Beowulf Mining has produced its interims for H1 2012 to 30 June. Emphasis as ever, is on its exploration efforts on several iron ore projects in Sweden. As there is no income the exploration costs are noted showing, at £0.382M, increased activity over 2011 of £0.277M, or 18p per share. Cash held at the period end was £5.05M.

Emphasis is on the Kallak North project where the 2012 drill programme to date has logged 4314m in 16 holes. Assays from the first nine have been received. Executive Chairman Clive Sinclair-Poulton notes these are the highest grade yet noted for the deposit. We note, excluding ‘hotspots’ a range of 28-40% Fe and include intersections of over 300m depth. A total of 7000m drilling is planned for the year with two rigs active.

WIM says: Life is tough for iron ore explorers, but this is shaping up to be an eminently open-pittable deposit in a good location with infra-structure and local market demand.

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About David Hargreaves

David Hargreaves

David Hargreaves is a mining engineer with over forty years of senior experience in the industry. After qualifying in coal mining he worked in the iron ore mines of Quebec and Northwest Ontario before diversifying into other bulk minerals including bauxite. He was Head of Research for stockbrokers James Capel in London from 1974 to 1977 and voted Mining Analyst of the year on three successive occasions.

Since forming his own metals broking and research company in 1977, he has successfully promoted and been a director of several public companies. He currently writes “The Week in Mining”, an incisive review of world mining events, for stockbrokers WH Ireland. David’s research pays particular attention to steel via the iron ore and coal supply industries. He is a Chartered Mining Engineer, Fellow of the Geological Society and the Institute of Mining, Minerals and Materials, and a Member of the Royal Institution. His textbook, “The World Index of Resources and Population” accurately predicted the exponential rise in demand for steel industry products.