Eastern Goldfields, Inc. Completes Bankable Feasibility Study
17 März 2008 - 4:50PM
PR Newswire (US)
SAN DIEGO, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (Pink Sheets: EGDD)
Eastern Goldfields, Inc. ("EGI") is pleased to announce that it has
received the completed Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS") from
Turgis Consulting (Pty) Limited ('the "Consultant") for the
underground section of the Lily Gold Mine in the Mpumalanga
Province of South Africa The BFS has resulted in the following
projected mineral resources as of December 2007. These estimated
mineral resources are determined in accordance with the South
African Code for Reporting Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves
(SAMREC Code). MINE & CATEGORY F2007 Tons Grade Content (000)
g/t kg Oz Measured 7,515 3.15 24,000 761,000 Indicated 1,820 3.14
6,000 184,000 Inferred 9,858 3.09 30,000 979,000 Total 19,193 3.12
60,000 1,924,000 The underground ore body at the Lily Gold Mine
covers an overall strike length of 2,000 m. The width of the ore
body varies from 2 m to 15 m with an overall average of 4.1 m. A
total of 108 diamond drill holes was completed for estimation of
the mineral resources and reserves to a depth of between 600m and
700m below surface. The average dip of the ore body is 700 and both
the ore and host rocks are considered to be generally competent. A
pay limit of 2.0 g/t was used for mine planning purposes in the
BFS. This, together with the calculated and assumed losses detailed
in the report resulted in the calculation of the following mineral
reserves as summarized below: SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESERVES FOR LILY
UNDERGROUND MINE Tonnes RoM Grade Au content(g) Au content Proven
reserves 0 0 0 0 Probable reserves 5,768,834 3.00 17,301,866
556,268 Total reserves 5,768,834 3.00 17,301,866 556,268 The
Consultant believes that the Lily Gold Mine ore is unusual for the
area in that it has been found to be free milling (i.e.
non-refractory) and high gold recoveries may be achievable with
conventional milling, gravity gold concentration and cyanidation.
Lily's management conducted a full suite of test work prior to
adopting a gravity and carbon-in-leach circuit, resulting in an
overall projected recovery of 95.45 per cent (based on the tests
that were conducted). A substantial revision of the geological
model in February 2008, based on the diamond drilling, resulted in
a plan for the mining of a projected 40,000 tonnes per month. Plant
tailings are to be disposed to on a site close to the mine. The 23
hectare site, based on the Consultant's current assessment, is
capable of handling all of the tailings for the currently planned
mining life, with a maximum tailings wall height of 40m and a
maximum annual rate of rise of 3.3 m. The basis of costing used in
the BFS include provision for new plant and equipment and bottom up
operating costs using either first principles or first principles
coupled with existing labor rates. Contingencies and EPCM provision
have been added. A gold price of $800/oz ($1=ZAR7) was used for
revenue calculations. Based on these factors and assuming no
changes in labor rates, the geological model, gold prices, and
other assumptions, the Consultant has projected that the discounted
cash flow analysis will likely be as follows: Capital expenditure
ZAR488M US$ 70 M Operating Cost ZAR239/t US$34. t NPV@5% ZAR583 M
US$83M NPV@10% ZAR304M US$43M IRR 25% Over the projected 14 life of
mine, the project may generate projected revenues of ZAR2.96Bn
(US$422.9m) for a projected operating expenditure of ZAR1.38Bn
(US$197.1m), a projected capital expenditure of ZAR488M (US$69.7m)
yielding a projected profit before tax of ZAR1.093Bn (US$156.1m).
These are future projections and the actual results that the
Company achieves may be different. From a technical risk
perspective and assuming that the assumptions and models employed
by the Consultant are accurate, the project appears to have low
risk characteristics. The Consultant believes that the geology is
well known to the Company and the project will be managed by
personnel who are familiar with it. If these assumptions are
accurate, the Consultant believes that the mining methods appear to
be proven, and are now currently being practiced in early mining by
the Company. The Company has already recruited the core of the team
required to operate and manage the mine. From a metallurgical
perspective, the ore appears to be well known, full test work has
been undertaken and the mine already has a history of successfully
processing the ore. If the Consultant's assumptions and estimates
are accurate, the upside potential may also include the likelihood
of potential capital cost reductions by adopting an owner build
approach going forward, and optimization of the 40,000 tonnes per
month production rate into the detailed design of the plant from
the outset. The Consultant also believes that the Company will be
able to further extend the mineral resource and reserve base, if
conditions allow. The Consultant anticipates that the access and
mining approach is flexible and easily amenable to further
extensions. Mike McChesney, President of Eastern Goldfields,
stated, "We are very pleased with our technical consultant's
attention to detail and the professional manner in which they
conducted their studies. With the completion of this Bankable
Feasibility Study we are closer to our goal of putting the Lily
underground mining project into full production. We believe the
project is very robust and has substantial benefits for both the
people of Mpumalanga and the shareholders of the Company. The
benefits to the regional economy will be widespread, through the
employment of the local workforce and suppliers." About EGI: EGI is
a growing company engaged in the mining, exploration and
acquisition of gold properties in some of Southern Africa's most
prospective regions. The company holds mineral rights over 34,600
acres (14,000 ha), currently has mineral resources in excess of 2.2
million ounces and mineral reserves in excess of 565,000 oz.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains
'forward-looking statements'. These are statements concerning
plans, objectives, goals, strategies, expectations, estimates,
intentions, projections, developments, future events, or
performance, underlying (expressed or implied) assumptions and
other statements that are other than historical facts. In some
cases forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking words such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'may,' 'will,'
'should,' or 'anticipates,' or the negative of these words or other
variations of these words or comparable words, or by discussions of
plans or strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Management
wishes to caution the reader that these forward- looking
statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the
Company's plans, goals the estimates and assumptions regarding the
Lily Gold Mine, the projections made by the Bank Feasibility Study,
and, the business strategy of the Company and other matters that
are not historical facts are only predictions. No assurances can be
given that such predictions and the estimates regarding mineral
reserves, success of mining plans, or other projections will prove
correct or that the anticipated future results will be achieved.
Actual events or results may differ materially either because one
or more predictions or assumptions, prove to be erroneous or as a
result of other risks facing the company. Forward-looking
statements should be read in light of the cautionary statements and
risks that include, but are not limited to, the risks associated
with a small company, the likelihood that the assumptions and
estimates made by the Consultant later prove inaccurate, a decline
in the price of gold, adverse labor conditions in the mining labor
market in South Africa, the intense competition the company faces
from others, and technological changes. Any one or more of these or
other risks could cause actual results to differ materially from
the future results indicated, expressed, or implied in such
forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events,
circumstances, or new information after the date of this press
release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated or other
subsequent events. DATASOURCE: Eastern Goldfields, Inc. CONTACT:
Derrick Short of Eastern Goldfields, Inc., +1-619-497-2555
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