AVZ Minerals Limited: Acquisition of 60% Interest in the Manono Lithium, Tin and Tantalum Project, DRC

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AVZ Minerals Limited: ACQUISITION OF 60% INTEREST IN THE MANONO LITHIUM, TIN AND TANTALUM PROJECT, DRC

- AVZ has agreed to acquire, subject to certain conditions, a 60% interest in the historic Manono Mine and surrounding area in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in central Africa.

- The Manono Project is potentially one of the worlds largest lithium rich LCT (Lithium Caesium Tantalum) pegmatite deposits.

- The Manono pegmatite deposit was mined for its tin content between 1919 and 1980.

- The Manono pegmatite extends for a strike length of at least 13km, with only a small shallow portion tested by historical exploration activities. The exploration activity indicates potential thickness of the pegmatite is up to 250m in places.

- Reporting of historic activities also indicates that the Manono pegmatites appear to be reasonably homogeneous mineralogically with cassiterite (up to 2000g/m3), tantalum (up to 100g/ m3) and spodumene (up to 25% or 1.6% Li2O) present.

- AVZ will be responsible for funding expenditure to completion of a feasibility study, and will also make certain cash payments and share issues in relation to the acquisition.

- Placement of up to 250 million shares at 2 cents (together with up to 250 million attaching options exercisable at 3 cents and expiring 3 years from the date of issue) to raise up to $5,000,000. Hartleys Limited acted as Lead Manager of the Placement.

- Mr Klaus Eckhof appointed Executive Chairman and Mr Nigel Ferguson joins the AVZ Board as Technical Director. Mr Ferguson, a geologist with 30 years of experience, will be responsible for the management of AVZs exploration activities at Manono. He has been active in the DRC since 2004 in gold and base metals exploration and resource development.


AVZ Minerals Limited (AVZ) is pleased to announce the agreement to acquire a 60% interest in the historic Manono Mine and surrounding area (Manono Project or Project) in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (the acquisition).

The acquisition is subject to completion of due diligence, shareholder approval and certain other conditions (see Acquisition Agreement below).

The acquisition complements AVZs existing project interests in southern DRC prospective for lithium, tin, tantalum and base metals.

Tenure, Location and Access

The Manono Project comprises PR 13359, which covers approximately 188km2. The licence was granted on 28 December 2016 for a period of five years, and may be renewed in accordance with the DRCs Mining Code.

The Manono Project is approximately 500km due north of Lubumbashi, the capital of the Katanga Province, in the south of the DRC. The project area can be accessed from Lubumbashi by 1.5 hour flight or by road. Sections of the road from Lubumbashi are in poor condition and there are plans for this road to be upgraded. See Figure 1 below.

The Project is adjacent to the Manono and Kitatolo townships. The region has a low density of population, but the greater Manono town area has a population estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 people, who are occupied mostly in subsistence agriculture and artisanal mining in the region.
http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/38779/AVZ Manono 170201 Draft_hprcom.001.jpeg

Figure 1. General Location of the Manono Project

Historical Exploration and Mining Activities

Historical Exploration

Cassiterite was first discovered in the Manono area during a regional exploration programme in 1910. Systematic prospecting programmes were conducted between 1910 and 1920. The Manono mining area was defined and Géomines, the original developer, was granted a mining licence and production commenced in 1919. The weathered pegmatite was discovered in 1925 during an exploration programme concentrating on the eluvial tin deposits.

Exploration continued for the next 10 years. Pits and drill holes were completed above the two main weathered bodies, known as Manono and Kitotolo. Prospecting continued periodically until 1960 with both the deepening of existing mining excavations and new drilling activity. The pits and drillholes were sunk down to bedrock which was either a mica schist or a weathered pegmatite. Samples were crushed and washed to provide a tin concentrate which was assayed.

Between 1948 and 1949 a study of the hard-rock pegmatite was initiated. Forty two holes, totalling 2,202 m were completed on a predetermined grid in the far western part of the Kitotolo deposit. Based on these results a hard-rock open pit that operated from 1951 to 1956 was established. It was also determined that columbo-tantalite could be recovered from this hard rock.

With the exception of some exploration work carried out on the old mine dumps, aimed at determining cassiterite and spodumene grades, little prospection took place after 1960. It also appears that no exploration has taken place since 1980.

Historical Mining and Production

According to publicly available records, the Manono pegmatite deposit was mined for its tin content between 1919 and 1980, during which time a total of 100 million cubic metres (Mm3) of ore were processed to produce 185,000 tonnes of cassiterite concentrate, sourced mainly from eluvial and weathered pegmatite from which was recovered an average of 1,850gm of cassiterite concentrate per cubic metre (g/m3) or approximately 1,330g/m3 tin. Production from this ore was economic on account of its amenability to cheap mining and processing methods.

Production started in 1919 and remained a low cost operation until the pegmatite was discovered in 1925. Géomines recognised the significance of this discovery and invested in mechanical equipment. In 1935 Géomines purchased its first large mechanical shovel and also invested in the first phase of the Mpiana Muanga hydroelectric power station (approximately 90kms from Manono) which was reportedly able to generate between 15 to 30 MW. The construction followed with a smelter, which between 1940 and 1945 processed most of the cassiterite produced in the Belgian Congo.

During this time mineral processing plants, workshops, a steel smelter and an oxygen plant, as well as technical schools, hospital and accommodation for 2,500 local workers and 200 to 250 expatriates were also built.

Until 1949 production was derived from the eluvials and weathered pegmatite. This represented the most successful period of the mine with production reaching 3,500tpa of tin, from 5,000t of cassiterite concentrate with a grade of 72% Sn. Production from the hard rock was attempted between 1951 and 1956.

Production declined during the 1950s and 60s due to the depletion of soft rock and eluvial reserves; the tin price; lack of investment and the resultant deteriorating condition of the equipment and poor supervision. All official production ceased in 1982.

Several sites within the project area are currently being worked by artisans for high-grade cassiterite within lateritic material and the lower grade tailings. There are also sporadic, but extensive alluvial workings and less extensive pitting into hard rock for recovery of coltan (columbite tantalum) along the entire length of the known pegmatite.

Infrastructure

As noted above, plant infrastructure was not properly maintained during the production years. In addition, in 2007 forces from Rwanda destroyed much of the remaining infrastructure in Manono and the surrounding areas, including the Mpiana Muanga hydroelectric power station and associated transmission lines. Power is currently generated at the Manono township using diesel generators and a solar power system. There are plans for the reconstruction of the hydroelectric power station.

There is an abundance of good water supply for both local consumption and any potential mining operation at Manono. Other consumables are bought locally and supplemented by goods brought in from Lubumbashi.

Climate and Topography

Manono lies in the middle of a peneplain elevated at 600masl and is vegetated with shrubby savannah. The climate is temperate with temperatures ranging from 20 to 32oC. Annual rainfall is about 1,200mm falling mostly during a well-defined rainy season from October to April. The area is drained by the Lukushi River, which was dammed as a water supply for the Project. This tributary of the Luava River drains into the Lualaba River, headwaters of the Congo River.

Geology

Regional Geology

The Project lays within the mid-Proterozoic Kibaran Belt, an intracratonic domain stretching for over 1,000km through Katanga and into southwest Uganda. The belt strikes predominantly SW-NE and is truncated by the N-S to NNW-SSE trending Western Rift system. The Kibaran is underlain in the east by Archaean rocks of the Tanzanian Craton and in the west and south by Lower Proterozoic metamorphic rocks.

The Kibaran comprises a sedimentary and volcanic sequence that has been folded, metamorphosed and intruded by at least three separate phases of granite. The latest granite phase (900 to 950Mya) is assigned to the Katangan cycle and is associated with widespread vein and pegmatite mineralization containing tin, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, lithium and beryllium. Deposits of this type occur as clusters and are widespread throughout the Kibaran terrain. In the DRC, the Katanga Tin Belt stretches over 500km from near Kolwezi in the southwest to Kalemie in the northeast comprising numerous occurrences and deposits of which the Manono deposit is the largest.

Local Geology

The geology of the Manono area is poorly documented and no reliable maps of local geology are available. Limited historical reporting states the Manono pegmatites are hosted by a series of quartzitic mica schists presumed to belong to the Lower Kibaran, which are associated with volcanic and intrusive rocks of mainly doleritic composition, that are also well represented at Manono. The schists observed in the vicinity of the mine are generally steeply dipping in contrast to the sub-horizontal attitude of the pegmatite intrusions.

The pegmatite intrusion is exposed in two areas, Manono in the northeast, and Kitotolo in the southwest. These are separated by a 2.5km unexposed section centred on Lake Lukushi and the surrounding alluvial plain. It is proposed that this is a faulted section due to the highly weathered nature of the pegmatite to clays derived from mica.
http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/38779/AVZ Manono 170201 Draft_hprcom.002.jpeg


Figure 2: Plan View of the Kitatolo and Manono Pegmatite Workings, Manono, DRC

The areal extent of the pegmatite bodies is depicted in Figure 2 above. This figure indicates that the Manono-Kitotolo pegmatite extends over a total strike length of 13km.

The pegmatite intrusion is irregular in outline and typically includes a main body as well as separate sub-parallel lenses injected into the host schists. Rafts of schist occur occasionally as enclaves within the pegmatite. The Manono body may be best described as a laccolith rather than as a simple sill.

The area between the two pegmatite exposures around Lake Lukushi and the surrounding flood plains is poorly exposed due to its highly weathered nature. On inspection during a recent site visit an outcrop of spodumene pegmatite and albite ?granite is exposed near the pump station in the middle of the Lukushi dam, suggestive that the pegmatite, albeit highly weathered, is continuous beneath Lake Lukushi.

Outlying occurrences of pegmatite are also recorded about 5km north of this locality and also several 10s of kilometres to the south, suggesting that the pegmatite may be more extensive than recorded on available maps.

The structure of the pegmatite intrusion is best reported from the area known as the RD Pit at the west end of the Kitotolo sector which was investigated by 42 shallow drill holes (maximum depth approximately 100m). Whilst assay results for these holes are not yet available to AVZ, drill sections indicate that the Kitotolo body dips around 40 degrees to the east, although steeper, faulted contacts are also recorded. The maximum thickness of the pegmatite in the RD Pit area is around 250m as interpreted from drilling. Further north, the pegmatite body is interpreted as sub-horizontal and affected by a gentle anticlinal fold structure with NE axis parallel to the elongation of the intrusion. Reverse faults parallel to the axis of the antiform suggest that the pegmatite bodies underwent NW-SE compression after emplacement. See Figure 3 below.
http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/38779/AVZ Manono 170201 Draft_hprcom.003.png

Figure 3: Cross sectional interpretation of the Manono and Kitatolo Pegmatites


It is considered the Manono intrusion may have a more widespread extent below a thin cover of schists, and may therefore be much more extensive than is indicated on maps. Such an interpretation would have important implications for exploration and possible development.

Mineralogy

There is no apparent record of any formal mineralogical study of the Manono pegmatite, however four types of pegmatite at Manono have been described in historic reports, namely:

1. Potash feldspar (orthoclase or microcline) - quartz - muscovite
2. Calcic feldspar (Albite) - quartz-muscovite
3. Calcic feldspar (Albite) - quartz-muscovite + spodumene
4. Quartz-muscovite (Greisen)

Type 1 pegmatite is considered to be the initial phase that has been pervasively altered by later albitisation and spodumene formation to result in subsequent pegmatite phases. Greisen phases are generally restricted to small occurrences predominantly close to the intrusive contact.

The main body of the Kitotolo pegmatite is characterised by development of large platy microcline feldspar crystals with a pronounced orientation perpendicular to the contact with the host rock resulting in a columnar type of structure.

The Manono pegmatite is considered to be reasonably homogeneous mineralogically, with cassiterite (up to 2000g/m3), tantalum (up to 100g/m3) and spodumene (up to 25% or 1.6%Li2O) reported to be present. This suggests that it was emplaced in a sub-horizontal magma chamber in stable temperature and pressure conditions. This is in contrast to most pegmatites, including Greenbushes, WA, in which marked zoning occurs both towards the contacts and laterally. Further investigation may prove this incorrect as more detail of the character of the pegmatite is gained.

The main accessory mineral recorded is cassiterite, which most probably developed during albitisation. Cassiterite occurs as scattered aggregates and crystals frequently up to 10 mm in size throughout the pegmatite. It is observed previously that a large proportion (40 to 50%) of the cassiterite is finely disseminated as particles below 630 microns suggestive that previous rudimentary crush and recovery grades could be increased through modern analysis.

Spodumene is the most common mineral found in the fresh pegmatite after plagioclase and quartz. Spodumene is easily decomposed by weathering and does not therefore occur close to surface in weathered rock or laterite. The fresh pegmatite is reported to contain variable amounts of lithium, commonly around 1.6% Li2O, equivalent to 25% spodumene containing 6.4% Li2O.

A purple-tinged mica has also been reported in the face at the west end of the Quarry V pit. This is tentatively identified as lepidolite (lithium mica) that appears not to have been recorded previously. If this identification is correct, whole-rock lithium analyses cannot be used as a reliable indicator of spodumene content in areas where lepidolite occurs.

Coloured accessories, such as tourmaline, apatite, beryl and biotite, that are typical of many other pegmatites, are only sparsely developed at Manono.

Project Potential

The Kitotolo-Manono pegmatite is known to extend for a strike length of at least 13km within the licence area. Only a small portion of the pegmatite has been drill tested (and most of that work is to a depth less than -100m). The historic drilling also indicated the thickness of the pegmatite was up to 250m. The Manono Project has the potential to host one of the worlds largest lithium rich pegmatite deposits.

Reporting of historic activities also indicates that the Manono pegmatites appear to be reasonably homogeneous mineralogically with cassiterite (up to 2000g/m3), tantalum (up to 100g/m3) and spodumene (up to 25% or 1.6% Li2O) present.

In addition, as noted above outlying occurrences of pegmatite are also recorded about 5km north of Manono and also to the south, offering further potential.

The Manono pegmatite can be classified as an LCT or Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum pegmatite which are well known for hosting significant amounts of lithium. For example, Greenbushes in Western Australia is considered to be a giant pegmatite dyke of Archaean age with substantial Li-Sn-Ta mineralisation and is considered to be the largest lithium resource. Greenbushes pegmatite consists of a large main zone over 3kms long and up to 300m wide with numerous smaller pegmatite dykes and pods flanking the main body. The Greenbushes pegmatites are mineralogically zoned in a lenticular inter-fingering style along strike and down dip. The lithium zone is over 2kms long and enriched in the lithium-bearing mineral spodumene which often makes up 50% of the rock.

Based on available information, AVZ considers there is significant potential for the discovery of significant lithium, tin and tantalum, not to mention other economic minerals at Manono within the Manono-Kitatolo LCT pegmatite.

Initial Work Planned

AVZ plans to complete a review of additional historic data, geological mapping and a short drilling program during the due diligence period (see Acquisition Agreement below) to confirm the presence of lithium, tin and tantalum mineralisation at Manono in significant quantities.

Following this initial program, AVZ would move quickly to undertake detailed drilling within the main target area and commence initial metallurgical test-work, with the objective of progressing to project feasibility as soon as possible thereafter.

Acquisition Agreement
The principal terms of the agreement for AVZ to acquire a 60% interest in the Manono Project from the current holders, La Congolaise Dexploitation Miniere SA (Cominiere, a State-owned enterprise) and Dathomir Mining Ressources SARL (Dathomir, a privately owned company) are:

- Agreement is subject to certain conditions precedent including:
- AVZ completing its due diligence review to its satisfaction within 60 days (by late March 2017).
- AVZ obtaining all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals.

- AVZ to pay Cominiere a total of US$6 million in cash as follows:
- US$100,000 upon execution of the agreement
- US$1,900,000 upon satisfaction of all conditions precedent (First Instalment)
- US$1,500,000 within 12 months of the date of the First Instalment
- US$1,500,000 within 24 months of the date of the First Instalment
- US$1,000,000 within 36 months of the date of the First Instalment.

- AVZ to pay Dathomir US$750,000 in cash within 30 days of execution of the agreement, and issue to Dathomir and its nominees 260 million shares upon satisfaction of all conditions precedent.

- AVZ to issue a further 160 million shares upon satisfaction of all conditions precedent, comprising 100 million shares to Mr Klaus Eckhof (a director of AVZ), and 60 million shares to other parties (not related parties of AVZ) associated with facilitating the transaction.

- The interests of the parties in the Project at completion will be AVZ 60%, Cominiere 30% and Dathomir 10%. Cominiere will also be entitled to a 1% royalty interest. AVZ will be responsible for funding expenditure to completion of a feasibility study.

- AVZ can relinquish its interest in the Project at any time (with no further obligations).

- The Company has received warranties in respect of the Licence that are generally expected in a transaction of this nature.

- Neither Cominiere nor Dathomir are related parties of AVZ.

Separate to this agreement, Dathomir and Cominiere have agreed that Dathomir will facilitate the rehabilitation of the road from Lubumbashi to Manono and the Mpiana Mwanga hydroelectric power station.

Capital Raising

In order to fund the proposed acquisition and planned work programs, AVZ has completed a bookbuild for a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors of up to 250,000,000 shares at an issue price of 2 cents per share (together with up to 250 million attaching options exercisable at 3 cents and expiring 3 years from the date of issue (attaching options)) to raise up to $5,000,000 (Placement).

AVZ will issue up to 125,000,000 shares under its existing placement capacity in accordance with Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A with settlement expected to be on or around Friday 10 February 2017 (Tranche 1). The 125,000,000 attaching options for Tranche 1 will be issued subject to shareholder approval (expected in late March 2017). A further up to 125,000,000 shares and up to a further 125,000,000 attaching options (Tranche 2) will be issued subject to completion of the acquisition and shareholder approval (expected in late March 2017).

Hartleys Limited acted as Lead Manager of the Placement.

Indicative Capital Structure

The indicative effect of the Acquisition Agreement and the Capital Raising on the capital structure of AVZ is anticipated to be as follows:

ParticularsCurrentlyAcquisitiCapital Proforma
on on Raising at
issue Agreemen completion
t


Ordinary 725,466,6420,000,0250,000,001,395,466,6
shares 43 00 0 43

Options 35,000,00Nil 300,000,00335,000,000
0 0
1 2
Performance4,000,00040,000,00Nil 44,000,000
rights 0
3

1. Exercisable at 1.2 cents, expiring 30 September 2017. On 31 January 2017 the Company received a notice for the exercise of these options. Allotment is expected to occur by the end of next week.
2. Exercisable at 3 cents, expiring 3 years from date of issue (includes 50m options to be issued to the Lead Broker subject to shareholder approval).
3. Subject to various VWAP hurdles.

Board Changes

Mr Klaus Eckhof, who is currently AVZs Managing Director, has been appointed Executive Chairman of AVZ.

Mr Nigel Ferguson has joined the AVZ Board as Technical Director. Mr Ferguson will be responsible for the management of AVZs exploration activities at Manono. Mr Ferguson is a geologist with 30 years of experience. He has been active in the DRC since 2004 in gold and base metals exploration and resource development. It is proposed, subject to shareholder approval, to issue 30,000,000 Performance Rights to Mr Ferguson (or his nominee) as set out below:

- 10,000,000 Performance Rights shall vest if the 10 day volume weighted average share price (VWAP) on the ASX is $0.03 or higher from the date of issue.
- 10,000,000 Performance Rights shall vest if the 10 day VWAP on the ASX is $0.05 or higher during the period commencing 12 months from the date of issue.
- 10,000,000 Performance Rights shall vest if the 10 day VWAP on the ASX is $0.075 or higher during the period commencing 12 months from the date of issue.

AVZs current Chairman, Mr Patrick Flint, will continue to serve on the Board as a Non-Executive Director. It is proposed, subject to shareholder approval, to issue 10,000,000 Performance Rights to Mr Flint (or his nominee). These Performance Rights shall vest if the 10 day VWAP on the ASX is $0.03 or higher from the date of issue.

For more information contact:

Klaus Eckhof
Executive Chairman
Phone: +377 680 866 300
Email: klauseckhof(at)monaco.mc

AVZ Minerals Limited ABN 81 125 176 703
Level 1, 33 Ord Street, West Perth WA 6005 T + 61 8 9420 9300 F + 61 8 9420 9399
www.avzminerals.com.au


Competent Persons Statement - Exploration Results
The information in this report that relates to exploration results is based on, and fairly represents information and supporting documentation prepared by Mr Nigel Ferguson, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Ferguson is a consultant to AVZ Minerals Limited. Mr Ferguson has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves. Mr Ferguson consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

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Datum: 02.02.2017 - 10:19 Uhr
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