RNS Number : 3843M
Red Rock Resources plc
29 April 2024
 

Red Rock Resources PLC

("Red Rock" or the "Company")

Update

 

29 April 2024

 

Red Rock Resources Plc, (AIM:RRR) ("Red Rock" or "the Company"), is a natural resource development company with interests in gold, base metals, battery metals, and hydrocarbons principally in Africa and Australia.

This release is an update further to the update of April 2024.

There is no update in relation to the DRC as we await the appointment and Parliamentary vote on the Prime Minister's new administration. With the selection of a President of the Parliament on 24th April, this vote is likely to take place after the President's return from a State visit to France.  

In relation to the Burkina Faso gold project at Bilbale, a report has been received from the Company's consultant which is reproduced below verbatim.

"BILBALE SITE VISIT - Mar/Apr 2024

The author visited the Bilbale Project Licence area located in the Sud-Ouest Region, with Ali Barro and guided by Dieudonne Dakissaga, country manager and a geologist by training. The visit was carried out over several days in order to evaluate potential high-grade targets as well as the amenability of the area to support scalable operations and quick-start operations.

With a surface of 183.62 km², the Bilbale project area is located in the prolific Boromo greenstone belt. The region is a major gold producing district. The Gaoua gold deposit (4.4 Moz) is located 50 km to the south, and the Poura gold mine (3 Moz) is located 70 km to the north. The Wa gold deposit (>1 Moz) in Ghana is located 50 km to the south and the Konkera gold deposit (3.3 Moz) of Ampella Mining is located 110 Km to the south.

There is an extensive presence of artisanal gold working sites on the permit area. Seasonal surface gold digging are done by entire communities, in addition to high density artisanal mine sites targeting the spectrum from alluvial to hard-rock mining to depths of ~30 m. Several of these artisanal sites are in excess of ten years old , covering significant areas and still being worked. During this visit two brand new artisanal sites got underway!

Rock chip sampling in 2020 included samples reported at 8.1 g/tAu, 6.25 g/tAu, 2.57 g/tAu, 2.56 g/tAu, 1.74 g/t Au, and 1.19 g/tAu. These grades underscores why artisanal digging is ongoing over the project area.

At the Tampoa site however things have moved up a notch where an illegal miner brought in mechanised equipment and a large team of people - this kind of operation is not allowed under local mining law and WILL do significant damage to the legal permit holder! Whilst government will support the owner, it remains the permit holder prerogative to address the situation and put a stop to such operations. I was advised that this operation has been stopped - no mechanised equipment was seen operating during the visit - however significant stockpiles on site was still being washed using holding ponds and a pump-fitted borehole supplying constant large volume water for the operation. Clearly Company has to continuously enforce a real stoppage of this illegal operation! The only way to effect this is by constant presence and my advice is that this site immediately becomes the first quick-start alluvial test site.

Historical geophysical airborne survey by Sarama Mining Burkina (2011) revealed curved faults and shear zones, N-S trending, through the entire permit. It became clear as this visit unfolded that the structural geology of the permit area deserves significantly more attention. A great benefit to the Bilbale Project area is that it contains several rock outcrops, including a significant road-cut that has to date not been investigated. It is my opinion that this outcrop will play a key role in a better understanding of the relationship between local Birimian gold distribution and the structural history of the host rocks.

There has been some limited drilling carried out over the permit area by the current owner and previous holders. It was unfortunately not possible to inspect samples, pulps or rock-chips from these previous campaigns and I had to take a view on paper copies and previously published results only. In preparation for this site visit , I identified and subsequently confirmed 9 targets for further detailed study and surface evaluation for alluvial/elluvial placer potential of 6 targets.

PROPOSED WORK PROGRAM GOING FORWARD:

1.         Embark on a detailed geo-structural mapping program of select areas

2.         Embark on a quick-start program production testing alluvial and placer deposits employing specialist washing / concentration plants

            3.         plan and execute a drilling and associated assay program comprised of

            a. auger drilling over placers

            b. RC drilling testing below placers and other targets

            c. Diamond core drilling for resource evaluations over deserving stage 3 targets

            4.         Permitting process to convert to Mining Licence(s) based on success.

CONCLUSION:

It is the authors' opinion that the Bilbale Permit holds significant potential that requires an aggressive program of value enhancement.

It is further my opinion that this permit can, if subjected to an appropriate exploration program, realize a significant Resource and Reserve in excess of 1 Moz over the next two years.

Dr Willem J. Smuts Pr.Sci.Nat. FSEG

(I am a Competent/Qualified Person under the meaning of the Major Minerals Codes as applied to various Stock Exchanges)"

The Company is currently arranging four time-critical workstreams: (a) transport of the washing and production equipment necessary for operations to Burkina Faso, (b) the passports and other paperwork for some 25 expert external staff who will be required to be in Burkina for the commencement of operations, (c) transport from Asia of hire plant for excavation, and (d) preparation of initial camp accommodation and eating and security facilities on site for an initial daytime workforce expected to exceed a hundred people. The first two of these workstreams have been subject to bureaucratic delays and some additional cost factors but are now under way.

The CEO and other senior personnel will be on site to oversee camp preparations from late next week, with a view to starting operations at scale from early June after arrival of personnel and equipment. This timetable is subject to no further delays at customs or in passport issuance or other official paperwork requirements.

Red Rock CEO Andrew Bell comments: "We are absolutely committed to driving this project to scaleable operation within weeks. Great progress has been made to overcome delays, and we have been working, and will continue to work, day and night, seven days a week, on this critical project implementation phase, with strict cost control."

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Bell 0207 747 9990                                                       Chairman Red Rock Resources Plc

Bob Roberts 0203 8696081                                                        Broker Clear Capital Corporate Broking

 

 

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