Abacus' Ajax East Extension Area Drilling Highlights Potential for Starter Pit
March 15 2010 - 7:00AM
Marketwired Canada
Abacus Mining & Exploration Corp. ("Abacus" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AME)
is pleased to announce results from diamond drilling in the Ajax East Extension
("AEE") area, a fault offset extension of the copper-gold rich Ajax deposit,
near Kamloops, British Columbia. The drill holes targeted near-surface higher
grade copper-gold mineralization with the intent to upgrade previously existing
NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources in the AEE (announced June 22, 2009), and
to explore the potential for hosting a "starter pit", which could be delineated
for the ongoing Prefeasibility Study. The Ajax deposit is currently estimated to
contain approximately 2.9 billion pounds copper and 2.7 million ounces gold with
the potential for a 60,000 ton per day mining operation producing an average of
110 million pounds of copper and 100,000 ounces of gold in concentrate annually
over a 23 year mine life. Both the AEE and Ajax area is 100 per cent owned by
Abacus.
The drilling occurs within a 500 metre by 200 metre zone of favourable Sugarloaf
Diorite between the AEE and Ajax deposit. Fifteen relatively short vertical
drill holes were completed on a 50 metre - 100 metre grid pattern while three
deeper inclined holes tested the main AEE offset zone for continuity of deeper
copper-gold mineralization, and to convert inferred resources into measured
and/or indicated status. In total, 3,616 metres (11,862 feet) of drilling was
completed in this phase.
Doug Fulcher, President of Abacus stated, "We are extremely pleased with the
outcome of this phase of drilling. The results demonstrate the presence of a
zone or zones of near-surface copper-gold mineralization that when combined with
previous near-surface intercepts, may host a "starter pit" that could supply
early, higher-grade mill feed, and potentially enhance the economics of the Ajax
deposit. We are also encouraged that deep drilling in the AEE confirms the
future 'blue-sky' potential as the entire Ajax deposit remains open at depth."
Drill Highlights
Grid Drilling
- Hole AM-10-044 intersects 71 metres (232.9 feet) averaging 0.43% copper and
0.13 g/t gold; which includes 29 metres (95.1 feet) averaging 0.64% copper and
0.20 g/t gold, and also includes 14 metres (45.9 feet) grading 1.09% copper and
0.36 g/t gold. The top of the mineralized intercept was 31 metres (101.7 feet)
below surface.
- Hole AM-10-039 intersects 72.6 metres (238.2 feet) averaging 0.33% copper and
0.22 g/t gold; including 27 metres (88.6 feet) averaging 0.43%, copper and 0.30
g/t gold. The top of the mineralized intercept was 19 metres (62.3 feet) below
surface.
Deep Drilling
- Hole AM-09-034, which was drilled to 441.05 metres (1447 feet) last year, was
deepened 252.68 metres (829 feet) this year for a total depth of 693.73 metres
(2276 feet). Besides the intercepts reported in the last news release, the
lengthened portion of the hole allows a significant mineralized interval to be
restated as 250.25 metres (821 feet) averaging 0.33% copper and 0.27 g/t gold;
which includes a 73 metre (239.5 feet) intercept averaging 0.51% copper and 0.52
g/t gold. Hole AM-09-034 terminated in mineralization.
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ABACUS DRILL RESULTS -JAN-FEB 2010
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Dip Az. From To Length Length Au
Section Hole No. Deg Deg (m) (m) (metres) (feet) Cu % g/t
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Grid Drilling
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2450E AM-10-037 -90 - 7.23 25 17.77 58.3 0.30 0.07
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135 150 15 49.2 0.34 0.16
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2500E AM-10-038 -90 - Only Narrow Scattered Mineralized Intercepts
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2600E AM-10-039 -90 - 19 35 16 52.5 0.52 0.28
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68.4 141 72.6 238.2 0.33 0.22
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Incl 114 141 27 88.6 0.43 0.30
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2700E AM-10-040 -90 - 99 115.4 16.4 53.8 0.31 0.15
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2650E AM-10-041 -90 - 17.5 56 38.5 126.3 0.28 0.10
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Incl 35 56 21 68.9 0.36 0.13
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152 182 30 98.4 0.48 0.26
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2600E AM-10-042 -90 - 97 136 39 128 0.41(i) 0.21(i)
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Incl 97 112 15 49.2 0.74(i) 0.39(i)
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2675E AM-10-044 -86 285 31 102 71 232.9 0.43(i) 0.13
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Incl 40 69 29 95.1 0.64(i) 0.20
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Incl 40 54 14 45.9 1.09(i) 0.36
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2775E AM-10-045 -90 - Only Narrow Scattered Mineralized Intercepts
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2475E AM-10-046 -90 - Only Narrow Scattered Mineralized Intercepts
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2400E AM-10-047 -90 - 7 19 12 39.4 0.26 0.12
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2575E AM-10-048 -90 - Only Narrow Scattered Mineralized Intercepts
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1550N AM-10-049 -46.5 133.3 43 85 42 137.8 0.47 0.25
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Incl 55 70 15 49.2 0.88 0.50
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169 214 45 147.6 0.31 0.30(i)
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1475N AM-10-051 -90 - 87 108 21 68.9 0.57(i) 0.33(i)
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1525N AM-10-052 -90 - 147 162 15 49.2 0.54 0.46
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2925E AM-10-053 -90 - Only Narrow Scattered Mineralized Intercepts
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Deep Drilling
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1725N AM-09-034 -47.8 296.1 Hole Deepened in 2010 from 441.05m to 693.72m
(252.67m)
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Previously Reported:
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112 170 58 190.3 0.32 0.23
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270 441.05 171.05 562.4 0.26 0.16
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Incl 270 333 63 206.7 0.39 0.23
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270 300 30 98.4 0.62 0.37
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279 294 15 49.2 0.94 0.51
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Additional Intercepts after Deepening:
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270 520.25 250.25 821.0 0.33 0.27
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Incl 437 510 73 239.5 0.51 0.52
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634 677 43 141.1 0.26 0.22
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2650E AM-10-043 -56.2 26.7 4.7 24 19.3 63.3 0.29 0.14
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150 338 188 616.8 0.38 0.27(i)
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Incl 240.3 291 50.7 166.3 0.69 0.42(i)
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And 311 338 27 88.6 0.70 0.60(i)
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1725N AM-10-050 -67.2 296.3 23.75 42.27 18.52 60.8 0.30 0.25
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90 213 123 403.5 0.34 0.23
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Incl 105 126.45 21.45 70.4 0.61 0.38
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And 168.94 198 29.06 95.3 0.54 0.28
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252 272 20 65.6 0.60 0.44
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NOTE: Intercept lengths are core lengths, which do not necessarily reflect
true width
(i) indicates individual copper grade(s) cut to 2.1% and/or individual gold
grade(s) cut to 1.25g/t as per AMEC discussion on Metal at Risk in their
section on mineral resource and mineral reserve estimate for the
Preliminary Assessment Technical Report on the Ajax Copper/Gold Project,
Kamloops, British Columbia, completed July 21, 2009.
About the Ajax Project
Abacus is an exploration and development company with a 43-101 compliant
positive preliminary economic assessment report (announced June 22, 2009) for
its Ajax copper/gold project located 10 kilometres southwest of Kamloops,
British Columbia. The report contemplates a 60,000 tonne per day operation
producing an average of approximately 110 million pounds of copper and 100,000
ounces of gold in concentrate annually. Sensitivity analyses approximating metal
prices (US$2.75 per pound copper and US$1,000 per ounce gold) in the assessment
indicate a NPV of $1.2 billion discounted 8% over a 23 year mine life, with an
IRR of 31.3%, cash costs of $0.90 per pound copper, and payback of 2.3 years.
The Ajax extension remains open along strike and at depth. Mineral resources
that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Eco Tech Laboratory Ltd. of Kamloops, B.C., completed all of Abacus' analytical
work on the aforementioned drill project. A quality-control program, using
specific standards and blank samples is in place. Robert G. Friesen, P.Geo., the
Company's Senior Geologist, is the Qualified Person responsible for the design
and conduct of the work performed.
On Behalf of the Board,
ABACUS MINING AND EXPLORATION CORPORATION
Doug Fulcher, President and Chief Executive Officer
Forward-Looking Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking
statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical
facts, that address events or developments that Abacus Mining and Exploration
Corp. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are
generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans",
"anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and
similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may",
"could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations
expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration
successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general
economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such
statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and
opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in
the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors,
should change.
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