NEWS RELEASE
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN
THE UNITED STATES OR FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES
July 15, 2024
|
TSXV/AIM: THX
|
THOR EXPLORATIONS ANNOUNCES Q2 2024 OPERATING
UPDATE
Thor Explorations Ltd. (TSXV / AIM: THX) ("Thor
Explorations" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an
operational update for the Segilola Gold mine, located in Nigeria
("Segilola"), and for the Company's mineral
exploration properties located in Nigeria and Senegal, for
the three months to June 30, 2024 (the "Quarter" or "Q2").
Segilola Q2 2024
Operational Highlights
· Gold poured of 21,742
ounces ("oz")
· Produced from 174,000
tonnes milled at an improved average grade of 3.42 grammes per
tonne ("g/t") of gold ("Au")
· Mine production of
491,935 tonnes at an average grade of 1.78g/t of Au for 28,153
oz
· Ore stockpile increased
by 9,034oz to 38,298oz of Au at an average grade of 1.01g/t of Au
which includes a medium-grade stockpile of 7,620 oz of Au at a
grade of 2.0g/t of Au
· Release of 3,652oz of Au in
circuit ("GIC") resulting from improved operational efficiency in
the process plant post completion of the previously announced
carbon in leach ("CIL") circuit upgrade
· Payment of US$7.9
million towards the outstanding senior debt facility with Africa
Finance Corporation ("AFC") leaving a balance of $7.9 million
scheduled to be fully repaid by the end of 2024
Exploration Q2 2024
Highlights
Nigeria
· Commencement of Segilola Underground Exploration a focus on
structural studies in Q2 2024
· Completion of
Phase 1 of Segilola Underground Drilling Program Design to commence
at the end of the Quarter
· An additional 155 square
kilometres ("km²") of prospective exploration tenure was acquired,
located 35 km south of the Segilola Gold Mine
Senegal
· In
Senegal, the 15,000 metre ("m") 2024 drilling program commenced
with the first set of encouraging results announced on
25th June 2024. Highlights included:
o Drillhole DTRC941 -
24m at 3.53 g/t Au from 0m
o Drillhole DTDD920 -
12m at 1.40 g/t Au from 33m
o Drillhole DTDD921 -
9m at 2.74 g/t Au from 15m
o Drillhole DTRC936 -
8m at 1.13 g/t Au from 16m
· Exploration activities during
the Quarter were focused on generating additional drill targets at
the new Douta West and Sofita projects as well as extending the
oxide resource at Makosa East through drilling
· Pre-feasibility study workstreams are
continuing, with a target completion in H2 2024
Lithium
· Thor, through its
Nigerian subsidiary Newstar, has secured over 600km2 of
granted tenure in Nigeria that
form Oyo State, Kwara State and Ekiti State Lithium Project
Areas
· Exploration activities
during the quarter, comprising geological mapping
and detailed auger soil sampling, and drilling within
Newstar-owned exploration permits
· The Company continued
its acquisition of prospective lithium tenure in Nigeria
FY 2024 Outlook and
Catalysts
· FY 2024 production
guidance range maintained at 95,000 to 100,000 oz of Au
· FY 2024 All-in
Sustaining Cost ("AISC") guidance range maintained at $1,100 to
$1,200
· Drilling programs
across all the Company's exploration portfolio:
o Segilola near mine
drill targets
o Segilola underground
drilling program
o Senegal - Douta and
Douta West licences
o Nigeria lithium
portfolio
· Updated
Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS")
at the Douta Project rescheduled for H2 2024, following completion
of metallurgical testwork program in China
· Continued acquisition
of prospective lithium tenure in Nigeria
Segun
Lawson, President & CEO, stated:
"We were pleased by
the performance of the Segilola Mine in the Quarter. Following the
completion of the upgrade of the CIL circuit in Q1 2024, in the
Quarter, we prioritised releasing GIC, by decreasing process plant
throughput whilst focussing on increasing recovery and improving
circuit efficiency. I am pleased to report that this has been a
successful exercise, which is reflected in our operational results
for the Quarter during which we achieved a recovery rate of 94.6%
and poured more gold than recovered from the mine. We are now
positioned in Q3 to return to the increased process plant
throughput rate whilst maintaining these operational improvements
that have been achieved in the Quarter, which should result in the
continued increased amount of gold poured in H2 from both mined ore
and further releases from GIC."
"In Senegal, the
Douta project continues to deliver promising exploration results,
offering compelling upside potential for the Company. The first set
of drilling results from our 2024 program were positive and the
15,000 metre drilling program is continuing through Q3, designed at
adding oxide ounces outside of the existing resource, to be
incorporated into the Douta Preliminary Feasibility
Study."
"We are pleased to
have made further progress towards fully repaying our senior debt
facility by the end of the year with a balance of $7.9 million
remaining outstanding and also continuing to make repayments
towards our payables, whilst continuing to strengthen our balance
sheet."
PRODUCTION
SUMMARY
|
Units
|
Q2 2024
|
Q1 2024
|
Q4 2023
|
Q3 2023
|
Q2 2023
|
Mining
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Mined
|
Tonnes
|
4,710,220
|
4,939,647
|
5,483,291
|
5,673,193
|
5,633,688
|
Waste Mined
|
Tonnes
|
4,171,122
|
4,473,752
|
5,031,932
|
5,370,279
|
5,355,105
|
Ore Mined
|
Tonnes
|
491,935
|
465,895
|
451,360
|
302,915
|
278,583
|
Grade
|
g/t Au
|
1.78
|
2.07
|
1.93
|
2.44
|
2.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Processing
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Ore Processed
|
Tonnes
|
174,000
|
235,933
|
262,439
|
261,671
|
255,231
|
Grade
|
g/t Au
|
3.42
|
2.85
|
2.77
|
2.46
|
2.99
|
Recovery
|
%
|
94.6
|
90.7
|
93.4
|
92.3
|
94.0
|
Gold Recovered
|
oz
|
18,090
|
19,589
|
21,798
|
19,104
|
23,078
|
Gold Poured
|
oz
|
21,742
|
18,543
|
16.361
|
16,579
|
21,518
|
Table 1: Production Summary
THOR EXPLORATIONS LTD.
Segun Lawson
President & CEO
About Thor
Thor Explorations Ltd. is a Canadian
mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration
and development of mineral properties located in Nigeria, Senegal
and Burkina Faso. Thor holds a 100% interest in the Segilola Gold
Project located in Osun State of Nigeria. Mining and production
commenced at Segilola in 2021. Thor holds a 70% interest in the
Douta Gold Project located in south-eastern Senegal. Thor trades on
the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "THX".
For further
information please contact:
Thor Explorations Ltd
Email: info@thorexpl.com
Canaccord Genuity (Nominated Adviser &
Broker)
Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio / Harry
Rees
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 8000
Hannam & Partners (Broker)
Andrew Chubb / Matt Hasson / Jay Ashfield / Franck
Nganou
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7907 8500
Fig House Communications (Investor Relations)
Tel: +1 416 822 6483
Email: investor.relations@thorexpl.com
Yellow Jersey PR (Financial
PR)
Charles Goodwin / Shivantha
Thambirajah / Zara McKinlay
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004
9512
BlytheRay (Financial
PR)
Tim Blythe / Megan Ray / Said Izagaren
Tel: +44 207 138 3203
Qualified Person
The above
information has been prepared under the supervision of Alfred
Gillman (Fellow AusIMM, CP), who is designated as a "qualified
person" under National Instrument 43-101 and the AIM Rules and has
reviewed and approves the content of this news release. He has also
reviewed QA/QC, sampling, analytical and test data underlying the
information.