El Nino Ventures Inc. - Exploration Update on the Bathurst Option
JV Base Metals Project, Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick
- Votorantim Metals Canada (VMC) is the operator and
funds the exploration program. VMC can earn a 50% interest in
the BOJV Project by incurring exploration expenditures of $10
million over five years with the option to earn an additional 20%
by spending an additional $10 million over an additional two year
period
- VMC completed exploration work in 2012 totalling approximately
$1 million to the end of Q3. Work in 2012 consisted of
drilling, surface geophysical and geochemical surveys. Total
expenditures from inception to date are approximately $6
million.
- Drilling, geophysical and geochemical data has been delivered
to DIAGNOS Inc. to generate new targets for significant
polymetallic mineralization in the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC)
utilizing state of the art area selection technologies
- The BOJV Project consists of 4,712 claims owned 50% ELN and 50%
Xstrata and 2,907 claims owned 100% by Xstrata Zinc, together with
an area of interest in which ELN and Xstrata Zinc hold equal
interest
- The BOJV partners objective is to use advanced exploration
technologies to identify new discoveries in a mature base metals
mining camp
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VANCOUVER,
Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - El Nino
Ventures Inc. ("ELN" and the "Company") (TSXV: ELN) (OTCQX: ELNOF)
(Frankfurt: E7Q) is pleased to provide an update of the exploration
work performed during the period January
2012 to September 2012 on its
Bathurst Option Joint Venture (BOJV) Project with Votorantim Canada
(VMC) and Xstrata Zinc. The Project area covers much of the
Bathurst Mining Camp in north-central New
Brunswick. The BOJV agreement is a separate agreement to
ELN's agreement with VMC to develop the Murray Brook Polymetallic
project.
Exploration Summary
The Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) is a roughly
circular shaped area with a diameter of approximately 70 km located
in the Miramichi Highlands of northern New Brunswick (Figure 1). The BMC hosts 46
base metal mineral deposits with historic and current mineral
resources and another one hundred mineral occurrences, all hosted
by Cambro-Ordovician rocks deposited in an ensialic back-arc
basin. The largest deposit is the Brunswick #12 Mine, with
300 million tonnes of zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold resources. The
mine is slated to close by March
2013.
Work on the BOJV to date in 2012 includes 6145
metres of diamond drilling, in 21 drill holes, ground gravity
surveys, anomaly identification and target generation for drill
testing (Table 1). Surface geochemical sampling programs are
underway and the results will be announced when all the assay
results are received from the laboratory.
This phase of exploration drilling campaign focused on
geophysical and geochemical targets in the Brunswick Belt. No
significant base metal mineralization was intersected.
Table-1 Summary of Exploration Activities
Performed during the period Q2 and Q3, 2012
Diamond Drilling |
21 Holes |
6145 Metres |
Ground Geophysics |
42 Km |
Borehole Geophysics |
5 holes for 2083 m
surveyed |
Surface Sampling (Soil
Sampling) |
253 |
DIAGNOS
Exploration data from the 2012 exploration
program has been combined with that from previous exploration
programs and delivered to DIAGNOS Inc. for generation of new
targets for prioritization for drill testing. DIAGNOS Inc.
researchers will utilize a unique computer system, CARDS (Computer
Aided Resources Detection System), to identify areas with a high
statistical probability of containing mineral deposits.
CARDS uses MCubiX-KE (Knowledge Extraction), a
data mining engine that utilizes pattern recognition algorithms to
learn the signatures of positive and negative data points and
create a model that can be employed to make predictions on the
location of new deposits. CARDS utilizes these powerful algorithms
to analyze digitally compiled historical exploration data and
identify areas with a high potential for the discovery of mineral
deposits.
To date, 19,880 training points (drilling and
rock sample data sets) from throughout the BOJV have been manually
numerated. The geophysical data sets, including magnetic surveys
and electro-magnetic surveys, have been compiled. DIAGNOS
Inc. will commerce mineralization modelling in the near future.
« "This new and advanced innovative technology
will enable us to identify unexplored targets in the highly
prolific BOJV." » commented Rodney
Thomas, General Manager of Votorantim Metals Canada Inc.
2012-2013 Exploration Plans
In Q4 2012 and Q1 2013, it is planned to
drill-test airborne gravity gradiometer targets throughout the
remainder of 2012. Ground geophysical surveys will be
performed if necessary to refine some gravity targets.
Qualified Persons Statement
This news release has been reviewed and approved for technical
content by Ali Hassanalizadeh M.Sc.
P.Geo., a qualified Person under the provisions of National
Instrument 43‐101.
About El Niño Ventures Inc. Bathurst
Projects
El Niño Ventures Inc. has two active projects in
the Bathurst Mining Camp;
1. Murray Brook Project:
The Murray Brook project is a polymetallic, massive sulphide
deposit. Historically, the deposit is the fifth largest in
the Bathurst Mining Camp, New
Brunswick. The Murray Brook property is located 60 km
west of Bathurst. It is
supported by excellent infrastructure, including paved roads, grid
electricity and communities to provide goods, services and skilled
labour (Figure 1). A $3
million exploration budget was approved for the 2012
exploration drill program. It includes $2.5
million for drilling measured resources at the Murray Brook
deposit and $500,000 for exploration
of the Murray Brook and Camel Back properties, both of which are
covered by the option agreement with Murray Brook Minerals. To
date, more than 28,000 metres of drilling has been completed with
encouraging results. In February
2012, NI43-101 resource estimation was announced (see news
release. The technical report is filed on SEDAR.com and also
available on ELN's website. An updated NI43‐101 mineral resource
estimation and Metallurgical test results are slated for completion
in the last quarter of 2012. Results of updated mineral resource
estimation and metallurgical studies would be incorporated in a
Preliminary Economic Assessment "PEA" that is slated for completion
in the first quarter of 2013.
ELN and VMC currently own 70% of the project,
of which 35% is held by each of the two parties. Under a
purchase agreement signed by VMC on August
28, 2012 with MBM and Murray Brook Resources Inc.
(collectively the owners), VMC acquired the right to purchase the
additional 30% of the Murray Brook Project from the owners. ELN
has been provided the option to purchase an additional 15% in the
project for a combined total of 50% (35% +15%).
Although the terms of the Participation
Agreement provided for a three-year period to earn the initial 50%
and two years to earn the additional 20%, ELN and VMC completed
their earn-in in less than 18 months.
2. Bathurst Mining Camp Project :( Tri-Party
Agreement)
Consists of an initial 4,712 claims in the Tri‐Party Agreement with
Xstrata & VM Canada whereby VM Canada may incur exploration
expenditures of $10 million over a
period of 5 years to earn a 50% interest. VM Canada may further
increase its interest to 70% by spending an additional $10 million over 2 years.
Figure 1- Land tenure map showing the
location of optioned properties in the Bathurst Mining Camp
http://www.elninoventures.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=553466
Votorantim Metals Canada Inc.
Statement
Technical details in this news release were
provided by Votorantim whose professional geologists conduct
operations consistent with mineral industry best practices.
Votorantim accepts no responsibility for this news release or any
inferences made from the technical details provided herein.
About DIAGNOS Inc.
Founded in 1998, DIAGNOS is a publicly traded
Canadian corporation (TSX: ADK), with a mission to commercialize
technologies combining contextual imaging and traditional data
mining thereby improving decision making processes. DIAGNOS offers
products, services, and solutions to clients in a variety of fields
including healthcare, natural resources, and entertainment.
DIAGNOS can count on a multidisciplinary team
that includes professionals in geophysics, geology, Artificial
Intelligence, mathematics, as well as remote sensing and image
interpretation. The Corporation's objective is to develop a royalty
stream by significantly enhancing and participating in the
exploration success rate of mining.
About Votorantim Metals Canada Inc.
Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of
Votorantim Metals is a company that is part of the Votorantim Group
that was founded in Brazil in
1918. The Votorantim Group operates in twenty countries and has
over 40,000 employees. Votorantim Metais is the largest
electrolytic nickel producer in Latin
America and one of the world's leaders in the production of
zinc, aluminum and nickel. Votorantim Canada Metals
Inc. in conjunction with Xstrata Zinc and El Nino Ventures is
operator of the Bathurst Option and Joint Venture which is actively
exploring for base metal deposits within the Bathurst Mining
Camp.
About El Nino Ventures Inc.
El Niño Ventures Inc. is an international
exploration company, focused on exploring for zinc, silver, copper,
gold and lead in New Brunswick,
Canada and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC").
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
("signed')
Harry Barr
Chairman & CEO
El Niño Ventures Inc.
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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.
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others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely
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(www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify
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SOURCE El Nino Ventures Inc.