Alba Mineral Resources (ALBA ) said assay results from a Phase 2 sampling programme undertaken at the Clogau-St David’s Gold Mine have returned gold grades of up to 11.35 g/t.
The Waste Tip at Clogau, which covers 2,833 m2 in total, comprises ore rock mined but discarded and not processed for its gold content during historical mining, Alba explained.
After completing a Phase 1 programme in June 2021, which returned significant gold grades of up to 9.89 g/t, Alba initiated a Phase 2 pitting and sampling programme in January 2022.
The second phase was focused on a more targeted area within the Waste Tip at Clogau to assess grades and tonnages more accurately, so that Alba can proceed towards a formal decision on the commercial exploitation of the Waste Tip, whether in part or as a whole.
From the five pits dug in January 2022 at the historic waste tip at the Clogau mine in Wales, gold grades of up to 11.35 g/t have been returned with whole-sample analysis averaging up to 3.50 g/t and with average gold grades returned for the fine fractions (<1mm) of up to 2.13 g/t.
Today, the company explained to investors that further size fraction analysis of the results has highlighted how gold is concentrated in the finest material (<1 mm) extracted from the dump.
In total, 107 kg of concentrate was produced in Alba’s pilot processing plant from 8.76 tonnes of sub 20mm fines material collected back in January 2022. From this, the panning of one sample of the concentrate<20mm fraction reveals a material amount of visible gold, it noted.
Alba said its next steps will be to upgrade the 107 kg of concentrate, assess the economic potential of processing this section of the waste tip, and develop and outline a mining plan.
In addition, the company said it will evaluate taking a further bulk sample from lower down within the Waste Tip at the Clogau mine in order to access potentially higher-grade material.
The Waste Tip is close to Alba Mineral’s pilot processing plant and could be mined at low cost, adding another route to near-term gold production at Clogau. Current estimations of the higher-grade portion of the dump indicate an in-situ tonnage of around 11,000 tonnes, of which up to 4,000 tonnes of fine material (<20mm) could be available for processing for gold.
Commenting, Alba’s Executive Chairman, George Frangeskides, said: “With gold grades of up to 11.35 g/t, in tandem with a successful initial bulk sampling programme, we hope to fast-track the start of low-cost production from the Waste Tip at this historic gold mine.”
He added: “Additionally, given the fine nature of the material that has the potential to filter downwards, we are exploring options to take a second bulk sample from the lower reaches of the Waste Tip that could further strengthen the Project’s economics.”
Meanwhile, Alba has been progressing work on a set of detailed submissions seeking the further consideration by the authorities of its dewatering application for the necessary permits to allow treated mine water from the Llechfraith Shaft to discharge to the River Cwm-Llechen.
The company reported today that following further discussions with the competent regulator, the Company and its retained hydrogeological, geochemical and ecological consultants have generated further data and analysis which have been included in an extensive report which has been submitted to the regulator for its consideration and ultimate decision, it detailed.
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