Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Reports Update on Waterberg Project And Infill Drill Program
838 – 1100 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6
P: 604-899-5450
F: 604-484-4710
News Release No. 23-464
March 30, 2023
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Reports Update on
Waterberg Project And Infill Drill Program
(Vancouver/Johannesburg) Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (PTM:TSX; PLG:NYSE American)
(“Platinum Group”, “PTM” or the “ Company”) reports that an infill drill campaign (the
“Infill Drill Program”) underway since November 2022 , at the Waterberg Project , located
on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa (the “Waterberg Project”),
has been completed. All 16 planned T Zone boreholes and 16 planned F Zone boreholes have
been drilled.
Drill cores from the completed boreholes have been logged, and the mineralized intercepts
recovered have been sampled and sent for assay by Intertek Genalysis Minerals in Australia.
Final assay results for all T Zone boreholes and one F Zone borehole (WB303) were reported
in the Company’s news release dated January 26, 2023. All F Zone final assays from the Infill
Drill program have now been received and are tabulated below:
Area Borehole
ID
From
(m)
To
(m)
Zone(1) Length(2)
(m)
Pt
(g/t)
Pd
(g/t)
Rh
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
4PGE
(g/t)
F Zone WB302 231.33 322.00 CSF 90.67 0.33 0.78 0.02 0.05 1.18
Includes WB302 248.00 260.50 CSF 12.50 0.63 1.54 0.04 0.10 2.31
Includes WB302 309.83 322.00 CSF 12.17 0.54 1.37 0.04 0.06 2.01
F Zone WB304 248.50 318.50 CSF 70.00 0.77 1.68 0.05 0.13 2.63
Includes WB304 248.50 281.00 CSF 32.50 1.02 2.31 0.07 0.21 3.61
Includes WB304 296.50 318.50 CSF 22.00 0.71 1.53 0.04 0.09 2.37
F Zone WB305 232.50 260.00 CSF 27.50 1.26 2.77 0.08 0.19 4.30
F Zone WB306
CSF Beyond Subcrop(3)
F Zone WB307
CSF Beyond Subcrop(3)
F Zone WB308 226.88 275.00 CSF 48.12 1.12 2.67 0.07 0.19 4.05
Includes WB308 226.88 250.50 CSF 23.62 1.61 3.95 0.11 0.26 5.93
F Zone WB309 236.00 254.00 CSF 18.00 1.57 3.22 0.08 0.21 5.08
F Zone WB310 293.00 410.00 CSF 117.00 0.34 0.76 0.02 0.05 1.17
Includes WB310 312.00 322.00 CSF 10.00 0.52 1.22 0.03 0.09 1.86
Includes WB310 389.00 410.00 CSF 21.00 0.58 1.37 0.03 0.09 2.07
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …2
Area Borehole
ID
From
(m)
To
(m)
Zone(1) Length(2)
(m)
Pt
(g/t)
Pd
(g/t)
Rh
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
4PGE
(g/t)
F Zone WB311 310.00 395.00 CSF 85.00 0.34 0.77 0.02 0.05 1.18
Includes WB311 310.00 319.60 CSF 9.60 0.65 1.57 0.04 0.09 2.35
Includes WB311 386.00 395.00 CSF 9.0 0.74 1.35 0.03 0.08 2.20
F Zone WB312
CSF Beyond Subcrop(3)
F Zone WB313 281.55 304.00 CSF 22.45 1.48 3.24 0.09 0.19 5.00
F Zone WB314
CSF Beyond Subcrop(3)
F Zone WB315
CSF Beyond Subcrop(3)
F Zone WB316 285.00 313.00 CSF 28.00 0.55 1.35 0.04 0.09 2.03
Includes WB316 285.00 290.00 CSF 5.00 0.84 1.92 0.05 0.11 2.92
Includes WB316 305.00 313.00 CSF 8.00 1.01 2.6 0.07 0.18 3.86
F Zone WB317 356.00 357.92 CSF 1.92 1.72 3.28 0.12 0.12 5.24
Notes:
(1) CSF = Central Super F Zone.
(2) The true width of the shallow dipping (30° to 35°) mineralized zones are approximately 82% to 87% of the
reported interval from the vertical drill hole.
(3) Borehole collared east of where westward dipping F Zone subcrops.
Copper grades per tonne for all F Zone intercepts listed above averaged 0.060%. Nickel
grades per tonne for all F Zone intercepts listed above averaged 0.184%.
In addition to the Infill Drill Program, several geotechnical holes have also been completed
and several more remain to be drilled. One exploration borehole is currently underway at a
location approximately 1 5 kilometres north of the main project area and is presently at a
depth of approximately 1,300 metres. This exploration borehole is intended to improve our
understanding of the geology and economic potential of the Waterberg deposit on prospecting
rights located adjacent to the north of the Waterberg Project’s granted mining right. Intrusive
formations of the Bushveld Igneous Complex have been i ntercepted in this exploration
borehole, as expected.
The Infill Drill Program targeted near surface, inferred, and indicated mineral resource blocks
that have good potential for conversion to higher confidence levels, potentially identifying
additional tonnage for inclusion in early mine plans. Drilling of the 16 F Zone boreholes was
also intended to improve the delineation of the F Zon e subcrop geometry. Results from the
F Zone drilling as tabulated above are consistent with expectations.
Some tonnage in the resource blocks drilled in the Infill Drill Program was included in previous
mine planning for the 2019 Waterberg Project Definitive Feasibility Study (the “ Waterberg
DFS”). The Waterberg DFS technical report entitled “Independent Technical Report,
Waterberg Project Definitive Feasibility Study and Mineral Resource Update, Bushveld
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …3
Complex, South Africa” was filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov
on October 7, 2019.
Platinum Group President and CEO, Frank Hallam, said “We are once again pleased with the
results from our Infill Drill Program and geotechnical drilling. Results are as expected and
project geologists will use the results to update the Waterberg resource estimate, which
project engineers will then use to optimize the Waterberg mine plan and development
schedule for use in our Waterberg DFS Update, which is in process”.
As reported previously, o n October 18, 2022, project operating company Waterberg JV
Resources Pty Ltd. (“ Waterberg JV Co. ”) approved in principle a pre-construction work
program of approximately US $21.0 million over a 23-month period ending August 31, 2024
(the “Work Program”). From the Work Program, an initial budget of approximately US $2.5
million was approved for expenditure by March 31, 2023, and this work , including the Infill
Drill Program, is nearly co mplete. On March 24, 2023 , the Waterberg JV Co. Board of
Directors approved the funding of a second tranche of the Work Program (the “ Stage Two
Budget”) in the amount of US $3.6 million. The Stage Two Budget will cover the period from
April 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023 and is to include Waterberg DFS Update engineering, pre-
construction engineering, electrical power supply engineering and the permitting and licensing
of construction aggregate borrow pits identified near the planned Waterberg mine site.
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …4
Waste rock m aterial retained after assaying of the T Zone and F Zone infill drilling will be
further processed to determine dry -stack tailings characteristics and provide additional
concentrate metallurgical data. If dry stack tailings methods are implemented, it is estimated
that Waterberg mine water consumption could be reduced by 40% to 50%.
The Company is focussed on advancing the Waterberg Project to a development and
construction decision. The Waterberg Project is planned to be a mechanised, shallow, decline
access platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold mine and is projected to be one of the largest
and lowest cost underground platinum group metals mines globally.
PTM is the operator of the Waterberg Project as directed by a technical committee comprised
of representatives from joint venture partners Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (“ Implats”),
Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. (“ Mnombo”), Japan Organization for Metals and
Energy Security (formerly Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation) (“JOGMEC”) and
Hanwa Co., Ltd. (“Hanwa”). Shareholders are encouraged to see the Company’s filings on
SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) and to visit the Company’s website at
www.platinumgroupmetals.net.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
The Company and Waterberg JV Co. have instituted a complete quality assurance / quality
control (“QA/QC”) program, including the insertion of blanks, certified reference materials
(standards), and field duplicates within the sample stream. Referee analyses are also
completed. The program is being followed and is to industry standard. QA/QC procedures
are overseen by a qualified person , and the data has been verified by and is considered
reliable in the opinion of the qualified person for this news release (as described below).
NQ (47.6mm diameter) drill core is cut in-half and quartered with a diamond saw, with one-
quarter placed in sealed bags and shipped to the laboratory and the other three quarter s
retained on site. Third party laboratory checks on 5% of the samples are carried out as well.
Chain of custody is maintained from the drill to the submittal into the laboratory preparation
facility.
Analytical testing was performed by the Intertek Genalysis Minerals Global Centre of
Excellence, located in Perth, Western Australia. The entire sample is dried and crushed to
~2mm, of which a 300 gram split is pulverized to at least 85% of material to 75μm or better.
Grade for Au, Pt and Pd is determined by using a 25g lead collection fire assay with Inductively
Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) finish. On samples where the Au,
Pt and Pd grade was found to be above 1 g/T, 6E analysis (for all PGEs) was done using 25g
nickel sulphide collection and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish.
Base metals and other major elements were determined by four acid digestion with
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) finish.
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …5
Borehole Location Table
Borehole
ID
Easting
(WGS84 LO29)
Northing
(WGS84 LO29)
Elevation
(masl)
Dip Azimuth EOH
(m)
WB302 -2585876.6 -9553.8 1045.35 -90 0 367.55
WB303 -2585898.7 -9607.0 1045.41 -90 0 391.18
WB304 -2585784.3 -9610.3 1047.76 -90 0 385.40
WB305 -2585950.1 -9551.2 1043.16 -90 0 349.70
WB306 -2585909.4 -9514.3 1044.05 -90 0 301.16
WB307 -2586045.2 -9725.5 1043.10 -90 0 370.50
WB308 -2585924.3 -9585.2 1044.81 -90 0 387.13
WB309 -2585972.9 -9607.3 1044.09 -90 0 362.21
WB310 -2585960.9 -9724.0 1045.07 -90 0 432.13
WB311 -2586107.0 -9903.9 1044.21 -90 0 439.90
WB312 -2586287.7 -10012.0 1041.54 -90 0 333.60
WB313 -2586389.9 -10096.0 1040.41 -90 0 345.90
WB314 -2586442.7 -10029.0 1038.20 -90 0 319.89
WB315 -2586518.3 -10101.0 1037.10 -90 0 296.60
WB316 -2586482.1 -10154.0 1038.81 -90 0 332.00
WB317 -2586722.6 -10437.0 1035.62 -90 0 387.80
Qualified Person
Rob van Egmond, P.Geo., a consultant geologist to the Company and a former employee, is
an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43 -101 Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Mr. van Egmond has reviewed, validated, and
approved th e scientific and technical information contained in this news release and has
previously visited the Waterberg Project site.
About Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is the operator of the Waterberg Project, a bulk underground
palladium and platinum deposit located in South Africa. The Waterberg Project was
discovered by Platinum Group and is being jointly developed with Implats, Mnombo, JOGMEC
and Hanwa.
On behalf of the Board of
Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Frank R. Hallam
President, CEO and Director
For further information contact:
Kris Begic, VP, Corporate Development
Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver
Tel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450
www.platinumgroupmetals.net
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …6
Disclosure
The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept
responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by
management.
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities
laws and forward -looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively
“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such
as: “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “may”, “plans”, “postulate” and similar
expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are
not statements of historical fact are forward -looking statements. Forward-looking statements in
this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding additional boreholes to be
drilled, improved understanding of geology and economic potential of the Waterberg deposit, the
potential for conversion of mineral resource blocks to higher confidence levels, potential
identification of additional tonnage for inclusion in early mine plans, the updated Waterberg
resource estimate and the Waterberg DFS update, optimizing the mine plan and development
schedule, the anticipated Stage Two Budget time period and work program, further processing of
rock material to determine dry -stack tailings characteristics and provide additional data, the
possible implementation of dry stack tailings methods and results on water consumption, budgeted
expenditures, the advancement of the Waterberg Project to a development and construction
decision, that the Waterberg Project if developed is projected to be one of the largest and lower
cost underground platinum group metals mines globally , and the Company’s other future plans
and expectations. Although the Company believes any forward -looking statements in this news
release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such
statements will prove to be correct.
The Company cautions investors that any f orward-looking statements by the Company are not
guarantees of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from
those in forward -looking statements as a result of various factors, including possible adverse
impacts due the global outbreak of COVID-19, the Company’s inability to generate sufficient cash
flow or raise additional capital, and to comply with the terms of any new indebtedness; additional
financing requirements; and any new indebtedness may be secured, which potentially could result
in the loss of any assets pledged by the Company; the Company’s history of losses and negative
cash flow; the Company’s properties may not be brought into a state of commercial production;
uncertainty of estimated production, development plans and cost estimates for the Waterberg
Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources,
between actual and estimated development and operating costs, between actual and estimated
metallurgical recoveries and between estimated and actual production; fluctuations in the relative
values of the U.S. Dollar, the Rand and the Canadian Dollar; volatility in metals prices; the
uncertainty of alternative funding sources for Waterberg JV Co.; the Company may become subject
to the U.S. Investment Company Act; the failure of the Company or the other shareholders to
fund their pro rata share of funding obligations for the Waterberg Project; any disputes or
disagreements with the other shareholders of Waterberg JV Co. or Mno mbo; the ability of the
Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel;
conflicts of interest; litigation or other administrative proceedings brought against the Company;
actual or alleged breaches of governance proces ses or instances of fraud, bribery or corruption;
exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining
industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks
and other ris ks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to
mineral claims or property; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation,
controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and South Africa;
equipment shortages and the ability of the Company to acquire necessary access rights and
infrastructure for its mineral properties; environmental regulations and the ability to obtain and
maintain necessary permits, including environmental author izations and water use licences;
extreme competition in the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining, or a failure to obtain,
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …7
permits necessary for current or future operations or failures to comply with the terms of such
permits; risks of doing business in South Africa, including but not limited to, labour, economic and
political instability and potential changes to and failures to comply with legislation; the Company’s
common shares may be delisted from the NYSE American or the TSX if it cannot m aintain
compliance with the applicable listing requirements; and other risk factors described in the
Company’s most recent Form 40-F annual report, Annual Information Form and other filings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC”) and the Canadian securities regulators,
which may be viewed at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively. Proposed changes in the
mineral law in South Africa if implemented as proposed would have a materia l adverse effect on
the Company’s business and potential interest in projects. Any forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities
laws, the Company disclaims any intent or ob ligation to update any forward -looking statement,
whether because of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
The technical and scientific information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with NI
43-101, which differs from the st andards adopted by the SEC. Accordingly, the technical and
scientific information contained herein, including any estimates of mineral reserves and mineral
resources, may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies subject to
the disclosure requirements of the SEC.