Meridian Mining Is Granted a Water Permit for Field Use of Trommel Pre-screening of ores will continue through the coming wet season
Meridian Mining Is Granted a Water Permit for
Field Use of Trommel
Pre-screening of ores will continue through the coming wet season
LONDON
,
Oct. 23, 2018
/CNW/ - Meridian Mining SE (TSXV: MNO) ("Meridian" or the "Company")
today announced that it has been granted a water-use permit ("the permit") by SEDAM (Secretary
of State for Environmental Development, Rondônia,
Brazil
), valid until 19th of
October 2023
, to be
used for a rotating wet screen ("trommel") at the Vitalino prospect. The trommel effectively washes
soil from the mined mineralisation and produces a clean gravel mix for subsequent sizing then
processing "jigging". The Company has applied for additional water abstraction permits at the
Ervino,
Jair Mundi
, Antônio Gomes and Araçatuba prospects, for use in wet screening.
With the addition of this permit the Company has achieved three key tasks:
Continue to maintain the lower OPEX associated with pre-screening operations all year round
including now the previously prohibitive wet season;
Continue to produce stable volumes of higher quality Mn oxide concentrate all year round; and
Plan for the long term via the 5 year permit validity.
In July, the incoming management commenced an optimisation of the process flowsheet, whereby it
would pre-screen the mined material at or adjacent to the point of extraction. Currently the Company
has three dry screens in the field with a fourth in installation. These screens remove waste soil and
clay (and the finer gravels), producing a higher-grade pre-concentrate on site. The reduction in the
fine waste component can reduce the volume of material to be trucked and processed by up to 75%
in dry season conditions. This reduces the need to contain soil in the tailings ponds at the plants (and
to truck it back to site for rehabilitation). This optimisation has enabled the Company to reduce
trucking rental requirements by 45% and is a projected fuel saving of greater than 35%.
The dry screens become inefficient during the wet season. By having the permit granted the trommel
can be mobilised to the field allowing the Company to continue to remove the waste soils and clays,
and truck a pre-concentrate during the wet season. The dry screen rejects and the trommel reject is
stockpiled for later rescreening and recovery of the finer gravel Mn oxide size fractions. The soil is
returned to the extraction site (top-soil above the colluvial horizon is separately segregated to return
the pasture to its natural productive state).
The trommel that will be used in the field was previously installed at the Rio Madeira plant and is in
good working condition. It will be serviced and then mobilised to the field at a minimal financial cost.
The majority additional requirements of: power generation, water pumps and piping will also come
from existing equipment stocks. An efficient use of the Company's assets and technical skills.
Mr Clark, Interim CEO & President, states, "The Espigão team has achieved another great result to
lower OPEX and maximise the operational economics of the project. In anticipation of the wet
season our employees have delivered a great result through working closely with the state
environmental agency, SEDAM. The empowerment of local staff and their exposure to both mining
economics and best practices continues to deliver materially beneficial results. The wet season has
traditionally been an unprofitable period with lower production. Going forward, we can maintain the
now cost-efficient pre-screening all year round via the permit's granting and the use of the trommel.
The use of surplus equipment is another management initiative that shows their drive to improve the
Company's operating economics."
Qualified person
The technical information about the Company's exploration activity has been prepared under the
supervision of and verified by Dr.
Adrian McArthur
(B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM), the Chief Geologist
of Meridian Mining, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining SE
Gilbert Clark
Interim CEO, President and Director
ABOUT MERIDIAN
Meridian Mining SE is focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities in
Brazil. The Company is currently focused on exploring and developing the Espigão manganese and
gold projects, the Bom Futuro tin JV area, and adjacent areas in the state of Rondônia. Meridian is
currently producing high grade manganese at its project located at Espigão do Oeste.
Further information can be found at
www.meridianmining.co
.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking
statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others,
statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration and development of its properties
and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such,
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others,
failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and
success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title
matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating hazards, metal prices,
political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with
strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change,
industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company
has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the
proposed exploration and development of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market
fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing
needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities
legislation.
The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of its mineral
properties, and no mineral reserve estimate has been established. In particular, because the
Company's production decision relating to Meridian Mineraçao Jaburi S.A, manganese project is not
based upon a feasibility study of mineral reserves, the economic and technical viability of the
Espigão manganese project has not been established.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
SOURCE
Meridian Mining S.E.
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For further information:
Level 18, Portland House, Bressenden Pl, Westminster | London SW1E
5RS | United Kingdom
CO: Meridian Mining S.E.
CNW 08:00e 23-OCT-18