Deacon Ore Reserve Exceeds 43,000 Tonnes of Nickel Metal; Triples Reserve Base at Lanfranchi Nickel Mine, Kambalda District of Western Australia
Vancouver
, B.C. - Brilliant Mining Corp. (BMC: TSXV)
("Brilliant" or the "Company") today announced that an initial Probable Ore Reserve of 1,695,400t at 2.54% Ni for 43,000 tonnes (94.8 million lbs) Ni metal has been estimated for the Deacon orebody at the 25% owned Lanfranchi Nickel Mine, located in the world class Kambalda Nickel District of Western Australia.
Key Point Summary
- Initial Deacon Probable Reserve estimated at 1,695,433 at 2.54% Ni for 43,009 tonnes of Ni metal
- Resource to Reserve conversion rate of 95% achieved based on total nickel tonnes
- Lanfranchi Project on track with ramp up to 500,000t ore
per annum from 2008/09
"The addition of the Deacon Ore Reserve triples the known reserve base and confirms the longevity of the Lanfranchi Nickel Mine," stated John Robins, Chairman, Brilliant Mining. "Advancing Deacon from a new discovery in October 2006 to a 95 million pound Ni Ore Reserve by August 2007, demonstrates impressive execution by the Lanfranchi JV operations team and the ability to meet future production targets."
Table 1: Deacon - August 2007 Ore Reserve
Class
|
Tonnes
|
Ni %
|
Ni Tonnes
|
Ni lbs
|
Cu %
|
Cu Tonnes
|
Cu lbs
|
Probable
|
1,695,433
|
2.54
|
43,009
|
94,819,000
|
0.22
|
3,798
|
8,373,000
|
* Detailed table reference notes at bottom of news release
The Deacon Probable Reserve (Table 1) represents the conversion of 1,407,092 tonnes of Indicated Resource at a grade of 3.20% Ni containing 45,051 tonnes Ni. On a nickel tonne basis, a resource to reserve conversion rate of 95% was achieved. The component of the Deacon Resource (Table 2) not included in the conversion is an Indicated Resource of 202,109 tonnes at 2.33% Ni for 4,713 tonnes of Ni metal and an Inferred Resource of 300,363 tonnes at 2.77% Ni for 8,332 tonnes of Ni metal. The Deacon mineralization remains open both up and down plunge.
Table 2: Deacon - April 2007 Mineral Resource Estimate (Upgraded)
Class
|
Ore
Type
|
Ore
Tonnes
|
Ni %
|
Ni Tonnes
|
Ni
Pounds
|
Cu %
|
Cu Tonnes
|
Cu Pounds
|
Indicated
|
Diss/Matrix
|
1,421,869
|
2.52
|
35,860
|
79,057,767
|
0.23
|
3,246
|
7,156,205
|
Indicated
|
Massive
|
184,719
|
7.49
|
13,837
|
30,505,363
|
0.61
|
1,122
|
2,473,587
|
Total
Indicated
|
Diss/Matrix/ Massive
|
1,606,588
|
3.09
|
49,697
|
109,563,130
|
0.27
|
4368
|
9,629,792
|
Inferred
|
Diss/Matrix
|
302,977
|
2.77
|
8,389
|
18,494,579
|
0.27
|
815
|
1,796,767
|
** Detailed table notes at bottom of news release
The Probable Ore Reserve is based on both longhole open stoping and underhand cut and fill mining methods. The move to longhole open stoping should reduce mining costs and allow for targeted production rates at Deacon of 30-40,000 tonnes per month. Work is progressing at Deacon on a geotechnical drill hole to assist with the engineering and design of a raise bore which will greatly increase the ventilation. This will allow higher production rates to be attained and the mining of any potential down plunge extensions to the Deacon/Helmut Ni channel.
In addition, to ensure that sufficient equipment will be on hand to meet production targets at Deacon a purchase order has been placed for two new 60 tonne trucks, one new twin boom jumbo drill, and one new loader.
Figure 1:
Deacon Resource plan map showing Limit of Probable Reserves, Drill pierce point locations, grade intervals and grade x true thickness contours
Figure 2:
Deacon proposed development - 3D schematic
*Table 1 Notes:
The Deacon Probable Reserve calculation was performed by Jon Bayley - Project Engineer for Sally Malay Mining Ltd. the Operator for the Lanfranchi JV and derived from the resource model prepared by BM Geological Services.
The Deacon Reserve and Resource has been reconciled to the mineral resource and mineral reserve categories as set out by and adopted by the CIM Council. The Deacon resource used for the calculation of the reserve is all material between 513,664mN and 513,929m N. The mining method selected is a series of longhole open stopes which will mine approximately 65% of the reserve with underhand cut and fill mining the remainder. All stoping voids will be completely filled with paste as part of the mining process.
All shapes created for the reserve was broken into 2.5m sections along the line of advance. Each section was then analysed for diluted grade and the cutoff applied was 0.8%. The measured and indicated resource was broken into 5 x 55m blocks (north-south) separated by 10m wide pillars. Each block was then divided into 3 x 7m primary stopes separated by 2 x 12m secondary stopes. All stopes have vertical walls, have top and bottom drives, and are 25m tall from the floor of the lower drive to the backs of the upper drive. Each drive was then positioned vertically to capture the highest amount of nickel tonnes. Once positioned, each stope then had the lower drive raised and the upper drive lowered to see if the material removed was economic. Each stope was then further manually optimised to add further ore or remove waste on a 2.5m section basis.
All ore remaining after the above three stages was then sliced into 5m vertical sections corresponding with the drives in Helmut South. All sections were then divided into a series of 5 x 5m drives to mine the remaining ore where the diluted grade was above 0.8%. This included areas where smaller amounts of ore which was mined with paste if the resultant grade was still above 0.8%.
The reserve numbers have allowed for planned dilution (mining shapes which include design waste assigned at a 0% Ni grade), 4% unplanned dilution and 1% ore loss. There is not expected to be any metallurgical issues leading to penalties.
**Table 2 Notes:
The Deacon Mineral Resource Estimate, which is JORC-compliant, has been prepared by BM Geological Services Pty Ltd and Lanfranchi Nickel Mines personnel; and has been reconciled to the mineral resource and mineral reserve categories as set out by and adopted by the CIM Council.
The estimate is based on a 3D Surpass block model utilizing a block size of 10m NS x 10m EW x 2m vertical with 5.0m x 5.0m x 1.0m sub-cells. The model contains 53 underground Diamond holes, comprising a total of 8,650m of drilling. All holes have been accurately located using Leica survey instruments and down-holeEastman survey cameras. Grade interpolation is by Inverse Distance techniques using an oriented search ellipse based on the geometry of the mineralization. Models for validation and verification have also been completed using Ordinary Kriged interpolations.
The tonnes and grade of the Mineral Resource estimate is the material constrained within the interpreted mineralization wireframes which were constructed on sectional interpretations at 50m centres to a 1.6% Ni cut-off grade. When present, high grade massive nickel sulphide mineralization was domained separately.
The Mineral Resource is largely classified as Indicated due to the good continuity of the mineralization, the adequate drill hole spacing and the confidence gained from QA/QC checks and data validation. A small zone of mineralization at the extremities of the resource has been classified as Inferred due to the lack of sample support and poor continuity of grade and lithological controls.
BM Geological Services Pty. Ltd. of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia has been contracted to prepare a NI 43-101 compliant technical report encompassing the mineral resource estimates for the Lanfranchi Nickel Mine. Brilliant management expects the NI 43-101 compliant technical report within 45 days, which report will address verification of data and any limitations thereof, as well as include the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resources and mineral reserves and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimate of mineral resources or mineral reserves may be materially affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The project is supervised by John Williamson, P.Geol., of Edmonton, Alberta. Mr. Williamson is CEO and a Director of Brilliant, and is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About Brilliant Mining Corp.
Brilliant Mining Corp. is focused on the production, development and exploration of nickel opportunities world wide. The Company currently has a 25% interest in the producing Lanfranchi Nickel Mine in Western Australia and has 3 active nickel projects in Canada, including the Michikamau property in central Labrador.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Mike Sieb" Mike Sieb, B.Sc., MBA President Brilliant Mining Corp.
For further information about Brilliant Mining Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.brilliantmining.com
, or contact:
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Certain disclosures in this release, including management's assessment of Brilliant's plans and projects, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to Brilliant's operation as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Brilliant expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
|