Morning News Bites – August 31

In Today’s Morning News Bites for August 31. PM Support has slipped as states get behind their Premiers. The latest newspoll shows a 50-50 two party preferred, from August 5-8’s 52-48 TPP. Cadia Mine in NSW takes number one spot for 2019/20 production 843,338oz and IOOF set to grab NAB`s MLC.

The FY20 results are out for Swick, with its drilling business reported revenue of $149.6 million, up on FY19 ($142.9 million), and EBITDA of $24.6 million, slightly down on FY19 ($28.2 million). This is in line with the Company’s announcement on 30 July 2020, with FY20 earnings impacted by some temporary rig suspensions related to COVID-19 and ramp up costs from the Pogo contract in Alaska. Managing Director Kent Swick said, “FY20 has presented a unique and challenging set of circumstances with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The business has quickly adapted during this difficult period, ensuring we maintained continuity of operations and protected our people on site both internationally and locally. “I am pleased with the ability of our Drilling Business to deliver robust earnings in this environment and secure new work with existing clients, including our two largest contracts for Northern Star and BHP, which provide a strong platform for the business as we enter the 2021 financial year.”

Downer EDI Limited has been awarded a Unified Field Operations (Network) contract by NBN Co Limited valued at an estimated $320 million over a maximum term of eight years. The contract begins in September 2020 with an initial four year term, with two extension options of two years plus two years. Under the contract, Downer will provide services including network restoration, copper rehabilitation, alternate power system activities, network performance and capacity enhancement, urgent field service work and site maintenance across Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. CEO Grant Fenn, said Downer was very pleased to be extending its relationship with NBN. “Downer has been working closely with NBN for over a decade and we have earned a reputation as a high quality delivery partner,” Mr Fenn said. “A lot of NBN construction work is coming to completion and Downer is now transitioning to delivering NBN maintenance services. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NBN and optimising the national broadband network.”

Alto Metals Limited provided shareholders with an update on further drill results at the new shallow gold lode (“Orion Lode”) discovery, located 200m south of the Lord Nelson pit, within the Company’s flagship Sandstone Gold Project (Sandstone Gold Project). This announcement relates to results received for a total 2,132m of RC drilling, (11 holes), including further infill and step out at the new Orion Lode discovery and infill drilling beneath the Lord Nelson pit. A total of approximately 5,500m of RC drilling of the planned 10,000m program has now been completed, since drilling commence in early July, and another 2,000m is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

An update on recent exploration activities for the Lake Rebecca Gold Project for Apollo Consolidated Limited, located 150km east of Kalgoorlie in WA has been posted. Ongoing exploration drilling is occurring concurrently with continued infill and extensional drilling at the flagship Rebecca deposit. Highlights: Cleo joins the Rebecca family, returning best results to date and pointing to excellent potential for a new deposit to take shape: 38m @ 2.00g/t Au incl. 2m @ 20.4g/t Au and 5m @ 2.75g/t Au and 2m @ 9.39g/t Au incl. 1m @ 17.2g/t Au. Drilling will continue around the three key deposits throughout the remainder of the year. Diamond drilling will also continue to test specific high-grade step-down exploration targets at the Rebecca deposit.

Established Australian copper and gold producer and explorer, Aeris Resources Limited provided results from the recent near-surface Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program on the Roses Pride deposit at the Company’s Cracow Gold Operations (Cracow) in NSW. 48 hole near-surface drilling campaign at Roses Pride deposit completed with assay results returned for 44 holes with gold mineralisation intersected over a 400 metre strike length. Significant drill intersections include: 9.0m @ 5.45 g/t Au (true thickness 10.1m), 15.0m @ 4.10 g/t Au (true thickness 6.1m), 5.0m @ 5.33 g/t Au (true thickness 3.3m) and 10.0m @ 5.13 g/t Au (true thickness 4.7m). Executive Chairman, Andre Labuschagne, said, “During due diligence the Roses Pride deposit was identified as a priority exploration target with near-term potential to be added to the Life of Mine plan. The results from the drill program confirm this view and we will now expedite the work required to convert the drill results into a Mineral Resource.

Morning News Bites – Jul 29

Rio Tinto is set to release it’s half-year profits after market close today, CIMIC Group are in advance talks for a potential sale of a 50% stake in Thiess and the banks instructed to reduce dividends.

  • St Barbara release its Q4 and FY20 report, indicating an increase in gold production from the previous financial year with 108,612 ounces (Q3 Mar FY20: 91,547 ounces), and a consolidated gold production of 381,887 ounces (in line with guidance of 370,000 to 400,000 ounces) for the year.

  • Alto Metals hit more high-grade gold at the Lord Nelson Sandstone Gold Project in WA, highlights from recent drilling include 12m @ 5.0g/t gold from 244m. A further five RC holes of the company’s initial 1,500m infill drilling program have been received, with highlights of 28m @ 3.1 g/t gold from 228m (including 12m @ 5.0 g/t gold from 244m). These latest results followed up on the previous high-grade gold results from the primary zone of mineralisation beneath the pit announced in late April of this year.
  • Pantoro Limited has commenced drilling at the Maybell Mining Centre, the last of the identified phase one start up mining targets. Initial results from shallow drilling from the Lord Percy Deposit (located to the northeast of the main Maybell Deposit) are extremely encouraging. It highlights a shallow high-grade lode system, the intercepts from surface to 60 metres depth include 4m @ 13.58 g/t Au and 1.10 m @ 13.40 g/t Au.
  • Middle Island Resources Limited announced significant assays from new McIntyre satellite gold deposit in WA. These results are emerging from the Company’s Phase 2 reverse circulation drilling campaign at the company’s Sandstone gold project in Western Australia. The new results complement those derived from Phase 1 RC drilling at McIntyre, including highlights of 24m @ 1.66g/t, 23m @ 1.40g/t, 11m @ 1.39g/t and 18m @ 1.35g/t Au.
  • Chalice Gold’s maiden diamond drill program at the Pyramid Hill Gold Project confirms a large gold system at the Karri Prospect, providing new drill targets for the next phase of exploration in Victoria. All six initial diamond drill holes at the Karri Prospect intersected tightly folded, upright stratigraphy and primary gold mineralisation and indicate that the potential for a tier-1 scale gold system.