Indicated Resource Increases by 3x, Maintains Inferred Resource Size
"Today's MRE is an excellent milestone in our value enhancing and systematic de-risking initiatives for the
Mineral Resource Estimate Highlights
- Indicated Mineral Resources: 4.866 million tonnes ("Mt") at a grade of 1.13% copper, containing 120.28 million pounds ("Mlbs") of copper, with potential by-product of 13.66 Mlbs lead, 10.52 Mlbs zinc, 69,000 ounces of silver, or potentially 7.51 Mlbs of in situ copper equivalent ("CuEq")*.
- Inferred Mineral Resources: 1.819 million tonnes ("Mt") at a grade of 1.01% copper, containing 38.35 million pounds ("Mlbs") of copper, with potential by-product of 3.17 Mlbs lead, 1.57 Mlbs zinc, or potentially 1.35 Mlbs of copper equivalent ("CuEq")*.
Next Steps for the
- Based on hole C21:07 (click here for more information) which is a 200-meter step-out to any previous drilling, complete block model evaluation to define drill targets that will future test extensions of the MRE both at depth and along strike. Several high-grade copper veinlets up to 3.55% Cu within a copper envelop grading 0.2% Cu over 83.90 meters confirming the extensions to the
Stringer Zone at depth. - A metallurgical characterization test program is underway at RPC Science & Engineering based in
Fredericton, New Brunswick which is partially funded throughThe National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program ("NRC IRAP"). The objectives of this metallurgical program are to improve our beneficiation understanding and investigate recovery opportunities for the Central and the East Zones at Chester. - Conceptual open pit mine planning to further identify value enhancing opportunities of this outcropping VMS deposit. Specifically, this effort will assist in our next exploration program planning to define drill targets that will further improve economics as-well as upgrade historic drilling that is excluded from this MRE including additional by-product metal domains.
- Investigate Chester mineralization amenability to bulk ore sorting technology as means to improve deposit economics.
Mineral Resource Estimate
This MRE for Chester is based on data with a cut-off date of
Table 1: Open Pit Mineral Resource Estimate at a cut-off of 0.5% copper*
Classification | Tonnes | Grade (% Cu) | Copper (lbs) | Copper (kgs) |
Indicated | 4,866,000 | 1.127 | 120,285,000 | 54,560,000 |
Inferred | 1,819,000 | 1.014 | 38,356,000 | 17,398,000 |
*Notes to Table 1: | |
1. | The unconstrained resource block model was estimated using ordinary kriging utilizing blocks at 3m(X) x 3m(Y) x3m (Z) and was then subjected to several open pit optimization scenarios utilizing a number of copper prices, mining cost scenarios and recovery factors typical of copper mining operations and advanced projects. The Chester final MRE pit shell utilized a copper price of |
2. | The updated resources presented are not mineral reserves, and they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that any part of the resources defined by the updated MRE will be converted to a mineral reserve in future. |
3. | The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could potentially be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. |
4. | |
5. | Historical ed areas were removed from the block modelled resources. |
6. | The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. |
7. | Totals may not add due to rounding.min |
Parameters used to constrain the MRE within an open pit shell
Item | Units | Unit Cost |
CAD to USD Conversion | 0.78 | |
CAD$/tonne Ore | ||
Waste | CAD$/tonne Waste | |
G&A Cost | CAD$/tonne Ore | |
Process Cost | CAD$/tonne Ore | |
Cu Recovery | % | 95.00 % |
Copper Price | US$/lb | |
Pit Slope | Degrees | 45 |
Density | g/m3 | Variable |
Sensitivity Analysis
A sensitivity analysis is presented below to help conceptualize grade and tonnage estimates at various cut-off grade increments for the Chester deposit. This is not to be interpreted or construed as the base case of the Mineral Resource Estimate discussed above. Table 3 displays current copper MRE at 0.5% cut-off as groups of domains with potential by-product metals.
Table 2: Grade-Tonnage Sensitivity Table for Chester Mineral Resources*
Cu cut-off % | Classification | Tonnes | In-situ Cu in lbs | Cu grade % |
0.1 | Indicated | 10,025,000 | 152,258,700 | 0.679 |
0.2 | Indicated | 8,542,000 | 147,354,200 | 0.784 |
0.3 | Indicated | 7,053,000 | 139,187,000 | 0.899 |
0.4 | Indicated | 5,830,000 | 129,805,200 | 1.014 |
0.5 | Indicated | 4,866,000 | 120,284,700 | 1.127 |
0.6 | Indicated | 4,107,000 | 111,128,500 | 1.234 |
0.7 | Indicated | 3,473,000 | 102,052,700 | 1.342 |
0.8 | Indicated | 2,942,000 | 93,294,700 | 1.450 |
0.9 | Indicated | 2,505,000 | 85,129,500 | 1.554 |
1 | Indicated | 2,147,000 | 77,644,800 | 1.655 |
0.1 | Inferred | 4,461,000 | 54,306,600 | 0.592 |
0.2 | Inferred | 3,623,000 | 51,567,200 | 0.697 |
0.3 | Inferred | 2,874,000 | 47,471,500 | 0.807 |
0.4 | Inferred | 2,286,000 | 42,973,000 | 0.912 |
0.5 | Inferred | 1,819,000 | 38,355,500 | 1.014 |
0.6 | Inferred | 1,432,000 | 33,698,900 | 1.119 |
0.7 | Inferred | 1,124,000 | 29,293,700 | 1.227 |
0.8 | Inferred | 874,000 | 25,188,200 | 1.344 |
0.9 | Inferred | 691,000 | 21,760,000 | 1.466 |
1 | Inferred | 545,000 | 18,692,000 | 1.592 |
*Notes to Table 2: | |
1. | The unconstrained resource block model was estimated using ordinary kriging utilizing blocks at 3m(X) x 3m(Y) x3m (Z) and was then subjected to several open pit optimization scenarios utilizing a number of copper prices, mining cost scenarios and recovery factors typical of copper mining operations and advanced projects. The Chester final MRE pit shell utilized a copper price of |
2. | The updated resources presented are not mineral reserves, and they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that any part of the resources defined by the updated MRE will be converted to a mineral reserve in future. |
3. | The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could potentially be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. |
4. | |
5. | Historical mined areas were removed from the block modelled resources. |
6. | The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. |
7. | Totals may not add due to rounding. |
Table 3: Chester Mineral Resources and Secondary By-Product Metals by Domain*
Domain | Class | Cu | Tonnes '000 | In Situ | Cu | In-Situ | Pb | In Situ '000 | Zn | In Situ '000 | Ag | In Situ CuEq Cu lbs '000 |
Cu Only - | Indicated | 0.5 | 661 | 13,902 | 0.958 | 13,902 | ||||||
Inferred | 0.5 | 365 | 6,852 | 0.906 | 6,852 | |||||||
Cu Pb - | Indicated | 0.5 | 3,648 | 92,510 | 1.159 | 10,108 | 0.104 | 95,110 | ||||
Inferred | 0.5 | 1,293 | 28,248 | 1.048 | 2,294 | 0.181 | 28,838 | |||||
Cu Pb Zn - | Indicated | 0.5 | 184 | 3,614 | 0.864 | 1,814 | 0.427 | 5,872 | 1.371 | 6,095 | ||
Inferred | 0.5 | 61 | 938 | 0.699 | 501 | 0.346 | 880 | 0.656 | 1,370 | |||
Cu Pb Zn Ag - | Indicated | 0.5 | 371 | 10,257 | 1.226 | 1,732 | 0.167 | 4,645 | 0.404 | 2,144 | 4.48 | 12,689 |
Inferred | 0.5 | 98 | 2,316 | 1.066 | 374 | 0.131 | 690 | 0.237 | 2 | 0.02 | 2,650 |
*Notes to Table 3: | |
1. | The unconstrained resource block model was estimated using ordinary kriging utilizing blocks at 3m(X) x 3m(Y) x3m (Z) and was then subjected to several open pit optimization scenarios utilizing a number of copper prices, mining cost scenarios and recovery factors typical of copper mining operations and advanced projects. The Chester final MRE pit shell utilized a copper price of |
2. | The updated resources presented are not mineral reserves, and they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that any part of the resources defined by the updated MRE will be converted to a mineral reserve in future. |
3. | The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could potentially be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. |
4. | |
5. | Historical mined areas were removed from the block modelled resources. |
6. | The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. |
7. | Ratios used to calculate In |
Geologic Model
The mineralization domains consist of 12 modelled domains that include 10 "stringer" zones, which occur as a network of dendritic veins that often show a very erratic distribution of mineralization, an upper massive sulfide (MS) domain, and a low-grade halo domain surrounding the other domains. The mineralization domain construction utilized an approximate lower cut-off of 0.15% Cu for the interpretation and joining of mineralization shapes. Within the stringer mineralization zones and the MS mineralization zone, a total of 20% of the total drilled meters inside the mineralization wireframes were not sampled, assumed to be waste, and assigned a nominal waste value of half the detection limit of modern assay methods (0.00001% Cu). Within the low-grade halo mineralization domain, a total of 64% of the total drilled meters inside the mineralization wireframe was not sampled, assumed to be waste, and assigned a nominal waste value of half the detection limit of modern assay methods (0.00001% Cu).
Data Verification
The Chester drill hole database, including drill hole surveying, analytical methods, QA/QC protocols and corresponding sample preparation and shipment procedures have been reviewed for historical and current drilling by Mr.
Mineral Resource Estimation Methodology
The MRE is based on the combination of geological modeling, geostatistics and conventional block modeling using Ordinary Kriging (OK) and locally varying anisotropy (LVA), capping statistics and variogram models for copper grade interpolation. Block grade estimation employed LVA, which uses different rotation angles to define the principal directions of the variogram model and search ellipsoid on a per-block basis. Modelling was conducted in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate space relative to the North American Datum (NAD) 1983, Zone 19N (EPSG:26919).
Technical Report
The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is
For readers to fully understand the information in this news release they should read the technical report in its entirety when it is available, including all qualifications, assumptions, exclusions and risks. The technical report is intended to be read as a whole and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.
Qualified Persons
Mr.
About the
The Chester copper deposit ("Chester") is a volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") resource containing three zones; the
About the
The Company is focused on the prolific
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
Drill core is cut in half, one half of the core is taken as sample. Samples are bagged and sealed by Geominex, and sent to the facility of
About
Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration programs, anticipated content, and commencement in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, including the proposed NI 43-101 technical report and timing and content of such technical report, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated
Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Resource Estimates
Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, Mineral Resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral Resource Estimates that are not Mineral Reserves have not demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the Company's public disclosure available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The quantity and grade of reported "Inferred" Mineral Resource Estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "Inferred" Mineral Resource Estimates as an "Indicated" or "Measured" Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "Inferred" Mineral Resource Estimates to an "Indicated" or "Measured" Mineral Resource category. The accuracy of any Mineral Resource Estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource Estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling, and development; (iii) results of future test mining and other testing; (iv) metallurgical testing and other studies; (v) results of geological and structural modeling including block model design; (vi) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (vii) the evaluation of future mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (viii) the possible failure to receive required permits, licenses and other approvals. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a "inferred" or "indicated" Mineral Resource Estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource Estimates disclosed in this news release were reported using CIM Standards in accordance with NI 43-101.
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