Carpathian Updates Brazil and Romanian Project Advancements
July 07 2010 - 6:00AM
Marketwired Canada
Carpathian Gold Inc. (TSX:CPN) (the "Corporation" or "Carpathian") wishes to
provide a progress update on its wholly owned Riacho dos Machados ("RDM") Gold
Project located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and on the Rovina Valley
Project ("RVP"), located in west-central, Romania.
RDM Gold Project, Brazil
A Feasibility Study ("FS") is nearing completion and is following the guidelines
of the NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") that was announced on
August 12, 2009. The FS will be released within the upcoming weeks. The updated
resource estimate, reserve estimate, engineering studies, and permitting
activities are all advancing in parallel with key progress points highlighted
below.
-- Resources/Reserves and Geotechnical: An updated NI 43-101 compliant
resource estimate to be used for the FS is near completion. Five drill
rigs are presently on site, including 3 diamond drill rigs for ore
definition and 2 geotechnical rigs. Following the ore definition
drilling, the diamond drill rigs will be utilized for testing strike
extensions and new exploration targets. A minimum of 6,000 m of ore
definition and exploration drilling is planned for the present program
and this follows the 32,000 m of drilling that has been completed to
date on the RDM gold project.
-- Engineering/Metallurgy: All capital costs, operating costs,
infrastructure, layout design and mining plans required for the FS are
essentially complete with optimization work underway integrating the
various studies to enhance the robust economics of the project. Recent
metallurgical test work results support the earlier work performed for
the PEA of 90% or better gold recovery. Indications from the ongoing FS
support the PEA study results of low cost, near-term +100,000 oz per
year gold production.
-- Permitting: As previously announced (April 14, 2010), the Corporation
has already been granted the critical path time line license, the
Licenca Previa ("LP") that allows the earthworks in the mine, water
retention and tailing dams to be constructed. All technical
documentation required for the Licenca Instalacao ("LI") that will allow
construction to begin on the Project, has been compiled and will be
submitted by mid-July to the state environmental agency, SUPRAM, for
their review and approval. As previously announced on June 21, 2010, all
surface lands required for the life-of-mine footprint for the open pit
mining operation have now been acquired.
-- Project Financing: The project is well financed at this stage as a
result of the Macquarie Bank Limited US$30 Million gold sale and
purchase agreement that closed on May 21, 2010. Management is evaluating
non-equity project finance options and is in continuous discussions with
various financial institutions, with the aim of obtaining additional
project financing upon completion of the FS.
Rovina Valley Project, Romania
Following the release of the positive PEA study (announced March 23, 2010), the
Corporation embarked on a deep drilling program on one of its three gold-rich
copper porphyries, the Ciresata porphyry. The PEA study indicated a long life
project of 19 years, producing approximately 200,000 oz of gold and 50 million
pounds of copper annually.
-- The results of the first deep drill hole (RDG-16) on the Ciresata
Porphyry were released on May 11, 2010 and included 668 m at 0.70 g/t Au
and 0.15% Cu and includes 208 m at 1.13 g/t Au and 0.19% Cu. This drill
hole verified the geologic model in its upper part serving as an in-fill
hole and more importantly has extended the Au-Cu mineralization
approximately 300 m below the present resource estimate that was
utilized in the PEA study.
-- Deep drilling has resumed on the Ciresata porphyry to evaluate
mineralization depth extensions below the present resource estimate.
This program will eventually be expanded to evaluate known mineralized
targets lateral to the deposit.
-- The Corporation is continuing with its long lead EIA and SIA work,
including its proactive local stakeholder engagement programs. These
programs includes interactive local community hall public meetings and
partnership programs with local NGO's (with European Union funding) and
community leaders to implement community-based projects. The Rovina
Valley Project has no legacy mining issues and the proposed mine site
footprint developed from the PEA does not include any known protected
heritage sites or archaeological occurrences.
-- As previously announced, a consortium of State-recognized independent
consulting groups have been retained for the purpose of preparing a
technical report to convert the Rovina Exploration License into a Mining
License as per the norms of the National Agency of Mineral Resources
("NAMR"). This report includes preliminary evaluations of environmental
factors, risk factors and economic benefits as well as defined
resources/reserves along with mining and processing, all to be reviewed
and approved by the NAMR for Mining License designation. The work
program for this study and the report are progressing on schedule for
the submittal of this document to the NAMR in Q4 2010.
Mr. Titaro, P. Geo., is the qualified person (as defined in National Instrument
43-101) responsible for preparing the information, including technical
information, contained in this news release.
About Carpathian
The Corporation is an exploration and development company whose primary business
interest is developing near-term gold production on its 100% owned Riacho dos
Machados Gold Project in Brazil, which is currently in the feasibility study
stage, along with progressing its exploration and development plans on its 100%
owned Rovina Valley Project located in Romania. The RDM Gold Project, based on
the PEA is expected to be a +100,000 ounce per year gold producer at a
relatively low cash cost. The Project is currently in the Feasibility Study
stage.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release includes certain statements that
may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are
frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "Project", "intend",
"believe", "anticipate", "estimate", and other similar words, or statements that
certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. All statements in this
release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future
exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the
Corporation expects, are forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation
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 or developments may differ materially from those
in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices,
exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and
financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated statements. The
Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if
circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.