RNS Number : 8974N

Sirius Minerals Plc

09 September 2011

For immediate release: 9 SEPTEMBER 2011

Sirius Minerals Plc

("Sirius" or the "Company")

CSIRO Study

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to announce that it has engaged Australia's leading research institute, the Commonwealth Industrial and Scientific Research Organisation ("CSIRO"), in a research project that will explore the application of new and potentially more accurate methods for potash resource analysis and estimation.

Sirius and CSIRO hope that this project will demonstrate the applicability of these new techniques, originally developed for oil and gas exploration, to potash exploration. If successful, this project will enable Sirius to draw more accurate conclusions from seismic exploration data and potentially reduce the cost of exploration for all of its potash projects.

The most common techniques used for seismic analysis were designed when computer hardware was older and much slower. CSIRO's techniques take advantage of modern processing power to run much more intensive calculations. Referred to as "uncertainty quantification", these methods are better able to factor in the inherent uncertainty in seismic analysis.

The initial data set for the project is the seismic data from Sirius' Canning Basin project. This will have the dual purpose of proving that the new methods are potentially applicable to potash while also potentially advancing the analysis and understanding of Sirius' West Australian assets. Other project data will be considered as the project progresses, including data from York Potash, Dakota Salts, and Adavale.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, said:

"If we can improve the value we get from seismic analysis we can potentially significantly reduce the amount of drilling we need to undertake during project development. Ultimately, we hope to be able to use these exciting modern techniques for all of our future potash exploration.

"By collaborating with CSIRO, Sirius can potentially benefit from more leading-edge technologies normally only available to companies with large, mature R&D programmes."

The CSIRO is Australia's national science agency, aiming to tackle major national challenges through large scale, multi-disciplinary R&D and technology transfer, with a staff of 6000, and a science budget of A$1.4bn annually. CSIRO has a long history of undertaking world class research in the resources and minerals domain and works with many SME and global companies across the exploration, extraction and minerals processing industries.

Sirius Minerals Plc
Adavale Synergy Study

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to announce it has engaged Parsons Brinckerhoff, a leading engineering firm, and RMIT University in Melbourne to explore how synergies between the potash solution mining and coal seam gas industries could enable more sustainable development options for the Adavale Project in Queensland, Australia.


The Adavale Synergy Study will be a multiple phase study that will look at several linked development scenarios and unique synergies that could provide better economics for the Adavale Project. The first phase of the project is expected to take at least six months.


Solution mining is a method of underground mining that uses water to recover mineral salts such as potash. A key determinant of project viability for solution mines is securing cost effective and sustainable access to water. A major part of this current Adavale study is to evaluate the viability of using the wastewater from the nearby coal seam gas industry.

Coal seam gas wastewater contains salt and other mineral impurities that make it unsuitable for direct disposal on the surface or in the ocean. The coal seam gas industry is currently planning to install large desalination facilities to purify this water. Desalination requires large amounts of energy and produces significant amounts of salt and impurities as waste products that must be disposed of.


The potential exists to directly use the wastewater from coal seam gas extraction for potash solution mining. This water source provides a unique benefit in that the salt content of the wastewater could actually improve the recovery rate of potash and therefore improve the economics of potash extraction. For the coal seam gas industry solution mining at Adavale potentially represents a unique low impact method for permanently and safely storing the salt and mineral impurities deep below the surface (over 1,500 meters) in the salt formations.


Another area of focus for the Adavale Synergy Study will be to explore the potential to generate power and industrial heat from advanced solar thermal ponds (being developed in collaboration with RMIT). Solar ponds store excess wastewater and convert solar heat to energy. They work by capturing the sun's heat in very salty water at the bottom of the pond. This heat can then be extracted and used for either industrial processes or converted to electricity. Unlike solar panels, solar ponds continue to operate at night and when it's cloudy. Solar ponds are potentially a valuable renewable energy generation and storage system requiring only salt, water and sunlight to operate.


Finally the study will also evaluate the potential to realise added value by processing salt and renewable electricity from the solar ponds through the construction and operation of an on-site chloralkali plant. Chloralkali plants convert salt to products such as caustic soda that are used in many essential Australian industries such as the alumina industry in Queensland. Global demand for caustic soda is over 60 million tonnes and spot prices are currently over $400/tonne.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, said:

"Sirius Minerals is committed to creating value not just for its shareholders, but for the ecological and social environments in which it operates. We believe that an integrated potash mine, chloralkali plant and solar wastewater pond energy system could result in a profitable and environmentally sustainable solution for Sirius and for Queensland.


"The basis of this concept is for potash solution mining to extract sustainable value from a major waste problem faced by the $60 billion coal seam gas industry in Queensland. If this concept proves to be viable Sirius believes it could significantly improve the viability and economics of our Adavale Project and also offer a more sustainable and economically attractive waste water solution for the rapidly growing coal seam gas industry in Queensland.


"The potential of a synergistic linkage that brings together the coal seam gas industry, potash solution mining, renewable energy generation, and caustic soda production is quite remarkable. Sirius is uniquely positioned to analyse and realise this potentially economically rewarding and sustainable business solution."

Drilling and Planning Approvals Update

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to provide an update on drilling and planning application approvals for its York Potash Project.

Drilling Update
Following the completion of the top-hole rig activity on Hole 1 (Pasture Beck), the larger coring rig arrived at Pasture Beck on 5 September and, having been successfully installed, drilling has now begun. It is expected to reach the evaporite minerals and commence coring in approximately ten days. Separately, top-hole drilling at Hole 2 (Howlett Hall) commenced on 2 September and drilling depths now exceed 100 meters.

Planning Approvals Update
Further to the announcement of approvals on 18 August, Sirius last week received written confirmation of the approval on the remaining application. The Company has now secured six planning application approvals to drill exploratory holes within the National Park. Additional applications are expected to be submitted to the National Park within the next month.

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

Macquarie Appointed Nomad and Joint Broker

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to announce that the Company has appointed Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited ("Macquarie") to act as its Nominated Adviser and joint broker with immediate effect.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, said:

"We are delighted to appoint Macquarie as our Nomad and Joint Broker. They are one of the world's leading global resources banks with strong research and distribution capabilities in the mining and agricultural sectors. The combination of Liberum and Macquarie as Joint Brokers give the company access to market leading expertise to advance Sirius towards our goal of becoming a leading producer in the global potash industry."

Liberum note today: 26p target price
Sirius Minerals aims to become a global force in the potash industry through the development of its flagship York Potash project in North Yorkshire, England. 97km of historical drill data indicates 3.3-6.0bn tonnes of high grade polyhalite (19-24% K2SO4), while ongoing drilling is set to deliver a JORC resource in Q112.
The completion of a Scoping Study (expected end of 2011) will mark a key step in confirming early indications of asset potential to support a large scale (3Mtpa), low cost, premium priced potash operation. At the helm is a world class big financing management team headed by CEO Chris Fraser (former Head of Metals and Mining, Citigroup Australia) and Chairman Chris Catlow (Former CFO of Fortescue Metals Group
We see material upside to our base case EV valuation of $390m (0.26/shr, +109 premium to current price) as management begin to wake a sleeping potash giant.

RNS Number : 2407Q

Sirius Minerals Plc

17 October 2011

For immediate release: 0700hrs, 17 October 2011

Sirius Minerals Plc

("Sirius" or the "Company")

Expansion of Management Team

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Graham Clarke to the position of Operations Director.

Graham Clarke is the current Managing Director of Cleveland Potash Limited, which operates the Boulby Mine in North Yorkshire, the UK's only potash mine. He has spent his entire 26 year career at Boulby. During this time he has served in many roles and has been Managing Director since 2004. This has given him unique insights into all aspects of operating a large-scale potash production facility. In particular, Graham has been instrumental in the commissioning of the Boulby Mine's polyhalite extraction project. Boulby is the only operational polyhalite mine in the world today.

Graham will be one of the key leadership team delivering the York Potash Project. He will also have broader involvement in the development and execution of the Company's global development strategies. He will formally join Sirius in early April 2012 once his notice period with Cleveland Potash has expired.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, said:

"I am absolutely delighted to announce Graham's appointment to the Company. There is no person better qualified to help us continue the rapid progress of the York Potash Project and to fulfil our goal of becoming one of the world's leading potash producers. Not only is he the only person to successfully commission and oversee a new polyhalite mine, but he lives and breathes for the local area and its wellbeing."

Graham Clarke commented:

"I have been very impressed with the strategy and approach of Sirius and in particular the sense of urgency and innovation ingrained in the Company's culture. The York Potash Project is a fantastic project and the opportunity to join Sirius and help deliver its large-scale production strategy is an opportunity I could not turn down.

"I understand not only the challenges involved but also the huge benefits the York Potash Project can bring to the area and the UK. The operational experience I have of mine development, the local environment and health and safety issues will enable me to help accelerate the York Potash Project towards production.

"I leave Boulby after many happy years and with great gratitude to all the hard working members of staff. There is a strong management team in place to step into my shoes and I look forward to the possibility of working together in the future on key areas of potential cooperation."

Preliminary Coring Results.

81.8 metres (true thickness) of total potash mineralisation across all three seams with the hole being terminated while still in polyhalite mineralisation;

All three potash seams successfully cored;

65 metres of polyhalite (potassium sulphate) mineralisation within the Fordon evaporites including two zones containing a total of a 19 metres (true thickness) of massive higher grade polyhalite;

7.8 metres of the Boulby potassium chloride seam;

9 metres of the Sneaton potassium chloride seam; and

~100% core recovery.


The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to announce the completion of coring at its first borehole at the York Potash Project.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius Minerals, said:

"Although preliminary, these are fantastic results for Sirius. The confirmation of all three seams in exceptional thicknesses is a validation of the world-class status of the project. We are all looking forward to the completion of the chemical assays to confirm the grade of these potash zones. Of particular excitement is the 19 metre thickness of massive polyhalite. This compares very favourably to the 5 metre thickness assumption used in the previously announced Exploration Target.

"The first hole we have drilled in the York Potash Project has delivered one of the world's single thickest potash intersections ever reported."

The market certainly likes the news, up 2 points with 35 million shares traded

Yes and excellent volume.

sp Looking good...now 160% up ...will keep holding..alot more to come.. (imho)

checked in half mine may this morn bank rest later today if rise continues - next results 3/4 weeks which should be v good - back in again b4 then if i sell all today

well done to all

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Certainly on a tear this morning!

what a great monday - massive volumes - yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

wow volumes increasing!!! good day ahead not even 9am yet!! gla

heading for 20p + easily

ah profit taking (gl) has delayed the 20p - but volumes still nice and high!!

.

nice 1 hc

Wireline Logging Update

Wireline logging of SM1 successfully completed
Natural Gamma Ray Spectrometry confirms high polyhalite content in the two key massive polyhalite beds

The Directors of Sirius Minerals Plc (AIM: SXX, OTCQX: SRUXY), the globally diversified potash development group, are pleased to announce the completion of the wireline logging of its first borehole ("SM1") at the York Potash Project.

Following the completion of coring of SM1, announced on 27 October 2011, Schlumberger conducted a series of geophysical wireline logging tests on the hole. These tests included natural gamma ray spectrometry, density, neutron and sonic logging to assist in mineral identification. Spectral gamma ray tools resolve the natural gamma ray spectrum into its different components, including potassium; and so can be used to estimate approximate potassium contents in the borehole.

The Upper and Lower beds of massive polyhalite identified in the 27 October 2011 announcement, representing a combined 19 metres (true thickness) of massive polyhalite, gave average gamma readings across the whole of these intersections attributable to potassium that equates to polyhalite grades in excess of 80%. Within these thick mineralised zones there were certain zones of significantly higher than average grades apparent. These estimations of polyhalite grade align with the field assessment of the massive zones as having low levels of visibly identifiable halite and anhydrite inclusions.

It is very important to note however that full chemical and mineralogical analysis is required to confirm the grades and continuity of the potash mineralisation in the recovered core. These are expected in approximately four weeks, as advised in the announcement on 27 October 2011.

another rns with more fantastic news - yeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

extract / this is very valuable info:

31 October 2011



Sirius Minerals Plc



("Sirius" or the "Company")

Wireline Logging Update


Wireline logging of SM1 successfully completed

Natural Gamma Ray Spectrometry confirms high polyhalite content in the two key massive polyhalite beds