Selwyn Updates Revised Mine Development Plan for the Selwyn Project
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/22/12 -- Selwyn Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: SWN) ("Selwyn") is pleased to announce an updated development plan for the Selwyn Project in the Yukon. The Selwyn Project is managed by Selwyn Chihong Mining Ltd ("SCML"), a joint venture between Selwyn and Chihong Canada Mining Ltd. Chihong Canada Mining Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yunnan Chihong Zinc and Germanium Co., Ltd., one of China's largest mine and smelter operators. The revised development plan is the result of internal engineering investigations by SCML during the last three months, using the mineral resource previously reported according to National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") standards (see August 13, 2012 release) with independent review of mining, milling, environmental and infrastructure disciplines as required.
Highlights
-- 3,500 tonne per day combined mining rate from XY Central and Don
deposits with increased mill feed grade of 10% to 12% combined zinc and
lead content, diluted, with a ratio of approximately 2 to 1 zinc-to-
lead.
-- Workforce reduced to 400 (+/-50) from previous estimates, which does not
include external services such as concentrate or consumable haulage,
road maintenance and camp catering, and is expected to achieve a
reduction in camp capital and operating costs compared to previous
estimates.
-- Independent qualitative analysis of drill core has provided a
geotechnical update that allows for larger than 10 metre mine openings
and the use of lower cost longhole stoping methods for underground
mining.
-- Mine production planning is in progress with mining costs ranging from
$45 to $55 per tonne of mill feed.
-- Waste rock from underground development is scheduled as mine backfill to
reduce capital and operating costs as well as simplifying site logistics
and minimizing the environmental footprint.
-- Metallurgical flowsheet changes are expected to reduce power
consumption, with less material to regrind and shorter flotation
retention time, and improved lead flotation performance. Metallurgical
verification testwork is in progress, including locked cycle testing. As
a result, the milling cost is expected to be between $30 and $35 per
tonne of mill feed.
-- Alternative port facilities at Skagway and Stewart have been included in
the revised transportation logistics plan, to further minimize the
project's capital and operating costs, including an upgrade of the
existing road linking the site to the southern gateway of Watson Lake.
Current cost quotations for truck transport, handling and ocean freight
total approximately $28 per tonne of mill feed, or $190 per tonne of wet
concentrate.
-- Planned relocation of the milling complex is expected to consolidate the
infrastructure, simplify site logistics and reduce capital and operating
costs.
-- Combined mining and milling costs of less than $90 per tonne is
expected, and an overall combined cost of approximately $150 per tonne
is expected which includes mining, milling, G&A, transport, ocean
freight and smelter charges.
-- Recent signing of an Interim Measures Agreement with the Kaska First
Nation was announced (see July 19, 2012 news release).
-- Use of available engineering and environmental impact and mitigation
work for the revised scale of the project.
-- SCML is developing an internal project team to reduce project overheads
for pre-production and construction.
Until a feasibility study is completed the economic viability of the proposed operation is not certain.
Background
In late 2010, SCML embarked on a feasibility study with Tetra Tech Wardrop (Tetra Tech) to prepare an analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of the Selwyn Project. At that time, the study was incorporating an 8,000 tonne per day (tpd) underground mining and processing facility to produce lead and zinc concentrates for shipment and sale. The mineral resource used in this analysis was from the XY Central and the Don deposits. In April 2012, this feasibility work was terminated based on internal conclusions that the project was not technically or economically feasible, primarily due to the following reasons:
-- 8,000 tpd from the two underground mines could not be achieved within
reasonable economic and safe mining constraints beyond 4 to 5 years;
-- the lower mined grade could not support the high mining, metallurgical
processing and transportation costs that had been estimated for the site
location; and
-- multiple levels of contingency and aggressive profit margins in
developing the cost basis for financial analysis.
Tetra Tech has delivered a Status Report on the Selwyn Project feasibility study report, dated July 2012, which excludes a financial analysis prepared under an Independent Qualified Person review, and provides the primary database and cost sourcing for continuing work by SCML on the revised mine plan and development.
Mineral Resource
The mineral resources selected for the 3,500 tonne per day mine development plan include only Indicated resources from the Don and XY Central deposits. The Don deposit mineral resource estimate was recently updated (see August 13, 2012 news release) and is now known to contain an Indicated mineral resource of 41,788,700 tonnes grading 5.35% zinc and 1.87% lead at a 2.0% zinc cut-off grade; which includes a higher-grade subset of 16,353,257 tonnes grading 7.26% zinc and 2.62% lead at a 5.5% zinc cut-off. The updated mineral resource estimate was prepared by Independent Qualified Person, Mr. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., Kirkham Geosystems Ltd., Burnaby, British Columbia.
The mineral resource for the XY Central deposit has remained unchanged since last published in September 2011 to NI 43-101 standards with an Indicated mineral resource of 29,936,000 tonnes grading 6.35% zinc and 2.69% lead at a base case 2.0% zinc cut-off grade. This mineral resource is only for three of six lenses that comprise the XY Central deposit, namely the 93, 94, and 95 lenses. The current overall global mineral resource for the XY Central deposit is an Indicated mineral resource of 45,114,500 tonnes grading 5.70% zinc and 2.40% lead and an Inferred mineral resource of 44,112,500 tonnes grading 4.10% zinc and 1.29% lead, both at a 2.0% zinc cut-off grade. The September 2011 mineral resource estimate for the XY Central deposit was prepared by Independent Qualified Persons, Mr. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., of Kirkham Geosystems Ltd., Burnaby, British Columbia, and Mr. Cliff Pearson, P.Geo., Pearson Geological Inc., Victoria, British Columbia (see September 12, 2011 news release).
Available Indicated Mineral Resources in Don and XY Central Deposits at a 2%
Zinc Cut-off
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Zn Pb Zn Pb
Resource Class Deposit Tonnes (%) (%) (Blbs) (Blbs)
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Indicated Category(1) XY Central 29,936,000 6.35 2.69 4.19 1.77
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Indicated Category(2) Don 41,788,700 5.35 1.87 4.92 1.72
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Total 71,724,700 5.77 2.21 9.11 3.49
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Notes to Table 1:
(1) 2011 mineral resources to NI 43-101 standards were completed by
Independent Qualified Persons, Mr. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. and Mr. Cliff
Pearson, P.Geo. (see September 12, 2011 news release).
(2) 2012 mineral resources mineral resources to NI 43-101 standards were
completed by Independent Qualified Person, Mr. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo.
(see August 13, 2012 news release).
The revised mine plan that has been developed recently incorporates the XY Central and Don deposits, representing only a small portion of the overall known Indicated mineral resources for the Selwyn Project, which are currently 185,573,200 tonnes grading 5.20% zinc and 1.79% lead at a 2.0% zinc cut-off grade (see August 13, 2012 news release). The objective of SCML is to establish a small tonnage, high-grade mining operation to provide an operating basis for possible future expansion to extract a greater portion of the remaining mineral resources located at the Selwyn Project.
Mining
The principal mining alternatives historically assessed for the Selwyn Project were open pit and underground mining methods ranging from 5,000 to 40,000 tonnes per day. Earlier development plans had assumed a large scale operation with mining rates of 20,000 to 40,000 tpd from multiple open pits. The base metal price environment of the latter part of 2008 and early 2009, as well as confirmation of the known high-grade resource base at the XY Central and Don deposits of the Selwyn project, resulted in further investigation of development alternatives. The revised approach in the prior plan included two underground mines with a combined mining rate in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 tpd and an overall mine life of at least 10 years. Due to the high capital costs and lower than expected mine grades from the diluting effects of high rate production mining methods necessary to achieve the required daily production, the economic results were unfavourable.
As a result, a lower tonnage operation is being assessed and considers the following:
-- initial mining of higher grade ores, lower initial production rates and
reduced capital costs to enhance the financial viability of the project;
-- reduced unit operating costs;
-- improved socio-economic benefits for the local communities by extending
the initial known mine life.
The management of SCML decided to focus on a mine development plan that initiates mining the largest of the known high-grade resources which are contained in the XY Central and Don deposits. These resources extend to depths of at least 350 metres at XY Central deposit and 700 metres at Don deposit, and therefore underground mining methods are warranted. The topography is favourable for decline access to the zones available for mining. Mining rates of 2,000 tpd and 1,500 tpd were considered safe and sustainable for XY and Don deposits, respectively, based on the known access and deposit geometry.
The geology of the XY and Don deposits is variable and complex for mining. As a result, several mining methods have been evaluated on the basis of safety, sustainable mine development, schedule, operating and construction costs, and environmental impact. Initial geotechnical constraints placed on mining method selection have recently been re-evaluated by AMEC using qualitative analyses of AMEC selected drill cores. AMEC's analysis resulted in a modification of the geotechnical constraints that allow for excavation spans greater than the five metre limit that had previously been set. As a result, a combination of mining methods has been selected which are currently being evaluated. It is anticipated that shallow dipping portions of the XY deposit can be mined using bench stoping with cemented and un-cemented waste rock backfill, while the steeper dipping areas of the XY and Don deposits can be mined using a combination of longhole transverse, retreat or bench stoping methods with cemented and un-cemented waste rock backfill.
For mine planning purposes, the XY deposit has been divided into three relatively flat-dipping lenses (93, 94 and 95). Each of the lenses has a strike length of approximately 500 metres and each extends from close to the surface to a presently planned mining depth of 350 metres. Ore widths range from 5 metres to 15 metres. The three mineable lenses are estimated to contain an undiluted mineable tonnage of approximately 5.9 million tonnes grading 8.9% zinc and 4.7% lead. Current production planning is for 2,000 tonnes per day from the XY Central deposit.
The Don deposit has a drill-defined strike length of approximately 800 metres. The deposit has a strike of 104 degrees, and dips steeply to the southwest at 85 degrees to 90 degrees. Drilling has tested the deposit to a depth of 700 metres below surface. The deposit is truncated at the western extent, but remains open to the east and down dip, suggesting the potential for extending mine life through the delineation of additional resources. Ore widths range from approximately 5 metres to about 40 metres in the 61 lens and 5 metres to over 100 metres in the 63 lens. The mining blocks are estimated to contain an undiluted mineable tonnage of approximately 7.2 million tonnes grading 3.1% lead and 7.6% zinc, or higher, sufficient to sustain production of a minimum of 1,500 tonnes per day, with production expansion currently under evaluation.
Detailed mine production planning is now in progress by SCML, assisted by AMEC Mining and Metals and Mintec Inc as required on a secondment basis to complement SCML's mining team. Based on the mine planning completed to date, SCML expects mining costs of $45 to $55 per tonne of mill feed.
Milling
A 3,500 tonne per day capacity milling complex is planned to process the fine-grained polymetallic lead/zinc bearing material from the XY Central and Don deposits, located near the Don deposit and the tailings storage facility. The principal economic minerals are sphalerite and galena. Minor pyrite, quartz and calcite make up the gangue minerals. The processing flowsheet has been developed based on experimental results obtained over the last 20+ years to separate sphalerite and galena from gangue minerals by differential flotation to produce separate zinc and lead concentrates for shipment and sale.
The metallurgical flowsheet incorporates conventional processing components including: primary crushing, primary and secondary grinding (SAG mill and secondary grinding), differential flotation (including zinc and lead regrind), concentrate dewatering systems, tailings discharge to a dedicated tailings storage facility, and reagent systems.
A recent review of the process metallurgy identified a number of potential opportunities for capital and operating cost reductions, including:
-- Replacement of the gyratory crusher with a jaw crusher;
-- Addition of a cleaner stage on the carbon scalping stage to improve
carbon rejection and overall lead and zinc recovery;
-- Creation of a first cleaner stage for both the lead and zinc circuits to
reduce the amount of material reporting to the regrind circuit by up to
50%;
-- Removal of the tailings thickener to improve process water quality and
metallurgical performance;
-- A reduction of the number of cleaner flotation stages and inclusion of
column flotation cells;
-- Reverse flotation for final concentrate cleaning
Average metallurgical recoveries are estimated at approximately 83% of the contained zinc and 70% of the contained lead, resulting in the production of approximately 180,000 tonnes per year of zinc concentrate, at an average grade of approximately 56% zinc, and approximately 65,000 tonnes per year of lead concentrate, at an average grade of approximately 60% lead.
Verification testwork is continuing at G&T Metallurgical Services under the direction of Jeff Austin, P. Eng., of International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc, using composite samples from recent drilling.
Based on the revised process flowsheet, SCML expects the milling cost to be $30 to $35 per tonne milled using the unit cost information compiled by Tetra Tech which will be verified by updated quotations and power estimates.
Infrastructure
An internal review of the project infrastructure has identified several potential opportunities to reduce capital and operating costs:
-- The milling complex can be relocated to a location near the tailings
storage facility and the Don mine, to consolidate the project
infrastructure, including the camp, maintenance shops, airstrip and
power plant.
-- A satellite power plant and water treatment plant will be located at the
XY mine to minimize power distribution requirements and pipelines, while
the primary power plant and water treatment facilities will be located
at the main milling and camp complex.
-- Workforce reduced from 500 (+/-50) to 400 (+/-50), which does not
include external services such as concentrate or consumable haulage,
road maintenance and camp catering, which is expected to achieve a
reduction in camp capital and operating costs.
-- Alternative port facilities are available for shipping mineral
concentrate to world markets; Skagway, Alaska, and Stewart, British
Columbia. At the smaller tonnage, SCML would have access to storage and
loading facilities in either location, or both, subject to contract
negotiations. Both port sites have facility expansion plans underway to
accommodate the anticipated demand for facilities in the coming years
from new projects in the region.
-- There are a number of transport companies that could provide concentrate
haulage as well as consumable haulage on a back-haul basis for the
project. The alternatives are currently being reviewed with respect to
maximizing the benefits to local communities while minimizing the cost
to the Selwyn Project.
Based on current quotations SCML expects the total transport, handling and ocean freight costs to be approximately $28 per tonne of mill feed, or $190 per tonne of wet concentrate.
Environmental & Community Affairs
Major permits required to advance project development include Quartz Mining and Type A Water Licences in the Yukon and Land Use Permits in the Northwest Territories ("NWT"). Both jurisdictions require the completion of a comprehensive environmental assessment (through Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board ("YESAB") in the Yukon and Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board ("MVEIRB") in the NWT. A draft YESAB submission and MVLWB Land Use Permit application for the road in the NWT were completed in late 2011 based on an 8,000 tonne per day mining scenario with underground mining at XY and Don deposits. These draft submissions will be used as a foundation for revisions to reflect the current concept of underground mines at XY and Don deposits with lower production rates and relative reductions in infrastructure.
Additional community consultation on the updated project design is required in advance of making project submissions to YESAB and MVLWB. This consultation is expected to proceed in the fall of 2012. SCML has completed an Interim Measures Agreement (IMA) with the Kaska Nation communities whose traditional territory overlaps much of the Project Area. This agreement covers all project lands in the Yukon and project development phases up to the construction of a mine. SCML has commenced negotiation of a Socio-economic Participation Agreement (SEPA) with the Kaska that will cover the construction, operations and closure phases of the Project. A Co-operation Agreement with the Tulita District Dene and Metis aboriginal groups was signed on April 29, 2010. SCML has entered into negotiation of a Co-operation Agreement with Naha Dehe Dene Band (Nahanni Butte) in respect of Selwyn Project activities within its traditional territory in the Northwest Territories.
Comparative Operations
SCML has the objective to develop an operating mine that meets environmental and community expectations raised during previous consultations and provides a safe and sustainable mine operation that efficiently utilizes the mineral resources while maximizing the benefit to local communities. The revised development plan offers an opportunity to begin operations on a conservative basis with potential for long term continued development of the Selwyn mineral complex. As summarized in the following table, the revised development plan described above incorporates known technologies and mining practices to minimize project risk and to minimize the surface and environmental impacts of the project.
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Area of Operation Applicable Technology Application in Other
Northern Mining Projects
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Underground Mines Longhole stoping. Greens Creek, Wolverine,
Variant of cut-and-fill Lisheen, Shalkiya
stoping in areas of
shallow dip.
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Processing Flowsheet Crushing,grinding/regrin Red Dog, Bellekeno,
ding, flotation, Lisheen
concentrate thickening
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Tailings Storage Conventional tailings Red Dog, Minto,
Facility dam and impoundment with Wolverine
partial liner
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Water Treatment Plant Sulphide precipitation Raglan, Minto, FMI
Bisbee, Jiangxi Copper
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Power Generation Diesel-fuelled Diavik, Ekati, Snap
electricity generation Lake, Red Dog
and distribution
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Concentrate Road haulage to Skagway, Bellekeno, Minto,
Transportation Alaska, Stewart, BC, or Wolverine
Fort Nelson railhead
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Contributors
The information in this update is a summary of information compiled from SCML internal engineering work completed to date, including the following reference documents and contributors:
1. Tetra Tech Wardrop (Tetra Tech), Status Report on the feasibility study,
July 2012
2. Merit Construction - construction estimate, internal report, December
2011
3. AMEC Mining and Metals -geotechnical evaluations, preliminary mine
planning and design, with internal reports and seconded personnel
4. Mintec Inc. - mine design, layout and seconded personnel
5. International Metallurgical and Environmental - process flowsheet and
metallurgy updates, mass balance evaluation, process design criteria
evaluation, process unit cost review, internal reports
6. G&T Metallurgical Services - sample composite preparation, metallurgical
testwork, process flowsheet updates, reagent quantities, internal
reports
7. Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd - Tailings Storage Facility Study Report,
Revision A, November 2011
8. Paul Taylor, consultant - transport, internal reports, included as
Chapter 8 in the Tetra Tech report
9. Neil Brazier, consultant - power and power distribution, internal
reports, included as appendices to the Tetra Tech report
10. Gerry Beauchamps, consultant - mine costing, internal reports
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning mineralization at and the development of the Selwyn Project. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond Selwyn's control, including the results of exploration activities, economic evaluations and engineering studies, the availability of funds in the financial markets on terms acceptable to Selwyn and the public's view of the economic value of the Selwyn Project. Until a feasibility study is completed the economic viability of the proposed operation is not certain. Additionally, more drilling is required to confirm the potential of the new discovery areas, expansions of the current resource areas, and the extension of the higher grade deep mineralization to depth at the Selwyn Project. There is no assurance that such additional drilling will expand mineral resources or that the resources being defined can be developed as an economically attractive mine. Uncertainties associated with permitting and other factors could delay development of the Selwyn Project. Although Selwyn has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, and there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated or intended. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and accordingly, there is no assurance that the Selwyn Project will be developed into a profitable mine. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Contributors:
Brad Marchant, President & CEO, Selwyn Chihong Mining Ltd.
Jason Dunning, P. Geo., Vice President Exploration, Selwyn Resources Ltd.
Joe Ringwald, P. Eng., Vice President Mining, Selwyn Resources Ltd.
Alistair Kent, P. Eng., Manager, Technical Services, Selwyn Chihong Mining
Ltd.
Justin Himmelright, R.P. Bio., Vice President Environment & Community
Affairs, Selwyn Resources Ltd.
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 release.
Contacts:
Selwyn Resources Ltd.
Catalin Chiloflischi
Investor Relations
+1 (604) 801-7240 or Toll-free: +1 (888) 989-9188
Selwyn Resources Ltd.
Dr. Harlan Meade
CEO
+1 (604) 801-7240 or Toll-free: +1 (888) 989-9188
+1 (604) 689-8355 (FAX)
info@selwynresources.com
www.selwynresources.com
