SAGUENAY, QC, Feb. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - Arianne Phosphate (the "Company" or "Arianne") (TSX VENTURE: DAN) (JE9N.F) (DRRSF), a development-stage phosphate mining company, advancing the Lac à Paul project in Quebec's Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region is pleased to report  an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate on its Paul Zone totaling 702.7 million tonnes at 7.16% P₂O₅ with a 4.0% P₂O₅ cut-off grade in the measured & indicated category.⁽¹⁾ This NI 43-101 updated resource estimate was completed by GoldMinds Geoservices Inc., based on last fall's Diamond drilling campaign (Paul Eastern Extension) and a complete geological remodeling of the Paul Zone (Paul and its Western Extension).

Through further exploration activities completed last fall, Arianne has identified new measured and indicated resources on Paul Eastern Extension of 12.5 million tonnes at 6.31% P₂O₅ with a 4.0% P₂O₅ cut-off grade. ⁽¹⁾ Additionally, an updated resource estimate from the remodeling on Paul Zone and its Western Extension now amount to 690.2 million tonnes at 7.18% P₂O₅ with a 4.0% P₂O₅ cut-off grade in the measured & indicated category. In total, Arianne's updated resource estimate now shows a 5% increase in measured and indicated resources (702.7 Mt vs 668.7 Mt) over its previously announced resources released on October 14 ^th of 2014.

"The work that we have done, and results that we have received, continue to expand what is already one of the world's largest Greenfield phosphate rock projects" said Jean-Sebastien David , Arianne Phosphate's COO.  "One of the goals we had looked to accomplish for the Company was the ability to show a 50 year life of mine and, as drilling has expanded the Paul Zone to the west and now to the east, we certainly continue to advance towards that goal."⁽²⁾

The total combined mineral resources estimate for Paul's main Zone and both its extensions is shown in Table 1 broken down by category.

Table 1: Paul Zone, Eastern & Western Extensions Mineral Resource Estimate*

Along with Paul Eastern extension, Mini-Paul and Naja underwent surface exploration work during summer 2014. Moreover, Naja Zone was tested with one Diamond drill hole during the fall campaign. It is believed that both Mini-Paul and Naja show strong potential for phosphate occurrence, Figure 1 locates those 3 areas.

Paul Eastern Extension

The drilling program on Paul Eastern Extension totalled 2 782 meters over 14 holes (PAU-14-170 to PAU-14-183). It had been designed to test the aeromagnetic anomaly associated with this sector. A total of seven (7) sections spaced between 100 to 300 meters were drilled over 1.2 km along the anomaly.  Figure 2 shows the drill holes locations and the drill sections, while coordinates and technical data are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Paul Eastern Extension Drill Holes Coordinates and Technical Data

There were 830 samples (including QA/QC procedures) sent to ALS Chemex Inc. in Val d'Or to be analysed for major elements, including P₂O₅, by the ME-XRF06 method.

Table 3 below shows the intersections obtained along drill holes (true width are roughly 70 % of the intersection length) on the Paul Eastern Extension, with P₂O₅ grades obtained. Overburden averages 2.8 vertical meters but can reach up to 7 meters.

Table 3: Intersections along Drill Holes on Paul Eastern Extension

The mineral resource estimate on Paul Eastern Extension (Table 5) considers Diamond drill holes (Pau-14-170 to Pau-14-183) and 44 trenches (locations in Table 4), a fixed density of 3.41 t/m³, the LIDAR 3D topographic survey, high resolution airborne magnetic geophysical survey (HeliMAGerTM) completed in February 2014 , variable search ellipsoids with steeply South dipping axis in accordance to the axis defined by the magnetic survey, and using the first primary derivative for contacts and extents.

Table 4: Paul Eastern Extension Trenches Locations

Table 5: Mineral Resource Estimate of the Paul Eastern Extension using a cut-off grade of 4.0% P₂O₅ *

Data used for the estimate for Paul Eastern Extension:

• Fourteen (14) Diamond drill holes on Paul Eastern Extension (Pau-14-170 to Pau-14-183);
• Forty four (44) trenches;
• Total drilled length of 2 782 meters;
• Total trenched length of 215 meters;
• 940 assay results for P₂O₅, TiO₂, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, AL₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Na₂O, MnO & MgO;
• 857 deviation data;
• 263 lithological description records.

Parameters for the estimate are:

• 3 meters Composites;
• Rectangular blocks of 10mE x 10mN x 15mZ meters;
• The Paul Eastern Extension is currently modelized using a single envelope.
• A fixed density of 3.41 t/m³
• Grades were estimated using inverse distance squared interpolation. For the Paul Eastern Extension four (4) runs with the following parameters were used: runs one and two with a number of composites limited to fifteen (15) and to a minimum of 10 with a maximum of five (5) from the same drill hole. Passes three and four with a number of composites limited to fifteen (15) and to a minimum of five (5) with a maximum of five (5) from the same drill hole.
• A variable direction search ellipsoid was used for the grade estimation. For run one (1) the search ellipse size is 150 x 150 x 35 meters; the search ellipses were identical for passes two (2) and three (3) 250 x 250 x 50; for the pass four (4) a larger ellipse was used 350 x 350 x 75m.
• The classification parameters were:
  • Measured with at least two (2) drill holes within a 30 x 30 x 15 m variable direction ellipse. Minimum of 8 composites.
  • Indicated with at least two (2) drill holes in a 100 x 100 x 50 m variable direction ellipse. Minimum of 6 composites.
  • Inferred with a drill hole with five (5) composites in 180 x 180 x 90 m variable direction ellipse.

QA/QC procedures included blanks and standards are in line with expected values.

Description of the Updated Mineral Resources

Diamond drill holes (Pau-08-01 to Pau-14-169), eight (8) trenches (locations in Table 6 and Table 7), mineralized envelopes related fixed densities were used to update mineral resource estimate on the Paul Zone and its Western Extension (Table 8 to Table 10). Also, the LIDAR 3D topographic survey, high resolution airborne magnetic geophysical survey (HeliMAGer^TM) completed in February 2014 and variable search ellipsoids with steeply South dipping axis in accordance to the axis defined by the magnetic survey, using the first primary derivative for contacts and extents, were used.

Table 6: Paul Trenches Locations

Table 7: Paul Western Extension Trenches Locations

Table 8: Mineral Resource Estimate of the Paul Zone and its Western Extension using a cut-off grade of 4.0% P2O5 *

Table 9: Mineral Resource Estimate of the Paul Zone using a cut-off grade of 4.0% P2O5 *

Table 10: Mineral Resource Estimate of the Western Extension using a cut-off grade of 4.0% P₂O₅ *

Data used for the estimate of Paul Zone and its Western extension:

• One hundred sixty (160) Diamond drill holes on Paul Zone (Pau-08-01 to Pau-14-160);
• Two (2) trenches on Paul Zone;
• Total drilled length on Paul Zone of 40 653 meters;
• Total trenched length on Paul Zone 18 meters
• 13 587 assay results for P₂O₅, TiO₂, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, AL₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Na₂O, MnO & MgO;
• 4 460 deviation data;
• 1 415 lithological description records.

• Nine (9) Diamond drill holes on Western Extension (Pau-14-161 to -169);
• Six (6) trenches on Western Extension;
• Total drilled length on Western Extension of 1 323 meters;
• Total trenched length on Western Extension of 54 meters
• 475 assay results for P₂O₅, TiO₂, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, AL₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Na₂O, MnO & MgO;
• 412 deviation data; and,
• 65 lithological description records.

Parameters for the estimate are:

• 3 meters Composites;
• Rectangular blocks of 10mE x 10mN x 15mZ meters;
• The Paul Zone is divided into three envelopes (Figure 3): nelsonite, mineralized anorthositic gabbro and mix envelope (combination of the latter two). The nelsonite envelope is generally located to the north and all along the deposit, while mineralized anorthositic gabbro envelope is located, in majority, to the south and only in the central and western part of Paul zone (from cross section S2W to S20W). The third envelope (mix) is generally found in the Eastern portion of the deposit directly to the south contact with the nelsonite envelope (from cross section S2W to S10E). Between cross sections S4E and S7E another envelope of mineralized anorthositic gabbro is present directly to the south of the mix envelope.
• Densities are as follows:
  • Nelsonite envelope 3.57 t/m³ fixed density;
  • Anorthositic gabbro envelope 3.05 t/m³ fixed density;
  • Mix envelope 3.19 t/m³ fixed density;
• Grades were estimated using inverse distance squared interpolation. For the Paul zone four (4) runs with the following parameters were used: runs one and two with a number of composites limited to fifteen (15) and to a minimum of 10 with a maximum of five (5) from the same drill hole. Passes three and four with a number of composites limited to fifteen (15) and to a minimum of five (5) with a maximum of five (5) from the same drill hole.
• A variable direction search ellipsoid was used for the grade estimation. For run one (1) the search ellipse size is 150 x 150 x 35 meters; the search ellipses were identical for passes two (2) and three (3) 250 x 250 x 50; for the pass four (4) a larger ellipse was used 350 x 350 x 75m.
• The classification parameters for Paul Zone were:
  • Measured with at least two (2) drill holes within a 75 x 75 x 30 m variable direction ellipse (for all categories). Minimum of 6 composites.
  • Indicated with at least two (2) drill holes in a 150 x 150 x 60 m variable direction ellipse. Minimum of 6 composites.
  • Inferred with a drill hole with five (5) composites in 350 x 200 x 90 m variable direction ellipse.
• There are only two envelopes, nelsonite and mineralized anorthositic gabbro on the Western Extension.
• Same estimation parameters than Paul Zone were used.
• The classification parameters for Paul Western Extension were:
  • Measured with at least two (2) drill holes within a 60 x 60 x 30 m variable direction ellipse (for all categories). Minimum of 8 composites.
  • Indicated with at least two (2) drill holes in a 120 x 120 x 60 m variable direction ellipse. Minimum of 6 composites.
  • Inferred with a drill hole with five (5) composites in 350 x 200 x 90 m variable direction ellipse.

QA/QC procedures included blanks and standards are in line with expected values.

Current Mineral Reserves

The Paul Zone is the main zone of the phosphate Lac à Paul Project. According to the Company's Feasibility Study (FS, released October 24, 2013 ), the Paul deposit alone currently has proven and probable reserves of 472 million tonnes of ore at 6.9% P₂O₅ (cut-off grade of 3.5% P₂O₅) and is projected to have a mine life of roughly 26 years. The mineral resource estimate (released March 7, 2013 ) which was used to establish these reserves reported 590 Mt of measured and indicated resources at 7.13% P₂O₅ with a cut-off grade of 4.0% P₂O₅.

Naja Zone

The 213 meters long drill hole NAJ-14-01 reported an intersection of 131.9 meters along the hole at 6.58 % P₂O₅. These results, combined with those obtained from CDN-12 -04, a short hole drilled in this area during 2012, allowed for the interpretation of a mineralized zone ranging 40 to 50 meters in true thickness with a dip of about 63° to the south. Additional drilling is required to estimate potential resources associated with the magnetic anomaly recognised over 2.4 km forming the Naja Zone.

Figure 4 shows the drill holes location on Naja Zone while coordinates and technical data on the drill holes are shown in the Table 11.

Table 11: Naja Drill Holes Coordinates and Technical Data

There were 74 samples (including QA/QC procedures), from drill hole NAJ-14-01, sent to ALS Chemex Inc. from Val d'Or to be analysed for major elements, including P₂O₅, by the ME-XRF06 method. Table 12 below shows the intersections obtained along drill holes (true width are roughly 35 % of the intersection length) on the Naja Zone, with P₂O₅ grades obtained. Overburden ranges from 2.8 to 9.2 vertical meters.

Table 12: Intersections along Drill Holes on Naja

Surface field work carried out during summer 2014 in and around the magnetic anomaly led to the identification of Naja as holding strong potential for phosphate.

Table 13 shows the locations and P₂O₅ grades of 64 grab samples collected during that period. Among these, 55 have returned values greater than 5% P₂O₅, 25 of which have a grade above 10 % P₂O₅. Laboratory analysis were performed by ALS Chemex Inc.

Table 13: Locations (UTM Nad83) and P₂O₅ grade of grab samples collected on Naja Zone

Three (3) trenches totalled 16 meters long were done during summer 2014. Table 14 and Table 15 below show the locations and the best intersections obtained along the trenches respectively.

Table 14: Naja trenches Coordinates and Technical Data

Table 15: Intersections along trenches on Naja

Mini-Paul Zone

Mini-Paul Zone is associated to a magnetic anomaly just over 700 meters long by about sixty (60) meters wide and is located less than 300 meters south of the Paul Zone. Grab samples with promising P₂O₅ values have been collected on Mini-Paul Zone. Results are showed in Figure 5 while Table 16 gives the samples location and P₂O₅ grades.

Table 16: Locations (UTM Nad83) and P2O5 grades of grab samples collected on Mini-Paul Zone

"We are once again very pleased with the positive results emanating from our recent drilling and exploration campaigns. They allowed us to confirm the presence of mineralized resources in the eastern extension of the pit already defined by the Feasibility Study (FS, released October 24, 2013 ). Moreover they have allowed us to validate the presence of two promising new areas, respectively located just South (Mini-Paul) and Southeast (Naja) of the Paul Zone. Results of our work clearly demonstrate the potential to extend the life of our project beyond our most optimistic estimates."⁽²⁾ stated Jean-Sebastien David , COO of Arianne Phosphate Inc.

(1) Cautionary Statements: Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(2) Cautionary Statements: The 50 years target is conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to define an indicated and measured mineral resources of that size and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as an indicated and measured mineral resource. The target is based on 472 Mt in reserve and other resources on the project (released 24 October 2013 ) and other resources and potential targets (released May 15 ^th, June 12 ^th and October 14 ^th 2014).

(3) Cautionary Statements: Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. That it is uncertain if further exploration will result to upgrade this inferred resource at indicated and measured resource.

Mr. Claude Duplessis , ing. GoldMinds Geoservices Inc. Independent Qualified Person as per NI 43-101, has prepared the mineral resources with assistance of Mr. Merouane Rachidi PhD. Géo. Mr. Duplessis is responsible for the technical information presented in the release.

Mr. Daniel Boulianne , Géo., Arianne V.P. of Exploration Qualified Person as per NI 43-101, has approved this press release.

About Arianne PhosphateArianne Phosphate ("Arianne Phosphate Inc.") (www.arianne-inc.com) is developing the Lac à Paul phosphate deposits located approximately 200 km north of the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec, Canada . These deposits will produce a high quality igneous apatite concentrate grading 38.6% P₂O₅ with little to no contaminants. The Company has 95 325 755 shares outstanding.