Aurania Discovers Nickel-rich Beach Placers in France and Signs Memoranda of Understanding
Aurania Resources (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) has discovered nickel-rich beach placers in Northern Corsica, France, and signed non-binding MOUs with local communes for their exploitation. Analysis of heavy mineral concentrates from beach sand yielded exceptionally high nickel grades of 50.4% and 40.1%, far exceeding known hard rock deposits.
The nickel-rich sand originates from asbestos mine waste dumped into the Mediterranean Sea between 1948-1965. The waste has been naturally processed by the sea, concentrating awaruite (a nickel-iron alloy) and magnetite on the beaches. Aurania sees this as both a critical metals recovery project and a clean-up operation.
The company is working with French authorities and has commissioned studies to determine the best methods for commercial recovery. While this project represents a departure from Aurania's Ecuador operations, management believes it could be a significant nickel resource.
Aurania Resources (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) ha scoperto placers di sabbia ricchi di nichel nel Nord della Corsica, Francia, e ha firmato MOU non vincolanti con i comuni locali per la loro sfruttamento. L'analisi dei concentrati minerali pesanti dalla sabbia della spiaggia ha rivelato eccezionali percentuali di nichel del 50.4% e 40.1%, superando di gran lunga i depositi di roccia dura conosciuti.
La sabbia ricca di nichel proviene da rifiuti di miniere di amianto scaricati nel Mar Mediterraneo tra il 1948 e il 1965. I rifiuti sono stati processati naturalmente dal mare, concentrando awaruite (una lega di nichel e ferro) e magnetite sulle spiagge. Aurania vede questo come un progetto di recupero di metalli critici e un'operazione di bonifica.
L'azienda sta collaborando con le autorità francesi e ha commissionato studi per determinare i migliori metodi per il recupero commerciale. Sebbene questo progetto rappresenti una deviazione dalle operazioni di Aurania in Ecuador, la direzione crede che possa essere una significativa risorsa di nichel.
Aurania Resources (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) ha descubierto concentraciones de arena ricas en níquel en el norte de Córcega, Francia, y ha firmado MOU no vinculantes con los municipios locales para su explotación. El análisis de los concentrados minerales pesados de la arena de la playa ha revelado excepcionales grados de níquel de 50.4% y 40.1%, superando con creces los depósitos de roca dura conocidos.
La arena rica en níquel proviene de residuos de minas de asbesto arrojados al mar Mediterráneo entre 1948 y 1965. Los residuos han sido procesados naturalmente por el mar, concentrando awaruita (una aleación de níquel y hierro) y magnetita en las playas. Aurania ve esto como un proyecto de recuperación de metales críticos y una operación de limpieza.
La empresa está trabajando con las autoridades francesas y ha encargado estudios para determinar los mejores métodos para la recuperación comercial. Aunque este proyecto representa un desvío de las operaciones de Aurania en Ecuador, la dirección cree que podría ser un recurso significativo de níquel.
오라니아 리소스(Aurania Resources) (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF)는 프랑스 코르시카 북부에서 니켈이 풍부한 해변 플래서를 발견했습니다, 그리고 이들의 개발을 위해 현지 자치단체와 비구속적인 양해각서(MOU)를 체결했습니다. 해변 모래에서의 중금속 농축물 분석 결과 50.4% 및 40.1%의 비정상적으로 높은 니켈 등급이 나왔습니다, 이는 이미 알려진 경암층의 매장량을 훨씬 초과하는 수치입니다.
니켈이 풍부한 모래는 1948년에서 1965년 사이에 지중해에 버려진 석면 광산 폐기물에서 유래했습니다. 이러한 폐기물은 바다에 의해 자연적으로 가공되어 해변에서 아와루이트(니켈-철 합금)와 자철광이 농축되었습니다. 오라니아는 이것을 중요 금속 회수 프로젝트 및 정화 작업으로 보고 있습니다.
회사는 프랑스 당국과 협력하고 있으며 상업적 회수를 위한 최선의 방법을 결정하기 위해 연구를 의뢰했습니다. 이 프로젝트는 오라니아의 에콰도르 운영과는 다른 방향을 나타내지만, 경영진은 이것이 중요한 니켈 자원이 될 수 있다고 믿고 있습니다.
Aurania Resources (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) a découvert des placers de sable riches en nickel dans le nord de la Corse, France, et a signé des MOU non contraignants avec les communes locales pour leur exploitation. L'analyse des concentrés minéraux lourds issus du sable de plage a révélé des teneurs en nickel exceptionnellement élevées de 50,4 % et 40,1 %, dépassant largement les dépôts de minerai connus.
Le sable riche en nickel provient des déchets de mines d'amiante déversés en mer Méditerranée entre 1948 et 1965. Les déchets ont été naturellement traités par la mer, concentrant l'awaruite (un alliage de nickel et de fer) et la magnétite sur les plages. Aurania considère cela à la fois comme un projet de récupération de métaux critiques et une opération de nettoyage.
La société collabore avec les autorités françaises et a commandé des études pour déterminer les meilleures méthodes de récupération commerciale. Bien que ce projet constitue un départ par rapport aux opérations d'Aurania en Équateur, la direction estime qu'il pourrait s'agir d'une ressource significative en nickel.
Aurania Resources (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) hat nickelreiche Strandablagerungen im Norden Korsikas, Frankreich, entdeckt und unverbindliche Absichtserklärungen (MOU) mit den örtlichen Gemeinden für deren Ausbeutung unterzeichnet. Die Analyse von schweren Mineralienkonzentraten aus dem Strandsand ergab außergewöhnlich hohe Nickelgehalte von 50,4% und 40,1%, was weit über den bekannten Hartgesteinslagerstätten liegt.
Der nickelhaltige Sand stammt von Asbestmine-Abfällen, die zwischen 1948 und 1965 ins Mittelmeer gekippt wurden. Die Abfälle wurden durch das Meer natürlich verarbeitet, wodurch Awaruit (eine Nickel-Eisen-Legierung) und Magnetit an den Stränden konzentriert wurde. Aurania sieht dies sowohl als ein Projekt zur Wiedergewinnung kritischer Metalle als auch als eine Aufräumaktion.
Das Unternehmen arbeitet mit den französischen Behörden zusammen und hat Studien in Auftrag gegeben, um die besten Methoden für die gewerbliche Rückgewinnung zu ermitteln. Während dieses Projekt eine Abkehr von Aurainas Aktivitäten in Ecuador darstellt, glaubt die Geschäftsführung, dass es eine bedeutende Nickelressource sein könnte.
- Discovery of exceptionally high-grade nickel beach placers with 50.4% Ni content
- Signing of MOUs with local communes for potential exploitation
- Simple and cheap recovery process using gravity and magnetic separation techniques
- Potential for direct shipping of nickel-matte furnace feedstock without drilling, blasting, or beneficiation
- Project aligns with critical metals recovery and environmental clean-up objectives
- Project represents a significant departure from the company's core copper and gold exploration in Ecuador
- No resource or reserve has been determined yet
- Environmental concerns due to heavy metal contamination of marine life from the beach material
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 3, 2024) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company"). Aurania has signed non-binding Memoranda of Understanding ("MOUs") with the Communes of Ogliastro and Nonza in Cap Corse, Northern Corsica, France, through Aurania's wholly-owned subsidiary Corsica Ressources S.A. for the exploitation of heavy mineral beach placers that are highly enriched in nickel (Ni) and other metals. Analysis by Activation Laboratories Ltd (Actlabs) of Ancaster, Ontario, of a heavy mineral concentrate produced by simple gold panning the beach sand by hand yielded an assay of
Aurania's Consultant Geologist, Stefan Ansermet, located a Geological Survey of France (BRGM) report from 1968 entitled "Le problème du nickel dans le serpentines de Corse" (The problem of nickel in the serpentinites of Corsica) which contained a one-paragraph reference to an accumulation of natural nickel-iron alloy (awaruite) on the beach of Albo, originating from asbestos mine waste that had been disposed of in the Mediterranean Sea. At the Canari open-pit mine, processed mine waste was dumped in the sea from 1948-1965. This has been broken up by storms and tides and travelled up to six kilometres along the coast and silted up two historic ports: Albo and Nonza. The awaruite mineral resides within the serpentinite host rock which in the surf has been naturally attrition milled. In the historical data a minus 2 millimetre fraction of beach sand from Albo, concentrated by heavy liquids, gave a Ni assay more than double the typical grade of mine waste. Aurania's Chairman and CEO, Dr. Keith Barron examined satellite images on Google Earth and found what appeared to be beach placers of black sand on the nearby Nonza Beach (Figure 1). Within days, Mr. Ansermet travelled to Corsica and confirmed that there were indeed black sand accumulations on the beach (Figure 2). Subsequently, 130 kilos of sand were taken on a N-S traverse of Nonza beach. ALS-Chemex Laboratories determined that
Dr. Barron commented, "A nickel prospect where a potential nickel-matte furnace feedstock requires no need for drilling, blasting, or beneficiation, and can possibly be shipped from Corsica direct to a purchaser sounds like a dream scenario. Encouraging local community support makes this even more attractive. I would like to thank Stefan Ansermet for alerting Aurania to this exceptional opportunity."
Although this does represent a considerable departure from Aurania's on-going copper and gold exploration project in Ecuador, Dr. Barron, who has considerable experience in commercial heavy mineral recovery, immediately recognized the economic significance of this phenomenon and initiated a project of geological investigation. Though artificial, it is believed that these are the sole alluvial concentrations of nickel known on Earth and that they potentially constitute a major resource of the metal heretofore unrecognized. According to the BRGM, more than 11Mt of processed serpentinite grading
Figure 1: Much evidence of Beach Placer concentration indicated by arrows (taken August 7, 2020) Google Earth (cf. Hou et al., 2017). Carried by longshore drift southwards 6 kilometres from the abandoned open pit mine to Nonza. This beach is approximately 1350 metres long and 350 metres at its widest. The beach placers are believed to be very high grade.
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Figure 2: One of many beach placer accumulations of Black Sand (awaruite and magnetite). Boot imprints in the foreground for scale. Grains of magnetite extracted from Black Sand by attraction to a simple magnet, inset photo.
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Figure 3: Fairly pure concentrate of awaruite in a gold pan. This material assayed
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Figure 4: Historical airphoto on the left and present-day photo on the right, showing the progradation of the beaches over time.
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Figure 5: Nonza Beach, Corsica
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Independently published studies have concluded that heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cu) are leaching from the beach material and contaminating marine life. The beaches themselves appear to be entirely sterile. We consider our Project equally as a critical metals recovery project and a "clean up operation". Both of these are "wins" for the planet.
The Company has retained SGS Laboratories/Lakefield to determine the best method for awaruite commercial recovery. SGS has sent a Geologist to Corsica to verify the material above and to take umpire samples. His report is pending receipt of final assays. The Company has also retained IHC Mining B.V. a Netherlands-based company, which specializes in dredging solutions, that is currently preparing a scoping study to best advise on suitable heavy mineral recovery methods and equipment.
Technical Information
All sampling reported in this release was supervised by project geologists, including chain of custody. Hand sediment panning and alluvial grab samples have been prepared at the indicated laboratories, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. A portion of the material is stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program. Rock samples are reconnaissance select grab samples that display mineralization and assay results may not be representative of, nor verify economically mineable mineralization.
Qualified Persons:
The geological information contained in this news release has been verified and approved by Aurania's VP Exploration, Mr. Jean-Paul Pallier, MSc. Mr. Pallier is a designated EurGeol by the European Federation of Geologists and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
About Aurania
Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucú Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador.
Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-.
For further information, please contact:
Carolyn Muir
VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Aurania Resources Ltd.
(416) 367-3200
carolyn.muir@aurania.com
Neither the 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.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes Aurania's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the tonnage and grade of mineralization which has the potential for economic extraction and processing, the merits and effectiveness of known process and recovery methods, the corporation's portfolio, treasury, management team and enhanced capital markets profile, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration, timing of the commencement of operations, the Company's teams being on track ahead of any drill program, the commencement of any drill program and estimates of market conditions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the assumption that, there will be no material adverse change in metal prices, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various local government licenses and the market. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the inability to recover and process mineralization using known mining methods; the presence of deleterious mineralization or the inability to process mineralization in an environmentally acceptable manner; commodity prices, supply chain disruptions, restrictions on labour and workplace attendance and local and international travel; a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents; an inability to access financing as needed; a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Aurania; a failure to comply with environmental regulations; a weakening of market and industry reliance on precious metals and base metals; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+. Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law
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FAQ
What nickel grades were found in Aurania's beach placers in Corsica?
How did the nickel-rich beach placers in Corsica form?
What recovery methods is Aurania considering for the Corsica nickel project?
Has Aurania determined a resource estimate for the Corsica nickel project?
