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Quarterly Report March 2012
Highlights
Amapá Hub, Brazil
MOU signed for Iron Ore Project in Amapá, Brazil, with an initial
resource target of greater than 200 million tonnes and prospectivity
for greater than 1 billion tonnes. SRK contracted to independently
verify previous exploration.
Further positive results received for Porto Grande Iron Ore Project,
also in Amapá, encouraging the Company to plan for first phase
drilling. Two drills mobilised to site.
Iron Ore‐focused team appointed. Mr Rolf Forster joins Cleveland as
Iron Ore Division Geology Manager.
Crixás Hub, Brazil
Installation permit received for Premier Gold Project; works rapidly
progressing on installation of gravity circuit.
Mining contractors mobilised to site.
All major plant and equipment procured.
Recruitment of key personnel finalised. Mr Bruce Morin joins
Cleveland as Head of Mining.
Encouraging further exploration results close to the Premier Mine.
Further clarity gained on Premier oxide material, potentially leading
to additional ounces.
Mr Walter Yamamoto began Geological consulting on the Crixás
Projects.
Canela Hub, Chile
Early exploration returned highly encouraging results.
Cleveland received backing for its projects by local community.
Corporate Information
ASX Code CDG
Quoted shares 112.4 million
Total shares 158.5 million
Unlisted options (20c) 35 million
Board and Management
Chairman - Donald C. Bailey
Managing Director - David Mendelawitz
Finance Director - Aaron Finlay
Non-Exec Director - Jim Williams
Non-Exec Director – Russell Scrimshaw
Contact
Head Office
Cleveland Mining Company Ltd.
1/387 Hay Street
Subiaco WA 6008
T: +61 (08) 9381 3391
F: +61 (08) 9382 1186
Investor & Media Enquiries
T: +61 417 18 1990
www.clevelandmining.com.au
ACN: 122711880
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Amapá Hub, Iron Ore, Northern Brazil
Iron Ore MOU signed In late February, Cleveland signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire and develop a potentially significant Iron Ore Project in Amapá state, Brazil. Exploration drilling and geophysics confirm that the project has the potential to support a Resource of several hundred million tonnes, which could, in turn, support the construction of a major iron ore mine. Exploration potential for greater than a billion tonnes of mineralisation is also apparent within the project, based on the vendor’s exploration results. The Resource is currently being re‐modelled by independent consultants to a JORC standard, whilst Cleveland finalises a Binding Option to Purchase Agreement with the vendors. Acquisition consideration will, in part, be determined by the independent consultant’s resource model. Porto Grande Exploration Results Exploration at the Porto Grande Iron Ore Project delivered further positive results. Widespread iron‐ore mineralisation was found in rock‐chip, trench and soil sampling and a significant proportion of samples have similar iron grades to mines in the district. Geophysics shows good potential for the mineralisation to have structural controls. A strong correlation between high‐grade iron‐ore mineralisation and magnetic anomalies was observed, providing numerous new targets worth investigating. These new targets are now being examined in the field and two drill rigs have been mobilised for an initial three month drilling campaign. Cleveland has now formed a highly‐experienced Iron Ore team based in Amapá. Geologists from Cleveland’s other hubs will no longer be required there, which should lead to greater efficiency in all hubs. Mr Rolf Forster has joined Cleveland as the Company’s Iron Ore Division Geology Manager. Mr Forster is a highly accomplished geologist with 25 years’ experience in exploration, project development and operations within major and smaller organisations. His experience in advanced exploration, mineral resource estimation, iron ore metallurgy, feasibility study management, technical audits and reviews fit well with his role in Amapá with Cleveland.
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▲ Santana Port, Macapa ▲New hydroelectric power station under construction, as seen from highway (see below)
▲ Bulk Carriers off Macapa ▲Highway connecting Porto Grande Project to the Santana Port in Macapa
▲ Drill rig being set up
▲ Trenching continues
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Crixás Hub, Gold, Central Brazil
Premier Mine Construction
Construction at the Premier Gold Project is progressing rapidly and is on track to be completed in
Quarter 2. Major earthworks are complete, the plant foundations are in place, and the
concentrators are ready to be installed. The ball mill will be mobilised to site as soon as the process
plant is able to accommodate its installation.
Government permission to begin construction was granted approximately three months later than
originally forecast. This pushed the start of civil works into the rainy period, which caused further,
albeit minor, interruption. This extra time has been utilised positively to ensure that the initial plant
is sufficiently scalable to handle twice the through‐put with ore from O Capitão. Cleveland also
negotiated lower costs for contract crushing and optimised the site lay‐out, moving the planned
location of the CIL. The time also allowed the Company to modify the ball mill off‐site to boost
through‐put.
▲Earthworks at Premier
▲The Falcon concentrators on site
▲Plant foundations I ▲Plant foundations II
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Mining
The equipment used for civil works will also be used for mining, meaning that no additional
mobilisation charges or time will be incurred and that operators will gain on‐site experience prior to
handling ore. Civil works have confirmed that the chosen equipment is optimal for the targeted
mining rate. The equipment is being rented by Cleveland, with operators currently overseen by an
experienced civil construction contractor associated with the Company.
The Premier orebody will be mined as an open cut operation due to its shallow depth. Outcropping
ore will be immediately available for processing as soon as commissioning is complete.
Resource Exploration
A better understanding of the Premier mineralisation has shown that some material previously
categorised as overburden waste, particularly the oxide material, can now be classified as ore.
The initial Resource at Premier only included ore found on the foot‐wall contact, whilst oxide
material on the hanging‐wall contact was largely ignored. Some of this material can now be
classified as ore, increasing the gold recovered, without increasing mining costs.
The Premier Resource Model is being upgraded to include this information, along with new drilling
data.
Near‐Mine Exploration
Rock chip and trench sampling close to the Premier Mine continues to show excellent potential.
Mr Walter Yamamoto, an instrumental member of the team that discovered all four ore‐bodies at
the neighbouring Serra Grande Gold Mine, has been brought on as a consultant to assist Cleveland’s
Crixás Hub field team. Mr. Yamamoto has over two decades of experience in the Crixás goldfields
and is considered as one of the experts on the geology of the region.
Mr Yamamoto’s experience has already
paid dividends, enriching the Company’s
understanding of the project and refining
the exploration strategy. As a result, a
number of highly prospective exploration
targets have been identified across the
Premier project, on which soil sampling has
already been completed.
Drilling will commence in Quarter 2.
▲ Director Russell Scrimshaw inspects trenching near the Premier Mine
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Recruitment of Key Personnel
Several key positions were filled during quarter, including those of Mine Manager, Crushing
Supervisor, Metallurgical Manager, and Human Resources Manager. Recruitment of technical and
operations teams continued.
Mr Bruce Morrin was appointed as Head of Mining, bringing to the Company 45 years of diverse hard rock mining experience in copper, gold and industrial minerals in Australia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. His experience includes open pit and underground operations with Anglo American (Zambia), Mt Isa Mines (Queensland), and the Shabanie and Mashaba Mines (Zimbabwe). Mr Morrin has held several Senior Mine Management and Board positions, including that of Managing Director.
Canela Hub, Copper / Gold, Central Chile
The Chilean tenements were rationalized early in the year with several
projects under MOU agreements not converted into Option Agreements on
either exploration or commercial bases. The Company retains a 47.6km2
package of new tenements, of which two projects were pegged by
Cleveland, and two more are held under option agreements. The Central
West Hub was renamed as the Canela Hub after restructure in reference to
the nearby town of La Canela.
Exploration
Detailed mapping over the southern area of the tenements was completed
during the Quarter, following up on first phase mapping and sampling,
where rock‐chip samples carried grades as high as 33.5g/t gold and 7.2%
copper.
Potential for a deeper porphyry target was identified, along with the
previously‐identified surface mineralisation. The Company is sourcing
quotes for IP geophysical surveys in anticipation of following up the
potential at depth.
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▲ Cleveland Senior Geologist Alejandro Rivas with Director Jim Williams at Las Tazas
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About Cleveland Mining
Cleveland Mining is an Australian‐managed, publicly‐listed minerals company, squarely focused on developing
projects to owner‐operate. Cleveland has three distinct project hubs:
1) The Crixás Hub, Goiás State, central Brazil. Projects: Premier, O Capitão, Baú, Guarinhos, Pantera –
Gold‐focused
2) The Canela Hub, central Chile. An expanding portfolio of projects between La Serena and Santiago –
Gold/Copper‐focused
3) The Amapá Hub, Amapá State, northern Brazil. Projects: Porto Grande and Lebre –
Iron ore‐focused
The Company’s most advanced project is the Premier Gold Project, which is currently being prepared for mining. Cleveland also has promising exploration results for projects in all three hubs.
Cleveland has a different approach to project selection, with project economics driving target selection.
Geological prospects, local costs and infrastructure are rigorously scrutinised before entering into a project.
Projects are chosen according to their potential to generate returns at the bottom of the economic cycle, with
Cleveland only operating in areas backed by legislation and government that can provide stable and
transparent operating environments.
Investor and Media Contact
Andrew Mendelawitz
+61 417 181 990
Forward‐looking Statements
Forward‐looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as ‘intend’, ‘aim’, ‘project’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘plan’, ‘believe’, ‘expect’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘will’, ‘continue’ or similar words. These statements discuss future expectations concerning the results of operations or financial condition, or provide other forward looking statements. These forward looking statements are not guarantees or predictions of future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this ASX update. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward looking statements.
Competent Person’s Statement
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on information reviewed by David Mendelawitz, who is a Fellow of the AusIMM. Mr Mendelawitz has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Mendelawitz consents to the inclusion of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Mendelawitz is employed by Cleveland Mining Company Ltd.
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