CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Feb. 22, 2010) - TVI Pacific Inc. (TSX:TVI) ("TVI" or the "Company") announced today drilling has resumed at the Balabag epithermal gold project that is 100%-owned by its subsidiary TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc.'s ("TVIRD"). The property, covered by Mineral Production Sharing Agreement MPSA 086-97-IX, is located approximately 76 kilometres northeast of TVI's operating copper/zinc mine at Canatuan, municipality of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte province.
In June 2007, TVI released a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate of 208,000 gold equivalent ounces (AuEq Oz) at 3.84 grams per tonne (g/t) AuEq indicated category, and 240,700 AuEq Oz at 3.05 g/t AuEq inferred category (Lafleur 2007). In July 2008, TVI released the Balabag Scoping Study (Genivar 2008). The purpose of the Scoping Study was to assess the mining potential of a stand-alone, commercial, large-scale mining operation centred on the currently delineated Balabag deposit and to provide an order of magnitude of its economic potential.
This current 26 hole, 2,500 meter drill program is focused on the Tinago vein, the largest of three spatially related vein systems occurring at Balabag Hill. The vein systems are open laterally and at depth. This program aims to define the area where the Tinago vein system is anticipated to extend to depth. The target is a minimum of 50,000 AuEq Oz in the indicated category, allowing for a scoping study to define an economical start-up mine development program.
Should the program results indicate an economically mineable resource, it is TVI's intention to build a mine in phases, in much the same way the original Canatuan gold mine was built, referring to this as a "bootstrap plan". Initially, a 500 tonne per day plant would be constructed using infrastructure from the Company's previous gold project at Canatuan, and then incrementally ramping up production as additional resources are defined through continued drilling. The project is expected to generate enough cash flow to pay for its phased expansion and generate a surplus.
Balabag Development Timeline
- Phase I: A drill program is underway to prove up a minimum of 50,000 AuEq Oz, which is expected to be completed in approximately four months, with assaying and metallurgical testing completed by a target date of late August 2010.
-- Additional drilling will continue to further define and expand the deposit beyond the initial 50,000 AuEq Oz.
- Phase II: An internal Scoping Study will be prepared, after assaying and metallurgical testing has been completed, to allow an initial mine development decision and will include geological modelling, pit optimization planning, detailed engineering bids and costing reviews, geotechnical, environmental and socio-political baseline studies. This work is expected to be completed by December 2010.
- Phase III: Mine development anticipated in Q1 2011 with expected production in Q3 of 2011.
TVIRD's exploration programs are designed and conducted under the supervision of Cesar Medina, Qualified Person and Exploration Manager of TVIRD.
About TVI Pacific Inc. (TSX:TVI)
TVI Pacific Inc. is a publically traded, profitable, low cost copper producer focused on the production, development, exploration and acquisition of precious and base metal mining deposits in the Philippines. The Company's interest in the Canatuan Mine and its other Philippine assets are held through its affiliate, TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc.
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Balabag indicated and inferred resources from "43-101 Technical Report for the Mineral Resources at the Balabag Project of TVI Pacific Inc." filed August 9, 2007, and prepared by P.J. Lafleur Geo-Conseil Inc. Gold equivalent ounces calculated are based on $650/oz gold & $13.50/oz silver. Balabag scoping study from "Scoping Study of the Balabag Project" dated July 8, 2008, and prepared by Genivar Limited Partnership. The Balabag technical reports are preliminary in nature and include inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. The potential quality and grades are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain that further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource and there is no certainty that the assessments in the Balabag technical reports will be realized and actual results may vary substantially. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have a demonstrated economic viability.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information received from or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and that information received from or disseminated by third parties is reliable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (known and unknown) that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, such things as the volatility of prices for precious metals and base metals; commodity supply and demand; fluctuations in currency and interest rates; inherent risks associated with the exploration and development of mining properties; ultimate recoverability of mineral reserves; timing, results and costs of exploration and development activities; availability of financial resources or third-party financing; new laws (domestic or foreign); changes in administrative practices; changes in exploration plans or budgets; and availability of equipment and personnel. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this News Release and such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as guarantees of future outcomes. Forward-looking information respecting the current exploration program at Balabag and the Company's ability to define additional resources and reserves is based upon the previous exploration activities at Balabag, management's experiences with other exploration work programs undertaken in the Philippines and elsewhere, advice received from third-party advisors with respect to the various components of the exploration work program and the Company's current budget and overall strategy for Balabag, which plans, budget and strategy are all subject to change. Forward-looking information respecting certain feasibility work at Balabag is based upon the exploration activities at Balabag, management's experiences with other feasibility work programs undertaken in the Philippines and elsewhere, advice received from third-party advisors with respect to various components of the feasibility work program and the Company's current budget and overall strategy for Balabag, which plans, budget and strategy are all subject to change. Forward-looking information concerning development activities at Balabag (in the event a production decision is reached by the Company in respect of the project) is based upon management's experiences with other construction projects in the Philippines and elsewhere, advice received from third-party advisors with respect to the timing of various components of the construction project, and the Company's current budget and overall strategy for Balabag, which plans, budget and strategy are all subject to change. The forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this News Release are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement. Various risks to which the Company and its affiliates are exposed in the conduct of their business (including mining activities) are described in detail in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008, which was filed on SEDAR on March 26, 2009, and is available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise the forward-looking statements included in this News Release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
TVI Pacific Inc.Rhonda BennettoExecutive Director Investor Communications
(403) 265-4356
rhonda.bennetto@tvipacific.comTVI Pacific Inc.Ian McColl
Investor Relations Analyst
(403) 265-4356
ian.mccoll@tvipacific.comtvi2014.q4web.com
Source: TVI PACIFIC INC.