class=" bwtextaligncenter">LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MERCATOR GOLD plc
(“Mercator Gold”, “Mercator” or “the
Company”)
“We are highly encouraged by the initial results of our drilling at
Copper Flat and we look forward to the balance of the results, and the
updated Canadian NI43-101-compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment
report being produced by SRK Consulting, with considerable excitement.”
AIM: MCR
OTC (USA): MTGDY
Mercator Gold plc is pleased to provide an update on its evaluation of
the Copper Flat project (“Copper Flat”), located in New Mexico, USA.
Mercator holds an exclusive option over Copper Flat.
Highlights
-
Drilling programme initiated on 4 January of this year successfully
completed on 5 February.
-
Initial assay results include intersection of 429ft (131m) at an
average grade of 0.73% copper, with balance of assays expected by 26
February 2010.
-
Reanalysis of 800 pulps from historic drilling has shown on average a
3.9% increase in copper values and 3.6% increase in molybdenum values
over historic averages.
-
Completion of Canadian NI43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic
Assessment (“PEA”) report by SRK Consulting.
-
Extension granted regarding payment of US$1m due by 14 February 2010
in connection with the exercise of Mercator’s option over Copper Flat;
payment now due, at Mercator’s election, by 30 March 2010, allowing
the Company time to review all assays from recent drilling.
Drilling Update
A total of 5,005ft (1,526m) of core from the programme of drilling
carried out at Copper Flat by Mercator’s wholly owned subsidiary New
Mexico Copper Corp (“NMCC”) has been split and samples sent to Skyline
Assayers & Laboratories in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The samples are being
analysed for copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum. In addition, 50
samples have been sent for detailed bulk density analysis by Skyline.
The drilling programme was designed to provide data to update the
historical Copper Flat resource to an NI43-101 compliant Measured and
Indicated resource, and to provide geotechnical and geochemical
information required for the planning and permitting of future
operations.
The programme was also intended to provide information regarding the
possible extension of known resources/reserves at Copper Flat below and
adjacent to the historic planned open pit. Historically, the majority of
the Copper Flat resource was hosted by an extensive breccia pipe and
surrounding host rock of porphyritic quartz monzonite. The programme has
confirmed extensions of the breccia pipe and mineralisation adjacent to
and below the historic planned pit.
To date results for copper, silver and molybdenum from three of six
drill holes have been received.
Holes CF09-01 and CF09-02 were designed to penetrate the lower grade
quartz monzonite and to provide geotechnical and environmental data.
Respectively, these drill holes returned total intervals of 847ft (258m)
at an average grade of 0.25% copper, 0.006% molybdenum and 2.34 g/t
silver; and 126ft (38m) at an average grade of 0.33% copper, 0.003%
molybdenum and 3.44 g/t silver.
Hole CF10-03 was a 1,041ft (317m) hole designed to penetrate the higher
grade breccia core of the deposit, and returned a high grade interval of
429ft (131m) at an average grade of 0.73% copper, 0.023% molybdenum and
6.02 g/t silver. The entire drill hole averaged a grade of 0.44% copper.
Further results including gold values for these and additional drill
holes will be reported shortly.
Patrick Harford, Managing Director of Mercator Gold plc, comments:
“We are highly encouraged by the initial results of our drilling at
Copper Flat and we look forward to the balance of the results, and the
updated Canadian NI43-101-compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment
report being produced by SRK Consulting, with considerable excitement.”
This announcement has been reviewed by John R King and Mark I Pfau, both
registered geologists and Qualified Persons under Canadian NI43-101.
Preliminary Results
The announcement of the Preliminary Results will be made by 12 March
2010 and the Annual Report will be posted to shareholders by the end of
March 2010.
This announcement may contain “forward-looking statements”, which are
subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such statements. Investors are cautioned that such statements
are not guarantees of future performance and results. Risks and
uncertainties regarding the Company’s business are more fully discussed
in the Company’s disclosure documents filed from time to time with the
relevant UK authorities.