
Classification
All of these modelled resources were classified with an Inferred category, reflecting the spacing and quality of available data, as well as the geological understanding of the deposit.
Mining factors or Assumptions
A minimum thickness of 5m was applied in the Mineral Resource estimation, as being a realistic minimum height for underground mining.
Metallurgical Testing
No metallurgical test work has been completed on the AKM Project by Almonty to date.
Environmental Permitting
The AKM Project is located on the Sangdong Tungsten Mine which is fully permitted, with all environmental requirements for the current development of the Sangdong Tungsten Mine have been met. There are no areas requiring special protection or significant natural environmental resources or wildlife habitats in the area surrounding the Project site.