New Mexico Copper Project
Mercator Gold Plc
MERCATOR GOLD plc
(“Mercator Gold”, “Mercator” or “the
Company”)
Mercator Acquires Exclusive Option
over New Mexico Copper
Project
Mercator Gold plc is pleased to announce that further to its release of
27 July 2009 the Company has acquired an exclusive option over the
Copper Flat porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold-silver project in the Las
Animas mining district in south central New Mexico, United States, by
making a payment of US$150,000 as consideration for the grant of the
option.
Mercator continues to carry out due diligence on the Copper Flat
project, which is a former producing mine. Key areas of focus for the
development plans will include the evaluation of the economics of a
return of the project to production; assessment of the potential for
expansion of existing reserves and resources; and an assessment of the
likely time required to secure all necessary permits for the
recommencement of production.
About the Copper Flat Project
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The Copper Flat deposit has historical reserves of 45.5 million metric
tons grading 0.45% Cu, 0.015% Mo, 0.15g/t Au and 2.25g/t Ag (cut-off
grade 0.23% Cu), equivalent to 50.2 million short tons @ 0.45% Cu,
0.015% Mo, 0.14g/t Au and 2.04g/t Ag (cut-off grade 0.23% Cu).
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An open pit mining operation treating up to 6 million short tons per
annum to produce up to 20,000 metric tons (30-45 million lb) of copper
per annum at Copper Flat will be the basis for planning. Extensive
feasibility studies on the restart of production at the project were
carried out during the 1980s by highly reputable technical
consultants. The most recent Pincock, Allen & Holt plan for a
resumption of production at Copper Flat envisaged the mining of 5.8
million short tons of ore and 4 million short tons of waste annually
for 11.6 years. In order to restart production, a suitable processing
plant, either new or second hand, would need to be procured and
commissioned.
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Important infrastructure from previous mining operations remains in
place at Copper Flat. A full pre-strip of the ore body has been
completed, which along with the infrastructure in place represents a
substantial proportion of the capital investment that would be
required if the project were to be brought into production from
scratch. Much of the groundwork necessary to obtain the permits
required for a return of the project to production has been completed,
and Mercator has access to highly qualified project-level management.
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Detailed metallurgical test work has been carried out, with flotation
tests performed on drill core and a 6,000 short ton underground bulk
sample. These consistently showed a recovery of 92% copper and the
production of highly marketable concentrates with an average copper
grade of 28%. The test work results were confirmed during the actual
mine production that took place in 1982.
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The Copper Flat deposit appears to have excellent continuity and
consistency of grade. It also has a low estimated stripping ratio of
approximately 0.9:1, based on previous mining plans. Some 181 reverse
circulation and core drill holes have previously been completed
(equating to approximately 39,000m) along with approximately 300m of
underground drifting.
Exercise of the Option
In order to exercise its option over the Copper Flat project, Mercator
would make payments to the vendors as follows: US$1m by 14 February
2010; US$1.85m by 14 August 2010; and US$7m by 14 February 2011. All the
payments are discretionary, and Mercator can elect not to proceed with
the exercise of the option at any stage. The final payment may be
deferred until 16 May 2011 for an additional payment of US$150,000. The
vendors would retain a net smelter return (NSR) of 3.25%.
For further information please contact
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Mercator Gold plc
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Michael Silver, Chairman
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Tel:
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+44 (0) 20 7929 1010
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Patrick Harford, Managing Director
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Email: info@mercatorgold.com
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Website: www.mercatorgold.com
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Bankside Consultants Ltd
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Tel:
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+44 (0) 20 7367 8888
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Simon Rothschild
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Oliver Winters
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Cenkos Securities plc
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Adrian Hargrave
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Tel:
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+44 (0) 20 7397 8900
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Beth McKiernan
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Old Park Lane Capital PLC
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Forbes Cutler, Director of Corporate Broking
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Tel:
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+44 (0) 20 7518 2603
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AIM: MCR
