Aurania Discovers Nickel-rich Beach Placers in France and Signs Memoranda of Understanding
Aurania Discovers Nickel-rich Beach Placers in France and Signs Memoranda of Understanding
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 3, 2024) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company"). Aurania has signed non-binding Memoranda of Understanding ("MOUs") with the Communes of Ogliastro and Nonza in Cap Corse, Northern Corsica, France, through Aurania's wholly-owned subsidiary Corsica Ressources S.A. for the exploitation of heavy mineral beach placers that are highly enriched in nickel (Ni) and other metals. Analysis by Activation Laboratories Ltd (Actlabs) of Ancaster, Ontario, of a heavy mineral concentrate produced by simple gold panning the beach sand by hand yielded an assay of 50.4% nickel, 0.701% cobalt (Co), and 0.476% copper (Cu). A Mozley gravity table concentrate of magnetic beach sand performed by SGS Laboratories of Lakefield, Ontario yielded 40.1% nickel. These nickel grades are far in excess of any known hard rock deposits to our knowledge. The Management of Aurania was quick to realize the significance of this "discovery" and has worked over the last year with the Mineral Resources Department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Interministral Delegation for the Provision of Critical Minerals and Strategic Metals as well as various levels of Government within Corsica.
安大略省多倫多--(新聞資訊社 - 2024年10月3日) -Aurania Resources Ltd. (tsxv: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania"或"公司"). Aurania已與Cap Corse北部法國科西嘉島的Ogliastro和Nonza市鎮簽署了非約束性諒解備忘錄("MOUs"), 通過Aurania的全資子公司Corsica Ressources S.A.就富含鎳(Ni)等金屬的重礦物沙灘礦牀的開發達成協議。 安大略省Ancaster的Activation Laboratories公司(Actlabs)對Aurania通過手工簡單淘金沙灘沙產出的重礦物濃縮物進行的分析顯示,其含量爲鎳50.4%,鈷0.701%(Co),銅0.476%。 安大略省Lakefield的SGS Laboratories對磁性沙灘砂進行的Mozley重力選礦台濃縮產出的鎳含量爲40.1%。 這些鎳品位遠遠超過我們所知道的任何硬巖礦牀。 Aurania的管理層迅速意識到這一"發現"的重要性,並在過去一年裏與經濟和財政部礦產資源部、臨時部門務委員會、科西嘉島政府的各級政府合作。
Aurania's Consultant Geologist, Stefan Ansermet, located a Geological Survey of France (BRGM) report from 1968 entitled "Le problème du nickel dans le serpentines de Corse" (The problem of nickel in the serpentinites of Corsica) which contained a one-paragraph reference to an accumulation of natural nickel-iron alloy (awaruite) on the beach of Albo, originating from asbestos mine waste that had been disposed of in the Mediterranean Sea. At the Canari open-pit mine, processed mine waste was dumped in the sea from 1948-1965. This has been broken up by storms and tides and travelled up to six kilometres along the coast and silted up two historic ports: Albo and Nonza. The awaruite mineral resides within the serpentinite host rock which in the surf has been naturally attrition milled. In the historical data a minus 2 millimetre fraction of beach sand from Albo, concentrated by heavy liquids, gave a Ni assay more than double the typical grade of mine waste. Aurania's Chairman and CEO, Dr. Keith Barron examined satellite images on Google Earth and found what appeared to be beach placers of black sand on the nearby Nonza Beach (Figure 1). Within days, Mr. Ansermet travelled to Corsica and confirmed that there were indeed black sand accumulations on the beach (Figure 2). Subsequently, 130 kilos of sand were taken on a N-S traverse of Nonza beach. ALS-Chemex Laboratories determined that 31.7% of this raw material was magnetic through Davis Tube recovery. This magnetic sand is made up of free particles of awaruite (Ni3Fe) and magnetite (Fe3O4). In the areas of black sand placer, the awaruite and magnetite content approaches 100%. Awaruite is a natural Ni-Fe mineral alloy with a composition approximating stainless steel with 77-83% Ni. Though the initial source of the awaruite was asbestos mine waste, there is no present hazard on the beaches according to the French National Institute of Industrial Environment and Risks. Both awaruite and magnetite are heavy minerals and easily recovered from beach sand by gravity techniques that are similar to placer gold recovery. Both minerals are also highly magnetic, and the magnetic susceptibility differences between magnetite and awaruite is such that they can easily be separated. The technology is simple, cheap, and well understood. No chemicals are used in the recovery. The awaruite product can be dried, bagged and shipped to a potential smelter or battery-grade nickel sulphate producer. SGS Labs (Lakefield) is currently working on the 130 kg sample to determine the most efficient means of separating out awaruite.
Aurania的顧問地質學家斯特凡·安瑟梅特(Stefan Ansermet)找到了法國地質調查局(BRGM)1968年題爲"科西嘉蛇紋岩中鎳的問題"的一份報告,在其中提到科西嘉島阿爾博海灘上存在一處含天然鎳鐵合金(awaruite)的積聚物,源自從1948年至1965年在Canari露天礦廢料處理後被傾倒在地中海中的石棉礦廢料。 風暴和潮汐打碎了這些廢料,並沿海岸線前進了長達六公里,淤塞了兩個歷史悠久的港口:Albo和Nonza。 在歷史數據中,BRGM對Albo海灘的2毫米以下部分用重液濃縮後,得到的Ni含量超過了典型礦山廢料的兩倍。 Aurania的董事長兼首席執行官Keith Barron在谷歌地球上檢查衛星圖像後,發現附近Nonza海灘上似乎有黑沙礦砂(圖1)。 幾天內,安瑟梅特先生前往科西嘉島,並確認海灘上確實存在黑色礦砂積聚(圖2)。 隨後,選擇Nonza海灘的南北方向,取樣130公斤沙子。 ALS-Chemex Laboratories確定了這一原材料中31.7%經過戴維斯管回收是磁性的。這種磁性沙主要由遊離的awaruite (Ni3Fe)和磁鐵礦(Fe3O4)顆粒組成。 在黑沙礦砂沉積區,awaruite 和磁鐵礦含量接近100%。 awaruite是一種自然的Ni-Fe礦物合金,其成分接近不鏽鋼,含77-83%鎳。 儘管初始的awaruite來源於石棉礦廢料,但根據法國國家工業環境和風險研究所的說法,海灘上沒有現有的危險。 awaruite 和磁鐵礦都是重礦物,可以通過類似掘金回收的重力技術輕鬆地從沙灘上回收。 這兩種礦物都具有很高的磁性,在磁性靈敏度上,磁鐵礦和awaruite之間的差異使它們可以輕鬆分離。 這項技術簡單、便宜且易於理解。在回收過程中不使用化學品。awaruite 產品可以經過烘乾、裝袋並運往潛在的冶煉廠或電池級硫酸鎳生產商。 SGS實驗室(Lakefield)目前正在對130公斤樣品進行研究,以確定最有效的awaruite分離方法。
Dr. Barron commented, "A nickel prospect where a potential nickel-matte furnace feedstock requires no need for drilling, blasting, or beneficiation, and can possibly be shipped from Corsica direct to a purchaser sounds like a dream scenario. Encouraging local community support makes this even more attractive. I would like to thank Stefan Ansermet for alerting Aurania to this exceptional opportunity."
Barron博士評論道:「一個鎳潛力區,其鎳材料礦爐供料不需要鑽孔、爆破或選礦,可以直接從科西嘉島運往購買者,聽起來像是一個夢幻場景。鼓舞人心的當地社區支持使其更有吸引力。感謝Stefan Ansermet向Aurania提供了這個卓越機會的提醒。」
Although this does represent a considerable departure from Aurania's on-going copper and gold exploration project in Ecuador, Dr. Barron, who has considerable experience in commercial heavy mineral recovery, immediately recognized the economic significance of this phenomenon and initiated a project of geological investigation. Though artificial, it is believed that these are the sole alluvial concentrations of nickel known on Earth and that they potentially constitute a major resource of the metal heretofore unrecognized. According to the BRGM, more than 11Mt of processed serpentinite grading 0.2% Ni were dumped in the sea. However, the beach pebbles are predominantly larger than the historical 3 cm crushing width, suggesting that large amounts of development rock from stripping was also disposed of in the sea. At this juncture, the Company has not determined a Resource or Reserve.
雖然這確實代表了Aurania在厄瓜多爾進行中的銅和金勘探項目的重大轉變,但Barron博士作爲一位在商業重金屬回收方面擁有豐富經驗的人,立即意識到了這一現象的經濟重要性,並啓動了地質調查項目。雖然是人工構造的,但據信這是地球上已知的唯一的所有uvial型鎳礦牀,可能構成迄今爲止未被認識的主要金屬資源。根據BRGm的數據,有超過11Mt經加工過的含0.2%鎳的蛇紋岩被拋入海中。然而,海灘鵝卵石主要大於歷史上3厘米的破碎寬度,這表明大量的開發岩石經過去除後也被拋入了海中。目前,公司尚未確定資源或儲量。”
Figure 1: Much evidence of Beach Placer concentration indicated by arrows (taken August 7, 2020) Google Earth (cf. Hou et al., 2017). Carried by longshore drift southwards 6 kilometres from the abandoned open pit mine to Nonza. This beach is approximately 1350 metres long and 350 metres at its widest. The beach placers are believed to be very high grade.
圖1:箭頭指示出大量沿岸礦集中的證據(取自2020年8月7日)谷歌地球(參見侯等人,2017年)。沿着海岸漂移向南6千米,從被廢棄的露天礦運往Nonza。這片海灘長約1350米,最寬處爲350米。相信海灘礦已經是非常高品位的。”
Figure 2: One of many beach placer accumulations of Black Sand (awaruite and magnetite). Boot imprints in the foreground for scale. Grains of magnetite extracted from Black Sand by attraction to a simple magnet, inset photo.
圖2:黑砂(鐵鎳礦和磁鐵礦)的許多海灘礦積累之一。背景中的靴子印作爲尺度。通過簡單磁鐵吸引力從黑砂中提取的磁鐵礦粒子,插圖。
Figure 3: Fairly pure concentrate of awaruite in a gold pan. This material assayed 50.1% nickel. Awaruite is present as silvery scales which tarnish yellow. Maximum grain size is approximately 2 mm.
圖3:金盤中相當純淨的鐵鎳礦濃縮物。此物料化驗含鎳50.1%。鐵鎳礦呈銀色鱗片,會變黃。最大粒徑約爲200萬..
Figure 4: Historical airphoto on the left and present-day photo on the right, showing the progradation of the beaches over time.
圖 4:歷史航空照片在左側,現代照片在右側,展示了海灘隨時間推移的前進。
Figure 5: Nonza Beach, Corsica
圖 5:科西嘉島的Nonza海灘
Independently published studies have concluded that heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cu) are leaching from the beach material and contaminating marine life. The beaches themselves appear to be entirely sterile. We consider our Project equally as a critical metals recovery project and a "clean up operation". Both of these are "wins" for the planet.
獨立出版的研究得出結論,重金屬(鎳、鈷、銅)正在從海灘材料中滲出並污染海洋生物。海灘本身似乎完全貧瘠。我們認爲我們的項目既是重要金屬回收項目,也是一項「清理行動」。這兩者對地球都是「雙贏」。
The Company has retained SGS Laboratories/Lakefield to determine the best method for awaruite commercial recovery. SGS has sent a Geologist to Corsica to verify the material above and to take umpire samples. His report is pending receipt of final assays. The Company has also retained IHC Mining B.V. a Netherlands-based company, which specializes in dredging solutions, that is currently preparing a scoping study to best advise on suitable heavy mineral recovery methods and equipment.
公司已委託SGS Laboratories/Lakefield確定awaruite商業回收的最佳方法。SGS已派遣地質學家前往科西嘉島驗證上述材料並取標準樣品。他的報告正在等待最終化驗結果。公司還聘請了總部位於荷蘭的IHC Mining b.V.公司,專門從事挖泥解決方案,目前正在準備一份範圍研究,以最佳地提供適用的重礦物回收方法和設備建議。
Technical Information
技術信息
All sampling reported in this release was supervised by project geologists, including chain of custody. Hand sediment panning and alluvial grab samples have been prepared at the indicated laboratories, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. A portion of the material is stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program. Rock samples are reconnaissance select grab samples that display mineralization and assay results may not be representative of, nor verify economically mineable mineralization.
本報告中所有取樣工作均由項目地質學家監督,包括責權鏈。手工沉積物淘選和沖積取樣已在指定實驗室進行準備,並插入認證標準參考樣品以監控實驗室性能。部分材料存放在安全保管設施中供未來的化驗驗證。未對樣品複合物施加上限。公司採用嚴格的、行業標準的質量控制方案。岩石樣品是初步選擇的巖礦樣品,顯示礦化並且化驗結果可能並不代表經濟可採礦化。
Qualified Persons:
有資質的人員:
The geological information contained in this news release has been verified and approved by Aurania's VP Exploration, Mr. Jean-Paul Pallier, MSc. Mr. Pallier is a designated EurGeol by the European Federation of Geologists and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
本新聞稿中包含的地質信息已由Aurania勘探副總裁Jean-Paul Pallier MSc驗證並批准。Pallier先生是歐洲地質師聯合會指定的歐洲地質師,並根據加拿大證券管理局43-101號國家公告,披露礦產項目信息標準的合格人員。
About Aurania
Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucú Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador.
關於Aurania
Aurania是一家礦產勘探公司,致力於在南美洲尋找、評估、收購和勘探礦產權益,重點關注貴金屬和銅。其旗艦資產The Lost Cities - Cutucú Project位於塔精金屬成礦帶(Jurassic Metallogenic Belt)中,該地處厄瓜多爾東南部安第斯山脈東麓。
Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at and , as well as on Facebook at , Twitter at , and LinkedIn at .
有關Aurania和技術報告的信息可在公司網站的各自頁面上找到。此外,還可以在Facebook、Twitter和LinkedIn上關注Aurania。
For further information, please contact:
如需更多信息,請聯繫:
Carolyn Muir
VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Aurania Resources Ltd.
(416) 367-3200
carolyn.muir@aurania.com
Carolyn Muir
VP企業發展與投資者關係
Aurania Resources Ltd.
(416) 367-3200
carolyn.muir@aurania.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.
TSX Venture交易所和其監管服務提供商(如該交易所的政策中所定義的)均不接受此新聞稿的充分性或準確性的責任。
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes Aurania's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the tonnage and grade of mineralization which has the potential for economic extraction and processing, the merits and effectiveness of known process and recovery methods, the corporation's portfolio, treasury, management team and enhanced capital markets profile, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration, timing of the commencement of operations, the Company's teams being on track ahead of any drill program, the commencement of any drill program and estimates of market conditions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the assumption that, there will be no material adverse change in metal prices, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various local government licenses and the market. 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. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the inability to recover and process mineralization using known mining methods; the presence of deleterious mineralization or the inability to process mineralization in an environmentally acceptable manner; commodity prices, supply chain disruptions, restrictions on labour and workplace attendance and local and international travel; a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents; an inability to access financing as needed; a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Aurania; a failure to comply with environmental regulations; a weakening of market and industry reliance on precious metals and base metals; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+. Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law
前瞻性聲明
本新聞稿包含前瞻性信息,根據適用證券法定義,涉及未來事件或未來業績,並反映管理層目前的期望和假設。前瞻性信息包括Aurania的目標、計劃或未來計劃、聲明、勘探結果、潛在礦化物、有經濟開採和加工潛力的礦化物的噸位和品位、已知工藝和回收方法的優點和有效性、公司的投資組合、財政狀況、管理團隊和增強的資本市場地位、礦產資源估算、勘探、運營開始時間、公司團隊在任何鑽探計劃前進度方面所處的情況、任何鑽探計劃的開始以及市場狀況估計。這些前瞻性聲明反映管理層當前的觀點,基於Aurania目前的假設和信息,包括假設金屬價格不會出現重大不利變化,將獲得所有必要的同意、許可證、許可和批准,包括各種地方政府許可證以及市場許可。投資者需注意,這些前瞻性聲明既非承諾也非保證,並且可能受到導致未來結果與預期不符的風險和不確定性的影響。可能導致實際結果與前瞻性信息表達或暗示的結果不符包括但不限於:未能識別礦產資源;未能將估計的礦產資源轉化爲儲量;無法完成建議生產決策的可行性研究;冶金試驗結果的初步性質;無法使用已知採礦方法回收和加工礦化物;有害礦化物的存在或無法以環保的方式處理礦化物;大宗商品價格、供應鏈中斷、勞動力和職工出勤以及本地和國際旅行的限制;未能獲取或延遲獲得所需的監管許可證、許可、批准和同意;無法按需獲取融資;總體經濟下行,股價波動,勞工罷工,政治動盪,對Aurania治理礦業法規的變化;未能遵守環境法規;市場和行業對貴金屬和基本金屬依賴減弱;以及該公司在SEDR上提交的公開文件中列出的風險。Aurania提醒讀者,上述風險因素列表並非詳盡無餘。雖然公司相信本新聞稿中包含的前瞻性信息所使用的假設和因素是合理的,不能過度依賴這些信息,該信息僅適用於本新聞稿的日期,不能確保此類事件將在披露的時間範圍內或根本不會發生。公司否認有任何意向或義務更新或修改任何前瞻性信息,除非法律要求。