September 10, 2009 |
2009 Drill Program Nearing Completion at Seabridge Gold's KSM Project |
TORONTO, CANADA--(Marketwire - Sept. 10, 2009) - Seabridge Gold (TSX:SEA)(NYSE Amex:SA) reported today that this year's 14,000 meter drill program at KSM is on schedule to accomplish its three main objectives: (i) upgrading inferred mineral resources; (ii) generating geotechnical information for pit slopes, waste dumps and other infrastructure; and (iii) installing monitoring wells for environmental base-line work.
The 30 year mine plans contained in the 2009 Preliminary Assessment captured 1.29 billion tonnes of mineralized material of which 277 million tonnes were classified as inferred mineral resources. To upgrade these in pit inferred resources to the measured and indicated categories, 12 additional holes totaling approximately 4,000 meters have been drilled at Mitchell, 7 holes totaling 3,100 meters at Sulphurets and 4 holes totaling 900 meters at Kerr. Assay results are now being received by Seabridge and will be announced shortly. Conversion of in pit inferred resources will enable Seabridge to report a mine reserve in its Preliminary Feasibility Study scheduled for completion in March 2010.
The balance of the 2009 drill program consists of geotechnical and environmental holes also required for the KSM Preliminary Feasibility Study. Approximately 4,200 meters are being drilled to finalize pit slopes for the Mitchell zone and foundation analysis for the planned waste dumps, crushing facilities and other project infrastructure. In addition, approximately 1,800 meters of drilling relates to the installation of monitoring wells associated with the ongoing environmental base line studies and project permitting.
The 100% owned KSM project, located near Stewart, British Columbia, Canada, is one of the world's largest undeveloped gold/copper projects. The following table summarizes NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources prepared by Resource Modeling Incorporated for all three zones at the KSM project using a 0.50 gram per tonne (g/t) gold equivalent cut-off grade (see news releases dated March 11, 2009 and March 25, 2009 for details).
KSM Mineral Resources at 0.50 g/t Gold Equivalent Cutoff-Grade
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Measured Mineral Resources
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Au
Zone Tonnes Au Ozs Cu Cu Lbs
(000) (g/t) (000) % (millions)
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Mitchell 579,300 0.66 12,292 0.18 2,298
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Sulphurets No measured resources
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Kerr No measured resources
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Total 579,300 0.66 12,292 0.18 2,298
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Indicated Mineral Resources
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Au
Zone Tonnes Au Ozs Cu Cu Lbs
(000) (g/t) (000) % (millions)
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Mitchell 930,600 0.62 18,550 0.18 3,692
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Sulphurets 87,300 0.72 2,021 0.27 520
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Kerr 225,300 0.23 1,666 0.41 2,036
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Total 1,243,200 0.56 22,237 0.23 6,248
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Measured plus Indicated Mineral Resources
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Au
Zone Tonnes Au Ozs Cu Cu Lbs
(000) (g/t) (000) % (millions)
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Mitchell 1,509,900 0.64 30,842 0.18 5,990
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Sulphurets 87,300 0.72 2,021 0.27 520
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Kerr 225,300 0.23 1,666 0.41 2,036
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Total 1,822,500 0.59 34,529 0.21 8,546
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Inferred Mineral Resources
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Au
Zone Tonnes Au Ozs Cu Cu Lbs
(000) (g/t) (000) % (millions)
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Mitchell 514,900 0.51 8,442 0.14 1,589
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Sulphurets 160,900 0.63 3,259 0.17 603
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Kerr 69,900 0.18 405 0.39 601
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Total 745,700 0.50 12,106 0.17 2,793
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Resource Modeling Incorporated is an independent consulting firm under the direction of Michael J. Lechner, Licensed Registered Geologist (Arizona) #37753, P.Geo. (British Columbia) #155344, AIPG CPG #10690 and a Qualified Person under NI-43-101. Mr. Lechner reviewed this news release.
Exploration activities at KSM are being conducted by Seabridge personnel under the supervision of William E. Threlkeld, Senior Vice President of Seabridge and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. An ongoing and rigorous quality control/quality assurance protocol is being employed during the 2009 program including blank and reference standards in every batch of assays. Cross-check analyses are being conducted at a second external laboratory on 10% of the samples. Samples are being assayed at Eco Tech Laboratory Ltd., Kamloops, B.C., using fire assay atomic adsorption methods for gold and total digestion ICP methods for other elements.
Seabridge holds a 100% interest in several North American gold resource projects. The Company's principal assets are the KSM property located near Stewart, British Columbia, Canada and the Courageous Lake gold project located in Canada's Northwest Territories. For a breakdown of Seabridge's mineral resources by project and resource category please visit the Company's website at http://www.seabridgegold.net/resources.php.
All resource estimates reported by the Corporation were calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Statements relating to the estimated or expected future production and operating results and costs and financial condition of Seabridge, planned work at the Corporation's projects and the expected results of such work are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, assumes, potential and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include reference to events or conditions that will, would, may, could or should occur. Information concerning exploration results and mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. These forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable at the time they are made, are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill projections/expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Corporation's projects; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and other tests and the estimation of gold reserves and resources; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of environmental issues at the Corporation's projects; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in work programs; the need to obtain permits and comply with environmental laws and regulations and other government requirements; fluctuations in the price of gold and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Corporation's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in the Corporation's Annual Report Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR (available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml).
Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Corporation's management or its independent professional consultants on the date the statements are made.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Rudi Fronk, President & C.E.O. | |