New resource estimate significantly increases indicated and inferred
categories of Wesdome Gold Deposit
VAL D'OR, QC,
Highlights of the new mineral resource estimate include:
- New interpretation demonstrates reasonable continuity in 21 zones - Indicated resource contained ounces increases 3-fold over previous estimates - Inferred resource contained ounces increases 4-fold over previous estimates - Potential to increase resources with further drilling identified The technical report supporting these estimates will be made available within 45 days, in accordance with regulatory requirements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicated Resource Indicated Resource (Crown Pillar) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cut-Off Metric Grade Ounces Metric Grade Ounces (g/t) Ton (t) (g/t) Ton (t) (g/t) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.0 557,500 5.91 105,918 91,700 5.61 16,555 4.0 456,700 6.49 95,328 88,900 5.69 16,254 5.0 275,800 7.73 68,526 60,100 6.23 12,038 6.0 207,000 8.53 56,794 30,300 7.36 7,176 7.0 138,100 9.71 43,102 11,500 9.07 3,361 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Indicated Resource (Total) ------------------------------------------- Cut-Off Metric Grade Ounces (g/t) Ton (t) (g/t) ------------------------------------------- 3.0 649,200 5.87 122,474 4.0 545,600 6.36 111,582 5.0 335,900 7.46 80,564 6.0 237,300 8.36 63,969 7.0 149,600 9.66 46,463 ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inferred Resource Inferred Resource (Crown Pillar) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cut-Off Metric Grade Ounces Metric Grade Ounces (g/t) Ton (t) (g/t) Ton (t) (g/t) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.0 2,633,600 6.31 534,653 1,234,200 6.57 260,763 4.0 2,056,400 7.11 470,203 1,035,200 7.18 238,892 5.0 1,563,300 7.97 400,408 747,600 8.22 197,609 6.0 984,900 9.47 299,968 500,400 9.71 156,237 7.0 752,400 10.42 252,058 324,000 11.53 120,144 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Inferred Resource (Total) ------------------------------------------- Cut-Off Metric Grade Ounces (g/t) Ton (t) (g/t) ------------------------------------------- 3.0 3,867,800 6.40 795,416 4.0 3,091,600 7.13 709,095 5.0 2,310,900 8.05 598,017 6.0 1,485,300 9.55 456,205 7.0 1,076,400 10.76 372,201 ------------------------------------------- * The Independent and Qualified Persons for the Mineral Resource estimate, as defined by Regulation 43-101, are Carl Pelletier, B.Sc., P.Geo., and Bruno Turcotte, M.Sc., P.Geo. (InnovExplo Inc.), and the effective date of the estimate is October 5, 2009. * Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves having demonstrated economic viability. * Results are presented undiluted and in situ. The estimate includes 21gold-bearing zones and covers the Wesdome project area over 1,720 metres E-W, 1,250 metres N-S, and from an elevation of 0 to -500 m. * The resources were compiled using a minimum cut-off grade of 5.0 g/t Au. This cut-off must be re-evaluated in light of current market conditions (gold price, exchange rate and mining cost). * A fixed density of 2.80 g/cm(3) was used. * A minimum of 1.5 m true thickness was applied, using the grade of the adjacent material when assayed, or a value of zero when not assayed. * High grade capping was done on the raw data and established at 67.0 g/t Au. No drill hole compositing was done. * Resources were evaluated from drill hole results using a polygonal method on longitudinal sections with nominal areas of influence of 10 metres for indicated resources and 40 metres for inferred resources. * 100-metres crown pillar was considered in the current Mineral Resource estimate. * Ounce (troy) equals Metric Tons X Grade / 31.10348. Calculations used metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t Au). * The number of metric tons was rounded to the nearest hundred. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations in Regulation 43-101. * InnovExplo is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issue that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.
The study reports Inferred Mineral Resources of 1,563,300 tonnes grading 7.97 g Au/tonne (400,400 oz of contained gold) and additional Indicated Mineral Resources of 275,800 tonnes grading 7.73 g Au/tonne (68,500 oz of contained Au). These resource figures were estimated following a review of the Wesdome data and re-interpretation of the geological cross sections. The estimate was made by the polygonal method using a 3.0 g Au/tonne to determine continuity and recommended a 5.0 g Au/tonne cut-off, and leaving a 100 metre crown pillar. The method used is in compliance with the requirements of the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 and the Council of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum definitions.
A previous NI 43-101 compliant study of the Wesdome deposit focused solely on the Wesdome A Zone. The earlier study estimated Inferred Mineral Resources of 615,000 tonnes grading 5.17 g Au/tonne and Indicated Mineral Resources of 145,500 tonnes grading 5.36 g Au/tonne using a 3.5 g Au/tonne cut-off (www.sedar.com - Technical Report,
The new resource estimate includes 21 gold bearing zones located approximately 4 kilometres north of the Kiena Mine, covering a project area of 1.7 kilometres E-W, 1.2 kilometres N-S, and to a maximum depth of 500 metres. The zones strike southeast and dip from 45 degrees to 70 degrees southwest. Mineralization is associated with fractures and shear zones up to a few metres thick, with a variable amount of quartz veins containing pyrite and gold. Several rich enlargements of the quartz-sulphide lenses are observed at the junction of the main quartz veins with other structural features or at the contacts of intrusives. These features are typical of the nearby, past producing, Siscoe and Sullivan Mines.
Wesdome is confident that it can expand the current resource figure with more drilling. Most of the resources are contained in the A Zone and the E Zone. In-fill drilling in the heart of these zones could upgrade the resource estimates and drilling at depth and along strike could expand them. Several of the southern zones are of particular interest. These zones, specifically the L Zone and the F series of zones, were discovered incidentally while drilling the E Zone at depth and have never been the focus of exploration. They are open at depth and along strike.
Management is encouraged by the new resource estimates and the exploration potential of the Wesdome deposit and is currently examining options for advancing exploration from surface and from underground.
The qualified persons for the NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource estimate for the Wesdome deposit are
Wesdome is an established Canadian gold producer with wholly-owned mining and milling complexes located in Wawa, Ontario and Val d'Or, Québec. Wesdome has been producing gold continually for 20 years on an unhedged basis and to date has produced in excess of 1.0 million ounces. The Company has 100.2 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the
This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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 statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
For further information: Rowland Uloth, President or Donovan Pollitt, P.Eng., VP Corporate Development, 8 King St. East, Suite 1305, Toronto, ON, M5C 1B5, Toll Free: 1-866-4-WDO-TSX, Phone: (416) 360-3743, Fax: (416) 360-7620, Email: [email protected], Website: www.wesdome.com
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