VANCOUVER, May 9 /CNW/ - Copper Fox Metals Inc. ("Copper Fox" or the "Company") (TSX-V: CUU) applauds the recent announcement of the Federal Government's approval for BC Hydro's proposed Northwest Transmission Line (NTL) project. This decision complements the granting, by the Provincial Environmental Assessment Office on February 24, 2011, of an environmental certificate for the extension of the power grid to the so called Golden Triangle area located in North Western British Columbia.
Elmer B. Stewart President and CEO of Copper Fox stated, "We applaud the federal Government for this announcement. This is another major milestone toward implementing the necessary infrastructure for the development of the north western portion of the province, an area which hosts enormous potential for development, including mining and green energy, which would provide significant long term economic and employment benefits to the region. BC Hydro's proposed NTL project represents a 344 kilometer line having a $404 million capital cost, to build an extension of the provincial power grid to Bob Quinn Lake , which is approximately 90 kilometers from the Schaft Creek project of Copper Fox".
About Copper Fox
Copper Fox is a Canadian based resource company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (CUU-TSX-V). Copper Fox was recently recognized by TSX Venture Inc. as a member of the distinguished TSX Venture 50® group where it had the distinction of being ranked first overall for 2010.
The Company is working on completing a Feasibility Study on the Schaft Creek deposit, one of the largest undeveloped copper, gold, molybdenum and silver deposits in North America. Categorized as a "giant porphyry deposit" this project is at the advanced development stage with a Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") prepared by Samuel Engineering, Inc. of Denver, Colorado, in September 2008. The results of the PFS were extremely "robust" reporting a NPV @ 8% (before tax) of $2.8 billion dollars over a 23 year mine life. They contemplated processing 100,000 tonne per day ("tpd") from an open pit mine using a standard flotation recovery process. The PFS estimated the current Mineral Resources (using a 0.2% copper equivalent cutoff) at Schaft Creek includes; Measured Resources of 463.5 million tonnes grading 0.30% copper, 0.23 g/t gold, 0.02% molybdenum and 1.55 g/t silver, Indicated Resources of 929.8 million tonnes grading 0.23% copper, 0.15 g/t gold, 0.02% molybdenum and 1.56 g/t silver.
A Feasibility Study is being led by Wardrop, A Tetra Tech Company on a minimum 120,000 tpd open pit mine and the study is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2011.
Copper Fox holds title and a 100% working interest in a contiguous 24,003.5 hectare (59,311 acre) property which includes the Schaft Creek deposit subject to certain royalty agreements, a 30% carried interest held by Liard Copper and an earn back option held by Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"). Copper Fox is currently earning a 78% interest in Liard Copper from Teck. Teck's earn back option to acquire 20%, 40% or 75% of the Schaft Creek project is triggered upon completion of a positive Feasibility Study. Should Teck elect to exercise its option for 75% they are required to fund subsequent property expenditures up to a total of 400% of those incurred by Copper Fox ($60.1 million as of March 29, 2011) and arrange for project financing, including the Copper Fox portion. For full details of the option please refer to the Company's website www.copperfoxmetals.com.
Additionally Copper Fox holds mineral claims totaling 3,947 hectares (9,752 acres) in the Liard mining district of BC not subject to the Teck earn-back.
*United States investors are advised that current Mineral Resources are not current Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and in keeping with "best practice principles".
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Elmer B. Stewart
President & Chief Executive Officer
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.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release include statements about the timing and scope of the feasibility study for the Schaft Creek project; estimated timing and amounts of future expenditures and "earn-back" options; geological interpretations and potential mineral recovery processes. Information concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates also may be deemed to be forward-looking information in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.
In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Copper Fox has made numerous assumptions , regarding, among other things: the geological, metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that Copper Fox has received is reliable, and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards; and the continued financing of the Feasibility Study; and the anticipated analytical results of the current drilling program. While Copper Fox considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Copper Fox's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the Feasibility Study may not be completed within the contemplated time frame, or at all; the possibility that the analytical results from the core sampling does not return significant grades of copper mineralization; the possibility that future drilling on the Schaft Creek project may not occur on a timely basis, or at all; fluctuations in copper and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, and estimated economic return; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals
A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
