Arizona Mining metallurgical study indicates high recoveries from Hermosa
VANCOUVER, Jan. 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Arizona Mining Inc. (TSX: AZ) ("Arizona Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed a scoping level metallurgical study on the lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and silver (Ag) mineralization at its advanced exploration Hermosa project. The study projects overall recoveries of 92.9% Pb; 85.5% Zn and 91% Ag using industry standard froth flotation processing techniques. The study was completed by Resource Development Inc. located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Arizona Mining's COO, Don Taylor commented "completing the preliminary metallurgy work was an important step in de-risking the Hermosa project. The scoping level studies clearly indicate very high recoveries of lead, zinc and silver using traditional, low cost techniques. Analysis of the concentrates produced show very low levels of any deleterious elements in the concentrates, indicating the processed mineralization will yield high quality lead and zinc concentrates that will be very attractive to the industry. As testing progresses we will focus on improving recoveries, concentrate grades and finding the most effective option to produce a copper concentrate."
The study highlights include:
- A composite sample representative of the mineralization drilled to-date was prepared from split core samples which were projected to have the average grade of the deposit. The composite assayed 9.14% Pb, 7.99% Zn, 126 g/t Ag, 0.243% Cu and 0.285 g/t Au. The composite sample grade is higher than the projected grade of ±5% Pb and ± Zn.
- The concentrates produced from the mineralization contained no deleterious elements and should not pose an issue for concentrate sales or the smelting of the concentrates.
- The composite sample had a Bond's mill work index of 14.03 kwh/st.
- Conventional differential lead-zinc process worksheet using industry accepted reagents and one to two stages of cleaner flotation for each lead and zinc flotation produced marketable-grade lead and zinc concentrates.
- The lead rougher concentrate recovered 97.1% Pb, 81.4% Ag, 12.8% Zn and 27.7% Cu in 15.8% of the weight. The concentrate assayed 51.7% Pb, 6.41% Zn, 632 g/t Ag and 0.51% Cu.
- The zinc rougher concentrate recovered 83.2% Zn, 1.5% Pb, 15.8% Ag and 68% Cu in 20% of the weight. The concentrate assayed 33% Zn, 0.65% Pb, 96.8 g/t and Ag1.0% Cu.
- The copper grade of the composited sample was too low to produce a marketable-grade copper concentrate. This will be evaluated further in the next phase of testing.
- The second cleaner lead concentrate assayed 75.1% Pb, 1.13% Zn, 804 g/t Ag and 0.32% Cu. The concentrate had no deleterious elements.
- The second cleaner zinc concentrate assayed 56.3% Zn, 0.31% Pb, 144 g/t Ag and 1.28% Cu. The concentrate had no deleterious elements.
Based on the results of the testing, the overall recoveries in the process flowsheet can be projected as:
Pb Concentrate - 92.9% Pb and 76% Ag
Zn Concentrate – 85.55 Zn and 15% Ag
NI 43-101 Technical Report
The NI 43-101 Technical Report relating to this metallurgical study will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) within 45 days and will also be available on the Company's website (www.arizonamining.com).
Qualified Person
The press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Deepak Malhotra, Registered Member of Society of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering (SME) and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About Arizona Mining
Arizona Mining Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of its 80% owned Hermosa property located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The Hermosa project, a lead-zinc-silver carbonate replacement zone mineral exploration project, has a resource calculated in accordance with NI 43-101 and is being drilled to test the limits of that resource. The Company released the results of the first seven holes of the current drill program that showed high grade lead, zinc and silver intercepts over significant thicknesses. In addition to the metallurgical work just completed, the Company will be completing an updated resource estimate based on the drill results to date. The Company's other project on the Hermosa property is a silver-manganese manto oxide development project that has a prefeasibility study completed in December 2013.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward looking statements including statements with respect to the Company's intentions for its Hermosa property in Arizona, USA including, without limitation, completing an updated resource estimate on the Hermosa project. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as may, will, seek, anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, budget, schedule, forecast, project, expect, intend, or similar expressions.
The forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which, while considered reasonable by Arizona Mining, are subject to risks and uncertainties. In addition to the assumptions herein, these assumptions include the assumptions described in Arizona Mining's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2014 ("MD&A"). Arizona Mining cautions readers that forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements and forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results, performance or achievement. These risks, uncertainties and factors include general business, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties; actual results of exploration activities and economic evaluations; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in project parameters; changes in costs, including labour, infrastructure, operating and production costs; future prices of zinc, lead, silver and other minerals; variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, development or mining activities, including the failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; delays in completion of exploration, development or construction activities; changes in government legislation and regulation; the ability to maintain and renew existing licenses and permits or obtain required licenses and permits in a timely manner; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms in a timely manner; contests over title to properties; employee relations and shortages of skilled personnel and contractors; the speculative nature of, and the risks involved in, the exploration, development and mining business; and the factors discussed in the section entitled "Risks and Uncertainties" in the MD&A.
Although Arizona Mining has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual performance, achievements, actions, events, results or conditions to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking information, there may be other risks, uncertainties and other factors that cause performance, achievements, actions, events, results or conditions to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements contained herein are as of the date hereof and Arizona Mining 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 law.
SOURCE AZ Mining Inc.
For additional information please contact: Don Taylor, COO on 604-484-3597, e-mail [email protected]
Share this article