Aterian provides operational update at its Rwandan work streams

Highlights:

• 22 zones of potentially mineralised pegmatite have been identified over the southern projects, confirming the presence of a swarm of rare-metal hosting targets for future exploration and evaluation.
  • Fieldwork over the HCK-1 zone indicates a strike length of approximately 2500 m with widths up to 100 m, in places.
  • Multi-method geophysical survey currently underway in preparation for the preliminary scout drilling programme to commence in 2Q23.
  • Prospective HCK-1 targets include tantalum, niobium, tin, tungsten, and lithium.
• Mr. Godfrey Kamanzi has joined as head of Aterian's Rwandan metal trading business. Mr Kamanzi has extensive experience in the Rwandan minerals sector where he previously worked with RCS, the RMB, and multiple mining companies managing tagging and traceability programmes.
• Partnership discussions have begun with several artisanal mining parties to improve artisanal mining productivity through mechanisation, and to provide material to the Company's metal trading business.
• 1Villager.com, an online stakeholder management tool, has been engaged to support Whistleblower management, social license reporting, and stakeholder engagement, as part of the ongoing obligation by the company to ethical supply chain management as a member of the ITSCI Programme for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains compliance.

Charles Bray, Chairman of Aterian, commented:

"We are excited to have begun the geophysical survey work on the HCK project in Rwanda with initial fieldwork having confirmed the presence of 22 pegmatite zones across the southern projects. We will look to progress the project with bulk sampling for initial metallurgical test work and scout drilling on the HCK-1 prospect in the near term.

Work is now well-advanced building a metal trading business based in Rwanda and aligned to Rwanda's long-term mining sector objectives of improved mining and metal recovery efficiencies. Key hires have been made to lead the business and to ensure traceability compliance. ITSCI membership demonstrates our compliance with internationally recognised standards of sustainable supply chains. Working in partnership with existing artisanal producers in Rwanda, we expect to deliver substantial productivity gains that will benefit local communities as well as deliver increased material for our trading business.

Aterian is committed to its ESG responsibilities including respecting human rights and the avoidance of making any contribution to conflict through our mineral purchasing decisions and practices. Utilising the OECD due diligence guidelines and supported by our ITSCI membership our mineral trading business will be compliant with international standards and work in synergy with our exploration business. Our joint-venture relationships will produce mineral ores and generate revenue that supports our investment in exploration. A key strategic component of our Rwandan strategy has been to build a critical metals business with exploration options funded internally."

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/20022023/aterian-provides-operational-update-at-its-rwandan-work-streams/