MINERALS CORPORATION
Alexis Confirms Profitability of Lac Pelletier Gold
Project
and
Potential for Commercial Production by Mid 2010
July 16, 2009, Toronto, Ontario: ALEXIS MINERALS CORPORATION (AMC: TSX) is pleased to announce positive results from
the pre-feasibility study on the Lac Pelletier Gold Project in Rouyn
Noranda, Quebec.
The study estimates that the Lac Pelletier Mine offers a 155% internal rate of
return (IRR) and generates over CDN $20.7 million free cash flow on production of approximately 118,100
ounces (109,300
ounces recovered) ounces of gold
(oz.Au) over an estimated 3 year project life. Lac Pelletier offers Alexis an
opportunity to bring a second satellite mine operation into production to
complement cash flow earned from the Alexis Lac Herbin mine in Val
d'Or, Quebec. The Company's total
annual gold production would increase in 2010 to annual levels of between
75,000 and 85,000 oz.Au per year with both mines in production, representing a
strong move towards the new Corporate Strategy focused on developing Alexis
into a mid-tier gold-producing mining company.
Highlights of the
Pre-Feasibility study for Lac Pelletier are:
Measured and Indicated Resources, using a 3.0
g.Au/t cut-off grade, total 917,883 tonnes (t) @ 7.11 grams of gold per metric
tonne (g.Au/t), for 209,895 ounces gold with additional Inferred Resources of
391,770 tonnes @ 6.52 g.Au/t for 82,127 oz.Au (Table 1);
Proven and Probable reserves were calculated using a cutoff grade of 5,5 g.Au/t to be
483,362 t @ 7.60 g.Au/t for 118,100 oz.Au
(Table 2);
The net present value (NPV) of production at a
7% discount rate is CDN $16.9 million with an IRR of 155%;
The study estimates total pre-production
capital expenditures of CDN $8.8 million net of recovered gold ($9.8 million) and uses an average price of USD
$887/ozAu at a US$ exchange rate of 1.15 (CDN $1,020/oz.Au). A rebate of 1.4 M$ for
exploration expenses was integrated in year 1 covering the preproduction
expenses.
Total operating costs are projected at CDN
$144/t (includes shipping and current, third-party custom milling prices of CDN
$ 42/t);
Total cash costs are projected to be US
$554/oz.Au (CDN $637/oz.Au).
Project Schedule developed to complete mine
refurbishment and a 40,000 tonne bulk sample in 2009 with commercial production
achieved in mid 2010.
The Lac Pelletier deposit
offers good upside potential for the expansion of Resources and Reserves
through the further exploration and delineation of remaining resource areas in
the deposit and on any extensions. The Lac Pelletier deposit is also sensitive
to gold price. Management is encouraged by the projected bullish trend of gold
in the current economic climate. Higher gold prices may allow the use of lower
cut-off grades during production with the potential to enhance current reserves
within the mine area, Table 1. The project economics are also influenced by
mining and processing costs. The refurbishment of Alexis'Aurbel gold mill by
December 2009 (See Press Release: June
16, 2009) is likely to lower production costs by an estimated 10%. This
reduction may also decrease the lower cut-off grade, enhancing Reserves.
The Lac Pelletier project is
located in the Rouyn-Noranda mining camp, on an Alexis wholly-owned property
four kilometers southwest of the town of Rouyn-Noranda, and approximately 100
km. from the Company's first gold mine at Lac Herbin, near
Val d'Or, Quebec. Alexis advanced surface site preparation at Lac Pelletier in
early 2008 with the installation of power supply, road work, building
construction and settling ponds for the project. The project was then delayed
due to the industry-wide escalation of mining costs and concern towards the
approach to mining methods suggested by several mining contractors. A
pre-feasibility study was initiated in 2008 to assess the potential of the
project and in order to review the proposed mining approach. With recent and
forecasted gold prices being sufficient to make this project economic,
management has elected to proceed with refurbishment of the underground
workings and completion of a bulk sample in 2009, after which a production
decision will be made in Q1-2010.
A 40,000 tonne bulk sample
is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 from the current workings with
the recovery of approximately 9,400 oz.Au.
Given a positive production decision in early 2010 the deposit is
expected to reach commercial production by mid 2010. La Pelletier should
produce between 40,000 and 50,000 ounces of gold per year. Adding this output
to projected production at the Lac Herbin mine, the Company anticipates total
annual gold production to increase to between 75,000-85,000 oz.Au per year from
2010 onward.
Dewatering the existing ramp
commenced on June 10, 2009 and has now progressed providing access to the first
level of the mine. Concurrent with
rehabilitation work in the ramp, final building construction has been completed
and permitting rights obtained. Commencing in August 2009, development will
advance to allow mining of 40,000 tonnes of ore which is anticipated to contain
10,200 oz.Au. Milling of this ore, with projected 92.5% mill recoveries by the
end of 2009, should provide approximately 9,400 ounces of gold, largely
offsetting the cost of the refurbishment and bulk sampling program in 2009.
Subsequent preproduction costs in 2010 are estimated to
be CDN $8.8M. (NOTE: Preproduction
costs: 18.6M$ - Gold revenue: 9.8M$ = 8.8M$).
Lac Pelletier Resources and Reserves
Alexis Minerals has
completed an updated calculation of Resources on the project, Table 1. Mineral
Resources were prepared by Claude Gobeil, P.Eng., Senior Resource Geologist with
Alexis Minerals, and Qualified Person under NI 43-101 for the Resource
estimation. The parameters and methodology
used are described in a NI 43-101 technical report which will be filed at www.sedar.com within 45 days.
Alexis Minerals has
completed an updated, independent calculation of Reserves on the project, Table
2. The Pre-Feasibility study, including the evaluation of mineral reserves, was prepared by Francois Chabot (ing. M.Sc.), Independent QP, Golder Associ?s Lt?e. The parameters and methodology used are described in a NI 43-101
technical report which will be filed at www.sedar.com
within 45 days.
Table 1: Stated Resources at Lac Pelletier Mine at
variable cut-off grades
Rouyn-Noranda,
Quebec.
Cut-off
Grade
(g Au/t)
|
Measured (M)
tonnes
grade
(t)
(gAu/t)
|
Indicated (I)
tonnes
grade
(t)
(gAu/t)
|
Total
M + I
Contained Au
(oz.Au)
|
Inferred (Inf)
tonnes
grade
(t)
(gAu/t)
|
Total (Inf) Contained Au
(oz.Au)
|
3.0
g/t Au
|
61,000
|
6.19
|
856,883
|
7.18
|
209,895
|
391,770
|
6.52
|
82,127
|
4.0
g/t Au
|
61,000
|
6.19
|
782,898
|
7.53
|
201,635
|
274,253
|
7.88
|
69,510
|
5.5 g/t Au
|
18,290
|
8.52
|
582,932
|
8.59
|
166,007
|
213,644
|
8.82
|
60,558
|
6.0 g/t Au
|
18,290
|
8.52
|
520,245
|
8.93
|
154,370
|
159,795
|
9.88
|
50,781
|
6.5 g/t Au
|
18,290
|
8.52
|
398,814
|
9.76
|
130,161
|
159,795
|
9.88
|
50,781
|
Notes:
(1) The mineral resources are classified as measured, indicated and
inferred, and comply with the CIM mineral resource definitions referenced in
National Instrument 43-101.
(2) Resources were estimated based on different lower cut-off grades and
minimum mining widths of 2.0
metres.
(3) Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
(4) The quantity and grade of reported inferred resources in this
estimation are conceptual in nature and there has been
insufficient exploration to define these inferred resources as an
indicated or measured resource and it is uncertain if
further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or
measured resource category.
(5) The tonnages and grades quoted are undiluted. Gold grades were
capped at 30.00 g.Au/t
(6) Calculate using traditional
Polygonal method on longitudinal section using true widths determined from
sections drawn at 90 degrees to the strike of the mineralization.
Table 2: Stated Reserves at Lac Pelletier Mine, Rouyn-Noranda,
Quebec.
Mine Reserves
|
Tonnes
|
Grade (g.Au/t)
|
Contained Ounces
Gold
|
Proven
|
9,258
|
8,00
|
2,381
|
Probable
|
474,104
|
7.59
|
115,747
|
Proven & Probable
|
483,362
|
7.60
|
118,128
|
Notes:
(1) The mineral reserves are classified as Proven and Probable Reserves
as defined by the CIM mineral resource definitions referenced in National
Instrument 43-101.
(2) Base case assumes a gold price of US$887/oz gold; US$ exchange rate
of $1.15 (CDN $ 1,020) and minimum mining widths of 2.0
metres.
(3) Reserve tonnages and grades are diluted at 10 to 20% at 0,0 gr
Au/t depending of mining method..
(4) Gold grades are capped at 30.00 g.Au/t
(5) A cut-off grade of 5,5
gr
(undiluted) was used.
Background
Falconbridge Ltd. and
Thundermin Resources previously completed an underground exploration program on
the deposit in 1992. Historical
work on the current deposit area includes 42,656 m of surface and underground
diamond drilling; 1,050 m of ramp
development and 292 m of lateral drifting with two levels developed in ore. The
1992 program treated a bulk sample of 11,634 tonnes at a custom milling
facility, the Camflo Mill, in Malartic, Qu?bec. Alexis acquired the 722.6 Ha
Lac Pelletier property in 2005. Alexis Minerals previously filed an independent
Resource Evaluation of the deposit (See
Press Release: August 31st 2006) and reviewed the potential
economics in an independent Scoping Study (See
Press Release: April 19, 2007). The
past-producing Stadacona mine (production of 2,742,000 tonnes grading 5.49 g/t
Au from 1928 to 1958) is also located on the eastern side of the property,
approximately four kilometers to the east of the ramp. The property is subject to a 1% NSR
royalty to Falconbridge (Xstrata) and a 2.5% NSR to Thundermin Resources Inc.
Alexis continues to fulfill its strategy of expanding
its gold profile in addition to finding new resources in the highly prolific
mining camps of the Abitibi district. The Company's large land holdings in the
area provide the foundation for discovery and production integral to the
advancement of its strategy of finding world class deposits.
Quality Control:
The technical and scientific content of this press release has been
reviewed by Francois Chabot (ing., M.Sc.), Independent QP, Golder
Associ?s Lt?e. and Claude Gobeil, P.Eng.,
Senior Geologist; Qualified
Persons as defined under NI 43-101 guidelines.
About
Alexis Minerals
Alexis Minerals Corporation is a Canadian mining company listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (symbol "AMC").
The Company owns one producing gold mine in Val
d'Or and the right to earn a 100% interest in the Lac
Pelletier gold property in Rouyn-Noranda. Alexis undertakes exploration in the
mineral rich Val d'Or (100% ownership of 212 sq. km.) and Rouyn-Noranda Mining
Camps (50% ownership of 785 sq.km and in joint venture with Xstrata Copper).
Further information about Alexis Minerals can be found at its website: www.alexisminerals.com
Contact Information:
David Rigg, President and CEO
Tel: (416) 861-5889
Fax: (416) 861-8165
Bruce Barch, Louis
Baribeau,
VP Investor & Corporate Affairs Relationniste
Tel: (416) 8615905 Tel:
(514) 6672304
bruce.barch@alexisminerals..com lb@decorporateconsultants.ca
Email: info@alexisminerals.com Website:
www.alexisminerals.com