Hana Mining Ltd.: Diamond Drilling Encounters Consistent High-Grade Copper-Silver Mineralization Along the South Limb of the Banana Zone
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/12/12 -- Hana Mining Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: HMG)(FRANKFURT: 4LH) ('Hana' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce its most recent drilling results from the completion of 12 infill diamond drill holes in the Banana Zone at its Ghanzi sediment hosted Copper-Silver Project in Botswana.
Infill and down dip drilling was carried out on the South Limb area (between sections 63950 to 64150 at South Limb Definition Area; Figures 1 and 2) to convert a substantial amount of the NI 43-101 compliant resources within this area into the Indicated category from the Inferred category and to extend current Indicated resources down dip.
These results are from new holes and are in addition to those used in the most recent NI 43-101 compliant Inferred mineral resource calculation (see Table 1 at the end of this press release for the results from all 12 drill holes). The mineralization remains open at depth.
Highlights of recent drilling results:
-- The latest results continue to confirm the continuity of copper-
silver mineralization at the South Limb Definition area of the
Banana Zone.
-- Core lengths intercepts of:
-- 5.18% CuEq(1) (4.06% Cu and 77.0 g/t Ag) over 4.6 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 2.70% CuEq(1) (2.14% Cu and 39.0
g/t Ag) over 9.3 metres in hole HA-444-D,
-- 4.84% CuEq(1) (4.05% Cu and 54.0 g/t Ag) over 1.9 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 2.26% CuEq(1) (1.90% Cu and 25.0
g/t Ag) over 4.3 metres in hole HA-426-D,
-- 3.76% CuEq(1) (3.09% Cu and 46.0 g/t Ag) over 2.9 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 1.36% CuEq(1) (1.12% Cu and 16.0
g/t Ag) over 8.9 metres in hole HA-428-D,
-- 3.23% CuEq(1) (2.70% Cu and 36.0 g/t Ag) over 2.3 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 1.60% CuEq(1) (1.35% Cu and 17.0
g/t Ag) over 5.0 metres in hole HA-437-D.
(1) Copper equivalent calculated using US$3.00/lb Cu, US$30/oz Ag and is not
adjusted for metallurgical recoveries. The formula used is as follows:
CuEq = Cu% + (Ag g/t x 0.01458).
Discussion of Results:
The infill drilling program at the South Limb continues to confirm that copper-silver mineralization is relatively high-grade and continuous along strike at the South Limb (Figure 3). This drilling will add to the current down dip indicated resource and allow for the conversion of more mineral resources from the Inferred category into the Indicated category.
To view Figures 1, 2 and 3 visit: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/hmg.pdf
Development Update
The following engineering and consultation activities are ongoing:
-- Work on the revised resource estimate for the Banana Zone is continuing
as expected and the Company expects to release the results of this
resource estimate in the second quarter of 2012.
-- Work continues on the Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA') which is
also expected to be completed in the second quarter of
2012.
Hana Mining's CEO and Chairman, Marek Kreczmer, commented as follows:
'The latest infill drilling results once again demonstrate that high-grade copper-silver mineralization is consistent along strike and dip at the South Limb Definition area. Also, as noted in the previous press release (February 27, 2012), we are finding that copper-silver mineralization in this area is steeply dipping and parallel to the stratigraphy. Complex structures, such as local folding and micro-faulting have shown some thickening of the mineralization much like that seen in the Northeast Fold area.'
Qualified Person and Quality Assurance/Quality Control
The drilling program and results are reviewed and approved by Marek Kreczmer, Chief Executive Officer for Hana. He is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information in this press release.
Drill core is logged and photographed. Mineralized intervals are split in half by sawing and sampled at site. The remainder of the core is kept as a permanent record. Samples are placed into labelled bags, closed and packed into sealed bags that are shipped to ALS Chemex Laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa or Scientific Services Laboratory in Cape Town, South Africa. Hana has implemented an industry-standard QA/QC program that includes the blind insertion of certified standards, duplicates and blanks into the sample stream.
About Hana Mining's Ghanzi Copper-Silver Project in Botswana:
The Ghanzi Project is located in the center of the Kalahari Copper Belt in northwestern Botswana. The Ghanzi property covers 2,149 square kilometres, and contains sediment-hosted copper-silver deposits with a demonstrated cumulative tested strike length of 70 kilometres. This favorable geology extends over an estimated strike length of 600 kilometres. Hana Mining released results of its most recent NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Ghanzi Project on December 20, 2010, announcing an Indicated mineral resource of 762 million pounds of copper and 16 million ounces of silver from 37.4 million tonnes at a grade of 0.93% copper and 13.4 g/t silver. All of the Indicated resources are from the Banana Zone. There are also Inferred resources of 5.6 billion pounds of copper and 85.4 million ounces of silver from 423.9 million tonnes. This Inferred mineral resource estimate consists of 225.4 million tonnes grading 0.64% Cu and 8.1 g/t Ag in the Banana Zone, 20.7 million tonnes grading 1.23% Cu and 8.7 g/t Ag in Zone 5, 16.7 million tonnes grading 0.86% Cu and 4.0 g/t Ag in Zone 6, and 161.1 million tonnes grading 0.45% Cu and 3.6 g/t Ag in the Chalcocite Zone; all at a cut-off grade of 0.30% Cu.
The Banana Zone exhibits certain areas of higher grade Cu and Ag mineralization, particularly between sections 49700 to 52000 on the North limb and sections 63000 to 71000 on both the North and South limbs, which represent an opportunity to locate starter pits and mine initial tonnages at higher than average grades. These higher grade pockets tend to be well within open pit depth parameters and represent opportunities to improve early cash flow and overall returns in development.
The project will benefit from proposed rail and power infrastructure expansions, along with proximity to local population centers and workforce. A feasibility study is currently underway (funded by the World Bank and the governments of Botswana and Namibia) to support completion of a rail line link that would connect Botswana with the Namibian port of Walvis Bay, on the Atlantic coast. The closest existing railhead to port is at Gobabis, in Namibia, approximately 550 km from our property. Construction has begun on the 600MW expansion of the government-owned Moropule Power Plant, having secured US$825 million project funding in May 2009. The Ghanzi Copper-Silver Project is currently accessed by the paved Trans-Kalahari highway, which passes within 15 km of the property.
The Ghanzi property is one of Africa's premier future copper-silver resources.
Table 1: Drill Results from South Limb, Banana Zone, Sections 63950 to
64150 - Interval indicates down hole interval
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Est.
Inter- True
Mineralized From To val Width CuEq Cu Ag
Hole # Section Zone (m) (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (g/t)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Limb Definition Diamond Drilling
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-423c-D SD63950 South Limb Def 175.18 190.37 15.19 12.91 0.52 0.45 5.0
includes 186.60 190.37 3.77 3.20 1.53 1.34 13.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-424b-D SD64050 South Limb Def 177.90 193.37 15.47 13.15 0.88 0.73 10.0
includes 189.42 193.37 3.95 3.36 2.96 2.46 34.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-425-D SD64350 South Limb Def 189.68 194.22 4.54 3.86 1.54 1.33 14.0
includes 190.53 193.76 3.23 2.75 2.08 1.80 19.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-426-D SD64250 South Limb Def 176.00 181.00 5.00 4.25 2.26 1.90 25.0
includes 178.13 180.34 2.21 1.88 4.84 4.05 54.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-427-D SD64450 South Limb Def 193.50 200.61 7.11 6.04 1.10 0.91 13.0
includes 195.96 200.09 4.13 3.51 1.74 1.43 21.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-428-D SD63675 South Limb Def 95.00 105.45 10.45 8.88 1.36 1.12 16.0
includes 102.00 105.45 3.45 2.93 3.76 3.09 46.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-429-D SD64050 South Limb Def 72.00 78.36 6.36 5.41 1.32 1.10 15.0
includes 72.00 73.80 1.80 1.53 1.11 0.93 12.0
includes 75.87 78.36 2.49 2.12 2.26 1.90 25.0
HA-429-D 88.70 91.51 2.81 2.39 2.61 2.17 30.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-430-D SD64550 South Limb Def 184.60 189.61 5.01 4.26 0.74 0.65 6.0
includes 185.27 186.98 1.71 1.45 1.00 0.91 6.0
includes 188.00 189.61 1.61 1.37 0.99 0.86 9.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-433b-D SD63475 South Limb Def 181.38 184.19 2.81 2.39 0.62 0.52 7.0
includes 182.00 184.19 2.19 1.86 0.72 0.58 9.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-435-D SD63375 South Limb Def 79.00 84.92 5.92 5.03 1.79 1.47 22.0
includes 81.06 84.92 3.86 3.28 2.61 2.13 33.0
includes 90.00 91.00 1.00 0.85 1.31 1.02 20.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-437-D SD64150 South Limb Def 183.00 188.92 5.92 5.03 1.60 1.35 17.0
includes 184.98 187.64 2.66 2.26 3.23 2.70 36.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-444-D SD64150 South Limb Def 56.10 67.00 10.90 9.27 2.70 2.14 39.0
includes 61.25 66.70 5.45 4.63 5.18 4.06 77.0
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Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Hana Mining Ltd.
Marek Kreczmer
CEO
604-676-0824
info@hanamining.com
www.hanamining.com
Hana Mining Ltd.
Patrick Donnelly
VP - Corporate Development
604-676-0824
778-370-0146 (FAX)
patrick@hanamining.com
www.hanamining.com
