Alba hits at Clogau

Alba Mineral Resources has confirmed "exceptionally high gold grades" at the historic Clogau mine in North Males.

The company has reported sampling results from the No.4 Level at the Lower Llechfraith workings of its Clogau-St David's mine.

The company took more than 40 samples from the target, produced heavy mineral concentates on site, and sent them to a third-party refining facility.

Notable results include samples which equate to a head grade of up to 133.73g/t.

Alba noted that these high grades are from ore that did not contain visible gold and is interpreted as being part of the background gold population.

"These are extraordinarily good results," said Alba executive chair George Frangeskides.

"Whereas most gold projects measure results in grams per tonne, these grades can be measured in ounces per tonne."

"We always knew there was serious potential for finding high-grade gold at Clogau," Frangeskides said.

"But after all the challenges we have faced over the past few years in gaining access to our No.1 target within the mine, to now have that high-grade potential finally confirmed by actual results is extremely heartening."

Alba in July last year received environmental permits to conduct dewatering and exploration of the Lower Lower Llechfraith workings within Clogau.

Alba last week announced that it has completed the necessary statutory notifications for its planned bulk sampling of the Llechfraith Target and trenching of the Clogau Waste Tip.

Historic bonanzas

Alba was bullish on potential upside to the grades, saying "these grades are from ore that does not contain visible gold and are interpreted as being part of the background gold population."

"Historic periods of mining reputedly relied on the discovery of "bonanza" type occurrences grading in the 10s to 100s of ounces per tonne, bonanza grades which the Company will be seeking in the forthcoming bulk sampling of the previously unmined target zones below No.4 Level."

But the broker SP Angel cautioned that those historic bonanza grades may be hard to replicate. "Modern mining methods may require a less selective approach than the highly labour intensive and flexible extraction techniques employed in the past," SP Angel said.

"We caution that a modern resource estimate, geared to current mining methods, to struggle to replicate the exceptionally high grades mined in the past," SP Angel said, though the broker said "we look forward to further news".