Soho Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: SOH) ("Soho" or the "Company")
is pleased to announce results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment
("PEA") for its 100% controlled Tahuehueto Project in Durango,
Mexico. Results demonstrate robust economic returns using
three-year rolling average gold, silver and base metal prices.
Highlights are as follows:
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Summary of PEA Estimates
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Net cashflow $US 184.2 million
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Net Present Value (NPV) 5% Discount Rate $US 109.6 million
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Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 31%
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Payback period (months) 27
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Mine life (years) 11
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Max processing rate (tonnes per annum) 1,000,000
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Capital & startup costs $US 89.1 million
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Metal Selling Prices
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Sell Price -
Metal $US Source
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Gold 965.81/oz London PM fix price (Centennial Precious
Metals, Inc. 2010)
Silver 15.38/oz London fix price (Silver Institute,
2010)
Copper 2.92/lb LME grade A cathode spot price, CIF
European ports (IMF, 2010)
Lead 0.95/lb LME 99.97% pure spot price, CIF European
ports (IMF, 2010)
Zinc 0.88/lb LME high grade 98% pure spot price, CIF
UK ports (IMF, 2010)
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Mr. Ralph Shearing, President and CEO of the Company states,
"The delivery of these robust Preliminary Economic Assessment
numbers is one of the most significant milestones in the history of
the Company and clearly demonstrates the potential economic
viability of the Tahuehueto Project. It is important to note that
this economic assessment was calculated from the resource as
outlined in the most recent 2009, NI 43-101 compliant mineral
resource. Very significant upside exploration potential exists
within the unexplored portions of the current resource structures,
both along strike and down dip, as well as in the many other
separate mineralized structures known to occur, but yet unexplored,
within the project concessions. Additional upside potential is also
contained within the difference between the three-year rolling
average metal prices used in the PEA and the current strong
precious metal prices for gold and silver. There is very little
doubt in my mind that with additional exploration and development
the projected 11 year mine life outlined in the PEA could be
dramatically extended."
The PEA was prepared by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Inc.
("Snowden") in accordance with the requirements of Canadian
National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects" ("NI 43-101"). It contemplates a combination of an open
pit operation at the El Creston Zone along with underground
operations at Cinco de Mayo, El Creston and El Rey, utilizing
mechanized low-cost Long Hole Open Stope ("LHOS") mining methods.
Metallurgical test work, as previously disclosed, indicates that
sulfide flotation methodology will produce separate copper, lead
and zinc concentrates.
As part of their report Snowden completed a preliminary Life of
Mine (LOM) schedule for the combined open pit and underground
operations. Key findings from this schedule include:
-- Potential mine life of greater than ten years, with the mill operating
at full capacity from Year 2 to 8
-- Potential mill feed over the Life of Mine of 9.0 Mt with average grades
of 1.64 g/t Au, 28 g/t Ag, 0.18%Cu, 0.87%Pb and 1.64%Zn
-- Cinco de Mayo underground operates over the whole mine life with a
steady production rate at or near 300 Kt per annum
-- Creston open pit is mined from Years 1 to 8
-- El Rey and Creston underground operations commence in Year 6
-- A substantial spike in the gold grade during Year 2 of 3.5 g/t
For detailed LOM information on a year by year basis please
visit the company's website at the following link;
http://www.sohoresources.ca/mining_schedule.php
Capital cost estimates are based on a new plant and equipment,
published costs for similar projects and information contained in
Snowden's database, and including scoping level quotes from
contractors and suppliers, or scaling from other projects in
similar locations.
Note that:
-- Mining costs are based on the use of contractors, therefore the mobile
equipment fleet is not included as a capital cost
-- All underground development has been treated as an operating cost
-- Sustaining capital is provided for at 2.5% of startup costs per annum
An itemized account of the capital costs included in the PEA is
shown in the table below.
Capital and Startup Costs
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Item Value ($USM)
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Pre-project capital
Additional drilling & data gathering 3.5
Pre-feasibility study 1.5
Feasibility study 2.0
Detailed design 2.0
Permits 0.5
Processing
Process plant 49.4
Tailings dam construction 4.6
Mining
Open pit roads 2.0
Portals and UG access roads 0.5
Equipment (non-contract) 0.5
Workshops 0.9
Contractor mobilization 0.3
Infrastructure
Site access road 7.7
Power connection to grid 9.4
Water supply and treatment 1.4
Fuel storage and distribution 0.2
Offices and equipment 0.4
Camp/canteen 0.8
Construction camp 1.5
Total 89.1
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In undertaking the economic analysis of the project, Snowden
made the following assumptions:
-- No provision was made for exploration expenditure attributable to the
operation
-- No provision was made for environmental bonds, rehabilitation costs or
salvage revenues
-- No provision was made for project financing arrangements or sales
arrangements other than spot price contracts
-- No provision was made for depreciation of capital expenditure
-- No provision was made for government royalties or taxes
-- No provision was made for inflation of costs with time
The PEA developed a number of conclusions and recommendations
for future work. It can be concluded from the current study that
there is potential for a profitable project to be established at
Tahuehueto. An open pit operation is potentially viable at El
Creston, whilst resources with potential for economic underground
mining exist at Cinco de Mayo, El Creston and El Rey. Snowden also
concludes that there is the possibility for open pit mining at
Cinco de Mayo, however, until an assessment of the geotechnical
stability of the cliff face above the Cinco de Mayo zone has been
completed, the resource contained there has been excluded for open
pit mining and all material remains in the underground mine plan.
Metallurgical test work indicates that it will be possible to use
flotation to produce separate copper, lead, and zinc
concentrates.
The financial modelling assumptions deliver a significant mine
life of 11 years at a maximum processing rate of 1 Mtpa (2750 tpd).
An IRR of 31% is achieved on cash flow of $US184.2 Million.
It is recommended that Soho continues with its evaluation of the
Tahuehueto Project and progresses towards undertaking a
Prefeasibility Study to address the remaining material project
uncertainties.
Resource estimation recommendations:
-- Undertake a study based on the existing data to determine appropriate
drill hole spacing and orientation with an aim to increase the
confidence in the resource classification to ensure sufficient Measured
and Indicated Resource so that upon completion of a Prefeasibility Study
these can be converted to Reserves.
-- Undertake a drilling program at a spacing and orientation recommended by
the drill hole spacing study so that more of the resource can be
classified as Measured or Indicated which may then be converted into
Reserves after completion of a Prefeasibility Study.
-- Review the resource confidence classification criteria for future
resource estimates and ensure that all aspects affecting confidence in
the resource estimation are considered, including geological
understanding, complexity, and continuity, the sample data density and
orientation (including sample grades and bulk density data), the data
accuracy and precision as established through the QAQC programs, grade
continuity including the spatial continuity of mineralization, the
quality of the estimates, and the results of the estimation validation.
Metallurgical
-- Assess the use of alternative depressants and alternative addition rates
in the bulk rougher circuit
-- Assess alternative depressants in the copper-lead separation stage
-- Determine the role of finer primary grinding on zinc selectivity in the
bulk rougher flotation stage. That may lead to the use of zinc
depressants in the bulk cleaner circuit in an attempt to divert more of
the zinc to the zinc concentrate
-- Assess the role of regrinding
-- Conduct Work Index testing
-- Undertake tests to determine the processing variability between the
"fresh" and the "supergene" zones and the effect of randomly comingling
of ore types
Other
-- Undertake a program of geotechnical logging, testing and analysis so
that the potential of an open pit at Cinco de Mayo can be established
(which would substantially increase the value of the project), and that
better definition of underground and open pit geotechnical design
criteria can be achieved.
-- After completion of the recommended program of data collection, embark
on a Prefeasibility Study where construction and operating costs can be
defined more accurately so that reserves can be calculated and some
trade-off studies undertaken.
With the release of the Preliminary Economic Assessment Soho
plans to advance the project through Pre-feasibility and
Feasibility toward production. In order to do so, the Company is
seeking to add experienced mining engineering and construction
personnel to its management team and Board of Directors. Given the
favorable results of this current economic assessment and the
upside potential contained within the future exploration and
development potential of the project, the Company is very confident
in its ability to locate and secure additional expertise, dedicated
to developing a profitable mining operation at Tahuehueto.
The final report for this Preliminary Economic Assessment will
be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.
Qualified Persons
This press release was prepared under the supervision and review
of Ralph Shearing, President and CEO of Soho Resources, a Licensed
Geologist, and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The PEA
disclosed in this press release was prepared by Snowden Mining
Industry Consultants Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, under the
direction of Mr. Anthony Finch BEng, BEcon, MAusIMM, an independent
Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
Definitions used in this release are consistent with those
adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum ("CIM") Council in December 2005, as amended, and
prescribed by the Canadian Securities Administrator's National
Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do
not have demonstrated economic viability.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ralph Shearing, Chief Executive Officer
WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for
"forward-looking" statements. This News Release may contain
forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments
regarding the timing and content of up-coming work programs,
geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential
mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address
future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks
and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those
currently anticipated in such statements. Soho Resources Corp.
relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking
statements.
Shares Issued - 154,013,693
Last Close 2010/10/01 - $0.145
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Soho Resources Corp. Mr. Glen Sandwell (604) 684-8071
or Toll Free: 1-800-685-0576 ir@sohoresources.ca
www.sohoresources.ca
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