Waterberg PGE Project Definitive Feasibility Study Update Seventeen Drill Rigs on Site; Lead Engineers Appointed
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News Release No. 17-357
December 11, 2017
Waterberg PGE Project
Definitive Feasibility Study Update
Seventeen Drill Rigs on Site; Lead Engineers Appointed
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Platinum
Group Metals Ltd. (TSX:PTM) (NYSE American:PLG) (“ Platinum Group” “PTM” or
the “ Company”) is pleased to announce that the ongoing Definitive Feasibility
Study (“DFS”) for the Waterberg Project is now being advanced under the direction
of the Technical Committee appointed by Waterberg JV Resources (Pty) Ltd.
(“Waterberg JV Co. ”). Seventeen drill rigs are on site and have commenced
drilling with the objective s of defining the shallowest areas of the current 102
million tonne reserve (details below) for increased confidence and detailed mine
planning and to upgrade a portion of the indicated resources to measured resources
for reserve consideration in the DFS. Immediate areas for in-fill drilling include the
Northern and Boundary Super F zones.
The Scope of Work and plans for the DFS during 2017 and 2018 have been agreed
in detail by the Technical Committee . Members of the committee represent the
Company and all other Waterberg Project partners; Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd.
(“Implats”), Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (“JOGMEC”) and
Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. (“Mnombo”);
Stantec Consulting International LLC (“Stantec”) and DRA Projects SA (Proprietary)
Limited (“DRA”) have been selected as the lead independent project engineers
based on a detailed, professionally supervised tendering process. Stantec will focus
on underground mining engineering and design and reserve estimation . DRA will
focus on metallurgy, plant design, infrastructure and cost estimation.
The Waterberg Project has a number of highly attractive characteristics , which
indicate it will be a low-cost, shallow, bulk mineable project with significant scale
and growth potential. The recent participation of Implats, the world’s second
largest platinum producer with fully integrated mine to market operations,
represents a significant step in the advancement of the Waterberg Project towards
potential development and production.
R. Michael Jones, CEO of Platinum Group said, "We are very pleased with the work
completed by the Technical Committee. The mine building and operating
experience of the technical team, including Implats and the newly appointed
engineers, alongside our own discovery team , are working with an excellent “best
for value of the Project ” attitude. In our joint venture we have perspectives
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …2
ranging from geology to metals market ing, including contributions from South
Africa, the USA, Canada and Japan. Waterberg, which is palladium dominant, is
modelled for fully mechanized production and has the potential to be amongst the
lowest operating cost mines in the PGM sector.”
Current Platinum Group Element (“ PGE”) probable reserves at the Waterberg
Project (100%) are 12.3 million ounces, comprising 61% palladium, 30% platinum,
8% gold and 1% rhodium plus 191 million and 333 million pounds of copper and
nickel respectively and will be updated as part of the DFS. (See the technical report
dated October 19, 2016 and filed on SEDAR titled “Independent Technical Report on
the Waterberg Project Including Mineral Resource Update and Pre -Feasibility
Study”.) Much of the Waterberg Project area remains to be drilled and assessed.
The Waterberg deposit remains open down dip and along strike.
The detailed scope of work for the DFS will investigate two options – Option 1; a
600,000 tonne per month mine (744,000 ounces PGEs per year) as outlined in the
PFS, and Option 2; a lower capital option at 250,000 to 350,000 tonnes per month.
Early optimization work by the project team to detail the potential for Option 2
using the three decline mechanized mining modules in sequence are encouraging
with the potential to optimize the mine plan.
Current drilling at Waterberg is focused on the higher-grade areas of the large-scale
deposit.
Waterberg Resource and Reserve Details
Reserve Details (100% Project Basis)
Prill Split Grade
Zone
Pt Pd Au Rh Cu Ni
% % % % % %
T-Zone 29 49 21 1 0.16 0.08
F-Zone 30 64 5 1 0.07 0.16
Probable Mineral Reserve at 2.5 g/t 4E Cut-off– Tonnage and Grades
Waterberg Probable Mineral Reserve – Tonnage and Grades
Zone Mt
Cut-
off
grade
(g/t)
Pt
(g/t)
Pd
(g/t)
Au
(g/t)
Rh
(g/t)
4E
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Ni
(%)
T-Zone 16.5 2.5 1.14 1.93 0.83 0.04 3.94 0.16 0.08
F-Zone 86.2 2.5 1.11 2.36 0.18 0.04 3.69 0.07 0.16
Total 102.7 2.5 1.11 2.29 0.29 0.04 3.73 0.08 0.15
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …3
Probable Mineral Reserve at 2.5 g/t 4E Cut-off– Contained Metal
Waterberg Probable Mineral Reserve – Contained Metal
Zone Mt Pt
(Moz)
Pd
(Moz)
Au
(Moz)
Rh
(Moz)
4E
(Moz)
4E
content
(kg)
Cu
(Mlb)
Ni
(Mlb)
T-Zone 16.5 0.61 1.03 0.44 0.02 2.09 65,097 58.21 29.10
F-Zone 86.2 3.07 6.54 0.51 0.10 10.22 318,007 132.97 303.94
Total 102.7 3.67 7.57 0.95 0.12 12.32 383,103 191.18 333.04
Reasonable prospects of economic extraction were determined with the following
assumptions: Metal prices used in the reserve estimate are as follows based on a 3-
year trailing average (as at July 31/2016) in accordance with U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (" SEC") guidance for the assessment of resources and
reserves; US$1,212/oz Pt, US$710/oz Pd, US$1229/oz Au, US$984/oz Rh,
US$6.10/lb Ni, US$2.56/lb Cu, US$/ZAR15. Smelter payability of 85% was
estimated for 4E and 73% for Cu and 68% for Ni. The effective date is October 17,
2016. A 2.5 g/t Cut -off was used and checked against a pay -limit calculation.
Independent Qualified Person for the Statement of Reserves is Mr. RL Goosen
(WorleyParsons RSA (Pty) Ltd Trading as Advisian). The mineral reserves may be
materially affected by changes in metals prices, exchange rates, labor costs,
electricity supply issues or many other factors. See Risk Factors in Independent
Technical Report 43-101 Effective Date: October 17, 2016 on www.sedar.com and
the Company’s Annual Information Form. The reserves are estimated under
SAMREC with no material difference to the CIM 2014 definitions in this case.
The estimation of mineral reserves has taken into account environmental,
permitting and legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing and political factors.
Based on the cut -off grade and a maximum depth cut -off of 1,250 metres the
probable reserve will support an 18-year mine life.
About Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Platinum Group, based in Johannesburg, South Africa and Vancouver, Canada.
Platinum Group and its partners JOGMEC and Mnombo originated the grass -roots
exploration that discovered the Waterberg deposit and a new portion of the
Bushveld PGM complex in 2011.
Formed in 2002, Platinum Group hold s significant mineral rights and large -scale
reserves of platinum and palladium in the Bushveld Igneous Complex of South
Africa, which is host to over seventy percent of the world's primary platinum
production.
Qualified Person
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …4
R. Michael Jones, P.Eng., the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and a
shareholder of the Company, is a non -independent qualified person as defined in
National Instrument 43 -101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-
101”) and is responsible for preparing t echnical information contained in this news
release. He has verified the data by reviewing the detailed information of the
geological and engineering staff and the Independent Qualified Person reports as
well as visiting the site regularly.
On behalf of the Board of
Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
For further information contact:
R. Michael Jones, President
or Kris Begic, VP, Corporate Development
Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver
Tel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450
www.platinumgroupmetals.net
Disclosure
The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American LLC have not reviewed and do
not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which
has been prepared by management.
This press 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”). Forwar d-looking
statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate,
intend, estimate, 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
press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the advancement
and potential contents of the DFS; the potential economics of the Waterberg
Project, if developed; the Company’s key objectives; and the Company’s plans and
estimates regarding exploration, studies, development, construction, production,
cash flows and other activities and developments. Statements of mineral resources
and mineral reserves also co nstitute forward-looking statements to the extent they
represent estimates of mineralization that will be encountered on a property and/or
estimates regarding future costs, revenues and other matters. Although the
Company believes the forward -looking stat ements in this press 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
forward-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 risks related to
indebtedness; risks related to the nature and completion of corporate
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …5
reorganizations and sales of assets; the Company’s capital requirements may
exceed its current expectations; the uncertainty of cost, operational and economic
projections; the ability of the Company to negotiate and complete future funding
transactions and successfully settlement or restructure of debt; variations in market
conditions; the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be
located; metal prices; other prices and costs; currency exchange rates; the
Company’s ability to obtain any necess ary permits, consents or authorizations
required for its activities and to effect the relevant transactions and to otherwise
comply with all applicable regulatory requirements; the Company’s ability to
produce minerals from its properties successfully or p rofitably, to continue its
projected growth, or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; risks
related to contractor performance and labor disruptions; and other risk factors
described in the Company’s Form 40 -F annual report, annual informat ion form and
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and 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 wo uld have a material adverse effect on the Company business and
potential interest in projects.
Cautionary Note to U.S. and other Investors
Estimates of mineralization and other technical information included or referenced
in this press release have been p repared in accordance with NI 43 -101. The
definitions of proven and probable reserves used in NI 43 -101 differ from the
definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a
"final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to repo rt reserves, the three -year
historical average price is used in any reserve or cash -flow analysis to designate
reserves and the primary environmental analysis or the report must be filed with
the appropriate governmental authority. As a result, the reserve s reported by the
Company in accordance with NI 43 -101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC
standards. In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource",
"indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in an d
required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms
under SEC Industry Guide 7 and normally are not permitted to be used in reports
and registration statements filed with the SEC. Mineral resources that are not
mineral reser ves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are
cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these
categories will ever be converted into reserves; "inferred mineral resources" have a
great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their
economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an
inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under
Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the
basis of feasibility or pre -feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Additionally,
disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …6
Canadian securities laws; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report
mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place
tonnage and grade without reference to unit measurements. Accordingly,
information contained or referenced in this press release containing descripti ons of
the Company's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information
made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure
requirements of United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations
thereunder.