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Target Price: 0.Target Price: 0.Target Price: 0.Target Price:
0.28282828
Bushveld Minerals (BMN LN) BUY
Mining - Initiating Coverage 21 March 2013
This is a marketing communication. It has not been prepared in
accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the
independence of investment research and is not subject to any
prohibition on dealing ahead of thedissemination of investment
research. Non-US research analysts who have prepared this report
are not registered/qualified as research analysts with FINRA, may
not be associated persons of the member organisation and may not
besubject to NASD/NYSE restrictions on communications with a
subject Company, public appearances and trading securities held by
a research analyst account. Disclosures can be found at the end of
the report.
Fox-Davies Capital
Stock Data
Share Price: 0.13
12 M. TargetPrice:
0.28
Market Cap (M): 35.9
EV (M): 37.9
Iron and Tin in South Africa
Investment caseInvestment caseInvestment caseInvestment case
We are initiating our coverage of Bushveld Minerals (Bushveld or
The Company) with
a BUYBUYBUYBUY recommendation and a 28p target price. Bushveld
Minerals has licences over the
Mokopane VTM and Mokopane tin projects in the Limpopo province
of South Africa.
The experienced team has accumulated some exciting prospects
with huge potential. The
Mokopane iron deposit constitutes a JORC compliant resource of
818Mt in the titanium-
rich P-Q layer and the vanadium-rich Main Magnetite Layer (MML).
The P-Q layer hosts
the bulk of the current resource with 752Mt at 32% Fe, 10.5%
TiO2 and 0.19% V2O5including a high grade zone with 184Mt at 39%
Fe, 14% TiO2and 0.25% V2O5. Of the 752Mt
P-Q layer resource 378Mt occurs within 200m from surface. The
MML comprises of 66Mt at
37.1% Fe, 9.2% TiO2and 1.24% V2O5. The deposit is also located
within a prolific mining
district which boasts extensive infrastructure, a rare thing for
a junior iron ore explorer.
There is plenty of upside in the iron story, with only 5.5km of
a potential 18km strike length
having been drilled and defined as a resource. The recent
addition of two new farms to the
license has increased the strike length of known mineralisation
by 64%. The titanium
content, inherent in the iron ore, is also a possible metal
credit although further
metallurgical test work is required to confirm the scale of
this. The Company also owns the
Mokopane tin project located South West SW of the iron asset and
comprising five
targets with known mineralisation in close proximity to each
other. The Groenfontein
target has a JORC compliant resource of 3.99 Mt at 0.15% Sn
(5,990t of contained tin). In
addition, the targets include Zaaiplaats, which was once South
Africas second largest tin
producer with a large remaining lower grade ore which should be
relatively straightforwardto bring back into production using bulk
mining methods. Exploration upside can be
found along strike from the current resource and also in
possible high grade pipe features
that were missed by historical mining activities, especially in
the deeper parts of the
deposit.
We believe that the value of this Company will increase rapidly
as it de-risks its projects. A
further resource upgrade and a scoping study are expected later
this quarter for the iron
project which should enable us to put some realistic production
figures around the current
plans, before the Company starts a feasibility study in 2Q13.
Meanwhile the Company
expects to prove up over 20kt of Sn and advance at least one tin
deposit towardsproduction in the relatively short term.
Price Chart
52 Week Range
11.5p 12.6p 23p
Company DescriptionBushveld Minerals is a junioriron ore and tin
explorer with a64% interest in the Mokopane
VTM project and theMokopane tin projects nearJohannesburg, South
Africa.
The Companys near futurefocus is to continue to explorethe iron
asset with a viewtowards advancing it toproduction.
MAIN
SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING
Obtala Resources Ltd 46.0%
Oak Nominees (MWI) 29.6%
Oak Nominees (VML Res.) 11.5%
Blackrock Invest. Man. 7.0%
Source: Bushveld Minerals March12
Research:
Mark Heyhoe
[email protected]
www.fox-davies.com
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Table of ContentsExecutive Summary 3Background 5Mokopane VTM
Project 6
Background 6Geology 6Exploration 12Resources 13Exploration
Upside 14Metallurgical Test Work 15Mining and Processing Options
18Marketing and Product Sales 20Infrastructure 20Future work
programme 23
Tin Greenhills Resources 24Background 24Geology 25Groenfontein
Target 25Zaaiplaats Target 26Mining and Exploration History
26Current Exploration 27Resources 29Exploration Potential 30Mining
and Processing 31
Valuation 32Risks 34Appendix A - Corporate Structure &
Shareholders 36Appendix B Directors 37Appendix C Overview of South
Africa 38Appendix D - Commodity Outlook 40Research Disclosures
54Fox-Davies Capital Coverage 55
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Executive Summary
What Does Bushveld Minerals Have?
Bushveld Mineralss primary asset is the Mokopane VTM Project
located approximately 260km north of the mining centre
of Johannesburg. After drilling 5.5km of a potential 18km strike
length the Company has recently released a revised
JORC resource statement of 818Mt and believes there is potential
for well over 1Bt. The majority of the resource (752Mt)is from the
titanium-rich 45m thick P-Q layer at an average grade of 32% Fe,
10.5%TiO2, 0.19% V2O5, including 184Mt at
39% Fe within a 12m thick sub-layer of the P-Q layer. Over 54%
of the total resource is within 200m of surface and
amenable to open cut mining. In addition, a resource of 66Mt at
37.1% Fe, 9.2% TiO2 and 1.24% V2O5 has been
established on the 8m thick, vanadium-rich Main Magnetite Layer.
The Company also has exploration licences over the
Mokopane tin deposit located to the SW of the Mokopane iron
project. A 2011 drilling campaign verified the historical
drilling and led to a JORC compliant resource of 4 Mt at 0.15%
Sn (5,990 tons of Sn metal) being defined in one of five
target areas.
Blockbuster Management Team
Perhaps the most promising feature of this story is the quality
of the technical team. The Viljoen brothers are very well
known and respected in the South African mining industry. The
management team, which includes Professors Richard
and Morris Viljoen, have a proven track record of successful
target generation and development of projects including the
discovery of the Akanani Platinum project which was sold to
Lonmin for US$444M after spending under US$10M. The
Viljoen brothers each have over 30 years in the mining industry
developing many significant projects, either directly or as
consultants, including the Central Witwatersrand Project, the
Witwatersrand South Reef Project, Doornkop mine project,
the Amalia and Blaaubank lode gold deposits and the Trekkopie
uranium project.
What are VTMs?
Vanadiferous titano-magnetites or VTMs are a type of magnetite
that contains vanadium and titanium oxides in addition
to iron. Bushveld Minerals hope to produce a concentrate which
can be used in the production of iron metal with a
vanadium and titanium bearing slag by-product. Metallurgical
pre-reduction testwork has yield recoveries of up to 86.5%
for a 54.8% FeTproduct from the massive magnetite and 61.5%
recovery for a 55.1% Fe
Tproduct on disseminated ore are
achievable for the P-Q zone.
Is Infrastructure a Problem?
Iron ore plays are as much about the access to infrastructure as
they are about the deposit. Bushveld Minerals projects
are located within the Bushveld Complex, the heart of South
Africas mining industry, and therefore benefits from the
mining infrastructure at its doorstep. The area is serviced by
existing rail infrastructure, linking the coal mines of the
region to several ports on the east coast although bottlenecks
in the rail infrastructure means that access can be limited.
The closest railway link to the VTM project is at Mokopane, only
45km away. The project is located in close proximity to
the Waterberg coal fields, Soutpansberg coal fields and the
Springbok Flats coal fields, from which it can source both
thermal and coking coal for the metallurgical treatment of the
ore and power generation (if necessary). A dual 400kV
dualtransmission line from the relatively nearby Matimba power
station, a proposed 132kV transmission line from the Medupi
power station currently under construction and a proposed
substation all within 25km of the project area ensure that it
is
well serviced in terms of power.
What is the Upside?
The production of an iron concentrate from this type of ore is a
well known technology, as is the production of pig
iron/steel and vanadium. However, the economic recovery of a
saleable titanium slag from this ore is yet to be proven.
Encouragingly, initial bench-scale smelting test work shows
potential for a high TiO2grade slag. There is also a
significant
phosphorous enrichment layer (more than 30m thick in parts) in
the form of an apatite-bearing magnetite gabbro which
occurs immediately above the P-Q layer and could have economic
significance. The Company also intends to acquire
additional farms adjacent to the existing project area, over an
additional strike length of approximately 12km which couldmore than
double the current resource. Upside also exists in the multi
element nature of the deposit and potential
credits.
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What are the Risks?
We see metallurgy and sales to market as the key risks to the
project. Both of these studies are currently being
undertaken by Bushveld Minerals and will determine the
commercial viability of the project. The production of an iron
concentrate uses well-known technology and the production of a
vanadium and titanium by product is also possible with
several Chinese smelters producing titanium slag. There is a
limited domestic market for iron and vanadium, but
international markets may be the most likely destination for the
ore. This would incur additional transport costs so wesuspect
Bushveld would need to do some pre-reduction for what is
essentially a low value per unit product.
Shares in Issue
The Company has 283,969,110 shares in issue and no options or
warrants.
Valuation
Because of the early stage nature of the projects we have not
constructed a DCF model for the project. Instead we have
compared the EV per tonne of metal of the resource based on a
selection of comparable companies. The average EV per
tonne of metal in the ground for the Companys peer group in
US$0.74 and US$268.7 for iron and tin respectively. Based
on the attributable resources and cash, this values Bushveld at
79.4M or 28p per share.
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BackgroundBushveld Minerals primary asset is the Mokopane VTM
Project located approximately 65km west of the town of
Polokwane in the Mokopane District, South Africa. It also has
exploration licences over the Mokopane tin deposit
covering five known areas of tin mineralisation located SW of
the Mokopane VTM project. The location of the project
area in relation to existing infrastructure is shown in Exhibit
1.
Exhibit 1:Exhibit 1:Exhibit 1:Exhibit 1: Location of the Project
ALocation of the Project ALocation of the Project ALocation of the
Project Areareareareassss in South Africain South Africain South
Africain South Africa in Relation to Existing Coal Deposits,
Railway Infrastructure & Portsin Relation to Existing Coal
Deposits, Railway Infrastructure & Portsin Relation to Existing
Coal Deposits, Railway Infrastructure & Portsin Relation to
Existing Coal Deposits, Railway Infrastructure & Ports
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
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Mokopane VTM Project
Background
The Mokopane VTM project covers a total area of 7,409ha and is
located in the central portion of the Northern Lobe of
the Bushveld Complex, approximately 45km NNW of the town
Mokopane, or approximately 260km NNE of
Johannesburg. It consists of a group of six adjacent farms
namely Vogelstruisfontein 765LR, Malokong 784LR, Vliegekraal783LR,
Vriesland 781LR and the recently added Schoonoord 786 LR and
Bellevue 808 LR (Exhibit 2). The area is
characterised by flat lying to gently sloping ground, punctuated
by a series of northerly trending hills in the east and the
higher plateau of Bushveld granite to the west. Fox-Davies
personnel last visited the project area on 7thFebruary 2013
during an analyst and investor site visit.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 2222: Location of t: Location of t:
Location of t: Location of thehehehe SSSSixixixix
FFFFarmsarmsarmsarms CCCComprising the Mokopaneomprising the
Mokopaneomprising the Mokopaneomprising the Mokopane
PPPProjectrojectrojectroject AAAArearearearea inininin RRRRelation
to the MML & PQelation to the MML & PQelation to the MML
& PQelation to the MML & PQ
MMMMagnetiteagnetiteagnetiteagnetite LLLLayersayersayersayers
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
Geology
The Mokopane project occurs within the Bushveld Complex (BC or
The Complex). The BC is the worlds largest
layered complex and is known for the remarkable geological and
geochemical continuity of the magmatic igneous
stratigraphy. It can be separated into three main arcuate areas
referred to as the Eastern, Western and Northern Lobes.
The BC is dated at 2055 Million years (Ma) and consists of a
series of interconnected intrusive complexes comprising an
ultramafic-mafic succession of layered rocks known as the
Rustenburg Layered Suite (RLS), quasi-contemporaneous
granites (the Lebowa Granite Suite) and felsic extrusives (the
Rooiberg Group). The RLS is stratigraphically divided into
five main units; the Marginal Zone, Lower Zone, Critical Zone,
Main Zone and Upper Zone (Exhibit 3).
The mafic to ultramafic layers of the BC have undergone a
differentiation process which has resulted in the formation of
magnesium, chromium, nickel, copper and precious metal rich
units found largely in the critical zone within the lower part
of the Complex with iron, titanium, vanadium and phosphorus rich
layers developed in the Upper Zone. Gentle tilting
due to tectonic processes and subsequent erosion has caused the
entire stratigraphic sequence to be exposed on
surface in the form of shallow westerly dipping units and
layers.
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Exhibit 3Exhibit 3Exhibit 3Exhibit 3:::: Generalised
StratigraphyGeneralised StratigraphyGeneralised
StratigraphyGeneralised Stratigraphy of the Bushveld Complexof the
Bushveld Complexof the Bushveld Complexof the Bushveld Complex
Source:Source:Source:Source: Implats
ExExExExhibithibithibithibit 4444:::: Geology of the Bushveld
Complex with theGeology of the Bushveld Complex with theGeology of
the Bushveld Complex with theGeology of the Bushveld Complex with
the Location of the Project ALocation of the Project ALocation of
the Project ALocation of the Project Area in the Northern Loberea
in the Northern Loberea in the Northern Loberea in the Northern
Lobe
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
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The Mokopane VTM deposit occurs within the Upper Zone of the
Rustenburg Layered Suite Units of the Northern Lobe
(Exhibit 4). The Upper Zone is approximately 1,250m thick and
dips 15 to 25 to the west. It is characterised by the
pervasive occurrence of VTM, present in disseminated form in
highly variable amounts (1% to >20%), and as semi-
massive and massive layers of variable thicknesses. The geology
of the Upper Zone consists of gabbronorite, gabbro, Ti-
magnetite gabbro (ferro-gabbro), olivine-diorite, ferro-diorite,
anorthosite and minor norite and contains intervals of
disseminated, semi-massive and massive VTM. The rocks show
remarkable continuity and individual layers can generallybe traced
along strike for tens of kilometres.
The Mokopane deposit is comprised of two well defined layer
units corresponding to the generally accepted
nomenclature of the Upper Zone; the P-Q Zone and the Main
Magnetic Layer (MML). These two units, along with the
licence boundaries and boreholes drilled are shown in Exhibit 5.
Fault zones rarely outcrop but displacement of strata
can generally be interpreted from aeromagnetic data.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 5555: P: P: P: Poooosition of
thesition of thesition of thesition of the PPPP----Q and MML LQ and
MML LQ and MML LQ and MML Layersayersayersayers,,,, Farm BFarm
BFarm BFarm Boundariesoundariesoundariesoundaries and Exploration
Boreholes Dand Exploration Boreholes Dand Exploration Boreholes
Dand Exploration Boreholes Drilledrilledrilledrilled ((((not
including recentlynot including recentlynot including recentlynot
including recently
addedaddedaddedadded Schoonoord 786 LR and Bellevue 808
LRSchoonoord 786 LR and Bellevue 808 LRSchoonoord 786 LR and
Bellevue 808 LRSchoonoord 786 LR and Bellevue 808 LR farms adjacent
to Vriesland)farms adjacent to Vriesland)farms adjacent to
Vriesland)farms adjacent to Vriesland)
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
P-Q Zone
The P-Q Zone (Exhibit 6) occurs near the top of the Upper Zone.
The layer occurs in the wide, soil-covered plains
between the Main Zone lithologies to the east and the Nebo
granite plateau to the west (Exhibit 5) and is therefore not
easily recognised in the field other than by the presence of a
distinctive reddish-brown soil containing abundant Ti-
magnetite (Exhibit 7).
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The P-Q Layer is approximately 25m thick and consists of the two
semi-massive to massive VTM layers (P and Q)
which are separated by a 7m thick, low VTM grade,
leuco-gabbro-norite parting with gradual contacts with the foot
and hanging wall rocks. The foot and hanging wall lithologies of
the P-Q Layer contain considerable amounts of
disseminated Ti-magnetite which increase the total thickness of
the wider mineralised zone to between 40m and 80m.
The P-Q Layer also shows considerable internal fluctuations in
its VTM content. Apatite-bearing rocks with P2O5
concentrations of between 2% and 5% occur immediately above the
P-Q Layer and are a common feature in theoverlying, uppermost
portion of the Upper Zone.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 6666:::: GGGGeological Model of
theeological Model of theeological Model of theeological Model of
the PPPP----Q layerQ layerQ layerQ layer
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
Exhibit 7: TheExhibit 7: TheExhibit 7: TheExhibit 7: The
MokMokMokMokoooopanepanepanepane VTM Iron PVTM Iron PVTM Iron PVTM
Iron Projectrojectrojectroject PPPP----Q ZoneQ ZoneQ ZoneQ Zone
Exposed at Surface and TiExposed at Surface and TiExposed at
Surface and TiExposed at Surface and Ti----Magnetite Rich Soil
CMagnetite Rich Soil CMagnetite Rich Soil CMagnetite Rich Soil
Coveroveroverover
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
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With the additional drilling and more detailed logging of the
P-Q layer during 2012 the Company was able to define a
more detailed stratigraphy for the P-Q layer. This can be
correlated along strike and down-dip between all the holes and
across the entire area drilled to date. These various
stratigraphic zones have been defined based on clear changes in
the
magnetite content of the ore and other geological information.
Once the new stratigraphic system was defined all
previous holes in the P-Q layer were re-logged accordingly.
TableTableTableTable 1111:::: Stratigraphic SStratigraphic
SStratigraphic SStratigraphic Subdivision of theubdivision of
theubdivision of theubdivision of the PPPP----Q LQ LQ LQ
Layerayerayerayer
STRATIGRAPHIC ZONESTRATIGRAPHIC ZONESTRATIGRAPHIC
ZONESTRATIGRAPHIC ZONE
CODECODECODECODE
NAMENAMENAMENAME APPROXIMATE THICKNESSAPPROXIMATE
THICKNESSAPPROXIMATE THICKNESSAPPROXIMATE THICKNESS
DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION
PQHWPQHWPQHWPQHW P-Q hanging wall Variable All zones above the
hanging wallmarker, including the phosphate horizon
HWMHWMHWMHWM Hanging wall marker 0.2m- 2.0m Pyroxenitic/more
mafic horizon wherephosphate zone begins
Q3Q3Q3Q3 Q3 upper low-grade zone Generally 10m - 15m, but maybe
up to 50m
Upper Q-Ti-Magnetite ore zone,generally semi-massive to
disseminatedore. Contains significant internal waste inplaces
Q2Q2Q2Q2 Q2 lower high-grade zone 10m - 15m Lower Q-Ti-Magnetite
ore zone,generally massive ore.
Q1Q1Q1Q1 Q1 basal disseminated zone 3m - 4m Basal zone of
disseminated Ti-Magnetiteore below the more massive Q2 horizon
PQPARTPQPARTPQPARTPQPART Parting between the P and
QMagnetites
~5m Barren zone of gabbronortie separatingthe P and Q Magnetite
layers
PMAGPMAGPMAGPMAG P Magnetite 2m - 4m P-magnetite zone, generally
massive,but with some internal waste and oftencontaining more
sulphides than the Qhorizon
PFWDIPFWDIPFWDIPFWDISSSSSSSS P-Magnetite disseminatedfootwall
mineralisation
5m - 15m A zone of disseminated mineralisation inthe footwall to
the more massive P-
Magnetite, lower grade but nonethelesssignificant
PQFWPQFWPQFWPQFW P-Q footwall 5m - 20m Barren gabbronorite
footwall below thedisseminated footwall
OMAGOMAGOMAGOMAG O-Magnetite 0.2m -0.5m Narrow Magnetite marker
band
OFWOFWOFWOFW O-magnetite footwall 0.5m -3.0m Barren zone between
the N and OMagnetites
NMAGNMAGNMAGNMAG N-Magnetite 0.2m -2.0m Magnetite marker
band
NFWNFWNFWNFW N-Magnetite footwall Variable Barren footwall to
the N-Magnetite
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
Main Magnetic layer (MML)The MML lies in the lower portion of
the Upper Zone and has been mined at the Mapochs VTM Mine in the
Eastern
Bushveld Lobe since the 1960s and is currently owned by Evraz
Highveld Steel and Vanadium Ltd. It consists of an upper
VTM-rich interval which is separated from the lower VTM-rich
interval by a low VTM grade parting. The down hole width
for the entire MML package (upper and lower magnetite layers and
parting) ranges between 8m and 10m and has an
average true thickness of 8.4m.
The entire MML package has an average vanadium content of
approximately 1.3% V2O5with maximum concentrations of
1.5% to 1.7% V2O5in the massive VTM bands. These values compare
favourably with the reported V2O5grades from the
Mapochs Mine (operated by Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium.
Isolated (
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 8888: Regional Aeromagnetic Map
with Interpreted S: Regional Aeromagnetic Map with Interpreted S:
Regional Aeromagnetic Map with Interpreted S: Regional Aeromagnetic
Map with Interpreted Structuraltructuraltructuraltructural
FFFFeatureseatureseatureseatures
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
Structure
Fault zones rarely outcrop in the area, but displacement of
strata can be interpreted from aeromagnetic data and is
supported directly in some cases with evidence of displaced
geological units encountered during mapping. Faulting is
characterised by major regional NE-SW to ENE-WSW striking
sub-vertical fault zones (up to 2600m), and local ENE-WSWto E-W
striking sub-vertical fault zones (up to 1400m). The project area
is also intruded by two dolerite dyke sets. An
earlier E-W trending dyke set is crosscut by a later ENE-WSW
trending dyke set (Exhibit 8).
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Exploration
Historic
The first detailed historical investigations on the project site
were carried out in the 1970s and included mapping, ground
geophysics, trenching and limited drilling south of the Mokopane
project. This work focussed mainly on the MML
because of its high vanadium content. The project area has not
been previously explored for its Ti-magnetite potentialbut was
covered by a regional geochemical soil sampling and mapping
programme by the Council for Geoscience
(CGS).
During 1979 and 1980, the Mining Corporation Ltd (MCL), a South
African government company, completed
geological mapping, magnetic surveys, and drilling over the five
contiguous farms to the south of the Mokopane project.
The main focus was the vanadium potential of the MML layer and a
non-JORC-compliant mineral resource along a 16km
strike of 419Mt of VTM-rich material containing 6.5Mt of V2O5was
reported. The tonnages represent the total estimated
amount of Ti-magnetite concentrate potentially extractable from
the Main Magnetite Group layers (MAG 1 to MAG 4)
to a vertical depth of 80m and the Lower Magnetite Group to a
vertical depth of 200m.
A regional aeromagnetic and radiometric survey was conducted in
the 1990s which showed prominent northerly-trendingmagnetic
anomalies which were correlated with the MML and the P-Q Layer
(Exhibit 8). A stratigraphic borehole BV-1 was
drilled in 1991 on the Bellevue farm approximately 2km
south-west of the project area. The hole covered the entire
Upper Zone stratigraphy and intersected 32 discrete layers of
Ti-magnetite or Ti-magnetite-rich rock ranging in thickness
between 7cm and 13m.
Current
Results of the CGS aeromagnetic survey was interpreted and
followed by drilling which resulted in the intersection of the
PQ magnetite layer in 2010. Follow up work consisted of desktop
reviews of existing data (geological mapping, soil
sampling, satellite imagery interpretation, rock chip sampling),
and the first systematic drill programme on the project
was undertaken by Bushveld Minerals during 2010 and 2011. A
total of 4,234.06m of diamond drill core from 17 diamond
drill holes on the farms Vliegekraal and Vriesland was
completed. This included 4 drill holes totalling 902.02m on the
MML and 10 drill holes totalling 2,583.77m on the P-Q Zone. The
holes were drilled at regular intervals of between 500m
and 1,200m along the strike of the deposit.
During 2012, a further 51 boreholes totalling 3490.95m were
drilled on the farms Vliegekraal, Vriesland and Malokong. Of
these, 13 boreholes totalling 927.49m were drilled on the MML,
of which ten intersected mineralisation (3 were drilled
into the footwall to the MML). Five boreholes totalling 1,525.39
m were drilled on the fresh (unweathered) P-Q zone, and
five fence lines totalling 33 boreholes and 1,038.07m were
drilled into the weathered portion of the P-Q Zone. Of these
33 boreholes, 13 successfully intersected the P-Q Zone.
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Resources
The Mokopane VTM project currently has a total JORC resource of
818Mt split between the P-Q layer (752 Mt) and the
MML (66.21Mt).
MML Resource
The MML Layer wireframe was constructed primarily on whole rock
geochemistry from core samples of the 2010/2011drilling campaign
and extends 800m to the north and 900m to the south of drilling
limits. The wireframe was limited to
100m depth as this is considered the likely limit of economic
extraction within the near future for this 8m thick layer.
TableTableTableTable 2222:::: InferredInferredInferredInferred
JORC Compliant Resource EJORC Compliant Resource EJORC Compliant
Resource EJORC Compliant Resource Estimation for the MMLstimation
for the MMLstimation for the MMLstimation for the MML (
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Table 4: Inferred JORC Compliant Resource ETable 4: Inferred
JORC Compliant Resource ETable 4: Inferred JORC Compliant Resource
ETable 4: Inferred JORC Compliant Resource
Estimationstimationstimationstimation thethethethe PPPP----Q layerQ
layerQ layerQ layer (200m(200m(200m(200m----400m)400m)400m)400m) of
the Mokopane Projectof the Mokopane Projectof the Mokopane
Projectof the Mokopane Project
LayerLayerLayerLayer TonnesTonnesTonnesTonnes SGSGSGSG FeFeFeFe
Fe2O3Fe2O3Fe2O3Fe2O3 TiO2TiO2TiO2TiO2 V2O5V2O5V2O5V2O5
SiO2SiO2SiO2SiO2 Al2O3Al2O3Al2O3Al2O3 P2O5P2O5P2O5P2O5 SSSS
NameNameNameName millionmillionmillionmillion
g/cm3g/cm3g/cm3g/cm3 %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%%
Q3Q3Q3Q3 143.57 3.57 29 43.3 8.8 0.09 28.3 10.3 0.13 0.63
Q2Q2Q2Q2 94.62 3.99 38.6 57.6 14.1 0.24 15.3 7.6 0.02 0.61
Q1Q1Q1Q1 23.71 3.67 31.8 47.5 11.3 0.27 21.6 10.5 0.02 0.52
PMAGPMAGPMAGPMAG 38.41 3.59 29.2 43.6 9.9 0.27 23.4 11.5 0.04
0.83
PFWDISSPFWDISSPFWDISSPFWDISS 73.64 3.37 25.7 38.3 6.9 0.21 30.2
12.8 0.03 0.43
TotalTotalTotalTotal 374374374374 3,653,653,653,65
30,9830,9830,9830,98 46,2346,2346,2346,23 10,0410,0410,0410,04
0,180,180,180,18 24,4624,4624,4624,46 10,2510,2510,2510,25
0,070,070,070,07
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
In the absence of adequately defined variography, the inverse
distance squared method was used for the grade
estimation for all elements. Resource classification was applied
as a function of the drill hole spacing. By virtue of the
wide drill hole spacing (1,900m), the MML is classified as an
Inferred Mineral Resource down to a vertical depth of 100m.
Owing to the closer spacing of drill holes (600m), the P-Q
Layers are classified as an Indicated Mineral Resource down to
a vertical depth of 200m, and as an Inferred Mineral Resource
from vertical depths of 200m to 400m.
MSA also constructed waste models in order to estimate the depth
cut-off that would be appropriate for the deposit
to have a reasonable potential for economic extraction. In the
exercise, MSA created theoretical pits and calculated the
strip ratio that would be generated from such a mining scenario
(Exhibit 9). An average stripping ratio of 5:1 was used as
the limit for any economic extraction. Based on this number, the
possible depth limit of economic extraction is down to
200m for the P-Q Layer, and 100m for the MML, and this is the
depth to which the valuation of the project has been
based.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 9999:::: MSAMSAMSAMSA
WWWWasteasteasteaste Models Showing Probable Stripping Ratios and
Likely Depth Limits to Economic EModels Showing Probable Stripping
Ratios and Likely Depth Limits to Economic EModels Showing Probable
Stripping Ratios and Likely Depth Limits to Economic EModels
Showing Probable Stripping Ratios and Likely Depth Limits to
Economic Extractionxtractionxtractionxtraction
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
Exploration upside
Bushveld Minerals has progressed the project considerably in a
short amount of time and increased the total resource by
28% from 641Mt to 818Mt since the IPO in March 2012. However
there is still considerable potential upside to the asset
base.
Firstly, the Department of Mineral Resource (DMR) has just
approved the Section 102 application to add the farms
Schoonoord 786 LR and Bellevue 808 LR to the licence area of
95PR. This has increased the strike length of the
knownmineralisation from aeromagnetic and soil surveys on Bushvelds
prospecting rights by 3.5km, a 64% increase in the strike
length of the P-Q zone. This has been confirmed by logging and
sampling of the historical borehole BV-1 drilled on the
farm Bellevue 808 LR with similar grades and thicknesses to
previous boreholes drilled by the Company into the P-Q
Zone. The P-Q Zone hosts the bulk of the current resource with
752Mt at 32% Fe, 10.5% TiO2and 0.19% V
2O
5.
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The Company believes these new licenses should increase the
total resource to over 1Bt. Significantly the P-Q resource
includes a high grade zone with 184Mt at 39% Fe, 14% TiO 2and
0.24% V2O5and the additional mineralisation along strike
should increase access to this material which enables the
Company to selectively mine the high grade material close to
surface. Further drilling should delineate this mineralisation
and increase the current resource. From the regional
geophysics and knowledge of the geology of the area, it appears
that the iron formation extends to the north and south
of the project area. If Bushveld Minerals are successful in
acquiring further licences, there is the potential to
substantiallyincrease the current resource.
Secondly, the mineralisation is expected to continue at depth,
but the Company has (taking into account the thickness of
the mineralisation and an 180dip) limited its resource
delineation to a depth of 400m beyond which the high stripping
ratios will ensure the resource not to be economically
extractable in the foreseeable future. However the possibility
exists
that conditions will change in the future, and advances in
technology or supply and demand fundamentals in the iron ore
industry could make this ore economic. Perhaps underground
mining methods will prove to be economic in the future
and this will be defined in a comprehensive feasibility
study.
Thirdly, upside also exists in the multi element nature of the
deposit. The production of an iron concentrate from this
type of ore is well known technology, as is the production of
pig iron/steel and vanadium. Moreover the titanium market
is where supply and demand fundamentals are currently driving
titanium prices upward, and the development of
technology which can release the titanium from slag will be able
to supply a demand shortfall.
In the shallow parts of the P-Q Zone, there has been weathering
of the gangue minerals to clay, and the ore is friable in
this zone. This weathering has an average depth of ~25 m and,
although the gangue minerals have been altered, the
magnetite ore remains largely unaffected by this weathering.
This weathered zone may prove easier to mine and
beneficiate, and could provide upside by lowering mining and
processing costs in the early stages of mine development.
There is also known to be a significant phosphorous (P) enriched
layer in the form of apatite bearing magnetite
gabbro, which occurs immediately above the P-Q layer, and assays
of the hanging-wall to the P-Q layer have confirmed a
broad area of phosphate (P2O5) mineralisation. The
mineralisation consists mainly of apatite (the phosphate
mineral),
pyroxene and magnetite and is mineralogically similar to
foskorite, the ore body being mined at the large phosphate
deposit in Phalabora, South Africa. Like the magnetite layers
below it, this phosphate zone is consistent along strike and
down-dip, and ranges in thickness from 8m to over 60m and
averages 31m, with grades of between 2% and 5% P2O5. This
is quite a thick zone, and it may be possible to extract higher
grade zones and define a significant phosphate resource,
which could be further upgraded by the removal of disseminated
magnetite in this zone through magnetic separation.
Foskor has a reserve grade of between 6.56% and 7.04% and
consider ore down to 4% as marginally economical, so as a
by-product this has the potential to further improve the project
economics, especially as the material would be stripped
as waste anyway. The DMR has just added Phosphate Rock
(resource) to the list of minerals included within the
prospecting right and Bushveld expects to be able to define a
phosphate resource in 2Q13.
Metallurgical Test Work
There is no recorded historical mineral processing or
metallurgical test work on the VTM deposits of the project
area,
MCL however produced Ti-magnetite concentrates under laboratory
conditions in drill core intersected on the MML on
neighbouring farms, and determined the V2O5and TiO2contents by
standard X-Ray Fluorescence analysis (XRF). The
percentage of titano-magnetite in the MML was reportedly between
67.7% and 74.8% and the VTM concentrate
contained between 1.62% and 1.69% V2O5. The latter vanadium
concentrations are almost identical with the 1.69% V2O5
(after crushing, washing and screening) which EVRAZ Highveld
reported on MML ore from its Mapochs Mine.
Since then Bushveld has carried out preliminary mineralogical
and metallurgical test work on the Massive and the
Disseminated Magnetite Ore of the P-Q Zone to investigate the
beneficiation characteristics. The metallurgical and
mineralogical characterization and densimetric test work was
carried out by SGS with advisory input from PESCO. Afterinitial
Davis Tube test work on a -75m fraction, preliminary Heavy Liquid
Separation tests on coarse (-12mm to -6mm)
fractions were carried out on the Massive Ore. These tests
showed that >75% iron recoveries and concentrate grades of
49-50% FeTwere achievable at these coarse sizes. Following this,
additional DTT test work was done on both the massive
and the disseminated ores for a range of size fractions.
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For the Massive ore, tests were conducted on six size fractions
between -500m and -38m. The best grades ( 55% Fe)
and the best recoveries ( 85 86.5%) were for the -500m, -212m
and -106m size fractions (Table 5). As well as higher
recoveries there was also a significant reduction in SiO2and MgO
abundances in the concentrate compared to the -6mm
and -12mm concentrates produced using Heavy Liquid separation
(HLS). This suggests that fine grinding may not be
necessary, lowering the potential processing costs.
Recoveries for the disseminated zone were lower than for the
massive ore possibly due to more of the iron being
incorporated into the minerals pyroxene and olivine in the
disseminated ore. However, positive results were obtained for
all size fractions >106m producing >55.0% Fe products with
>61% recoveries (Table 6).
The extractability and pyro metallurgical characteristics of the
ore were also tested. The results released in October 2012
and January 2013, also included pre-reduction test work to see
if a higher value pre-reduced iron ore product could be
produced.
Table 5Table 5Table 5Table 5:::: DTT Results for the PDTT
Results for the PDTT Results for the PDTT Results for the P----Q
Massive OreQ Massive OreQ Massive OreQ Massive Ore::::
106106106106mmmmReflects the Optimal Concentrate Product Grade and
RReflects the Optimal Concentrate Product Grade and RReflects the
Optimal Concentrate Product Grade and RReflects the Optimal
Concentrate Product Grade and
Recoveriesecoveriesecoveriesecoveries
Grade in CGrade in CGrade in CGrade in
Concentrateoncentrateoncentrateoncentrate
Other Elements in COther Elements in COther Elements in COther
Elements in Concentrateoncentrateoncentrateoncentrate
GrindGrindGrindGrind
fractionfractionfractionfraction
FeFeFeFe TiOTiOTiOTiO VOVOVOVO
Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade % Recovery %Recovery %Recovery
%Recovery % Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade % Recovery %Recovery
%Recovery %Recovery % Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade % Recovery
%Recovery %Recovery %Recovery % AlO%AlO%AlO%AlO% SiO%SiO%SiO%SiO%
MgO%MgO%MgO%MgO% CaO%CaO%CaO%CaO%
----12mm12mm12mm12mm
++++1mm1mm1mm1mm48.9 79.20 18.5 79.80 0.32 89.70 3.29 5.87 1.73
0.96
----6mm6mm6mm6mm
+1mm+1mm+1mm+1mm50.1 73.40 19.0 74.90 0.33 78.50 2.88 4.66 1.65
0.75
----500m500m500m500m 54.854.854.854.8 86.4986.4986.4986.49
18.518.518.518.5 80.6780.6780.6780.67 0.390.390.390.39 NDNDNDND
2.802.802.802.80 1.171.171.171.17 0.970.970.970.97
0.110.110.110.11
----212m212m212m212m 55.155.155.155.1 84.7584.7584.7584.75
18.718.718.718.7 79.3979.3979.3979.39 0.350.350.350.35
94.1194.1194.1194.11 2.832.832.832.83 1.221.221.221.22
0.970.970.970.97 0.110.110.110.11
----106106106106mmmm 54.854.854.854.8 86.86.86.86.30303030
18.418.418.418.4 80.0580.0580.0580.05 0.360.360.360.36 NDNDNDND
2.822.822.822.82 1.171.171.171.17 0.980.980.980.98
0.120.120.120.12
----75m75m75m75m 55.0 77.93 18.3 71.53 0.35 86.64 2.78 1.13 0.92
0.11
----53m53m53m53m 55.5 43.93 18.3 40.02 0.42 58.17 2.81 1.24 0.93
0.12
----38m38m38m38m 54.6 35.69 17.8 32.15 0.36 41.18 2.89 1.67 0.98
0.21
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
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TableTableTableTable 6666:::: DTT Results for the PDTT Results
for the PDTT Results for the PDTT Results for the P----Q
Disseminated OreQ Disseminated OreQ Disseminated OreQ Disseminated
Ore
Grade in CGrade in CGrade in CGrade in
Concentrateoncentrateoncentrateoncentrate
Other Elements in COther Elements in COther Elements in COther
Elements in Concentrateoncentrateoncentrateoncentrate
GrindGrindGrindGrindfractionfractionfractionfraction
FeFeFeFe TiOTiOTiOTiO VOVOVOVO
Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade % Recovery %Recovery %Recovery
%Recovery % Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade % Recovery %Recovery
%Recovery %Recovery % Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade % Recovery
%Recovery %Recovery %Recovery % AlO%AlO%AlO%AlO% SiO%SiO%SiO%SiO%
MgO%MgO%MgO%MgO% CaO%CaO%CaO%CaO%
----500m500m500m500m 55.155.155.155.1 61.4561.4561.4561.45
17.817.817.817.8 63.463.463.463.47777 0.250.250.250.25 NDNDNDND
2.872.872.872.87 1.781.781.781.78 0.840.840.840.84
0.190.190.190.19
----212m212m212m212m 55555555 63.163.163.163.1 17.717.717.717.7
64.9764.9764.9764.97 0.240.240.240.24 NDNDNDND 2.912.912.912.91
1.971.971.971.97 0.90.90.90.9 0.210.210.210.21
----106m106m106m106m 54.854.854.854.8 61.8861.8861.8861.88
17.717.717.717.7 63.9563.9563.9563.95 0.360.360.360.36 NDNDNDND
2.872.872.872.87 1.81.81.81.8 0.860.860.860.86 0.20.20.20.2
----75m75m75m75m 55.1 51.98 17.7 53.38 0.23 85.15 2.89 1.94 0.86
0.21
----53m53m53m53m 54.7 25.55 17.4 16.46 0.22 0.79 2.96 2.25 0.89
0.25
----38m38m38m38m 54.5 7.74 17.1 3.99 0.27 0.24 3.19 2.95 0.95
0.37
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
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Mining and Processing Options
Given the nature of the mineralisation it is envisaged that in
the current market only the top 200m of mineralisation could
be mined economically. However, the mineralisation occurs in a
thick package of about 45m dipping at around 18 and
sub-outcropping below a thin (1 3m thick) soil layer, giving it
the potential for a low stripping ratio. In addition the deep
weathering profile down to 30m means it could initially be
relatively easy to excavate and crush reducing initial
operating
costs, although physical test work still needs to be carried out
on both the weathered and fresh ore.
As titanium dioxide has a very high melting point (1,843C) it
will produce a slag that will freeze a traditional blast
furnace.
However, as technologies have adapted, the processing of such
ore has become economic and these ores are regularly
processed with companies such as the Panzhihua Iron and Steel
group in Sichuan (Chinas largest vanadium producer
and Western Chinas largest steel producer) using
titano-magnetite similar to that of the P-Q Zone as a 100% feed for
its
blast furnaces.
Overall we expect crushing and milling parameters to be similar
to EVRAZ Highveld where a titanium and vanadium rich
iron concentrate is produced using gravity and Dense Media
Separation (DMS) methods. This product could then be sent
or sold to a specialist smelter for pyro-metallurgical treatment
to produce pig iron and a vanadium/titanium rich slag. At
some stage, Bushveld may look to build a smelter themselves
given the increasing availability of coking and thermal coal
from the rapidly developing Waterberg coalfields. Additionally,
the latest test work is looking at producing an additional
pre-reduced product that can be used direct into a blast furnace
increasing potential sale prices.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 11110000:::: Example ProcessExample
ProcessExample ProcessExample Process----FFFFlow for alow for alow
for alow for a Pig Iron ProductPig Iron ProductPig Iron ProductPig
Iron Product,,,, including an Iincluding an Iincluding an
Iincluding an Intermediatentermediatentermediatentermediate
PrePrePrePre----RRRReduceduceduceduction Ption Ption Ption
Processrocessrocessrocess
Source:Source:Source:Source: Evraz Highveld Steel and
Vanadium
Alternatively a processing route similar to the one that Baobab
Resources (Baobab) intend to use on its Tete VTM
deposit could prove to be a less expensive option. Davis Tube
Recovery analysis was performed on samples from
Baobabs deposit which indicated that its ore could be processed
using both a high and low magnetic separation circuit
to produce two concentrates: a low magnetic separation circuit
producing a ferro-vanadium concentrate containing high
grade iron and vanadium, supplemented by a high magnetic
separation circuit which could produce a concentrate
containing high grade TiO2. The Baobab proposed process flow
sheet is shown in Exhibit 11.
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 11111: Proposed Process Flow S1:
Proposed Process Flow S1: Proposed Process Flow S1: Proposed
Process Flow Sheet for Baobabs VTM depositheet for Baobabs VTM
depositheet for Baobabs VTM depositheet for Baobabs VTM deposit
Source:Source:Source:Source: Baobab Resources
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 11112222:::: Example Processing
PrecedentsExample Processing PrecedentsExample Processing
PrecedentsExample Processing Precedents
ProcessorProcessorProcessorProcessor
ProcessProcessProcessProcess Crude steel productionCrude steel
productionCrude steel productionCrude steel production in 2010in
2010in 2010in 2010 ProductsProductsProductsProducts
New Zealand Steel, NewZealand
Multi hearth furnaces, rotarykilns, submerged arc furnaces
850,000 tonnes Concentrated ore, steel andvanadium slag
Highveld, South Africa Rotary kilns, submerged arcfurnaces
777,000 tonnes FeV, vanadium slag, steel andalloys
NTMK (Evraz), Russia Blast furnace route 4.3 million tonnes Ore,
VO, FeV, steel products
Chengde (HBIS), China Pelletizing, blast furnaceroute
7.5 million tonnes VO, FeV, vanadium slag, steel
Panzhihua Steel, China Blast furnace route 8.4 million tonnes
VO, FeV, vanadium slag, steel
Various small processors, China Blast furnace route - VO, FeV,
vanadium slag, steel
Chusovskoy, Russia Blast furnace route ~115,000 tonnes VO, FeV,
vanadium slag steel
QIT, Canada Special reduction furnaces ~750,000 tonnes Titanium
slag, pig iron and steel
Richards Bay Minerals, SouthAfrica
Calciner, charring plant andelectric arc furnaces
- Titanium slag, pig iron, zircon andrutile
Vanchem, South Africa Solvent extraction - VO, FeV, vanadium
chemicals
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals, CRU
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Marketing and Product Sales
Although the final product specification has not yet been
defined, in the first instance it is likely to be a vanadium
and
titanium bearing iron concentrate. EVRAZ Highveld produces steel
and vanadium slag products at its Emalahleni
steelworks nearby, as well as mining VTMs from its Mapochs Mine.
The Company uses vanadium-bearing iron ore from
Mapochs to produce a slag that contains 20% vanadium oxide. In
2010 it produced 64,000 tonnes of vanadium slag which
was predominantly sold in the domestic market and
internationally to independent converters for the
downstreamproduction of vanadium-bearing products.
EVRAZ Highveld could potentially take the Mokopane ore for
processing but we think this is an unlikely scenario as its
sales were flat for 2011 due to weakness in domestic demand
caused by a weakening South African economy. Also
EVRAZ Highveld has large in-ground resources which they could
potentially ramp up mining production and therefore
have little need for extra smelting feed.
Alternatively, Bushveld Minerals could sell its products to the
international market, for which there is no lack of demand
for pig iron, although there would be increased transport costs.
The final customer for the Bushveld Minerals ore will
need to be investigated and remains a key risk to the project in
our view until off-take agreements can be signed.
An alternative for the product could be for Bushveld Minerals to
build its own smelter facilities, but we do not see this as
a viable option in the short term. The capital required to
undertake this option would be prohibitive for a junior miner
such as Bushveld, especially when considering the uncertainty of
the sales markets. A 2009 study into building a smelter
in the area estimated the capex required at nearly US$500M.
Permitting would also be a lengthy process for such an
endeavour.
Infrastructure
Iron ore plays are as much about the access to infrastructure as
it is about the deposit. Bushveld Resources projects are
well located for rail, port and road infrastructure.
Johannesburg can be accessed in less than four hours by the major
N1
motorway. The R518 tarred secondary road runs through the
property. This existing infrastructure gives Bushveld a
competitive advantage regarding transport costs and possible
capital outlay when compared to some of its peers in
western Africa.
Port and Rail
The nearest rail line is only 45km from the project and links to
Mokopane which in turn connects Polokwane (65km east of
the project area) to Johannesburg and several ports on the
eastern coast. Bottlenecks in the rail infrastructure mean that
access can be limited and must be negotiated. However, there is
the potential for immediate access to ~1-2Mt pa and
eventually up to 5Mt once the line is upgraded.
There are various export options including both Matola in
Mozambique and Richards Bay, both of which are expected to
increase in capacity. Transnets ZAR300 billion capital
investment programme expected to expand rail and port
infrastructure capacity over the next 7 years.
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 13: Rail and Port I13: Rail and
Port I13: Rail and Port I13: Rail and Port Infrastructure in South
Africanfrastructure in South Africanfrastructure in South
Africanfrastructure in South Africa
Source:Source:Source:Source: Transet
Power
The region is served by major existing power infrastructure. The
765kV Matimba-Witkop power line passes 25km north of
the property and the project is 150km from the new Medupi power
station and only 15km from proposed Eskom 110kV
transmission line and substation. In addition the project is in
close proximity to the Waterberg coal-fields where IPP
projects are being built in addition to Eskoms existing 3,990MW
Matimba power station and new Medupi 4800MW
Power Station which was commissioned last year.
Transmission capex should be kept to a minimum as there is
extensive existing transmission infrastructure within a 20km
radius of the project: including Matimba/Witkop dual 400kV
lines, the Witkop/PPRust 132kV line and the PPRust 132kV
Substation
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 14141414:::: Power Infrastructure
ClPower Infrastructure ClPower Infrastructure ClPower
Infrastructure Close to the Pose to the Pose to the Pose to the
Projectrojectrojectroject
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
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Water
Water availability may be limited due to the semi-arid
environment. However, there is currently an advanced study to
pipe water to the project area. As part of Phase 2 of the
Olifants River Water Resources Development Project (ORWRDP)
water will be pumped from the Flag Boshielo Dam to the town of
Mokopane. A nine company consortium has been set
up and is currently engaged in feasibility studies for a
~140ML/day pipeline from Flag Boshielo Dam, 80 KM from project
site.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 11115555:::: Power Infrastructure
Close to the PPower Infrastructure Close to the PPower
Infrastructure Close to the PPower Infrastructure Close to the
Projectrojectrojectroject
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
Other Services
Mining services and human resources are also readily available
in the area which has a long history of mining. There are
nearby operating platinum, chrome and gold mines. Drilling
contractors, services and consultants are available inJohannesburg
and the greater Gauteng area.
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Future work programmeWhen the Company listed in the London Stock
exchange in March 2012, it had a clear set of goals it wanted to
achieve
by the end of 1H13. These formed the basis of the Companys
immediate priorities and objectives and revolve around
the completion of a scoping study by the end of 1Q13.
Although not essential, the Company also wants to prove up a
>1Bt JORC compliant resource.
The Company is well on its way to achieving these goals having
updated and upgraded the resource and carried out the
required metallurgical test work. The next step is the release
of the scoping study which should be out before the end of
the period and will give us an idea of the potential markets for
the products from Mokopane. Once this is done work on
the full feasibility study will commence alongside the required
permitting applications with the eventual aim of
production in 1H15.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 11116666:::: Bushveld Minerals Iron
Ore Work ProgrammeBushveld Minerals Iron Ore Work ProgrammeBushveld
Minerals Iron Ore Work ProgrammeBushveld Minerals Iron Ore Work
Programme
1H'121H'121H'121H'12 2H'122H'122H'122H'12 1H'131H'131H'131H'13
2H'132H'132H'132H'13 1H'141H'141H'141H'14 2H'142H'142H'142H'14
1H'151H'151H'151H'15
Acquisition of nearby landAcquisition of nearby landAcquisition
of nearby landAcquisition of nearby land
DrillingDrillingDrillingDrilling
Scoping study incorporating:Scoping study incorporating:Scoping
study incorporating:Scoping study incorporating:
Infrastructure Scoping StudiesInfrastructure Scoping
StudiesInfrastructure Scoping StudiesInfrastructure Scoping
Studies
HydrologyHydrologyHydrologyHydrology
Mining scoping StudiesMining scoping StudiesMining scoping
StudiesMining scoping Studies
Market StudiesMarket StudiesMarket StudiesMarket Studies
Feasibility studiesFeasibility studiesFeasibility
studiesFeasibility studies
Licensing & PermittingLicensing & PermittingLicensing
& PermittingLicensing & Permitting
ProductionProductionProductionProduction
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
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Tin Greenhills ResourcesBushveld has ambitious plans for its tin
resources and aims to develop the largest African portfolio of tin
assets targeting
over 200kt of contained Sn and a 12-18 month production profile
targeting an initial 3ktpa. This will involve consolidating
assets not just inside South Africa but in the rest of Africa,
targeting the Great Lakes region of Rwanda, Southern DRC
and Uganda. However its initial focus is on its South African
assets, especially the Mokopane Tin project.
Background
The Mokopane tin project is located SW of the Mokopane Fe
project and consists of the 13,420ha New Order
Prospecting Right (PR) LP 2205 PR, with several more under
consideration. The PR is valid for five years until July 2015
and gives Bushveld Minerals the right to explore for tin, rare
earth metals, fluorspar, molybdenum, gold, arsenic,
uranium, zirconium, iron ore and zinc.
ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 11117777:::: Bushveld Minerals
Mokopane Tin ProjectBushveld Minerals Mokopane Tin ProjectBushveld
Minerals Mokopane Tin ProjectBushveld Minerals Mokopane Tin Project
Red, TinRed, TinRed, TinRed, Tin----bearing Bobbejaankop
Granitebearing Bobbejaankop Granitebearing Bobbejaankop
Granitebearing Bobbejaankop Granite
Source:Source:Source:Source: Fox-Davies Capital
The PR is defined by a series of contiguous farm boundaries,
namely Zaaiplaats 223KR, Roodepoort 22KR, Groenfontein227KR, De
Hoogedoorns 233KR and Salomons Temple 230KR. Outcrops of
disseminated tin mineralisation and historic
workings delineate the exploration targets within the PR, with
the Groenfontein and Zaaiplaats prospects being the two
primary targets. Two other targets, Salomons Temple and Union
Tin Member are lower priority, but further exploratory
work will be carried out this year. A fifth target, Appingendam
lies within the Appingendam 805LR farm boundary and is
in the process of being acquired by Bushveld Minerals but is
still subject to government approval. A map of the property
as defined by the description in the PR and the relative
location of the Groenfontein and Zaaiplaats targets are shown
in
Exhibit 18. To date only Groenfontein has a JORC resource of
~6kt of Sn (tin) at 0.15% Sn, although Zaaiplaats has
produced over 100kt of tin historically.
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 18181818: Loc: Loc: Loc: Location
of the Bushveld Mineralation of the Bushveld Mineralation of the
Bushveld Mineralation of the Bushveld Minerals Licencess Licencess
Licencess Licences HighligHighligHighligHighlighting the
Groenfontein andhting the Groenfontein andhting the Groenfontein
andhting the Groenfontein and Zaaiplaats Project AreasZaaiplaats
Project AreasZaaiplaats Project AreasZaaiplaats Project Areas
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
GeologyThe Mokopane tin project is situated within the Lebowa
Granite Suite on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex.
Three major types of granite occur within the Lebowa Granite
Suite: the Nebo, Bobbejaankop, and Lease Granites.Mineralisation
occurs as cassiterite (SnO2) within the red Bobbejaankop and fine
grained Lease Granites in pipe-like
bodies, sub-horizontal lenticular bodies and/or as a
sub-horizontal disseminated low grade mantos. The higher grade
pipes are of hydrothermal origin and cross-cut the disseminated
deposits, although these pipes have largely been mined
out historically.
Groenfontein Target
The mineralisation in the Groenfontein prospect is hosted within
the Lease Granite, a fine-grained aplite that forms a thin
(up to 120m) but continuous hood facies to the Bobbejaankop
Granite. The mineralisation is thought to be
synformational with the granite and has been emplaced by late
pulses of volatile element enriched granite into the
system. There does not appear to be any evidence of brecciation
or distinct veining associated with the emplacement of
the mineralisation. The mineralisation style within the
Bobbejaankop Granite is disseminated cassiterite and high grade
pipes of hydrothermal origin.
The disseminated mineralisation, which is the main target for
Bushveld Minerals, is found immediately below the contact
with a pegmatite which is a discontinuous feature in the roof of
the Lease Granite, close to the contact with the overlying
Rashoop Granophyre (Exhibit 18). This zone of mineralisation is
more irregular than the larger disseminated body and
does not generally crop out at surface. It has been locally
mined in the past.
From drilling it is believed that local high-grade pipe-like
bodies exist within and below the lower-grade mineralised
zones. Recent results include 16.86% Sn over 1m, but although
high-grade, they are not voluminous and do not make up
a significant resource. An example of Lease Granite core,
displaying disseminated cassiterite mineralisation is shown in
Exhibit 19.
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 19:19:19:19: Fine Grained, RedFine
Grained, RedFine Grained, RedFine Grained, Red Lease Granite of the
Groenfontein Deposit Displaying Disseminated Cassiterite MLease
Granite of the Groenfontein Deposit Displaying Disseminated
Cassiterite MLease Granite of the Groenfontein Deposit Displaying
Disseminated Cassiterite MLease Granite of the Groenfontein Deposit
Displaying Disseminated Cassiterite
Mineralisation.ineralisation.ineralisation.ineralisation.
Source:Source:Source:Source: Fox-Davies Site Visit
Zaaiplaats Target
The mineralisation in the Zaaiplaats prospect is hosted within
the Bobbejaankop Granite, a medium to coarse-grained,
deep red rock with a distinctive texture composed of linked
chains of quartz amphibole and cassiterite. The dark areas
are cavities filled with hydrothermal minerals including
cassiterite, scheelite, sericite, and fluorite. The mineralisation
is
associated with fluorite alteration and there is often the
presence of pyrite, chalcopyrite and scheelite. The zone of
mineralisation crops out at surface and extends NE-SW along the
strike for over 500m and forms the bulk of
mineralisation identified.
Fox-Davies staff examined core from the Zaaiplaats and
Groenfontein prospects while onsite early last year and found
it
difficult to differentiate between the high grade mineralised
intervals and low grade material in terms of alteration, grainsize
and mineralogy. There appears to be very little visual
differentiation between high and low grade zones suggesting
that grade control will be done through blast hole sampling.
Mining and Exploration History
Historic Mining and Exploration
Cassiterite was first discovered in the area in 1905 which led
to the establishment of the Groenfontein Tin Mine and the
Zaaiplaats Tin Mining Company. The Zaaiplaats Tin Mining Company
produced cassiterite concentrate and tin metal
continuously from its inception to its closure in 1989. Much of
the historic mining was focussed on the extraction of high-
grade pipe-like ore bodies, and only limited mining of
disseminated ore was carried out, as it was considered
uneconomic at the time. Over 21 000 tonnes of tin metal has
reportedly been mined in the Groenfontein area.
Modern exploration of the area commenced in the 1960s. Transvaal
Consolidated Lands (TCL) led a targeting exercise
in 1962 that identified the Roodepoort and Groenfontein as
targets for further exploration. A wide spaced follow-up
percussion drilling programme comprising 12 drill holes was
conducted in 1963 over the disseminated cassiterite target
on Groenfontein. The details of the sampling and assay
methodology are not available; however the programme
established a broad, anomalous zone of tin mineralisation.
In 1976, a detailed systematic surface sampling programme was
carried out over the southern part of Groenfontein and
Groendoorn. The entire area was sampled except the areas covered
by tailings from the Zaaiplaats Tin Mine and
alluvium. Granite chip samples and soil/alluvial/elluvial
samples were collected on a 10m by 5m grid on selected areas.
The results of the geochemical sampling programme are depicted
on Exhibit 22 where geochemical anomalies definedthe outcrop areas
of tin mineralisation on Groenfontein and Zaaiplaats. The
geochemical results prompted the planning
and execution of a phased percussion and diamond core drilling
programme on Groenfontein during 1978, to further
investigate the disseminated tin mineralisation. The programme
consisted of 203 holes for 8,292m and an average hole
depth of 41m. The distribution and coverage of the historic
drilling programme is shown in Exhibit 20.
Cassiterite MCassiterite MCassiterite MCassiterite
Mineralisationineralisationineralisationineralisation
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 22220: Location of Historic Drill
Holes on the Groenfontein T0: Location of Historic Drill Holes on
the Groenfontein T0: Location of Historic Drill Holes on the
Groenfontein T0: Location of Historic Drill Holes on the
Groenfontein Targetargetargetarget
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
The drilling defined an approximately 200m wide, NW-SE trending
zone of anomalous tin mineralisation (>0.02% Sn)
extending for over 1km and open ended on both ends. Within this
zone is a core of mineralisation with a 0.05% Sn cut-off
grade that extends for over 600m, and within this core are two
contiguous, more highly mineralised zones defined by a
cut-off grade of 0.1% Sn. These cover a combined area of
approximately 125m by 325m in extent and broadly
correspond to the surface outcrop of the disseminated tin
mineralisation.
Current Exploration
Groenfontein
Bushveld Minerals conducted diamond drilling programmes on the
Groenfontein target in 2010 and 2011 which focussed
on an area where extensive mining activity has taken place in
the past. The drilling targeted the disseminated tin
mineralisation in the Lease Granite and aimed to verify
historical drilling of the Groenfontein prospect by twinning
some
of the historical holes, and move the prospect towards a scoping
or feasibility study.
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In 2010, Bushveld Minerals drilled 53 holes of which 22 are
twins. The results of the recent holes were compared
statistically with the historical holes and found to verify the
original assay values to an acceptable degree of confidence.
This allowed the historical holes to be used in a modern, JORC
compliant resource estimation. The best intersections
encountered include:
6m at 0.99% Sn from BH080
2m at 1.08% Sn from BH024
1m at 16.86% Sn and 18m Sn @ 0.41% from BH042
2m at 5.76% Sn from BH043; and
11m at 0.46% Sn from BH175.
A further 20 holes were completed in 2011 to test the deeper
horizons of the mineralisation and in 2012 started an
estimated 20 RC holes of extension drilling and 58 RC holes of
infill drilling programme in order to bring more of thecurrently
defined indicated and inferred JORC compliant resources into the
measured category. These results have not
been included in the most recent resource estimation. An example
of a historical mine shaft and Bushveld Minerals drill
collars are shown in Exhibit 21.
Zaaiplaats
At Zaaiplaats the Company initially carried out a survey of the
old mine workings, both underground and in the open pit,
and undertook a rock chip sampling programme. Higher grade
mineralisation formed a NE-trending zone in the
Bobbejaankop Granite and outcrops corresponded with two open
pits connected by underground workings. Based on
these results an initial drilling programme was carried out to
confirm both surface and underground mineralisation. A
total of 43 holes were drilled and once the assays are available
the Company expects to declare an initial JORC resource
in 2Q13.
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 22221: Historic Wor1: Historic
Wor1: Historic Wor1: Historic Workings Targeting Highkings
Targeting Highkings Targeting Highkings Targeting Higherererer
GradeGradeGradeGrade
DisseminatedDisseminatedDisseminatedDisseminated Tin MTin MTin MTin
Mineralisationineralisationineralisationineralisation in Lease
Granitein Lease Granitein Lease Granitein Lease Granite
(LHS).(LHS).(LHS).(LHS).
BBBBushveld Minerals Dushveld Minerals Dushveld Minerals
Dushveld Minerals Drrrrill Cill Cill Cill Collarsollarsollarsollars
((((RHSRHSRHSRHS))))
Source:Source:Source:Source: Fox-Davies personnel
Resources
Following the results of the 2010 drilling programme, Bushveld
Minerals commissioned an estimation of the tin resource
of the Groenfontein prospect from Independent Resource
Estimations (IRES), a small, independent geological
consultancy. A grade-based wireframe was compiled from scanned
plans and sections of the original drilling. The contact
of the Lease granite with the pegmatite was separated from the
main disseminated body by a distinct wireframe in order
to keep the two populations independent of the influence on each
other and prevent smearing of grades between the
two. The grades within the main envelope were interpolated using
Ordinary Kriging methods. A specific gravity of 2.65
g/cm3, based on picnometer readings of sample pulp material was
used to convert volume into tonnes. The final
estimated tonnes and grade of the deposit, at a 0.1% Sn cut-off
grade, is shown in the mineral resource statement in
Table 7.
TableTableTableTable 7777: JORC Compliant Resource E: JORC
Compliant Resource E: JORC Compliant Resource E: JORC Compliant
Resource Estimation at a 0.1% Sn cutstimation at a 0.1% Sn
cutstimation at a 0.1% Sn cutstimation at a 0.1% Sn cut----off
gradeoff gradeoff gradeoff grade for the Groenfonteinfor the
Groenfonteinfor the Groenfonteinfor the Groenfontein
MMMMineralisationineralisationineralisationineralisation
Source:Source:Source:Source: MSA
TonnesTonnesTonnesTonnes GradeGradeGradeGrade Sn MetalSn MetalSn
MetalSn Metal
TTTT %%%% TTTT
MeasuredMeasuredMeasuredMeasured 1,177,000 0.179 2,107
IndicatedIndicatedIndicatedIndicated 1,918,000 0.14 2,685
M+IM+IM+IM+I 3,095,000 0.155 4,792
InferredInferredInferredInferred 898,000 0.134 1,203
TotalTotalTotalTotal 3,993,0003,993,0003,993,0003,993,000
0.150.150.150.15 5,9955,9955,9955,995
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The low cut-off grade used was due to the following reasons:
The median value for tin between 31 July 2009 and 31 July 2011
was approximately US$24,000 per tonne. At a
grade cut-off of 0.05% this is equivalent to a value cut-off (in
situ) of US$12 per tonne, with an average in situ
ore value of US$25 per tonne (at an average grade of 0.104% Sn).
This would be a total of nearly US$200M
worth of contained metal
The deposit is outcropping at surface, which means that there
are no stripping or underground development
costs
A 0.05% Sn cut-off provides for a contiguous zone of surface
mineralisation (approximately 500m x 125m by
20m thick at an average grade of 0.104% Sn) which would be
relatively easy to mine; and
The resource is the first of two geologically similar targets to
be investigated on the property, with a further
three targets identified, all within a short distance of each
other.
Following the completion of the 2012 drilling programme at
Zaaiplaats, the assays should be received shortly and theCompany
expects to declare an initial JORC resource later this quarter.
Exploration potential
The current resource estimation delineates the Groenfontein
disseminated tin prospect, but further upside can be found
in the exploration of the Zaaiplaats prospect which lies along
strike from Groenfontein and is geologically very similar
(Exhibit 22). There is also the possibility of finding upside in
high grade pipe features that were missed by historical
miners, especially in the deeper parts of the deposit. There is
some evidence in the modern drilling that some of these
pipes still exist, unmined.
In addition to the Groenfontein and Zaaiplaats targets, which
are the focus of the recent drilling, three other targets have
been identified in the project area. These are:
Salomons Tempel Target, historically mined on a limited scale
for tin in the Lease Granite;
Appingendam Target, a vein system historically mined for tin,
molybdenum and rare earth elements in the
Bobbejaankop and Lease Granites. The Appingendam target is
located on the Appingendam Farm 805 LR
for which Bushveld Minerals has applied for the licence but
which is pending approval; and
Union Shale Target historically mined on a limited scale for tin
from breccia bodies and structures
associated with the Union Tin Shale unit in the overlying
felsites of the Rooiberg Group.
Higher-grade parts of each of these targets have been partially
mined historically on various scales for tin and otherelements.
None of these targets have been previously investigated for
lower-grade styles of mineralisation. They are
therefore key targets for further exploration and expansion of
the tin resource in the project area. Bushveld Minerals
plans to drill all five prospects and has a target of 20 000
tonnes of contained tin for the project.
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ExhibitExhibitExhibitExhibit 22222: Mokopane Tin P2: Mokopane
Tin P2: Mokopane Tin P2: Mokopane Tin Prorororoject Exploration
Tject Exploration Tject Exploration Tject Exploration
Targetsargetsargetsargets and Results of Historic Geochemical Sand
Results of Historic Geochemical Sand Results of Historic
Geochemical Sand Results of Historic Geochemical
Surveyurveyurveyurvey
Source:Source:Source:Source: Bushveld Minerals
Mining and Processing
The mineralisation appears to be shallow in nature, which should
reduce the strip ratio of the mining (which would
essentially be a number of quarries) and save on development
costs. Mining costs would be relatively low compared to
other tin projects around the world, but blasting will be
required as the granites are hard, even at the surface.
Metallurgical test work is currently underway on the
disseminated ores of the Mokopane tin project, but initial
thoughts
on the processing route for the cassiterite have been
contemplated by MSA Group. They believe that a primary,secondary,
tertiary and quaternary crushing circuit could be utilised to
reduce the ore to approximately sand sized with
no milling involved. Then a riffle shaking table could be used
to gravity separate the cassiterite from the gangue mineral.
Froth flotation can be used to separate the fine cassiterite
particles created during crushing (due to its extreme
brittleness). It is worth noting that these are brownfield
targets with history of successful production and processing of
this tin ore.
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ValuationDue to the early stage nature of the projects we have
not constructed a discounted cash flow DCF model for the
project. Instead we have compared the EV per tonne of metal of
the JORC (or similar) compliant resource based on a
selection of comparable companies including explorers and
producers. Although not ideal, until the scoping study is
produced it is the best method we have for valuing the project
in the current market. However, the method is entirely
dependent on the peer group selected and can truly reflect the
vagaries of each project in the way a DCF based
valuation can. In particular the valuation doesnt reflect the
difference between head and recovered grades or the impact
of by-product credits.
Mokopane Iron Ore
Table 8 shows a list of VTM explorers and producers. All of
these companies have flagship deposits which contain all
three elements in the resource, namely iron, titanium and
vanadium. A brief description of the companies is provided in
the table below. Reviewing the peer group shows that the grades
of iron, titanium and vanadium for the Mokopane
project are high relative to its peers, and total tonnes of
contained metal also compare for all three elements. We have
compared the EV per tonne of iron for each of the peer group
because we believe that the iron concentrate will be the
most likely ore product for Bushveld Minerals.
Table 8:Table 8:Table 8:Table 8: CompanyCompanyCompanyCompany
Peer GroupPeer GroupPeer GroupPeer Group
CompanyCompanyCompanyCompany NNNNameameameame
MarketMarketMarketMarket ProjectProjectProjectProject
CountryCountryCountryCountry InterestInterestInterestInterest
TonneTonneTonneTonnessss Grade %Grade %Grade %Grade %Contained
MContained MContained MContained Metaletaletaletal
((((MMMMt)t)t)t)
MktMktMktMkt
CapCapCapCap
EVEVEVEV
US$US$US$US$
EV/tEV/tEV/tEV/t
FeFeFeFeStageStageStageStage
Bushveld MineralsBushveld MineralsBushveld MineralsBushveld
Minerals AIM:BMNAIM:BMNAIM:BMNAIM:BMN
MokopaneMokopaneMokopaneMokopane RSARSARSARSA 64%64%64%64%
740.0740.0740.0740.0 33.2%33.2%33.2%33.2% 0.4%0.4%0.4%0.4%
10.9%10.9%10.9%10.9% 245.8245.8245.8245.8 2.92.92.92.9
80.480.480.480.4 54.354.354.354.3 52.352.352.352.3 0.290.290.290.29
Scoping DueScoping DueScoping DueScoping Due
Pacific Ore Mining TSX-V: PC Iron - T Canada 100% 14.4 27.3%
0.4% 6.6% 3.9 0.1 1.0 8.5 6.5 1.66 Inf Resource
Forge Resources ASX: FRG Balla Balla Australia 75% 456.0 45.0%
0.6% 13.8% 205.2 2.9 62.9 15.9 7.4 0.05 BFS
Yellow Rock Resources ASX: YRR Gabanintha Australia 100% 125.8
32.3% 60.0% 8.6% 40.6 75.5 10.9 6.5 7.1 0.18 Adv. Explorer
Baobab Resources AIM:BAO Tete Mozambique 85% 665.0 34.0% 0.2%
12.6% 226.1 1.3 83.8 120.9 119.5 0.62 Pre Feasibilty
TNG Limited ASX:TNG Mount Peake Aust ralia 100% 160.0 23.0% 0.3%
5.3% 36.8 0.4 8.5 51.1 43.6 1.18 Pre Feasibilty
Average 36.84 0.74
Source:Source:Source:Source: Fox-Davies
For comparison we also had a look at off-market valuations. On
the 11 January 2012, private Company, Mboweni
Brothers Investment Holdings signed a memorandum of
understanding to acquire up to 20% in Ferrox Holdings Ltd. for
a consideration of US$32 million. Ferrox has a 74% indirect
interest in the Tivani iron ore project in South Africas
Limpopo Province. The Tivani project has a NI 43-101 compliant
Fe/Ti/V resource of 470Mt of measured, indicated and
inferred resources and is further advanced than Mokopane, having
completed a scoping study and significant
metallurgical test work on the ore. As Ferrox is privately
listed it does not have a market capitalisation and the grades
of
titanium and vanadium in the resource have not been published,
but this deal values Ferrox at US$160M or US$1.45 per
tonne of iron. This is considerably higher than the market
average EV for similar early stage projects, which we calculate
at US$0.74/t. Based on this multiple, Mokopane would be worth
US$181M. Bushveld has an attributable 64% ownership
valuing its share of the project at US$116.15M.
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Mokopane Tin
We have taken a similar approach and assembled a group of tin
explorers to account for the value of the tin asset. The
average EV per tonne of tin for the comparables group is
approximately US$268.7/t. Note that all of these companies are
further progressed than Bushveld Minerals in terms of the
undertaking of scoping studies to feasibility studies. However,
we do not believe that much work would be required to bring the
project into production. We therefore believe that
whilst Mokopane Tin should attract a discount to the average EV
of the peer group, we have ascribed a 30% discount tothe EV per
tonne of tin metal from its peer group and assigned a value to
Bushveld Minerals per tonne of tin metal of
US$188.10 of which would give an indicative value to the asset
of US$1.13M.
TableTableTableTable 9999: Tin: Tin: Tin: Tin
CCCComparablesomparablesomparablesomparables
TTTTableableableable
Company NCompany NCompany NCompany Nameameameame
MarketMarketMarketMarket CountryCountryCountryCountry
ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources EVEVEVEV EV per tonneEV per
tonneEV per tonneEV per tonne
TonnesTonnesTonnesTonnes GradeGradeGradeGrade Sn MetalSn MetalSn
MetalSn Metal
((((t)t)t)t) (%)(%)(%)(%) (t)(t)(t)(t) (US$ M)(US$ M)(US$ M)(US$
M) (US$/t(US$/t(US$/t(US$/t))))
MoMoMoMokokokokopane Tin (Bushveld)pane Tin (Bushveld)pane Tin
(Bushveld)pane Tin (Bushveld) ---- South AfricaSouth AfricaSouth
AfricaSouth Africa 3,993,0003,993,0003,993,0003,993,000
0.15%0.15%0.15%0.15% 5,9905,9905,9905,990 2.02.02.02.0
327.1327.1327.1327.1
Celeste Copper CorporationCeleste Copper CorporationCeleste
Copper CorporationCeleste Copper Corporation C CN Equity UK
2,800,000 1.45% 40,600 3.6 89.9Stellar ResourcesStellar
ResourcesStellar ResourcesStellar Resources SRZ AU Equity Tasmania
6,280,000 1.14% 71,592 9.1 127.0
Consolidated Tin MinesConsolidated Tin MinesConsolidated Tin
MinesConsolidated Tin Mines CSD AU Equity Australia 9,616,600 0.60%
57,700 16.4 284.0
Venture MineralsVenture MineralsVenture MineralsVenture Minerals
VMS AU Equity Tasmania 43,000,000 0.40% 120,000 50.7 422.5
Kasbah ResourcesKasbah ResourcesKasbah ResourcesKasbah Resources
KAS AU Equity Morocco 15,300,000 0.85% 130,100 54.7 420.2
AvAvAvAverageerageerageerage 26.926.926.926.9
268.7268.7268.7268.7
Source:Source:Source:Source: Fox-Davies
Company Valuation
Using this market-based approach to valuation we have derived a
value for the Mokopane iron project of US$116.2M and
a value of US$1.13M for the Mokopane tin project. Including cash
this gives a total valuation for Bushveld Minerals of
US$120.31M. At the current exchange rate, this is equivalent to
79.4M or 27.96p per share based on the 283,969,110
shares in issue.
Valuing the Upside
There is upside to both of these projects. In the VTM we see
significant opportunity to increase the resources either by
acquisition of neighbouring deposits (see Exploration upside)
and to de-risk the project by undertaking on-going
metallurgical, engineering, marketing and infrastructure studies
as well as by potentially introducing a strategic partner
that can add value through technology sharing, off-take
agreements and capital injection. There is also further upside
from the polymetallic nature of the deposit with there being
scope for increased revenues from by-product credits.
The recent deal for Ferrox, shows us the enormous upside
potential of Bushveld Minerals if it conducts the appropriate
metallurgical and engineering studies, and progresses the
Mokopane iron project through to scoping and feasibility
stage. This can be added to the exploration upside discussed
under Exploration Upside which, if the exploration
programme proves to be successful, will also increase the value
of the Company. The current valuation should increase to
levels more comparable (per tonne of iron resource) to Baobab
which we see as a more direct regional comparable.
We see upside in the Tin project through resource consolidation
of nearby brownfield opportunities, which should be
straightforward to process, having low capex and scope for
short-to medium term production that is not infrastructure
constrained.
On top of that the management and board have considerable
experience and expect additional properties to be added
to the Company.
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Bushveld Minerals Initiating Coverage 21 March 2013
Fox-Davies Capital
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Risks
Metallurgy
We see metallurgy as one of the key risks to the Mokopane
project. VTM deposits are metallurgically complex and
although the production of an iron concentrate is relatively
straight forward, the extraction of vanadium and titanium
from the slag is more complex. The latest test work on the P-Q
layer indicates that recoveries of 86.5% for a 54.8% Feproduct
grade from the massive magnetite ore, and as much as 63.1%
recoveries for a 55.0% Fe product grade from the
disseminated magnetite ore are achievable without the need for
fine grinding. However, we do not yet know if the by-