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Claude Resources Inc. Reports Initial Open Pit Resource at Amisk Gold Project
"Indicated Mineral Resource
of 921,000 Ounces at 0.95 g/tonne Au Eq and
Inferred Mineral Resource of 645,000 Ounces at
0.70 g/tonne Au Eq"
Claude Resources Inc. (TSX-CRJ;
NYSE Amex-CGR) ("Claude") today
provided an independent mineral resource statement for mineralization
amenable to open pit mining on the 13,600 hectare Amisk
Gold Project in northeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. The Amisk
Gold Project is located 20 kilometres southwest
of Flin Flon, Manitoba
and is a 65:35 Joint Venture between Claude and St. Eugene Mining
Corporation ("St. Eugene"); Claude is the operator of the Joint
Venture. There is potential for expansion of the resource both along strike
and at depth below the conceptual pit bottom. Highlights of the Amisk Mineral Resource estimate are presented in Table
1.
Table 1: Consolidated Mineral
Resource Statement*
Amisk Gold Project,
Saskatchewan, February 9, 2011.
|
Resource
Class
|
Quantity
(000�s tonnes)
|
Grade (g/tonne)
|
Contained Ounces
(000�s)
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Au
Eq
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Au
Eq
|
Indicated
|
30,150
|
0.85
|
6.17
|
0.95
|
827
|
5,978
|
921
|
Inferred
|
28,653
|
0.64
|
4.01
|
0.70
|
589
|
3,692
|
645
|
*
Reported at a cut-off of 0.40 grams of gold equivalent (Au Eq) per tonne using a price
of U.S. $1,100 per ounce of gold and U.S. $16 per ounce of silver inside
a conceptual pit shell optimized using metallurgical and process recovery
of eight-seven percent, overall ore mining and processing costs of U.S.$15 per tonne and overall
pit slope of fifty degrees. All figures are rounded to reflect the
relative accuracy of the estimates. Mineral resources are not
mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
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Claude and St. Eugene commissioned SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc.
("SRK"), to prepare an independent mineral resource evaluation
and Technical Report for the Amisk Gold Project.
This mineral resource evaluation is based on historical drilling completed
by Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation ("SMDC") between
1983 and 1989 and Claude between 1996 and 1998 as well as recent core drill
holes drilled by the Joint Venture during 2010. The entire database
comprises 299 drill holes (53,507 metres), of
which 21 (5,657 metres) were drilled by the Joint
Venture in 2010. Resource evaluation was undertaken in January 2011 on
eight domains that comprise the Amisk Gold
Deposit. The mineral resource statement reported herein is the culmination
of that work.
Brian Skanderbeg, Claude�s Vice-President Exploration, stated that
"The successful integration of our 2010 exploration with historic
drilling to generate this geological model and open pit resource estimate
is the culmination of an aggressive 12 month exploration program and is a
major milestone for the Amisk Gold Project and
Claude Resources. Moving forward at Amisk, we
will focus on expansion of the open pit resource, preliminary
metallurgical, engineering and economic studies, as well as an evaluation
of the underground potential. Furthermore, with the support of a continued
strong gold price, strong working capital, planned initiation of Phase II
underground drilling at Madsen in the first quarter 2011 and improving
economics at our Seabee Gold Project, Claude is well-positioned to
capitalize on the current gold market and execute on its strategy of
discovering, developing and producing gold in established belts proximal to
existing infrastructure."
The Amisk Gold Deposit is hosted within a rhyolite flow-dome complex and overlying pyroclastic tuffs of the Amisk
Volcanic Assemblage, Flin Flon
Greenstone Belt. High grade gold and silver mineralization is hosted within
a series of moderately to shallowly-dipping, pyrite +/- chalcopyrite-sphalerite-tetrahedrite-galena-bearing
sulphide vein systems. High grade vein systems
are typically flanked by wide intervals of low grade disseminated and
stringer sulphide mineralization within a broad sericite alteration envelope. A detailed plan map and
representative cross sections outlining the conceptual open pit and
resource model are presented on Claude�s website.
The breakdown of mineral resources for each modeled domain, using a
cut-off grade of 0.4 grams of gold equivalent per tonne
for the Amisk Gold Deposit are outlined in Table
2 below.
Table 2: Mineral Resource
Statement
Amisk Gold Project,
Saskatchewan, February 9, 2011.
|
Resource
Class
|
Domain
|
Quantity
(000�s
tonnes)
|
Grade (g/tonne)
|
Contained Ounces
(000�s)
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Au
Eq
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Au
Eq
|
Indicated
|
C
Frag LG
|
18,110
|
0.80
|
6.17
|
0.90
|
466
|
3,590
|
522
|
|
C
Frag HG
|
4,131
|
1.53
|
8.80
|
1.67
|
203
|
1,169
|
223
|
|
SWXX
LG
|
961
|
0.87
|
5.09
|
0.95
|
27
|
157
|
29
|
|
SWXX
HG
|
86
|
1.74
|
12.91
|
1.94
|
5
|
36
|
5
|
|
EVCF
|
741
|
0.76
|
4.83
|
0.84
|
18
|
115
|
20
|
|
HW
|
6,121
|
0.55
|
4.63
|
0.62
|
108
|
911
|
122
|
|
Total
|
30,150
|
0.85
|
6.17
|
0.95
|
827
|
5,978
|
921
|
Inferred
|
C
Frag LG
|
5,510
|
0.76
|
5.60
|
0.85
|
135
|
993
|
151
|
|
C
Frag HG
|
91
|
1.63
|
7.64
|
1.74
|
5
|
22
|
5
|
|
SWXX
LG
|
2,623
|
0.71
|
4.50
|
0.78
|
60
|
380
|
66
|
|
SWXX HG
|
211
|
1.57
|
10.74
|
1.74
|
11
|
73
|
12
|
|
E Mafics
|
17
|
0.44
|
5.01
|
0.52
|
0.2
|
3
|
0.3
|
|
W Mafics
|
69
|
0.42
|
2.89
|
0.46
|
1
|
6
|
1
|
|
EVCF
|
3,412
|
0.68
|
3.99
|
0.74
|
74
|
438
|
81
|
|
HW
|
16,720
|
0.56
|
3.31
|
0.61
|
303
|
1,778
|
330
|
|
Total
|
28,653
|
0.64
|
4.01
|
0.70
|
589
|
3,692
|
645
|
Footnotes
to the Mineral Resource Statement:
- Mineral resources for the Amisk
Gold Deposit are reported at a cut-off of 0.40 grams of gold
equivalent per tonne using a price of U.S.
$1,100 per ounce of gold and U.S. $16 per ounce of silver inside a
conceptual pit shell optimized using metallurgical and process
recovery of eight-seven percent, overall ore mining and processing
costs of U.S. $15 per tonne and overall pit
slope of fifty degrees. All figures are rounded to reflect the
relative accuracy of the estimates.
- Mineral resources are not mineral reserves
and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty
that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into
mineral reserves. The resource evaluation work was completed by a team
of resource geologists under the supervision Glen Cole, P.Geo.,
a full time employee of SRK. Mr. Cole has sufficient experience, which
is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under
consideration and to the activities undertaken to qualify as a
Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
- The mineral resources reported herein have
been estimated in conformity with generally accepted CIM �Estimation
of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices� guidelines
and are reported in accordance with Canadian Securities
Administrators� National Instrument 43-101.
- The construction of the Amisk
mineral resource model was the product of collaboration between Claude
and SRK staff. The capture and validation of historical exploration
data was initiated in January 2010 and compiled a digital database
containing 299 boreholes (53,507 metres).
Rigorous quality control and validation procedures, inclusive of twin
holes and quartering of historic core, were completed by Claude
Resources. The database also includes recent drilling information on
the Amisk Gold Deposit to December 31, 2010.
SRK audited the procedure and visited the site and is of the opinion
the data are reliable for the purpose of resource estimation.
- SRK was engaged in October 2010 to complete
an evaluation of mineral resources reported herein. Mineral resources
were estimated using a geostatistical block
modeling approach constrained by mineralization wireframes. Block size
was set at cubes five metres in size.
Underground excavations were removed from modeled blocks. Block gold
grade was estimated by ordinary kriging from
sourced capped composite data. Search neighbourhood
and estimation parametres were adjusted
based on variography results. Two estimation
runs were completed and grade estimates verified using other
estimators. The mineral resource model was validated visually on
section by section and elevation by elevation basis. Quantile-quantile plots comparing resource block
and capped composite data show the usual smoothing effect of kriging particularly at higher grades, but confirm
that the block model is representative of the informing data.
- Analysis of the cumulative probability plots
for individual resource zones determined that capping of high-grade
assays to limit their influence during grade estimation was necessary.
Probability analysis was completed on individual resource domains with
capping values ranging from 95th to 99th percentile.
- The resource reported herein includes an
adjustment to account for underground development related to a bulk
sample completed by SMDC in 1988.
- A Technical Report supporting the Mineral
Resource Statement will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) within 45 days.
The mineral resources for the Amisk Gold
Project are sensitive to the selection of cut-off grade. Table 3 presents
the quantity and grade estimates at a range of cut-off grades inside the
conceptual pit shell considered for reporting the Mineral Resource
Statement. A cut-off value of 0.4 grams of gold equivalent per tonne was selected based on optimization results and
benchmarking against similar deposits.
Table 3: Global Block Model
Quantity and Grade Estimates,
Amisk Lake Gold
Project at Various cut-off Grades.
|
Grade
|
Indicated
|
Inferred
|
Au Eq
(gpt)
|
Quantity
(tonnes)
|
Au
Eq
(gpt)
|
Ounces
Au Eq
|
Quantity
(tonnes)
|
Au Eq
(gpt)
|
Ounces
Au Eq
|
0.10
|
47,496,802
|
0.70
|
1,068,940
|
102,734,810
|
0.36
|
1,189,080
|
0.20
|
44,036,914
|
0.75
|
1,061,865
|
72,604,675
|
0.45
|
1,050,433
|
0.30
|
37,422,417
|
0.83
|
998,622
|
45,000,464
|
0.57
|
824,675
|
0.40
|
30,150,090
|
0.95
|
920,881
|
28,653,135
|
0.70
|
644,854
|
0.50
|
23,533,117
|
1.09
|
824,702
|
19,446,358
|
0.82
|
512,676
|
0.60
|
18,322,858
|
1.25
|
736,367
|
13,665,490
|
0.94
|
412,994
|
0.70
|
14,359,129
|
1.41
|
650,936
|
9,491,034
|
1.07
|
326,504
|
0.80
|
11,418,785
|
1.58
|
580,054
|
6,659,786
|
1.20
|
256,941
|
0.90
|
9,206,976
|
1.76
|
520,980
|
4,825,758
|
1.34
|
207,903
|
1.00
|
7,606,617
|
1.93
|
471,998
|
3,589,543
|
1.48
|
170,802
|
1.50
|
3,472,946
|
2.80
|
312,642
|
1,078,945
|
2.16
|
74,928
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Note:
The reader is cautioned that the figures in this table should not be
misconstrued with a Mineral Resource Statement. The figures are only
presented to show the sensitivity of the block model estimates to the
selection of cut-off grade.
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A team of personnel from Claude and SRK was involved in the
preparation of the Mineral Resource Statement for the Amisk
Gold Deposit, including Brian Skanderbeg (P. Geo.), Philip Ng (P. Eng.),
Mike Glover and Kim Litke of Claude Resources;
and Glen Cole (P. Geo.), Sebastien Bernier (P.
Geo.) and Goran Andric (P. Eng.) of SRK. All data
considered for resource evaluation was reviewed by SRK, with Mr. Glen Cole
(P. Geo.) a full time employee of SRK and independent from Claude assuming
professional responsibility. Mr. Cole has reviewed the content of this News
Release.
Brian Skanderbeg, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person for Claude
Resources for the Amisk Gold Project. The Company
has implemented a rigorous Quality Assurance and Quality Control program to
ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of drill core. Drill core
was halved and samples averaging 1.5 to 2.0 metres
were submitted to TSL Laboratories in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and/or ALS Chemex in Vancouver, British Columbia, both ISO
approved facilities. Quality assurance and quality control procedures have
been implemented including the use of blanks, standards and duplicates.
Core samples were analyzed by a 30 gram gold fire assay with an atomic
absorption, conventional gravimetric and/or screen fire techniques.
Claude Resources Inc. is a public company
based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TSX-CRJ) and the NYSE Amex (NYSE Amex-CGR). Claude is a gold
exploration and mining company with an asset base located entirely in
Canada. Since 1991, Claude has produced approximately 930,000 ounces of
gold from its Seabee mining operation in northeastern Saskatchewan. The
Company also owns 100 percent of the 10,000 acre Madsen property in the
prolific Red Lake gold camp of northwestern Ontario and has a 65 percent
working interest in the Amisk Gold Project in
northeastern Saskatchewan.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This document contains certain
forward-looking statements relating but not limited to the Company�s
expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs. Forward-looking information
can often be identified by forward-looking words such as
"anticipate", "believe", "expect",
"goal", "plan", "intent",
"estimate", "may" and "will" or similar words
suggesting future outcomes or other expectations, beliefs, plans,
objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or
performance. Forward-looking information may include reserve and resource
estimates, estimates of future production, unit costs, costs of capital
projects and timing of commencement of operations, and is based on current
expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any
forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, failure to establish
estimated resources and reserves, the grade and recovery of mined ore
varying from estimates, capital and operating costs varying significantly
from estimates, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required
governmental, environmental or other project approvals, inflation, changes
in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the
development of projects and other factors. Forward-looking statements are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from expected results.
Potential shareholders and prospective
investors should be aware that these statements are subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking
statements. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking information
involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both
general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the
predictions, forecasts, projections and various future events will not
occur. Claude Resources undertakes no obligation to update publicly or
otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new
information, future events or other such factors which affect this
information, except as required by law.
Cautionary note to U.S. investors
concerning resource estimate: The resource estimates in this document were
prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, adopted by the
Canadian Securities Administrators. The requirements of National Instrument
43-101 differ significantly from the requirements of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the �SEC�). In this document, we use
the terms "measured", "indicated" and
"inferred" resources. Although these terms are recognized and
required in Canada, the SEC does not recognize them. The SEC permits U.S.
mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those
mineral deposits that constitute �reserves�. Under United States standards,
mineralization may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination
has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally
extracted at the time the determination is made. United States investors
should not assume that all or any portion of a measured or indicated
resource will ever be converted into �reserves�. Further, �inferred
resources� have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and
whether they can be mined economically or legally, and United States
investors should not assume that �inferred resources� exist or can be
legally or economically mined, or that they will ever be upgraded to a
higher category.
For further information please contact:
Neil McMillan, President
& CEO
Phone: (306) 668-7505
Brian Skanderbeg, P.Geo, Vice President, Exploration
Phone: (306) 668-7505
Philip Ng, P. Eng.,
Vice President, Operations
Phone (306) 668 - 7505
Email: ir@clauderesources.com
Website: www.clauderesources.com
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