Initial Silver Cyanide Leach Results Positive at Sierra Mojada
June 23 2009 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Metalline
Mining Company (AMEX:MMG) is pleased to announce very positive
initial cyanide leach results from the silver mineralization at
Sierra Mojada, Coahuila, Mexico. Twenty three composite samples
representing one hundred twenty four sample intervals from drill
core into the deposit area were selected for triplicate head grade
analyses prior to cyanide leach analyses at a commercial
laboratory. These samples were selected to test the western,
central, and eastern portions of the Northside silver zone, and two
distinct and unique mineralogical zones that form part of the
Northside silver zone: the Silver Sulfide area to the east and an
area on the west, termed the "Lead Manto composites" that mixed
some samples from the upper Northside with some from the upper
Southside zones. Overall cyanide leach solubility's were very high.
Fourteen of the composites containing silver grades ranging from 37
gpt Ag (1.08 opt Ag) to 810 gpt Ag (23.6 opt Ag) representing the
main Northside silver zone and had cyanide solubility averaging
208.7% of total silver content as determined by triplicate Aqua
Regia digestions. Eliminating the high and low analyses from this
sample set only reduces the overall solubility to 155% of total
contained silver. Clearly there is a coarse silver aspect to the
sample suite that is resulting in cyanide extractions over 100% of
contained silver, but the indications are positive that whatever
silver is present in the majority of the Northside silver zone is
soluble with cyanide. Silver in the Northside silver zone occurs
primarily as native silver, acanthite, and a variety of halide
minerals including cerargyrite, embolite, and iodargyrite, and
others, based upon mineralogical studies completed to date. All of
these minerals are soluble in cyanide, which explains the excellent
cyanide leach results to date. Five composites from the "Lead Manto
area" of the deposit containing silver values of 48 gpt Ag (1.4 opt
Ag) to 977 gpt Ag (28.5 opt Ag) demonstrated average cyanide
solubility of 79% of total silver content, which is still very
encouraging. Only the four composite samples from the restricted
silver sulfide area within the Northside silver zone demonstrated
poor cyanide leach characteristics. Four composites representing
grades of 40 gpt Ag (1.2 opt Ag) to 450 gpt Ag (13.1 opt Ag)
returned an average cyanide solubility of 23.3%. Further
metallurgical work will be done on samples from this area to
determine whether higher cyanide strengths will liberate more of
the silver in the presence of sulfide minerals, or whether
flotation of the sulfides followed by cyanidation would liberate
the silver from this area. These initial cyanide leach
characterization results demonstrate that the majority of the
Northside silver zone is amenable to cyanide leach processing, and
provide guidance to the Company on further advancing the Northside
silver zone. The entire drill hole sample suite will be subject to
cyanide analyses in the future to fully characterize the cyanide
leach characteristics of the Northside silver zone. The "Lead
Manto" area composites will be reformulated and retested so that
their leaching characteristics better represent differences in
style of mineralization. The Silver Sulfide area and other areas of
distinct leaching behavior will be modeled separately from the
balance of the Northside silver zone going forward, so these areas
can be handled separately in further processing and engineering
evaluations of the deposit. There is no correlation between silver
solubility in cyanide and the base metal content of the samples
tested. Zinc content ranged from 0.02 - 14.35% Zn, lead content
ranged between 0.01 - 7.41% Pb, and copper content ranged from 0.01
- 13.45% Cu. This observation leaves open the possibility of
recovering the base metals after extraction of the silver by
cyanidation Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains
forward-looking statements regarding future events and Metalline's
future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). These
statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts,
and projections about the industry in which Metalline operates and
the beliefs and assumptions of Metalline's management. Words such
as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects,"
"intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues,"
"may," variations of such words, and similar expressions, are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition,
any statements that refer to projections of Metalline's future
financial performance, Metalline's anticipated growth and
potentials in its business and other characterizations of future
events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are
cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only
predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and
assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those
identified elsewhere herein and Metalline's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 under "Risk
Factors." Therefore, actual results may differ materially and
adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
Metalline undertakes no obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statements for any reason. DATASOURCE: Metalline
Mining Company CONTACT: Merlin Bingham of Metalline Mining Company,
+1-208-665-2002, Fax, +1-208-665-0041, Web Site:
http://www.metalin.com/
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