Cranbrook,
B.C., 20 September, 2007: Copper Canyon Resources
Ltd. (TSX-V:CPY) has received notice from NovaGold Resources Inc. (AMEX, TSX:NG) that a
12-hole, 16,200’ (4,940m) Diamond drilling program has
recently been completed on the Copper Canyon property, located
adjacent NovaGold’s Galore Creek Project. The Copper
Canyon property is controlled
100% by Copper Canyon Resources Ltd. and is under option to
NovaGold, who may earn up to an 80%
interest.
The 2007 program had multiple objectives, including
resource expansion and the testing of additional geochemical
and geophysical targets on the property. NovaGold funded the
work, and expects to complete its requirements to earn a 60%
interest in the property.
A number of holes were
targeted beneath and beyond the existing boundaries of the
current inferred resource (see below). Hole CC07-0033 was
drilled to a total depth of 2076’ (633m), testing over 250m
beneath historical drill-hole CC90-2, the highest grade hole
in the Galore District, which intersected 888’ (270m) grading
1.92 g/tonne Au, 22.28 g/tonne Ag and 1.05% Cu. Follow-up
drilling was also completed on hole CC05-030 (drilled in late
2005), which intersected 2.5m grading 50.6 g/t Au (1.5 oz/ton). Assay results from the current program are expected
to be available before year end.
On May 25th, NovaGold and Teck
Cominco jointly announced that the companies had
formed a partnership that will invest $2-billion (U.S.) to
build the Galore Creek mine. The Copper Canyon option agreement held by
NovaGold will be subject to this joint-venture
arrangement.
On June 5th, NovaGold
announced that it had received the necessary federal and
provincial authorizations and permits to allow NovaGold's
board of directors to approve the start of construction for
the Galore Creek deposit. Over 650 people are currently at
work on the project, with construction of a 130km access road
now well underway. Capital costs are estimated at $2.2 billion
and represent the largest privately-funded mining project in
Canadian history.
An
inferred category resource estimate completed by independent
engineering firm Hatch Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, shows
that the Copper Canyon target at the Galore Creek
project in Northwestern British Columbia contains over 2.86
million ounces of gold, 37.9 million ounces of silver and 1.16
billion pounds of copper at a 0.35% copper equivalent
cut-off grade (CuEq)(1) (See Table 1 below). Copper Equivalent
grades are based both on long-term average metal prices and
estimated recoveries based on extensive metallurgical data
from the adjacent Galore Creek Central/SW deposit. The
estimate used a geologic model developed from the previously
announced drilling at Copper Canyon during 2004 by NovaGold as
well as historical results that had encountered significant
widths of gold, silver and copper
mineralization.
Table 1
: COPPER CANYON TARGET - INFERRED
RESOURCE |
|
Cutoff |
Size |
Grade |
Million
lbs. |
Million
Ozs |
Million
Ozs |
|
CuEq(%) |
M
Tonnes |
Cu
(%) |
Au
(g/t) |
Ag
(g/t) |
Cu |
Au |
Ag |
0.35 |
164.8 |
0.35 |
0.54 |
7.15 |
1,160 |
2.86 |
37.91 |
0.50 |
116.1 |
0.41 |
0.64 |
8.30 |
950 |
2.39 |
30.98 |
0.70 |
63.0 |
0.50 |
0.86 |
10.21 |
625 |
1.73 |
20.68 |
1.00 |
29.2 |
0.65 |
1.14 |
13.03 |
381 |
1.07 |
12.23 |
1.30 |
15.6 |
0.83 |
1.32 |
15.70 |
258 |
0.66 |
7.87 |
Notes:
(1)
Copper equivalent calculations (CuEq%) use metal prices of
US$375/oz for gold, US$5.50/oz for silver and US$0.90/lb for
copper. CuEq% calculations reflect gross metal content that
has been adjusted for metallurgical recoveries based on the
following criteria: Copper Recovery = (%Cu-0.06)/%Cu with a
minimum of 50% and maximum of 95%; Gold Recovery = (Au g/t –
0.14)/Au g/t with a minimum of 30% and maximum of 80%; and
Silver Recovery = 80%.
(2) An
“inferred mineral resource” is that part of a mineral resource
for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on
the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and
reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade
continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and
sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from
locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill
holes. Due to the uncertainty that may attach 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 the meaningful application of technical
and economic parameters or to enable an evaluation of economic
viability worthy of public disclosure. Inferred mineral
resources must be excluded form estimates forming the basis of
feasibility or other economic studies.
Results from past drill programs carried out on the
property have defined a broad area of precious metal rich
mineralization at least 700 meters by 400 meters which is open
to expansion. The mineralization begins at surface and
occurs as disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite hosted within
an intrusive porphyry complex. Prior to 2007 work, the
area covered by the existing drill holes represented less than
0.5% of the entire property area.
A
compilation map outlining relative drillhole locations can be
found at:
http://www.copcanyon.com/projects/coppercanyon/documents/CopperCanyon2007DrillProgram.pdf
NovaGold may earn a 60% interest in
the Copper Canyon project from
CPY by completing C$3 million in exploration expenditures,
issuing a total of 296,000 shares of NovaGold to CPY and
making property payments totaling C$250,000. NovaGold may earn
an additional 20% interest in the project for a total of 80%
by paying Copper Canyon C$1 million and completing a
feasibility study by September 2011.
Copper Canyon management considers the
Copper Canyon property
to be an important component of the Galore Creek project,
providing a potential source of high-grade ore. In addition,
documents filed by NovaGold with the B.C. Government indicate
that NovaGold intends to construct a water retention facility
and diversion structure related to the Galore Creek mine on
surface lands within the Copper Canyon property
area.
Copper Canyon Resources was
created by way of a Plan of Arrangement on June 9, 2006.
Shareholders of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. approved the plan
to reorganize the Company's mineral
property assets in an effort to maximize shareholder
value. Under the terms of the arrangement, three of
Eagle Plains’ projects; Copper Canyon,
Severance and
Abo (Harrison) Gold, were transferred into
Copper Canyon one a one-for-one share
basis.
This
news release has been reviewed and approved by Tim J.
Termuende, P.Geo., hereby designated as a “Qualified Person”
under National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of the Board
of Directors
Signed
“Tim J. Termuende”
President and CEO
For further information, please contact Mike Labach at
1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)
Email: mgl@copcanyon.com or visit our
website at http://www.copcanyon.com
The TSX Venture
Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news
release may contain forward-looking statements including but
not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of
upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of
property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc.
Forward-looking statements address future events and
conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those
currently anticipated in such
statements.
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