Sampling
Techniques
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Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random
chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools
appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole
gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples
should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of
sampling.
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Metallurgical Composite Sample:
The sample was a composite of 24
Hand Auger (HA) and Push
Tube (PT) holes drilled in
2022 in the Kingfisher pit.
All drilling samples within the pit
shell were added to the composite resulting in a sample of
2,498kg.
Specifically, the composite sample
consisted of selected rutile mineralised zones from holes,
NSHA0009, 0010, 0056, 0060, 0061, 0074, 0119, 0311, 0343, 0344,
0345, 0350 and NSPT 0011, 0013, 0014, 0015, 0017, 0020, 0021, 0023,
0024, 0025, 0026, 0027.
The following workflow was used to
generate a pre-concentrate graphite feed at AML:
· Wet screen at 2mm to remove oversize
· Two stage cyclone separation at a cut size of 45µm to remove -45µm material
· Pass +45µm -2mm (sand) fraction through Up Current Classifier
(UCC)
· Pass UCC O/F through cyclone at cut point of 45µm
· Pass UCC O/F cyclone U/F (fine) over MG12 Mineral Technologies
Spiral
· Pass UCC U/F (coarse) over MG12 Mineral Technologies
Spiral
· Spiral cons are combined for further processing.
Fine and coarse gravity tailing
samples contain approximately 75%-80% of the graphite present in
the feed sample. The majority of the graphite lost is contained in
the -45µm fines.
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Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample
representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement
tools or systems used.
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Placer Consulting (Placer) Resource Geologists have
reviewed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the collection of HA and PT
drill samples and found them to be fit for purpose.
Drilling and sampling activities are
supervised by a suitably qualified Company geologist who is present
at all times. All bulk 1-metre drill samples are geologically
logged by the geologist at the drill site.
The primary metallurgical composite
sample is considered representative for this style of
mineralisation.
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Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are
Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard'
work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse
circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg
was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other
cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is
coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual
commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may
warrant disclosure of detailed information.
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HA drilling was used to obtain
1-metre samples. The bulk metallurgical sample was a composite of
selected samples from routine resource drilling.
Existing rutile and graphite
exploration results were used to determine the 1-metre intervals
suitable to contribute to the two bulk sample
composites.
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Drilling
Techniques
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Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation,
open‐hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and
details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of
diamond tails, face‐sampling bit or other type,
whether core is oriented and if so, by what method,
etc).
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Hand-auger drilling is completed
with 75mm diameter enclosed spiral bits with 1-metrelong steel
rods. Each 1m of drill sample is collected into separate
sample bags and set aside. The auger bits and flights are
cleaned between each metre of sampling to avoid
contamination.
Placer has reviewed SOPs for
hand-auger drilling and found them to be fit for purpose and
support the resource classifications as applied to the
MRE.
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Drill Sample
Recovery
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Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample
recoveries and results assessed.
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The configuration of drilling and
nature of materials encountered results in negligible sample loss
or contamination.
Samples are assessed visually for
recoveries. Overall, recovery is good. Drilling is ceased when
recoveries become poor generally once the water table has been
encountered.
Auger drilling samples are actively
assessed by the geologist onsite for recoveries and
contamination.
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Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure
representative nature of the samples.
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The Company's trained geologists
supervise auger drilling on a 1 team 1 geologist basis and are
responsible for monitoring all aspects of the drilling and sampling
process.
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Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and
grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential
loss/gain of fine/coarse material.
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No bias related to preferential loss
or gain of different materials has occurred.
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Logging
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Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and
geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate
Mineral Resource estimation mining studies and metallurgical
studies.
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All individual 1-metre auger
intervals are geologically logged, recording relevant
data to a set template using company
codes.
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Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core
(or costean, channel, etc.) photography.
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All logging includes lithological
features and estimates of basic mineralogy. Logging is generally
qualitative.
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The total length and percentage of the relevant intersection
logged
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100% of samples are geologically
logged.
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Sub-sampling techniques and
sample preparation
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If
core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core
taken.
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Not applicable - no core drilling
conducted.
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If
non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and
whether sampled wet or dry.
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Primary individual 1-metre samples
from all HA and PT holes drilled are sun dried, homogenised and
riffle split.
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For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness
of the sample preparation technique.
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Metallurgical Composite Sample:
1-metre intervals selected for the
2,498kg metallurgical sample were divided into weathering
units.
MOTT and PSAP material were combined
and homogenised in preparation for dispatch to Australian
laboratory Intertek for TGC assay.
Per Australian import quarantine
requirements the contributing SOIL/FERP material from within 2m of
surface was kept separate to undergo quarantine heat treatment at
Intertek Laboratory on arrival into
Australia.
The two sub samples (SOIL/FERP and
MOTT/PSAP) were then dispatched from Intertek to AML Laboratory
(AML). AML sub-sampled and assayed the individual lithologies prior
to combining and homogenising the sample in preparation for
test-work.
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Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages
to maximise representivity of samples.
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The sample preparation techniques
and QA/QC protocols are considered appropriate for the nature of
this test-work.
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Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative
of the in situ material collected, including for instance results
for field duplicate/second-half sampling.
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The sampling best represents the
material in situ.
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Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the
material being sampled.
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The sample size is considered
appropriate for the nature of the test-work.
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Quality of assay data and
laboratory tests
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The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and
laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered
partial or total.
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Metallurgical Composite Sample:
The following workflow was used to
generate a graphite product;
o
Coarse and fine rougher graphite
flotation
o
Polishing grind of coarse and fine rougher
graphite concentrate
o
Cleaner flotation of coarse and fine
graphite
o
Cleaner concentrate sizing at 180µm
o
Regrind of separate +180µm/-180µm
fractions
o
Three stage recleaner flotation of +180µm/-180µm
fractions
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For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF
instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis
including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations
factors applied and their derivation, etc.
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Acceptable levels of accuracy and
precision have been established. No handheld methods are used for
quantitative determination.
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Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards,
blanks, duplicate, external laboratory checks) and whether
acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision
have been established.
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Acceptable levels of accuracy and
precision have been established in the preparation of the bulk
sample composites.
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Verification of sampling
& assaying
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The verification of significant intersections by either
independent or alternative company personnel.
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No drilling intersections are being
reported.
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The use of twinned holes.
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No twin holes completed in this
program.
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Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data
verification, data storage (physical and electronic)
protocols.
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All data was collected initially on
paper logging sheets and codified to the Company's templates. This
data was hand entered to spreadsheets and validated by Company
geologists.
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Discuss any adjustment to assay data.
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No adjustment to assay data has been
made.
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Location of data
points
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Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes
(collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other
locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.
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A Trimble R2 Differential GPS is
used to pick up the collars. Daily capture at a registered
reference marker ensures equipment remains in
calibration.
No downhole surveying is completed.
Given the vertical nature and shallow depths of the holes, drill
hole deviation is not considered to significantly affect the
downhole location of samples.
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Specification of the grid system used.
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WGS84 UTM Zone 36 South.
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Quality and adequacy of topographic control.
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DGPS pickups are considered to be
high quality topographic control measures.
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Data spacing &
distribution
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Data spacing for reporting of Exploration
Results.
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Metallurgical Composite Sample:
The hand-auger holes contributing to this metallurgical were
selected from pit area Kingfisher and broadly represent early years
of mining as contemplated in the PFS (Approximately the first three
years).
It is deemed that these holes should
be broadly representative of the
mineralisation style in the general
area.
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Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to
establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate
for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s)
and classifications applied.
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Not applicable, no Mineral Resource
or Ore Reserve estimations are covered by new data in this
report.
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Whether sample compositing has been applied.
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Metallurgical Composite Sample:
The sample was composited as
described under Sampling Techniques in this Table.
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Orientation of data in
relation to geological structure
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Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling
of possible structures and the extent to which this is known
considering the deposit type
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No bias attributable to orientation
of sampling has been identified.
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If
the relationship between the drilling orientation and the
orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have
introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if
material.
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All holes were drilled vertically as
the nature of the mineralisation is horizontal. No bias
attributable to orientation of drilling has been
identified.
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Sample
security
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The measures taken to ensure sample security
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Samples are stored in secure storage
from the time of drilling, through gathering, compositing and
analysis. The samples are sealed as soon as site preparation
is complete.
A reputable international transport
company with shipment tracking enables a chain of custody to be
maintained while the samples move from Malawi to Australia or
Malawi to Johannesburg. Samples are again securely stored once they
arrive and are processed at Australian laboratories. A reputable
domestic courier company manages the movement of samples within
Perth, Australia.
At each point of the sample workflow
the samples are inspected by a company representative to monitor
sample condition. Each laboratory confirms the integrity of the
samples upon receipt.
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Audits or
reviews
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The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques
and data
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It is considered by the Company that
industry best practice methods have been employed at all stages of
the exploration.
Malawi Field and Laboratory visits
have been completed by Richard Stockwell in May 2022. A high
standard of operation, procedure and personnel was observed and
reported.
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