Exeter Resource Corporation (TSX VENTURE: XRC)(NYSE Alternext US:
XRA)(FRANKFURT: EXB) ("Exeter" or the "Company") is pleased to
provide an interim National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101")
compliant mineral resource estimate for Caspiche, Chile. The
estimate is based on data available to the end of 2008, leaving the
deposit open for expansion to the west, south and to depth. A
second mineral resource estimate, using all of the additional
drilling data to the end of the season in May, is expected to be
available in September 2009.
Caspiche interim mineral resource estimate 2008/09 season
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Material Category Volume Density Tonnes Gold Gold Copper Copper
(Mm3) (g/cm3) (Mt) (g/t) (Moz) (%) (Mlb)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide Inferred 30.8 2.4 74 0.55 1.30
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Sulphide Inferred 152.1 2.47 375.9 0.61 7.43 0.25 2,090.60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL GOLD Inferred 182.9 2.46 449.9 0.60 8.73
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Exeter's Chairman, Yale Simpson, stated "The 8.73 million ounce
gold resource increases by 45% or 3.92 million ounces to 12.65
million gold equivalent ounces, when the 2.09 billion pounds of
copper is taken into consideration. The conversion to gold
equivalent ounces assumes $1.50 per pound for the contained copper,
and a conversion to gold using an $800 per ounce gold price. A
metallurgical recovery of 100% is assumed for both metals in the
conversion.(i)
"The near surface oxide resource has been almost totally
depleted in copper making it potentially amenable to heap leaching
for gold, as is common industry practice for such deposits. The
sulphide material at depth would require a gold-copper flotation
recovery path. Four internationally recognized engineering groups
and metallurgical laboratories are currently conducting
metallurgical testwork and infrastructure studies that will be
included on our website when the reports become available.
"Current drilling has added 4,500 metres of data to the interim
resource database. It is important to consider that some crucial
assay data, including drill hole CSD032 with 1,214 metres at 0.9
grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 0.33% copper (see news release
dated February 25, 2009) is yet to be factored into a resource
estimate. We believe the additional data from holes drilled outside
the interim resource shell will add significantly, both to the size
and to the grade of the target deposit, as shown by the section
diagram below (please see the map link included in this
release).
"Following our recent financing, we can now extend drilling well
beyond the current season. Our budget to September 2010 provides
for a further $16 million in expenditures. The budget includes
drilling to further expand the resource and in-fill drilling of the
high grade area to "indicated resource" status. Infrastructure and
metallurgical studies are also within the budget.
"The Company's ultimate intension with regard to Caspiche is to
negotiate a transaction with a major mining company, which will
enable us to realize all or part of the value of the Caspiche
discovery for the benefit of shareholders".
(i)Gold equivalence for the copper was calculated using the
formula pounds of copper multiplied by $1.50 divided by $800.
To view a map of the Section orientated 060 degrees through the
Caspiche Central deposit, please click on the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Caspiche%20Central%20deposit.pdf
Resource Estimate Authorship and Methodology
This is the first NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate
completed for the Caspiche property. The independent estimate was
prepared by AMEC International (Chile) S.A. ("AMEC") (also
completed NI 43-101 in 2006 for Kinross Gold for the nearby Cerro
Casale deposit). AMEC is currently finalizing a NI 43-101 compliant
technical report, which will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
shortly.
The mineral resource estimate was prepared by Mr. Rodrigo
Marinho, CPG-AIPG, Principal Geologist and Manager of Mineral
Resource Estimation of AMEC in Santiago, Chile. Mr. Marinho is
"independent" and a "qualified person" as such terms are defined in
NI 43-101.
A total of 12,976 metres of drilling, including 31 drill holes
completed by Exeter to December 22, 2008, and 3,060 metres of third
party drilling conducted in the 1990s was used in the preparation
of this resource estimate which only includes mineralization from
the Caspiche Central prospect.
AMEC estimated the mineral resource for the Caspiche property
within shapes based upon lithological and alteration
interpretations completed by Exeter. AMEC estimated gold and total
copper grades using the inverse distance squared (ID2) method. AMEC
determined reasonable prospects of economic extraction by applying
preliminary economics for open pit and underground mining methods
and tabulated the mineral resources within economic open pit and
underground resource shells. Mineral resource shell parameters were
defined from benchmarking similar projects in Chile. Because of
relatively sparse drilling information, and uncertainty in the
geological model and grade estimation, AMEC classified all mineral
resources in the inferred category. Table 2 summarizes the mineral
resource estimated by AMEC for the Caspiche property. The cut-off
date for exploration information used for this mineral resource
estimate was 22 December, 2008.
Mineral Resource Statement for Caspiche (Rodrigo Marinho, 22
December, 2008)
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Cut-- Vol- Dens- Ton-
off ume ity nes Au Au Cu Cu
Mate- Cate- Au
Source rial gory (g/t) (Mm3) (g/cm3) (Mt) (g/t) (Moz) (%) (Mlb)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Infer-
Pit Oxide red 0.3 30.8 2.40 74.0 0.55 1.299
Sulph- Infer-
ide red 0.3 80.4 2.46 197.5 0.61 3.869 0.22 957.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underg- Sulph- Inter-
round ide red NA(ii) 71.7 2.49 178.4 0.62 3.564 0.29 1,132.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infer-
Total red 182.9 2.46 449.9 0.60 8.732 0.21 2,090.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) The underground resource shell is defined assuming a block caving
mining method and appropriate mining costs. The block caving mining method
does not permit any selectivity during the mining process and all material
within the underground resource shell is therefore considered a resource.
The block model consists of regular blocks (25 metres x 25
metres x 12 metres) and is rotated to a 057 degrees azimuth. The
estimation plan for gold is the same for oxide and sulphide
domains. The estimation plan for copper includes a hard boundary
between the oxide and sulphide boundary. AMEC validated the
Caspiche model using summary statistics checking for global
estimation bias, drift analysis, and visual inspection. AMEC also
generated a nearest neighbour (NN) model to validate the ID2 model.
The NN model provides a declustering of drill hole data and is
commonly used for validation of the grade estimation.
Quality Control and Assurance
Exeter drilling
Drill intercepts, where presented, are drill intersection widths
and may not represent the true widths of mineralization. Individual
gold and copper assay results presented have not been calculated
using a gold cut-off grade, or with any cutting of high values. All
diamond drill core samples are split on regular two metre intervals
and represent either sawn half HQ-size or NQ-size core. Any reverse
circulation drill samples are collected using a cyclone in one
metre intervals; all samples are then composited into two or four
metre samples. Gold samples were prepared and assayed by fire assay
(50 gram charge). Copper was assayed with a four acid digestion
followed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The primary laboratory
is ALS Chemex in Chile, an ISO-9001:2000 certified laboratory.
Standard, blank and duplicate samples are used throughout the
sample sequence as checks for the exploratory reverse circulation
and diamond drilling.
Other drilling
All other drilling at Caspiche was completed using RC drilling
methods. All samples were collected in 2 metre intervals. Details
of RC drilling practices employed are not available to Exeter. It
is reasonable to assume that industry-standard practices were used
regarding drill-sampling procedures.
Specific details regarding the sample preparation and assay
methodology for the drill samples are not available to Exeter.
Drill samples were assayed for gold, silver, and copper at ALS
Geolab in Copiapo, Chile. The quality control program consisted of
external standards and blanks sent to ALS Geolab, and check assays
sent to ACME Laboratories and SGS Laboratories in Santiago, Chile.
ACME and SGS are ISO 9001 registered assay laboratories.
The Company's technical report on the Caspiche project dated
February 9, 2009, summarizing the work and status of programs at
Caspiche, is available at www.sedar.com. The report is also
available on the Company's website noted below.
Justin Tolman, Exeter's Caspiche Project Manager and a
"qualified person" within the definition of that term in NI 43-101,
has supervised the preparation of the technical information
contained in this news release.
About Exeter
Exeter Resource Corporation is a Canadian mineral exploration
company focused on the discovery and development of gold and silver
properties in South America. The Company has C$40 million in its
treasury.
The Caspiche gold-copper discovery is situated in the Maricunga
gold district of Chile, between the Refugio mine (Kinross Gold
Corp.) and the giant Cerro Casale gold deposit (Barrick Gold Corp.
and Kinross Gold Corp.). Drilling with four rigs remains focussed
on delineating the external boundaries of Caspiche with an
objective of producing a second NI 43-101 compliant resources
estimate in September 2009.
Exeter's priority on its Cerro Moro high grade gold-silver
property in Argentina is the Escondida vein where drilling has
returned multiple intercepts of 12-18 g/t gold equivalent(iii) over
potentially mineable widths. The results from drilling to December
2008 will be used to produce a NI 43-101 compliant resources
estimate, expected during the second quarter of 2009. Exeter will
continue to develop its conceptual models so that on receipt of the
resources estimate, it can advance the project to the scoping study
level. We expect to re-commence drilling on the Escondida vein when
permitting has been approved in early Q2, including possible
extensions into the adjacent joint ventured Fomicruz lands.
No site work is planned on the Don Sixto gold-silver project in
Argentina over the next quarter. The Company will continue to work
with provincial authorities and with representatives of other
mining companies, to effect amendment to the 2007 legislation that
banned the use of cyanide in mining operations in Mendoza
Province.
(iii) Note: Gold equivalent grade at Cerro Moro is calculated by dividing
the silver assay result by 60, adding it to the gold value and
assuming 100% metallurgical recovery.
You are invited to visit the Exeter web site at
www.exeterresource.com.
EXETER RESOURCE CORPORATION
Bryce Roxburgh, President and CEO
Safe Harbour Statement - This news release contains
"forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
(together, the "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of
applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the Company's belief as to
the extent and timing of its drilling programs and exploration
results, the Company's intention to enter into a transaction with
respect to the Caspiche project, the potential tonnage, grades and
content of deposits, timing and establishment of resources
estimates, potential for financing its activities, potential
production from its properties and expected cash reserves. These
forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news
release. Users of forward-looking statements are cautioned that
actual results may vary from the forward-looking statements
contained herein. While the Company has based these forward-looking
statements on its expectations about future events as at the date
that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a
guarantee of the Company's future performance and are subject to
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially from future results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors and assumptions include, amongst others, the effects of
general economic conditions, the price of gold and copper, changing
foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities,
uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations
and misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking
information. In addition, there are also known and unknown risk
factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance
or achievements to differ materially from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks
associated with project development; the need for additional
financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral
processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters;
uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign
countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance
on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among
certain officers, directors or promoters of the Company with
certain other projects; the absence of dividends; currency
fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of the
Company's common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S.
investors; and other risks and uncertainties, including those
described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the
financial year ended December 31, 2007, dated March 28, 2008 filed
with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at
www.sedar.com.
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 is under no obligation to update or alter
any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable
securities laws.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES
PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX
VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR
ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
Contacts: Exeter Resource Corporation B. Roxburgh President
(604) 688-9592 or Toll Free: 1-888-688-9592 Exeter Resource
Corporation Rob Grey VP Corporate Communications (604) 688-9592 or
Toll Free: 1-888-688-9592 (604) 688-9532 (FAX) Email:
exeter@exeterresource.com Website: www.exeterresource.com
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