Tectonic Gold plc (TDIM: TTAU), is pleased to announce completion
of the divestment of its interest in the South African diamond and
heavy minerals projects to joint venture partner, AIM listed Kazera
Global PLC (AIM: KZG) ("Kazera") and we also provide a strategic
update.
Highlights:
-
Sale of 10% residual holdings in Deep Blue Minerals Pty Ltd and
Whale Head Minerals Pty Ltd along with the Black Economic
Empowerment loan interest for a total consideration of comprising
cash of $150K (£117,000) and
27,110,947 Kazera shares
-
Australian
copper/gold JV progressing with Amerod Resources (ASX:WEC White
Energy Corporation Ltd) preparing to drill copper targets south of
Specimen Hill following positive exploration results
-
Tectonic
completing diligence on Western Australian gold acquisition
opportunity
Tectonic has determined to focus strategically on Australian gold
and has divested its remaining interest in the South African
diamond and mineral sands JV with Kazera. Tectonic will retain an
indirect interest in the South African projects through an equity
holding in Kazera. The consideration shares will be subject to a
lock in for a period of six months and Kazera expects to have
initial production underway within this time. The equity
consideration of this transaction is subject to shareholder
approval, and the Kazera directors and insiders have provided
undertakings to vote in favour of the transaction and on this basis
we expect it to be approved.
In our Queensland joint venture,
White Energy has completed successful exploration work over the
first half of the year. Copper targets to the south of the original
Specimen Hill gold discovery at Southern Copper, Mt Fane, Bullseye
and Mt Walturn have all returned positive results and a drilling
program to further delineate these mineralised zones is being
prepared.
A number of highly prospective Australia gold projects have been evaluated by
the team, which has resulted in negotiations to acquire a portfolio
of advanced assets in Western
Australia. The project consists of shallow lying extensions
to historic open pit mines and it also holds a substantial tailings
stockpile which testing has shown is suitable for reprocessing.
Gold recovery technology has advanced since these mines were
operational and gold left behind in the tailings in the original
process can be captured through simple chemical leaching in
concrete vats. The old mines are in a well-known goldfield in
Western Australia and there is
substantial production from neighbouring mines. The operating mines
are natural buyers for additional resources that can supplement
existing mine production.
Tectonic still holds the Mt Cassidy intrusive related gold system
project in Queensland. Mt Cassidy
is along strike from the famous Mt Morgan copper/gold mine and has
had no modern drill testing following its rediscovery by Tecrtonic.
The Queensland Government has waived license fees on this project
and it is being held for drill testing or farming out in a similar
deal to Specimen Hill.
Mr. Brett Boynton, Managing
Director - Tectonic Gold Plc
"We have been encouraged with the results White Energy is
showing and we are excited to once again be looking at new gold
opportunities in Australia. With
this strategic focus it makes sense to step back from project level
interest in the various South African assets and put all our energy
into gold once again.
The strict guidelines for our Western Australian evaluations
have been shallow deposits with potential for short term cash flow
and proximity to existing producers who are looking for additional
feed for their operations. This enables Tectonic to focus on our
core strength of resource identification and delineation with ready
local partners hungry to take projects into production and cash
flow. This is a cost-effective way to build a portfolio of
recurring revenues with royalties and profit sharing arrangements
without having to build and operate mines.
We are pleased to see Kazera committing further resources to
bringing Deep Blue back into production and having Whale Head ready
to commission as soon as final permitting is in hand. We are hoping
to see these two projects bring economic upliftment to the region
in the short term and create real opportunity for the Black
Economic Empowerment Partners we introduced to the
project."
The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents
of this announcement.
Investors
can sign up to Tectonic's mailing list at the following
link:
http://www.tectonicgold.com/contact
Follow us
on Twitter: @Tectonic_Gold
For
further information, please contact:
Tectonic
Gold plc
Brett
Boynton
Sam
Quinn
www.tectonicgold.com
@tectonic_gold
|
+61 2 9241
7665
|
Aquis
Stock Exchange Corporate Adviser and Broker
VSA
Capital Limited
Andrew
Raca - Corporate Finance
Andrew
Monk - Corporate Broking
|
+44 20
3005 5004
|