GWMO Great Western Mining Corporation Plc

GREAT WESTERN MINING CORPORATION PLC

("Great Western", "GWM" or the "Company")

NEW CLAIMS STAKED FOR TUNGSTEN

Great Western Mining Corporation PLC (AIM - GWMO, Euronext Growth - 8GW), which is exploring and developing gold, silver and copper targets in the Walker Lane belt of Nevada, USA, announces three tungsten targets over both newly staked and existing claims in Mineral County, Nevada.

Highlights

·    Six new claim blocks staked to cover Pine Crow and Defender tungsten workings

·    Previous grab highlights from these claims of 2,590, 2,430 and 1,600 ppm tungsten

·    Separate area of prospectivity identified 9 km to the southwest

Great Western Chairman Brian Hall commented: "Our extensive claims in the Walker Lane Belt of Nevada are rich in many minerals.  Over the last two years we have reacted to copper being designated a critical mineral in the USA, revisited our copper prospects and have reported, with independent verification, the possibility of a copper play on a far larger scale than the resource we have already established through drilling in the same area. 

"Tungsten has also been officially designated a critical mineral in the USA and in light of this we have revisited known areas of elevated tungsten which were highlighted during our recent exploration programmes. Having thoroughly reviewed all the data for tungsten on our claims, both historical and recent, there is strong evidence of the metal in two separate claim areas.  To move this forward, in recent days we have staked and registered six new claims contiguous to our existing claims and encapsulating two old tungsten mines.  We will be working on the data further over the winter months and planning a programme of works for the 2025 season."

Introduction

In the light of recent political developments which emphasise the need for new domestic tungsten resources in the United States, Great Western has undertaken a review of the tungsten prospectivity on and adjoining its existing claims, with positive results.  Tungsten is included on the list of critical minerals as determined by the US Department of the Interior, while copper is identified as a critical material for energy by the US Department of Energy.

Two separate former tungsten workings historically known as Pine Crow and Defender, sit close to the northern edge of Great Western's Black Mountain claims (Figures 1 & 2). In recent days the Company has staked and registered six new claims which cover both Pine Crow and Defender. 

Separately, a 600 m long east-west tungsten-in-soils anomaly is evident in the southern part of the Company's Jack Springs claim group, approximately 9 km to the southwest of the workings described above (Figure 1 & 3). This anomaly is parallel to and overlies a linear magnetic high.   

Pine Crow and Defender

The Pine Crow and Defender mines include surface workings on mineralised features, each having around five (5) acres of dozer scrapes and small pits focused on veins and altered outcrops. These features were selectively grab sampled during reconnaissance work undertaken by the Company in 2018. Highlights are as follows (Figure 2):

·    Pine Crow, three samples from mine dumps - 2,590, 2,430 and 1,520 ppm tungsten.

·    Defender, two samples from outcropping veins and altered host rock - 1,600 and 850 ppm tungsten.

·    A sample from the trend between the two workings, on existing GWM claims identified altered host rock - 210 ppm tungsten.

The samples from Pine Crow are also enriched in molybdenum, with values of 700, 690 and 590 ppm. A grab sample data table is available in Appendix A.

Jack Springs Tungsten

Existing reconnaissance soil sampling over the northern parts of the Jack Springs claim group shows a 600 m long (east-west) and 100-150 m wide (north-south) zone of samples (Figure 3) anomalous for tungsten. The anomaly occurs on six adjacent soils lines (line spacing 100 m, sample spacing 50 m) collected during 2012 and consists of between one and three samples above 70 ppm tungsten on each line. The maximum value detected was 96.3 ppm tungsten.

The soil anomaly correlates with a roughly linear east-west trending magnetic anomaly which was detected on GWM's drone magnetometry carried out in early 2021. The juxtaposition of elevated tungsten with a magnetic anomaly is suggestive of a skarn setting. As the tungsten-in-soils anomaly is obscured to the east by tertiary volcanic cover, there is potential to extend the area of exploration.

Next Steps

Further soil sampling and field mapping is planned at both areas of tungsten prospectivity. If the results of this work are positive, geophysical surveys will be designed to develop drill targets.

Figure 1. Map showing Great Western's claim groups and projects in the Huntoon Valley.

Figure 2. Map showing locations of new claims at northeast end of Black Mountains claim group, with all previous reconnaissance grab samples over 100 ppm tungsten labelled. Data for all samples on map is available in appendix A.

Figure 3. Map of southwestern part of Jack springs claim group where a zone of soils with anomalous tungsten values overlies a magnetic anomaly. Upper map shows first vertical derivative (1VD) of reduced to pole (RTP) drone magnetometry. Lower map shows the anomaly redrawn over a satellite image view, with all soil samples above 70 ppm W labelled.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Results presented in this report pertain to previous phases of work by Great Western, results from which have been previously announced for other elements.

All soil samples were submitted to Florin Laboratory, Reno, Nevada, in 2012. Soil samples were screened to -80 mesh and analysed by method 7045; aqua regia digest with ICP finish for a 22-element suite. Quality control samples were inserted by the company are understood to have been satisfactory.

Grab samples were submitted to Bureau Veritas Laboratory (then known as Inspectorate America Corporation), Reno, Nevada in 2018, analysed by method Au-FA30 for gold (30 g fire assay, with gravimetric finish for overlimit samples) AQ370 for a 24-element suite via aqua regia digest and ICP-ES. Samples were submitted in various small batches and lab internal QC protocols deemed to be sufficient for these results.

Competent Person Statement: The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based on information reviewed by Dr James Blight MGeol PhD MAusIMM (CP) who is Exploration Manager of Great Western Mining PLC. Dr Blight has requisite experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity which he is undertaking, to qualify as a "Competent Person" as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Dr Blight is also a "Qualified Person" as defined in the "Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies" which form part of the AIM Rules for Companies. Dr Blight has reviewed and consented to the inclusion in the announcement of the information in the form and context in which it appears.

For further information:

Notes to Editors

The Company has a large tract of acreage in Mineral County, Nevada. The area consists of rugged, mountainous terrain, which means that large parts of it remain under-explored. Mineral potential is hosted by the regional Walker Lane Structural Belt, the largest structural and metallogenic belt in Nevada, yet one of the least explored in recent times, with gold, silver and copper currently produced in Mineral County.  Great Western has seven distinct concession areas which offer the potential for exploiting (1) short term gold and silver deposits and (2) long-term, world-class copper deposits. 

Six of the Company's properties are in the west of Mineral County and the seventh and most recent acquisition, the Olympic Gold Project, is in the east of the county, some 50 miles from the main group.  All the Company's claims are 100% owned. Claims at the Eastside Mine Group have been contributed to a pooling agreement with Bronco Creek Exploration, Inc. and in addition the Company participates in the Huntoon Mine Area Cooperation Agreement with landowner-neighbour Crowne Point Resources with whom it shares resources. Great Western's small exploration team is supported by locally based consultants and contractors. 

The state of Nevada is one of the world's most mining friendly jurisdictions.  While tightly regulated and environmentally conscious, Nevada welcomes the mining industry.  Great Western takes care to ensure that its claims are maintained in good standing and all regulations observed. 

There are numerous gold and silver prospects on the Company's acreage, including extensive historic mine workings which offer the opportunity for secondary recovery. The Company is party to a 50-50 joint venture known as Western Milling LLC which is constructing a mill to process pre-mined material for secondary recovery of gold and silver.

Furthermore, through extensive drilling over a five-year period, GWM has established a Mineral Resource on its first target area known as M2, of 4.3 million tonnes at 0.45% copper, for 19,000 tonnes of contained copper metal. This resource has been independently reported in accordance with JORC guidelines. 

GWM has also established an Inferred Resource Estimate of 31,000 tonnes grading 1.6 g/t gold and 3.0 g/t silver in tailings associated with the OMCO Mine at the Olympic Gold Project.  Additionally, exploration targets have been independently reported as follows:

·    3,400 - 6,400 tonnes grading between 0.5 and 1.2 g/t Au and 1.2 and 2.1 g/t Ag in the substrate beneath the tailings volume at the Olympic Mine.

·    9,000 - 12,000 tonnes grading between 0.9 and 2.4 g/t Au and 2.0 and 5.1 g/t Ag in a coarse stockpile at Olympic Mine.

·    4,200 - 7,700 tonnes grading between 40 and 140 g/t Ag and 0.3 and 0.3 g/t Au in spoil heaps at Mineral Jackpot.

Appendix A.

Table of results for all grabs shown in figures, for selected elements of interest.