August 23, 2010
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www.mindoro.com
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Increased
Agata Nickel Resource and Regional Drilling Commenced
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - Mindoro Resources Ltd. (TSXV: MIO; Frankfurt: WKN
906167) today announced an increased Mineral Resource estimate for the Agata
Nickel Project. This includes a Measured and Indicated resource of 29.8
million tonnes at 1.03 percent nickel, an increase of 2.9 million tonnes
compared to the December 2009 estimate with a slight decrease in grade due to
a more robust estimation methodology and more detailed information. In
addition an Inferred resource of 1.46 million tonnes at 1.01 percent nickel
has been estimated.
The mineral resource estimate is tabulated below.
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Metric
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Contained Metal (K Tonnes)
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Horizon
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K Tonnes
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Ni%
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Co%
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Fe%
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Ni
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Co
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Fe
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Limonite
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248
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1.01%
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0.11%
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48%
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2.5
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0.27
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119
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Saprolite
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522
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1.12%
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0.03%
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11%
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5.9
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0.16
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57
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Subtotal
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771
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1.08%
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0.06%
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23%
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8.4
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0.43
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176
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Limonite
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9,972
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0.94%
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0.11%
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46%
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94
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11.0
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4,587
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Saprolite
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19,052
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1.07%
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0.03%
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11%
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204
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5.7
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2,096
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Subtotal
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29,024
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1.03%
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0.06%
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23%
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298
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16.7
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6,683
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Limonite
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10,220
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0.94%
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0.11%
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46%
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96
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11
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4,706
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Saprolite
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19,574
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1.07%
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0.03%
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11%
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210
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6
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2,153
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Subtotal
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29,794
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1.03%
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0.06%
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23%
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306
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17
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6,859
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Limonite
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258
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1.00%
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0.11%
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44%
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2.6
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0.3
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114
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Saprolite
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1,206
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1.01%
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0.03%
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11%
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12.2
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0.4
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133
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Subtotal
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1,464
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1.01%
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0.04%
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17%
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14.8
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0.7
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246
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�
Total metal contents in the reported resources
represent metal in the ground and have not been adjusted for metallurgical
recoveries and other factors which will be considered in later study
�
Mineral resources which are not mineral
reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability
- The estimate
of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental,
permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other
relevant issues..
The new
resource estimate was carried out by Mark Gifford MSc (Hons), MAusIMM an
independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, in conjunction with
Quantitative Group in Perth, Australia. A total of 593 drill core holes
for 10,851m of diamond drill core were used for the estimate. The resource
estimation method applied was Ordinary Kriging, a very robust and proven
methodology with regards to lateritic nickel deposits. All previous resource
estimates were completed by a length-weighted inverse distance squared method
to provide an indicative resource appropriate to the drilling density at the
time of reporting. Cut-off grades applied to the resource were 0.5 percent
within the Limonite zone and 0.8 percent within the Saprolite zone. Mr.
Gifford has indicated that the density of drilling and continuity of mineralization
is sufficient to classify the estimated resource and has verified and
authorized the technical information detailed in this release. . Mr.
Mark Gifford has 22 years of experience as a professional geologist including
in a geological managerial position at the Murrin Murrin nickel laterite
operation in Western Australia and experience on other Nickel Laterite
projects around the world. The Ni 43-101 compliant technical report
will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days.
The accompanying plan illustrates the distribution of nickel laterite drilled
from 2006 to date, with nickel grade times thickness (meters) expressed as
cool to hot colours.
Detailed open pit mine design is now in progress based on the new
mineral resource model. The objective of this work is to produce a mineral
inventory and preliminary production schedule based on the requirements
of nickel pig-iron producing offtakers for 0.9% to 1.1% Nickel and
>48% Iron Limonitic material and Chinese Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and/or
other acid leach or ferronickel processors that require material grading
>1.45 percent Nickel at varying iron content.
In
addition a scoping study has been initiated through Hatch engineering group
in Perth into low-capital cost, thermal upgrading technologies, such as
sintering, to produce much higher-value iron and iron-nickel products from
the Limonitic ores. These have the potential to quickly phase out the
shipping of raw DSO product, and to form an intermediate development stage
prior to a major acid-leach processing operation. The major acid-leach
project scoping studies, including additional metallurgical testing, are due
for completion late September 2010.
Mindoro has also now commenced drilling the regional nickel laterite
exploration target in order to convert a significant proportion of the 50
million to 70 million DMT @ 0.9% to 1.2% nickel Exploration Target to NI
43-101 compliant Mineral Resource. A total of 7,000m to 10,000m are
planned to complete this program, over the next 4 to 6 months.
The reader is cautioned that the potential quantity and grade of the
Exploration Target is conceptual in nature; it is uncertain if further
exploration will result in the Exploration Target being delineated as a
mineral resource and there is no guarantee that these resources, if
delineated, will be economic or sufficient to support a commercial mining
operation. The company�s production objectives are intended to provide an
indication of management�s current expectations and are still conceptual in
nature. It is uncertain that it will be established that these resources will
be converted into economically viable mining reserves. Until a feasibility
study has been completed, there is no certainty that these objectives will be
met.
Tony Climie, P.Geol, is the company�s Qualified Person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101, who is responsible for monitoring the supervision
and quality control of Mindoro's exploration programs and who has reviewed
and verified the technical information contained in this news release. Sample
preparation and assaying were performed by Intertek Testing Services, Phils.,
Inc. (ITS). The ITS Phils. facility is among Intertek�s global network of
mineral testing laboratories. It provides high quality assay analysis of
mineral samples for nickel deposit exploration projects. Each sample is
analyzed for nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), magnesium(Mg), aluminum
(Al), silica (SiO2), CaO, Cr2O3, K2O, MnO, Na2O, P2O5, and TiO2. Whole rock
analyses are done using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The samples are fused using
lithium metaborate. XRF analysis determines total element concentrations that
are reported as oxides. Intertek mineral testing laboratories implement
quality protocols. Normal Quality Control and Quality Assurance procedures
are being carried out, using a system of repeat analyses plus split sample
analyses and the use of standard reference materials and blanks. Mindoro has
also conducted assay verification using standard samples and re-assaying
field and pulp duplicates
ABOUT MINDORO
Mindoro is a Tier 1 Issuer trading on the
TSX Venture Exchange (MIO) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (WKN 906167).
Mindoro is focused on exploration in the Philippines with a strategy of
advancing early stage opportunities to production or joint venture. Mindoro
controls major nickel laterite resources in the Surigao District, Mindanao,
where potential for a direct shipping ore (DSO) operation to generate early
cash flow is being advanced as well as large scale potential for an onsite
processing plant.
Mindoro has NI 43-101 Mineral Resource
estimates on its Agata North nickel-cobalt project (August 2010) totaling
Measured and Indicated 29.79 million dry metric tonnes (DMT) at 1.03%
Nickel and 0.06% Cobalt and Inferred 1.46 million DMT at 1.01% Nickel,
0.04% Cobalt. The Surigao regional exploration target is 50 million
to 70 million DMT at 0.9% to 1.2% Nickel (January
2010).
Mindoro also has NI 43-101 Mineral
Resource estimates on both its Lobo and Archangel (Kay Tanda) gold-silver
projects. Mindoro has identified 22 porphyry copper-gold prospects and has
three projects in the Batangas area of southern Luzon which are the subject
of a farm-in arrangement whereby Gold Fields Ltd may earn 75% through
direct project expenditure. Goldfields has commenced drilling on the
Lobo project.
Drilling on the American
Tunnels project has confirmed potential for a near-surface, bulk-tonnage
gold target and porphyry copper-gold targets. Other objectives
include progressing joint venture discussions on Mindoro�s porphyry
copper-gold prospects at Surigao.
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For further information,
contact:
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Mindoro Head Office
Penny Gould
VP Investor Relations
penny@mindoro.com
Tel: 780.413.8187 or
Toll Free: 1.877.413.8187
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Investor Relations - Canada
Senergy
Communications Inc.
ir@mindoro.com
Tel: 1.778.331.2030
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Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This
release may contain forward-looking statements including management's
assessments of future plans and operations, and expectations of future
production. These statements are based on current expectations that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not
limited to, the risks associated with the mining and exploration industry
(e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or
changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or
capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty
of estimates and projections relating to production and the uncertainty of
the availability of capital). The assumptions used in the preparation of such
statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may
prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements.
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