Running discussion on SP, page-3999

It is understandable if the results will be a little late.

As I said the other day AVZ has a nice problem, when every time they drill they have to analyse a small quarry load of mineralised cores and do thousands of assays because the resource is that big.

go HERE

Expected is assays from the next 7 holes:

Going from what was found before, I calculate that around 3000 metres of drill core has to be assayed metre by metre, which means approximately 6000 assays of lithium and tin collectively.

The nice thing is we are now way better organised than before, when there was only one drill rig in operation in the middle of the wet season.

Now we are in the dry season and have 4 drills spinning 24/7 on site and paid by the metre(greater incentive to get it done!). Plus, with the dry season expect full bore on our fully funded road and hydro infrastructure program.

From latest AVZ announcement:

• Assay results from holes MO18DD006 - MO18DD012 are anticipated to be received in the next two weeks.

• Drilling progressing well, with four rigs fully operational and the 22nd drill-hole of the drilling program currently in progress.

• On track for initial JORC resource calculation by end of June quarter 2018.


In other words AVZ is now in efficient factory mode, with all parts moving constantly, 0n different 'conveyor belts'; drilling, transporting and drill/assay analysis of the 40,000 m drill program.

Personally I think they drilled Roche Dure Pegmatite first  because of all the historical data(Brownfields) there which is matching up with stellar results; they know where to drill! Mineralisation(spodumene) is essentially   homogenous, close to surface with world record intercepts of high grade.

Initial metallurgy of Roche Dure is also outstanding: (From earlier Quarterly-click on BLUE)   

Mineral composition:

The Quantitative XRD determinations confirmed the impression gained through inspection of the drillcore that LITHIUM MINERALISATION is comprised ENTIRELY OF SPODUMENE!

Most of the pegmatite sampled in this initial characterisation work (from drill holes MO17DD001 and MO17DD002 in the Roche Dure pegmatite) consists of a mixture having the following approximate composition:

• 32% quartz,

• 30% albite feldspar

• 5% microcline feldspar

• 8% muscovite mica

• 20% spodumene

• 5% “amorphous material” (non-diffracting and thus unidentifiable material).

The low proportion of mica in the Roche Dure Pegmatite is favourable because it reduces the degree of mica-contamination during the production of spodumene concentrates.

Conclusion

Based on this initial characterisation work (from drill holes MO17DD001 and MO17DD002) at the Roche Dure Pegmatite, the following characteristics are evident:

• The lithium within the pegmatite is ENTIRELY (OR ALMOST ENTIRELY) contained within spodumene!(NO LEPIDOLITE!!)

•The general composition of the pegmatite is restricted to a small number of minerals, i.e. a relatively simple  composition.

• The pegmatite is a homogenous LCT Albite-spodumene pegmatite having a low mica content.

• The mean concentration of Li2O is high and accompanied by significant Sn.

• The mean concentrations of “penalty” elements are low.

These characteristics enhance the potential to define a world-class lithium resource within the Roche Dure Pegmatite.

Also I might add that during the 1950's when Manono was a tin mine studies showed that a commercial grade(above 6%)  lithium concentrate was produced from the spodumene. It was very easily possible to obtain a spodumene recovery efficiency of 80% and a content of 6.2% of Li2O”- fantastic when you are talking about efficiency and ease of concentration to battery grade.(courtesy of research from Mineralised)

I would say they are drilling Carriere De L'est(our largest pegmatite) after Roche Dure  because it does not have the historical data of Roche Dure, but what I will say is that the only hole they drilled there was a world record intercept of high grade Li2O, and get this; mineralisation began virtually at the surface;from 1.9m!(low strip ratio/cheap and easy to mine).




Looking forward to the next batch of assays of holes 6 to 12.





Assays/intercepts from holes 6 to 12 will confirm the grade and homogeneity of spodumene in different areas along the strike, and give more of an indication of the size of the expected JORC, which will further de-risk the resource, and may be a green light for big investor entities(JV/Offtake/Takeover), BNBT?, Huayou?,Tianci?,Greatpower?, CATL IPO? Sinochem(divested 2 billion assets for what???/visited Manono!) ? to make the next move!

Obviously the JORC expected June 2018 will be important,(eg. CATL IPO), and AVZ seem confident of achieving their maiden JORC in this time frame('The company confirmed its drilling rate would allow an initial JORC resource calculation by late Q2, 2018-latest AVZ Quarterly) but one has to remember we have a number of suitors that are circling, and they will miss out if they wait too long. A number will have completed their due diligence at Manono. Will the next results be the clincher???

Exciting time to be holding AVZ!

AIMO