Castillian Resources Corp.: Hope Brook Indicated Mineral Resource Increases 102% to 590,000 Ounces Gold Inferred Mineral Resource Totals 548,000 Ounces Gold
01.10.2012 | Marketwired
Inferred Mineral Resource Totals 548,000 Ounces GoldTORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 10/01/12 -- Castillian Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: CT)(OTCQX: CTIIF) ("Castillian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an update to its National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Mineral Resource estimate for the Hope Brook Gold Project in southwestern Newfoundland which was previously released on February 14, 2012. This update incorporates results from the 4,549 metre, 15 hole, Phase I diamond drilling program. This drilling confirmed major pillars in the Mine Zone area, confirmed locations of underground workings in the former mine and further extended the Southwest Extension target zone (see press releases dated June 5, 2012 and June 25, 2012). The updated mineral resource estimate is presented in Table 1 below.
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Table 1: Hope Brook Gold Project as at October 1, 2012
(see page 3 for Notes on Methodology)
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Within constraining Below constraining
shell shell
@ 0.50 g Au/t cut-off @ 2.0 g Au/t cut-off Total
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Tonnes Tonnes Tonnes
(Mill- Grade Au (Mill- Gold Gold (Mill- Grade Au
Category ions) (g/t) (kOz) ions) (g/t) (kOz) ions) (g/t) (kOz)
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Indicated 10.6 1.24 422 1.7 2.99 168 12.4 1.48 590
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Inferred 6.5 1.91 397 2.0 2.62 151 8.2 2.07 548
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As shown in Table 2 below, total Indicated Mineral Resources increased 102% to 590,000 ounces of gold from the February 14, 2012 estimate. Total Inferred Mineral Resources had a modest decrease of 26% to 548,000 ounces of gold, which is the result of the successful conversion of Inferred to Indicated Mineral Resources through the 2012 diamond drilling program. Within the constraining shell, there was a significant increase in grade in both the Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, reflecting the confirmation of grade in pillars and location of underground workings.
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Table 2: Comparison to February 14, 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate
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Increase/
February 14, Decrease
Mineral Resource Update October 1, 2012 2012(i) Oz Au
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Tonnes Grade Tonnes Grade
(Mill- (g Au (Mill- (g Au
ions) Au/t) kOz ions) Au/t) kOz
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Totals Indicated 12.4 1.48 590 5.5 1.65 290 +102%
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Inferred 8.2 2.07 548 13.2 1.73 740 -26%
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Within
Potential
Pit
Constraining
Shell Indicated 10.6 1.24 422 4.0 1.11 140 +199%
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Inferred 6.5 1.91 397 11.2 1.57 570 -30%
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Below
Constraining
Shell Indicated 1.7 2.99 168 1.5 3.04 150 +11%
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Inferred 2.0 2.62 151 2.0 2.65 170 -11%
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(i) Full Mineral Resource information found in press release issued
February 14, 2012 and at www.castillian.ca.
Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., President & CEO of Castillian, stated: "We are delighted with the results of this mineral resource update, which was accomplished with a limited, but highly targeted, drilling program. Our technical understanding of the deposit continues to grow and the mineral resources remain open along strike and downdip. Recent field work has outlined a promising target zone just 150 metres north of the Mine Zone. In addition, there is excellent potential to outline new zones along the more than eight kilometres of underexplored mineralized structure that has been identified to date." Dr. Pearson continued: "We have completed detailed planning for the next phase of diamond drilling and have two diamond drills already onsite."
The mineral resource estimates are presented in Table 3 below at different cut-off grades to demonstrate the sensitivity of the mineral resources to change in grade.
Table 3: Mineral Resource Estimates at Different Cut-off Grades, Hope Brook
Gold Project
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Within Constraining Shell
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Cut-off Tonnes Gold Gold
Grade (millions) (g/t) (Oz)
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greater than 1.0 5.3 1.758 300,000
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greater than 0.7 7.9 1.453 371,000
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Indicated greater than 0.5 10.6 1.236 422,000
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greater than 0.4 12.9 1.099 454,000
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greater than 0.3 16.4 0.936 493,000
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greater than 1.0 4.9 2.277 361,000
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greater than 0.7 5.8 2.066 384,000
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Inferred greater than 0.5 6.5 1.913 397,000
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greater than 0.4 6.8 1.831 403,000
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greater than 0.3 7.3 1.742 408,000
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Below Constraining Shell
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Cut-off Tonnes Gold Gold
Grade (millions) (g/t) (Oz)
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greater than 4.0 0.3 4.721 42,000
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greater than 3.0 0.6 3.997 83,000
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Indicated greater than 2.0 1.7 2.991 168,000
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greater than 1.5 2.9 2.489 232,000
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greater than 1.0 4.9 1.960 311,000
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greater than 4.0 0.1 4.703 23,000
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greater than 3.0 0.3 4.035 39,000
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Inferred greater than 2.0 1.8 2.624 151,000
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greater than 1.5 2.5 2.375 194,000
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greater than 1.0 3.4 2.074 230,000
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The updated mineral resource is based on 646 diamond drill holes totaling 129,264 metres of historic and recent drilling. This includes 105 surface diamond drill holes totaling 32,265 metres completed by Castillian from September 2010 to June 2012. Mineral Resources have been estimated within a constraining pit shell at a cut-off grade of 0.50 g Au/t and below this shell at a cut-off grade of 2.0 g Au/t. Details on the mineral resource estimation procedures are given in the notes below. An updated NI 43-101 Technical Report on Hope Brook outlining the procedures for estimation of the mineral resource estimates presented herein will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this press release.
NOTES ON MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY:
1. Mineral resources are estimated in conformance with the CIM Mineral
Resource definitions referred to in NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects. Pierre Desautels, P.Eng., Principal Resource
Geologist, and Jay Melnyk, P.Eng., Principal Mining Engineer, both of
AGP Mining Consultants and Qualified Persons under NI 43-101 who are
independent of the Company, have prepared and authorized the release of
the mineral resource estimates presented herein. The Castillian and
historical diamond drill hole databases and geological model developed
by Castillian were reviewed and validated by Michael Cullen, P.Geo., of
Mercator Geological Services, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-
101 who is independent of the Company. This mineral resource estimate is
an update of the first NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate released by
the Company on February 14, 2012 (see press release February 14, 2012).
2. Specific gravities were determined by Castillian for a representative
number of rock and mineralization types using industry standard methods.
A total of 1,387 determinations exist in the database. The average value
for each modeled domain was applied to the block model. Specific
gravities were further confirmed in testing of representative core
samples by G&T Metallurgical Services, a division of ALS Metallurgy.
3. Detailed geological logging and sectional interpretations by Castillian
led to the development of three-dimensional (3D) domain models based
mainly on lithological controls and partially on assay results. The
wireframing resulted in a high grade envelope (approximately 2.0 g Au/t
cut-off grade) within a lower grade silicic domain (approximately 0.5 g
Au/t cut-off grade) that encompasses the bulk of the mineralization.
These domains were utilized in the variography studies and in grade
interpolation constraints. A footwall pyrite domain and a hanging wall
argillic alteration domain were also wireframed to enable interpolation
of local areas of mineralization and to provide possible exploration
targets. The mineralization is cut by a series of mafic dikes that could
not be individually wireframed, therefore a statistically derived dike
model was constructed that was calibrated with available surface and
historical underground geological information. The model prepared for
the February 14, 2012 resource estimate was updated based on the new
2012 diamond drilling information.
4. For the treatment of outliers each statistical domain was evaluated
separately for gold and a combination of grade capping and search
restrictions imposed on threshold values was used to restrict the
influence of outliers. Capping only affected a small number of samples.
5. The composite intervals selected were 2.5 metres. Grade capping was
applied prior to compositing.
6. A 3D geological block model was generated using GEMS© software. The
block model matrix size is 15 metres x 5 metres x 10 metres. Ordinary
kriging was used for all domains with inverse distance and nearest
neighbour check models. The interpolation was carried out in multiple
passes with increasing search ellipsoid dimensions. Classification for
all models was based primarily on the pass number followed by an
adjustment to the class model, based on the distance to the closest
sample and kriged variance. The area in the model where historical mine
workings exist was downgraded to inferred due to uncertainties about the
location and extent of these workings. Confirmation of the historical
stope location by 2012 Castillian drilling allowed the selection of
blocks eligible for downgrading to be constrained to the immediate area
surrounding the three dimensional modelled stopes. Insufficient data for
copper was available in historical drill holes to allow for
interpolation of copper grades in the model and therefore the total
contained copper was omitted from this release.
7. The reported mineral resources are considered to have reasonable
prospects of economic extraction. A Lerchs Grossman optimized
constraining shell was generated to constrain the potential open pit
material. This shell was designed using design parameters and costs for
comparable deposits, 86% recovery based on new metallurgical testing and
historical plant performance and a gold price of US$1,400 per ounce
which is equivalent to the three year moving average price. The
constraining shell extends down to the 4,800 metre level, the deepest
level developed in the historical mine at approximately 340 metres below
surface.
8. The rounding of tonnes as required by NI 43-101 reporting guidelines may
result in apparent differences between tonnes, grade and contained
ounces.
9. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially
affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues.
10. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources in this
estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient
exploration to define these inferred mineral resources as indicated or
measured mineral resources and it is uncertain if further exploration
will result in upgrading them to indicated or measured mineral
resources.
SAMPLING, ASSAYING AND QUALITY CONTROL
All drill core in the Castillian diamond drilling program (NQ (47.6 mm), BQTK (40.6mm) and BQ (36.4mm)) was logged, photographed and then sawn in half with one-half sent to the laboratory for analysis and the other half retained and stored on site. All core samples were prepared and assayed at ALS Chemex, with sample preparation done in Sudbury and analytical work done in Vancouver. All locations of ALS Chemex are ISO 9001:2000 certified. The entire sample received is weighed and crushed to greater than or equal to 70% passing 2mm (10 mesh). A sample split of up to 1000g is then pulverized to greater than or equal to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) to produce a homogenized sample. A 50g aliquot is used for fire assaying with an atomic absorption (AA) finish to determine gold concentration. Copper is initially analyzed using a four acid digestion ICP (inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry) method. Any results for copper greater than 10,000 ppm are assayed further by a four acid digestion and "ore grade" ICP method. Internal quality control includes the use of blanks, duplicates and standards in every batch of samples. The Company also conducts internal check assaying using certified external reference standards and blanks. Regular external check assays are performed at a second certified Canadian commercial laboratory. Castillian also inserts external reference standards as well as blank granite drill core in each sample batch as a further external check.
QUALIFIED PERSONS
Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., President and CEO of Castillian, who is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this press release. Pierre Desautels, P.Eng., Principal Resource Geologist, and Jay Melnyk, P.Eng., Principal Mining Engineer, both of AGP Mining Consultants and Qualified Persons under NI 43-101 who are independent of the Company, have prepared and authorized the release of the mineral resource estimates presented herein. The Castillian and historical diamond drill hole databases and geological model developed by Castillian were reviewed and validated by Michael Cullen, P.Geo., of Mercator Geological Services, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 who is independent of the Company.
ABOUT CASTILLIAN
Castillian Resources Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CT" and on the OTCQX International under the symbol "CTIIF" The Company has gold and base metal properties in Canada and South America. Castillian's flag ship property is the Hope Brook Gold Project located in southwestern Newfoundland, which has 590,000 ounces of NI 43-101 compliant indicated mineral resources and 548,000 ounces of inferred mineral resources. Castillian has outlined an extensive new Gold-in-Soil anomaly trend on its Canadian Creek property in the Yukon that is adjacent to Kaminak's Sugar Gold-in-Soil trend.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding exploration prospects and timing of future exploration. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; future prices of mineral prices; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information 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 information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Information Concerning Estimates of Indicated and Inferred Resources
This news release uses the terms "indicated resources" and "inferred resources". Castillian advises investors that although these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under NI 43-101), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. In addition, inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments as defined under NI 43-101. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ct1001fig1.pdf.
NEITHER 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:
Castillian Resources Corp.
Rob Hopkins, Investor Relations Manager
416-861-5899
rhopkins@castillian.ca
Castillian Resources Corp.
Bill Pearson, President & CEO
416-861-2968
president@castillian.ca
www.castillian.ca
