
CORNISH METALS COMMENCES
2ND PHASE OF SHAFT REFURBISHMENT
AT THE SOUTH CROFTY TIN
PROJECT IN CORNWALL, UNITED KINGDOM
Vancouver, July 10, 2024
Cornish Metals Inc. (AIM/TSX-V: CUSN)
("Cornish Metals" or the "Company"), a mineral exploration and
development company focused on advancing its 100% owned and
permitted South Crofty tin project in Cornwall, United Kingdom, is
pleased to announce it has commenced the second phase of shaft
refurbishment at the project.
Highlights
Ø Refurbishment of New
Cook's Kitchen ("NCK") shaft is progressing as planned with the
on-schedule installation of the Phase 2 work platform, enabling
faster replacement of old shaft timbers with new steel
guides;
Ø The water level in
NCK shaft continues to be maintained at approximately 280 metres
below surface and the treated water being discharged to the Red
River is consistently well within the permitted
standards;
Ø The 14-hole Wide
Formation exploration drilling programme has been completed with
final assays to be reported when available;
Ø Initial payment has
been received for the announced sale of the Nickel King asset in
Canada;
Ø The Company is
progressing discussions for the sale of other non-core assets
located outside of the UK;
Ø The search for a
permanent CEO is advancing and an appointment is expected in
Q3-2024;
Ø Market fundamentals
remain supportive of the tin price, which has traded above
US$30,000 over the last three months and is presently up nearly 40%
year-to-date to approximately US$35,000.
Owen Mihalop, COO of Cornish Metals, stated:
"Installation of the Phase 2 work platform is an
important milestone for the refurbishment and dewatering programme
at South Crofty. Work continues to progress in-line with our
adopted work plan and schedule that allows for NCK shaft
refurbishment to continue in parallel with mine dewatering. The
water treatment plant and the dewatering pumps continue to operate
as designed. Pumping rates continue to match modelled expectations,
which have been established based on the project's extensive
operational database, including the fact that South Crofty operated
for the majority of the twentieth century with no water inflow from
the flooded historic workings of adjacent mines."
Ken
Armstrong, Interim CEO and Director of Cornish Metals,
stated: "The Cornish Metals team
continues to progress our work plans, both on site and at the
corporate level, as we maintain our focus on advancing the wholly
owned and fully permitted South Crofty tin project, in the UK,
towards project financing with the aim of commencing production in
2027."
NCK
Shaft Refurbishment and Mine Dewatering Progressing as
Planned
·
Phase 2 of NCK shaft refurbishment has commenced, following
the on-schedule installation of a new work platform and main cage
modifications (See Figures 1 and 2), providing a safe and stable work platform that
will enable faster replacement of the old shaft timbers with new
steel buntons and guides;
· Mine
dewatering continues with the submersible pumps operating at a rate
of approximately 300 cubic metres per hour and the water treatment
plant operating to specifications;
· The
water level is being maintained at approximately 280 metres below
surface, as planned, and the pumping rate is in-line with expected
rates for this time of year;
·
South Crofty is not hydrologically connected to neighbouring
historic mines and natural groundwater inflows are exactly in-line
with pre-dewatering predictions, which were modelled using historic
dewatering rates, the known volume of underground voids and the
groundwater rebound that was measured after the mine closed in
1998;
·
Shaft refurbishment and mine dewatering is anticipated to
reach the 195-fathom level (approximately 350 metres below surface)
in Q4-2024 and refurbishment of the 195-fathom pump station and
installation of permanent pumps is scheduled to be completed in
Q1-2025;
· The
Company maintains guidance to complete NCK shaft refurbishment and
dewatering of South Crofty Mine to the 400-fathom level
(approximately 730 metres below surface) in Q3-2025.
Wide Formation Exploration Drilling Programme
Completed
· The
14-hole / 9,000 metre drilling programme testing the Wide Formation
target, approximately 1,000m south of the South Crofty mine, is now
complete;
· The
programme tested the geometry and the continuity of tin
mineralisation within the Wide Formation target over an area
measuring 2,500m along strike (northeast to southwest) and 800m
downdip (north to south);
· The
Wide Formation structure, located parallel to and between the South
Crofty mine workings and the historically mined Great Flat lode,
was intersected in all drill holes;
· All samples have
been submitted for analysis and final assay results will be
reported when available.

Figure 1: Schematic
of Phase 2 work platform.

Figure 2: Photo of
Phase 2 work platform installed in NCK shaft.
ABOUT CORNISH METALS
Cornish Metals is a dual-listed
mineral exploration and development company (AIM and TSX-V: CUSN)
focused on advancing the South Crofty high-grade, underground tin
project through to a construction decision, as well as exploring
its additional mineral rights, located in Cornwall, United
Kingdom.
· South Crofty is a historical,
high-grade, underground tin mine that started production in 1592
and continued operating until 1998 following over 400 years of
continuous production;
· The
Project possesses Planning Permission for underground mining (valid
to 2071), to construct new processing facilities and all necessary
site infrastructure, and an Environmental Permit to dewater the
mine;
·
South Crofty is one of the highest grade tin Mineral
Resources globally and benefits from existing mine infrastructure
including multiple shafts that can be used for future
operations;
· The
2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment for South Crofty validates the
Project's potential (see news release dated April
30, 2024 and the Technical Report entitled
"South
Crofty PEA"):
o US$201 million
after-tax NPV8% and 29.8% IRR
o 3-year
after-tax payback
o 4,700 tonnes
average annual tin production in years two through six
o Life of mine
all-in sustaining cost of US$13,660 /tonne of payable
tin
o Total after-tax
cash flow of US$626 million from start of production
· Tin
is a Critical Mineral as defined by the UK, American, and Canadian
governments;
·
Approximately two-thirds of the tin mined today comes from
China, Myanmar and Indonesia;
·
There is no primary tin production in Europe or North
America;
· Tin
connects almost all electronic and electrical infrastructure,
making it critical to the energy transition - responsible sourcing
of critical minerals and security of supply are key factors in the
energy transition and technology growth;
·
South Crofty benefits from strong local community, regional
and national government support.
·
Cornish Metals has a growing team of skilled people, local to
Cornwall, and the Project could generate up to 320 direct
jobs.
The 2024 Preliminary Economic
Assessment for South Crofty is preliminary in nature and includes
inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative
geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them
that would enable them to be categorised as mineral reserves. There
is no certainty that the 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment will
be realised. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not
have economic viability.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
This news release has been reviewed
and approved by Mr Owen Mihalop, MCSM, BSc (Hons), MSc, FGS, MIMMM,
CEng, Chief Operating Officer for Cornish Metals Inc. who is the designated Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and a
Competent Person as defined under the JORC Code (2012). Mr. Mihalop
consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based
on his information in the form and context in which it
appears.
ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Kenneth A. Armstrong"
Kenneth A. Armstrong
P.Geo.
Engage with us directly at our
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For additional information please
contact:
Cornish Metals
|
Fawzi Hanano
Irene Dorsman
|
investors@cornishmetals.com
info@cornishmetals.com
|
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Tel: +1
(604) 200 6664
|
SP
Angel Corporate Finance LLP
(Nominated Adviser & Joint
Broker)
|
Richard Morrison
Charlie Bouverat
Grant Barker
|
Tel: +44 203 470 0470
|
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Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
(Joint
Broker)
|
Derrick Lee
Neil McDonald
Leif Powis
|
Tel: +44 131 220 6939
Tel: +44 207 220 0500
|
|
|
|
Hannam & Partners
(Financial
Adviser)
|
Matthew Hasson
Andrew Chubb
Jay Ashfield
|
cornish@hannam.partners
Tel: +44 207 907 8500
|
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|
BlytheRay
(Financial PR)
|
Tim Blythe
Megan Ray
|
tim.blythe@blytheray.com
megan.ray@blytheray.com
Tel: +44 207 138 3204
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Caution regarding forward
looking statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking
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"forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include
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new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time
lines, requirements for additional capital and the Company's
ability to obtain financing when required and on terms acceptable
to the Company, future or estimated mine life and other
activities or achievements of Cornish Metals, including but not
limited to: mineralisation at South Crofty, mine dewatering and
construction requirements; the development, operational and
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estimation of mineral resources; statements about the estimate of
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project mine plan; exploration potential and project growth
opportunities for the South Crofty tin project and other Cornwall
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the South Crofty tin project and other Cornwall mineral properties,
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"schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or
result "may", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "might" occur
or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the
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historical fact included in this news release, are forward-looking
statements that involve various risks and uncertainties and there
can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate
and actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt
of regulatory approvals, risks related to general economic and
market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing;
the timing and content of upcoming work programmes; actual results
of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in Mineral
Resources or grade; outcome of any future feasibility studies;
projected dates to commence mining operations; failure of plant,
equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour
disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance
coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in
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rules and regulations. The list is not exhaustive of the factors
that may affect Cornish's forward-looking
statements.
Cornish Metals' forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current
expectations regarding future events and operating performance and
speak only as of the date such statements are made. Although the
Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those
described in forward- looking statements, there may be other
factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ
materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and
accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Cornish Metals does
not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if
circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions
should change other than as required by applicable
law.
Caution regarding non-IFRS
measures
This news release contains certain terms or performance
measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined
under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"),
including "all-in sustaining costs". Non-IFRS measures do not have
any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they
may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other
companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional
information and should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with
IFRS and should be read in conjunction with Cornish Metals'
consolidated financial statements and Management Discussion and
Analysis, available on its website and on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
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Disclosure
The information contained within this announcement is deemed
by the Company to constitute inside information pursuant to Article
7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as
amended.