Sandfire to enter Red Mountain VMS Project JV with WRM
Hey! Looks like you have stumbled on the section of our website where we have archived articles from our old business model.
In 2019 the original founding team returned to run Next Investors, we changed our business model to only write about stocks we carefully research and are invested in for the long term.
The below articles were written under our previous business model. We have kept these articles online here for your reference.
Our new mission is to build a high performing ASX micro cap investment portfolio and share our research, analysis and investment strategy with our readers.
Click Here to View Latest Articles
White Rock Minerals (ASX:WRM) reports that Sandfire Resources (ASX:SFR) intends to take up its option to enter an earn-in joint venture agreement in relation to WRM's globally significant high-grade zinc and precious metals VMS Red Mountain Project in central Alaska.
White Rock commenced a strategic relationship with Sandfire in July 2018 in relation to its Red Mountain Project and SFR's decision to exercise its option is an endorsement of the quality and potential of WRM’s VMS project that could unlock value for shareholders.
The JV will enable WRM to benefit from Sandfire’s significant technical expertise to develop the Red Mountain Project as well as further strategic support as the company moves to unlock the potential from its large strategic land holding. In addition to the $2.5 million equity contribution under the Subscription Agreement, Sandfire has also previously provided an unsecured $1 million convertible loan to WRM.
The Red Mountain Project is located in central Alaska, in the Bonnifield Mining District, and comprises 754 mining claims over a total area of 475km2. The project contains polymetallic VMS mineralisation rich in zinc, silver and lead, with potential for significant gold and copper. Mineralisation occurs from surface and is open along strike and down-dip.
Historical drilling was used to determine a maiden JORC 2012 Mineral Resource estimate for the Dry Creek and West Tundra Flats deposits. The Inferred Mineral Resource contains an impressive base metal and precious metal content with 678,000t zinc, 286,000t lead, 53.5 million ounces silver and 352,000 ounces gold.
The $1 billion-capped Sandfire Resources is a leading mid-tier Australian mining company focused on discovering, developing and operating high quality resource assets capable of delivering substantial returns for its shareholders. Sandfire is a leading Australian copper producer which operates the high-grade DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine, 900 kilometres north of Perth and has a growing portfolio of exploration interests and joint ventures in highly prospective mineral provinces around Australia and overseas.
The parties now have three months in which to use their best endeavours to negotiate and enter into the Earn-In Joint Venture Agreement using an AMPLA (Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association) model document and the following as the guiding principles for the content of the Joint Venture:
- Stage 1: Sandfire to fund a total of A$20 million over four years to earn 51%, with a minimum expenditure by Sandfire of A$6 million in Year One.
- Stage 2: Sandfire to fund a further A$10 million and deliver a pre-feasibility study (PFS) over an additional two years to earn 70%, which may be extended by Sandfire for a further year in certain circumstances.
- Stage 3: White Rock may elect to contribute to the Joint Venture. If White Rock elects not to contribute, Sandfire can sole fund Stage 3 to earn 80% by completion of a definitive feasibility study.
- Stage 4: White Rock may elect to contribute to the Joint Venture. If White Rock elects not to contribute, Sandfire will earn 90% and White Rock's 10% interest will be earned from project cash flow.
These discussions have commenced, with a draft prepared and sent to Sandfire for consideration and negotiation of the Joint Venture Agreement is underway.
White Rock is entitled to continue managing the project for at least the first year of the earn-in and to be paid a management fee equal to 10% above all project expenses, with 50% of the fee to be paid on signing of the Joint Venture and the balance to be paid in three equal instalments (each representing 16.67% of the management fee) on a quarterly basis thereafter.
Ongoing management responsibility of the project will be subject to annual review and after the first year will be at Sandfire's election.
WRM Managing Director and CEO Matt Gill said:
“White Rock welcomes Sandfire as a Joint Venture partner that shares White Rock's vision for the exploration and development of the Red Mountain Project.
"Securing a high-quality partner with world leading expertise in the exploration and development of base metals projects is a strong endorsement to the quality and potential of White Rock’s globally significant high-grade zinc VMS Red Mountain Project.
"White Rock looks forward to collaborating with Sandfire Resources as part of our strategic relationship and this JV agreement.”
In the following interview WRM CEO Matt Gill, gives Finfeed a rundown of how the projects are progressing and all we can expect in 2019.
This update follows news from early December that WRM had identified a number of high-priority geochemical anomalies within it recently expanded high-grade Red Mountain zinc-silver-lead-gold-copper volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) project in Alaska. It completed a detailed regional stream sediment program over prospective stratigraphy within the Red Mountain project area during the 2018 field season, identifying eight high priority geochemical targets for follow-up.
Prior to that, WRM announced that it had expanded its strategic landholding at Red Mountain in consultation with its strategic partner, Sandfire Resources (ASX:SFR), staking an additional 524 mining claims to bring the total to 754 and more than tripling its landholding.
General Information Only
S3 Consortium Pty Ltd (S3, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) (CAR No. 433913) is a corporate authorised representative of LeMessurier Securities Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 296877). The information contained in this article is general information and is for informational purposes only. Any advice is general advice only. Any advice contained in this article does not constitute personal advice and S3 has not taken into consideration your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Please seek your own independent professional advice before making any financial investment decision. Those persons acting upon information contained in this article do so entirely at their own risk.
Conflicts of Interest Notice
S3 and its associated entities may hold investments in companies featured in its articles, including through being paid in the securities of the companies we provide commentary on. We disclose the securities held in relation to a particular company that we provide commentary on. Refer to our Disclosure Policy for information on our self-imposed trading blackouts, hold conditions and de-risking (sell conditions) which seek to mitigate against any potential conflicts of interest.
Publication Notice and Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is current as at the publication date. At the time of publishing, the information contained in this article is based on sources which are available in the public domain that we consider to be reliable, and our own analysis of those sources. The views of the author may not reflect the views of the AFSL holder. Any decision by you to purchase securities in the companies featured in this article should be done so after you have sought your own independent professional advice regarding this information and made your own inquiries as to the validity of any information in this article.
Any forward-looking statements contained in this article are not guarantees or predictions of future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results or performance of companies featured to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this article. S3 cannot and does not give any assurance that the results or performance expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this article will actually occur and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
This article may include references to our past investing performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of our future investing performance.
