Tin producer Alphamin brings up-to-date its growth initiatives
Fine Tin Recovery Plant (FTP) – The FTP is fully commissioned and has produced at steady state from 26 June 2021. Expenditure at completion amounted to US$5.7 million. Production from the FTP since commissioning increased overall contained tin production by 5%.
This exceeded expectations so early after commissioning. Optimisation work in pursuit of higher FTP recoveries is ongoing.
Exploration Activities – Alphamin’s exploration initiative aims to: extend the life-of-mine at its currently producing Mpama North operation; to declare a Maiden Mineral Resource for Mpama South (located 750 metres south of Mpama North); and to discover at least one additional orebody on the highly prospective Bisie Ridge (13km strike length).
Drilling at the Mpama North orebody commenced on 2 July 2021. An initial 15,000 metre (22 holes) drilling campaign over 4 months is planned to test the strike and dip extension of the current producing orebody, below 400m in depth from the mine portal.
The initial Mpama South drilling program comprises of 16,800m of which 12,300m (52 holes) has been completed. Independent laboratory assays have been received for 39 holes to date.
This initial drilling program is intended to form the basis of a Mineral Resource estimation exercise, the results of which are expected to be announced by the end of 2021.
Infill drilling and further step-out drilling will continue from after August for the remainder of 2021. As previously announced, drilling results to date indicate the potential for another high-grade deposit, 750m South of the Company’s current producing Mpama North mine.
In addition to Mpama North and Mpama South, drilling on the highly prospective Bisie ridge (13km strike length), which falls within the Company’s mining licence, is expected to commence during Q3 2021. The Company’s appointed structural specialists, TECT Geological Consulting, identified high potential drill targets less than 8km south of the current operating mine.
