June 2007 Quarterly Update 5.37% Ni Over 24.1m at Lanfranchi Extension Resource Delineation Program Lanfranchi Nickel Mine, Kambalda District of Western Australia
Vancouver, B.C. - Brilliant Mining Corp. (BMC:TSXV)
("Brilliant" or the "Company") today reported the nickel ore production and an update of operations for the quarter ending June 30, 2007 ("June 2007 Quarter") from its 25% owned Lanfranchi Nickel Mine, located in the world class Kambalda Nickel District of Western Australia.
Key Point Summary:
* 60,864 tonnes of ore mined(i) in last quarter represents a 17% increase from previous quarter
* Very strong geophysical conductor at base of Deacon Inferred Resource
* 5.37% Ni over 24.1 metres drill intercept at Lanfranchi Extension
* Continued success at the Tramways Dome North Drill Program
Production
The Lanfranchi Nickel mine produced 60,864 dry metric tonnes(i)
of ore averaging 2.19% Ni during the quarter for 1,330 tonnes (2.9 million lbs)
of Ni metal contained. Compared to the previous quarter, this represents an increase of 17% increase in ore production.
Table 1 - Lanfranchi Project Operating Statistics - 100% Basis(i)
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Details
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Units
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3 months ending 30 Jun 2007
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3 months ending 31 Mar 2007
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3 months ending 31 Dec 2006
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Mining
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Ore mined
|
DMT
|
60,864
|
52,030
|
61,173
|
|
Ni grade
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%
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2.19
|
2.21
|
2.39
|
|
Ni metal
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DMT
|
1,330
|
1,149
|
1,465
|
|
Contained
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Lbs
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2,932,148
|
2,533,111
|
3,230,000
|
|
Cu grade
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%
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0.20
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0.19
|
0.20
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Deliveries
|
Ore delivered
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DMT
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57,558
|
52,082
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61,631
|
|
Ni grade
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%
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2.22%
|
2.21
|
2.39
|
|
Ni metal
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T
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1,278
|
1,150
|
1,473
|
|
Contained
|
Lbs
|
2,817,000
|
2,535,000
|
3,247,000
|
|
Cu grade
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%
|
0.19
|
0.19
|
0.20
|
(i) 25% of the reported ore mined or delivered is attributable to Brilliant Mining Corp.
(ii) DMT = dry metric tonnes, T = tonnes, Lbs = pounds
The continued strategy at the Lanfranchi Mine will be to focus on capital development in the near term to maximize production and revenues in the long term. Currently, two out of three mine crews are committed to the capital development of the Lanfranchi orebody, Winner orebody and Deacon Resource. The incorporation of these new sources of material into the active mine plan will have a dramatic impact on the production profile with nickel metal production projected to double over the next three quarters from current levels.
Winner Development
A section of deep weathering was encountered early in the quarter, temporarily slowing the Winner decline development, but advance rates returned to budget during May once the ground conditions improved. Ore delivery to surface from Winner is on track to commence early next quarter. The Probable Mineral Reserve at Winner is 144,003 tonnes of ore at 4.26% Ni for 6,139 tonnes (13.5 million lbs) of Ni metal.
Deacon Resource Down-Plunge Drill Program
A 500m platform EM hole (HS301A) below Deacon from near the base of the Helmut South decline was completed, however, due to technical difficulties, approximately only the top 300m of the hole was surveyed. The results indicate a very strong geophysical conductor to the bottom of the hole. The extent of the geophysical survey remained within the lower limits of the inferred resource (as shown in Figure 1).
Figure 1: Deacon Resource Plan View
Figure 2: Deacon Resource Cross-Section
Due to the strength of the conductor, two parallel EM drill holes are planned to commence shortly to test the area 200m beyond the current base of the Deacon resource.
Deacon Resource Up-Plunge Drill Program
The drilling focus during the quarter shifted to the up-plunge portion of the Deacon channel structure, between Helmut and the currently defined top of the Deacon resource at approximately 514000mN. An initial eleven hole drill program comprising 2,030 meters was completed from Stockpile 5 off the Helmut South Decline at -444mRL.
The aim of this program was to define the general shape and direction of the channel structure to determine an appropriate position for the development of a dedicated hanging wall drill drive to facilitate resource definition drilling of the up-plunge extent of Deacon.
No significant mineralization was encountered about the ultramafic/basalt contact in any of the Stockpile 5 drill holes, although broad intervals of highly altered, iron sulphide rich basalt were intersected in several drill holes. Assays are awaited for these zones. The Stockpile 5 drilling indicates an abrupt shift in the orientation and shape of the Deacon/Helmut channel structure occurring at about 514000mN (the previously defined northern limit of the Deacon mineralisation).
The Stockpile 5 drill station location was marginally suitable to target the extrapolated position of the up-plunge extent of Deacon due to the oblique nature of the drilling. The interpreted deviation in the Deacon mineralization or ultramafic/mafic contact from the projected trend produced a highly problematic scenario and indeterminate results. Therefore, a detailed assessment of the Stockpile 5 drilling is required before any definitive comments can be made about the up-plunge extent of the Deacon mineralisation and before a dedicated drill drive can be positioned.
Lanfranchi
A resource definition drill program has commenced to evaluate the next 80 vertical metres of down-plunge continuation of the Lanfranchi orebody. The program, which will be undertaken from an extended 15K hanging wall drill drive (Figure 4), will comprise 40 drill holes for 4,100 drill metres.
To date, 26 holes (LAN123-148) comprising 2,437 drill metres, have been completed with assay results received from the first ten holes as summarized in Table 1 with locations shown in Figure 3 & 4. The best result was returned from LAN127 grading 5.37% Ni over 24.1 metres (true thickness projected to be approximately 5 to 6 meters thick; due to oblique angle of drilling). The results to date are in alignment with the historical nature (grades and thickness) of the Lanfranchi Orebody and provide continued evidence for the mineralization at Lanfranchi to continue in a similar fashion.
Table 1: Summary of Lanfranchi Drill results
Hole Id
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Target RL
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Azimuth
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Dip
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Depth
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From
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To
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Drill Intercept
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Ni %
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LAN123
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-300
|
301
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-42.5
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35.0
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29.90
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31.33
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1.43
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9.06
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LAN124
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-300
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32
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-39.0
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59.1
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42.00
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45.00
|
3.00
|
1.61
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LAN125
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-300
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47
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-20.9
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81.5
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75.70
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77.45
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1.75
|
7.66
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LAN126
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-300
|
250
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-26.7
|
59.0
|
35.00
|
38.00
|
3.00
|
1.04
|
LAN127
|
-300
|
244
|
-14.1
|
107.1
|
68.80
|
92.90
|
24.10
|
5.37
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LAN128
|
-320
|
57
|
-63.3
|
51.2
|
37.00
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38.70
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1.70
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4.64
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LAN129
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-320
|
57
|
-45.5
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68.1
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63.00
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65.00
|
2.00
|
2.15
|
LAN130
|
-320
|
57
|
-33.2
|
85.2
|
78.00
|
78.87
|
0.87
|
0.51
|
LAN131
|
-320
|
57
|
-25.8
|
123.0
|
|
|
|
NSG
|
LAN132
|
-320
|
57
|
-21.0
|
154.4
|
|
|
|
NSG
|
Notes: NSR - no significant result; RL - Mine Level measured in vertical metres; All other lengths measured in metres
Figure 3: Proposed drill program for Lanfranchi - Plan View
Note: Drill holes LAN123 to LAN148 have been completed; drill holes Lan149 to Lan162 are proposed. Drill hole footwall pierce points locations are marked by a black Diamond.
Figure 4: Proposed drill program for Lanfranchi - 3D Schematic looking West
The drill rig currently stationed to perform the reserve/resource delineation drilling of the Lanfranchi Extension will intermittently, throughout the drill plan, undertake other more time sensitive and higher priority drill projects, such as the upcoming stope definition drill program on the Winner Orebody and the down-plunge platform EM hole at Deacon (see above). The drill will then return to continue the program at the Lanfranchi Extension. Therefore results from this program may be released intermittently.
The Lanfranchi orebody, namesake of the Lanfranchi Nickel Mine, has been mined over a down-plunge length of 1.5 kilometres, with historical production totalling 1.4 million tonnes at 2.32 per cent Ni.
Tramways Dome North Drill Program
Surface drilling to explore the northern side of the Tramways Dome for possible overturned channel structures commenced during the quarter. Five drill holes on an east-west fence pattern at 200m drill centres have been completed to date, targeting the inferred overturned ultramafic komatiite / mafic basalt contact ("overturned contact"). All five holes have successfully intersected the overturned contact, providing strong support for the overturned dome model and dramatically increasing the prospective area to host nickel channels within the property boundaries.
Figure 5: Tramways Dome North Drill Plan
Hole TD8030 collared in ultramafic and intersected 1m grading 3.4% Ni on the upper contact. The presence of nickel mineralization proximal to the hinge of the overturned fold highlights the potential for the continuity of mineralization on the overturned contact of the Tramways Dome.
The initial program will test a 2km wide section of the Northern Tramways area between 390000mE and 392000mE. The program consists of 17 to 20 proposed drill holes for 8,000 to 9,000 drill metres and will cost approximately AUD$1.2 million. The targeted Ni sulphide channels are not exposed at surface and therefore, the Lanfranchi JV relies on down-hole geophysics as the primary tool for exploration discovery.
Figure 6: Tramways Dome Cross-Section
Down-hole geophysics will be performed on all the pertinent current and historic holes to determine the presence of near-hole conductors indicative of areas of mineralized sulphides. Drilling is planned to recommence on the highly prospective overturned contact once the geophysical survey has being completed and the results are compiled.
Schmitz
A program of deep EM holes was completed from the Schmitz hanging wall drill drive during the quarter. Four holes targeted the down plunge continuation of the Schmitz orebody and a fifth drill hole was drilled to test the projected Skinner position further to the west. Very thin zones of "Schmitz-like" mineralisation were intersected in SMT111 and SMT112. Drill holes SMT113 and 114, further down plunge, were essentially barren. SKN105 intersected some weak disseminated mineralisation in the projected down plunge Skinner position. Assay results are pending.
About Brilliant Mining
Brilliant Mining Corp. owns a 25% interest in the Lanfranchi Joint Venture ("Lanfranchi JV"), which owns the Lanfranchi Nickel Mine together with associated infrastructure, mining leases and mineral claims. The remaining 75% interest in the Lanfranchi JV is held by Sally Malay Mining Limited.
The Lanfranchi project is supervised by John Williamson, PGeol, of Edmonton, Alberta. Mr. Williamson, CEO and a Director of Brilliant Mining, is the qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
Brilliant Mining Corp. (BMC: TSXV) 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 Corporation, 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.
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