Vancouver, B.C.,
September 13, 2010 - Exeter Resource Corporation (NYSE-AMEX:XRA, TSX:XRC,
Frankfurt:EXB - "Exeter" or the "Company") is pleased to
provide an updated National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource
estimate for its Caspiche Project. The updated measured and indicated mineral resource
estimate has increased in tonnage by 68% and in contained metal by 50%
from the previous mineral resource estimate announced 6th April, 2010.
Following the additional 20 kilometres of drilling, 80% of the total resource now falls into the
measured or indicated categories.
The new measured and indicated mineral resource comprises
1,316Mt (million metric tons) at a grade of 0.50 g/t gold (grams per metric ton)
and 1.14 g/t silver, including 1,217 Mt at a grade of 0.20% copper. This
equates to measured and indicated resources of 21.3M(million) ounces of gold, 48.4M ounces of
silver and 5.3G(billion) pounds of copper (a total of 35.9M gold equivalent
ounces**).
In addition to the indicated mineral
resource, an updated inferred mineral resource of 458Mt at a grade of 0.35
g/t gold and 0.98 g/t silver, including 449Mt at a grade of 0.15% copper.
This equates to in-situ inferred resources of 5.1M ounces of gold, 14.5M ounces of silver and 1.4G pounds of
copper (a total of 9.0M gold equivalent ounces**).
"Readers are
cautioned that the resource estimates in Table 1 and Table 2 are on the same
deposit and are therefore not additive. The most appropriate development
scenario will be determined in future studies."
TABLE 1 Mineral
Resource Estimate for Large Open Pit Mining Scenario
|
Category
|
Material*
|
Million
Metric Tonnes
(Mt)
|
Gold
(g/t)
|
Gold
(Million Ounces)
|
Copper
(%)
|
Copper
(Billion Pounds)
|
Silver
(g/t)
|
Silver
(Million Ounces)
|
**Gold Equivalent
(g/t)
|
**Gold
Equivalent
(Million
Ounces)
|
|
Measured + Indicated
|
OXIDE
|
99
|
0.44
|
1.4
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.69
|
5.4
|
0.44
|
1.4
|
|
Measured + Indicated
|
SULPHIDE
|
1,217
|
0.51
|
19.9
|
0.20
|
5.3
|
1.10
|
43.0
|
0.88
|
34.5
|
|
TOTAL
MEASURED + INDICATED
|
1,316
|
0.50
|
21.3
|
0.18
|
5.3
|
1.14
|
48.4
|
0.85
|
35.9
|
|
Inferred
|
OXIDE
|
9
|
0.28
|
0.1
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.64
|
0.5
|
0.29
|
0.1
|
|
Inferred
|
SULPHIDE
|
449
|
0.35
|
5.0
|
0.15
|
1.4
|
0.97
|
14.0
|
0.62
|
9.0
|
|
TOTAL INFERRED
|
458
|
0.35
|
5.1
|
0.14
|
1.4
|
0.98
|
14.5
|
0.61
|
9.1
|
*Oxide resources are reported above a
marginal cutoff of 0.2 g/t gold-equivalence, sulphide resources are reported
above a marginal cutoff of 0.3 g/t gold-equivalence.
TABLE 2 Scenario
to highlight the central higher grade deposit core
Mineral Resource Estimate for the
Oxide Resource, using open pit mining methods
Mineral Resource Estimate for the
Central Higher Grade Zone using underground block cave mining methods
|
Category
|
Material*
|
Million
Metric
Tonnes
(Mt)
|
Gold
(g/t)
|
Gold
(Million
Ounces)
|
Copper
(%)
|
Copper
(Billion
Pounds)
|
Silver
(g/t)
|
Silver
(Million
Ounces)
|
**Gold
Equivalent
(g/t)
|
**Gold
Equivalent
(Million
Ounces)
|
|
Measured + Indicated
|
OXIDE
|
71
|
0.50
|
1.1
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.69
|
3.8
|
0.50
|
1.1
|
|
Measured + Indicated
|
SULPHIDE
|
513
|
0.70
|
11.6
|
0.29
|
3.2
|
1.26
|
20.7
|
1.24
|
20.4
|
|
TOTAL
MEASURED + INDICATED
|
584
|
0.66
|
12.7
|
0.23
|
3.2
|
1.34
|
24.5
|
1.10
|
21.5
|
|
Inferred
|
OXIDE
|
2
|
0.36
|
0.0
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.87
|
0.1
|
0.36
|
0.0
|
|
Inferred
|
SULPHIDE
|
60
|
0.60
|
1.2
|
0.28
|
0.4
|
1.39
|
2.7
|
1.13
|
2.2
|
|
TOTAL INFERRED
|
62
|
0.56
|
1.2
|
0.23
|
0.4
|
1.48
|
2.8
|
0.99
|
2.2
|
*Oxide resources are reported above a
marginal cutoff of 0.2 g/t gold-equivalence. The underground mineral resource
shell is defined assuming a block caving mining method and appropriate mining
costs. The block caving mining method does not permit any selectivity during
the mining process and all material within the underground resource shell is
therefore considered a mineral resource.
AMEC considered various mining scenarios
to demonstrate "reasonable prospects for mining" including a single
large open pit, the results of which are summarized in Table 1. Table 2 shows
a scenario that focuses on the central higher grade core of the deposit. It
includes mineral resources for the gold only oxide zone based on open pit
mining costs, followed by mineral resources for the central higher grade
sulphide core using underground (block cave) mining costs. Engineering
consultants NCL Ingenieria y Construccion have been commissioned to undertake
conceptual mining and infrastructure studies to determine an optimum mining scenario.
Exeter's Caspiche Project Manager, Justin
Tolman, stated "This mineral resource estimate is an important step in
the evolution of the project. The new drilling allows us for the first time
to report resources at the highest level of confidence - the
"measured" category.
"Overall, approximately 80% of the
Caspiche deposit has now been converted to the measured and indicated
resource categories. Importantly, the estimate confirms the integrity of the
higher grade central core of the deposit with 90% of the zone now upgraded to
the measured and indicated categories.
"Similarly, over 90% of the oxide
resource now falls into the measured and indicated resource categories with
nearly 40% categorized as measured.
"The infill drilling has resulted in
the total tonnage in the deposit increasing by approximately 20%, the effect
of which is partially nullified by the global grade decreasing by nearly 11%.
The result is that the contained metal in the deposit shows only modest
growth. The additional tonnage came mostly from the edges of the deposit,
including over one million ounces of gold (all classified in the inferred
category) from the newly discovered MacNeill zone to the west of the porphyry
intrusive complex.
"We were fortunate at the completion
of the drilling season to have international porphyry expert, Dr. Richard
Sillitoe review the Caspiche drill core to assist in the generation of a
refined geological model for the new resource estimate. The new model
outlined a series of inter-mineral intrusions which are less mineralized than
had been previously interpreted. The new model, based on a denser drilling
pattern, no longer interprets mineralization to be continuous into the
basement rocks.
"The new resource estimate provides
an excellent basis for our engineering and conceptual mine design studies.
These studies will be integrated into pre-feasibility studies to examine the
economics of the project. We are currently reviewing proposals from selected
engineering firms to complete a pre- feasibility level study on the project.
Two concurrent studies are planned: one to consider the oxide resource alone
is scheduled for completion late Q1, 2011, and a larger study on mining both
the oxide and sulphide resources is scheduled for mid 2011. These studies may
be released initially as a Preliminary Economic Assessment Studies to comply
with Canadian reporting standards.
"Caspiche is one of the largest gold
deposits in Chile, a country considered one of the most secure for mining
investment. The size of the Caspiche resource on a 'gold equivalent' basis
demonstrates the significant contribution of copper to the resource. While
primarily a gold-rich porphyry system, copper contributes approximately 40%
of the value of the metal endowment of Caspiche.
"Silver continues to be an important
potential by product with 48.4 million ounces and 14.5 million ounces in the
indicated and inferred categories respectively. However the impact of silver
was not considered in the gold equivalent calculation or in the optimization
of the mining shells to define this current mineral resource. We instead
chose to focus on the primary value drivers.
"Drilling is scheduled to recommence
in October 2010 with the goal of the new program being to convert the entire
central high grade core into the measured and indicated categories and to
investigate the potential for additional higher grade zones. The program will
also better delimit the deposit through step-out drilling. Metallurgical pilot plant testwork and
preliminary engineering design work have commenced, with concurrent
investigations into water, power and baseline environmental studies."
Click here to view related plan and sections
**AMEC chose to report the resource above
a Au equivalent cutoff. For this they used prices of US$950/oz for Au and
$2.30/lb for Cu. The formula used to calculate Au equivalence is Au(g/t) + Cu
(%) * (Cu Price [$/lb]/Au Price [$/oz]) * (Rec Cu/Rec Au)*0..06857*10000.
Where Rec = % recovery and 0.06857 = conversion g*lb/oz.. Au and Cu are the
block kriged Au and Cu grades. Projected metallurgical recoveries were 75%
and 85% for Au and Cu respectively in sulphide material and 50% for Au in the
oxide zone. Recoveries are based on benchmarking of similar deposits.
Mineral Resource
Estimate Methodology
This updated National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant
mineral resource estimation completed for the Caspiche porphyry follows the
previous estimate announced on April 6, 2010.
The Caspiche mineral resource estimate was
prepared under the supervision of Mr. Rodrigo Marinho, CPG-AIPG, AMEC Principal
Geologist. The mineral resource estimates were prepared under Canadian
Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards
(2005) and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best
Practice Guidelines (2003). Mr. Marinho is "independent" and a
"qualified person" as such terms are defined in NI 43-101.
A total of 55,659 metres ("m")
of drilling, including 101 drill holes completed by both Exeter and earlier
third parties, was used in the preparation of this mineral resource estimate.
Exeter provided AMEC with solid models,
surfaces and density data representing the major lithological, alteration and
weathering boundaries. These data were checked, validated and subsequently
used to provide the main support for the selection of estimation domains.
AMEC estimated gold, total copper and silver mineral resources using Ordinary
Kriging ("OK") following extensive exploratory data analysis,
variography and capping of outlier values.
To determine prospects of economic
extraction the results were tabulated and are reported within several
permutations of break-even whittle open pit and/or underground resource
shapes. Only mineralized material contained within the mining shells has been
reported as mineral resources. Mining and process costs and process
recoveries were estimated from benchmark studies of similar projects in
Chile.
Table 3 summarizes the mineral resource
estimated by AMEC for the Caspiche porphyry as a large open pit optimized
against a marginal cutoff. Each block was evaluated to determine if the block
could be potentially mined by open pit (using a Lerchs-Grossman optimization
using Whittle� version 4). Information from Table 3 was summarized to provide
Table 1 above.
TABLE 3 AMEC
Mineral Resource Estimate for Large Open Pit Mining Scenario
|
Material
|
Category
|
AuEq Cut-off
(ppm)
|
Volume
(Mm3)
|
Tonnes
(Mt)
|
Au
(g/t)
|
Cu
(%)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
AuEq**
(g/t)
|
AuEq**
(Moz)
|
|
OXIDE
|
Measured
|
0.2
|
16
|
38
|
0.50
|
0.01
|
1.54
|
0.50
|
0.6
|
|
OXIDE
|
Indicated
|
0.2
|
26
|
60
|
0.40
|
0.01
|
1.79
|
0.40
|
0.8
|
|
OXIDE
|
Measured+Indicated
|
0.2
|
42
|
99
|
0.44
|
0.01
|
1.69
|
0.44
|
1.4
|
|
OXIDE
|
Inferred
|
0.2
|
4
|
9
|
0.28
|
0.01
|
1.64
|
0.29
|
0.1
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Measured
|
0.3
|
104
|
254
|
0.53
|
0.22
|
1.13
|
0.94
|
7.7
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Indicated
|
0.3
|
392
|
963
|
0.50
|
0.19
|
1.09
|
0.87
|
26.8
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Measured+Indicated
|
0.3
|
495
|
1,217
|
0.51
|
0.20
|
1.10
|
0.88
|
34.5
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Inferred
|
0.3
|
183
|
449
|
0.35
|
0.15
|
0.97
|
0.62
|
9.0
|
|
ALL
|
Measured
|
Combined
|
120
|
292
|
0.53
|
0.19
|
1.18
|
0.88
|
8.30
|
|
ALL
|
Indicated
|
Combined
|
418
|
1,024
|
0.50
|
0.18
|
1.13
|
0.84
|
27.6
|
|
ALL
|
Measured+Indicated
|
Combined
|
537
|
1,316
|
0.50
|
0.18
|
1.14
|
0.85
|
35.9
|
|
ALL
|
Inferred
|
Combined
|
187
|
458
|
0.35
|
0.14
|
0.98
|
0.61
|
9.0
|
TABLE 4 AMEC
Mineral Resource Estimate for Oxide only Open Pit and Block Cave Extraction
Scenario for Sulphide Mineralization.
OPEN PIT OXIDE AND BLOCK CAVE EXTRACTION
FOR SULPHIDE
|
Material
|
Category
|
AuEq Cut-off
(ppm)
|
Volume
(Mm3)
|
Tonnes
(Mt)
|
Au
(g/t)
|
Cu
(%)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
AuEq**
(g/t)
|
AuEq**
(Moz)
|
|
OXIDE
|
Measured
|
0.2
|
13
|
30
|
0.55
|
0.01
|
1.48
|
0.56
|
0.5
|
|
OXIDE
|
Indicated
|
0.2
|
18
|
41
|
0.45
|
0.01
|
1.84
|
0.46
|
0.6
|
|
OXIDE
|
Measured+Indicated
|
0.2
|
30
|
71
|
0.50
|
0.01
|
1.69
|
0.50
|
1.1
|
|
OXIDE
|
Inferred
|
0.2
|
1
|
2
|
0.36
|
0.01
|
1.87
|
0.36
|
0.0
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Measured
|
NA**
|
54
|
132
|
0.70
|
0.29
|
1.21
|
1.23
|
5.3
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Indicated
|
NA**
|
153
|
380
|
0.70
|
0.29
|
1.28
|
1.24
|
15.1
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Measured+Indicated
|
NA**
|
207
|
513
|
0.70
|
0.29
|
1.26
|
1.24
|
20.4
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Inferred
|
NA**
|
24
|
60
|
0.60
|
0.28
|
1.39
|
1.13
|
2.2
|
|
ALL
|
Measured
|
NA**
|
66
|
162
|
0.67
|
0.23
|
1.26
|
1.11
|
5.8
|
|
ALL
|
Indicated
|
NA**
|
171
|
421
|
0.66
|
0.23
|
1.38
|
1.10
|
15.8
|
|
SULPHIDE
|
Measured+Indicated
|
NA**
|
237
|
584
|
0.66
|
0.23
|
1.34
|
1.10
|
21.5
|
|
ALL
|
Inferred
|
NA**
|
25
|
62
|
0.56
|
0.23
|
1.48
|
0.99
|
2.2
|
Table 4 is a scenario prepared by AMEC
that considers an optimization of an open pit for the oxide material only and
then using its in-house floating stope program to optimize a block caving
option underneath the pit surface. This block cave is designed to target
higher grade resources that occur in the center of the deposit, using contour
polygons with a cut-off of 0.9 g/t AuEq**. This contouring is not a grade
shell or cut-off that ignores all blocks below the threshold used. Instead as
the block caving mining method does not permit any selectivity during the
mining process all material within the underground mineral resource shell is
considered a resource. Table two presented above was summarized from this
information.. The cut-off was calculated based on gold equivalent values
using gold and copper only and was determined independently for oxide and
sulphide material.
Exeter's 2009/2010 drilling campaign added
thousands of metres of new information, confirming mineralization and grade
continuity. In October 2009, AMEC did a drill hole spacing study for the
Caspiche property that determined the grid spacing required to convert
mineral resources to the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories.
Following this work, a mathematical script
was written to classify the mineral resource into measured, indicated and
inferred categories based on the results of the drill hole spacing study and
drilling to date. This was further refined by a manual smoothing pass that
removed isolated blocks or pools of blocks of one category within a different
one. AMEC designed polygons by benches every 6 m to control this. In AMEC's
opinion, the geological data and economic parameters are suitable for
calculating Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources.
The block model consists of regular blocks
(25 m x 25 m x 15 m). The estimation plan for gold is the same for oxide and
sulphide domains. The estimation plan for all elements includes restricted
searches for high grade values and a multi pass approach. The estimation plan
for copper includes a hard boundary between the oxide and sulphide boundary.
Inter domain boundaries and sample sharing were determined based on
geological relationships, contact profiles and statistical analysis.
AMEC validated the Caspiche model using
summary statistics checking for global estimation bias, drift analysis, and
visual inspection. AMEC also generated a nearest neighbour (NN) model to
validate the OK model. Grade variation between estimates for both methods was
considered acceptable.
Technical reports summarizing past work
programs at Caspiche are also available on SEDAR and the Company's website.
Justin Tolman, Exeter's Caspiche Project
Manager and a "qualified person" within the definition of that term
in NI 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information
contained in this news release.
About Exeter
Exeter Resource Corporation is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused
on the exploration and development of the Caspiche project in Chile. The
Company has C$37 million in its treasury.
The Caspiche
gold-copper discovery is situated in the Maricunga gold
district of Chile, between the Refugio mine (Kinross Gold Corp.) and the
giant Cerro Casale gold deposit (Barrick Gold Corp. and Kinross Gold Corp.).
Drilling to expand and upgrade the existing resource is expected to commence
during October 2010.
You are invited to visit the Exeter web
site at www.exeterresource.com.
EXETER RESOURCE
CORPORATION
Bryce Roxburgh
President and CEO
|
For further information, please contact:
B. Roxburgh, President or
Rob Grey, VP Corporate Communications
Tel: 604.688.9592 Fax: 604.688.9532
Toll-free: 1.888.688.9592
|
Suite 1260, 999 West Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC Canada V6C 2W2
exeter@exeterresource.com
|
Safe Harbour
Statement - This news release contains "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, the
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable
securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, the Company's belief as to the extent and timing of its drilling
programs, various studies including engineering, environmental,
infrastructure and other studies, and exploration results, budgets for its
exploration programs, the potential tonnage, grades and content of deposits,
timing, establishment and extent of resources estimates, potential for
financing its activities, potential production from and viability of its
properties, permitting submission and timing and expected cash reserves..
These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news
release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
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outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking
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the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While the Company has
based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future
events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are
not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or
outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, among
others, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver
and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities,
uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and
misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking information. In
addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the
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potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or
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dividends; currency fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of
the Company's common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S.
investors; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in
the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December
31, 2009, dated March 30, 2010 filed with the Canadian Securities
Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions,
events or results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions,
events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation to
update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under
applicable securities laws.
Cautionary Note
to United States Investors - The information contained herein and
incorporated by reference herein has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements
of United States securities laws. In particular, the term
"resource" does not equate to the term "reserve". The
Securities Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") disclosure standards
normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured
mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or
"inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of
mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute
"reserves" by U.S., unless such information is required to be disclosed
by the law of the Company's jurisdiction of incorporation or of a
jurisdiction in which its securities are traded. U.S. investors should also
understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of
uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic
and legal feasibility. Disclosure of "contained ounces" is
permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally
only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute
"reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without
reference to unit measures.
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