Bluejay Mining plc (LON:JAY), the AIM and FSE listed company with projects in Greenland and Finland, has today provided an operational update on the 2018 field programme at its 100% owned, flagship Dundas Ilmenite Project in Greenland as it prepares the site for the commencement of mining. The 2018 work programme has successfully advanced bulk sampling for prospective customers, will expand on the existing 96 million tonnes at 6.9% ilmenite (in situ) resource and has significantly developed infrastructure to support commercial production.
Dundas Field-Work Update
Bulk Sampling:
· 10,000t bulk sampling completed:
o Excavated, screened and stockpiled 10,000 tonnes of ROM grading ±40% ilmenite and currently awaiting delivery instructions for further processing and testing from interested parties.
· Additional samples have, and will continue to be, dispatched in the coming weeks to several key groups for the purpose of testing and supporting ongoing discussions regarding offtakes for up to the entire 450,000t of planned annual ilmenite production.
Drilling/trenching:
· Extensive drilling and trenching programme performed on raised beaches at Iterlak Delta, east of Iterlak Delta and at the foreland west of Iterlak Delta.
· In total, 68 holes have been drilled with the intention of enhancing the Project resource with ilmenite-rich sediments encountered in all new holes so far:
o 23 holes drilled on Iterlak Delta averaging 12m without the interception of bedrock, as confirmed by new Ground Penetrating Radar survey over the area. Manual trenching programme covering the extent of Iterlak was also completed.
o 45 holes drilled on the raised beach east of Iterlak Delta and at the foreland west of Iterlak Delta in addition to an extensive sediment trenching programme.
· Trenching on raised beaches around Moriusaq was also performed to expand existing resources, improve understanding of geological domains, and for geotechnical investigations.
· Full results are expected later this year:
o All sample material from the sonic drilling and trenching program will be sent to Geolab in Nuuk, Greenland, for Particle Size Analysis (PSA), then to MetSolve Laboratories in Canada for heavy liquid separation and assay
o Drill results expected late Q4 2018.
Regional Exploration:
· Alongside work to determine the resource expansion potential at known target areas, regional exploration for ilmenite sediment and sources has been completed over the full extent of the licence area. This work clearly confirms the presence of ilmenite-rich sediments throughout the area and the presence of the source, in the form of exposed preeminent sills and dykes in the hinterland.
· This exploration work includes assessment of Delta #2, at the eastern extent of the licence boundary, which has geomorphological similarities to Iterlak Delta.
· Hard rock ilmenite sources were also evaluated for their exploration potential, and to understand the depositional environment.
· Results underpin the potential to increase the Project resource and accordingly life of mine even further.
Geotechnical and Surveying:
· Finalised installation of hydrogeology installations around the licence area.
· Installed year-round weather monitoring station, which is now fully operational.
· Expanded existing marine bathymetry survey past Iterlak Delta.
· Completed geotechnical assessments of future infrastructure locations.
Infrastructure:
· Expanded existing year-round accommodation and ablution facilities, including completion of a 30-man container camp.
· Installed a 350m2 (1,750m3) insulated storage/workshop space.
· Installed a 350kVA power generation facility.
· Established a medical and communications facility as well as upgraded surveying equipment.
· Installed a potable water filtration/distribution system and a waste disposal (incinerator) unit.
· Installed a mobile trommel screener, two mobile stacking units and upgraded the mining fleet to include one 30 tonne excavator, two 30 tonne wheel loaders and two articulated dump trucks.
Human resources and site safety:
· A total of 60 personnel, including employees from the Company, consultants, students from the Greenlandic mining school, Greenlandic contractors and employees, have been on-site during the season.
· The Company continues to enjoy positive engagement with local communities and other stakeholders, with a number of positive meetings held on site during the field season.
Environment:
· Third and final year environmental baseline studies have been completed, which will facilitate the completion of the social impact assessment (SIA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Bluejay Mining plc CEO Roderick McIllree said, “I am delighted to report that we continue to make excellent progress at Dundas, both at an operational and wider commercialisation level. In particular, I am pleased with the interest being shown from multiple end users, which is testament to the quality of our ilmenite product. We continue to advance with several major players in the space with the objective of locking down agreements for up to the entire 450,000t of planned annual ilmenite production and will update shareholders on developments relating to these discussions as soon as we are in a position to do so.
“Alongside these talks, key works have now been completed to prepare the site for the commencement of mining and we continue to make significant progress in reaffirming the unique resource potential of the Project to ensure a long-life mining operation, as outlined by the initial results of exploration work undertake during the 2018 field seasons.”
