Metminco Limited Acquisition:DSO Nickel Laterite Project-Financing (2221B)

TIDMMNC

RNS Number : 2221B

Metminco Limited

19 September 2018

 
 ASX / AIM ANNOUNCEMENT   19 September 2018 
 
 

ACQUISITION OF DSO NICKEL LATERITE PROJECT AND

FINANCING

This announcement is an abridged version of the announcement and does not include schematics and appendices. For the full announcement, please refer to the Company's website at www.metminco.com.au

Highlights

-- Strategic acquisition of a potential direct shipping (DSO) nickel laterite project, the Jejevo Nickel Project, with near-term development potential in close proximity to numerous international markets.

-- The Jejevo Nickel Project is based on nickel laterite mineralisation which was previously held by Inco and Sumitomo, has been the subject of considerable drilling and development studies.

-- The Jejevo Nickel Project is held under a current Prospecting License and is located on Santa Isabel Island in the Solomon Islands. It is proximate to the coast and has DSO potential.

-- Placement and Rights Issue to raise approximately $3 million (before costs) on a combined basis to fund the advancement of this nickel opportunity as well as its Colombian gold projects.

Executive Chairman Mr. Kevin Wilson commented:

"The acquisition of the Jejevo Nickel Project, gives Metminco exposure to nickel at a time when rising battery manufacture is expected to accelerate demand for the metal. We will commence advancing Jejevo as soon as the acquisition completes.

Together with our Quinchia Gold Project we now have two advanced exploration projects that we believe offer near term development potential."

Metminco Limited (Metminco, ASX: MNC; AIM: MNC) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding term sheet to acquire 100% of the issued capital of Sunshine Metals Ltd (Sunshine) which holds 80% of the Jejevo Nickel Project on Santa Isabel Island in the Solomon Islands, as well as an 80% interest in an early stage bauxite prospect, the Tausere Project, located on the southern coastline of Choiseul Island, situated at the northwest extent of the Solomon Islands.

The Jejevo Nickel Project is based on a nickel laterite deposit which was previously held by Inco and Sumitomo and the subject of considerable drilling and studies. The Project combines attractive nickel grades, with close proximity (approximately 11kms) to a site believed suitable for barge exports and is potentially suitable for a low capital direct shipping operation (DSO) development.

The acquisition will provide Metminco with a project that the Company intends to rapidly advance and provides exposure to nickel prices in a period when demand growth is expected to be driven by, in particular, the growing market for batteries to support increasing electric vehicle production. Together with its Quinchia Gold Project in Colombia, Metminco will have two diverse and rapidly advancing metal projects and is well positioned to benefit from any upswing in metal pricing.

Jejevo Nickel Project

The Jejevo nickel deposit is an advanced exploration nickel laterite deposit located on Santa Isabel Island in the Solomon Island chain The area is covered by a Prospecting Licence (PL-01/18) granted to Sunshine Metals in July 2018.

Previous owners including Inco, BHP and Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) undertook several phases of investigations since the 1970s including drilling (428 holes including 338 diamond holes drilled by SMM in 2012/13) and pitting (158) returning nickel mineralisation over an area extending for approximately 3,000m long by 650m wide. The exploration drilling and pitting has hole spacing ranging from 50m to 400m and tested the zone of weathering which extended down to approximately 12m depth. The nickel mineralisation encountered in these holes is reported to have average grades ranging between 1.1% and 1.3% Ni over 5m to 7m in thickness. The grade range was determined from the results of a statistical analysis commissioned by SMM of 5,524 one metre composite samples collected from 472 vertical drill holes and pits spaced between 50m and 400m apart. Geochemical domaining of the composite samples was undertaken to further refine the average grades for the limonite, transition and saprolite zones of the lateritic profile. Global average densities were used for the various domains.

Cautionary Statement

The above exploration information was derived from a report undertaken by Golders Associates in 2014 and commissioned by SMM, and has not been reported in accordance with the JORC Code 2012. The exploration information was based on the 428 holes (including 338 diamond holes drilled by SMM in 2012/13) and pitting (158) returning nickel mineralisation over an area extending for approximately 3,000m long by 650m wide. A Competent Person has not done sufficient work to disclose the exploration information in accordance with the JORC Code 2012. It is possible that following further evaluation and /or exploration work that the confidence in the prior reported exploration information may be reduced or modified when reported under the JORC Code 2012. Nothing has come to the attention of Metminco that causes it to question the accuracy or reliability of the former owner's exploration information, however, Metminco notes that it does not appear that SMM undertook independent laboratory analysis of assay data, and accordingly, Metminco intends to address this as part of its proposed evaluation process. Metminco has not independently validated SMM exploration information and therefore is not to be regarded as reporting, adopting or endorsing those results. There is no more current information in the public domain relating to the Jejevo Nickel Project.

SMM undertook preliminary test work and completed internal company estimates of mineralisation and economic studies of the project. Based on this information, Metminco has estimated an Exploration Target of approximately 10Mt-15Mt at grades of approximately 1.1%-1.3% Ni.

The Exploration Target is conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a mineral resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a JORC Code (2012) compliant mineral resource in whole or in part.

Metminco intends to assess the existing data, and undertake any confirmatory studies (including drilling and other data acquisition as necessary) with the aim of generating a JORC resource in 2019 to support economic studies on the deposit.

Development studies were also undertaken by international external consultants which will also need to be confirmed by Metminco's studies. An EIS indicated there did not appear to be significant development hurdles and a DSO would not require tailings facilities. A barging location was identified approximately 11km from the proposed mine site and exported laterite was being considered as feedstock into HPAL plants in various locations. Metminco intends to seek a Mining Licence in 2019 on successful completion of these confirmatory studies.

For further details of the Jejevo Nickel Project please refer to the company presentation announced today 19 September and available on the Company's website www.metminco.com.au.

Summary Terms of the Transaction

Metminco proposes to acquire 100% existing share capital in Sunshine Minerals Limited (Sunshine) through the issue of shares on a staged basis (Acquisition).

Sunshine is a private company based in the Solomon Islands, to northeast of Australia, focused on the exploration and development of its 80% interest in an advanced stage DSO nickel laterite project, the Jejevo Nickel Project, located on the south coast of Santa Isabel Island. The remaining 20% interest is held by a representative of the local landowner group with a carry arrangement on terms still to be negotiated.

Sunshine also has an 80% interest in an early stage bauxite prospect, the Tausere Project, located on the southern coastline of Choiseul Island, situated at the northwest extent of the Solomon Islands.

The consideration for the Acquisition of Sunshine is as follows:

(a) $1,500,000 less the Deposit (see below) and agreed debts in Sunshine which will be satisfied through the issue of up to 250,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of Metminco (Metminco Shares) at a deemed issue price of $0.006 each (Upfront Consideration Shares);

(b) 250,000,000 Metminco Shares upon announcement to the ASX by Metminco of an initial JORC compliant resource estimate at Jejevo Nickel Project of at least 125,000 tonnes of contained nickel metal at a cut-off grade of not less than 0.7% nickel, which must be based upon exploration information delivered to Metminco by Sunshine and exploration work undertaken by Metminco in the amount of not greater than $500,000 (Stage 1 Deferred Consideration Shares); and

(c) 500,000,000 Metminco Shares upon the receipt of a mining license over the Jejevo Nickel Project located in the Santa Isabel Province, Solomon Islands (Stage 2 Deferred Consideration Shares).

Metminco has agreed to pay Sunshine a non-refundable deposit of $50,000 (Deposit). The Deposit funds are to be used to pay part of the landowner access fees for the Jejevo Project.

The Acquisition is conditional upon a number of items, including but not limited to:

(a) successful completion of due diligence by Metminco;

(b) Metminco completing a minimum $3,000,000 equity capital raising; and

(c) Metminco shareholder approval of all required resolutions. This will include Metminco obtaining shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 11.1.2 to issue the Upfront Consideration Shares, Stage 1 and Stage 2 Deferred Consideration Shares and a waiver from ASX Listing Rule 7.3.2 to issue the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Deferred Consideration Shares at a date later than 3 months after the date of shareholder approval.

Further details concerning Sunshine and the Transaction are presented below in this announcement.

Placement

Metminco has received firm commitments for a placement of 135,000,000 Metminco Shares at an issue price of AUD0.4c (Issue Price) to raise $540,000 using the Company's available capacity pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 7.1 (Placement Shares).

Each recipient of Placement Shares will also receive one (1) attaching listed option (Placement Option) (ASX: MNCOA) exercisable at AUD1.1c per share on or before 1 June 2020 for every three (3) new Metminco Shares subscribed under the Placement. The issue of Placement Options will be subject to shareholder approval.

Following the issue of Placement Shares to be issued under the Placement the Company will have 1,047,548,977 Metminco Shares on issue and after this time this figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations to determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

It is intended that the Placement funds will be settled on Tuesday 25 September 2018.

Patersons Securities Limited (Patersons) acted as lead manager to the Placement.

Renounceable Rights Issue

Metminco will undertake a pro rata renounceable rights issue to raise up to $2,514,118 (before costs of the offer) (Rights Issue), comprising an offer of three (3) Metminco Shares (Rights Shares) for every five (5) existing Metminco Shares at issue price of AUD0.4c per Rights Share, together with one (1) attaching listed option (Rights Option) (ASX: MNCOA) exercisable at AUD1.1c per Metminco Share on or before 1 June 2020 for every three (3) Rights Shares subscribed under the Rights Issue.

The Rights Issue is intended to be underwritten by Patersons, who is also acting as lead manager to the Rights Issue, although the extent and terms of such underwriting is yet to be finalised.

The offer of securities under the Rights Issue will be made pursuant to a prospectus prepared in accordance with section 713 of the Corporations Act 2001 which is anticipated to be lodged on ASX before the end of September 2018 (Prospectus).

It is intended that only shareholders with a registered address in Australian and New Zealand will be eligible to participate in the Rights Issue (Eligible Shareholders). Eligible Shareholders will have the opportunity to apply for additional rights above their pro-rata entitlement. However, the acceptance of these applications for additional rights is the decision of the Board and the underwriter.

Metminco intends to appoint Patersons to act as a nominee to seek to sell ineligible shareholders' rights during the Rights Issue period. Any proceeds of this sale (less transaction costs) will be paid to ineligible shareholders on a pro rata basis.

The new Metminco Shares to be issued under the Rights Issue and Placement total 763,529,386 comprising 628,529,386 Rights Shares (on the basis that the record date follows after settlement of the Placement) and 135,000,000 Placement Shares.

The Company intends to seek quotation on the ASX for the Placement and Rights Shares and Placement and Rights Options issued under the Rights Issue and Placement, and will make an application for admission to trading on AIM for the Placement Shares issued under the Placement. Trading in the Placement Shares is expected to commence on AIM on or around 26 September 2018.

The Placement Shares and Rights Shares will rank equally with existing Metminco Shares.

The Company has not received any updated notification from Significant Shareholder Lanstead Capital L.P., but should their holdings remain unchanged since their last notification their interest in Metminco will decrease on unchanged holdings and the impact of dilution to 6.85% (71,768,608 Metminco Shares)

The shareholding in Metminco of Mr Nevres Crljenkovic and associated entities has increased to 45,375,000 Metminco Shares through the acquisition of 5,375,000 Metminco Shares since 26 April 2018. Combined with the impact of dilution this revised shareholding represents an interest of 4.33% in Metminco.

Funds raised under the Placement and Rights Issue will be used for advancing the Company's Quinchia Gold Project in Colombia, advancing the Jejevo Nickel Project, and working capital. In the event that the Rights Issue is not successful this represents a failed condition precedent in the proposed acquisition of Sunshine Minerals and the acquisition will not proceed.

Intention to cancel Admission to trading on AIM

Metminco is currently listed on two securities exchanges - the Official List of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM).

Following due consideration, and in an effort to streamline listing and compliance costs and best advance and protect shareholder's interests, the Board has determined that the continued admission to trading of Metminco Shares on AIM (Admission) is no longer in the best interests of Metminco and its shareholders. Factors the Board has considered include the following:

-- the very low holding of Metminco Shares on AIM, with less than 6% of Metminco Shares at 6 September 2018 held via UK Depositary Interests (DIs), with this figure likely be less than 5% upon completion of the Placement;

-- limited trading and liquidity on AIM. For the past 12 months, less than 9% of the trading in Metminco Shares has occurred on AIM, with this figure falling to less than 5% since completion of the Entitlements Issue in April 2018. Low levels of liquidity also carry the risk that the Company's share price can move up or down significantly following trades of small numbers of shares;

   --     limited success in attracting significant funding out of the UK; 

-- the high costs of compliance and marketing in the UK against the limited benefits obtained, which capital could be better deployed to the company's fundamental business; and

-- given the Acquisition constitutes a reverse takeover (RTO) under Rule 14 of the AIM Rules for Companies (AIM Rules) the Company would be required to prepare and publish a full circular to shareholders and seek shareholder approval, which would also be accompanied by the preparation and publication of an admission document in respect of the proposed enlarged entity. The Board considers that significant diversion of already limited funds toward such an exercise, and the additional delay and uncertainty that it would bring to the Acquisition, are not in the best interests of the Metminco or its shareholders.

Therefore, the Board believes that the burdens and risks of the Company's current Admission to trading on AIM outweigh the benefits and that, accordingly, it would be in the best interests of the Company and shareholders as a whole if the Company's Admission to trading on AIM were cancelled (the Cancellation).

Pursuant to Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, the Company, by way of its nominated adviser, has notified the London Stock Exchange of its preferred date of the intended Cancellation.

The listing and trading of Metminco Shares on the ASX will continue and is not affected by the Cancellation.

The principal effects that the Cancellation would have on shareholders are as follows:

-- Metminco Shares will no longer be traded on AIM, and it is expected that trading of the Metminco Shares on AIM will remain suspended until the Cancellation;

-- the Company's Depositary Interest (DI) facility will be cancelled and the securities transferred to the Australian share register;

   --     Metminco Shares will remain freely transferable following the Cancellation; 

-- the regulatory and financial reporting regime, including but not limited to the AIM Rules, the corporate governance requirements for companies trading on AIM, and the EU Market Abuse Regulation, applicable to companies whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM will no longer apply, but the regulatory framework of the ASX, including its corporate governance requirements, and Australian company law will still apply;

-- shareholders will no longer be afforded the protections given by the AIM Rules, such as the requirement to be notified of certain events and the requirement to obtain shareholder approval for certain transactions where applicable, such as reverse takeovers and fundamental changes in the Company's business, albeit similar protection may be afforded pursuant to the ASX Listing Rules and Australian company law;

   --    RFC Ambrian will cease to be the nominated advisor to the Company; 

-- arrangements will be made by the Company for Metminco Shares held by existing Metminco shareholders on the DI register be able to trade their Metminco Shares on the ASX while trading in Metminco securities remains suspended on AIM, subject to undertaking certain actions; and

-- the Cancellation might have either positive or negative taxation consequences for shareholders. Shareholders who are in any doubt about their tax position should consult their own professional independent tax adviser.

The above considerations are non-exhaustive and shareholders should seek their own independent advice when assessing the likely impact of the Cancellation on them.

Further details of the various arrangements for the cancellation of the DI facility, transfer of securities to the Australian register and the trading of Metminco Shares held via DI's while Metminco remains suspended on AIM will be notified to shareholders shortly.

Under the AIM Rules, the Company is required to notify the intended Cancellation and separately inform the London Stock Exchange of its preferred Cancellation date at least 20 Business Days' prior to such date. The timetable for the Cancellation is set out below:

   --     19 September 2018: commencement of 20 business day period under AIM Rule 41 
   --     16 October 2018:        Last day of trading on AIM 
   --     17 October 2018:        Cancellation of Admission of Metminco Shares to trading on AIM 

(7.00am British Summer Time)

In accordance with the guidance notes to AIM Rule 41, shareholder consent in a general meeting of the Company, which would otherwise be required pursuant to AIM Rule 41, will not be required as the Company is maintaining its listing on ASX, being an AIM Designated Market as defined in the AIM Rules.

Further details of the Transaction

Sunshine Metals Ltd

Sunshine is a private company incorporated in the Solomon Islands, to northeast of Australia, focused on the exploration and development of its 80% interest in an advanced stage DSO nickel laterite project, the Jejevo Project, located on the south coast of Santa Isabel Island. The remaining 20% interest is held by a representative of the local landowner group with which a carry arrangement is to be negotiated as a condition precedent to the transaction.

Sunshine also has an 80% interest in an early stage bauxite prospect, the Tausere Project, located on the southern coastline of Choiseul Island, situated at the northwest extent of the Solomon Islands.

These interests are held through two Solomon Islands incorporated subsidiaries:

   --     an 80% interest in Sunshine Nickel Limited (SUB1); and 
   --     an 80% interest in Sunshine Moumolu Limited (SUB1) 

The remaining 20% of SUB1 is held by Mr Nelson Kile (Nelson Interest) and the remaining 20% of SUB2 is held by the Bugotu Landowners Association.

Sunshine has 5 shareholders, each of which are a counterparty to the Acquisition (together the Vendors):

   --     Eagle Ray Investments Pty Ltd (Eagle Ray) 30.2% interest 
   --     Gunsynd PLC (Gunsynd)                              19.8% interest 
   --     Pawel Misiec                                                   23.6% interest 
   --     Andrew Kuzemko                                           23.6% interest 
   --     Nelson Kile                                                        2.9% interest 

Sunshine's unaudited loss for the financial year ended 31 March 2018 was SBD3,514,188 (AUD619,000), and it has net assets of negative SBD2,552,484 (AUD450,000) made up of:

   --     Current assets:           SBD20,703 (AUD4,000) 
   --     Fixed assets:              SBD0 (AUD0) 
   --     Current Liabilities        SBD2,573,187 (AUD453,000) 

The Current Liabilities of Sunshine include the Deposit. Amounts in excess of the Deposit are subject to payment at the discretion of Metminco.

Conditions Precedent

The Acquisition is conditional upon a number of items (Conditions Precedent), including:

   i)          successful completion of due diligence by Metminco; 
   ii)         Metminco completing a minimum $3,000,000 equity capital raising; 

iii) execution of a JV arrangement between Metminco and Nelson Kile whereby Nelson Kile is carried until production is commissioned on any project on a SUB1 tenement via "carried interest finance" to be provided by Metminco where exploration and development costs attributable to the Nelson Interest (plus interest at the interbank bank bill swap rate plus 5%) are offset against the future cash flows or sale proceeds of the relevant Tenement and must be fully repaid before dividends can be paid by SUB1;

iv) Metminco shareholder approval of all required resolutions, including the issue of the Upfront, Stage 1 Deferred and Stage 2 Deferred Consideration Shares; and

v) all necessary regulatory approvals, including ASX granting the Company a waiver from listing rule 7.3.2 to permit the Company's notice of meeting to seek shareholder approval to issue the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Deferred Consideration Shares up to 5 years after the date of the relevant shareholder approval, and ASX confirming to Metminco, on terms satisfactory to Metminco, that Metminco will not be required to re-comply with Chapters 1 and 2 of the ASX Listing Rules.

If the Conditions Precedent are not satisfied (or waived by Metminco) on or before 5.00pm (Western Standard Time) on 17 November 2018, any party may terminate the Acquisition. The Company cautions that there can be no guarantee that the Acquisition will successfully complete, however settlement of the Acquisition would occur 5 business days after the satisfaction (or waiver by Metminco) of the Conditions Precedent.

The Acquisition includes warranties, representations and undertakings typical of a transaction of this nature.

Should the Acquisition complete, the interests in Metminco Shares of the Vendors, on a post-Placement, post-Rights Issue basis, on the payment of the Upfront Consideration (on the basis the maximum payable is paid) and in the event all Deferred Consideration is paid are set below (rounding errors may be present):

        Upfront only paid                         All Consideration Paid 

-- Eagle Ray 75,000,000 (3.9%) 300,000,000 (11.2%)

-- Gunsynd 50,000,000 (2.6%) 200,000,000 (7.5%)

-- Pawel Misiec 58,878,945 (3.1%) 235,515,780 (8.8%)

-- Andrew Kuzemko 58,878,945 (3.1%) 235,515,780 (8.8%)

-- Nelson Kile 7,242,110 (0.4%) 28,968,440 (1.1%)

-- Total Vendors 250,000,000 (13.0%) 1,000,000,000 (37.4%)

   --     Metminco Shares on issue     1,926,078,363                                     2,676,078,363 

This would result in Eagle Ray, Pawel Misiec and Andrew Kuzemko becoming Significant Shareholders of Metminco for the purposes of the AIM Rules upon issuance of the Upfront Consideration. Should the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Deferred Consideration be issued Gunsynd would also become a Significant Shareholder, while Eagle Ray would become a Substantial Shareholder for the purposes of the AIM Rules. This assumes no further Shares in Metminco are issued prior to the issuance of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Deferred Consideration.

For further enquiries contact:

Kevin Wilson

Executive Chairman

Metminco Limited;

[e-mail]

[phone]

COMPETENT PERSONS STATEMENT

The technical information contained in this presentation that relates to exploration results and the Exploration Target (excluding those pertaining to Mineral Resources and Reserves) is based on information compiled by Mr Gavin Daneel, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and who is an independent Consulting Geologist. Mr Daneel has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity which he is undertaking, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' and to qualify as a Qualified Person for the purposes of the AIM Rules for Companies. Mr Daneel consents to the inclusion in the release of the matters based on the information he has compiled in the form and context in which it appears.

The Company is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in this announcement.

 
 
   For further information, please contact: 
   METMINCO LIMITED 
 Kevin Wilson                                              [phone] 
 
 NOMINATED ADVISOR AND JOINT BROKER 
 RFC Ambrian 
 Australia 
 Andrew Thomson / Alena Broesder                            [phone] 
 United Kingdom 
 Charlie Cryer                                   [phone] 
 
 JOINT BROKER 
 Stockdale Securities 
 United Kingdom 
  Corporate Finance- Robert Finlay/ 
  Ed Thomas 
  Sales- Zoe Alexander                                       [phone] 
 
 PUBLIC RELATIONS 
 Camarco 
  United Kingdom 
 Gordon Poole / Nick Hennis                                 [phone] 
 
 

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information communicated in this announcement includes inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.

Forward Looking Statement

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this announcement including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of Metminco are forward-looking statements. When used in this announcement, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "future", "intend", "may", "opportunity", "plan", "potential", "project", "seek", "will" and other similar words that involve risks and uncertainties.

These statements are based on an assessment of present economic and operating conditions, and on a number of assumptions regarding future events and actions that, as at the date of this announcement, are expected to take place. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, its directors and management of Metminco that could cause Metminco's actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or anticipated in these statements.

The Company cannot and does not give any assurance that the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will actually occur and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Metminco does not undertake to update or revise forward-looking statements, or to publish prospective financial information in the future, regardless of whether new information, future events or any other factors affect the information contained in this announcement, except where required by applicable law and stock exchange listing.

Appendix GLOSSARY

Terms and abbreviations:

 
 3D wireframe         A wireframe is a computer model that only 
  model                includes vertices and lines used to represent 
                       three-dimensional shapes. 
 Aluminium (Al)       Aluminium is a light malleable ductile silvery-white 
                       metallic element that resists corrosion; 
                       the third most abundant element in the earth's 
                       crust (8.1 per cent), occurring only as 
                       a compound, principally in bauxite. 
 Auger                An augur is typically a hand-operated soil 
                       sampling device for collecting soil samples. 
 Bauxite              Bauxite is a heterogeneous, naturally occurring 
                       material of varying composition that is 
                       relatively rich in aluminium. The principal 
                       minerals in bauxite are gibbsite (Al(2) 
                       O(3) .3H(2) O), boehmite (Al(2) O(3) .H2O) 
                       and diaspore, which has the same composition 
                       as boehmite, but is denser and harder. 
 Composite samples    Composite samples are regularly-spaced data 
                       derived from unevenly-spaced data, typically 
                       drill hole data. 
 DSO                  High-grade ore that only requires relatively 
                       simple processing (usually limited to crushing 
                       and screening) before being exported for 
                       refining. 
 EIS                  An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
                       is a document prepared to describe the effects 
                       for proposed activities on the environment. 
                       "Environment," in this case, is defined 
                       as the natural and physical environment 
                       and the relationship of people with that 
                       environment. 
 ESIA                 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 
                       (ESIA) is a 
                       process for predicting and assessing the 
                       potential environmental and social impacts 
                       of a proposed project, evaluating alternatives 
                       and designing appropriate mitigation, management 
                       and monitoring measures. 
 Exploration Target   An Exploration Target is a statement or 
                       estimate of the exploration potential of 
                       a mineral deposit in a defined geological 
                       setting where the statement or estimate, 
                       quoted as a range of tons and a range of 
                       grade (or quality), relates to mineralisation 
                       for which there has been insufficient exploration 
                       to estimate a Mineral Resource. 
 Geomorphic surface   A mappable area of the earth's surface that 
                       is formed by a set of processes during an 
                       episode of landscape evolution. A geomorphic 
                       surface can be erosional, constructional 
                       or both. 
 HPAL                 High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) is a metallurgical 
                       process that utilises elevated temperatures 
                       and pressures and sulphuric acid to separate 
                       nickel and cobalt from the laterite ore. 
 JORC Code (2012)     The JORC Code (2012) sets out minimum standards, 
                       recommendations and guidelines for public 
                       reporting in Australasia of Exploration 
                       Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. 
 Laterite             Laterite is a soil layer that is rich in 
                       iron oxide and derived from a wide variety 
                       of rocks weathering under strongly oxidizing 
                       and leaching conditions. Forms in tropical 
                       and subtropical regions where the climate 
                       is humid. 
 Limestone            Limestone is a sedimentary rock, composed 
                       mainly of skeletal fragments of marine organisms 
                       such as coral, forams and molluscs. 
 Limonite             Limonite is impure hydrated iron oxide (with 
                       variable water content) that is colloidal, 
                       or amorphous, in character. Often brown 
                       and earthy, it is formed by alteration of 
                       other iron minerals, such as the hydration 
                       of hematite or the oxidation and hydration 
                       of siderite or pyrite. 
 Nickel (Ni)          Nickel is a naturally occurring, lustrous, 
                       silvery-white metallic element. It is the 
                       fifth most common element on earth and occurs 
                       extensively in the earth's crust. 
 Phosphate (P(2)      Phosphate is a naturally occurring inorganic 
  O(5) )               salt of phosphoric acid, H(3) (PO(4) ). 
 QA/QC                QA/QC is the combination of quality assurance, 
                       the process or set of processes used to 
                       measure and control the quality of the product, 
                       and quality control, the process of ensuring 
                       products and services meet consumer expectations. 
 Regularization       The process used to determine the amount 
                       of actual core recovered from a drill hole 
                       to determine whether any core losses have 
                       occurred. 
 Residual             An accumulation of valuable minerals formed 
                       by the natural removal of undesired constituents 
                       of rocks or conversion of useless to useful 
                       components. 
 Saprolite            A highly to completely weathered rock which 
                       has been altered and decomposed by chemical 
                       processes but retains textural and structural 
                       features of the parent material. 
 Silica (Si)          Silica is the name given to a group of minerals 
                       composed of silicon and oxygen, the two 
                       most abundant elements in the earth's crust. 
                       Silica is found commonly in the crystalline 
                       state and rarely in an amorphous state. 
 sub-cropping         A sub-crop is that part of a geological 
                       formation that is close to the surface but 
                       is not exposed or outcropping. It is usually 
                       under the soil profile or alluvial sediments. 
 Supergene            A mineral deposition process in which near-surface 
                       oxidation produces acidic solutions that 
                       leach metals, carry them downward, and reprecipitate 
                       them, thus enriching sulphide minerals already 
                       present. 
 Twinning             Drilling twinned holes is a traditional 
                       technique used for verification of intersections 
                       of high-grade mineralization, testing of 
                       historic data, or confirmation of drill 
                       hole data during geological due diligence 
                       studies. Twinned holes can also be used 
                       for special tasks such as correcting earlier 
                       data that are recognized to be biased. 
 Ultramafic           General classification for igneous and meta-igneous 
                       rocks with low silica content. 
 Verification         Verify or verification refers to the act 
                       of reviewing, inspecting or testing, to 
                       establish and document that a product, service 
                       or system meets regulatory or technical 
                       standards. 
 Weathering           Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at 
                       the Earth's surface, by the action of rainwater, 
                       extremes of temperature, and biological 
                       activity. It does not involve the removal 
                       of rock material. 
 XRF                  XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is a non-destructive 
                       analytical technique used to determine the 
                       elemental composition of materials. 
 

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 19, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)