Progress highlights - Mine General Manager appointed - Project presentation made to Maranhao State Governor - Site clearance completed and overall site preparation at a very advanced stage - Contract for mining production and tailings dam construction awarded and work commenced - Contract for mechanical/electrical erection awarded and gold plant erection in progress - Purchasing of major steel structures, including process tanks, completed with delivery currently in progress - Imported mill items at port or currently in transit in the United States - Analytical laboratory in an advanced stage of completion - Soils and acceptance testing laboratory for all civil works in operation - Reverse circulation drill on site
Luna's CEO, Jim Bahan, comments, "Our team continues to make excellent progress. The detailed engineering phase is essentially completed and all the long lead items for the gold plant have been procured. Work is now in progress on civil construction and mechanical-electrical erection of the gold plant with the expectation to commence gold production in the second quarter of 2010.
Our web site is being redesigned to include a project update section, whereby our shareholders will be able to watch us build the mine. It is expected to be up and running very shortly.
The Company is pleased to welcome
The Company's project was recently presented to the Governor of Maranhao State, Roseana Sarney. The Governor expressed great interest in this project, which will be the first gold mine in the State, and is examining means by which the State Government can assist further in the infrastructural development of the region."
Appointment of General Manager
Jose (Joe)
Presentation to the Governor of Maranhao State
On
The Governor requested various state secretaries, including those responsible for infrastructure and public safety, to examine the means by which the State could further assist in the development of the mine and the region in general. This includes the asphalting of certain roads and improving the local electrical energy capacity. For its part, the Company has recently completed a 1.2 kilometer by-pass road to avoid traffic passing through the Aurizona village, the Company`s closest neighbor with a population of approximately 1,500 people. The Company is also working with the local mayor's office in the provision of treated running water to the homes of the village. The municipality is now benefiting from the service taxes on contracted works.
Engineering and Construction Management
Detailed engineering of the process plant is essentially completed and mechanical erection of the mill building frame is in progress. Civil works have started for the CIL tanks and reagents storage. Site preparation of the thickeners area is completed and civil work is awaiting final definition from the equipment suppliers. Site supervision offices and canteen as well as lay-down areas are completed and functioning.
The principal earthmoving contractor for mining and the construction of the tailings dam has been selected and is now working on site.
All long lead items have been procured and the equipment is arriving on site. This includes the RC drill which will start definition drilling in early October, following training courses for the operators and maintenance personnel. The milling plant, including the SAG mill, is expected to arrive in
The soils laboratory for QA/QC verification of the site and dam civil works is functioning with Company and independent third party technicians. The sample preparation and analytical laboratories continue with internal and external finishing, prior to equipment installation.
Exploration and Definition Drilling
The Piaba deep diamond drill program was completed on schedule at the start of September and the rig has been demobilized. The objective of the program was to test the continuity of the Piaba orebody at a vertical depth of 300 meters RL on 200 meter spaced sections covering 1.2 kilometers of deposit strike. A total of 2,737 meters were drilled in 7 holes. Core samples are at the laboratory and assays will be released within the context of the new geologic model when all data have been received.
The Company has commenced evaluation of the satellite targets at Aurizona Main, which is the area in the vicinity of the Piaba and Tatajuba deposits. Soil assay data have been received for the area between the Piaba and Tatajuba deposits and also for the Boa Esperança target. These data have identified several strong gold-in-soil anomalies in both areas. Auger drill programs have been designed to test these anomalies and will be completed in the coming months. In addition, a high resolution satellite image has been commissioned to advance evaluation of gold targets at Aurizona Main and also the Aurizona Regional project area.
About
Luna is a mineral exploration and development company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold resources and advanced stage gold exploration projects in
On behalf of the Board of Directors LUNA GOLD CORP. Jim Bahan - CEO Website: www.lunagold.com 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.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified in
For further information: contact Investor Relations at (604) 689-7317 or toll free at 1-866-689-7317
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