Orko Silver Provides an Update of Activities for 2010 and a 2009 Year End Summary
January 13 2010 - 9:00AM
Marketwired
Orko Silver Corp. (TSX VENTURE: OK) - The Company is pleased to
provide an update of activities planned for 2010 and a year-end
summary on our La Preciosa silver deposit located in Durango Mexico
currently in a joint venture with Pan American Silver Corp.
In 2010, Pan American plans a continued aggressive exploration
program. Work will include approximately 51,000m of diamond
drilling, with the majority of the drilling slated for further
resource definition; 100km of magnetometer surveys; more detailed
metallurgical testing; additional engineering studies, a
preliminary economic assessment and continued community relations.
Drill testing of two additional exploration targets and the
completion of a preliminary environmental impact study (EIS) are
also integral parts of this year's planned program.
Integral to the planned exploration and perhaps the most
important investigation ongoing by Pan American will be determining
the optimal mining method should all the results of the accelerated
work program remain positive. Currently, Pan American is
investigating the possibilities of mining the deposit by
underground methods or by a large open pit or possibly a
combination of the two methods. Pan American will need the results
from the 2010 work program to determine the best approach to mining
at La Preciosa.
Pan American has budgeted $10 million for the planned 2010
exploration and development and is working towards completing a
full feasibility study towards the end of the year; more than a
year ahead of the timing contemplated in the April 2009 joint
venture agreement.
Gary Cope, president of Orko Silver Corp. stated: "Orko is very
pleased with the progress of the exploration to date and the
acceleration of the work towards the completion of the full
feasibility study towards the end of 2010."
Calendar Year 2009 represented a significant and positive change
for the Company and our La Preciosa silver deposit located in
Durango, Mexico.
-- On Feb 18, 2009, the Company released the sixth and latest resource
estimate. The La Preciosa deposit now comprises 47% Indicated Resources
and 53% Inferred Resources. Current Indicated Resources are 10.64
million tonnes grading 0.27 g/t Au and 185 g/t Ag for a silver-
equivalent grade of 201 g/t at a cut off grade of 100 g/t. The
contained metal equals 63.2 million ounces of silver and 94,000 ounces
of gold for a silver equivalent of 68.9 million ounces. Current Inferred
Resources are 12.0 million tonnes grading 0.25 g/t Au and 185 g/t Ag for
a silver-equivalent grade of 200 g/t at a cut off grade of 100 g/t. The
contained metal equals 71.8 million ounces of silver and 97,000 ounces
of gold for a silver equivalent of 77.6 million ounces.(i)
(i) Estimated at a 60 to 1 Silver/Gold ratio with metallurgical
recoveries and net smelter returns assumed to be 100%.
-- On March 31, 2009 the Company announced that it had signed an agreement
with Silver Standard Resources Inc. to acquire a 100% interest in the
San Juan Property located immediately west of the Company's La Preciosa.
Orko had previously concluded a similar agreement with Goldcorp on the
Santa Monica property (Oct 27, 2008). The Company now has a 100%
interest in the large 32,400 hectares (approx. 80,000 acres) project.
-- On April 14, 2009 the Company and Pan American Silver Corp. announced
that they had agreed to form a joint venture to develop the La Preciosa
project. Pan American contributes its demonstrated mine development
expertise, as well as 100% of the funds necessary to develop and
construct an operating mine, in consideration for a 55% interest in the
joint venture. Orko Silver retains a 45% interest fully carried to
production. Orko Silver's shareholders will benefit from the financial
contribution and extensive mine development expertise that Pan American
brings to the joint venture as well as retain the upside potential for
the discovery of additional resources on the project.
-- From September to November, the joint venture partners began releasing
results from the 2009 exploration program which included trenching,
detailed metallurgical tests as well as more than 27,000m of diamond
drilling both in the known deposit and also in the exploration targets
previously identified by Orko Silver. The values are comparable with
earlier drilling by Orko Silver at La Preciosa. A full QC/QA program
continues under the direction of Pan American. A complete table of 2005-
2009 drill results and drill hole location maps are available on our
website.
-- June-December, 2009 to present, Pan American has drilled 91 holes,
including 23 holes on exploration targets for a total of 27,097m.
Delineation drilling is in the Central Area of the La Preciosa Resource
and consists of 66 holes (21,734m). Exploration drilling around the
periphery of the Resource includes 15 holes (5,363m) from the South Area
on the Martha Vein. The results of the exploration drilling to date from
Baritina and El Vaquero, which are targets outside of the Martha vein
resource, have been inconclusive. Further drilling has been done in both
areas; results of which are pending.
-- Pan American has completed a first phase detailed metallurgical testing
program on representative samples of the different veins at La Preciosa
and these have yielded excellent results. Work included: work index
tests, abrasion tests, mineralogical studies, gravity tests, flotation
tests and cyanide leach tests. Simple cyanide leaching yielded average
silver recoveries of 91%, although the use of selective oxidants could
further enhance these results.
-- In addition to continuing delineation and exploration drilling, as well
as commencing additional metallurgical testing, the project is being
actively advanced on a number of other critical path items.
Hydrogeological services have been contracted to begin determining
appropriate water sources and Pan American has been in active dialogue
with the local communities and land owners in the project's immediate
vicinity who would be affected by La Preciosa's development.
A printer friendly PDF format of this news release is available
at the link below:
http://www.orkosilver.com/i/pdf/orkonews01132010.pdf
George Cavey, P.Geo. is the Qualified Person and takes
responsibility for the technical disclosure in this news
release.
About Orko Silver Corp.
Orko Silver Corp. is developing one of the world's largest
primary silver deposits, La Preciosa, located near the city of
Durango, in the State of Durango, Mexico.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
George Cavey, Vice-President Exploration
This News Release may contain forward-looking statements
including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and
content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations,
receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes,
etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and
conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from those currently
anticipated in such statements. Orko relies upon litigation
protection for forward-looking statements.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for this News Release.
Contacts: Orko Silver Corp. (604) 687-6310 (604) 687-6365 (FAX)
info@orkosilver.com www.orkosilver.com
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