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ZMF AGM and Conference Rescheduled for July 11-12

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ZMF AGM and Conference Rescheduled for July 11-12

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference on July 11-12 at Hipodrome in Harare.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Although an official statement is yet to be released, ZMF President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya has confirmed to Mining Zimbabwe that the AGM will proceed on the newly scheduled dates.

“ZMF will hold its AGM and Conference at Hippodrome, Harare, from July 11 to 12,” said Rushwaya.

This year’s AGM will be held under the theme, “Responsible Mining: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development.” The conference aims to discuss policies affecting artisanal and small-scale mining operations and assess their impact on the growth of the mining sector.

ZMF 

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) is a government initiative to effect sustainable growth and meaningful transformation of the artisanal and small-scale mining industry. It is Zimbabwe’s largest mining body with over 1.5 million members, that contribute an annual average of 60% of the total gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) the country’s sole gold buyer.

It is the country’s biggest mining body with a million-plus membership.

The body, however, should emulate its fellow partners who annually hold their AGMs.

Step Aside Lithium Project Positioned for Monetization

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Step Aside Lithium Project Positioned for Monetization

The Step Aside Lithium Project in Goromonzi, owned by Australia Stock Exchange-listed Prospect Resources (PSC), is poised for monetization. This strategic move aims to potentially fund the exploration and development of the Mumbezhi Copper Project in Zambia.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Recent assays from Phase 4 diamond drilling at Step Aside have yielded promising results. Significant intercepts from the 20-hole campaign include:

– 13.0m @ 1.68% Li₂O from 75.5m (CDD078) – WinBin
– 15.3m @ 1.25% Li₂O from 179.9m, including 11.0m @ 1.60% Li₂O from 182.0m (CDD090) – Pegmatite E
– 5.0m @ 1.68% Li₂O from 149.0m (CDD042 re-entry) – Pegmatite C
– 6.0m @ 1.12% Li₂O from 23.6m (CDD086) – Pegmatite E
– 6.2m @ 1.07% Li₂O from 55.0m (CDD076) – Pegmatite D
– 4.2m @ 0.93% Li₂O from 212.0m (CDD010B re-entry) – Pegmatite C

Hole CDD078 extended the high-grade mineralized zone at WinBin by at least 100m southwest and remains open in that direction and at depth. The northern Pegmatite E deposit also showed promising results, with the deepest hole, CDD090, intersecting high lithia grades at a vertical depth of 130m, indicating the deposit is open and thickening at depth.

According to Prospect Managing Director and CEO, Sam Hosack, the company is satisfied with the progress at Step Aside.

“We are very pleased with the progress made at Step Aside. Our teams have worked diligently to produce these results over four phases of drilling. At every stage, these assets have indicated substantial additional mineralization growth potential ready to be further uncovered.”

He highlighted the significance of the WinBin discovery, noting, “The WinBin mineralized zone at Step Aside was an excellent discovery last year and enabled us to swiftly identify what we now know to be a significant co-joined mineralized pegmatite system that remains open in multiple directions and at depth.”

Hosack also emphasized the potential for commercialization: “With our key focus now directed towards the rapid advancement of the recently acquired Mumbezhi Copper Project in Zambia, we plan to reduce our exploration activities at Step Aside. We are undertaking a comprehensive review focused on potential commercialization routes for these two attractive lithium assets. Step Aside may offer a near-term sale opportunity to help fund Mumbezhi.”

Metallurgical Test Work and Project Potential

Metallurgical test work is ongoing for the spodumene-dominant deposits at Step Aside. The project is situated on just one square kilometre of tenement, only 8 km from the Arcadia lithium mine, and has been significantly de-risked. This represents an exciting, advanced exploration play with regional scale potential.

Future Exploration

Future exploration programs will target the southwest extension of WinBin, as the deposit remains open in that direction and at depth. Metallurgical test work studies continue, with a 30kg composite sample recently collected for further analysis.

Next Steps

Exploration activities at Step Aside will be scaled back to minimum holding commitments, while additional lithium prospectivity within the license will be evaluated for future drill targeting. This strategic approach aligns with the company’s broader goal of advancing the Mumbezhi Copper Project in Zambia. #miningzimbabwe.com

Zulu Development Costs Premier US$75 Million

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Zulu Development Costs Premier US$75 Million

The development of the Zulu lithium project into an operational mine in Fort Rixon, near Bulawayo, has cost Premier African Minerals, a London Stock Exchange-listed junior mining company, nearly US$75 million.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Premier African Minerals has been designing and implementing a more effective processing system for its lithium spodumene. The company is optimistic that the current tank conditioning will be the final plant modification needed to enhance processing efficiency.

“Premier sincerely hopes the conditioning tank will be the last plant modification. The Board remains confident about the prospects for Zulu. At this time, the development of Zulu into a complete mine has cost the company nearly US$75 million. This investment and the deemed valuation of Zulu agreed with our take-off partner are not reflected in our current market capitalization,” commented George Roach, Premier African Minerals CEO.

Shipment

Lower-grade concentrates will now be sold on an ex-mine gate basis, conditional on independent laboratory analysis in South Africa. Payment will be made immediately once conditions are met. Zulu will not be required to deliver production to port, nor will it have to cover transport and shipping costs, providing a small cash flow benefit.

The Zulu Plant

Optimization of the flotation circuits was only possible when Zulu could feed the plant at design capacity. This achievement came after the Zulu team resolved design deficiencies related to the classification of milled material. The identification and installation of the essential conditioning tank, expected to be commissioned by July 10, 2024, is a testament to the Zulu team and Enprotec as the OEM for the floating plant. The company plans to review the overall plant in detail in the Annual Financial Statements due for release on June 28, 2024. It is important to correct certain misunderstandings by some shareholders regarding Zulu’s plant, pit development, and water supply.

Milling Circuit and Hydrosizers

With the installation of the new ball mill and after resolving deficiencies in the comminution circuit, it became clear that only one hydrosizer is needed. Production from the mill and single hydro sizer exceeds the 37.5-ton-per-hour capacity of the float plant. Running the mill and single hydrosizer continuously could double flotation feed, enabling significant capital cost savings if and when plant capacity needs to increase.

Ore Body, Mining, and Ongoing Pit Development

Test work for the correct sorter solution has commenced. In the interim, careful management of the pit and ongoing inspection of ROM ore will suffice. Zulu accepts a small percentage of ore from other claims within its EPO area from a local miner, complementing in-pit mining and offering employment to local communities. Zulu is not dependent on this supply. Pit development is ongoing, and in situ grades in the pit exceed those declared in Zulu’s independent resource estimate in mined areas.

Water Supply

The ongoing drought in Zimbabwe is well-known. Zulu has taken steps to carefully assess water usage in the plant. The water balance from the original plant supplier was significantly understated. Anticipating that Zulu’s storage dam might not reach capacity during the less wet season in the first year of production, the company took several mitigation steps:

– Arranged access to other dams near Zulu in December 2022.
– Increased return water recovery from Zulu’s tailings dam.
– Reconfigured in-plant process water reticulation, including installing a thickener.
– Constructed an additional large-capacity reservoir at the plant.

Zimbabwe gold buying prices per gram 19 June 2024

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Zimbabwe gold buying prices per gram 19 June 2024

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices/ gram. See the Zimbabwe gold buying prices per gram today 19 June 2024.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$70.61/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$69.87g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$69.12/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$68.37/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$67.25g

Fire Assay CASH $70.99/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs, no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (Small-scale miners)
A 5% royalty is set for Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily to match world market prices.

Man Killed by Machete-Wielding Gang at Dhija Mining Area

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Man Killed by Machete-Wielding Gang at Dhija Mining Area

In a tragic incident at the Dhija Mining area in Shurugwi, 36-year-old Tyson Matarise was reportedly killed by a gang of nine machete-wielding individuals on Saturday.

According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Paul Nyathi, Matarise was fatally stabbed with Columbia knives by the suspects.

The ZRP has identified one of the suspects as Mdhimbani, also known as Mandebele, and is urging anyone with information about the gang’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.

“Police in Shurugwi are investigating a murder case in which Tyson Matarise (36) was fatally stabbed in the head and back with Columbia knives by nine suspects for unknown reasons on June 15, 2024, at Dhija Mining area. One of the suspects is identified as Mdhimbani, alias Mandebele. Anyone with information should report to the nearest police station,” Nyathi said.

China’s Shanxi Province to Invest US$20 Billion in Matabeleland North Mining

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China’s Shanxi Province to Invest US$20 Billion in Matabeleland North Mining

A high-level delegation from the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Shanxi Province, led by Provincial Secretary Mr. Tang Dengjie, has committed to a substantial investment of up to US$20 billion in the Matabeleland North mining industry.

Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at an engagement meeting between Shanxi Province and Matabeleland North Province held at Golden Peacock Villa in Harare on Tuesday, Dengjie announced that Shanxi Province aims to attract investors willing to spend nearly 1 trillion Chinese Yuan (approximately 140 billion US Dollars) into Matabeleland North over the next two decades. Of this, close to 20 billion US Dollars will be directed towards the mining sector within the next five years.

“The CPC Shanxi Province is proud to announce that it will invest close to 1 trillion Yuan in Matabeleland North to boost the province’s economic activities,” Mr Tang Dengjie stated.

In addition to the long-term investment, the CPC Shanxi Province donated 1 million Chinese Yuan (approximately 140,000 US Dollars) to Matabeleland North as emergency relief.

Hon. Richard Moyo, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, expressed his gratitude to the CPC Shanxi Province for their commitment.

Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the event, he emphasized the importance of Shanxi Province’s focus on exploration and the entire mining value chain in Matabeleland North. The province, rich in over 40 commercially viable minerals, currently sees active extraction of coal, lithium, copper, methane gas, gold, and chrome.

“We want to thank His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for fostering this relationship with the President of the People’s Republic of China. These benefits result from the collaboration between the two presidents. In Matabeleland North, the Chinese are mining coal, gold, and other minerals. With the new partnership between Matabeleland North and Shanxi Province, they promise to bring more investors to explore our abundant resources, including methane gas, coal, lithium, and other minerals. They are committed to investing 10 to 20 billion US dollars in the mining sector. As a province, we are extremely happy and grateful for His Excellency’s efforts,” said Hon. Richard Moyo.

Zimbabwe gold buying prices per gram 18 June 2024

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Zimbabwe gold buying prices per gram 18 June 2024

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices/ gram. See the Zimbabwe gold buying prices per gram today 18 June 2024.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$70.48/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$69.73g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$68.99/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$68.24/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$67.12g

Fire Assay CASH $70.85/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs, no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (Small-scale miners)
A 5% royalty is set for Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily to match world market prices.

Cluff Africa, Mutapa Forge Path to Develop Sandawana

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Cluff Africa, Mutapa Forge Path to Develop Sandawana

Cluff Africa Ltd. has entered into a non-binding agreement with Mutapa Investment Fund to develop the Sandawana Lithium mine.

The deal assigns Cluff a 45% share of licenses at Sandawana, according to founder Algy Cluff’s statement, though financial details remain undisclosed.

Zimbabwe is actively seeking investors following a stabilization in lithium prices after a volatile boom-to-bust cycle. State miner Kuvimba Mining House has identified a substantial lithium ore resource of 38 million tons at Sandawana.

“We can now begin to develop what we believe to be a world-class, high-grade lithium resource,” Cluff stated. The company plans to start drilling once a final agreement is signed with Mutapa, though no timeline was provided.

Algy Cluff, an industry veteran, is known for his investments in Zimbabwe’s gold sector and founding Cluff Natural Resources Plc, now Deltic Energy Plc. This new venture represents a significant shift towards lithium, a mineral in high demand globally.

The Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF), which now controls Sandawana Mines after Kuvimba was placed under its jurisdiction, aims to unlock its vast lithium resources through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and Joint Venture partnerships. Sandawana Mines, with an estimated 200 million tonnes of lithium resources, is poised to become one of Africa’s largest lithium assets.

By partnering with investors, MIF seeks to inject new capital, expertise, and technology into the project to ensure efficient lithium extraction and processing. MIF CEO Dr. John Mangudya emphasized the strategic partnerships for exploiting Sandawana’s lithium resources. “The Fund has made a decision for investors to partner with us on BOT and Joint Venture arrangements to exploit the excellent lithium resources at Sandawana.”

Sandawana Mine has accumulated approximately 950,000 tonnes of stockpiled lithium, much of which is processed into lithium concentrate for the international market. Recent activities include the sale of 150,000 tonnes of lithium, with exports expected to rise in the coming months.

Last year, Sandawana Mines announced over US$50 million investment in an exploratory campaign involving Chinese and local firms. The lithium purity stands at around 1.4%, which is considered high by international standards.

As Zimbabwe’s wealth fund, which also holds gold, nickel, and platinum mines, continues to draw interest from global investors, the collaboration with Cluff Africa marks a significant step in positioning Sandawana as a major player in the lithium market.

Prospect Discovers High-Grade Copper at Mumbezhi Project

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Prospect Discovers High-Grade Copper at Mumbezhi Project

Prospect Resources has identified wide, high-grade copper intercepts at the Nyungu Central deposit in its Mumbezhi Project, Zambia. The company is targeting a maiden JORC resource by Q4 2024 and has commenced drilling activities.

By Patricia Rwafa

As released on 17 June 2024, the historical drill data sets have also now been validated by Prospect, including significant intersections previously reported for Nyungu Central.

Significant new intersections from that drill programme (undertaken in 2021) include:
– 38.0m @ 0.87% Cu from 101.0m and 32.0m @ 0.68% Cu from 159.0m (NYDD058)
– 32.0m @ 0.87% Cu from 353.0m and 28.1m @ 0.79% Cu from 103.0m (NYDD062)
– 20.0m @ 1.08% Cu from 27.0m (NYDD054)
– 17.0m @ 1.03% Cu from 29.0m (NYDD055)

These results show similar widths and tenors of copper grades to other historical Mumbezhi data sets, providing further confidence in the overall productivity of the Nyungu deposits.

Other historical drill data sets have also now been validated by Prospect, including significant intersections previously reported for Nyungu Central such as:
– 30.0m @ 1.62% Cu from 174.0m incl. 6.0m @ 5.50% Cu from 174.0m (NYU11RD021)
– 31.0m @ 1.06% Cu from 166.0m (NYU11RD010)
– 44.5m @ 0.96% Cu from 177.0m (NYRD046)
– 76.1m @ 0.60% Cu from 216.9m incl. 35.1m @ 0.77% Cu from 216.9m (NYRD031)
– 148.0m @ 0.35% Cu from 16.0m (MBD01RC002)

Prospect is targeting the declaration of a maiden JORC-reportable Copper Mineral Resource for Mumbezhi (Nyungu deposits) during Q4 2024.

Field activities have commenced with site access and associated infrastructure being established. First-phase RC and diamond drilling are expected to begin in the next few weeks. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies have also commenced.

Prospect’s Managing Director and CEO, Sam Hosack, commented:

“Wide, strongly mineralized copper intercepts are a hallmark of the Nyungu deposits, and these newly released results again confirm the outstanding prospectivity of this land package.

The further we progress in our initial post-purchase evaluation of Mumbezhi, the more evident are key facets of a potentially high-value, long-life, open-pittable copper-cobalt mining and processing operation, with regionally favourable metallurgy and significant exploration upside.

Prior to completion, the Mumbezhi Licence was transferred to our new Zambian subsidiary, Osprey Resources Ltd (85% Prospect), and we are now proceeding to unlock Mumbezhi’s potential. With the strong backdrop provided by the global copper market, Prospect is well-positioned and capitalized to rapidly advance Mumbezhi. We are eagerly anticipating the commencement of our first drill programme there in the next few weeks.”

Government, ZMF to Host Stakeholders Meeting on Thursday in Kadoma

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Government, ZMF to Host Stakeholders Meeting on Thursday in Kadoma

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Mashonaland West Province, and the Ministry of State for Mashonaland West Province, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), Mashonaland West Province, are set to host a crucial mining stakeholders workshop this Thursday at Highbury Lounge in Kadoma.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

According to the concept note of the proposed workshop, the primary aim is to foster meaningful discussions among mining sector stakeholders, focusing on their expectations from the government, including various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as industry and commerce representatives.

The workshop is part of an initiative to bolster stakeholders’ knowledge and expertise in government protocol and the Whole of Government Approach (WoGA) concept. It is organized by the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mashonaland West Province, in conjunction with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Mashonaland West Provincial Mining Office, and the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, Mashonaland West Chapter.

“As part of its objective to strengthen stakeholders’ knowledge and expertise in the area of government protocol, and in turn the Whole of Government Approach (WoGA) concept, the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mashonaland West Province, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Mashonaland West Provincial Mining Office, and the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, Mashonaland West Chapter will be conducting a workshop on how to promote ease of doing business in the mining sector in Mashonaland West Province.

“The purpose of this workshop is to provide an opportunity for mining sector stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on expectations from the government (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies – MDAs), miners, industry, and commerce).

“The workshop brings together various stakeholders from the mining sector relevant to mining project implementation, regulatory agencies, and business partners. Participants will be drawn from:
– Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies
– Rural District Councils (RDCs)
– Mining organizations/associations (ZMF, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe)
– Special Interest Groups (People living with disabilities, Youths in Mining, Women in Mining)

“The workshop has been necessitated by the following objectives, among others:
– Identifying areas to enhance the ease of doing business in the mining sector between government MDAs and miners/investors.
– Identifying ways to improve the Whole of Government Approach among government MDAs regulating the mining sector.
– Identifying bottlenecks in service delivery to facilitate economic growth and development.
– Transforming bureaucratic inertia into business and promoting service delivery that is citizen-centric.

“A workshop report with recommendations on how to improve the ease of doing business within the mining sector,” reads the concept note in part.

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