U 15 March 2011 ASX ANNOUNCEMENT Further drilling results confirms additional shallow and thick mineralisation at Pilgangoora Lithium Project WA Pilgangoora Lithium (Western Australia) 100% Altura Mining Limited Further drill hole assays from the Pilgangoora Lithium project have again intersected further wide zones of mineralised spodumene pegmatite. In total, the current drilling program has so far intersected and assayed 357 metres of mineralised spodumene pegmatites with a weighted average of 1.49% Li 2 O. Drill hole PRC038 intersected 8 metres @ 1.06% Li 2 O from 4 metres. Drill hole PRC039 intersected 9 metres @ 1.20 Li 2 O from 22 metres. Drill hole PRC040 intersected 5 metres @ 1.07% Li 2 O from 30 metres. Drill hole PRC041 intersected 20 metres @ 1.19% Li 2 O from 31 metres including 5 metres @ 2.11%. Highly encouraging results were achieved from the metallurgical test work programme carried out by Mineral Engineering Services Pty Limited of Perth (METS). Altura Mining Limited (ASX:AJM) is pleased to announce the second tranche of results from the ongoing exploration drilling on its 100% owned Pilgangoora Lithium project. The results are additional to the previously announced results on 2 March 2010. These Reverse Circulation (RC) drill hole assay results continue to confirm the presence of thick wide zones of shallow mineralised spodumene pegmatites within the target resource area previously identified in Q4 2010. The most recent assay results received are for holes PRC037 to PRC042 inclusive and represent a further six (6) reverse circulation (RC) drill holes from a total of thirteen completed holes in this program to date. The original program was to comprise twenty (20) drill holes however this program is now being extended given the encouraging thickness and grades intersected. The assay results for these six (6) drill holes consisted of 166 samples, each sample representing a 1 metre interval from the drill hole. Drilling results to date have provided significant mineralised intersections with specific zones of high grade (>2.0% Li 2 O). Overall the drilling program has intersected and assayed 357 metres of mineralised spodumene pegmatites with a weighted average of 1.49% Li 2 O. The second tranche of assay results has again proven that Pilgangoora has the potential to become a significant lithium find. The thickness of the mineralised pegmatites and the attractive grades being returned at such shallow depths is very promising. Potentially the project could deliver very low waste to ore ratios should a resource of sufficient size be identified. The favourable result from the initial metallurgical test work certainly ranks this project highly in comparison to current and emerging hard rock lithium producers.
Pilgangoora Drilling Results to date Assays Greater than 0.3% Li 2 O Hole No. East North Dip/Az From To Thickness GDA94 GDA94 (m) (Deg.) (m) (m) (m) (m) Li 2 O% PRC 026 697,368 7,668,677 60/340 0 5 5 1.17% 6 23 17 1.45% Including 7 m @ 2.13% (6m to 13m) PRC 027 697,380 7,668,675 60/042 0 60 60 1.65% Including 14 m @ 2.00% (11m to 25m) and 11 m @ 2.06% (43m to 54m) PRC 028 697,401 7,668,679 60/360 5 56 51 1.77% Including 4 m @ 3.17% (5m to 9m) and 5 m @ 2.11% (29m to 34m) and 9 m @ 2.07% (43m to 52m) PRC029 697,403 7,668,757 60/355 5 25 20 1.62% Including 13 m @ 2.05% (11m to 24m) PRC030 697,399 7,668,724 60/358 2 34 32 1.31% Including 2m @ 2.36% (2m to 4m) and 4m @ 1.81% (7m to 11m) and 7m @ 1.92% (25m to 32m) PRC031 697,405 7,668,791 60/358 7 16 9 1.23% PRC032* 697,394 7,668,676 60/357 0 55 55 1.63% Including 4m @ 2.03% (26m to 30m) and 5m @ 2.00% (32m to 37m) and 11m @ 2.00% (43m to 54m) PRC033 697,440 7,668,758 60/358 28 54 26 1.65% Including 12m @ 1.93% (29m to 41m) and 4m @ 2.16% (50m to 54m) PRC034 697,441 7,668,722 60/354 46 70 24 1.41% Including 7m @ 2.05% (49m to 56m) PRC038 697,479 7,668,684 60/360 4 12 8 1.06% 31 34 3 0.69% PRC039 697,520 7,668,764 60/360 22 31 9 1.20% 42 44 2 0.89% PRC040 697,516 7,668,714 60/360 30 35 5 1.07% PRC041 697,523 7,668,683 60/360 2 13 11 0.69% 31 51 20 1.19% Including 6m @ 1.91% (32m to 38m) Page 2 of 7
*Note: Hole PRC032 is located about 8m to the south and west of PRC028 and was drilled as a twin hole to verify and validate the assay data recorded in PRC028 in particular the lithium values. The variance over the 55 metre intersection for Li 2 O was < 15% and therefore within an acceptable range. The Pilgangoora project is located approximately 120 kilometres to the south east of Port Hedland and is readily accessible from the Port Hedland Newman Road. The Global Advanced Metals Ltd (formerly Talison Minerals) Wodgina tantalum mine is located about 25 kilometres to the west of the project area. (see Figure 1) Figure 1 Pilgangoora Location, Pilbara WA Page 3 of 7
Figure 2 Drill hole and Cross Section Locations Altura re commenced drilling on 9 March and plans to continue its exploration drilling program through Q1 2011 utilising the in house Altura drill and crew. Once the broad outline and geometry of the pegmatites have been identified infill drilling will be undertaken to increase the level of confidence in both in the potential resource and the lithium grades. This work will roll over into Q2 2011. Page 4 of 7
Figure 3 Cross Sections Page 5 of 7
METALLURGICAL SIGHTER TESTWORK SPODUMENE During Q4 2010 a composite sample from hole PRC027 was submitted for preliminary metallurgical testing of the lithium bearing pegmatites. This detailed work was supervised and reported on by Mineral Engineering Services Pty Limited of Perth (METS). Progress from this work to date has been very positive. The comprehensive report on the test work will be completed in Q1 2011. METS have provided the following statement on the results of their testwork: Highly encouraging results were achieved from the sighter metallurgical testwork programme developed for the Pilgangoora Lithium Project and showed that the samples were amenable to typical processing techniques for producing a spodumene concentrate. The testwork consisted of assay by size analysis to determine if a low grade fraction can be rejected at a coarse size. Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) tests conducted at an SG of 2.96 on +1 mm and 1 mm +45 µm sized material then determined the suitability of gravity separation to the beneficiation of the spodumene pegmatite ore. For the HLS performed on +1 mm material, 84.2% of the Li 2 O was recovered in 38% of the mass which reported to the sinks fraction. The grade of the sinks material increased from 3.15% in the feed to 6.98% of lithia, which corresponds to 86.9% spodumene. In the heavy liquid separation performed on 1 mm +45 µm material, 68.8% of the Li 2 O was recovered in 19.5% of the mass which reported to the sinks fraction. The grade of the sinks material increased from 2.14% in the feed to 7.56% of lithia, which corresponds to 94.15% spodumene. From the overall distribution spodumene, a total of 66% Li 2 O is recovered through heavy liquid separation in the +45 µm size fractions. Liberation of spodumene from composite particles in the float fractions and further processing with the 45µm fines by flotation or gravity separation would be expected to increase the recovery of spodumene to above 90%. Elevated iron and manganese levels were seen in the HLS fractions. The next phase of testwork will investigate gangue rejection through grind optimisation of gravity concentration or flotation testwork. The lithia grade of the concentrate from the sighter tests compares favourably against other emerging and operating Australian spodumene concentrate projects. The assay by size and heavy liquid separation tests conducted at the sighter level show that the Pilgangoora spodumene ore is amenable to conventional processing techniques such as gravity concentration. METS recommends that Altura progress into the scoping study stage to investigate the production of a saleable spodumene concentrate. Page 6 of 7
About Lithium Lithium (Li) is recovered from the mineral spodumene and lithium rich brines. It is used in a range of products such as ceramics, glass, batteries and pharmaceuticals. Lithium use has expanded significantly in recent years due to increasing use in rechargeable batteries in portable electronic devices and in batteries and electric motors for hybrid and electric cars. About Altura Mining Limited (ASX:AJM) Altura has a diverse mineral portfolio in Australia and Indonesia coupled with cash flow positive mining services units in Indonesia. The company aims to systematically evaluate and develop the key resource projects commencing with Tabalong Coal and Mt Webber Iron Ore JV (30% Altura / 70% Atlas Iron Limited). Key Projects and Prospects: Iron Ore: Mt Webber DSO Joint Venture (30% Altura). Coal: Tabalong Coal Project South Kalimantan, Indonesia mining approval process commenced. Lithium: Pilgangoora Project WA, Finniss Range Prospect NT exploration stage. Garnet: Balline Mineral Sands Project WA, mining approvals process. Uranium: Mt Shoobridge NT, exploration stage with key uranium targets in Hayes Creek region. Base/Precious Metals: Mt Shoobridge NT, lead, copper, zinc, gold and silver prospect at exploration stage. For additional information about Altura, please visit the Company s website www.alturamining.com Competent Persons The information in this report that relates to the Pilgangoora exploration results is based on information compiled by Bryan Bourke, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a full time employee of Altura Mining Limited. Bryan Bourke has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as a Competent Person in terms of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code 2004 Edition). Bryan Bourke consents to the inclusion of such information in this Report in the form and context in which it appears. The information in this report that relates to the metallurgical testing results is based on information compiled by Denis Yan, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a full time employee of METS. Denis Yan has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as a Competent Person in terms of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code 2004 Edition). Denis Yan consents to the inclusion of such information in this Report in the form and context in which it appears. Note: Analysis of all samples was undertaken by Ultra Trace Laboratories of Perth, Western Australia a wholly owned company of Bureau Veritas. All drill samples were riffle split at 1.0 metre intervals from the drilling rig. Laboratory preparation involved the crushing and pulverising the samples with assay determinations by X Ray Fluorescence and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Mass Spectrometry. For further information, please contact: James Brown, Managing Director Ph: + 61 7 3814 6900 Paul Mantell, Executive Director Ph: + 61 7 3814 6900 Page 7 of 7