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Rambler Metals & Mining PLC - RMM
Rambler Increases Mineral Resources
Released 15:13 05-Mar-2020



RNS Number : 1853F
Rambler Metals & Mining PLC
05 March 2020

5 March 2020

Rambler Increases Mineral Resources at its Ming Copper-Gold Mine

London, England & Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada -Rambler Metals and Mining plc (AIM: RMM) ('Rambler' or 'the Company'), a copper and gold producer, explorer and developer is pleased to announce increases in copper, gold and silver contained in estimated Mineral Resources at the Ming Copper-Gold Mine, located in Eastern Canada.

A depleted mineral reserve estimate is also being reported. This mineral reserve is not based on the newly updated mineral resource but rather a mining depletion from the previous estimate announced on 5 March 2018.

RESOURCE SUMMARY

· The new mineral resource estimate includes 24.506 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Resources grading 1.70% copper and 0.34 grammes per tonne gold, containing 920 million pounds of copper and 264 thousand ounces of gold at 1% copper cut-off.

· Additionally, Inferred Mineral Resources include of 5.023 million tonnes grading 1.89% copper and 0.39 grammes per tonne gold containing 209 million pounds of copper and 64 thousand ounces of gold at 1% copper cut-off.

· Contained copper, gold, and silver in the Measured and Indicated category have increased 8 to 12% over the previous September 2017 Mineral Resource estimate, at 4 to 7% higher grades. (See Table 4 below)

· Contained copper, gold, and silver in the Inferred Mineral Resource category have increased 64 to 102% over the previous Mineral Resource estimate.

· All zones remain open for extension with further drilling, especially down dip from the current resource.

· Details of the new Mineral Resource estimate by zone appear in Appendix 1

Table 1: Mineral Resource Summary for the Ming-Copper-Gold Mine at 1% Copper Cut-off*(see note below)

Classification

Quantity

Grades

Contained Metal

Copper

Gold

Silver

Copper

Gold

Silver

(000't)

%

g/t

g/t

M lbs

K oz

K oz

Measured Total

6,731

1.70

0.56

4.26

252

120

922

Indicated Total

17,776

1.70

0.25

2.10

668

144

1,200

M&I Total

24,506

1.70

0.34

2.69

920

264

2,121

Inferred Total

5,023

1.89

0.39

3.20

209

64

517

The procedures used for the Mineral Resource estimation is consistent with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ('CIMM') (2014) best practices. See Mineral Resource note below for additional disclosures.

Andre Booyzen, President and CEO, commented,

'Replenishing the resources of the Ming Mine with higher grade material close to mine infrastructure is a top priority for the exploration program. Our underground development is now below the primary mining horizon of the historic (pre-2012) operation, allowing the 2019 diamond drilling program to reach targets further down-plunge where Indicated and Inferred Resources have dramatically increased relative to previous estimates. In addition, the Upper Footwall zone has been distinguished as a particularly high-grade zone of Measured and Indicated Resources.

'While overall Measured and Indicated Resources at Ming have increased modestly, the new drilling has delineated within the new volumes a higher grade 11.8 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Resources at 1.5% cut-off grade averaging 2.22% copper and 0.49 grammes per tonne gold. The size, continuity, and near-mine location of theseresourcesis a compelling focus for revised life of mine planning; we plan to develop and release a new mining reserve later in the fiscal year.'

Significant Increases to New Mineralised Areas

The Ming North and Upper Footwall Zones have been the focus for exploration and represent the bulk of the additional resources for the updated statement. Both zones incorporated new high-grade drill intersections completed in Q4 2019. These additions improved the resource profile for the Ming Mine and are part of the near-term production profile for the operation.

Table 2: Resource Summary for the Ming North and Upper Footwall Zones at 1% copper cut-off

Classification

Quantity

Grades

Contained Metal

Copper

Gold

Silver

Copper

Gold

Silver

(000't)

%

g/t

g/t

M lbs

K oz

K oz

Measured and Indicated

Ming North Zone

1,030

2.73

1.34

8.35

62

44

276

Upper Footwall Zone

678

2.63

0.22

2.75

39

5

60

Inferred

Ming North Zone

685

4.64

1.04

8.26

70

23

182

Upper Footwall Zone

50

2.46

0.16

1.86

3

0.3

3

The Lower Footwall Zone model has been re-interpreted and re-modelled to more accurately reflect the ongoing results from mining the zone over the last 3 years. This re-modelling has resulted in improved copper grade continuity throughout the zone with a 10% improvement in contained copper over the previous estimate under the 1.5% copper cut-off.

Table 3: Resource Cutoff Sensitivity Summary for the Lower Footwall Zone

Copper Cutoff

(%)

Quantity

Grades

Contained Metal

Copper

Gold

Silver

Copper

Gold

Silver

(000't)

%

g/t

g/t

M lbs

K oz

K oz

1.0

20,969

1.58

0.12

1.57

729

80

1,061

1.1

17,880

1.67

0.12

1.66

658

71

952

1.2

15,178

1.76

0.13

1.74

589

62

849

1.3

12,838

1.86

0.13

1.82

525

54

752

1.4

10,830

1.95

0.14

1.90

465

47

663

1.5

9,137

2.04

0.14

1.98

411

41

583

At a 1.5% copper cut-off, the entire measured and indicated mineral resource estimate consists of 11.779 million tonnes of material grading 2.22% copper and 0.49 grammes per tonne gold, containing 541 million pounds of copper and 182 thousand ounces of gold. This material will form the basis of a new NI43-101 life of mine (LOM) plan for the Ming Mine that will be forthcoming in the second half of 2020.

An updated comparison to the previously released Mineral Resource Estimate, effective date September 7, 2017, is shown in Table 4 below.

Table 4: Resource Summary at 1% copper cut-off (% change from September 2017 resource in brackets)

Classification

Quantity

Grades

Contained Metal

Copper

Gold

Silver

Copper

Gold

Silver

(000't)

%

g/t

g/t

M lbs

K oz

K oz

Measured Total

6,731 (-65%)

1.70 (6%)

0.56 (121%)

4.26 (84%)

252 (-63%)

120 (-23%)

922 (-36%)

Indicated Total

17,776 (332%)

1.70 (-7%)

0.25 (-59%)

2.10 (-40%)

668 (301%)

144 (75%)

1,200 (159%)

M&I Total

24,506 (5%)

1.70 (4%)

0.34 (6%)

2.69 (7%)

920 (8%)

264 (11%)

2,121 (12%)

Inferred Total

5,023 (75%)

1.89 (6%)

0.39 (-6%)

3.20 (15%)

209 (85%)

64 (64%)

517 (102%)

The updated mineral resource estimate for the Ming Copper-Gold mine is based on new exploration and delineation diamond drilling. Since January 2018 the Company has completed 5,443 meters of new drilling into the various mining zones. The drilling by zone is summarized in Table 5 below.

Table 5: 2019 Diamond Drilling Summary Supporting the Update Resource Estimate

Zone

Metres of Drilling

(m)

Holes

LFZ (UFW + LFW)

13,996

148

MNZ (Ming North)

11,373

81

1807 Zone

753

3

Total

26,122

232 holes

Mineral Reserve (Depleted)

The effective date of the last mineral reserve estimate for the Ming Copper-Gold Mine was January 1, 2018, see press release dated 5 March 2018. The updated mineral reserve reported below is effective as of January 1, 2020, however, is a depleted estimate and not a fully updated mineral reserve based on the new mineral resource referenced above. A fully updated mineral reserve and life of mine production plan will be released before the end of 2020.

Table 6: Depleted Mineral Reserve Estimate Summary for the Ming Copper-Gold Mine**

Classification

Quantity

Grades

Contained Metal

(000't)

Copper

Gold

Silver

Copper

Gold

Silver

%

g/t

g/t

M lbs

K oz

K oz

Total Proven Reserve

3,141

1.92

0.43

2.86

133

43

289

(undiluted, unrecovered)

Total Probable Reserve

4,520

1.86

0.43

2.95

185

62

428

(undiluted, unrecovered)

Dilution (all sources)

1,149

0.64

0.06

0.73

16

2

27

Reserve (diluted and recovered)

7,930

1.72

0.38

2.62

306

100

715

*Mineral Resource Notes

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. All figures are rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate. Cut‐off grades of 1.0 % copper for the massive sulphides, 1.25 grammes per tonne gold for any gold zones and 1.0 % copper for the stringer sulphides have been used in the estimate.

Cut‐offs are based on an NSR model and forecast long term metal prices of USD$2.99 per pound copper, USD$1,300 per ounce gold and USD$17.00 per ounce silver with a long-term USD/CDN FX rate of 1:0.80. Resources are inclusive of reserves.

**Mineral Reserve Notes

All figures are rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate; numbers may not total due to this rounding. This reserve statement reflects changes to reserves based on depletion due to mining over the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The NSR for the reserve material was calculated using an all-in cost of USD$72 per tonne of ore milled.

Long term metal prices of USD$2.99 per pound copper, USD$1300 per ounce gold and USD$17.00 per ounce silver with a long-term USD/CDN FX rate of 1:0.80.

The procedures used for the Mineral Resource and Reserve estimations is consistent with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ('CIMM') (2014) best practices.

The effective date for the Mineral Resource Estimate is December 31, 2019. The effective date for the depleted Mineral Reserve Estimate is January 1, 2020.

Mineral Resources and Reserves for the Ming Mine were estimated under the supervision of Mark Ross, P. Geo., who is a qualified person as defined by NI43-101.

Tim Sanford, P.Eng., is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this release and has reviewed and approved it accordingly. Mr. Sanford is an employee of Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited. Tim Sanford consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Tim Sanford has sufficient experience, relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking, to qualify as a 'competent person' as defined by the AIM rules.

Tonnes referenced are dry metric tonnes unless otherwise indicated; unless otherwise noted all figures are quoted in $USD

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR'). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside is now considered to be in the public domain.

ABOUT RAMBLER METALS AND MINING

Rambler is a mining and development Company that in November 2012 brought its first mine into commercial production. The group has a 100 per cent ownership in the Ming Copper-Gold Mine, a fully operational base and precious metals processing facilityand year-round bulk storage and shipping facility; all located on the Baie Verte peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Following the completion of its recent productivity improvement initiative Rambler's focus is on sustaining mine and mill production at over 1,350 metric tonnes per day at 2% Copper at the Ming Mine. With a return to profitability and positive cash flow, Rambler will continue advancing engineering studies and capital asset additions with a view to further increase production.

Along with the Ming Mine, Rambler also owns 100 per cent of the former producing Little Deer/ Whales Back copper mines.

Rambler is listed in London under AIM:RMM.

For further information, please contact:

Andre Booyzen

President and CEO

Rambler Metals & Mining Plc

Tel No: +44 (0) 20 8652-2700

Fax No: +44 (0) 20 8652-2719

Sanjay Swarup

CFO

Rambler Metals & Mining Plc

Tel No: +44 (0) 20 7096 0662

Fax No: +44 (0) 20 8609 0313

Tim Sanford. P. Eng.

Vice President and

Corporate Secretary

Rambler Metals & Mining Plc

Tel No: +1 (709) 532 5736

Fax No: +1 (709) 8001921

Nominated Advisor (NOMAD)

Ewan Leggat, Caroline Rowe

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Tel No: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470

Website:www.ramblermines.com

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute 'forward-looking statements'. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding copper, gold and silver forecasts, the financial strength of the Company, estimates regarding timing of future development and production and statements concerning possible expansion opportunities for the Company. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, copper concentrate, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, interpretation and implications of drilling and geophysical results; estimates regarding timing of future capital expenditures and costs towards profitable commercial operations. Other factors that could cause actual results, developments or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, among others, increases/decreases in production; volatility in metals prices and demand; currency fluctuations; cash operating margins; cash operating cost per pound sold; costs per ton of ore; variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; reserves and/or resources; the ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; operational risks inherent in mining or development activities and legislative factors relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land use, title and permits, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable security law.

APPENDIX 1

Table 1: Complete Mineral Resource Estimate, by zone, for the Ming Copper-Gold Mine - effective December 31, 2019(Resources are inclusive of reserves.)

Resource

Classification

Cutoff

Quantity

Grades

Contained Metal

(000't)

Copper

Gold

Silver

Copper

Gold

Silver

%

g/t

g/t

000' lbs

oz

oz

Measured

1807 Zone

1.00 % Cu

412

2.40

2.67

20.16

21,838

35,344

267,159

1806 Zone

1.25 g/t Au

185

0.40

3.00

14.74

1,623

17,830

87,663

Ming South Zone

1.00 % Cu

286

2.19

2.01

13.45

13,809

18,495

123,490

Ming North Zone

1.00 % Cu

616

2.33

1.38

9.29

31,590

27,404

184,038

Unmined Levels

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

Remnant Pillars

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

Sub-Total Massive Sulphides

1,499

2.08

2.06

13.74

68,859

99,073

662,351

Upper Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

440

2.80

0.26

3.03

27,145

3,640

42,885

Lower Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

4,792

1.48

0.11

1.41

156,039

17,500

216,600

Sub-Total Stringer Sulphides

5,232

1.59

0.13

1.54

183,184

21,140

259,485

Total Measured

6,731

1.70

0.56

4.26

252,044

120,213

921,836

Indicated

1807 Zone

1.00 % Cu

123

1.75

1.98

14.66

4,740

7,842

57,964

1806 Zone

1.25 g/t Au

65

0.71

2.87

16.01

1,026

6,029

33,650

Ming South Zone

1.00 % Cu

374

2.07

2.09

12.79

17,082

25,148

153,962

Ming North Zone

1.00 % Cu

414

3.33

1.27

6.94

30,447

16,886

92,433

Unmined Levels

--

125

2.43

1.99

--

6,693

7,989

--

Remnant Pillars

--

259

3.96

2.00

--

22,603

16,656

--

Sub-Total Massive Sulphides

1,361

2.75

1.84

7.73

82,591

80,550

338,008

Upper Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

238

2.31

0.16

2.24

12,151

1,250

17,124

Lower Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

16,177

1.61

0.12

1.62

573,344

62,119

844,411

Sub-Total Stringer Sulphides

16,415

1.62

0.12

1.63

585,495

63,369

861,535

Total Indicated

17,776

1.70

0.25

2.10

668,087

143,918

1,199,544

Measure and Indicated Combined

1807 Zone

1.00 % Cu

535

2.25

2.51

18.90

26,579

43,186

325,123

1806 Zone

1.25 g/t Au

250

0.48

2.96

15.07

2,648

23,859

121,314

Ming South Zone

1.00 % Cu

660

2.12

2.06

13.08

30,891

43,643

277,451

Ming North Zone

1.00 % Cu

1,030

2.73

1.34

8.35

62,037

44,289

276,471

Unmined Levels

--

125

2.43

1.99

--

6,693

7,989

--

Remnant Pillars

--

259

3.96

2.00

--

22,603

16,656

--

Sub-Total Massive Sulphides

2,859

2.40

1.95

10.88

151,451

179,623

1,000,359

Upper Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

678

2.63

0.22

2.75

39,297

4,890

60,010

Lower Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

20,969

1.58

0.12

1.57

729,383

79,619

1,061,011

Sub-Total Stringer Sulphides

21,647

1.61

0.12

1.61

768,680

84,509

1,121,021

Total Measured and Indicated

24,506

1.70

0.34

2.69

920,131

264,131

2,121,380

Inferred

1807 Zone

1.00 % Cu

103

1.75

2.12

16.10

3,989

7,044

53,454

1806 Zone

1.25 g/t Au

149

0.66

2.63

10.67

2,181

12,576

51,100

Ming South Zone

1.00 % Cu

117

1.86

0.62

2.93

4,817

2,329

11,072

Ming North Zone

1.00 % Cu

685

4.64

1.04

8.26

70,044

22,830

181,822

Unmined Levels

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

Remnant Pillars

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

Sub-Total Massive Sulphides

1,054

3.49

1.32

8.78

81,030

44,780

297,448

Upper Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

50

2.46

0.16

1.86

2,694

248

2,959

Lower Footwall Zone

1.00 % Cu

3,920

1.45

0.15

1.72

125,298

18,501

217,053

Sub-Total Stringer Sulphides

3,969

1.46

0.15

1.72

127,991

18,749

220,013

Total Inferred

5,023

1.89

0.39

3.20

209,022

63,529

517,461

APPENDIX 2 - Glossary of Select Geological and Mining Terms

Term

Definition

''Au''

gold

'Ag'

silver

''concentrate''

in general, the saleable product resulting from crushing and grinding of mined ore in a processing plant along with concentration to remove impurities. Base metal operations can produce copper, lead and/or zinc concentrates

''Cu''

copper

''cut-off''

lowest grade of mineralised material considered economic, used in the calculation of ore reserves. Also used in reserve estimation, meaning all material higher than the given grade

''down plunge''

the direction within a rock mass indicated by linear features such as mineral lineation, fold axes or direction of maximum strain caused by deformation

''Footwall Zone'' or ''LFZ''

a mineralised zone beneath a geological feature such as a fault, another mineralised zone or bed

''grade''

relative quantity or the percentage of ore mineral or metal content in an ore body

''Indicated Mineral Resource''

that part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. The locations are too widely or inappropriately spaced to confirm geological and/or grade continuity but are spaced closely enough for continuity to be assumed ''massive sulphide'' occurrence of a concentrated mass of sulfide mineral such as pyrite, sphalerite or chalcopyrite in one place, as opposed to their being disseminated or occurring in vein

''measured mineral resource''

that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced

''Mineral resource''

a concentration or occurrence of material of intrinsic economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. Mineral resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing confidence, into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories

''mineralised''

containing or impregnated with minerals

''National Instrument 43-101''

provides standards of disclosure for mineral projects in Canada. It is a legal requirement in Canada for all oral and written disclosure of scientific or technical information on mineral deposits

''ore''

rock that can be mined and processed at a profit

''oz''

troy ounce (=31.103 grammes)

''Probable mineral reserves''

measured and/or indicated mineral resources which are not yet proven, but where technical economic studies show that extraction is justifiable at the time of the determination and under specific economic conditions

''Proved mineral reserves''

measured mineral resources, where technical economic studies show that extraction is justifiable at the time of the determination and under specific economic conditions

''reserve''

that part of a resource that can be mined at a profit under reasonably expected economic conditions

''resource''

mineralised body for which there is sufficient sampling information and geological understanding to outline a deposit of potential economic merit

''stringer''

a thin, discontinuous mineral vein or rock layer

''sulphide''

a mineral containing sulphur in its non-oxidised form

''t''

a metric tonne


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Rambler Increases Mineral Resources - RNS

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Rambler Metals and Mining plc published this content on 05 March 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 05 March 2020 15:17:09 UTC