23 August 2016
Harvest Minerals Limited
("Harvest" or the "Company")
Arapua Fertiliser Project Update
Agronomic and additional Metallurgical Testwork Results at the Maximus Prospect - Arapua
Fertiliser Project
Harvest Minerals Limited ("Harvest" or "the Company") is very pleased to announce the positive
results for the latest agronomic and metallurgical testwork conducted at the Maximus prospect, part of its Arapua Fertiliser
Project ("Arapua"), located in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
Highlights:
· All results were well within the required
specifications. Notably, no toxic elements are present;
· The solubility results were excellent with total
solubility for P2O5 ranging from 50.40% to 53.36% and for K2O ranging from 90.99% to 95.00% in
2% citric acid, which is close to the acidity levels of the soils in Cerrado area where the Maximus project is
located;
· The pH ranged from 6.54 to 6.74 (almost neutral)
supporting the products potential as a soil neutralizer as well as remineraliser; and
· Metallurgical testwork supports that the product
grades can be increased through a simple wet sieving process.
Agronomic & Metallurgical Testwork Results
Harvest has elected to make an application for its Direct Application Natural Fertiliser (DANF)
product(s) at Maximus to be classified as a "soil remineraliser" with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply
(MAPA).
Whilst not a compulsory registration, Harvest considers that seeking the accreditation could offer
long term marketing benefits moving forward. As part of the application process, agronomic testwork has been carried out at
the Campo Agronomic Lab in Brazil in accordance with MAPA guidelines for testing fertilisers.
The results of this testwork were all well within the required specifications for a soil
mineraliser and have exceeded the Company's expectations. Full details of these results are contained in the commentary
below.
Both ALS in Australia and SGS Geosol in Brazil have conducted metallurgical testwork. Both sets of
results indicate that the high grade K2O material could be upgraded to produce a higher grade K2O product
through a simple low cost wet sieving process.
For example, a 4.69% K2O/3.49% P2O5 sample was split via wet
sieving to produce a 6.06% K2O/3.09% P2O5 product (26.31% by weight) and a 4.08% K2O/
3.69% P2O5 product (73.69% by weight).
The significance of this testwork is, in part, that it offers Harvest the option to be able to
produce and market products with different grades in order to service different market sectors as commercial production
develops.
Next steps
The trial mining permit application is progressing. The environmental permit, which is a
precursor to being issued the trial mining permit is expected in the next few weeks and the trial mining permit is expected
thereafter.
Harvest expects to retain a mining contractor within the next month and site works will commence
at the time of granting of the environmental permit.
Additionally, based on the strength of the drilling and lab results to date, Harvest intends to
undertake a drilling programme by the end of the year to define the limits of the known mineralisation, in particular the depth
of weathering and to increase the current indicated resource to increase the mine life and/ or allow for increased production as
demand grows for Harvest's products.
Harvest expects to commence further kinetic and agronomic efficiency (plant growth) testing, the
scope of which we are currently finalising with MAPA and the Campo Agronomic Lab by late September. The results of this
testwork will assist in identifying product classification and optimization for commercial production, post the initial trial
mining period.
Commenting on the agronomic and metallurgical test work, Executive Chairman of Harvest, Brian
McMaster stated:
"These latest results are excellent and well beyond our expectations, in
particular regarding the solubility, which we believe, is better than for any similar product currently in the market.
Additionally, the ability to further uplift the product grade through simple wet-sieving, demonstrates that we are developing an
attractive product range, which could be varied to target specific crops and customer uses. We are able to sell our products
without registering with MAPA and to assist in the marketing, we are planning to register them initially as a
"stonemeal/remineraliser" and then as a Potassium and Phosphorous fertiliser, which is likely to broaden the potential client
base.
The works at the Arapua project are progressing on schedule and we expect to be regularly
updating shareholders as developments unfold over the coming months, leading into trial mining production later this
year."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation
596/2014.
Enquiries:
Harvest Minerals Limited
|
Brian McMaster, Chairman
|
Tel: +61 8 9200 1847
|
Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated & Financial Adviser)
|
Rory Murphy
James Spinney
Ritchie Balmer
|
Tel: +44 20 7409 3494
|
Mirabaud Securities LLP (Broker)
Beaufort Securities Ltd
(Joint Broker)
Buchanan
(Financial PR)
|
Rory Scott
Jon Bellis
Bobby Morse
Anna Michniewicz
|
Tel: + 44 20 7878 3360
Tel: + 44 20 7382 8300
Tel: +44 20 7466 5000
|
Background
The initial exploration programme at Maximus identified the significant potential for the
kamafugitic rocks to be used as a multi-nutrient silicate agro-mineral which could produce a Direct Application Natural
Fertiliser (DANF). A small area (~3% of the estimated mineralization) was drilled targeting only the weathered kamafugite to
produce a JORC (2012) compliant total Indicated resource of 883 Kt at 4.21% K2O, 3.53% P2O5,
6.34% CaO, 5.95% MgO and 0.33% MnO.
On 10th March 2016, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA)
published in the Brazil official gazette (Diário Oficial da União) normative Instrument N°5 (NI5), which set out the definition
and specifications for soil "remineralisers" or "stonemeal". In order to be registered as a remineraliser, the product must
undergo chemical and physical analysis to confirm it meets the minimum specification and in particular does not contain toxic
heavy metals which could enter the food chain. This is then followed by kinetic studies to look at nutrient extraction followed
by agronomic efficiency testwork (growth tests). All this must be carried out by a MAPA approved institution.
Whilst registration is not required to sell the product from Maximus, the Company considers that
by registering the product initially as a remineraliser, which is a quicker process than registering as a straight potassium
("K") and phosphorus ("P") fertiliser, it will be able to broaden the market as well as enhancing the products marketability. The
results of this process form the basis of registering the product as straight K and P fertiliser.
As the kamafugite would create product of "pure mineral origin", it is classified as a Class "E"
remineraliser, the specifications for which are shown in table 01.
Table 01 - Minimum specifications and guarantees for soil remineraliser
product.
|
Total Bases (CaO + MgO + K2O)
|
≥ 9% wt.
|
K2O
|
≥ 1% wt.
|
SiO2 free
|
≤ 25% vol.
|
As
|
≤ 15 ppm
|
Cd
|
≤ 10 ppm
|
Hg
|
≤ 0.1 ppm
|
Pb
|
≤ 200 ppm
|
Agronomic Lab Results
Two representative bulk samples (2.2kg each), which had been previously tested at the SGS Geosol
lab in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerias, Brazil, were submitted for physical and chemical tests to the Campo Agronomic Lab at
Paracatu, Minas Gerias, Brazil. The analysis was carried out according to the methodology for fertilisers as defined by MAPA. The
results were excellent with both samples passing all the tests and all the results were inside the minimum specifications and
guarantees for a soil remineraliser product as defined by MAPA (Table 02).
Table 02 - Chemical results for samples MXBS003 and MXBS004.
|
Element/Oxide
|
MXBS003
|
MXBS004
|
Unit
|
As
|
1
|
0.66
|
mg/kg
|
Cd
|
<0.2
|
<0.2
|
mg/kg
|
CaO*
|
4.61
|
3.19
|
%
|
Pb
|
<0.2
|
<0.2
|
mg/kg
|
Cu
|
<0.05
|
<0.05
|
%
|
Cr
|
69.7
|
222.8
|
Ppm
|
S
|
<1
|
<1
|
%
|
Fe
|
17.07
|
13.75
|
%
|
P2O5
|
3.79
|
2.23
|
%
|
MgO*
|
4.17
|
8.39
|
%
|
Mn
|
0.31
|
0.28
|
%
|
Hg
|
<0.2
|
<0.2
|
mg/kg
|
Mo
|
<0.2
|
<0.2
|
mg/kg
|
Ni
|
365.8
|
300.3
|
mg/kg
|
Ni
|
<0.50
|
<0.50
|
%
|
K2O
|
1.20
|
1.11
|
%
|
Se
|
<0.2
|
<0.2
|
mg/kg
|
Zn
|
<0.05
|
<0.05
|
%
|
CaO + MgO + K2O
|
9.98
|
12.69
|
%
|
* Results originally reported for element and converted to oxide.
The only outstanding physical test is the one for free silica (SiO2) which should be
<25% by volume. The Company expects this work to be completed by mid-September, but expects to pass this test as previous
petrographic descriptions indicate no occurrence of free quartz crystals (SiO2) in the samples, which is expected for
ultrabasic rocks as kamafugites.
Although they do not have a minimum limit or threshold, several other physical parameters are
required as part of the physical characterization of the product (Table 03). These include Electrical Conductivity (EC),
potential hydrogen (pH), water retention capacity (WRC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and water content (WC).
Table 03 - Results for physical tests with samples MXBS003 and MXBS004.
|
Parameter
|
MXBS003
|
MXBS004
|
Unit
|
EC
|
62
|
64.19
|
%
|
pH
|
6.59
|
6.74
|
|
WRC
|
56
|
49
|
%
|
CEC
|
280
|
254
|
mmol/kg
|
WC
|
5.06
|
5.39
|
%
|
The pH is almost neutral, ranging from 6.59 (MXBS003) to 6.74 (MXBS004) indicating the potential
additional use as a soil neutralizer as well as remineraliser.
For the solubility results, whilst there was little solubility in water or Neutral Ammonium
Citrate as expected, the solubility results for both P2O5 and K2O in citric acid (2%
concentration), which is very similar to the acidity of the Cerrado soils, are excellent. For P2O5 the
total solubility results were between 50.40% and 53.36%, which again is excellent and reinforces the view the phosphate is more
related to apatite than crandalite.
Table 04 - P2O5 grades and Solubility results
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
The K2O grade estimates from the Campo Agronomic lab are lower than the original
estimates from SGS Geosol. The difference is due to the different methodologies used by the two labs, as the Campo lab used the
methodology designated by MAPA. However, this is normally applied to soils rather than rock and so the weak acid concentration is
likely to have impacted the results and underestimated the K2O grades.
The total solubility results were between 90.00% and 95.00%, which is well beyond the Company's
expectations and, we believe, those of any other product in the market.
The following example helps to explain the importance of the solubility numbers. A product
currently being sold in the Brazilian market has K2O grades of 8% and 1% solubility in citric acid. This means that
the effective grade of K2O available to plants is 0.08%.
In comparison, based on the grades measured at Campo, the product at Maximus has an available
grade of 1.14%. Using the grade measured by SGS this rises to 3.9% K2O and the Maximus product benefits from having
P2O5 as well as Ca and Mg.
Table 05 - K2O grades and Solubility results
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
Metallurgical Tests Results
Metallurgical testwork looking at potentially upgrading the final product through simple sizing
was carried out at ALS Global Laboratory in Australia and in SGS Geosol Laboratory in Brazil.
Sample KMF01 was sent to ALS Lab in Australia and was sieved into the following grain sizes via
wet flow: 0.71 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.250 mm, 0.150 mm, 0.090 mm, 0.045 mm, 0.032 mm (Table 06).
Table 06 - Sample KMF01 - Summary of chemical results by grain size.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
Samples MXBS001 and MXBS002 were sent to SGS Geosol Lab in Brazil. The sample were sieved into the
following grain sizes via wet flow: 0.71 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.250 mm, 0.150 mm, 0.106 mm, 0.045 mm, 0.038 mm (Tables 07 and
08).
Table 07 - Sample MXBS001 - Summary of chemical results by grain size.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
Table 08 - Sample MXBS002 - Summary of chemical results by grain size.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
Samples MXBS003 and MXBS004 were also sent to SGS Geosol Lab in Brazil. The sample were sieved
into the following grain sizes via dry flow: 0.71 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.250 mm, 0.150 mm, 0.106 mm, 0.045 mm, 0.038 mm (Tables 09 and
10).
Table 09 - Sample MXBS003 - Summary of chemical results by grain size.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
Table 10 - Sample MXBS004 - Summary of chemical results by grain size.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8331H_-2016-8-22.pdf
Both sets of results indicated that the high grade K2O material could be further
upgraded to produce a higher grade K2O product by simple low cost wet sieving. For example KMF01, which has a
K2O grade of 5.6%, could be improved through simple wet sieving to produce a 7.33% product and a 5.1% product split
23%/77%, whereas sample MXBS001 could produce a 6.05% and 4.08% K2O product split 26%/74%. However, this is not the
case for lower grade material where the grade is distributed more uniformly.
The Company considers additional work should be undertaken in confirming the processes and results
on upgrading the product, however, this will not form part of the trial mining phase.
COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT
The technical information in this release which relates to exploration results is based on
compiled and reviewed data by Mr. Paulo Brito. Mr. Brito is a consulting geologist for Harvest Minerals Limited and is a Member
of AusIMM - The Minerals Institute, as well as, a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr. Brito has sufficient
experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which is
being undertaken 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". Mr. Brito also meets the requirements of a qualified person under the
AIM Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies and consents to the inclusion in the release of the matters based on their information
in the form and context in which it appears. Mr. Brito accepts responsibility for the accuracy of the statements disclosed in
this release.