Chatham Announces Preliminary Phosphate Ore Sorting Results

NEWS RELEASE 22- 16 September 26, 2022



CHATHAM ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY PHOSPHATE ORE SORTING RESULTS

WELLINGTON New Zealand – Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: “NZP” and NZX:
“Chatham” or the “Company") is pleased to advise that its initial testing of sensor-based ore
sorting of Korella phosphate has shown particularly positive results.

Chatham engaged TOMRA Sorting to establish if their sensor-based sorting systems were
capable of sorting Korella phosphate ore from waste material to improve the already
relatively high-grade Direct Shipping Ore.

The test work demonstrated that Korella phosphate could be upgraded from a nominal feed
of 30% P₂O₅ to a product in the range of 35% to 38% P₂O₅ at acceptable recovery rates.

Korella’s low cadmium phosphate in the range of 35% to 38% P₂O₅ is higher grade than most
internationally traded rock phosphate and is particularly suitable for use by European
fertilizer producers who previously depended on Russian apatite for supplies of high-quality
phosphate.

The Testing Process

Sortability testing is an idealised multi-stage sorting program designed to produce a
sortability curve which can be used to determine sorting cut points to be rigorously tested
at appropriate throughput rates in further bulk-scale performance test work.

The purpose of the set of test work was to determine the suitability of a TOMRA sorting
system to Korella operations.

In this instance TOMRA’s XRT (X-Ray Transmission) sorter was used.

TOMRA’s engineers conducted sortability test work from an approx. 740 kg sample of
simulated Run of Mine Korella phosphate. Bulk material was pre-screened to 8-25mm & 25-
75mm for testing.

The results from this set of test work were excellent for both size fractions.

Significant waste mass reductions were achieved in all runs while achieving excellent
recoveries in initial runs and higher-grade product options in subsequent runs.

Figure 1 shows the sortability curves of TOMRA’s COM XRT sorter for all 8-25mm runs.

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Excellent waste removal potential was demonstrated in several steps with various P₂O₅
grade/recovery options available based on amount of waste removal desired.

Future Testing

Using the sortability curves determined from the testing, future bulk performance testing
will be implemented.

The future testing will be at the desired cut point to demonstrate sorting performance at
the required throughput rate using a larger sample.

The larger, more representative sample of at least 500kg of material per run, will be in the
recommended size range of 8mm to 75mm.

A total sample of approximately 2000kg will be required and will be recovered from
trenching and/or large diameter drilling from a Korella deposit and this next round of testing
will also be conducted on a full-scale sorter.

Overall, the results from the Korella material show a positive amenability to TOMRA’s XRT
sorting technology.

This presents an exciting opportunity for a productive partnership between TOMRA and
Chatham leading to developing and optimizing an industry leading sorting solution for
Chatham at Korella.
For further information please contact:
Chris Castle
President and Chief Executive Officer Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited
64 21 55 81 85 or chris@crpl.co.nz

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Exchange), or NZX Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated
transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.