Queenstake Reports 1.9 Million Gold Ounces in Measured & Indicated Resources
March 30 2007 - 9:10AM
PR Newswire (US)
DENVER, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Queenstake Resources
Ltd. (TSX: QRL; Amex: QEE) reported that estimated measured and
indicated resources(1),(2), including reserves, totaled 1.9 million
ounces of gold contained in 8.2 million tons grading 0.23 ounce of
gold per ton (opt) at year-end 2006. Proven and probable reserves
of gold totaled 485,700 ounces contained in 2.0 million tons at a
grade of 0.25 opt at year-end 2006, using a three-year average gold
price of $485 per ounce. For year-end 2005, measured and indicated
resources were 8.8 million tons grading 0.24 opt totaling 2.1
million contained ounces while proven and probable reserves were
3.7 million tons at a grade of 0.24 opt for 877,900 contained
ounces. The reduction in reserves in 2006 was primarily due to
higher mining unit costs, resulting in an increase in cutoff grade,
some remnant ounces condemned with the shutdown of the Murray Mine
and elimination from reserves of ounces below the water table at
the Smith Mine. Measured and indicated resources were slightly
lower, due to the above factors as well as depletion from
production at the SSX-Steer Complex and Smith Mine during the year.
In addition, inferred resources of 2.4 million tons at 0.23 opt
totaled 545,200 contained ounces at year-end 2006, compared to 2.6
million tons at 0.23 opt for 605,600 contained ounces a year ago.
Queenstake's proven and probable reserves, and measured, indicated
and inferred resources were audited and verified by SRK Consulting
(U.S.), Inc.(3) in accordance with the standards of Canadian
National Instrument 43-101. The Starvation Canyon project
maintained its reserves and measured and indicated resources in
2006, while enhancing the definition of the two known resource
zones. Queenstake estimated Starvation Canyon's measured and
indicated resources totaled approximately 636,500 tons at 0.29 opt
for 184,300 contained ounces, including probable reserves of
112,900 contained ounces, at year-end 2006. The drilling program
conducted during 2006 began testing targets of up to a mile away,
which will be followed up in 2007. Queenstake invested $4.9 million
in exploration during the full-year 2006 with five surface drill
rigs working at the Jerritt Canyon District, at Starvation Canyon
and other targets. Exploration expenditures for 2006 were
constrained by reduced cash being available from operations and
access to drill rigs. Queenstake Resources Ltd. is a gold mining
and exploration company based in Denver, Colorado. Its principal
asset is the wholly owned Jerritt Canyon gold operations in Nevada,
which has produced over 7.5 million ounces of gold from open pit
and underground mines since 1981. Current production at the
property is from two underground mines. The Jerritt Canyon
District, which comprises 119 square miles (308 square kilometers)
of geologically prospective ground controlled by Queenstake,
represents one of the largest contiguous exploration properties in
Nevada. In addition, Jerritt Canyon also has one of only three
permitted roasting facilities in Nevada. Table 1: Reserves (1,2,3)
JERRITT CANYON PROVEN & PROBABLE GOLD RESERVES - December 2006
Deposit PROVEN PROBABLE Tons Oz Tons Oz (000) oz/st (000) (000)
oz/st (000) Murray 17.3 0.275 4.8 1.1 0.120 0.1 Smith 97.8 0.385
37.6 171.2 0.302 51.8 SSX-Steer 440.3 0.262 115.4 299.1 0.272 81.4
Saval 11.4 0.200 2.3 108.8 0.250 27.2 Starvation Canyon -- -- --
369.6 0.305 112.9 Wright Window -- -- -- 32.6 0.226 7.4 Sub Total
566.8 0.282 160.1 982.5 0.286 280.8 Stockpiles 69.3 0.198 13.7
366.3 0.085 31.1 Total 636.1 0.273 173.8 1,348.8 0.231 312.0
JERRITT CANYON PROVEN & PROBABLE GOLD RESERVES - December 2006
Deposit TOTAL Tons Oz (000) oz/st (000) Murray 18.4 0.266 4.9 Smith
269.0 0.332 89.4 SSX-Steer 739.4 0.266 196.8 Saval 120.2 0.246 29.5
Starvation Canyon 369.6 0.305 112.9 Wright Window 32.6 0.226 7.4
Sub Total 1,549.3 0.285 440.9 Stockpiles 435.7 0.103 44.8 Total
1,984.9 0.245 485.7 Table 2: Resources (1,2,3) JERRITT CANYON TOTAL
MINERAL RESOURCES - December 2006 (includes Proven and Probable
Reserves) MEASURED INDICATED DEPOSIT / AREA Tons Oz Tons Oz (000)
oz/st (000) (000) oz/st (000) Murray 156 0.310 48.3 27 0.269 7.1
Murray Zone 9 -- -- -- 210.9 0.277 58.5 SSX-Steer 1,735.2 0.259
448.6 597.3 0.286 170.7 Smith 601.2 0.311 187 463.1 0.264 122.3
Smith East -- -- -- 997.7 0.281 280.5 Saval 12.3 0.227 2.8 357.0
0.255 91.1 Starvation Canyon -- -- -- 636.5 0.290 184.3 Wright
Window -- -- -- 97.8 0.156 15.2 Subtotal 2,504.6 0.274 686.4
3,386.9 0.275 929.8 Stockpiles 69.3 0.198 13.7 1,158.0 0.059 68.2
Pit Resources Burns Basin Pit -- -- -- 29.7 0.134 4.0 California
Mtn. Pit -- -- -- 8.0 0.115 0.9 Coyote Zone 10 Pit -- -- -- -- --
-- Pie Creek Pit -- -- -- 190.2 0.157 29.9 Road Canyon Pit -- -- --
148.6 0.143 21.2 Mill Creek -- -- -- 78.4 0.124 9.7 U/G Resources
Burns Basin -- -- -- 30.7 0.194 6.0 California Mtn. -- -- -- 32.1
0.377 12.1 Coyote Zone 10 -- -- -- 45.2 0.212 9.6 MCE -- -- -- 4.4
0.201 0.9 Waterpipe II -- -- -- -- -- -- West Mahala -- -- -- 368.1
0.224 82.5 Winters Creek -- -- -- 148.9 0.218 32.5 Total 2,573.9
0.272 700.1 5,629.3 0.214 1,207.1 JERRITT CANYON TOTAL MINERAL
RESOURCES - December 2006 (includes Proven and Probable Reserves)
MEASURED + INDICATED INFERRED DEPOSIT / AREA Tons Oz Tons Oz (000)
oz/st (000) (000) oz/st (000) Murray 182.4 0.304 55.4 90.4 0.228
20.6 Murray Zone 9 210.9 0.277 58.5 61.6 0.209 12.9 SSX-Steer
2,332.5 0.266 619.3 929.7 0.230 213.4 Smith 1,064.4 0.290 309.1
541.6 0.231 125.3 Smith East 997.7 0.281 280.5 120.4 0.264 31.7
Saval 369.3 0.254 93.9 191.2 0.238 45.5 Starvation Canyon 636.5
0.290 184.3 51.2 0.278 14.2 Wright Window 97.8 0.156 15.2 19.0
0.229 4.3 Subtotal 5,891.5 0.274 1,616.2 2,005.1 0.233 468.0
Stockpiles 1,227.3 0.067 81.9 -- -- -- Pit Resources Burns Basin
Pit 29.7 0.134 4.0 -- -- -- California Mtn. Pit 8.0 0.115 0.9 -- --
-- Coyote Zone 10 Pit -- -- -- 20.1 0.104 2.1 Pie Creek Pit 190.2
0.157 29.9 28.3 0.142 4.0 Road Canyon Pit 148.6 0.143 21.2 74.3
0.131 9.7 Mill Creek 78.4 0.124 9.7 -- -- -- U/G Resources Burns
Basin 30.7 0.194 6.0 50.6 0.228 11.5 California Mtn. 32.1 0.377
12.1 9.4 0.330 3.1 Coyote Zone 10 45.2 0.212 9.6 2.7 0.184 0.5 MCE
4.4 0.201 0.9 7.8 0.189 1.5 Waterpipe II -- -- -- 37.4 0.206 7.7
West Mahala 368.1 0.224 82.5 141.9 0.209 29.6 Winters Creek 148.9
0.194 32.5 37.2 0.199 7.4 Total 8,203.2 0.232 1,907.2 2,414.8 0.226
545.2 (1) "Resources" or "resources" used in this news release are
as defined in National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities
Administrators and are not terms recognized or defined by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Mineral resources are not
reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. For
further information, please refer to the risk factors and
definitions of reserves and resources in the Company's filings on
SEDAR and with the SEC on the Company's website,
http://www.queenstake.com/. Refer also to the Cautionary Statement
at the end of this news release. Key assumptions and methods used
in deriving proven and probable reserves, and measured and
indicated resources will be described in the 43-101 report to be
filed soon on SEDAR. (2) For Queenstake, the Qualified Persons for
the technical information contained in this news release are
Messrs. Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Robert Todd, Manager of Technical Services, and Donald G.
Colli, Manager of Mineral Resources. (3) For SRK Consulting (U.S.)
, Inc., the Qualified Person is Mr. Landy Stinnet, Associate Mining
Engineer. For further information call: Wendy Yang 303-297-1557
ext. 105 800-276-6070 Email - web - http://www.queenstake.com/
Cautionary Statement - This news release contains "Forward-Looking
Statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
law requirements and Section 21E of the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included in this release, and
regarding Queenstake's future plans are forward-looking statements
that involve various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, (i) estimates and
projections of mineral reserves and resources, (ii) estimates and
opinions regarding geologic and mineralization interpretation, and
(iii) estimates of exploration investment and scope of exploration
programs. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, including gold and other commodity
price volatility, operational risks, mine development, production
and cost estimate risks and other risks which are described in the
Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR
(http://www.sedar.com/) and Annual Report on Form 40-F on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC; http://www.sec.gov/)
as well as the Company's other regulatory filings. Although the
Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from
those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other
factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. U.S. investors are also advised that
terms "proven reserves" and "probable reserves" used in this news
release are as defined in National Instrument 43-101 of the
Canadian Securities Administrators (NI 43-101). These definitions
differ from the definitions in Industry Guide 7 of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). "Resources" or "resource"
used in this news release are as defined in NI 43-101 and, while
recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not terms
recognized or defined by the SEC. Mineral resources are not
reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot
be assumed that part or all of the mineral deposits termed
"resources" may ever demonstrate economic viability to become
reserves. The term "inferred resources" is not recognized by the
SEC and it cannot be assumed that part or all of an inferred
resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. For further
information, please refer to the risk factors and definitions of
reserves and resources in the Company's filings on SEDAR and with
the SEC on the Company's website, http://www.queenstake.com/. Key
assumptions and methods used in deriving proven and probable
reserves, and measured and indicated resources will be described in
the 43-101 report to be filed soon on SEDAR. DATASOURCE: Queenstake
Resources Ltd. CONTACT: Wendy Yang of Queenstake Resources Ltd.,
+1-303-297-1557, ext. 105, or +1-800-276-6070, Web site:
http://www.queenstake.com/
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