5-fold increase in Measured & Indicated resource to 710 koz
3-fold increase in Inferred resource to 250 koz
Western Flanks structure remains open to the north and at depth with good grade and thicknesses of mineralization at the margins of the resource including the deepest and northernmost hole from the current campaign (WFN-083) that yielded 6.3 g/t over 13.9 metres (estimated true width)
TORONTO, June 27, 2019 /CNW/ -RNC Minerals (TSX: RNX) ("RNC") is pleased to announce a substantial increase to the mineral resource for the Western Flanks Zone at its Beta Hunt Gold Mine in Western Australia based on an updated mineral resource estimate effective as of June 26, 2019.
Figure 1: Long section of the Western Flanks (looking east) Mineral Resource colour-coded for 2019 resource classification and compared to December 31, 2017 mineral resource estimate. Note that all material mined has been depleted from resource. (CNW Group/RNC Minerals)
Figure 2: Long Section of Western Flanks (looking east) showing all drill hole pierce points. The Western Flanks Resource is continuous over 1.2km in strike and remains open at depth and along strike to the north. (CNW Group/RNC Minerals)
Figure 3: Grade tonnage curve for Western Flanks Resource – Measured and Indicated Resource only (CNW Group/RNC Minerals)
Figure 4: 3D View of Beta Hunt gold resources and Exploration Targets (CNW Group/RNC Minerals)
The recently completed resource definition drilling program at Beta Hunt has significantly added to the resource base of the mine by upgrading and extending the mineral resources at Western Flanks (Table 1). A total of 16,876 metres of drilling in 144 drill holes were completed at Western Flanks during the current grade control, resource definition and exploration drilling program. Mineralization at Western Flanks has now been defined across a 1.2 km strike length and to a depth of 150 to 250 metres below the basalt contact. The increase in resource was achieved at a discovery cost of less than $5 per ounce.
"This increase in resource size is an outstanding result and confirms the exploration potential we always believed existed at Beta Hunt. Today's 710 koz Measured and Indicated resource with a further 250 koz Inferred resource comes from just over one kilometer of strike length on a single shear complex in the Western Flanks, which we believe represents only a fraction of the mine's overall potential," said Mark Selby, President and CEO of RNC Minerals. "I look forward to the results of the remaining 5,000 metres of the current exploration program now underway which will begin testing the other three shears that occur over a potential strike length of more than four kilometres and where gold mineralization has been outlined by historic drilling."
Mineral Resource Estimate The Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources for the Western Flanks Zone at the Beta Hunt Mine increased significantly compared to the prior Indicated Resources estimate of December 31, 2017 as a result of infill and exploration diamond drilling completed since that date.
The following table presents the Western Flanks Mineral Resource Estimate as of June 26, 2019:
Table 1: Beta Hunt Mine Western Flanks Zone Gold Mineral Resources as at June 26, 2019
Resource
Measured
Indicated
Measured & Indicated
Inferred
Kt
g/t
Koz
Kt
g/t
Koz
Kt
g/t
Koz
Kt
g/t
Koz
Western Flanks 1.2.3.4.5
447
2.8
40
7,001
3.0
670
7,448
3.0
710
2481
3.1
250
1.
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into Mineral Reserves.
2.
The Mineral Resource estimates include Inferred Mineral Resources that are normally considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is also no certainty that Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling, or into Mineral Reserves once economic considerations are applied. Mineral resource tonnage and contained metal have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate, and numbers may not add due to rounding
3.
Gold Mineral Resources are reported using a 1.6 g/t Au cut-off grade
4.
Mineral Resources described here are based on information compiled by Paul Ellison, Senior Geologist for Salt Lake Mining Pty.Ltd. Paul Ellison is an employee of Salt Lake and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM,).
5.
Mineral Resource Estimate as of 26 June 2019.
Mineral Resources for Western Flanks are reported at a 1.6 g/t Au cutoff. The comparisons noted above are to the previous Mineral Resource estimate for Western Flanks reported at a 1.8 g/t Au cutoff effective December 31, 2017 which was published by press release on April 26, 2018 and can be found on RNC's website at www.rncminerals.com and at www.sedar.com. For comparison, the historical 2017 resource estimate for Western Flanks was 145 koz contained in 1,513 kt @ 3.0 g/t Au in Indicated category and 85 koz contained in 812 kt @ 3.3 g/t Au in Inferred category while the A Zone historical 2017 resource estimate was 75 koz contained in 672 kt @ 3.4 g/t Au in Indicated category and 97 koz contained in 997 kt @ 3.1 g/t Au in Inferred category.
The resource definition drill program at Western Flanks has extended the resource by over 400 metres to the north and 50 metres down dip, intersecting significantly greater thicknesses of mineralization in many areas. A revised geological model for mineralization at Western Flanks based on information from recent drilling and mining has significantly enhanced the understanding of the structural controls on mineralization and has provided improved parameters for resource modeling.
A lower cut-off grade of 1.6g/t Au was used for reporting purposes and reflects lower milling costs that are a result of owning our own mill, lower mining costs and a higher gold price when compared to the 1.8g/t Au cut-off used for the 2017 Mineral Resource estimate.
The grade-tonnage curve shown below (Figure 3) shows the impact of varying cut-off grades for this deposit. For example, using a 1.8 g/t Au cut-off as used in the 2017 Western Flanks Resource estimate yields:
6,461 kt @ 3.2 g/t Au containing 656 koz1
Which compares to the 2017 Western Flanks Indicated resource estimate at 1.8 g/t cut-off of:
1,513 kt @ 3.0 g/t Au containing 145 koz1.
Evaluating the 2019 Mineral Resource using a higher cut-off grade of 2.7 g/t Au yields a Measured and Indicated resource of 3,340 kt @ 4.0 g/t Au containing 435 koz1 ounces which would still be three times larger on a contained gold basis than the previous 2017 Measured and Indicated resource.
1.
The reader is cautioned that these figures should not be misconstrued with a Mineral Resource Statement. The figures are only presented to show the sensitivity of the block model estimates to the selection of a cut-off grade
The high-grade coarse Father's Day style gold occurrences associated with the Shear Zone/Lunnon Sediment intersection horizon are not represented in the resource model due to the extreme nuggety nature of this type of bonanza mineralization. These occurrences are best considered as a potential periodic significant bonus to mine production.
Resource definition drilling at the A Zone consisting of 21,951 metres of drilling in 184 holes was completed on June 20, 2019. An update of the Mineral Resource for the A Zone is currently being performed.
The updated Mineral Resource estimate for both Western Flanks and the A Zone will be detailed in a technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this press release.
On the basis of these resource estimate updates, RNC Minerals plans to define and publish a gold reserve estimate at Beta Hunt mine that we expect will support resumption of full-scale production at Beta Hunt in Q3 2019.
Expansion Potential The successful definition of significant mineral resources along the Western Flanks shear zone highlights the exploration potential of the other shears on the property including the fault offset of the mineralized shear system to the south of the Alpha Island Fault (Figure 4). Historical drilling has demonstrated that these shears contain gold mineralization. Ongoing exploration is focusing on this potential.
Technical Report The updated Western Flanks Mineral Resource estimate will be detailed in a technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release
Compliance Statement (JORC 2012 and NI 43-101) The Mineral Resource estimates set out in this release have been prepared using accepted industry practice and classified in accordance with the JORC Code, 2012 Edition by Paul Ellison, MAusIMM, under the supervision of Stephen Devlin, FAusIMM. Both are employees of Salt Lake Mining Pty. Ltd (SLM), a 100% owned subsidiary of RNC Minerals.
Mr. Ellison is a Senior Geologist for SLM and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code, 2012 Edition.
Mr. Devlin is Vice President Exploration and Growth for SLM and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code, 2012 Edition and fulfils the requirements to be a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
Mr. Devlin has reviewed and approved the disclosure of the technical information included in this news release.
The "JORC Code" means the Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Mineral Council of Australia. There are no material differences between the definitions of Mineral Resources under the applicable definitions adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM Definition Standards") and the corresponding equivalent definitions in the JORC Code for Mineral Resources.
Drill core sampling was conducted by SLM personnel. Samples are shipped to SGS Mineral Services of Kalgoorlie for preparation and assaying by 50 gram fire assay analytical method. All diamond drilling samples submitted for assay will include at least one blank and one Certified Reference Material ("CRM") per batch, however small the batch of drillhole samples, plus one CRM or blank every 20 samples. In samples with observed visible gold mineralization, a coarse blank is inserted after the visible gold mineralization to serve as both a coarse flush to prevent contamination of subsequent samples and a test for gold smearing from one sample to the next which may have resulted from inadequate cleaning of the crusher and pulveriser. The lab is also required to undertake a minimum of 1 in 20 wet screens on pulverised samples to ensure a minimum 90% passing at -75µm. Where problems have been identified in QAQC checks, SLM personnel and the SGS laboratory staff have actively pursued and corrected the issues as standard procedure.
About RNC RNC has a 100% interest in the producing Beta Hunt gold mine located in Western Australia where a significant high-grade gold discovery - "Father's Day Vein" - was made. Beta Hunt gold resource potential is underpinned by multiple gold shears with gold intersections across a 4 km strike length which remain open in multiple directions adjacent to an existing 5 km ramp network. RNC has a 100% interest in the Higginsville Gold Operation in Western Australia, which is comprised of a low cost 1.3 Mtpa gold mill and a substantial portfolio of gold tenements. In addition, RNC owns a 28% interest in a nickel joint venture that owns the Dumont Nickel-Cobalt Project located in the Abitibi region of Quebec which contains the second largest nickel reserve and ninth largest cobalt reserve in the world. RNC also owns a 27% interest in Orford Mining Corporation, a mineral explorer focused on highly prospective and underexplored areas of Northern Quebec. RNC has a strong management team and Board with over 100 years of mining experience. RNC's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol RNX. RNC shares also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol RNKLF.
This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to the mineral resource estimates and the potential of the Beta Hunt Mine.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of RNC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to RNC's filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Although RNC 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and RNC disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE RNC Minerals
Rob Buchanan, Director, Investor Relations, T: (416) 363-0649, www.rncminerals.com
RNC is a multi-asset mineral resource company with a portfolio of nickel, cobalt, and gold production and exploration properties. RNC has a 28% interest in a nickel joint venture with Waterton that owns the Dumont Nickel-Cobalt Project located in the Abitibi region of...
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