Vatukoula Gold Mines VGM.LN Strategic Investment by Xintai Re-Affirms Confidence in Vatukoula's Long Term Prospects

29th August 2012 Vatukoula Gold Mines plc. ("Vatukoula" or "the Company") Strategic Investor Xintai commits to invest £10.3 million in an equity financing at a substantial premium to the market Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc. (AIM:VGM), the AIM listed gold producer and explorer, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Shengen Xintai International Mine Industry Group Co. Ltd. ("Xintai") where Xintai has agreed to invest £10.3 million for the issue of 20 million new ordinary shares, at a premium of approximately 60% over the share price as at 28 August 2012. The financing will be completed in two tranches via the issue of a £3,195,900 convertible loan ("Loan Note") and the issue of 13,812,374 new ordinary shares in the Company at a price of 51.65 pence per share ("Placing") to raise £7,134,091. The Loan Note will automatically convert to 6,187,626 ordinary shares upon closing of the Placing, such that Xintai will invest a total of £10.3 million to acquire a total of 20 million new ordinary shares. The Loan Note, which bears a coupon of 5% per annum and has a term of one year, is expected to be completed on or around August 31, 2012. The Placing is anticipated to be completed within three days of receipt of Chinese Foreign Exchange State Approval for the transfer of funds, which is expected to occur in late September. The net placing proceeds will be added to working capital and used towards a number of key strategic objectives including the Vatukoula mine's ongoing development and capital investment programme. This programme will allow the mine to increase production to a sustainable and profitable level. On the basis that the Placing is approved and the Loan is converted Xintai will hold 20,000,000 shares or 17.01% of the enlarged share capital of the Company. Xintai's involvement with the Company is expected to bring new expansion opportunities at the Vatukoula property and will mean the Board will be able to consider a wider range of growth opportunities than those that were previously available to it. China Gold Science and Technology Ltd ("CGST") will act as Xintai's cooperative partner, bringing significant environmental, technical and economic resources to the project. In addition the Company has been informed that Xintai are currently negotiating the purchase of further shares in the Company from existing shareholders ("Additional Shares"). If these negotiations are successful it is anticipated Xintai's holding would increase to up to 29.9% of the enlarged share capital of the Company. On completion of the Placing and the acquisition of the Additional Shares the Board of Directors of VGM has agreed that Xintai will be invited to nominate two directors to the Vatukoula Board of Directors. Mr Dingli Wang, CEO of Xintai commented; "I believe that Vatukoula represents an excellent investment opportunity because of the potential that the mine in Fiji represents and its strong board and management. Shareholders will benefit from our cooperation, which will combine complementary experience and skills to further develop the Fijian assets."  Mr David Paxton, CEO of VGM commented; "Xintai's strategic investment is a significant step for VGM. It is not only a vote of confidence in the Vatukoula Gold Mine but it puts the Company on a sound financial footing for the expansion of the mine and allows us access to further technical expertise via Xintai's technical partners CGST."

Cash Set to Roll for Strategic Minerals SML.LN

Strategic Minerals Plc
("Strategic Minerals" or the "Company")

Successful Shipment by Rail

Strategic Minerals Plc (AIM: SML; USOTC: SMCDY), the magnetite iron ore producer and exploration company, is delighted to announce that it has successfully completed a test shipment by rail of its magnetite material from the Cobre stockpile in New Mexico to the port of Guaymas in Mexico. The test, which comprised an eight rail car shipment, was undertaken to verify key processes and procedures ahead of commencement of 72-car unit train commercial shipments for the export market.

James Fyfe, Executive Chairman of Strategic Minerals, commented:
"This was a vital test of our rail freight processes and procedures ahead of full scale commercial rail shipments, essential to our fulfillment of export sales. We are delighted to have proved that our systems, procedures and equipment can deliver a robust and efficient rail freight operation - and whilst some minor operational glitches and equipment problems were encountered, these were quickly resolved by the team. The proven ability to commence unit train rail shipments to port is an important milestone for the Company following the recent completion of the rail spur rehabilitation at the Cobre stockpile."

The Company's rail freight operations include its loading facility inside the mine gate, railroad switching during the 900+ kilometre journey to port, border crossing from the United States into Mexico and unloading and storage at the port.

Reef Resources Crack Open the Cash for Solo

OLO OIL PLC

("Solo")

Full-scale Production in Progress at the Ausable Field, Canada

Positive Results from Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Program

Solo today announces that full-scale oil production has commenced at the Ausable Field in South Western Ontario, Canada, operated by Solo's Joint Venture partner, Reef Resources Limited ("Reef").  Reef has reported that the field has been on production since the 13 July 2012.

Two of the four wells at the Ausable Oil Field (Ausable #1 and Ausable #5) have now been put on line and total liquids potential of 275 barrel oil equivalent per day (boepd) gross has been computed based on the current gas cycling rate of 236 thousand cubic feet per day (mcfd).  The initial two wells production rate averaged 13 boepd although this is now being rapidly scaled up as gas cycling rates are increased.

These initial two wells and the surface facilities have now been fully configured for long-term production. Wells Ausable #2 and Ausable #4 will additionally be placed on production and will add substantially to current daily production.  Reef anticipate increasing the gas cycle rate about 20-fold to 5,000 mcfd progressively over the next 4 to 6 months and project that liquids production from the four well scheme will then rise to approximately 700 boepd (gross).

Gas has been injected into the reservoir purchased from a local gas utility and will shortly be supplemented with gas from the North and South Airport wells, both drilled by Reef. The cycling of gas provides both pressure support to the reservoir and additional liquids production. Since March 2012, about 50 million standard cubic feet of dry gas have been injected into the reservoir, which represents approximately 10 per cent of the intended volume. As gas injection continues in the coming months, both oil and condensate production volumes will increase.

The recently completed facilities upgrade has successfully addressed all major issues arising from the installation of venturi pumps in the wells and has incorporated the modifications needed for sustainable long-term gas cycling.

The upgrade was a vital component in the optimisation of Reef's EOR program, which is already delivering results. Reef is currently reviewing the final phase of the facilities project, in which the addition of refrigeration will allow the capture of additional natural gas liquids from the production stream. Reef is now well placed to increase production at Ausable and start rolling out its fully configured EOR process across its portfolio of nearby oil projects.

Solo currently holds a 28.56% interest in the project and an option to increase that to 38.1% in return for further investments of CDN$ 1 million.  Based on projected production rates the project is expected to generate positive cashflow to its owners by late 2012.

Neil Ritson, Solo Executive Director, commented: 

"We are delighted that, after the recent comprehensive facilities upgrade, the Ausable Field is now entering full-scale operation. As additional wells are hooked up to the new facilities and gas recycling rates are increased we remain confident that our previous estimate of a gross 500 boepd remains achievable by end 2012. The addition of refrigeration facilities and the use of equity gas from the Airport wells will further enhance the economics of the project, which now offers substantial benefits to Solo and its shareholders."

Competent Person's Statement:

The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Neil Ritson, Chief Executive Officer and Director for Solo Oil Plc who has 35 years of relevant experience in the oil industry.  Mr. Ritson is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, an Active Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

Brazilian Gold Corp BGC.TSXV Now Is The Time To Invest

You just have to check out Brazilian Gold Corp, trading on the TSX Venture exchange (BGC) Brazilian Gold has a massive gold bearing land package with advanced projects like Boa Vista and San Jorge with a PEA
Brazil is a great jurisdiction low royalty taxes on gold and pro mining. BGC is Brazil's leading junior gold development company and is moving rapidly towards production. The stock is hugely undervalued, given the fact the company has infrastructure and human capital available to support mine development, construction and operation. The board is highly talented, indeed Ian Stalker was one of the first guys that got into Ghana and helped set off that country's gold mining industry.........and just look where Ghana is today!!!!
This is really the time for investors to get into BGC

Alex Stewart International LBMA Member

Alex Stewart International is delighted to announce that the LBMA Management Committee have approved Alex Stewart International’s LBMA Associate status, which is effective from 10th August, 2012.
Mr. Alex Stewart, Chairman and CEO of the ASIC Group said, “It is very pleasing that my organization is again associated with the world’s leading most recognized bullion market”. Mr. Andy Smith, Precious Metals Group Business Executive for ASIC commented, “We are very happy to be back in a position to provide all LBMA members with a world class service for both inspections and analysis.”
For further information about Alex Stewart’s inspection and analysis services to the precious metal industry please contact andy.smith@alexstewartinternational .com

Atlantic Coal PlC ATC: AIM Benefitting From Higher Yield Anthracite Prices

Check out Atlantic Coal, listed in London on AIM and OTCQX
100% owner of a first class anthracite coal mine, Stockton, in Hazleton PA
Demand for anthracite at the moment is very strong and has driven prices to over 160$ per tonne
Export prices are trading about 130$ premium to API 2 and 4 and are approx 220$ per tonne tracking closely HCC pricing
Stockton could well produce over 155,000 tonnes of clean coal this year and will likely see ATC turn in a maiden profit
For investors, ATC is a good play and underpriced relative to its net asset value and likely shift into profit

BRAZILIAN GOLD CORP (BGC:TSX.V) OUTLINES 8.47 MT GRADING 1.23 G/T GOLD FOR 336,000 CONTAINED OUNCES IN THE FIRST RESOURCE ESTIMATE ON THE VG1 DEPOSIT (BOA VISTA PROJECT), BRAZIL

August 9, 2012

BRAZILIAN GOLD OUTLINES 8.47 MT GRADING 1.23 G/T GOLD FOR 336,000 CONTAINED OUNCES IN THE FIRST RESOURCE ESTIMATE ON THE VG1 DEPOSIT (BOA VISTA PROJECT), BRAZIL

Brazilian Gold Corporation (TSXV: BGC) is pleased to report the results of the first NI43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the VG1 gold deposit (Boa Vista project) located in the Tapajós region of northern Brazil. 

Brazilian Gold and their joint venture partners, Octa Mineração Ltda. and D’Gold Mineral Ltda., reported the VG1 discovery in the first quarter of 2011 and have completed two phases of diamond drilling (15 holes in 3,007 m) since that time.

The inferred mineral resource for the VG1 gold deposit is 8.47 Mt grading 1.23 g/t gold at a 0.5 g/t cut-off for 336,000 contained ounces. The mineral resource estimate was completed by Giroux Consultants Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and is documented in an independent NI43-101 Technical Report that will be posted on the BGC website and SEDAR. 

The VG1 deposit is road accessible and is located approximately 170 km southwest of the town of Novo Progresso, which is located on the recently paved BR-163 highway.

Highlights

• Maiden resource estimate on the VG1 gold deposit completed shortly (16 months) after discovery was reported in March 2011 (News Release 5/11 and 6/11).

• Resource estimate is based on shallow (<150 m depth) and limited drilling (15 holes in 3,007 m) and trenching (14 trenches in 2,229 m) of the eastern 600 m of an overall 2,000 m long gold-in-soil anomaly.

• Mineralization forms a coherent deposit that is not significantly affected by changes in the cut-off grade near the declared resource grade of 0.5 g/t gold.

• Deposit is open at depth and along strike with a high potential to expand the existing resource.

• Mineralization starts at surface, is up to 85 m in thickness and may be amenable to open pit extraction with a relatively low strip ratio.

• Gold grade appears to be increasing with depth and to the east based on limited drilling completed to date.

• Coarse gold visible in some drill cores and trench samples and in screened metallic analysis of selected trench samples indicates the overall grade of the deposit could be higher when larger samples are mined and processed.

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Vatukoula Gold Mines VGM.LSE One Of The World's Leading Producing Gold Mines By Grade