Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Positive Gahcho Kué Independent
Feasibility Study
Shares Issued and Outstanding: 72,628,973
TSX: MPV
NYSE AMEX: MDM
TORONTO AND NEW YORK, Oct. 21 /CNW/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPV, NYSE AMEX: MDM) today announced the results of an independent feasibility study dated October 15, 2010, on the Gahcho Kué diamond project located in Canada's Northwest Territories. JDS Energy and Mining Inc. ("JDS") led and prepared the feasibility study, which has been presented to the Gahcho Kué Joint Venture (JV) between Mountain Province (49%) and De Beers Canada Inc. ("De Beers") (51%) (collectively, the "Partners").
Financial and Project Highlights:
|
20.7%* 33.9% C$549.5M C$49.4M C$36.1M C$48.68 per tonne 11 years 3 million tonnes 49 million carats 4.45 million carats US$102.48 per carat** |
*After taxes/royalties and unleveraged
**The base case model uses an average realized diamond price of US$102.48 per carat derived from the mean average between the modeled values of De Beers and WWW International Diamond Consultants (based on their respective April 2010 price books) inclusive of a real 1% escalation over LOM less an assumed 4% marketing fee.
Gahcho Kué Mineral Reserve Report
Mountain Province today also announced a new Mineral Reserve estimate for the Gahcho Kué Project. The Mineral Reserve is the Indicated Resource contained in the proposed open pit mine that can be mined and processed profitably and is scheduled for treatment in the feasibility study life of mine plan. The Gahcho Kué Mineral Reserve estimate is summarized in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Gahcho Kué Mineral Reserve Estimate
| Pipe | Classification | Tonnes (Mt) |
Grade (carats per tonne) |
Carats (Mct) |
| 5034 | Probable | 13.2 | 1.77 | 23.3 |
| Hearne | Probable | 5.4 | 2.10 | 11.5 |
| Tuzo | Probable | 12.6 | 1.13 | 14.2 |
| Total | Probable | 31.3 | 1.57 | 49.0 |
Commenting, Mountain Province CEO Patrick Evans said: "The feasibility study delivers an economically viable, technically credible and environmentally sound development plan for the Gahcho Kué project. Also, the IRR exceeds the minimum 15% required under the Joint Venture agreement to support a decision to develop. Our focus now shifts to completion of the Gahcho Kué environmental impact assessment, which will be filed with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board prior to the end of the year."
The full 43-101 feasibility study will be filed on SEDAR, EDGAR and the Company's website shortly.
Qualified Person
The feasibility study was prepared by an integrated independent engineering team led by JDS Energy and Mining. Mr. Daniel Johnson, P. Eng has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.
Located in Canada's Northwest Territories, Gahcho Kué is one of the largest new diamond projects under development globally. The project consists of a cluster of kimberlites, three of which have a probable mineral reserve of 31.3 million tonnes grading 1.57 carats per tonne for total diamond content of 49 million carats.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release may contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the Company's business or financial condition. Actual results could differ materially from those described in this news release as a result of numerous factors, some of which are outside the control of the Company.
Going Concern
The Company confirms that its audit report and amended financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, and filed in early April 2010, included a going concern qualification in the typical form.
%CIK: 0001004530
For further information:
Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.
Patrick Evans, President and CEO
Phone: (416) 670-5114
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