Gentor Resources & Al Fairuz Mining have defined their
first two near-surface copper volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)
resources in Oman. Regional
exploration continues to identify further deposits, with the aim of
reaching critical resource mass that will justify proceeding
towards mine development. Feasibility study metallurgical
work has commenced on the defined resources.
Mahab 4
Indicated Mineral Resource:
- 0.916 million tonnes @ 2.8% Cu, 0.54% Zn,
0.18g/t Au and 8.5g/t Ag
Inferred Mineral Resource:
- 0.590 million tonnes @ 0.9% Cu, 0.14% Zn,
0.05g/t Au and 2.5g/t Ag
The above mineral resources include the following high
grade massive sulphide resources:
(Zone 2)
Indicated - 0.400 million tonnes
@ 5.0% Cu, 0.96% Zn, 0.35g/t Au and 16.7g/t Ag
Inferred - 0.045 million tonnes @ 3.9%
Cu, 1.09% Zn, 0.46g/t Au and 20.4g/t Ag
Maqail South
Inferred Resources:
- 0.160 million tonnes @ 3.8% Cu, 0.02% Zn,
0.14g/t Au and 2.4g/t Ag
Further drilling is planned in order to upgrade and expand these
resources.
TORONTO,
June 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Gentor
Resources Inc. ("Gentor" or the "Company") (TSX-V - "GNT" &
OTCQB - "GNTOF") and its Omani partner Al Fairuz Mining Company LLC
are pleased to announce a maiden National Instrument 43-101 mineral
resource estimate for their Cu-Au-Zn Cyprus type deposits in
Oman. The estimates at Mahab 4 are
based on 50 drill holes totalling 6,169 metres of diamond core on
25 metre x 50 metre sections (with some 25 metre line in-fill
lines), and at Maqail South on 30 drill holes totalling 2,668
metres of diamond core, completed to the end of April 2012.
Gentor's President and CEO Dr. Peter Ruxton commented: "We are delighted to
announce these independent maiden resource estimates for the
Company's first two Cyprus-type
VMS discoveries in Oman.
Most pleasing are the near-surface high grade portions of the
deposits, which bode well for a possible future low cost, open cut
mining option for these rich copper sulphide resources.
Whilst feasibility standard metallurgical test work and studies
have been initiated on these two individual deposits themselves,
Gentor remains committed to a regional exploration programme
designed to find sufficient VMS resources for the Company to
consider an early development option."
RESOURCE ESTIMATES
Summary
Gentor is exploring the Semail Ophiolite Complex in northern
Oman for Cyprus-type VMS deposits in a highly
prospective geological environment, where clusters of small
high-grade VMS deposits have been shown to be economically
extractable. The following maiden resource estimation is
based on Gentor's discovery of two VMS deposits in 2010/2011 -
exploration continues in the surrounding area for further
mineralisation following this "cluster hypothesis".
The discoveries of the Mahab 4 and Maqail South
deposits represent a major step on the growth path towards
accumulating sufficient resource to warrant an early development
decision. However, significant further exploration
discoveries or resource acquisitions will be required before full
development studies can be launched.
The maiden mineral resource estimates for Mahab
4 and Maqail South were prepared by independent consultants H&S
Consultants Pty Ltd ("H&SC") and are set out in the following
tables (the effective date of these estimates is June 29th, 2012):
Table 1: Summary of all estimated Sulphide
Resources at 0.30 % Copper cut-off
By Resource Category
Deposit
|
Category
|
Tonnage
(kt)
|
Cu
(%) |
Au
(g/t) |
Ag
(g/t)
|
Pb
(%)
|
Zn
(%) |
Mahab 4 |
Indicated |
916 |
2.8 |
0.2 |
8.5 |
0.080 |
0.54 |
Mahab 4 |
Inferred |
590 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
2.5 |
0.012 |
0.14 |
Maqail South |
Inferred |
160 |
3.8 |
0.1 |
2.4 |
0.002 |
0.02 |
Total Indicated |
916 |
2.8 |
0.2 |
8.5 |
0.080 |
0.54 |
Total Inferred |
750 |
1.5 |
0.1 |
2.5 |
0.010 |
0.12 |
Table 2: Summary of all estimated Sulphide
Resources at 0.30 % copper cut-off
By Zone & Resource Category
Deposit
|
Category
|
Zone
|
Tonnage
(kt) |
Cu
(%) |
Au
(g/t) |
Ag
(g/t) |
Pb
(%) |
Zn
(%) |
Mahab 4 |
Indicated |
Zone 2 |
400 |
5.0 |
0.4 |
16.7 |
0.141 |
0.96 |
Mahab 4 |
Inferred |
Zone 2 |
45 |
3.9 |
0.5 |
20.4 |
0.121 |
1.09 |
Mahab 4 |
Indicated |
Zone 3 |
516 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
2.2 |
0.032 |
0.21 |
Mahab 4 |
Inferred |
Zone 3 |
545 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
0.003 |
0.06 |
Maqail South |
Inferred |
Zone 2 |
121 |
4.8 |
0.2 |
2.8 |
0.002 |
0.02 |
Maqail South |
Inferred |
Zone 3 |
39 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
0.001 |
0.02 |
An independent National Instrument 43-101 ("NI
43-101") technical report relating to the above maiden mineral
resource estimates prepared by H&SC will be filed on SEDAR and
EDGAR within the period required by NI 43-101.
Methodology
Prior to the resource estimation H&SC
inspected the property, witnessed drilling activities, visited the
site office in Sohar, talked with staff and observed and commented
on sampling, QA/QC, geological logging, geotechnical data
acquisition, density measurements and general data handling
protocols. Data validation was carried out including checking
drill core against logs and checking drill hole collar
locations.
The wireframes used for estimation were
constructed by H&SC and based on cross-sectional
interpretations of the geology provided by Gentor. These
interpretations are consistent with the available data and are
considered to be a reasonable and realistic representation of the
mineralisation. Three broad resource areas were categorised: Zone 1
for oxides, Zone 2 representing the seafloor massive sulphide, and
Zone 3 for the lower-grade sub-seafloor semi-massive sulphide and
quartz vein stringer material. An oxide zone (Zone 1) is present at
Mahab 4 but absent at Maqail South.
Three dimensional block models were generated
with blocks 5x10x5m (east, north and RL respectively) for Mahab 4
and blocks 10x5x10m (east, north, RL respectively) for Maqail
South. A hard boundary was used for grade estimations within
the wire-framed mineralised Zones 1 (oxide), 2 (massive sulphide)
and 3 (stringer zone). Three search passes were used to
populate blocks.
The Mahab 4 resource estimates are limited to a
depth of around 200 metres below surface. The Maqail South resource
estimates are limited by interpreted mineralisation to a depth of
around 80 metres below the surface.
H&SC has assessed the elements required to
categorise the estimates and has assigned the estimated resources
at Mahab 4 to the Inferred and Indicated Resource categories and
the resources at Maqail South to the Inferred Resource category in
accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines.
H&SC considers there to be reasonable
potential for expanding existing resources along strike to the
south of Mahab 4 but resources are unlikely to be significantly
expanded down dip due to decreasing grades.
Deposit Geology
Mahab 4 Deposit
The Mahab 4 deposit model represents a shallowly north-easterly
dipping and north plunging VMS mineralised body consisting of
massive sulphide (Zone 2) overlying feeder zone of semi-massive
sulphide and mineralised stringer veinlets (Zone 3), and hosted by
the Geotimes Unit pillow lavas. This package is truncated on the
east and west by roughly north-south trending faults that have
dismembered the deposit but may have also controlled its formation.
All zones have been cut by late stage basalt and tonalite dykes.
The massive sulphide has been completely oxidised within 20 metres
of the surface forming a narrow gossan extending over 150 metres at
the southern end of the north plunging upright system. The
mineralisation is interpreted to be truncated to the south by an
undefined fault where the gossan is covered by modern wadi
sediments.
Part of the massive sulphides exhibit moderate
supergene enrichment immediately underlying the gossan in the
southern part of the deposit. Supergene mineralisation is marked by
the development of chalcocite and exhibits elevated copper, gold
and lead grades but lower zinc concentrations. The supergene
enriched zone grades into primary mineralisation and was therefore
not treated separately in the resource estimation.
Maqail South Deposit
Geological Interpretation and Wireframe
At Maqail South drilling has confirmed a shallow dipping
copper-rich massive sulphide wedge overlying a proximal pyritic
stringer zone that extends up-dip to the west for at least 100
metres and is exposed marginally. Laterally the exhalative
sulphides are almost entirely replaced by magnetite or have
ferruginous umber in the main seafloor position with limited mostly
pyritic sulphidic stockwork feeder zones beneath. The deposit is
not obviously controlled by significant faults.
The footwall consists of pillow lavas of the
Geotimes unit that have been cut and mineralised by quartz and
sulphide veinlets. The degree of veining and mineralisation
generally increases upwards, towards the seafloor massive sulphide
to the degree that semi-massive and massive sulphide intervals are
intercalated. All zones have been cut by late stage basalt and
tonalite dykes.
Qualified Person
Rupert Osborn, an
employee of H&SC, is the "qualified person" (as such term is
defined in NI 43-101) who is responsible for the mineral resource
estimates and other technical information disclosed in this press
release. Mr. Osborn has reviewed and approved the contents of this
press release.
About Gentor
Gentor is a mineral exploration company whose
projects include copper and gold properties in the Sultanate of
Oman and Turkey and a molybdenum-tungsten-silver
property in East Central Idaho, U.S. The Company's strategy
is to create shareholder value by discovering and developing highly
prospective mineral properties around the globe, with current focus
in the Sultanate of Oman and
Turkey. In Oman, Gentor is partnered with Al Fairuz
Mining Company LLC on its Block 5 exploration tenement and Al Zuhra
Mining Company LLC on Block 6. In Turkey at the Hacimeter Project, the Company
is joint-ventured with the Besler Group.
Additional information with respect to the
Company's Omani properties is contained in the technical report
prepared by Venmyn Rand (Pty) Ltd, dated December 31, 2010 and entitled "National
Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report on Block 5 and Block
6 Copper Project, Semail Ophiolite Belt, Sultanate of Oman held by Gentor Resources, Inc." A copy of
this report can be obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors
The United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") permits U.S. mining
companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those
mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally
extract or produce. Certain terms are used by the Company in
this press release, such as "Inferred Mineral Resources" and
"Indicated Mineral Resources", that the SEC guidelines strictly
prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings
with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to closely consider all of
the disclosures in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F dated
April 30, 2012 relating to the year
ended December 31, 2011 and other
reports filed pursuant to the United States Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 which may be secured from the Company, or from the SEC's
website at
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking
Information
This press release contains forward-looking
information. All statements, other than statements of historical
fact, that address activities, events or developments that the
Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the
future (including, without limitation, statements regarding the
estimation of mineral resources, possible future production,
drilling and other exploration results, potential mineral
resources, potential mineralization and the Company's exploration
and development plans) are forward-looking information. This
forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or
beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to
the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results
of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are
realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that
they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the
Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from current expectations include, among other
things, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of
financing needed in the future, risks related to the exploration
stage of the Company's properties, the possibility that future
exploration or development results will not be consistent with the
Company's expectations, failure to establish estimated mineral
resources, changes in world copper or gold markets and equity
markets, mineral recoveries being less than those indicated by the
metallurgical test work carried out to date (there can be no
assurance that mineral recoveries in small scale laboratory tests
will be duplicated in large tests under on-site conditions or
during production), political developments in Oman or Turkey, the uncertainties involved in
interpreting drilling results and other geological data and the
other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and
elsewhere in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F dated
April 30, 2012 relating to the year
ended December 31, 2011 filed on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at
www.sec.gov. Forward-looking information
speaks only as of the date on which it is provided and, except as
may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company
disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the
assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are
reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of
future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put
on such information due to the inherent uncertainty
therein.
Cautionary Note Concerning Mineral Resource
Estimates
The mineral resource figures referred to in
this press release are estimates and no assurances can be given
that the indicated levels of minerals will be produced. Such
estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining
experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.
Valid estimates made at a given time may significantly change when
new information becomes available. While the Company believes that
the mineral resource estimates included in this press release are
well established, by their nature mineral resource estimates are
imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical
inferences which may ultimately prove unreliable.
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves
and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no
certainty that mineral resources can be upgraded to mineral
reserves through continued exploration.
Due to the uncertainty that may be attached
to inferred mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any
part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an
indicated or measured mineral resource as a result of continued
exploration. Confidence in the estimate is insufficient to allow
meaningful application of the technical and economic parameters to
enable an evaluation of economic viability worthy of public
disclosure (except in certain limited circumstances). Inferred
mineral resources are excluded from estimates forming the basis of
a feasibility study.
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.
SOURCE Gentor Resources Inc.
Image with caption: "Figure 1: Mahab 4 Plan - drill density
& grade distribution (CNW Group/Gentor Resources Inc.)". Image
available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120629_C5274_PHOTO_EN_15850.jpg
Image with caption: "Figure 2: Mahab 4 block model - Oblique
view looking towards the northwest of the reported resource
highlighting copper distribution (CNW Group/Gentor Resources
Inc.)". Image available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120629_C5274_PHOTO_EN_15851.jpg
Image with caption: "Figure 3: Maqail South block model -
oblique view looking eastward showing Zone 2 (massive sulphide) and
Zone 3 (stringer) material distribution (CNW Group/Gentor Resources
Inc.)". Image available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120629_C5274_PHOTO_EN_15852.jpg
Image with caption: "Figure 4: Maqail South cross section
looking north east showing copper grade distribution (CNW
Group/Gentor Resources Inc.)". Image available at:
http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120629_C5274_PHOTO_EN_15853.jpg