Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (“Solitario;” NYSE
MKT:XPL; TSX:SLR) and Ely Gold & Minerals (“Ely
Gold;” TSX.V:ELY) are pleased to announce an updated
resource estimate and favorable metallurgical testing results on
the Mt. Hamilton gold project in eastern Nevada, U.S.A. A new
NI-43-101 compliant Mt. Hamilton resource estimate was completed
incorporating both the Centennial and Seligman gold and silver
deposits. The resources for these two deposits were previously
reported separately; however, drilling completed in 2012 suggests
that these two mineralized zones are a single deposit and could be
potentially mined by a single pit. The recently completed
metallurgical testing on the Seligman area oxide mineralization has
shown similar column leach gold recoveries and moderately enhanced
silver recoveries compared to the Centennial area mineralization.
This 2013 resource estimate was prepared on behalf of Solitario by
SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc. (“SRK”) and serves to update the
previous resource estimate for the Mt. Hamilton Project stated in
the most recent October 25, 2012 Technical Report.
The updated Mount Hamilton resource estimate was constrained by
a potentially mineable optimized pit using a gold price of $1,500
per ounce of gold and $25.00 per ounce of silver. The in-pit
Measured and Indicated Resource, at a cutoff grade of 0.006 ounces
per ton gold, contains approximately 791,000 ounces of gold
equivalent (“AuEq”) using a 60:1 silver-to-gold ratio. An
additional Inferred Resource totaling approximately 207,000 AuEq
ounces is also estimated within the optimized pit. Previously
reported Mineral Reserves for the Centennial deposit are fully
contained within, and are not additional to the Mineral Resources
stated in the table below.
Mineral Resource Statement, Mount
Hamilton Gold-Silver Deposit,
White Pine County, Nevada, September
19, 2013
ResourceCategory
Tons
millions
Gold Grade Silver Grade
AuEq Contained Ounces
(thousands of oz.)
Oz/Ton g/Tonne Oz/Ton
g/Tonne Oz/Ton Gold Silver
AuEq Measured 1.43 0.029 0.99 0.21 7.17 0.032 42.1
298.3 47.1 Indicated 30.45 0.021 0.72 0.19 6.62 0.024 645.6
5,889.60 743.8 Measured + Indicated 31.88 0.022 0.75 0.19 6.65
0.025 687.7 6,187.90 790.8 Inferred 10.33 0.017 0.58 0.16 5.62
0.020 178.8 1,685.90 206.9
- Mineral Resources are not Mineral
Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is
no certainty that any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will
be converted into Mineral Reserves estimate;
- Resources stated as contained within a
potentially economically minable open pit; pit optimization was
based on assumed gold and silver prices of US$1,500/oz and
US$25.00/oz, respectively, effective heap leach recoveries of 79.3%
for gold, and 39.3% for silver, an average ore mining and a
processing cost of US$6.04/t; and pit slopes of 50°;
- Resources are reported using a 0.006
ounce per short ton gold cutoff grade;
- Gold Equivalent (AuEq) was calculated
using a Ag:Au ratio of 60:1; and
- Numbers in the table have been rounded
to reflect the accuracy of the estimate and may not sum due to
rounding.
Gold and silver mineralization is hosted in moderate to strongly
oxidized calc-silicate skarn and hornfels and altered granodiorite.
The new Mt. Hamilton resource estimate was based --on 857 drill
holes with an average hole depth of 396 ft for a total of 317,739
ft of drilling. The drill data were verified and validated by SRK
in compliance with NI-43-101 requirements. This consolidated Mt.
Hamilton resource estimate includes 60 new infill drill holes that
converted earlier Inferred Seligman resources to the Indicated
category, while also expanding the Seligman resource.
This resource estimate utilizes lower gold and silver price
assumptions ($1,500 versus $1,600 for gold and $25.00 versus $40.00
for silver) than the previous Centennial resource estimate, and
similar gold and silver price assumptions to those used for the
2012 Seligman estimate. It should be emphasized that more
conservative specific gravity assumptions were incorporated into
this latest resource model in comparison to previous models based
on recently completed, more detailed density testing.
Solitario is currently working on a new mine plan that considers
mining the Seligman deposit first as it would require less
pre-stripping of waste than previously envisioned in mining only
the Centennial deposit. This could advance initial ore delivery by
as much as six months, reduce working capital costs, modestly
increase initial capital costs and reduce life-of-mine operating
costs compared to the 2012 Centennial Feasibility Study mining plan
that did not include Seligman mineralization. 2013 field work
includes drilling two geotechnical core holes to better design the
conveyor adit and vertical ore pass that connects the Mt. Hamilton
open pit operations to the heap leach facilities. Figures showing
the new resource model for the combined Seligman - Centennial
resource can be accessed at
http://www.solitarioxr.com/art/Seligman-CentennialResourceModel.pdf.
Additional project information is found at
http://www.solitarioxr.com/hamilton.html.
Chris Herald, President and CEO of Solitario, stated, “With this
increase in our resource base, the project is now at the million
ounce threshold of contained gold-equivalent mineralization. An
updated reserve estimate and an expanded mine plan will be
initiated in the fourth quarter. The objective is to increase the
production rate and mine life from the eight-year 8,500 tpd plan
developed in the 2012 Feasibility Study to a 10,000 tpd production
profile with a nine or ten-year mine life.”
Trey Wasser, Ely Gold’s President and CEO, stated, “All the
building blocks necessary to permit, finance, design and construct
the Mt. Hamilton gold project are falling into place on schedule.
We are pleased with our solid progress on the permitting front and
Mt Hamilton LLC remains fully financed through 2014.”
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of
Resources: This news release uses the terms “Measured, Indicated
and Inferred Resources.” The Company advises U.S. investors that
while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian
regulations, the SEC does not recognize the terms. U.S.
investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of
Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into
Reserves. Inferred Resources have a great amount of
uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to
their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all
or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded
to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred
Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or
pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S.
investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of a
measured, indicated or inferred resource exists, or is economically
or legally minable.
Seligman Metallurgical Testing Results
Metallurgical testing of Seligman area oxide mineralization was
recently completed with overall favorable results that were similar
to metallurgical test work on the Centennial ores. In summary, the
Seligman skarn and igneous oxide ores are amenable to cyanidation.
Column leach test results averaged 80 percent for gold and 43.6
percent for silver, and are similar to the 2012 Centennial
Feasibility Study recoveries of 79 percent for gold and 38 for
percent silver. Additionally, projected recoveries were achieved in
120 days compared to 160 days in the Feasibility Study. The ¾-inch
crush size for leaching recommended in the 2012 Mt. Hamilton
Technical Report was also confirmed to be appropriate for the
Seligman ore.
2012 Mt. Hamilton Feasibility Study
The Mt. Hamilton Feasibility Study on the Centennial Deposit
updated in October, 2012 detailed the development of an open pit
mining operation with heap leach processing. The economic base case
in the Feasibility Study assumed a $1,323 life-of-mine gold price
and a $25.34 silver price, generating approximately $226 million in
cash flow (operating margin – EBITDA) over the mine’s anticipated
eight-year mine life. The Feasibility Study estimated life-of-mine
cash operating costs on a gold equivalent basis (at a 55:1 silver
to gold ratio) to be approximately $575 per gold-equivalent ounce
recovered (including the costs of a 2.4% NSR sold after completion
of the Feasibility Study). Initial capital costs were estimated at
$71.9 million, including a contingency of $6.3 million. Processing
is straight forward with two-stage crushing to minus ¾-inch, no
agglomeration and rapid gold leach rates, followed by conventional
ADR (adsorption-desorption-recovery) metal extraction. Waste to ore
stripping ratio was 2.4 to 1.
The Feasibility Study and the Seligman NI-43-101 Seligman
resource estimate were prepared by SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc., an
independent and internationally recognized consulting firm. The
Feasibility Study provides mineral resource and mineral reserve
estimates, and a classification of resources and reserves in
accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves:
Definitions and Guidelines, November 27, 2010 (CIM). It also meets
the standards of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Industry Guide 7 for estimating and reporting reserves. This
release has been reviewed for accuracy by Mr. J. B. Pennington of
SRK and for Solitario by Walter Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, both
of whom are “qualified persons” as that term is defined in NI
43-101.
Terms of the Mt. Hamilton LLC Joint Venture
Solitario and Ely Gold formed Mt. Hamilton LLC (“MH-LLC”), a
limited liability company which now holds 100% of the Mt. Hamilton
project assets under an Operating Agreement (“MH-Agreement”).
Solitario holds an 80% interest in MH-LLC, and DHI-US. Ely Gold’s
wholly owned US subsidiary, holds a 20% interest in MH-LLC. Further
Solitario obligations include arranging project financing, and
making future property and advanced royalty payments.
About Solitario
Solitario is a gold, silver, platinum-palladium, and base metal
exploration and royalty company actively exploring in Brazil,
Mexico, and Peru. Solitario has significant business relationships
with Votorantim Metais on its high-grade Bongará zinc project in
Peru, Hochschild Mining on its Pachuca Norte silver-gold project in
Mexico and Anglo Platinum on its Pedra Branca platinum-palladium
project in Brazil. Solitario is traded on the NYSE MKT ("XPL") and
on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("SLR"). Additional information about
Solitario is available online at www.solitarioxr.com.
About Ely Gold
Ely Gold is focused on the acquisition and development of gold
resources in Nevada, including its recently acquired Green Springs
property, 10 miles south of Mt. Hamilton. Ely Gold is traded on the
TSX Venture Exchange ("ELY"). Additional information about Ely Gold
is available online at www.elygoldandminerals.com
Neither 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.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking
Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as defined in the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (and the
equivalent under Canadian securities laws), that are intended to be
covered by the safe harbor created by such sections.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
fact. They are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the
Company's management on the date the statements are made and
address activities, events or developments that Solitario expects
or anticipates will or may occur in the future, and are based on
current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there
can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate
and actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the
Company’s expectation of the projected timing and outcome of
engineering studies; expectations regarding the receipt of all
necessary permits and approvals to implement the mining plan at Mt.
Hamilton; the potential for confirming, upgrading and expanding
oxide gold and silver mineralized material at Mt. Hamilton; reserve
and resource estimates; operating cost estimates; estimates of gold
and silver grades; estimates of recovery rates; expectations
regarding the cash flow generated by the property; and other
statements that are not historical facts. Although Solitario
management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will
prove correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include, among others, risks relating to risks that Solitario’s
exploration and property advancement efforts will not be
successful; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of gold and
silver; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related
activities; uncertainties concerning reserve and resource
estimates; availability of outside contractors in connection with
Mt. Hamilton and other activities; uncertainties relating to
obtaining approvals and permits from governmental regulatory
authorities; the possibility that environmental laws and
regulations will change over time and become even more restrictive;
and availability and timing of capital for financing the Company’s
exploration and development activities, including uncertainty of
being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; as well
as those factors discussed in Solitario’s filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) including
Solitario’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC
filings (and Canadian filings) including, without limitation, its
latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company does not intend
to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as
may be required under applicable securities laws.
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