TORONTO, ONTARIO, Oct 8, 2009 (Marketwire via COMTEX News Network) --
HudBay Minerals Inc. ("HudBay", "the company") (TSX:HBM) today
announced its board of directors has approved an $85 million expenditure
to fund the Lalor project Phase 1, which is a production ramp from its
Chisel North mine to the Lalor deposit, located near Snow Lake,
Manitoba. The ramp is expected to provide early production of zinc-rich
ore and access to the gold zones for additional underground exploration.
Work is expected to begin immediately.
Development of the ramp
to the zinc-rich base metals zone #10 is expected to take about 30
months and provide approximately 1,200 tonnes of ore per day once
completed. The company will also consider re-starting operations at its
Chisel North mine during this period to provide a continuous supply of
zinc ore to the Snow Lake concentrator and zinc concentrate to
the Flin Flon zinc plant.
As part of Phase I, the ramp will be
extended to provide an underground diamond drilling platform for advanced exploration of Lalor's gold zones.
"Moving
forward with Lalor is a key strategic milestone for HudBay," said Peter
R. Jones, chief executive officer. "Lalor is expected to accelerate the
company's zinc production in 2012 and once at full production beyond
2014 it should ensure that our zinc plant runs at capacity and should
more than double our annual gold production. The Lalor deposit also
provides exceptional exploration potential through extension of the gold
zones as well as the newly discovered extraordinary copper-gold zone."
"Perhaps
most important of all, Lalor is in a jurisdiction we know well which
offers a very positive low risk profile. It is located in our Snow Lake
mining camp in close proximity to existing road and power infrastructure
and our base metals concentrator. These factors
combine to make it an extremely attractive development project and it is
clearly our top priority at HudBay," added Mr. Jones.
The company also plans to complete a pre-feasibility study by the end of this year and a feasibility study in 2010.
Conceptual
plans for Phase 2 and Phase 3 development of Lalor include site
preparation, sinking of a production shaft, refurbishing the 3,500 tonne
per day base metals concentrator in Snow Lake and construction of a
gold ore concentrator with a minimum capacity of 1,200 tonnes per day.
Current order of magnitude capital cost estimates are approximately $450
million, including the $85 million Phase 1 component.
HudBay
also released today an NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate of
its zinc-rich base metals zone as well as a NI 43-101 compliant
conceptual estimate of the quantity and grade of the gold zones. The
technical
report supporting these estimates will be made available within 45 days,
in accordance with regulatory requirements.
"We believe we are
on track to meet our target of three million contained ounces of gold at
Lalor," said Mr. Jones. "The ongoing exploration of the gold zones
towards the northeast of the deposit and the underground advanced
exploration program should help us reach this target."
Zinc- Rich Base Metal Zone Mineral Resource - October 8, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------
Zinc Rich Base Metal Mineral Resource
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes
Category (millions) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu(%) Zn(%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated 12.3 1.6 24.2 0.66 8.70
Inferred 5.0 1.4 25.5 0.57 9.39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated Zinc Rich Base Metal Mineral Resource by Lens
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes
Zone (millions) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu(%) Zn(%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 4.7 0.9 17.0 0.48 10.49
20 5.0 2.4 30.2 1.03 8.60
30 2.6 1.0 25.5 0.28 5.62
TOTAL 12.3 1.6 24.2 0.66 8.70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inferred Zinc Rich Base Metal Mineral Resource by Lens
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes
Zone (millions) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu(%) Zn(%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 1.5 1.3 19.0 0.51 9.52
11 0.4 0.2 23.1 0.20 11.91
20 1.4 1.7 22.1 0.93 9.36
30 0.1 1.0 19.1 0.30 5.32
31 0.5 0.8 22.3 0.27 5.85
40 1.1 2.0 41.0 0.50 10.31
TOTAL 5.0 1.4 25.5 0.57 9.39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mineral resource was determined from results of 142 diamond drill holes drilled from surface.
"The
zinc-rich base metals zone mineral resources are substantial and the
71% indicated category allows us to now begin Phase 1 production
development at Lalor with full confidence," said Mr. Jones. "We believe
strong zinc grades supported with by-product credits of gold, silver and
copper will support the mine development plan and offer solid project
economics from this zone alone."
Gold Zones Potential Mineral Deposit - October 8, 2009
------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes
Zone (millions) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu(%) Zn(%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 3.5 - 3.9 4.8 - 6.0 34 - 39 0.5 - 0.7 0.4 - 0.5
24 0.2 - 0.4 4.1 - 4.6 26 - 32 0.2 - 0.4 1.1 - 1.4
25 4.6 - 5.0 4.0 - 5.0 33 - 35 0.2 - 0.4 0.2 - 0.4
26 0.8 - 1.0 3.5 - 4.0 24 - 28 0.4 - 0.5 0.3 - 0.5
27 1.5 - 1.7 4.4 - 4.8 12 - 16 0.8 - 0.9 0.1 - 0.2
TOTAL 10.6 - 12.0 4.3 - 5.2 30 - 33 0.4 - 0.6 0.3 - 0.4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lalor gold zones potential mineral deposit estimate is
conceptual in nature and to date there has been insufficient exploration
to define a mineral resource compliant with National Instrument 43-101.
It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target
deposit being delineated as a mineral resource.
Total Gold Zones Potential Mineral Deposit Reported at Global Cutoffs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnes
Gold Cut Off (g/t) (millions) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu(%) Zn(%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
greater than
equals 2 10.2 - 11.5 4.4 - 5.3 31 - 34 0.4 - 0.6 0.3 - 0.4
greater than
equals 4 6.5 - 7.3 5.2 - 6.3 38 - 42 0.4 - 0.7 0.2 - 0.3
greater than
equals 6 2.1 - 2.3 6.9 - 8.4 61 - 67 0.4 - 0.6 0.2 -0.3
greater than
equals 8 0.5 - 0.7 8.5 - 10.3 98 - 107 0.3 - 0.5 0.1 - 0.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gold zones conceptual estimate was based on 66 gold
mineralized drill holes. Diamond drilling and geological interpretation
has identified five stacked mineralized gold zones either in contact
with or entirely separate to the zinc rich base metal resource zones,
715 to 1,175 vertical metres below surface. The gold zones vary in east-
west dimension from 75 to 360 metres and in the north south dimension
from 150 to 850 metres. Average thickness of the gold zones varies from 4
to 11.5 metres. The gold zones have been drilled at a spacing of 30 to
150 metres by near vertical parent holes from surface or by wedge
offsets.
Assays from the gold zones were top cut based on
statistical analysis of the data per each zone, where Zones 21, 25, 27
were top cut at 30 g/t gold, Zone 24 at 17.5 g/t and Zone 26 at 25 g/t.
Approximately 5% of the gold zone assay population was top
cut. Assays from the gold zones were composited across hanging wall to
footwall contacts and specific gravity weighted.
Three-dimensional
wireframes capturing each mineralized gold zone were separately created
using MineSight resource modeling software. The gold zones conceptual
estimate was based on an interpolation plan using inverse distance
squared weighted methodology of the specific gravity weighted composites
and wireframes with MineSight software.
Drilling information
used in the zinc resource and gold conceptual estimate calculations is
as of September 15, 2009. HudBay has also posted on its website at www.hudbayminerals.com
drill hole assay results and other information used to develop the gold
zones conceptual estimate. Drill hole information released prior to
this date has been replaced with updated
information following a QA/QC review and expressed in UTM
coordinates.
Notable new drilling results not previously reported
Hole Zone From To Length Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Zn%
---- ---- ---- -- ------ ------ ------ --- ---
DUB244 20 835.57 840.15 4.58 27.78 32.67 0.85 3.68
DUB239W01 25 879.28 898.52 19.24 9.73 38.80 0.56 1.17
DUB244 21 817.60 835.57 17.97 7.40 24.62 0.32 0.16
incl 819.63 820.88 1.25 23.57 37.80 1.33 0.21
822.88 824.53 1.65 44.27 147.65 0.65 0.14
828.00 828.50 0.50 32.50 162.51 2.83 0.28
DUB247 21 842.38 885.00 42.62 4.32 31.93 1.14 1.63
858.95 862.00 3.05 21.04 150.89 6.33 3.99
876.37 876.48 0.11 27.77 45.60 1.09 0.93
DUB251 25 978.60 999.64 21.04 6.69 27.12 0.43 0.03
incl 982.00 982.35 0.35 30.03 61.03 0.70 0.06
989.80 991.20 1.40 27.94 56.41 1.05 0.06
993.00 994.00 1.00 17.55 67.54 1.50 0.08
995.60 996.13 0.53 55.82 75.09 0.27 0.03
DUB253 21 918.44 939.38 20.94 9.04 39.35 1.21 0.37
incl 932.02 934.64 2.62 58.47 235.32 8.68 2.67
Notes: Lengths are core lengths and not true thicknesses. The column titled
zones are those as described in this press release and further detail on
each zone will be disclosed in the technical report.
Currently, there are five drills in operation at Lalor. Three
drills are focused on the newly discovered copper-gold zone and
extensions of the gold zones; one is collecting samples for
metallurgical testing and one is definition drilling for gold zones
continuity. Drilling on the zinc-rich base metals zone is essentially
complete and the company does not expect any further updates for this
zone. The company expects to test nine targets in the copper-gold zone
and expects to provide further updates on the copper-gold zone and the
gold zones prior to the end of the year.
For additional
information on the zinc-rich base metals zone and the Lalor deposit
generally, please refer to the NI 43-101 technical report dated
September 29, 2008 and for additional information on the gold zones
please refer to the company's press releases dated May 5, 2009 and
September 22, 2009. These
documents are available at www.sedar.com.
Conference Call
HudBay
will be hosting a conference call on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 10
a.m. ET to provide a market update on its Lalor project.
The
event will be hosted by Peter R. Jones, chief executive officer, Michael
Winship, president and chief operating officer and Cashel Meagher,
HudBay's director, exploration and technical services.
The
numbers to call to listen to the conference are 416-644-3417 or
1-800-814-4861. For investors in the United Kingdom the number to listen
to the conference is 0800-358-5256. A live audio webcast will be
available and archived on www.hudbayminerals.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available until midnight on October 22, 2009. The replay can be
accessed (for North American investors only) at 416-640-1917 or 1-877-289-8525 followed by the passcode 4169382#.
HudBay Minerals Inc.: Strength to Build the Future
HudBay
Minerals Inc. (TSX:HBM) is a Canadian integrated mining company with
assets in North and Central America principally focused on the
discovery, production and marketing of base metals. The company's
objective is to maximize shareholder value through efficient operations,
organic growth and accretive acquisitions, while maintaining its
financial strength. A member of the S&P/TSX Composite Index and the
S&P/TSX Global Mining Index, HudBay is committed to high standards
of corporate governance and sustainability.
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL
Exploration
core drilling was BQ or NQ size. The core was logged and mineralized
intersections were marked for sampling and assaying by geologists and
geotechnicians employed by HudBay's Hudson Bay Exploration and
Development Company Limited (HBED)
subsidiary. The marked intersections or intervals were sawn in half by a
diamond saw and one half of the core was placed in plastic bags and
tagged with unique sample numbers, while the second half was returned to
the core box and stored. Each bagged core sample was transported to
HudBay's Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited subsidiary's assay
laboratory in Flin Flon, Manitoba where it was dried, crushed and
pulverized and a 250-gram sample was prepared for assaying. From each
250 gram sample 0.25 grams was removed and leached in aqua regia and
analyzed by ICP-AES for Ag, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Ni and Fe. Also from the
250-gram sample, 30 grams was removed for gold determination by fire
assaying with an Atomic Absorption (AA) or gravimetric finish.
Assaying
integrity is monitored internally with a quality control program, which
includes the use of assay sample standards, blanks,
duplicates and repeats and externally through national and international
programs. In addition, within each group of 20 core samples, one core
sample has a second 250 gram split collected and was check assayed at
Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. (Acme), an independent company in
Vancouver, B.C. Extensive testing on gold pulp material has taken place
over the past few months including comparisons of duplicate results
between labs and quantifying assay difference due to analytical methods.
As a result, the historic gold fire assay AA results from the HBMS lab
have been adjusted to reflect the differences seen with the comparisons
to Acme using fire assay ICP on samples less than 10g/t and gravimetric
finish on samples greater than 10g/t. The QAQC program is ongoing and is
being monitored closely.
Where metal assays are provided in this
news release they are either a single assay of
a sample from the entire intersection length or a composite of assays
calculated from interval weighted assays over the intersection length.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The
data herein and the contents of this news release have been reviewed by
Kelly Gilmore, B.Sc. P. Geo., chief exploration geologist with HBED,
who is a qualified person within the meaning of NI 43-101, with the
ability and authority to verify the authenticity and validity of the
data.
The mineral resources and gold potential mineral deposits
were prepared by Robert Carter, B.Sc P. Eng., HBMS senior mines analyst
under the direct supervision of Kimberley Proctor, B.Sc. P.Geo., HBMS
superintendent mines technical services, both qualified persons within
the meaning of NI 43-101, with the ability and authority to verify the
authenticity and validity of the data.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This
news
release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information
includes, but is not limited to, information concerning HudBay's
interpretation of exploration results at Lalor, mineral resource and
mineralization estimates and potential plans for Lalor as well as
HudBay's exploration and development plans and its strategies and future
prospects. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or
"does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or
"believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or
"will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking
information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the
date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions
and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from
those projected in the forward-looking information. Many of these
assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the
control of HudBay and there is no assurance they will prove to be
correct.
Factors that could cause actual results to vary
materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking information
include changes in market conditions, variations in ore grade or
recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating
metal prices and currency exchange rates, economic factors, government
regulation and approvals, environmental and reclamation risks, costs,
timing
and amount of future production, capital expenditures and requirements
for additional capital, changes in project parameters, the possibility
of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, permitting
timelines, labour disputes and the availability of skilled labour,
results of exploration and other risks of the mining industry, failure
of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, as well as
those risk factors discussed in the Annual Information Form for the year
ended December 31, 2008 for HudBay Minerals Inc. available at www.sedar.com.
Although HudBay has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such information. HudBay undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates
or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities
laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking information.
(HBM-G)
SOURCE: HudBay Minerals Inc.
HudBay Minerals Inc.
John Vincic, Vice President,
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(416) 362 0615
Email: john.vincic@hudbayminerals.com
Website: www.hudbayminerals.com
Copyright (C) 2009 Marketwire. All rights reserved.
News Provided by COMTEX