Fronteer Development Group Inc. (TSX: FRG)(NYSE Amex: FRG) is
pleased to announce completion of a comprehensive metallurgical
review of the Northumberland gold deposit and the commencement of
Phase 1 metallurgical testing.
The review, commissioned as part of Fronteer's overall
development strategy for the project, has identified proven
processing methods for the various mineralization types, which will
be systematically evaluated as part of Northumberland's multi-phase
metallurgical program. Historical metallurgical studies were narrow
in scope and did not provide recommendations for sequential
processing of all Northumberland mineralized material.
Fronteer commissioned Gary Simmons, of GL Simmons Consulting
LLC, and former Newmont Mining Senior Technical Director -
Metallurgy & Technology, to conduct the review. Mr. Simmons'
work experience includes metallurgical analysis of ores for Newmont
and Santa Fe Pacific Gold that are similar to Northumberland
mineralization.
"The processing options identified in the review show
Northumberland has good potential for economic development within
the current and potentially extended gold price environment," says
Simmons.
Northumberland has an indicated resource of 36.5 million tonnes
at 1.9 grams per tonne gold and 7.7 g/t silver (2,388,000 ounces
gold equivalent - calculated using a 70:1 ratio for price of the
two metals and assumes 100% recovery), and an additional inferred
resource of 6.9 million tonnes at 3.49 g/t gold and 6.3 g/t silver
(796,000 ounces gold equivalent). Approximately 20% of the gold
ounces are oxide, with the balance comprising transitional or
sulfide material.
The review recommends processing oxide and transition
mineralization through either:
- run-of-mine heap leaching,
- crushed ore heap leaching and/or
- milling.
The review highlights that multiple process alternatives exist
for transitional and primary sulfide mineralization, including:
- Whole Ore Alkaline Pressure Oxidation followed by conventional
CIL cyanide leaching.
- N2TEC rougher/scavenger flotation to produce a concentrate,
followed by concentrate processing via one of several potential
routes:
-- Alkaline Pressure Oxidation
-- Roasting
-- Acid Pressure Oxidation
-- Neutral pH oxidation at 85-90 degrees C at atmospheric
pressure
- N2TEC flotation to produce a cleaner concentrate for toll
processing or sale (Newmont USA Ltd. has granted Fronteer a royalty
free license for the use of its patented N2TEC flotation technology
at Northumberland).
Based upon the evidence contained in 19 metallurgical reports
that were reviewed, and other related experience in this field of
refractory ore processing, expectations are that Whole Ore Alkaline
Pressure Oxidation will produce good gold extraction results -
greater than 80% - on moderately cyanide soluble (greater than 45%
range) materials. N2TEC flotation results showed high gold
recovery, as well as lower mass and higher grade concentrate. On
two highly refractory samples, from the Zanzibar Formation, N2TEC
flotation achieved 90% gold recovery in a combined
rougher/scavenger flotation concentrate.
Fronteer's multi-phased, metallurgical testing program will be
carried out through to 2010. Planned metallurgical activities are
to be undertaken in conjunction with a broader advancement program,
which includes identifying preferred mine development options. The
metallurgical program will initially test mildly refractory and
primary sulfide mineralization process alternatives.
As part of Phase 1, Fronteer completed six PQ core holes of
metallurgical drilling in 2008. Twenty metallurgical composites
have been identified, including 13 representing mildly refractory
and primary sulfide mineralization. These 13 composites have been
condensed into three master composites for metallurgical
characterization and alkaline pressure oxidation testing. Testing
will be conducted at Dawson Metallurgical Laboratories in Salt Lake
City, Utah. Phase 1 testing data and reporting is planned to be
available in September 2009.
Design of the metallurgical program's second phase will be based
on the analysis of Phase 1 data, and ongoing R&D activities
conducted by Mr. Simmons.
Northumberland produced more than 230,000 ounces of gold and
485,000 ounces of silver from oxide and mildly transitional ores
via milling, ROM leaching and crushed ore heap leaching, during
historical operations. Gold production ceased in 1991 due to lower
gold prices.
Northumberland, Long Canyon and Sandman are Fronteer's leading
gold properties in Nevada. For more information on Long Canyon and
Fronteer's other Nevada projects, visit:
http://www.fronteergroup.com/?q=content/nevada.
Gary Simmons, a Qualified Professional with the Mining and
Metallurgical Society of America, is the Qualified Person for this
release and has reviewed and approved this release's content.
ABOUT FRONTEER
Fronteer is an exploration and development company with a track
record of making big discoveries. Fronteer has an extensive gold
project pipeline in Nevada, a 40% interest in three gold and
copper-gold projects in western Turkey, and 100% ownership of
Aurora Energy Resources, a leading Canadian uranium company. For
further information on Fronteer visit www.fronteergroup.com.
Christopher Lee, P. Geo, Chief Geoscientist for Fronteer
Development Group., is the designated Qualified Person who has
prepared the Northumberland resource estimate. Mineral resources
have been estimated in accordance with the standards adopted by the
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM")
Council in November 2003, as amended, and prescribed by the
Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The mineral resource
estimate is as of May 1, 2008 and was conducted using a combination
of Ordinary Kriging (gold) and Inverse-Distance Weighting (silver)
grade interpolations within an 'unwrinkled' 3-D block model in
Gemcom software. A total of 17,149 assays from 1,119 drill holes
(core, RC and rotary drilling) were capped and composited to 10 ft
lengths, then separated into high and low grade domains within
three distinct mineralized horizons, constrained by hand-digitized,
3-D solids. Each horizon was 'unwrinkled' into a separate flat
horizon to facilitate continuous interpolation across variably
dipping segments of the deposit, then back-transformed into real
space. Densities were based on 295 s.g. measurements and assigned
according to lithological proportions in different areas of the
deposit and degree of oxidation. Three different resource types
were defined in order to reflect the different anticipated costs of
extraction for open pit versus underground mining, and heap leach
versus sulfide processing. Cut-off grades for each resource type
were estimated using cost ranges of existing operations for various
parameters, such as mining and processing costs, general and
administrative, sales and refining costs, and an assumed gold price
of $700 per ounce. The three different resource types are: open pit
oxide and sulfide, based on gold cyanide extraction ratios (oxide
resource equals cyanide leach assay/fire assay greater than 0.5),
and underground, based on depth below surface (2,286-metre
elevation, constrained by preliminary internal Lerchs-Grossman pit
optimizations). Mineral resources were classified according to: (i)
geological confidence, (ii) number of drill holes, and (iii)
average distances to samples used in each block estimate. Further
details of the estimation procedure are available in the amended
and restated NI 43-101 report, which is posted on SEDAR
(www.sedar.com).
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein,
certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to the
completion of a metallurgical program and the timing of further
metallurgical tests, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance
or achievement of Fronteer to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among
others, risks related to international operations, the actual
results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic
evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be
refined, future prices of mineralization, environmental risks and
hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labor and
employment matters, and government regulation and permitting
requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section
entitled "Risk Factors" in Fronteer's Annual Information form and
Fronteer's latest Form 40-F on file with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although
Fronteer has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove
to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fronteer
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
NEWS RELEASE 09-14
Contacts: Fronteer Development Group Inc. Mark O'Dea, Ph.D,
P.Geo President and CEO 604-632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677
Fronteer Development Group Inc. Richard Moritz Director, Investor
Relations 604-632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677 Fronteer
Development Group Inc. Glen Edwards Director, Communications
604-632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677 info@fronteergroup.com
www.fronteergroup.com
Fronteer Gold Inc. Common Stock (Canada) (AMEX:FRG)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Fronteer Gold Inc. Common Stock (Canada) (AMEX:FRG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024