Press Releases
MIDAS GOLD COMPLETES ~7,000M DRILL PROGRAM AT ITS GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
Results include intercepts of 3.1 g/t Gold over 101m and 2.9 g/t Gold over 82m at Yellow Pine
Plus 2.8 g/t Gold over 42m at West End
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX / OTCQX:MDRPF) today reported that it has recently completed approximately 7,000m of in-fill and resource definition core drilling at its Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Mining District, Idaho. Completion of this program brings the total metres completed in 2013 to 11,655m, including two campaigns of core, auger and geotechnical drilling. A summary of the most recent, previously unreported, results from the recent core drilling program in the Yellow Pine deposit and from a step-out hole in the West End deposit are tabulated in Table 1 below, and complete results are provided in Table 3 at the end of this news release.
Table 1: Highlights from Recent Drilling on the Yellow Pine and West End Deposits, Golden Meadows
Hole ID | Deposit | From (m) | To (m) | Intercept (m)(1,2) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Gold Equiv. (g/t)(3) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-13-380(4) | Yellow Pine | 0.9 | 101.8 | 100.9 | 3.12 | 2.8 | 0.01 | 3.18 |
Including | 45.1 | 81.4 | 36.3 | 4.29 | 2.9 | 0.00 | 4.34 | |
MGI-13-382(2) | Yellow Pine | 20.9 | 79.3 | 58.4 | 1.21 | 19.1 | 0.85 | 3.55 |
and | 94.8 | 158.8 | 64.0 | 2.52 | 3.8 | 0.27 | 3.22 | |
Including | 102.4 | 129.1 | 26.7 | 3.48 | 5.7 | 0.56 | 4.92 | |
MGI-13-383(4) | Yellow Pine | 2.4 | 84.4 | 82.0 | 2.91 | 2.3 | 0.01 | 2.95 |
Including | 43.6 | 57.3 | 13.7 | 4.90 | 3.2 | 0.00 | 4.96 | |
MGI-13-396(2,5) | West End | 87.2 | 128.9 | 41.8 | 2.81 | 2.0 | 0.00 | 2.86 |
(1) Reported drill hole composites are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off, with a minimum 10 meter composite length. Higher grade composites are reported at 3 g/t Au cut-off. Composites may contain up to 6m of internal waste below cut-off.
(2) Intercept width is estimated to be close to true width, except hole MGI-13-382 where the true width is estimated to be approximately 80% of the intercept width, and hole MGI-13-396, where the true width is estimated to be approximately 85% of the intercept width.
(3) In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz Ag and $4.75/lb antimony. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
(4) Hole bottomed in mineralization.
(5) Logged and sampled out of order to expedite resource modeling.
“Midas is pleased to have completed its 2013 resource definition drill program safely, on budget and in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Stephen P. Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “We completed our ten month field season in 2013 with no reportable safety or environmental incidents, which is a tribute to the hard work and diligence of our employees and contractors,” he said. “In addition, our recent drill results from the Yellow Pine deposit continue to confirm the high-grade gold mineralization delineated by historic operators, and will ultimately increase the confidence in our mineral resource estimates as we prepare a pre-feasibility study in the coming months.” Results for approximately 25 further holes remain outstanding.
2013 Drill Program
During the summer and fall of 2013, Midas Gold completed a 7,076m mineral resource definition drill program that was designed to in-fill and further define mineralization with the objective of improving the confidence level of the majority of the mineral resources to the measured and indicated categories, suitable for inclusion in a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”). Core drilling was primarily focused on the Yellow Pine deposit, with limited additional drilling completed at the West End and Hangar Flats deposits, and was carried out with two drill rigs from T&J Enterprises of Montana. The core drilling program was also designed to collect large-diameter core samples from key areas of the Yellow Pine Deposit for future pilot plant test work, planned for post-completion of the PFS should the results of the PFS prove positive. In addition to the core drilling program, Midas completed approximately 1,000m of hollow stem auger drilling, which led to a mineral resource estimate for the historic tailings material, the results of which were reported in a news release dated October 28, 2013. Earlier in 2013, Midas had completed an additional approximate 2,700m of resource definition drilling and over 700m of monitoring well installations. A summary of drilling completed by Midas in 2013 is shown in Table 2, below.
Table 2: Summary of 2013 Drilling on the Golden Meadows Property
Drill Program | Number of Holes | Total Meters |
---|---|---|
2013 Winter/Spring Resource Definition | 11 | 2,727.4 |
2013 Summer/Fall Resource Definition | 50 | 7,076.1 |
(Yellow Pine) | (40) | (5,443.4) |
(West End) | (2) | (450.4) |
(Hangar Flats) | (8) | (1,182.3) |
Geotechnical Auger Drilling | 10 | 105.6 |
Tailings Resource Auger Drilling | 42 | 977.2 |
Monitoring Well Installations(1) | 10 | 768.4 |
Grand Total | 123 | 11,654.7 |
(1) Includes both bedrock and alluvial well installations
Results
With the adoption of new, more conservative modeling parameters, as discussed in a news release dated September 9, 2013, Midas Gold’s recently completed mineral resource definition drill program focused on the east and south sides of the Yellow Pine deposit, an area where historic drilling delineated significant mineral resources, but no significant modern exploration drilling had occurred. Overall, the high grade intercepts reported herein and those reported in previous news releases are generally in line with expectations and Midas Gold anticipates a significant conversion of mineral resources from the inferred to measured and indicated categories as compared to the 2012 PEA. While new drilling results may result in local gains and losses in different area, the impact on mineral resources falling within the PFS pits and potentially becoming mineral reserves cannot be determined until the updated mineral resource estimates are completed.
Results for approximately 25 holes, which are in the process of being logged, sampled and assayed, remain to be reported. Final results are anticipated early in the New Year.
Safety & Environmental Performance
Midas Gold’s employees and contractors delivered an exemplary environmental and safety performance in 2013, with the notable achievement of more than ten months without recording a single lost time incident or reportable environmental incident. “This performance is a credit to all those that have taken these priorities to heart - that everyone goes home safe at the end of a work day, and that the environment is protected from harm,” said Mr. Quin. In addition to remediating its own disturbance from drilling activities, Midas Gold planted 9,600 two and three year old Lodgepole Pine seedlings in 2013 and re-contoured and seeded more than 13 acres of recently and historically disturbed land, bringing the total trees planted since 2011 to 22,400 seedlings. These trees were planted in areas disturbed during Midas Gold’s exploration activities and in areas of historic/legacy disturbance voluntarily reclaimed by Midas as part of its site restoration activities. “We aim to leave the local environment better than we found it,” said Mr. Quin, “so each year we aim to reclaim and restore more land than we disturb.”
Looking Forward
With the completion of the 2013 field program, staffing and contracted seasonal employment levels in Idaho have been reduced by approximately 45%. Technical personnel are now focused on preparing updated mineral resource estimates, engineering studies and regulatory activities. Midas Gold is working with its resource modeling consultant to finalize an estimation strategy for each of its three deposits and anticipates that all data, including pending assay results, will be made available to its consultant during December 2013 and January 2014. Updated mineral resource estimates are targeted for completion in Q1 2014 and will be utilized in preparation of the PFS, currently scheduled for completion at the end of Q2 2014.
Illustrations
For a map locating the drill holes referred to in this news release please click here.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.005g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t gold are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 0.5g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t silver are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Antimony is analyzed via a 4-Acid digestion with ICP finish with a 5g/t lower reporting limit. Samples reporting values >500g/t antimony are reanalyzed using XRF fusion. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person and Independent Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors as well as a recently announced mineral resource contained in historic tailings. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.comor under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Note to US Investors
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms “mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43 101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. “Indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and a great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an “indicated mineral resource” or “inferred mineral resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. Accordingly, information contained in this News Release contain descriptions of the Company’s mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations there under.
Table 3: Details of Yellow Pine and West End Drill Results, Golden Meadows Project
(To accompany Midas Gold news release #2013-17)
Hole ID | Hole Type | Deposit | Collar Azimuth | Collar Dip | Hole Total Length (m) | From (m) | To (m) | Intercept (m)(1) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Tungsten (%) | Gold Equiv.(3) (g/t) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-13-378(4) | Core | Yellow Pine | 208 | -31 | 100.0 | 48.5 | 75.9 | 27.4 | 3.64 | 1.9 | 0.00 | 0.002 | 3.67 |
Including | 50.8 | 69.0 | 18.3 | 5.08 | 2.3 | 0.00 | 0.002 | 5.13 | |||||
and | 87.3 | 100.0 | 12.6 | 2.28 | 0.7 | 0.00 | 0.000 | 2.30 | |||||
MGI-13-380(4) | Core | Yellow Pine | 175 | -35 | 101.8 | 0.9 | 101.8 | 100.9 | 3.12 | 2.8 | 0.01 | 0.003 | 3.18 |
Including | 24.5 | 36.0 | 11.4 | 3.26 | 3.4 | 0.01 | 0.003 | 3.32 | |||||
Including | 45.1 | 81.4 | 36.3 | 4.29 | 2.9 | 0.00 | 0.005 | 4.34 | |||||
MGI-13-382(2) | Core | Yellow Pine | 260 | -33 | 169.5 | 20.9 | 79.3 | 58.4 | 1.21 | 19.1 | 0.85 | 0.002 | 3.55 |
and | 94.8 | 158.8 | 64.0 | 2.52 | 3.8 | 0.27 | 0.002 | 3.22 | |||||
Including | 102.4 | 129.1 | 26.7 | 3.48 | 5.7 | 0.56 | 0.003 | 4.92 | |||||
MGI-13-383 | Core | Yellow Pine | 152 | -30 | 100.6 | 2.4 | 84.4 | 82.0 | 2.91 | 2.3 | 0.01 | 0.002 | 2.95 |
Including | 23.0 | 34.4 | 11.4 | 3.20 | 3.5 | 0.01 | 0.004 | 3.27 | |||||
Including | 43.6 | 57.3 | 13.7 | 4.90 | 3.2 | 0.00 | 0.003 | 4.96 | |||||
MGI-13-384 | Core | Yellow Pine | 342 | -49 | 186.0 | 81.7 | 97.7 | 16.0 | 0.86 | 0.6 | 0.01 | 0.002 | 0.89 |
and | 127.4 | 138.4 | 11.0 | 2.20 | 5.7 | 0.21 | 0.002 | 2.79 | |||||
MGI-13-385(4,5) | Core | Yellow Pine | 245 | -35 | 61.6 | 15.5 | 61.6 | 46.0 | 0.71 | 2.7 | 0.01 | 0.002 | 0.77 |
MGI-13-388 | Core | Yellow Pine | 281 | -38 | 109.4 | 67.1 | 94.5 | 27.4 | 1.99 | 11.5 | 0.76 | 0.002 | 4.00 |
MGI-13-389 | Core | Yellow Pine | 183 | -63 | 171.3 | 39.0 | 59.6 | 20.6 | 0.82 | 1.5 | 0.00 | 0.003 | 0.85 |
MGI-13-396(2,6) | Core | West End | 270 | -76 | 253.0 | 7.9 | 26.2 | 18.3 | 0.52 | 0.3 | 0.00 | 0.000 | 0.54 |
and | 87.2 | 128.9 | 41.8 | 2.81 | 2.0 | 0.00 | 0.002 | 2.86 | |||||
Including | 91.4 | 110.6 | 19.2 | 4.78 | 3.3 | 0.01 | 0.002 | 4.84 | |||||
and | 154.1 | 169.9 | 15.9 | 1.59 | 1.7 | 0.00 | 0.001 | 1.63 | |||||
and | 192.5 | 215.0 | 22.6 | 1.79 | 1.2 | 0.00 | 0.002 | 1.82 |
(1) Reported drill hole composites are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off, with a minimum 10 meter composite length. Higher grade composites are reported at 3 g/t Au cut-off. Composites may contain up to 6m of internal waste below cut-off.
(2) Intercept width is estimated to be close to true width, except hole MGI-13-382 where the true width is estimated to be approximately 80% of the intercept width, and hole MGI-13-396, where the true width is estimated to be approximately 85% of the intercept width.
(3) In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz Ag and $4.75/lb antimony. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
(4) Hole bottomed in mineralized.
(5) Hole did not reach target depth
(6) Logged and sampled out of order to expedite resource modeling.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS RESULTS FROM YELLOW PINE DRILLING GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
Results include intercepts of 3.6g/t Au over 96m, 6.4g/t Au over 78m & 3.3g/t over 109m
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX / OTCQX:MDRPF) today reported results from its in-fill and resource conversion drilling program ongoing at its Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Mining District, Valley County, Idaho. Two drill rigs are currently drilling on site conducting resource in-fill and definition drilling as part of a ~5,000m drill program. A summary of the most recent drill results are tabulated in Table 1, below, and complete results are provided in Table 2 at the end of this news release.
Table 1: Highlights from Recent Drilling on the Yellow Pine Deposit, Golden Meadows
HOLE ID | From (m) | To (m) | Intercept (m)(1) | True Width (m)(2) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Gold Equiv. (g/t)(3) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-13-359 | 248.7 | 322.0 | 73.3 | 50.0 | 2.50 | 0.6 | 0.002 | 2.51 |
Including | 294.6 | 319.7 | 25.2 | 17.0 | 4.24 | 1.0 | 0.002 | 4.26 |
MGI-13-365 | 31.9 | 143.9 | 112.0 | 112.0 | 2.45 | 2.8 | 0.004 | 2.50 |
Including | 73.0 | 93.6 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 4.14 | 4.2 | 0.004 | 4.22 |
MGI-13-366 | 30.8 | 126.8 | 96.0 | 96.0 | 3.63 | 4.1 | 0.004 | 3.70 |
Including | 58.2 | 94.8 | 36.6 | 36.6 | 4.16 | 4.8 | 0.004 | 4.24 |
And | 108.5 | 124.5 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 4.98 | 3.9 | 0.004 | 5.05 |
MGI-13-369 | 42.4 | 154.4 | 112.0 | 112.0 | 2.08 | 2.0 | 0.004 | 2.12 |
Including | 65.2 | 81.2 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 6.14 | 4.1 | 0.004 | 6.21 |
MGI-13-372 (4) | 56.7 | 134.7 | 78.0 | 50.0 | 6.42 | 4.3 | 0.004 | 6.49 |
Including | 71.9 | 129.8 | 57.9 | 37.0 | 8.19 | 5.4 | 0.004 | 8.28 |
MGI-13-375(4) | 64.8 | 174.0 | 109.3 | 109.3 | 3.28 | 18.7 | 0.067 | 3.71 |
Including | 73.9 | 99.1 | 25.2 | 25.2 | 4.52 | 57.7 | 0.171 | 5.79 |
And | 105.9 | 137.9 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 4.27 | 14.2 | 0.006 | 4.50 |
(1)Reported drill hole composites are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off, with a minimum 10 meter composite length. Higher grade composites are reported at 3 g/t Au cut-off. Composites may contain up to 6m of internal waste below cut-off.
(2)Estimated true widths.
(3)In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz Ag and $4.75/lb antimony. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
(4)Hole bottomed in mineralization
“The resource definition drilling program at our Golden Meadows Project continues to provide good quality technical information to assist in refining our mineral resource estimates for the Yellow Pine deposit,” said Stephen P. Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “The excellent grades over substantial widths reported in this and prior news releases from the Yellow Pine Deposit illustrates why Yellow Pine is such a key component of our Golden Meadows Project.”
Summer 2013 Drill Program
Midas Gold currently has two core rigs drilling at site, completing an approximately 5,000m mineral resource definition drill program that has the objective of continuing to infill and define mineral resources to the measured and indicated categories suitable for inclusion in a pre-feasibility study (a “PFS”). With the results from the Yellow Pine and recently announced Hangar Flats drilling (see news release dated October 1, 2013), the program has been extended with a planned completion sometime in November. The primary focus for this drilling continues to be Yellow Pine deposit, which had the highest grades, lowest strip ratio and best metallurgical performance of the three deposits comprising the Golden Meadows project as set out in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (the “PEA”), highlights of which were released on September 4, 2012. This drilling, in addition to better defining the mineral resource estimates, will also provide additional samples for ongoing metallurgical testing via collection of large volume samples using PQ diameter drill core in some of the holes.
Results
Drilling results are generally in line with expectations, with some gains and losses in different areas, the impact of which will be evaluated once all results are available and the mineralization remodelled and mineral resources re-estimated. As previously noted in a news release dated September 9, 2013, on an overall basis, the new data collected since the 2012 PEA and the more conservative parameters being used to constrain the mineral resource estimates may result in a modest percentage reduction in the aggregate total of the mineral resource estimates (as compared to the 2012 PEA) as a result of eliminating peripheral and/or less certain mineral resources that may or may not have been contained within the 2012 PEA defined pit limits. Since different parameters will be used to define the PFS pit limits, the impact on mineral resources falling within the PFS pits and potentially becoming mineral reserves cannot be determined at this time. However, Midas Gold anticipates a significant conversion of mineral resources from the inferred to measured and indicated categories as compared to the 2012 PEA, once all this new data and new parameters are applied.
Illustrations
To view a plan map and cross-section illustrating the location of the drill holes referred to in this news release please click here.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.005g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 0.5g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Antimony is analyzed via a 4-Acid digestion with ICP finish with a 5g/t lower reporting limit. Samples reporting values >500g/t Sb are reanalyzed using XRF fusion. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person and Independent Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors as well as a recently announced mineral resource contained in historic tailings. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Note to US Investors
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms “mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43 101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. “Indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and a great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an “indicated mineral resource” or “inferred mineral resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. Accordingly, information contained in this News Release contain descriptions of the Company’s mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations there under.
Table 2: Details of Yellow Pine Drill Results, Golden Meadows Project
(To accompany Midas Gold news release #2013-16)
HOLE ID | Hole Type | Collar Azimuth | Collar Dip | Hole Total Length (m) | From (m) | To (m) | Length (m)(1) | True Width (m)(2) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Tungsten (%) | Gold Equivalent (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-13-359 | Core | 120 | -60 | 359.7 | 248.7 | 322.0 | 73.3 | 50.0 | 2.50 | 0.6 | 0.002 | 0.001 | 2.51 |
including | 294.6 | 319.7 | 25.2 | 17.0 | 4.24 | 1.0 | 0.002 | 0.001 | 4.26 | ||||
MGI-13-364 | Core | 175 | -47 | 143.6 | 76.8 | 111.1 | 34.3 | 34.3 | 1.30 | 2.1 | 0.055 | 0.001 | 1.46 |
MGI-13-365 | Core | 192 | -64 | 179.8 | 31.9 | 143.9 | 112.0 | 112.0 | 2.45 | 2.8 | 0.004 | 0.004 | 2.50 |
including | 45.6 | 59.3 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 2.63 | 2.4 | 0.005 | 0.004 | 2.67 | ||||
including | 73.0 | 93.6 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 4.14 | 4.2 | 0.004 | 0.004 | 4.22 | ||||
and | 157.6 | 173.6 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 1.78 | 1.5 | 0.002 | 0.001 | 1.80 | ||||
MGI-13-366 | Core | 192 | -45 | 191.9 | 30.8 | 126.8 | 96.0 | 96.0 | 3.63 | 4.1 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 3.70 |
including | 58.2 | 94.8 | 36.6 | 36.6 | 4.16 | 4.8 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 4.24 | ||||
including | 108.5 | 124.5 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 4.98 | 3.9 | 0.004 | 0.004 | 5.05 | ||||
MGI-13-367 | Core | 279 | -55 | 155.5 | 7.9 | 28.5 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 0.65 | 0.4 | 0.007 | 0.003 | 0.67 |
and | 49.1 | 76.5 | 27.4 | 20.0 | 0.94 | 3.7 | 0.005 | 0.001 | 1.00 | ||||
and(4) | 111.0 | 155.5 | 44.5 | 44.5 | 1.64 | 6.9 | 0.630 | 0.001 | 3.26 | ||||
MGI-13-368 | Core | 279 | -38 | 158.8 | 7.2 | 43.0 | 35.8 | 35.8 | 1.48 | 19.9 | 1.090 | 0.002 | 4.41 |
including | 25.5 | 36.9 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 3.08 | 27.2 | 2.309 | 0.002 | 9.05 | ||||
and(4) | 84.1 | 157.3 | 73.2 | 73.2 | 2.18 | 8.0 | 0.550 | 0.001 | 3.63 | ||||
MGI-13-369 | Core | 235 | -60 | 164.6 | 42.4 | 154.4 | 112.0 | 112.0 | 2.08 | 2.0 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 2.12 |
including | 65.2 | 81.2 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 6.14 | 4.1 | 0.004 | 0.002 | 6.21 | ||||
MGI-13-370 | Core | 315 | -55 | 169.8 | 89.9 | 101.4 | 11.4 | 10.0 | 0.81 | 2.0 | 0.003 | 0.003 | 0.85 |
and | 110.5 | 133.4 | 22.9 | 15.0 | 2.40 | 0.8 | 0.003 | 0.004 | 2.42 | ||||
MGI-13-371 | Core | 333 | -38 | 150.0 | 132.1 | 148.1 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 0.71 | 1.0 | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.73 |
MGI-13-372(4) | Core | 315 | -45 | 134.7 | 56.7 | 134.7 | 78.0 | 50.0 | 6.42 | 4.3 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 6.49 |
including | 71.9 | 129.8 | 57.9 | 37 | 8.19 | 5.4 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 8.28 | ||||
MGI-13-373(5) | Core | 309 | -42 | 93.4 | 75.6 | 93.4 | 17.8 | 17.8 | 1.08 | 4.0 | 0.005 | 0.003 | 1.15 |
MGI-13-374 | Core | 278 | -50 | 126.8 | 97.1 | 122.2 | 25.1 | 20.0 | 0.67 | 2.3 | 0.004 | 0.002 | 0.71 |
MGI-13-375(4) | Core | 290 | -38 | 173.7 | 64.8 | 174.0 | 109.3 | 109.3 | 3.28 | 18.7 | 0.067 | 0.003 | 3.71 |
including | 73.9 | 99.1 | 25.2 | 25.2 | 4.52 | 57.7 | 0.171 | 0.003 | 5.79 | ||||
including | 105.9 | 137.9 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 4.27 | 14.2 | 0.006 | 0.004 | 4.50 | ||||
including | 144.8 | 158.5 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 3.40 | 4.5 | 0.005 | 0.004 | 3.48 | ||||
MGI-13-376(4) | Core | 350 | -35 | 45.1 | 20.7 | 45.1 | 24.4 | 24.4 | 3.96 | 1.8 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 4.00 |
including | 23.0 | 43.6 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 4.37 | 2.0 | 0.004 | 0.003 | 4.41 | ||||
MGI-13-377(5) | Core | 65 | -35 | 47.4 | 8.8 | 29.4 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 2.99 | 2.9 | 0.004 | 0.004 | 3.05 |
(1)Reported drill hole composites are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off, with a minimum 10 meter composite length. Higher grade composites are reported at 3 g/t Au cut-off. Composites may contain up to 6m of internal waste below cut-off.
(2)Estimated true widths.
(3)In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz Ag and $4.75/lb antimony. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
(4)Hole bottomed in mineralized.
(5)Hole did not reach planned depth.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR GOLDEN MEADOWS TAILINGS
Reprocessing of Tailings May Provide Opportunity for Environmental Remediation and Economic Benefits
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX / OTCQX:MDRPF) today reported results of an independent mineral resource estimate for a significant portion of the historic tailings located on its Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Mining District, Valley County, Idaho. These historic tailings were produced by prior operators during the 1920s through 1950s and currently occupy an impoundment located in the Meadow Creek Valley near the Hangar Flats deposit. These historic tailings present a potential opportunity for Midas Gold to remediate pre-existing disturbance by reprocessing these tailings, while contemporaneously providing potential value to shareholders. A summary of the mineral resource estimate, based on the drill data previously reported on October 7, 2013, is tabulated below:
Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate for Historic Tailings (2)
Cut-Off Grade (1) | Classification | Tonnes (000s) | Gold Equiv. (g/t) (3) | Gold (g/t) | Gold (000s oz) | Antimony (%) | Antimony (000s lbs) | Silver (g/t) | Silver (000s oz) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.75 | Indicated | 2,526 | 1.64 | 1.19 | 96 | 0.17 | 9,476 | 2.94 | 239 |
0.75 | Inferred (2) | 176 | 1.59 | 1.16 | 7 | 0.16 | 631 | 2.71 | 15 |
(1) Cut-off grade in grams gold per metric tonne.
(2)Readers are advised that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no assurance that mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves. Mineral resources are subject to further dilution, recovery, lower metal price assumptions and inclusion in a mine plan to demonstrate economics and feasibility of extraction. The mineral resource estimate includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that these inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied. The available project information is currently not sufficient to convert the estimated mineral resources to mineral reserves.
(3) In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz silver, $4.75/lb antimony, but do not include tungsten. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
“The mineral resource estimate for the historic tailings at Golden Meadows creates an opportunity to both clean up a pre-existing issue, while also offering potential to recover significant precious metal and antimony values, should environmental, engineering, metallurgical and economic factors prove to be positive,” said Stephen P. Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “Given the location of the tailings, they would likely be reprocessed early in any future mine plan, providing for the remediation to occur early in the project life.”
The mineral resource estimate is effective October 22, 2013 and was prepared for Midas Gold by Cameron Consulting, Liberty Lake, WA. A substantial majority of mineral resources are located on private land owned by Midas Gold.
Drill Program
Drilling in and around the historic tailings consists of 73 holes, including 27 historic direct-push and reverse circulation holes (mostly monitoring wells), 42 auger holes completed in 2013 (totaling 978m), two PQ-diameter core holes, and four PQ-diameter Sonic holes completed in 2012.
The details of the 2013 drilling and sampling program, along with illustrations, used to support the mineral resource estimate are described in more detail in the news release dated October 7, 2013, and are summarized herein. The 2013 drilling program was completed with a conventional hollow-stem auger system with a 7.6cm inner tube driven in advance of the auger flights for continuous recovery of materials and to eliminate cross-contamination. These drill holes range between 8m and 52m in depth and are all vertical. Drill holes were completed on an approximately 75m x 75m grid across the main tailings area.
Excluding holes outside of the tailings area and those that intersected no tailings, the database used in the mineral resource estimate comprises 38 Midas Gold augered drill holes and three sonic drill holes totaling 1,055m of which, 339m have assay results for tailings (four of the 42 Midas Gold holes failed to intersect tailings and were not utilized in the mineral resource estimate). Historic drill holes were only used to aid in construction of the tailings solid. Samples of the tailings from Midas Gold’s auger drill program were collected from the auger inner tube on 0.61m (2ft) intervals, split by the on-site geologist and assayed by ALS Chemex. A total of 35 Shelby tube samples were collected to determine wet and dry densities for the tailings material. The bulk density samples have a simple average of 1.495 g/cm3 as determined by Strata, geotechnical engineering consultants.
Block Model and Resource Estimation Procedures
For resource estimation purposes, gold, antimony and silver were composited over 0.61m lengths. A review of capping by graphic probability plots and decile methods results in no cap for gold, a cap of 0.6% for antimony and 10g/t for silver in order to minimize the influence of population outliers. Two low outliers and one high outlier were removed from the density dataset.
The block sizes used in the mineral resource model are 15.24m x 15.24m x 1.524m (50ft x 50ft x 5ft) in the x, y, and z directions, respectively. Each block was assigned a unique dry bulk density estimate based on interpolation of density samples by inverse distance weighting to the second power (ID2) method.
All gold, antimony, and silver grade estimates were made using 0.61m down-hole composites and ordinary kriging methods. Composites were weighted by correlogram models and the correlogram anisotropy guided the shape of the search ellipsoids. The gold search ellipsoid was weighted 1.5:1 along an azimuth of 325o, the antimony search ellipsoid was weighted 2:1 along an azimuth of 330o, and the silver search ellipsoid was weighted 2:1 along an azimuth of 310o, all with a plunge of 0o, reflecting the layer cake nature of the tailings. The vertical search was limited to 1/10th the principal axis searches, which were 175m, 220m, and 200m for Au, Sb, and Ag, respectively. All blocks in the model were estimated in a single pass with a minimum of one and maximum of twelve composites per block. No more than three composites from the same drill hole, representing slightly more than a block height, were included in a block estimate, forcing the search neighborhood to include more weight from data in neighboring holes than otherwise.
The historic tailings material is covered by spent-ore material stockpiled from prior heap leach operations conducted in the 1980s and 1990s. The spent-ore material averages 12m thickness and ranges from 2m to 20m thick. Because Midas Gold is evaluating potential use of this material for construction purposes and because conceptual site lay-outs described in the 2012 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the “2012 PEA”) would require relocation of this material prior to any pending construction activities, mineral resources were not constrained within an optimized pit and are reported as in-situ resources only since it is assumed the spent-ore material will be utilized for other purposes.
Classification
The resource estimate is classified as Indicated and Inferred resources according to Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) definition standards. Resource classification considered confidence criteria such as: (1) the drill hole spacing; (2) bench plots of kriging variance, a measure of estimation uncertainty; (3) and anisotropic distance to the nearest composite. Areas of inferred mineral resources primarily occur around the margins of the tailings material where drilling was restricted due to logistical and environmental considerations.
Sensitivity
Table 2 below shows potential mineral resources in all classes at a range of cut-off grades. The mineral resource estimate for the tailings shows only moderate sensitivity to grade cut-off grade. No material <0.60 g/t Au is estimated in the block model.
Table 2: Sensitivity of Mineral Resource to Cut-off Grade(2)
Cut-Off Grade(3) | Tonnes (000s) | Gold (g/t) | Gold (000s oz) | Antimony (%) | Antimony (000s lbs) | Silver (g/t) | Silver (000s oz) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.60 | 2,878 | 1.16 | 107 | 0.16 | 10,479 | 2.85 | 264 |
0.65 | 2,868 | 1.16 | 107 | 0.16 | 10,453 | 2.85 | 263 |
0.70 | 2,827 | 1.17 | 106 | 0.17 | 10,363 | 2.87 | 261 |
0.75(1) | 2,703 | 1.18 | 103 | 0.17 | 10,107 | 2.92 | 254 |
0.80 | 2,537 | 1.21 | 99 | 0.17 | 9,706 | 2.99 | 244 |
0.85 | 2,367 | 1.24 | 94 | 0.18 | 9,217 | 3.04 | 232 |
0.90 | 2,232 | 1.26 | 91 | 0.18 | 8,776 | 3.08 | 221 |
0.95 | 2,103 | 1.28 | 87 | 0.18 | 8,347 | 3.11 | 210 |
=>1.00 | 1,972 | 1.30 | 83 | 0.18 | 7,906 | 3.14 | 199 |
(1) Base Case
(2)Readers are advised that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no assurance that mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves. Mineral resources are subject to further dilution, recovery, lower metal price assumptions and inclusion in a mine plan to demonstrate economics and feasibility of extraction. The mineral resource estimate includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that these inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied. The available project information is currently not sufficient to convert the estimated mineral resources to mineral reserves.
(3) Cut-off grade in grams gold per metric tonne.
Validation
The block model was verified to ensure that no estimated variables had negative values or were un-estimated and that maximum values for gold, antimony, and silver were consistent with the respective element’s cap, or maximum composite values. Block factors and spatial limits of the model were visually compared to the tailings and topographic wireframes representing the model limiting surfaces. Model sections and benches displaying the raw down-hole assay data were visually cross checked against composite values and estimated block values.
The block model total tailings volume exactly matched the tailings solid volume. The tonnage weighted average density estimated, 1.494 g/cm3, compares closely to the simple average of the measurements at 1.495 g/cm3.
A nearest-neighbor estimate provided a check for global bias on the Kriged gold estimate, and compared well to the Kriged estimate. The Kriged estimate also compared well to the length-weighted average grade of the gold composites and the estimated value derived from back-calculating expected tailings grades from past mining, milling and production records.
Metallurgical Testing
Composite samples from the 2012 Sonic holes were sent to SGS Labs for preliminary metallurgical testing and results indicate that recoveries similar to those achieved for hard rock mineralization utilized in the 2012 PEA are achievable (see news release dated September 4, 2012). Additional testing is planned to further evaluate possible processing and recovery methods that might be suitable for these materials.
Potential for Economic Viability and Compliance with National Instrument 43-101
The mineral resources meet the test of potential economic viability, as required under NI43-101, since the cut-off grade used in the base case is the same as that used in the 2012 PEA for in situ hard rock mineralization, preliminary metallurgical testing has been completed that suggests similar recoveries to those used in the PEA, the coarser waste above the tailings are potential construction materials for future operations, and the remediation of these tailings offers potential environmental benefits.
The mineral resource estimates presented herein follow the guidelines of the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 43-101 and conform to the required CIM Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines. Mineral resources have been classified in accordance with the “CIM Standards - For Mineral Resources and Reserves: Definitions” (November 27, 2010), and Companion Policy 43-101CP, as amended by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and enacted on June 30, 2011. The mineral resource estimate was prepared by consulting geologist Donald Cameron, SME Registered Member and MMSA QP Member, and an Independent Qualified Person as defined in the instrument. Mr. Cameron is the Qualified Person responsible for the mineral resources reported herein. He has read and approved the relevant technical portions of this news release related to the mineral resource estimate for which he is responsible.
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set forth in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. The exploration activities at the deposit were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, CPG, Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
The mineral resources at the Golden Meadows Project exist within areas of historic disturbance resulting from mining and mineral processing activities by prior operators. In order for Midas Gold to advance the Golden Meadows Project, the Project will be subject to a number of Federal, State and local laws and regulations and will require permits to conduct its activities. However, Midas Gold is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socioeconomic, market or political factors that would materially affect the mineral resources stated herein or prevent it from advancing the project.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Site Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.005g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 0.5g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Antimony is analyzed via a 4-Acid digestion with ICP finish with a 5g/t lower reporting limit. Samples reporting values >500g/t Sb are reanalyzed using XRF fusion. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but the differences are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person and Independent Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Note to US Investors
This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms “mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43 101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. “Indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and a great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an “indicated mineral resource” or “inferred mineral resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. Accordingly, information contained in this News Release contain descriptions of the Company’s mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations there under.
MIDAS GOLD ACHIEVES QUOTATION ON OTCQX INTERNATIONAL
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX / OTCQX:MDRPF) today announced that its shares are now quoted on OTCQX International, a segment of the OTCQX marketplace in the U.S., which should provide for greater access to the U.S. capital markets and an additional trading platform for shareholders.
Midas Gold initiated its quotation today on OTCQX International under the ticker MDRPF. Investors can find real-time quotes, disclosure and financial information for Midas Gold at www.otcqx.com and www.otcmarkets.com.
“Midas Gold is pleased to be providing our current and future shareholders with access to this additional trading platform,” commented Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “A quotation on the OTCQX marketplace is a natural progression for Midas Gold since its Golden Meadows gold-silver-antimony-tungsten project is located in Idaho, USA and we already have a significant number of U.S. shareholders.”
The U.S. investment bank, Cowen and Company, serves as Midas Gold’s Principal American Liaison (“PAL”) on the OTCQX International and is responsible for providing guidance on OTCQX requirements and arranging a comprehensive suite of U.S. capital markets services.
“We are very pleased to be working with Midas Gold to make the best of its OTCQX trading. We look forward to supporting Midas Gold’s experience in the United States,” said Chris Weekes, Managing Director, Cowen and Company, International Markets Group.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of gold, silver, antimony and tungsten deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal deposits identified to date within the project area are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits and reported in a news release dated June 27, 2012; these estimates are detailed in a technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”), which is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines one concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product silver and antimony based on the estimated mineral resources, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential environmental, financial and technical enhancements of the conceptual project that are currently being evaluated.
About Cowen Group, Inc.
Cowen and Company, the broker-dealer business of Cowen Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COWN), provides industry focused investment banking for growth-oriented companies, domain knowledge-driven research services and a robust sales and trading platform to companies and institutional investor clients. Sectors of focus for the business include healthcare, technology, telecommunications, aerospace and defense/industrials, consumer, energy, metals and mining and transportation. Founded in 1918, Cowen Group is headquartered in New York and has offices located in major financial centers around the world. For more information, visit www.cowen.com.
About OTCQX
The OTCQX marketplace offers the best informed and most efficient trading for U.S. and global companies. To qualify for the OTCQX marketplace, companies must meet high financial standards, be current in their disclosure, and be sponsored by a professional third-party advisor. Designed for the largest, most liquid, and investor-friendly companies, OTCQX ensures that investors have the information necessary to intelligently analyze, value and trade their securities. For more information, please visit www.otcqx.com and www.otcmarkets.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS RESULTS FROM HISTORIC TAILINGS AT GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
Reprocessing of Tailings could result in Potential Environmental and Financial Benefits
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX) today reported assay results from a 45-hole, 1,106m hollow stem auger and sonic drilling program designed to explore the potential for the reprocessing of historic tailings located on its Golden Meadows Project at Stibnite in Valley County, Idaho. Reprocessing of the historic tailings could provide Midas Gold with an opportunity to remediate legacy disturbance on the Golden Meadows site, while contemporaneously providing economic value to shareholders since the drill results indicate potential for the definition of a mineral resource in the tailings with significant gold, silver and antimony values. Reprocessing of these tailings were not previously considered in any prior evaluations completed by Midas Gold.
The weighted average grade of all the tailings intercepts in the 41 holes that intercepted tailings is 1.63g/t gold equivalent (1), comprised of 1.17g/t gold, 3.0g/t silver and 0.17% antimony, plus 0.02% tungsten (not part of the gold equivalent grade) over an average 8.4m thickness. The tailings were tested over an area extending approximately 800m by 400m, although the outer edges of the drill pattern had minimal to no tailings as illustrated in the attached map. Results from individual holes are summarized in Table 1 attached and are illustrated in the map and section that can be found by clicking here.
Background
Midas Gold’s review of historical data indicated that sub-optimal recoveries (common with older flotation methods) resulted in some gold, silver, antimony and tungsten remaining in the historic tailings, with metal grades which may warrant reprocessing of this material if environmental, technical and economic factors prove supportive. Flotation methods for antimony-bearing stibnite and gold-bearing pyritic sulphide ores were developed in the Stibnite Mining District from the 1920s to the mid-1950s, with lower recoveries in the early years and improving in later years, after reagents and flotation methods were optimized through experimentation and practical experience. The historic tailings represent a significant legacy disturbance at the site, and reprocessing of this material could result in significantly lower metal content exposed to the environment. The historic tailings could be removed from their current unlined facility in the Meadow Creek valley, reprocessed to recover sulphide minerals that host the metals of economic interest, and the resultant “cleaned” tailings placed within a modern lined tailings facility, designed with strict environmental protections, that may be constructed to contain tailings generated by hard rock mining and milling operations that may be proposed by Midas Gold in the future, subject to confirmation of economic viability and the appropriate regulatory approvals.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the historic tailings were capped with several million tonnes of spent ore remaining from seasonal “on-off” heap leach operations conducted by prior operators of the site. This spent ore may represent suitable construction material for potential future facilities constructed on site, should such a project be supported by environmental, technical and economic factors currently being evaluated, in addition to providing further remediation opportunities.
Drill Program
The drill program was designed to: (1) quantify the characteristics, metal content, volumes, thicknesses and relative spatial distribution of spent ore above the tailings; (2) determine the characteristics, metal content, volumes, thicknesses and relative spatial distribution of the tailings; (3) collect samples for metallurgical and environmental baseline characterization; and (4) determine the nature and position of the natural materials underlying the tailings - such as overburden and gravels.
The drilling program was primarily completed with a conventional hollow-stem auger system with a 7.6cm inner tube driven in advance of the auger flights for continuous recovery of materials and to eliminate cross contamination. A total of 42 auger holes, totalling approximately 978m were completed in 2013 in addition to three sonic holes completed in 2011. Drill holes were completed on an approximately 75m x 75m grid across the main tailings area, excluding areas known to be underlain by waste repository materials from past reclamation actions, areas known be underlain by wet conditions or near suspected subsurface springs or near the adjacent stream diversion constructed in 1998-2000. A rigorous set of protocols were used to ensure drilling did not produce cross-contamination between various subsurface layers, including the underlying native materials, the tailings or the overlying spent ore pile. Hole conditions, as well as the composition and character of subsurface materials intersected in the auger holes, were carefully logged and monitored by the drillers, an on-site geologist and environmental staff. Holes were plugged with appropriate hole-plugging material as recommended by state and federal agencies and were abandoned per applicable requirements upon completion of drilling and the drill sites reclaimed. Drill collars were surveyed with a survey-grade instrument to provide accurate information for later volumetric calculations.
Sampling
Sample lengths were variable and dependent upon the ability of the drive stem to penetrate the material. Sample lengths through the tailings were, on average, approximately 0.6m. Samples were photographed and logged on site and then split in half, with one half sent to the laboratory and the other half of the split placed in plastic bags and archived for future reference. Typical sample weights for sample splits shipped to the laboratory were 1.4kg/sample, providing a reasonable and appropriate sample weight (given the fine-grained nature of the tailings materials), approximately midway between that that would be provided by split HQ and PQ core samples. Sample densities were determined by Strata Labs and averaged 1.50 t/m3.
Results
Results from the program indicate that the historic tailings beneath the spent heap leach material have an average overall thickness of approximately 8.4m, with the thickest tailings situated near the northern (lower) end of the former tailings impoundment, and tapering out to a feather-edge at the limits of the spent heap leach material. Figure 1 is an isopach (contoured thickness) map of the tailings in the areas sampled. Additional tailings are known to underlie several other areas in the immediate vicinity, but were not sampled or evaluated as part of this program. The length weighted average grade of all intervals of tailings drilled, with no cut-off grade applied, was 1.17 g/t Au, which is very close to the estimated value of 1.12 g/t Au derived from back-calculating expected tailings grades from past mining, milling and production records.
Metallurgical Testing
Midas Gold sent composite samples from the 2011 sonic holes to SGS Labs for metallurgical testing and results indicate that recoveries similar to those achieved for hard rock mineralization utilized in the 2012 Preliminary Economic Assessment (see news release dated September 4, 2012) are achievable. Additional metallurgical testing is planned.
Mineral Resource Estimation
The drilling data gathered during the 2011 sonic drilling program and the 2013 auger drilling program will be used, along with historic information, to complete a mineral resource estimate within the next month.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Site Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Samples reporting values >0.05% Sb are reanalyzed using XRF. All composites utilize a 0.5g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver and antimony are analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD INTERCEPTS HIGH GRADE AT HANGAR FLATS DEPOSIT, GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
MGI-13-361 intercepts 100.6m grading 3.1 g/t Au, 7.2 g/t Ag and 0.55% Sb
Including 36.4m at 4.2 g/t Au, 13 g/t Ag and 1.24% Sb and 16.3m at 5.2 g/t Au, 2 g/t Ag and 0.20% Sb
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX) announced results today from three holes, completed within the Hangar Flats Deposit, from its ongoing resource definition drill program at its Golden Meadows project in the Stibnite Mining District of Idaho. Hole MGI-13-361 contained appreciably higher gold grades than projected in the 2012 mineral resource block model, while the high grade antimony intercept lies completely outside of the 2012 antimony mineral resource. The other two holes, MGI-13-362 and -363, generally confirmed estimated grades and are expected to improve confidence with no appreciable change to the mineral resources in those areas. Highlights from these holes are summarized in Table 1 below, while detailed results are attached at the end of the release in Table 2.
Table 1: Highlights of Drill Results from Hangar Flats, Golden Meadows Project
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | In situ Gold Equivalent (g/t) (1) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-13-361 | 128.3 | 228.9 | 100.6 | 3.09 | 7.20 | 0.55 | 4.52 |
Including | 162.5 | 198.9 | 36.4 | 4.20 | 13.23 | 1.24 | 7.40 |
and | 212.6 | 228.9 | 16.3 | 5.18 | 2.09 | 0.20 | 5.69 |
MGI-13-363 | 74.7 | 110.5 | 35.8 | 2.57 | 2.06 | 0.04 | 2.70 |
(1)In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz Ag and $4.75/lb antimony. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
“The results of our most recent drilling continue to confirm the higher grade nature of portions of the Hangar Flats deposit,” said Stephen P. Quin, President and CEO of Midas. “Additional drilling is continuing at the Yellow Pine deposit to more fully define the core area to measured and indicated standards, while results from the recent drilling of the historic tailings are due shortly.”
Summer 2013 Drill Program
Midas Gold currently has two core rigs drilling at site conducting an approximately 5,000m mineral resource definition drill program with the objective of continuing to infill and define mineral resources to the measured and indicated categories suitable for inclusion in a pre-feasibility study (a “PFS”). The primary focus for this drilling continues to be Yellow Pine deposit, which had the highest grades, lowest strip ratio and best metallurgical recoveries of the three deposits comprising the Golden Meadows project as set out in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (the “PEA”), highlights of which were released on September 4, 2012. However, the three holes reported herein were completed at the Hangar Flats deposit to provide additional information in areas where the block models were thought to have under reported grades, and to improve confidence in the inferred mineral resources.
Details of Drill Results
Midas Gold’s review of historic underground drilling, as well as Midas Gold’s surface drilling and historic underground sampling data, indicated that the 2012 block models did not effectively capture interpreted trends or spatial distributions of mineralization. Hole MGI-13-361 was drilled to evaluate an area between the 200 and 400 levels of the old Meadow Creek Mine, which operated from the early 1920s through the late 1930s. The hole was designed to provide additional information where the 2012 mineral resource block model appeared to be under reporting grades based on reconstructions of the workings and underground channel sampling data from the early production era operations. This hole intercepted strong alteration with associated gold and antimony mineralization, indicating that the block model may well be under reporting the actual grades in this area. In addition, the higher grade antimony intercept (36m at 1.2% Sb) occurs entirely outside the antimony shell used in the 2012 mineral resource estimate and results suggest potential for additional high grade antimony down plunge of this intercept.
Holes MGI-13-362 and 363 were drilled uphill of hole MGI-13-361 in order to confirm and provide additional information in two other areas, and were targeting a small volume of inferred mineralization. The intercept in hole MGI-13-362 was 15m narrower and somewhat lower grade than projected, while the intercept in hole MGI-13-363 generally confirmed the 2012 estimate. Overall, these two holes are expected to generally increase resource confidence in this area with no appreciable effect on contained metal.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person, and Chris Dail, C.P.G., Exploration Manager of Midas Gold, Inc., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Site Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. All composites utilize a 0.5g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, the potential for future development of mineral deposits in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012 (the “Technical Report”), which is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward- Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Table 2: Detailed Drill Results from Hangar Flats(1)
(To accompany Midas Gold news release #2013-12)
HOLE ID | Hole Type | Collar Azimuth | Collar Dip | Hole Total Length (m) | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Tungsten (%) | In situ Gold Equivalent (g/t) (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-13-361 | Core | 150 | -50 | 228.9 | 78.3 | 100.9 | 22.6 | 0.97 | 1.95 | 0.04 | 0.006 | 1.09 |
and | 128.3 | 228.9 | 100.6 | 3.09 | 7.20 | 0.55 | 0.004 | 4.52 | ||||
Including | 162.5 | 198.9 | 36.4 | 4.20 | 13.23 | 1.24 | 0.004 | 7.40 | ||||
and | 212.6 | 228.9 | 16.3 | 5.18 | 2.09 | 0.20 | 0.004 | 5.69 | ||||
MGI-13-362 | Core | 300 | -50 | 101.5 | 85.0 | 101.5 | 16.5 | 2.27 | 3.58 | 0.03 | 0.006 | 2.38 |
MGI-13-363 | Core | 255 | -55 | 111.9 | 29.0 | 45.0 | 16.0 | 2.55 | 1.45 | 0.01 | 0.006 | 2.59 |
and | 74.7 | 110.5 | 35.8 | 2.57 | 2.06 | 0.04 | 0.005 | 2.70 |
(1)Reported drill hole composites are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off, with a minimum 10 meter composite length. Higher grade composites are reported at 3 g/t Au cut-off. Composites may contain up to 6m of internal waste below cut-off. Widths reported are approximately true widths.
(2)In situ gold equivalent values based on $1,350/oz gold, $20/oz Ag and $4.75/lb antimony. These equivalent grades are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not account for recoveries or payabilities of the various metals, which may vary significantly, depending on the metallurgical process selected.
MIDAS GOLD PROVIDES UPDATE ON PROGRESS AT GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
Project Optimization Continues, 5,000+m Core Drill Program Underway
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX) today provided an update on its Golden Meadows project in the Stibnite mining district of Idaho, including project optimization activities and on-going core drilling. Significant progress has been made in a number of areas, all with a view to improving the financial, technical and environmental outcomes from any future project. Areas with notable progress include mineral resource definition, optimizing potential mine plans, defining a potential opportunity for reprocessing historic tailings, improved siting for facilities and closure planning, as well as processing options.
“Midas Gold continues to advance its Golden Meadows Project, located in the historic Stibnite mining district in Idaho, on a number of fronts,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold. “Our aim has been to re-evaluate the project from end to end with a view to optimizing the project scale, economics and technical certainty, while looking to reduce the potential environmental footprint and improve the potential site restoration scenarios so that we can leave the site considerably better than we find it now,” he said. “We are also striving to achieve these objectives in the most cost effective and timely manner and, following the completion of the recent financing, have re-evaluated the work program to reduce costs and improve timing by eliminating a number of intermediate reporting steps ahead of completion of a pre-feasibility study planned for 2014.”
Focus on Cost Efficiencies and Optimizing Potential Economic Returns
Midas Gold continues to focus on ensuring its funds are most effectively deployed in order to achieve its objectives in a cost effective and timely manner. Previously, Midas Gold had planned to complete an updated preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) later in 2013, followed by a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”), however this entailed completion of two technical studies, each including comprehensive updates to the mineral resource estimates and entailing two technical reports. As reported on May 15, 2013, Midas Gold has elected to advance directly to completion of a PFS and plans to achieve this with a single mineral resource update post-completion of the 2013 drilling season, reducing costs and overall timelines to completion of a PFS (through the elimination of costs and work related to the preparation of an updated PEA). Considerable progress has been made in respect of achieving these objectives, as discussed below.
In addition, Midas Gold is focusing its efforts on the most robust project options, including the best grade, best metallurgical performance, lowest strip ratio mineral resources that provide the optimal potential economic returns in a variety of gold price environments. Midas Gold believes that demonstrating potential to be a large, low cost, low risk gold producer, located in the United States, is what will make the Golden Meadows project stand out. Midas Gold also continues to evaluate the technical risks associated with all aspects of any potential project and is focused on outcomes that minimize and mitigate potential risks. Thirdly, Midas Gold is evaluating a variety of project options in light of their potential environmental footprint, opportunities for the remediation and reclamation of legacy disturbance from historic mining activity, and the long term closure scenarios that would result in the site being left in a significantly better environmental condition than the current situation. These financial, technical and environmental considerations are driving Midas Gold’s approach to the PFS. The net outcome of this approach should be an overall more robust, sustainable and supportable project than that contemplated in the PEA.
Project Optimization
In 2012, Midas Gold completed a preliminary economic assessment (the “2012 PEA”), which defined one possible option for the potential future development of the Golden Meadows project in the historic Stibnite mining district of Idaho. The 2012 PEA also identified additional information required in order to further advance the project, identified possible alternatives for the potential project, and provided a basis for discussions with local communities, Native American Tribes, State, Federal and local governments, regulators, NGOs and other potential stakeholders in respect of potential project options. As noted above, all aspects of the project are being reviewed with a focus on financial, technical and environmental outcomes, including designing for project closure and management of water quality. No project can be proposed until this additional work is completed, analyzed, incorporated into further studies and a determination made that there is a reasonably permittable project with sufficient economic returns to justify proceeding to the next stages.
Key areas of attention include the following:
Mineral Resource Estimation - In addition to more than 35km of new drilling completed by Midas Gold since the date of the last mineral resource estimates, Midas Gold recovered a significant amount of additional data generated by prior operators of the project, including additional drilling, assay, survey and geological information. Evaluation of all of this new data is allowing Midas Gold to prepare more detailed geological models and more constrained mineral resource estimates for the entire project. After evaluation of this new data in light of the objective of completing a PFS (which includes mineral reserves), Midas Gold has introduced new mineral resource parameters such as requiring a certain influence of either (a) Midas Gold drill data or (b) other modern era (1970s-1990s) drill data in order to define a measured or indicated mineral resource, respectively. Incorporation of these and other new parameters has resulted in the need for some additional drilling to add the required component of Midas Gold data in areas dominated by older information. The current 5,000+m drilling program is designed to provide additional drillhole information in these areas and to meet the standards appropriate for the definition of mineral reserves in a PFS. Overall, the new data collected since the 2012 PEA and the parameters being used to constrain the mineral resource estimates may result in a modest percentage reduction in the aggregate total of the mineral resource estimates (as compared to the 2012 PEA) as a result of eliminating peripheral and/or less certain mineral resources that may or may not have been contained within the 2012 PEA defined pit limits. Since different parameters will be used to define the PFS pit limits, the impact on mineral resources falling within the PFS pits and becoming mineral reserves cannot be determined at this time. However, Midas Gold anticipates a significant conversion of mineral resources from the inferred to measured and indicated categories as compared to the 2012 PEA once all this new data and new parameters are applied.
Mine Plan Optimization - A financial, technical and environmental review of each of the deposits, based on the 2012 PEA mineral resource estimates, indicated that the extraction of the higher strip ratio mineral resources in the final phase of the contemplated Hangar Flats pit generated little in the way of incremental net present value (“NPV”) but added significant sustaining capital (including a replacement mining fleet and considerable waste stripping to access these tonnes) and generated a larger environmental footprint in respect of the resulting open pit and waste rock dumps. In addition, areas of the West End deposit defined primarily by cyanide-soluble gold assays with minimal fire assay data, may be removed from the PFS mine plan. These areas are relatively lower margin and were to be mined late in the mine plan set out in the 2012 PEA. Based on the 2012 PEA parameters and mine plan, removal of these areas may have a minimal impact on the project NPV as compared to the 2012 PEA, but could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of the overall project, while enhancing the options for post-closure reclamation and site restoration. Once updated mineral resource estimates are available, incorporating the post-2012 PEA drilling, Midas Gold’s pit optimization will continue to focus on the three core aspects of financial, technical and environmental impacts to design the most viable, supportable and permittable project option, including continued mine plan optimization and potential elimination of mineral resources such as the higher strip ratio Hangar Flats tonnes and portions of the West End deposit which may result in somewhat lower life-of mine potential production as compared to the 2012 PEA, but would be focused on the nearer surface, better grade, lower strip ratio mineralization. The potential of mineralization not included in the PFS can be further evaluated in future studies.
Tailings Reprocessing - Historic milling operations (based on portions of the Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine deposits mined and milled in the 1920s through 1950s) generated significant volumes of tailings, some of which are contained in a defined area west of the Hangar Flats deposit. There are significant potential environmental benefits to reprocessing such material since a potential source of metals leaching would be eliminated once the majority of contained sulphides are recovered for their contained metals and the reprocessed tailings placed in the contemplated lined tailings storage facility described in the 2012 PEA. Based on assay results for three geotechnical holes completed in 2012, indications were that these tailings may contain sufficient value to warrant reprocessing to recover the gold, silver and antimony contained therein. In order to evaluate the potential for such an option, Midas Gold recently completed a 42-hole auger drill program to systematically assess the volume, grade and nature of the tailings, assays from which are pending. This information will be used, if warranted once assay results are received, to support a mineral resource estimate and metallurgical and environmental testing to support the reprocessing of the tailings in a PFS.
Project Infrastructure Siting - While the layout proposed in the 2012 PEA represented one conceptual option for siting facilities and infrastructure, a reassessment of the possibilities from a financial, technical and environmental perspective suggests that placing the plant facilities near Scout Ridge would be an improvement in all three respects. This location has a number of benefits, including shallow bedrock for mill foundations, greater distance from waterways, avoidance of forested wetlands, proximity to the centre of mining, etc. As a result, Scout Ridge is now considered the preferred location for the potential mill and related facilities, and is the focus of current technical and environmental assessments. This potential plant location also presents the opportunity for the use of conveyors to move mill feed from the Yellow Pine and West End deposits from a crusher sited near the exits to those pits, reducing potential capital and operating costs, and reducing the environmental impact (through the elimination of major haul roads, bridges, vehicle traffic, dust generation from roads, etc.). Such a location for the process facilities may impact options for the Scout mineralization discovered in 2012, but may not preclude the underground extraction of relatively shallow, high grade antimony-gold-silver mineralization defined in the Scout area, should a mineral resource be defined and further evaluation demonstrate potential for an attractive economic return.
Closure Planning - As part of the overall project review, Midas Gold is evaluating the potential for improved reclamation and restoration opportunities, given the considerable disturbance related to past mining activities, and incorporating these into an enhanced closure plan. Opportunities such as tailings reprocessing, reduced waste generation from a smaller Hangar Flats pit, sequential mining to maximize opportunities for backfilling pits and locating infrastructure and facilities in areas already disturbed by prior operations should all result in an improved environmental outcome versus the current situation. A key aspect of the project conceptualization is to enhance water quality, improve fish habitat and support permanent fish passage upstream from the Yellow Pine pit for the first time since the 1930s, reopening significant areas for fish habitat.
Concentrate Oxidation - While flotation to produce gold-pyrite concentrates remains at the centre of the contemplated processing facility for the potential project, options for the onsite oxidation of the concentrates produced has indicated that bio-oxidation (“BiOx”) may be a preferred alternative due to its potential for lower capital and operating costs, short lead times, scalability, ease of construction and mobilization, greater flexibility in handling variable feeds from the different deposits and potential for a reduced environmental footprint as compared to pressure oxidation (“POx”). Initial testing indicates that the concentrates from all three deposits are amenable to the BiOx process, oxidizing rapidly and providing very high liberation of gold from pyrite (greater than 95%). BiOx also offers the potential for significantly higher recovery of silver from the sulphides that contain the gold, whereas silver recovery following POx was poor. Additional test work continues to further evaluate the potential for BiOx; in the interim, additional testing of pressure oxidation (the base case in the 2012 PEA) has been completed and reporting of results is pending. Additional information on the BiOx and POx test programs will be released once full results of the test programs are available. A final recommendation for the preferred concentrate processing option will be part of the planned PFS.
Secondary Antimony Processing - Given the potential importance of antimony as a by-product, antimony and gold losses in antimony flotation (a result of efforts to achieve higher antimony concentrate grades for sale to third parties and to minimize gold losses into the antimony concentrates), and the payability on antimony concentrates thus generated, upside exists if Midas Gold is able to generate an antimony product that is directly saleable in the North American market. Midas Gold is making progress in developing options for on-site or off-site processing of antimony concentrates through a comprehensive laboratory testing program, while also evaluating options for recovering the contained silver values in the antimony concentrate. Additional information will be released once the test program is completed.
Access Routes - In the 2012 PEA, Midas Gold presented three possible alternative routes to site that it believed were preferable (from an environmental and community perspective) to the existing access route. Following publication of the 2012 PEA, Midas Gold contacted various interested parties for their input into these options and additional access route options were suggested by community members and evaluated by Midas Gold. One of the options suggested by community members has a number of financial, technical and environmental benefits relative to the originally contemplated routes and is now being evaluated as the potential preferred route for inclusion in the planned PFS.
Drilling
Midas Gold has had two core rigs drilling on site since mid-August, replacing an auger rig that recently completed characterization work in and around the former mill tailings area and foundation testing for potential future infrastructure. The objective of the current 5,000+m core drilling program is to continue to convert mineral resources to the measured and indicated categories suitable for inclusion in the planned PFS, particularly in light of the new more conservative resource modeling parameters introduced, as noted above. The primary focus for this drilling continues to be Yellow Pine deposit, which had the highest grades, lowest strip ratio and best metallurgical recoveries of the three deposits that comprise the Golden Meadows project, as described in the 2012 PEA. In the 2012 PEA, the Yellow Pine deposit also had the highest proportion of inferred mineral resources that required upgrading to measured and indicated categories before inclusion in the PFS. In addition to drilling at Yellow Pine, three holes have already been completed at the Hangar Flats deposit that were designed to support definition of indicated mineral resources, and several holes are planned for the West End deposit as part of this infill drill campaign.
As discussed above, more conservative refinements to Midas Gold’s resource estimation process now require that there be a contribution from modern-era data in order to define a measured or indicated mineral resource, thereby reducing reliance on older data. The current drill program focuses on “high value ounces” in areas with insufficient modern-era data to support the new classification parameters for the definition of measured and/or indicated mineral resources. “High value ounces” are those that have higher grades, lower strip ratios, higher metallurgical recoveries and occur relatively early in the production profile contemplated in the 2012 PEA. Many of the planned holes are relatively short and are located in the core of the Yellow Pine mineral resource, and are therefore critical to defining the potential economic returns of any future project since these areas provided the highest NPV in the 2012 PEA. Given the location of the planned holes, in the core of the Yellow Pine deposit, several will be completed with large diameter (PQ) core in order to collect sufficient metallurgical sample material to support potential future pilot plant testing. Lower priority areas (that do not meet the threshold to be defined as “high value ounces”) can be re-evaluated in future studies, once additional drilling is completed.
Project Milestones
As discussed above, Golden Meadows Project optimization and design continues to progress beyond the PEA phase, with a focus on trade-off studies to evaluate optimal mine design and closure planning, alternate process flow-sheets, optimal project scale, facilities locations, access and power options, related capital and operating cost estimates, and staging of the project development to optimize the overall potential project economics and permitability. In addition, extensive post-2012 PEA metallurgical testing is well advanced, and is focused on refining and optimizing the excellent results outlined in the 2012 PEA, including enhancing gold, silver and antimony recoveries, the possibility for tungsten recovery and other opportunities for enhanced outcomes.
No additional drilling, beyond the inclusion of the three Hangar Flats holes and 42 tailings auger holes noted above, are contemplated for Hangar Flats, Scout or the historic tailings before completion of the PFS and mineral resource estimates incorporating this information should be completed later in 2013. The mineral resource estimates for West End and Yellow Pine should be updated in early 2014 to incorporate the results of the 5,000+m of core drilling program currently underway. The various trade-off studies, siting studies, pit optimizations, metallurgical test results, reclamation and closure planning, and other financial, technical and environmental considerations will be evaluated in the PFS that is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2014. In parallel with these activities, environmental baseline data collection and monitoring continues across the project area. The PFS, along with the additional information being collected, will provide the basis for a decision as to what subsequent steps should be taken to further advance the project.
Compliance with NI43-101
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Site Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous”, “conceptual”, “indicates” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD COMPLETES C$9.8 MILLION PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Funds to be used for continuing evaluation of, and a PFS on, the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX) (“Midas Gold” or the “Company”) today announced that it has completed the non-brokered private placement (the “Placement”) with Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TCK.A and TCK.B; NYSE: TCK) (“Teck”) announced on July 2, 2013. Teck subscribed for 12,740,000 common shares of Midas Gold (“Shares”) at a price of $0.77 per Share for gross proceeds of C$9,809,800. Adding in the proceeds from the Placement, Midas Gold currently has approximately US$28 million in cash and US$26 million in working capital. Proceeds of the Placement will be used to continue the evaluation of Midas Gold’s Golden Meadows Gold Project located in Idaho, USA, and for general working capital purposes.
Following the Placement, Teck owns approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding shares in Midas Gold.
The Shares issued to Teck are subject to a hold period and may not be traded until November 5, 2013 except as permitted by applicable securities legislation and the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow District
Midas Gold , through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc., MGI Acquisition Corporation and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates are detailed in a technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated effective August 15, 2012 (the “Technical Report”) and filed on SEDAR on September 21, 2012, which is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long-life, low-cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the Company’s planned use of the proceeds of the Placement. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous”, “around”, “objective” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “should”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute Forward-Looking Information to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In disclosing Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: that certain of the Company’s key objectives can be completed at the cost expected; that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others: risks related to the availability of further financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Company’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Company’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Company’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Company’s public disclosure record. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD AGREES TO C$9.8 MILLION PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Funds for continuing evaluation of and a PFS on the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) (“Midas Gold” or the “Company”) today announced that it has agreed to undertake a C$9,809,800 non-brokered private placement (the “Placement”) with Teck Resources Limited (TSX; TCK.A and TCK.B; NYSE: TCK) (“Teck”) whereby Teck will subscribe for 12,740,000 common shares of Midas Gold (“Shares”) at a price of $0.77 per Share, which represents a 10% premium to the 5-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Shares and a 5% premium to the closing price on June 28, 2013. Teck currently holds no shares of Midas Gold. It is anticipated that Teck will own approximately 9.9% of the shares outstanding upon closing of the Placement. Proceeds of the Placement will be used to continue the evaluation of Midas Gold’s Golden Meadows Gold Project located in Idaho, USA, and for general working capital purposes.
“Following on the recent transaction with Franco-Nevada Corporation, Teck’s investment in Midas Gold represents the second endorsement of the potential of the Golden Meadows gold-antimony-silver project in Idaho by a major mining house,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold. “This financing will allow us to make the necessary commitments to support the delivery of our key objectives of (1) updating the mineral resources estimates for the Golden Meadows Project to incorporate substantial amounts of new data collected in 2012-13, (2) complete a pre-feasibility study based on the updated mineral resource estimates and incorporate updated designs, concepts and engineering in the first half of 2014 and, if warranted, (3) subsequently prepare and submit a plan of operations to initiate the preparation of an environmental impact statement by the appropriate regulators.” In parallel with these key objectives, Midas Gold continues to collect baseline environmental information, evaluate the legacy environmental disturbance from prior mining activities on site and opportunities to remediate and restore those disturbed areas in conjunction with potential mining activities, if and when such occur.
No finder’s fees or commissions will be paid in connection with the Placement. The Shares issued to Teck will be restricted from trading for a period of four months following the closing date. The Placement is subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Teck will have the right, but not the obligation, for as long as it owns at least 5% of the issued and outstanding shares in Midas Gold, to participate in any future equity financings to the extent of its percentage ownership in Midas Gold’s share capital at the time of such financing.
In response to continued poor market conditions for resource equities, Midas Gold continues to focus on reducing expenditures and overheads while delivering its core objectives as cost-effectively as possible; the Company undertook significant staff reductions in December 2012 and March 2013 and is currently working to close its US subsidiary’s Spokane office, consolidating its technical personnel and activities in Idaho. “Midas Gold will continue to look for opportunities to reduce costs across the organization and ensure funds are cost-effectively focused on the Company’s key priorities of mineral resource updates and completion of a pre-feasibility study and, if warranted, preparation of a plan of operations to initiate the mine operation permitting process,” said Mr. Quin. “With this additional funding in place, Midas Gold anticipates it will be funded to meet its key objectives through the end of 2014, providing some certainty and stability to project activities through this critical period.”
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow District
Midas Gold , through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc., MGI Acquisition Corporation and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates are detailed in a technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated effective August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) and filed on SEDAR on September 21, 2012, which is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long-life, low-cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to: information regarding the closing of the Placement and the Company’s use of the proceeds of the Placement; the Company’s planned cost-cutting measures; the Company’s expectation that it can complete certain key objectives with the proceeds of the Placement; disclosure that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on Midas Gold’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; and planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous”, “around”, “objective” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “should”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute Forward-Looking Information to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In disclosing Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: that the Placement will be completed on the terms disclosed in this news release; that certain of the Company’s key objectives can be completed at the cost expected; that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others: risks normally associated with closing of a private placement; risks related to the availability of further financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Company’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Company’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Company’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Company’s public disclosure record. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS RESULTS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Progress at the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho, Reviewed; Advances towards a PFS
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) (“Midas Gold” or the “Company”) today announced the results of its annual general meeting, which was held in Vancouver on May 14, 2013. Following the meeting, Chairman Peter Nixon, and President and CEO Stephen Quin, provided those present with a brief overview of the Company’s progress over the past twelve months and its plans going forward, highlights of which are summarized below.
“Midas Gold has made significant progress on a number of fronts at its Golden Meadows Project over the past year, which progress has not been reflected in its share price performance, which has largely been influenced by poor market conditions,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO. “Midas Gold appreciates the support of its shareholders and intends to continue advancing its Golden Meadows gold-silver-antimony-tungsten project in Idaho through to completion of a more robust, thorough evaluation of its economic potential, while ensuring financial resources are most effectively deployed in light of the Company’s available cash and general market conditions.” Mr. Quin reminded attendees at the annual meeting that the Golden Meadows Project benefits from a large, high-grade mineral resource located in a low-risk jurisdiction that has the potential to support a long-life, low-cost, open-pit mining operation with significant production, as demonstrated in the Preliminary Economic Assessment published in September 2012. Further, he noted, Golden Meadows is a brownfields site that has been extensively mined for almost 100 years, and offers the potential for restoration of the area through reclamation of past disturbance contemporaneously with development of a new mine, designed to modern standards, resulting in an enhanced environmental outcome that should be an improvement on the current situation. “Our objective is to leave the site a better place than we found it,” said Mr. Quin.
Annual General Meeting
A total of 77.61 million common shares were represented at the meeting, or 67.60% of the votes attached to all outstanding shares. Shareholders voted in favour of the election of all director nominees as follows:
Nominee | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Total Votes Cast * | Percentage of Votes For | Percentage of Votes Withheld |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen Quin | 73,991,426 | 2,583,202 | 77,605,694 | 95.24% | 3.33% |
Frederick Earnest | 76,454,206 | 40,423 | 77,605,694 | 98.52% | 0.05% |
Wayne Hubert | 76,404,206 | 90,423 | 77,605,694 | 98.45% | 0.12% |
Jerry Korpan | 76,454,206 | 40,423 | 77,605,694 | 98.52% | 0.05% |
Peter Nixon | 76,253,670 | 240,959 | 77,605,694 | 98.26% | 0.31% |
Michael Richings | 76,454,206 | 40,423 | 77,605,694 | 98.52% | 0.05% |
John Wakeford | 76,452,906 | 41,723 | 77,605,694 | 98.51% | 0.05% |
Donald Young | 76,450,906 | 41,723 | 77,605,694 | 98.51% | 0.05% |
* Not all shares were voted in respect of all motions therefore the combined number of shares voted for or withheld may not add up to the total votes represented at the meeting.
The directors were elected to hold offices until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed.
The Company’s shareholders also approved the appointment of Deloitte LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 (100% voted in favour), an amendment to the Company’s articles to ensure the Company may use the notice-and-access method for sending meeting materials to shareholders (98.41% voted in favour); and amendments to the Company’s by-laws to include advance notice provisions (98.41% voted in favour).
Detailed voting results for the meeting are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Corporate Overview
Following the annual meeting, Mr. Quin gave an update on progress and activities at its Golden Meadows Project in Idaho. He noted that the core objective for the Company was to complete a more robust and comprehensive evaluation of the economic potential of the Golden Meadows Project, building on the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) that were published in September 2012. Key areas of on-going activity include:
Design optimization of the conceptual Golden Meadows Project that was set out in the PEA, with a major focus on reclamation of existing historic disturbance and eventual restoration of the brownfields site, including enhancement of the local fishery, the re-establishment of fish passage upstream of existing barriers created by historic mining, and the development of wetlands in historically disturbed areas and on post-closure reclaimed areas.
Evaluation of the potential for reprocessing tailings deposited by historic milling operations conducted from the late 1920s through to the early 1950s, where assaying of recent geotechnical drilling confirmed past indications of potentially economically attractive grades in those tailings. Reprocessing of these materials may also assist with remediation of past mining disturbance through their removal from their current location and replacement in a lined tailings facility.
Comprehensive remodelling of geology of the mineral deposits that comprise the Golden Meadows Project, incorporating the results of Midas Gold’s approximately 35,000m of new resource-definition related drilling completed since the cut-off date used in the September 2012 PEA, as well as additional drill data recovered for holes completed pre-Midas Gold’s involvement in Golden Meadows.
Updated mineral resource estimates, utilizing the new geologic models and new drill data acquired since the date of the PEA mineral resource estimate, including additional data recovered from holes completed prior to Midas Gold’s involvement in the project. The objective of incorporating the additional drilling and data is to maximize conversion of a significant portion of the inferred resource into the indicated category in this resource update.
Utilizing the PEA mineral resource estimates as a base, optimization of pit scheduling (which deposit gets mined in what sequence, blending options, etc.), as well as evaluating the economic and environmental trade-offs of mining certain high strip ratio mineralization (such as the deeper portions of the Hangar Flats deposit) which yield only modest incremental cash flow in the PEA but generate substantial amounts of waste material - elimination of these more marginal ounces could result in a smaller project footprint and less sustaining capital (as the need for replacement of the mining fleet is reduced or eliminated).
Extensive metallurgical testing of mineralization from all three main deposits with the objective of optimizing economic performance, including grind size vs. recovery testing, options for enhanced flotation recoveries, pressure oxidation vs. bio-oxidation testing on concentrates, leaching optimization for oxides and oxidized concentrates, carbonate rejection work to reduce or eliminate the need for acidulation costs (capital and operating) when processing West End materials, options for historic tailings retreatment, and other such optimizations.
Trade-off studies looking at the economic, environmental and post-closure impacts of power supply options, process plant locations, access routes, etc.
Midas Gold is continually evaluating opportunities to reduce the environmental footprint of the project, while maintaining robust project economics, by evaluating opportunities to remediate, reclaim and restore the extensive disturbance from historic mining activities at the site. Midas Gold considers location, operation, closure and post-closure in the design of all aspects of the project, and the risks related thereto.
Mr. Quin also provided the meeting with some general comments on upcoming major project milestones noting that, with the additional funding in place from the recently completed transaction with Franco-Nevada, Midas Gold’s management and Board are evaluating the timing and prioritization of expenditures, looking to reduce costs while still delivering the Company’s major objectives in a timely manner. The major corporate objectives remain:
Completing updated mineral resource estimates for each of the mineral deposits incorporating substantial amounts of new data;
Completion of a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) as opposed to the previously contemplated updated PEA; and
Completion and filing of a draft Plan of Operations thereafter.
As part of its cost controls, Midas Gold is planning to conduct more activities sequentially, as opposed to in parallel, which should yield cost efficiencies but a somewhat extended initial timeframe. This schedule will allow more time for meaningful stakeholder engagement, collection of additional field information, as well as more comprehensive design and engineering work, which should support completion of a PFS as opposed to the previously contemplated updated preliminary economic assessment. Midas Gold believes that there is potential for reduced timeframes for subsequent steps as the project would be more thoroughly defined and the timeframe would provide greater opportunities for consultation with regulators and stakeholders ahead of the initiation of any formal regulatory process, and incorporation of input from those consultations into final designs.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow District
Midas Gold , through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc., MGI Acquisition Corporation and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates are detailed in a technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated effective August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) and filed on SEDAR on September 21, 2012 is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long-life, low-cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on Midas Gold’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; and planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous”, “around”, “objective” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “should”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD COMPLETES US$15 MILLION TRANSACTION WITH FRANCO-NEVADA
Midas Adopts Majority Voting Policy for Directors
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX) (“Midas Gold” or “Corporation”) today announced that it and its subsidiaries (the “Midas Group”) have completed the previously announced US$15.0 million transaction with Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV:TSX) (“Franco-Nevada”) and one of its subsidiaries whereby the Midas Group has sold certain rights to a royalty on future gold production from the Golden Meadows Project in Valley County, Idaho as well as two million warrants exercisable for shares of Midas Gold.
“We are pleased to have completed the US$15 million transactions with Franco-Nevada and its subsidiary,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold. “These funds allow us to continue advancing the evaluation of the world-class Golden Meadows gold-silver-antimony-tungsten project in Idaho. The Golden Meadows project benefits from a large, high-grade mineral resource located in a low-risk jurisdiction that has the potential to support a long-life, low-cost, open pit mining operation with significant production as demonstrated in the Preliminary Economic Assessment published in September 2012. The mineral resources and potential future development area are contained within a brownfields site that has been extensively mined for almost 100 years, and offers the potential for reclamation and restoration of past disturbance contemporaneously with development of a new mine, designed to modern standards, that results in an enhanced environmental outcome as compared to the current situation.”
Additional details of the transactions can be found in Midas Gold’s news release dated May 7, 2013.
Advisors
Haywood Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to Midas Gold and its board of directors in respect of this transaction.
Majority Voting Policy
The board of directors of Midas Gold (the “Board”) has adopted a majority voting policy which requires, in an uncontested election of directors, that any nominee in respect of whom a greater number of votes “withheld” than votes “for” are validly cast will promptly submit his or her offer of resignation for the consideration of Midas Gold’s Corporate Governance Committee. The committee will make a recommendation to the Board after reviewing the matter as to whether to accept or reject the resignation. In considering the resignation offer, the committee and the Board will consider all factors they deem relevant, and the Board’s decision as to accept or reject the resignation offer will be disclosed to the public. A director who offers his or her resignation pursuant to the policy will not participate in any meeting of the Board or the committee at which the resignation offer is considered. The policy would not apply in circumstances involving contested director elections.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow District
Midas Gold , through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc., MGI Acquisition Corporation and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates are detailed in a technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated effective August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) and filed on SEDAR on September 21, 2012 is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long-life, low-cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on Midas Gold’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; and planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD ENTERS INTO US$15 MILLION TRANSACTION WITH FRANCO-NEVADA
Provides Funding to Continue Advancing Golden Meadows Project in Idaho
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX) (“Midas Gold”) today announced that it and its subsidiaries (the “Midas Group”) have entered into a US$15.0 million transaction with Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV:TSX) (“Franco-Nevada”) and one of its subsidiaries whereby the Midas Group has agreed to sell certain rights to a royalty on future gold production from the Golden Meadows Project in Valley County, Idaho (the “Agreement”), as well as a subscription agreement (the “Sub-Agreement”) for two million warrants exercisable for shares of Midas Gold.
“The transactions with Franco-Nevada and its subsidiary provide significant funding to continue advancing the evaluation of the world-class Golden Meadows gold-silver-antimony-tungsten project,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO of Midas Gold. “We appreciate Franco-Nevada’s endorsement of the merits of the Golden Meadows Project and its potential to be a significant producer of gold and other metals.” Midas Gold intends to use the proceeds of the transactions to fund on-going mineral resource evaluation, metallurgical, engineering design, and environmental baseline data collection and evaluation at the Golden Meadows Project with a view to completing a prefeasibility study on the Golden Meadows Project and, if warranted, filing an application for the development of a mining operation, as well as for general working capital.
Transaction Summary
The subsidiaries of Midas Gold that hold the mineral title to the Golden Meadows Project (the “Vendor Group”) have entered into the Agreement with a subsidiary of Franco-Nevada (the “Payee”) whereby the Vendor Group has granted the Payee a perpetual 1.7% net smelter returns (“NSR”) royalty on any future gold production from the Golden Meadows Property, subject to the normal terms and conditions for such a royalty, in exchange for the sum of US$14.65 million. Importantly, the royalty excludes antimony, silver and other valuable by-products that may be produced from the Golden Meadows Property, if and when development proceeds.
The Midas Group has the right to repurchase one-third of the NSR royalty for the sum of US$9.0 million for three years from the closing of the transaction. In addition, the NSR royalty rate may be adjusted based on the capacity of the project, when and if approved by Midas Gold for development, if the approved mill throughput is different to the 20,000 tonnes per day scenario set out in the Preliminary Economic Assessment reported by Midas Gold in a news release dated September 4, 2012. The Vendor Group has also granted the Payee a first right of refusal on any new or existing royalty or stream interests from the Golden Meadows Property. The royalty interest will be registered against title and the payment thereof will be secured by a mortgage registered against the Golden Meadows Property.
In conjunction with the Agreement, Midas Gold has entered into the Sub-Agreement with Franco-Nevada, whereby Franco-Nevada has, for the sum of US$0.35 million, subscribed for two million warrants that are exercisable into shares of Midas Gold at an exercise price of $1.23 per share for a period of ten years from the date of issuance. Midas Gold may force exercise of the warrants if the price of the shares of Midas Gold exceeds $3.23 for a period of thirty consecutive trading days. Completion of both transactions is subject to, among other things, acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange in respect of the issuance of the warrants and satisfaction of certain closing conditions.
The transactions are expected to close on or about May 9, 2013.
Advisors
Haywood Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor to Midas Gold and its board of directors in respect of this transaction.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates are detailed in a technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated effective August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) and filed on SEDAR on September 21, 2012 is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding the completion of the proposed transactions involving Franco-Nevada and its subsidiary and the expected timing thereof that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on Midas Gold’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof; and the assumption that any necessary regulatory approvals and all conditions precedent to the proposed transactions will be obtained and/or satisfied in a timely manner. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD UPDATES PROGRESS AT GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
Drill Hole MGI-12-349 intersects 84.3m grading 2.39g/t Au, 2.4g/t Ag & 0.09% Sb at Hangar Flats
Hole MGI-13-352 intersects 22.9m @ 3.15g/t Au, 5.7g/t Ag & 0.49% Sb at Yellow Pine
Hole MGI-13-354 intersects 54.9m @ 2.06g/t Au, 2.2g/t Ag at Yellow Pine
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (TSX:MAX), today provided an update on resource estimation and project development activities, as well as recent drill results, on its Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Mining District, Valley County, Idaho.
Resource Estimates
Since completion of drilling used in the resource estimates for the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”, reported on September 4, 2012), Midas has completed approximately 35,058m of core and reverse circulation drilling in 2012 and early 2013 in connection with an updated resource estimate. This includes 90 holes totalling 20,892m at Yellow Pine, 28 holes totalling 7,367m at West End and 25 holes totalling 6,799m at Hangar Flats that were designed as step-out, in-fill, resource confirmation and resource conversion holes, as well as to provide additional geologic information. The extensive use of oriented core drilling methods and associated structural analysis has provided significant additional detailed, three-dimensional controls on mineralization and structures, establishing better structural and lithologic controls on mineralization, which is helping define more refined domains for resource modeling. As a result of preliminary analysis in late 2012, some additional holes were completed in the first quarter of 2013 to confirm and refine existing geologic interpretations, somewhat delaying completion of resource estimates, but which should result in significantly more robust geologic and resource models as compared to that used in the PEA.
In addition to information from the new drilling discussed above, Midas has recently recovered a quantity of historic drilling related files from the Idaho Geological Survey archives, including additional information on gold, silver, antimony and tungsten mineralization reported by past operators that was previously unavailable for inclusion in past resource estimates and may be utilized in the updated resource estimates, subject to review and validation by Midas Gold’s internal and external Qualified Persons.
An updated resource estimate for the Yellow Pine deposit is currently well advanced. Although originally scheduled for completion at the end of first quarter of 2013, the estimate is now expected to be completed by mid-second quarter 2013, with the other deposits to be completed during the balance of the second quarter. This additional time will facilitate the inclusion of the new structural, geologic and analytical data into our resource estimates, where warranted, ensuring a more robust estimate.
Recent Drill Results
The current program of work, completed since the cut-off date used in the PEA, includes more than 42,532m of core, sonic, reverse circulation, geotechnical and water well drilling completed with the primary objectives of expanding and upgrading the confidence of the existing mineral resources, evaluating geotechnical characteristics of the deposits, collection of metallurgical samples and establishing a groundwater monitoring network. Since the end of the 2012 program, eleven core holes totalling approximately 2,663m and nine monitoring wells totalling approximately 608m have been completed.
Results from the 2013 drilling, primarily focused on confirming and refining the interpretation of portions of the Yellow Pine and Hangar Flats deposits, continues to demonstrate good continuity of grade and thicknesses of gold, silver and antimony mineralization as highlighted in Table 1 below and detailed in Table 2 attached hereto.
In addition, a recent condemnation drill hole (MGI-13-357), completed at a potential plant site proposed in the PEA, intersected deep, but significant precious metals and weak antimony mineralization associated with a large ground geophysical anomaly from our 2010 surveys and an airborne geophysical anomaly from our 2011 airborne geophysical survey. Anomalous levels of gold, antimony and pathfinder trace elements occur in stream sediments and seeps nearby, suggesting the possible presence of a larger target beneath the veneer of glacial outwash covering a potential plant site described in the PEA. Further evaluation of this geophysical feature and follow-up on this drill intercept is planned.
TABLE 1: Highlights of 2013 Drilling
HOLE NUMBER | LOCATION | TOTAL DEPTH (m) | FROM (m) | TO (m) | WIDTH (m)1 | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) | Sb (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-349 | Hangar Flats | 258.2 | 173.9 | 258.2 | 84.3 | 2.39 | 2.4 | 0.091 |
MGI-13-352 | Yellow Pine | 188.4 | 23.8 | 46.6 | 22.9 | 3.15 | 5.7 | 0.493 |
MGI-13-354 | Yellow Pine | 193.9 | 61.9 | 116.7 | 54.9 | 2.06 | 2.2 | 0.004 |
MGI-13-357 | Plant Site2 | 384.1 | 342.3 | 362.9 | 20.6 | 1.21 | 0.1 | 0.005 |
1 Based upon the current 3D interpretation of the Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine deposits, the intervals quoted here are estimated to be at or near true thickness and are composited using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and may include short intervals of internal waste below the cut-off grade.
2 True thickness unknown
Project Outlook
The Golden Meadows Project design continues to progress beyond the PEA phase, with a focus on trade-off studies to evaluate alternate process flow-sheets, optimal project scale, facilities locations, access and power options and related capital and operating cost estimates, and staging of the project development to optimize the overall project economics and permitability. In addition, extensive post-PEA metallurgical testing is well advanced, and is focused on refining and optimizing the excellent results outlined in the PEA, including increasing grind size, enhancing gold, silver and antimony recoveries, the possibility for tungsten recovery and other opportunities for enhanced outcomes. The results of the updated mineral resource estimates, trade-off studies and additional metallurgical testing will be evaluated in an updated technical report, scheduled for completion in the second half of 2013. In parallel with these activities, environmental baseline data collection and monitoring continues across the project area.
Illustrations
To view the locations of current drill holes, please click here.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. All composites utilize a 0.5g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Stibnite-Yellow Pine Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries including Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of deposits in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “suggest”, “optimize”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licenses and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
TABLE 2
(To accompany Midas Gold Corp. news release dated April 15, 2013)
HOLE NUMBER | LOCATION | HOLE TYPE | AZIMUTH | INCLINATION | TOTAL DEPTH (m) | FROM (m) | TO (m) | WIDTH (m)1 | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) | Sb (%) | W (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-349 | Hangar Flats | Core | -55 | 90 | 258.2 | 97.7 | 138.2 | 40.5 | 1.77 | 40.2 | 2.029 | 0.003 |
Including | 99.7 | 114.5 | 14.8 | 3.33 | 107.0 | 5.536 | 0.002 | |||||
And | 173.9 | 258.2 | 84.3 | 2.39 | 2.4 | 0.091 | 0.003 | |||||
Including | 226.6 | 256.0 | 29.4 | 3.89 | 3.1 | 0.034 | 0.004 | |||||
MGI-13-350 | Hangar Flats | Core | -70 | 270 | 401.4 | No significant results | ||||||
MGI-13-351 | Yellow Pine | Core | -55 | 120 | 228.7 | No significant results | ||||||
MGI-13-352 | Yellow Pine | Core | -90 | 0 | 188.4 | 23.8 | 46.6 | 22.9 | 3.15 | 5.7 | 0.493 | 0.004 |
And | 71.8 | 87.8 | 16.0 | 1.88 | 3.5 | 0.004 | 0.001 | |||||
MGI-13-353 | Yellow Pine | Core | -90 | 0 | 142.3 | No significant results | ||||||
MGI-13-354 | Yellow Pine | Core | -65 | 144 | 193.9 | 61.9 | 116.7 | 54.9 | 2.06 | 2.2 | 0.004 | 0.002 |
Including | 91.6 | 114.5 | 22.9 | 3.12 | 1.4 | 0.003 | 0.001 | |||||
MGI-13-355 | Yellow Pine | Core | -90 | 0 | 168.4 | 10.1 | 21.5 | 11.4 | 1.09 | 2.1 | 0.004 | 0.003 |
And | 28.4 | 39.8 | 11.4 | 3.70 | 2.3 | 0.006 | 0.005 | |||||
Including | 46.6 | 58.1 | 11.4 | 3.58 | 1.9 | 0.005 | 0.003 | |||||
And | 46.6 | 87.8 | 41.2 | 1.80 | 1.1 | 0.003 | 0.002 | |||||
MGI-13-356 | Yellow Pine | Core | -80 | 162 | 264.3 | 184.4 | 211.8 | 27.4 | 1.64 | 0.9 | 0.002 | 0.001 |
MGI-13-3572 | Plant Site2 | Core | 140 | -45 | 384.1 | 342.3 | 362.9 | 20.6 | 1.21 | 0.1 | 0.005 | 0.002 |
MGI-13-3581 | Yellow Pine | Core | -44 | 120 | 266.7 | 59.4 | 81.7 | 22.3 | 1.50 | 2.0 | 0.007 | 0.004 |
1 Assays not received for bottom portion of hole
2 True thickness unknown
MIDAS GOLD TO PRESENT AT BMO GLOBAL METALS AND MINING CONFERENCE AND PDAC 2013
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) is pleased to announce that it is participating in the BMO Global Metals and Mining Conference this week, one of the leading industry events of the year. Stephen Quin, President and CEO of the Company will be presenting at the conference at 12:00PM ET on Wednesday, February 27th, providing an update of Midas Gold’s activities at its world class Golden Meadows gold-antimony project in Idaho.
A webcast of the presentation will be available by clicking here and a copy of the presentation as well as a link to the webcast will be available on our website.
Midas Gold will also be attending Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto during the week of March 2nd, 2013. The PDAC convention is the world’s primary mineral exploration conference. The Company will have a booth (#2624) at the conference on Tuesday, March 5th and Wednesday, March 6th. Stephen Quin will be presenting on Monday, March 4th at 3:00PM ET at the “Gold in the Americas” session in Room 801A of the Convention Centre.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS FINAL RESULTS FROM ITS 2012 DRILLING ON THE SCOUT PROSPECT, GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT
Hole MGI-12-345 intersects 16.2m of 1.68g/t Au, 48.0g/t Ag & 5.42% Sb
Hole MGI-12-347 intersects 8.1m of 3.06g/t Au, 57.8g/t Ag & 6.13% Sb
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) announced today the final results from the Company’s 14-hole, 3,758m, 2012 drilling program at the Scout Prospect on its Golden Meadows property in Idaho, which outlined significant gold and antimony mineralization over a strike length of 825m, to a depth of up to 200m and ranging between 8m and 70m in thickness.
“Our widely spaced exploration drilling along the newly defined Scout trend has demonstrated the presence of a large, strongly mineralized, disseminated, sediment-hosted, gold-silver-antimony system over a significant strike length, thickness and depth,” said Stephen Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “Drilling has encountered numerous narrower, but high grade, antimony-silver mineralized zones, similar to those reported herein, associated with through-going structural zones (possibly feeder structures) cross-cutting the more broadly disseminated gold-silver-antimony mineralization,” he said. Continued evaluation of the Scout prospect is in progress, including collection of core samples for metallurgical evaluation and preliminary resources estimation. “Scout is just the first of a number of the 20-plus exploration prospects which offer the potential for the discovery of new, high margin deposits beyond the three currently hosting the large mineral resource at Golden Meadows,” he said.
Highlights of the assay results from the most recent holes are summarized in Table 1 below and full results are listed in Table 2 at the end of this news release. Previous 2011 and 2012 assay results from Scout, as reported in other news releases, can be found on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com.
Table 1: Highlights of Significant Drill Results from Scout Core Drilling
Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | AuEq (g/t)1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-321 | 182.0 | 209.6 | 27.6 | 1.77 | 2.2 | 0.050 | 1.92 |
MGI-12-328 | 95.9 | 115.2 | 19.4 | 0.44 | 0.6 | 0.313 | 1.36 |
MGI-12-345 | 232.9 | 249.0 | 16.2 | 1.68 | 48.0 | 5.418 | 17. 60 |
287.7 | 292.0 | 4.3 | 1.10 | 2.7 | 0.480 | 2.51 | |
MGI-12-347 | 168.6 | 183.8 | 15.2 | 0.36 | 10.2 | 0.425 | 1.61 |
235.2 | 243.2 | 8.1 | 3.06 | 57.8 | 6.125 | 21.06 |
(1) Gold equivalent grades are reported for illustrative purposes only to show the importance of antimony as a potential by-product in these intercepts. These are in situ values based on assays and utilize $1,400/oz Au and $6.00/lb Sb, the metal prices used in the PEA reported September 4, 2011. The reported gold equivalent values do not account for metallurgical recoveries and payabilities for the different products. After the application of such factors, the contribution of antimony and silver would likely be reduced relative to gold, reducing the gold equivalent grade. However, metallurgical testing has not been completed on the Scout deposit and so the potential impacts of these factors cannot be estimated and, as a result, actual outcomes might vary significantly from those reported herein. The gold equivalent value does not include other potential by-products such as silver or tungsten. The London Metal Bulletin (LMB) Rotterdam average monthly metal price per metric tonne CIF USA for antimony during 2012 was $12,963/tonne ($5.88/lb).
Scout Prospect Description & History
The Scout prospect is situated approximately 1.25 km northeast of the Hangar Flats deposit and has been traced approximately 825m along strike in widely spaced drill holes along a north-south fault system that hosts widespread gold-silver-antimony mineralization. The fault system, all of which may not be mineralized, can be inferred to extend for several km to the north-northwest of the currently drilled area and at least several hundreds of metres to the south-southeast, based on Midas Gold’s 2010 IP-Resistivity Surveys, 2011 airborne magnetics and EM surveys and 2012 CSAMT ground geophysical surveys. This fault system lies approximately 1km to the east of, and parallel to, the Meadow Creek fault system (which controls the Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine gold-silver-antimony-tungsten deposits).
The Scout prospect was first discovered in the 1940s and, between 1948 and 1990, three companies explored the Scout area with 20 short drill holes, totaling approximately 2,435m. Six east-west IP geophysical lines (by past operators and Midas Gold) have been run across the Scout Prospect area and delineate a large resistivity low and IP chargeability anomaly that could be indicative of a larger sulphide mineralized system. In 2012, Midas Gold completed a series of CSAMT survey lines across the prospect outlining an anomaly that suggests the structural zone hosting mineralization may extend further to the south-southeast.
Midas Gold completed 829m in 3 RC holes in the late winter of 2011 testing geophysical anomalies west of and peripheral to the main Scout prospect, with only marginal results. However, in late 2012 (as previously reported in news release 2012-10), 2 RC holes (totaling 485m) testing geophysical anomalies discovered significant gold-silver-antimony mineralization in a covered area in the main Scout prospect area. During 2012, 12 widely spaced core holes (totaling 3,273m) were completed following up on the initial intercepts, with typical drill step-outs along strike approximately 75-100m apart. Mineralization occurs as a series of stacked, tabular lenses of north-striking and west dipping, and east-northeast-striking and north-northwest-dipping shears, sheeted fracture zones and stockwork veins that host gold-silver-antimony mineralization. Combined with results from the historic drilling, the Midas Gold drilling indicates the mineralized zone varies from an average aggregate true width ranging from 8m at the margins to over 75m in the centre and the mineralized area can be traced along strike at least 825m and down dip at least 200m. Mineralization is open to the north, south, down-dip and (to a limited extent) up-dip. Several of the holes drilled by Midas ended in mineralization.
Illustrations
To view the locations of current drill holes, please click here.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Site Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. All composites utilize a 0.3g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc. and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licences and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Table 2: Complete Drill Results from Scout
(1) Partial results previously released
(2) Gold equivalent grades are reported for illustrative purposes only to show the importance of antimony as a potential by-product in these intercepts. These are in situ values based on assays and utilize $1,400/oz Au and $6.00/lb Sb, the metal prices used in the PEA reported September 4, 2011. The reported values do not account for metallurgical recoveries and payabilities for the different products. After application of such factors, the contribution of antimony and silver would likely be reduced relative to gold, reducing the gold equivalent grade. However, metallurgical testing has not been completed on the Scout deposit and so the potential impacts of these factors cannot be estimated and, as a result, actual outcomes might vary significantly from those reported herein. The value does not include other potential by-products such as silver or tungsten. The London Metal Bulletin (LMB) Rotterdam average monthly metal price per metric tonne CIF USA for antimony during 2012 was $12,963/tonne ($5.88/lb).
MIDAS GOLD MAKES SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS TO ADVANCE ITS GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
2013 Work Program About to Commence, Exploration Permit Progress Updated
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) today announced that, effective January 1, 2013, the Company’s board of directors has made several key management appointments related to its Golden Meadows Project in Idaho: Bob Barnes to the position of Chief Operating Officer, John Meyer to the position of Vice-President, Development and Rocky Chase to the position of Manager of Regulatory Affairs. These appointments reflect the changing roles of Mr. Barnes, Mr. Meyer and Mr. Chase as the Golden Meadows Project advances from resource definition through design optimization, technical studies and, if supported by those studies, into the potential permitting of a mining operation.
“Appointing Bob Barnes to the position of COO, John Meyer as VP Development and Rocky Chase as Manager of Regulatory Affairs reflects their increasing responsibilities and enables the Company to further capitalize on the wealth of expertise and experience that these gentlemen continue to bring to the Midas Gold team and the advancement of the Golden Meadows Project,” said Stephen Quin, President & CEO. “Bob’s experience in operations, permitting and mine development, John’s in project engineering and development, and Rocky’s in mine closure and reclamation are a tremendous asset to the Company in ensuring that we have a sound, well-designed and practical project as we advance our studies and once we enter the permitting process.”
Bob Barnes
Prior to joining Midas Gold as the Company’s VP Development in September 2011, Mr. Barnes was Vice President, Operations with Capstone Mining Corp. and was responsible for Capstone’s mines in Yukon and Mexico (from 2008 through early 2011) and for the development and operation of Capstone’s Cozamin mine in Mexico before the Capstone - Sherwood Copper Corp. merger in 2008. Prior to joining Capstone, Mr. Barnes was involved in technical studies and operations in various locations, including a period with Pan American Silver. From 1985 to 1995, he worked with Wharf Resources, where he was General Manager of the Golden Reward and Wharf gold mines in South Dakota from 1988-1995. From 1981-88, Mr. Barnes played a leadership role in the feasibility, permitting, construction and operation of the original Wharf mine and, subsequently, for the permitting and implementation of a five-fold increase in production at these mines. Mr. Barnes is a mining engineer by training and spent his first ten years with Anaconda and Teck in operations, before moving on to his Wharf-related activities. Mr. Barnes graduated from Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology with a BSc (with honors) in Mining Engineering in 1970 and completed a night school study MBA from the University of South Dakota graduating in 1994. Mr. Barnes has been a Professional Engineer (PEng.) registered in the Province of British Columbia since 1976. In his new role, Mr. Barnes will assume direct responsibility for activities at the Golden Meadows site, for oversight of the project design team and for preparation of the project plan of operations and EIS, once Midas decides to proceed with permit applications.
John Meyer
John Meyer was appointed Development Manager of the Golden Meadows Project in January 2012 and has been managing the design and field operations teams associated with the Golden Meadows Project. Going forward, Mr. Meyer will be focused on the design and engineering aspects of the Golden Meadows Project, and will work closely with the team preparing the plan of operations. Prior to joining Midas Gold, Mr. Meyer was Project Manager of the Kinross Gold Corporation (Kinross) Fruta del Norte (FDN) project located in southeastern Ecuador. Mr. Meyer joined the FDN team in 2007, prior to the merger between Aurelian Resources Inc. (Aurelian) and Kinross, and he played a key role during the merger. His key responsibilities with FDN included managing the scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility level design studies associated with this high-grade epithermal gold and silver deposit; he also managed the field operations team. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Meyer held a corporate position with Barrick Gold Corporation as the Manager of Geotechnical Engineering, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role, Mr. Meyer’s primary focus was to manage the tailings storage facility designs for new projects and operations, audit existing tailings facilities, and assist with mine closure planning, worldwide. Mr. Meyer was an engineering consultant with Klohn Crippen Consultants Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta prior to joining Barrick. Mr. Meyer received a Bachelor of Science Degree (Geophysics) in 1991 and a Bachelor of Engineering Science Degree in 1992 from the University of Western Ontario, and is a member of The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.
Rocky Chase
Rocky Chase was appointed Manager of Regulatory Affairs for the Golden Meadows Project in January 2013 and manages the environmental, permitting, and regulatory aspects of the Golden Meadows Project. Previously, Mr. Chase was the Manager of Engineering for the Golden Meadows project and joined Midas Gold in September, 2012.
Prior to joining Midas Gold, Mr. Chase was the North American Manager of Closure Properties for Barrick Gold of North America, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role Mr. Chase’s primary focus was the technical and direct management of numerous mines undergoing various stages of reclamation and closure within the Barrick organization throughout the US and Canada. Mr. Chase joined Barrick Gold in 1996, as the Environmental Manager of the Bullfrog Mine in southern Nevada, where he had direct management responsibility for all environmental and permitting aspects of the operating gold mine. Subsequently, Mr. Chase held the position of Chief Environmental Engineer at Barrick’s Goldstrike Mine, located in northern Nevada, where he supported direct mine site environmental operations, permitting, and various closure projects, as well as technical support for other Barrick projects in the US and Africa.
Mr. Chase began his mining career in the mid 1980’s in the Idaho mining industry working at Thunder Mountain for Coeur d’Alene Mines and at Stibnite for Hecla Mining Company. Additionally he worked at the Grouse Creek project in Idaho during the exploration phase for Hecla Mining Company.
Mr. Chase grew up in southern Idaho, attended Boise State University while working in the Idaho mining industry and later received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geological Engineering in 1994 from the University of Idaho.
Commencement of 2013 Exploration Program at Golden Meadows
The Company is currently gearing up to commence its 2013 work program at the Golden Meadows Project in Idaho in mid-January. The principal objectives of the 2013 work program are to: (a) complete updated mineral resource updates incorporating the approximately 50,000m of drilling completed in 2012, including a first time estimate for the Scout deposit; (b) to continue infill and step-out drilling around the known deposits as required to more fully define the mineral resources; (c) subject to required permits (see below), to commence the evaluation of a number of high quality exploration prospects for their potential to host additional, higher grade mineral resources; (d) continue to conduct engineering, metallurgical and other work in support of an updated and optimized preliminary economic assessment due for completion in the second half of 2013, incorporating the updated mineral resource estimates; and (e) to continue to collect environmental and other baseline information in support of potential permit applications. Drilling is planned to recommence in mid-January with two core rigs targeting continued resource definition, as well as engineering data collection.
“The 2013 work program reflects a transition year for Midas Gold, as resource confirmation and definition drilling is completed and leads into project design optimization and potential permitting of a mining operation,” said Mr. Quin. “In addition, exploration for completely new deposits, focused on higher grade, higher margin ounces is planned to ramp up in the second half of the year.”
2013-15 Exploration Permitting Update
Following the appeal against the recent US Forest Service (“USFS”) decision to allow certain future drilling activities on public lands within the Golden Meadows Project area, the USFS has withdrawn its decision in order to incorporate additional analysis into its decision. The USFS determined that the activities proposed by Midas Gold for its 2013-15 exploration program are consistent with agency policy and the forest management plan, but that additional supporting information about drilling methods being used is needed to verify the conclusions in its analysis. Midas uses industry-standard closed well drilling system for its ongoing drilling activities and will provide the USFS with any required additional information to support its analysis.
“We agree with the decision of the USFS to ensure that required information supports the decisions reached. Appeals of process and the related agency reviews of the basis for their decisions are a normal part of the permit approval process,” said Mr. Quin. “The additional information will ensure that the project record is robust and that all interested parties can be satisfied that Midas Gold will continue to follow appropriate standards for its activities at Golden Meadows.”
It should be noted that this decision does not affect drilling on Midas Gold’s patented claims, which cover the substantial majority of the mineral resources at Golden Meadows, nor previously permitted drilling activities on public lands. The principal purpose of the 2013-15 permitting process is to conduct exploration of a number of exploration prospects outside of the three main deposits, which drilling is not scheduled to commence until the second half of 2013. Deposit-related and already permitted engineering-related drilling on private and public lands will commence as scheduled in mid-January.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc., and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Yellow Pine is a significant past producer of gold, silver, antimony and tungsten from the 1930s through the mid-1950s. The Homestake deposit located at the northeast end of the Yellow Pine deposit and was operated by Hecla Mining Company from 1987 through 1989. The area between Yellow Pine and Homestake, known as the Clark Tunnel prospect, was the site of early 1930’s and 1940’s era exploration, but no mining has occurred and it has seen only minimal modern exploration drilling. The Hangar Flats deposit was the site of historic underground mining from the 1920’s to the late 1930’s. The West End deposit was the site of open pit mining with heap leach recovery of gold from the 1970s to the late 1990s.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies in 2012 will be consistent with the Corporation’s expectations; that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licences and permits; outcomes of appeals of regulatory decisions; litigation; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD COMPLETES 50KM OF DRILLING AT ITS GOLDEN MEADOWS GOLD-ANTIMONY PROJECT, IDAHO
Hole MGI-12-331 intersects 25.8m of 3.65 g/t Au at Hangar Flats
Hole MGI-12-337 intersects 17.8m grading 3.20 g/t Au, 23.5g/t Ag and 1.54% Sb at Yellow Pine
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) today announced that it has completed the 2012 work program at its 100% owned Golden Meadows gold-antimony project located in Idaho. This work program included more than 50km of core, sonic, reverse circulation (“RC”), geotechnical and water well drilling completed with the objectives of upgrading the confidence of the existing mineral resource, expanding those mineral resources, testing the geotechnical characteristics of the wall rocks and completing water wells for groundwater monitoring purposes. This information will be utilized in the preparation of updated mineral resource estimates as well as optimizing the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”), the results of which were reported on September 4, 2012.
Significant achievements in 2012 include the following:
Completion of 50,546m of core, sonic, RC, geotechnical and water well drilling in 235 holes, of which 41,429m was core drilling in 162 holes, 7,360m was RC in 29 holes, 481m of sonic drilling to pre-collar other holes and 1,276m was completed in 44 water wells. This is more than double the number of metres and holes completed in 2011, and this drilling is expected to result in an improved mineral resource that will be reported in the first half of 2013.
Approximately 40,000m of resource drilling was designed to upgrade the confidence level in the inferred mineral resources in all three of the known deposits (Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine) or to expand those deposits. Results generally confirmed the previously defined mineral resources and, as a result, are expected to upgrade a significant portion of the mineral resources to an indicated category. In addition, step-out drilling expanded the deposits beyond the previously defined resource limits - especially at Yellow Pine and West End.
Approximately 5,300m of drilling was conducted for the purposes of discovering completely new deposits, which drilling was primarily centred on the newly defined Scout gold-antimony deposit.
Approximately 700m of holes were drilled specifically to collect sample material for metallurgical testing which, along with sample material collected from other holes, is being utilized in an extensive metallurgical optimization program currently underway at independent laboratories.
In addition to drilling, Midas Gold conducted extensive geophysical, geochemical and geological exploration programs (including more than 52km of CSAMT surveys, 3,400 soil samples and 350 stream sediment samples) with the objective of discovering new deposits, and successfully outlined a number of new targets.
In parallel with its exploration and resource definition drilling programs, Midas Gold had significant programs to collect environmental baseline, geotechnical, water quality, groundwater hydrology, and other information to support its plans for an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment scheduled for completion in the second half of 2013.
During 2012, Midas Gold completed extensive remediation of its own disturbance, as well as legacy disturbance left by prior operators, including planting of 8,245 trees, application of dust suppression products to 6.5 miles of private and public roads and reclamation of 18.5 acres.
Midas Gold completed its activities in an environmentally responsible and safe manner, often exceeding local, state and federal regulatory requirements.
Aside from the above milestones, Midas completed a positive PEA, the results of which were announced on September 4, 2012, which outlined the potential for the development of a significant, low-cost, large-scale gold mining operation with important antimony by-products, subject to the acquisition of additional information such as that collected during 2012 and planned for 2013 and, of course, all necessary regulatory approvals. The PEA also outlined the basis for the concurrent reclamation of the extensive legacy environmental disturbance resulting from more than 100 years of mining activity, including the remediation of the site supporting the re-establishment of fish migration past the former Yellow Pine pit.
The Golden Meadows Project design continues to progress beyond the PEA phase, with particular focus on assessing alternate process flow-sheets, alternate project throughputs and related capital costs, and staging of the development to optimize the overall project economics and permitability. These alternates will be considered in the updated PEA, scheduled for the second half of 2012
New Drill Results
Significant previously unreported assay results from the most recent drill holes are summarized in Table 1, below, with more detailed results in Table 2 at the end of this release. Additional results from the ongoing program will be released when assays are received and validated.
Table 1: Highlights of Recent Drill Results from Yellow Pine & West End Deposits
Hole-ID | Hole Type | Area | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m)(1) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-325(1) | Core | Yellow Pine | 123.9 | 171.6 | 47.7 | 1.48 | 2.6 | 0.004 |
MGI-12-331 | Core | Hangar Flats | 101.8 | 127.6 | 25.8 | 3.65 | 2.6 | 0.007 |
MGI-12-335 | Core | Yellow Pine | 8.9 | 26.8 | 17.9 | 3.07 | 0.4 | 0.244 |
And | 98.8 | 180.1 | 81.4 | 1.03 | 0.6 | 0.002 | ||
Including | 158.5 | 172.2 | 13.7 | 2.18 | 0.8 | 0.003 | ||
MGI-12-337 | Core | Yellow Pine | 91.4 | 109.3 | 17.8 | 3.20 | 23.5 | 1.540 |
MGI-12-339 | Core | Yellow Pine | 57.0 | 81.2 | 24.2 | 2.61 | 15.2 | 0.905 |
Including | 57.0 | 69.7 | 12.7 | 3.67 | 21.5 | 1.271 |
(1) Based upon the current 3D interpretation of the Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine deposits, the intervals quoted here are at or near true thickness and are composited using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and may include short intervals of internal waste below the cut-off grade. Intervals denoted (1) are likely to have true widths less than the interval reported herein.
“The completion of the 2012 work program marks a significant milestone in evaluating the economic potential of the Golden Meadows Project,” said Stephen Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “With this information in hand, Midas Gold will be able to update its mineral resource estimates, complete an updated preliminary economic assessment and evaluate opportunities to optimize the project design, throughput and potential. Midas Gold is also committed to working with local communities, regulators, governments, tribal entities and other stakeholders to ensure its activities result in a significantly enhanced environmental legacy, while providing potential for significant employment, contracts and taxes to the local community, the State of Idaho and the United States.”
2012 Drill Program
Midas has completed over 50,000m of core, sonic and RC drilling as part of its 2012 drilling program, and has recently completed work on site for the season.
Recent drilling activities in the Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine deposit were part of Midas Gold’s 2012 resource development drilling program which consists of: (1) in-fill drill holes designed to convert inferred mineral resources to the indicated category, (2) step-out drill holes targeting new areas of gold mineralization adjacent to existing mineral resources and, (3) drill holes for geotechnical, water well and metallurgical purposes.
Yellow Pine
Generally, the in-fill drilling program completed in 2012 has been successful in confirming the presence of inferred mineral resources at Yellow Pine. Some infill drill holes have cut mineralization assaying higher grade than had been predicted but over shorter widths while others are intersecting longer intervals of slightly lower grade material than predicted in the models. In addition, a number of step-out holes have intersected significant mineralization outside the resource limits, especially west of the old Yellow Pine pit and in the northeast portion of the Yellow Pine deposit.
Drill holes completed at the northeastern end of the Homestake area of the Yellow Pine deposit continue to delineate gold mineralization adjacent to the Meadow Creek Fault zone. Drill holes MGI-12-325 and MGI-12-335, intersecting 47.7 m of 1.48 g/t gold and 81.4m of 1.03 g/t gold respectively, generally confirmed modeled mineral resources within the metasedimentary roof-pendant. Drill holes MGI-12-329 and MGI-12-332 were designed to test for gold mineralization occurring outside of the mineral resource boundaries within the fault zone separating the roof pendant and the batholith. These holes, collared north of other holes in this area, did not intersect significant mineralization, nor did some holes testing the deeper portions of the mineralization in the Homestake area.
At the south end of the Yellow Pine deposit, in the Monday Tunnel area, recently completed drill holes have verified the presence of shallow high-grade gold-antimony mineralization previously defined by 1950s historic operators. Holes MGI-12-337 and MGI-12-339, drilled in an easterly direction, intersected high-grade gold-antimony mineralization on the west side of a major structure. MGI-12-343 was drilled from the same pad but in a westerly direction to assess mineralization outside of the mineral resource limits but did not intersect significant mineralization.
Hangar Flats
Recent drill holes at Hangar Flats were designed to test geophysical anomalies on the west side of the Meadow Creek fault zone within conceptual resource-limiting pit shells and as in-fill holes to improve confidence in modeled mineral resources. To date, drill holes on the western side of the Meadow Creek Fault intersected the geophysically predicted structural zones, but have only intersected short zones of mineralization. Infill hole MGI-12-331, completed on the eastern side of the Meadow Creek Fault Zone, intersected shallow high-grade gold mineralization where only low grade material was predicted in resource models but did not confirm a higher grade zone interpreted at depth. Approximately 15 additional in-fill drill holes are planned for early 2013 in the Hangar Flats deposit with the objective of converting remaining inferred mineralization to the indicated category.
Illustrations
To view the locations of current drill holes, please click here.
Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, CPG, Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
Samples are transported, handled and stored with chain of custody procedures. Core is sawed or split in representative halves with one half submitted to the laboratory for analysis and the second half of the split saved for archival purposes. Typical core samples are 1-2m in length. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. All composites utilize a 0.5g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc., and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Yellow Pine is a significant past producer of gold, silver, antimony and tungsten from the 1930s through the mid-1950s. The Homestake deposit located at the northeast end of the Yellow Pine deposit and was operated by Hecla Mining Company from 1987 through 1989. The area between Yellow Pine and Homestake, known as the Clark Tunnel prospect, was the site of early 1930’s and 1940’s era exploration, but no mining has occurred and it has seen only minimal modern exploration drilling. The Hangar Flats deposit was the site of historic underground mining from the 1920’s to the late 1930’s.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies in 2012 will be consistent with the Corporation’s expectations; that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licences and permits; outcomes of appeals of regulatory decisions; litigation; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Table 2: Assay Results to Accompany Midas Gold Corp. News Release dated December 18, 2012
HOLE-ID | HOLE TYPE | Area | Azimuth | Inclination | Hole Length | FROM (m) | TO (m) | Interval (m) (1) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | W (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-325(1) | Core | Yellow Pine | 120 | -79 | 173.4 | 85.0 | 115.1 | 30.0 | 0.61 | 3.1 | 0.004 | 0.001 |
And | 123.9 | 171.6 | 47.7 | 1.48 | 2.6 | 0.004 | 0.003 | |||||
Including | 148.3 | 169.6 | 21.3 | 2.19 | 1.4 | 0.003 | 0.003 | |||||
MGI-12-331 | Core | Hangar Flats | 0 | -90 | 275.8 | 11.3 | 23.0 | 11.7 | 0.86 | 1.9 | 0.007 | 0.005 |
And | 101.8 | 127.6 | 25.8 | 3.65 | 2.6 | 0.007 | 0.003 | |||||
And | 134.4 | 160.2 | 25.8 | 0.94 | 2.3 | 0.121 | 0.004 | |||||
And | 200.3 | 212.3 | 12.0 | 2.30 | 58.6 | 0.005 | 0.071 | |||||
MGI-12-335 | Core | Yellow Pine | 120 | -65 | 199.6 | 8.9 | 26.8 | 17.9 | 3.07 | 0.4 | 0.244 | 0.006 |
And | 98.8 | 180.1 | 81.4 | 1.03 | 0.6 | 0.002 | 0.002 | |||||
Including | 158.5 | 172.2 | 13.7 | 2.18 | 0.8 | 0.003 | 0.002 | |||||
MGI-12-337 | Core | Yellow Pine | 120 | -60 | 251.8 | 91.4 | 109.3 | 17.8 | 3.20 | 23.5 | 1.540 | 0.001 |
MGI-12-338 | Core | Yellow Pine | 249 | -53 | 224.6 | 29.6 | 58.4 | 28.8 | 0.52 | 0.0 | 0.004 | 0.035 |
And | 201.3 | 215.3 | 14.0 | 0.77 | 2.3 | 0.003 | 0.002 | |||||
MGI-12-339 | Core | Yellow Pine | 120 | -45 | 221.6 | 57.0 | 81.2 | 24.2 | 2.61 | 15.2 | 0.905 | 0.004 |
Including | 57.0 | 69.7 | 12.7 | 3.67 | 21.5 | 1.271 | 0.005 |
(1) Based upon the current 3D interpretation of the Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine deposits, the intervals quoted here are at or near true thickness and are composited using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and may include short intervals of internal waste below the cut-off grade. Intervals denoted (1) are likely to have true widths less than the interval reported herein.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS HIGH GRADE RESULTS FROM YELLOW PINE & WEST END DEPOSITS, GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT
Hole MGI-12-307 intersects 49.5m of 5.42 g/t gold including 15.9m of 12.29 g/t gold at Yellow Pine,
Hole MGI-12-310 intersects 37.5m of 2.94 g/t gold at Yellow Pine
Hole MGI-12-309 intersects 61.7m of 1.97 g/t Au at West End
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) today announced assay results from its ongoing infill and step-out core drilling program from the Yellow Pine and West End deposits on its Golden Meadows Project, Idaho. These most recent results both confirm the presence of inferred gold mineralization within the resource-limiting pit shells and document additional high grade gold mineralization outside of previous mineral resource boundaries.
Significant assay results from these most recent drill holes are summarized in Table 1, below, with more detailed results in Table 2 at the end of this release. Additional results from the ongoing program will be released when assays are received and validated.
Table 1: Highlights of Recent Drill Results from Yellow Pine & West End Deposits
Hole-ID | Hole Type | Area | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-307(1) | Core | Yellow Pine | 201.0 | 250.6 | 49.5 | 5.42 | 2.5 |
Including | 230.7 | 246.6 | 15.9 | 12.29 | 5.4 | ||
MGI-12-309 | Core | West End | 139.0 | 200.7 | 61.7 | 1.97 | 3.7 |
Including | 174.7 | 198.4 | 23.8 | 3.19 | 7.6 | ||
MGI-12-310 | Core | Yellow Pine | 123.9 | 161.4 | 37.5 | 2.94 | 2.1 |
Including | 141.6 | 159.4 | 17.8 | 5.43 | 2.9 |
(1) Based upon the current 3D interpretation of the West End and Yellow Pine deposits, the intervals quoted here are at or near true thickness and are composited using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and may include short intervals of internal waste below the cut-off grade. Intervals denoted (1) are likely to have true widths less than the interval reported herein.
“This fall’s in-fill and step-out drilling programs at the Yellow Pine and West End deposits continue to improve confidence in our inferred mineral resources and to expand the overall limits to mineralization,” said Stephen Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “We are especially pleased with the results of drill hole MGI-12-307 as it demonstrates lateral continuity of a new high-grade zone at the Yellow Pine deposit.”
2012 Drill Program
Midas has completed over 46,000m of core and RC drilling as part of its 2012 drilling program, and currently has three core rigs operating on site after having as many as nine rigs operating over the summer months.
Yellow Pine
Recent drilling activities in the Yellow Pine deposit are part of Midas Gold’s ongoing resource development drilling program which consists of: (1) in-fill drill holes designed to convert inferred mineral resources to the indicated category, (2) step-out drill holes targeting new areas of gold mineralization adjacent to existing mineral resources and, (3) drill holes for geotechnical and metallurgy purposes. Generally, the in-fill drilling program has been successful in confirming the presence of inferred mineral resources at Yellow Pine. Some infill drill holes have cut mineralization assaying higher grade than predicted but over shorter widths while others are intersecting longer intervals of slightly lower grade material than predicted in the models. In addition, a number of step-out holes have intersected significant mineralization outside the resource limits, especially west of the old Yellow Pine pit and in the northeast of Yellow Pine. “Overall, we are pleased with the results of the in-fill and step-out drilling program. Our inferred resources are generally holding together under tighter drill spacing and we anticipate successful conversion of a substantial majority of the mineral resources to the indicated category in preparation for our updated technical study,” said Stephen Quin.
Drill hole MGI-12-307, located at the northern end of the Homestake area of the Yellow Pine deposit, was drilled through the margin of the resource-limiting conceptual pit shell for geotechnical purposes and intersected high-grade gold mineralization over significant widths. The hole was completed north of other new, significant intercepts in this area, including those in holes MGI-12-263 and MGI-12-267, reported previously. Gold mineralization in this area occurs within and adjacent to a structural corridor along the contact between the metasedimentary roof-pendant and igneous rocks of the Idaho batholith. The mineralized zone is characterized by strong silicification and sulphide mineralization and contains short intervals assaying significantly higher grade than the broadly disseminated gold mineralization characteristic of the main body of the Yellow Pine deposit. The zone occurs below the historic property boundary separating land parcels previously controlled by different operators prior to Midas Gold’s consolidation of district mineral rights in 2011. Because of this, the area received minimal historic drill testing. With additional drilling, this new zone may constitute a significant addition to Yellow Pine mineral resources.
West End
Production of oxide heap leach gold ores from the West End pit ceased in the 1990’s, but gold mineralization was documented continuing well below the pit bottom by past exploration and development drilling. Midas Gold initiated drilling in the West End deposit in 2010 and the 2012 drilling campaign was designed to: (1) confirm historic drill data, (2) in-fill and convert inferred resources to indicated and (3) step-out around and below the modeled resource pit bottom.
Drill holes MGI-12-269, MGI-12-295, MGI-12-305 and MGI-12-309, reported herein, were drilled to improve confidence in inferred mineral resources. These holes cut mineralization at significant depth, where predicted, demonstrating the reliability of the West End structural model. Drill holes MGI-11-120 and MGI-11-121, pre-collared in 2011 and completed in 2012as part of Midas Gold’s ongoing geotechnical pit slope stability program, cut mineralization beneath and adjacent to the modeled resource-limiting conceptual pit.
Exploration Permitting
Midas Gold has been advised that the US Forest Service’s record of decision in respect of permitting of certain drilling activities planned for 2013 on US Forest Service land has been appealed. Midas Gold is reviewing the basis of the appeal. In the meantime, drilling activities continue under existing permits on Midas Gold’s private land and US Forest Service land.
Illustrations
To view the locations of current drill holes, please click here.
Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, CPG, Qualified Person and Field Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
Samples are transported, handled and stored with chain of custody procedures. Core is sawed or split in representative halves with one half submitted to the laboratory for analysis and the second half of the split saved for archival purposes. Typical core samples are 1-2m in length. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. All composites utilize a 0.5g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc., and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite-Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Yellow Pine is a significant past producer of gold, silver, antimony and tungsten from the 1930s through the mid-1950s. The Homestake deposit located at the northeast end of the Yellow Pine deposit and was operated by Hecla Mining Company from 1987 through 1989. The area between Yellow Pine and Homestake, known as the Clark Tunnel prospect, was the site of early 1930’s and 1940’s era exploration, but no mining has occurred and it has seen only minimal modern exploration drilling. Historical geologic, ground geophysical and drilling data obtained by Midas suggested the possibility that significant mineralization might be present in this area and recent drill results confirm this potential. The West End deposit was the site of open pit mining with heap leach recovery of gold from the 1970s to the late 1990s.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies in 2012 will be consistent with the Corporation’s expectations; that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licences and permits; outcomes of appeals of regulatory decisions; litigation; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Table 2: Assay Results to Accompany Midas Gold Corp. News Release dated November 21, 2012
Hole-ID | Hole Type | Area | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Tungsten (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-11-120 | Core | West End | 60.8 | 97.1 | 36.3 | 1.30 | 1.1 | 0.01 | 0.001 |
MGI-11-121 | Core | West End | 144.8 | 172.5 | 27.7 | 1.91 | 11.1 | 0.01 | 0.001 |
Including | 159.7 | 172.5 | 12.8 | 2.67 | 21.6 | 0.01 | 0.001 | ||
MGI-11-121 | Core | West End | 232.9 | 260.6 | 27.7 | 1.37 | 5.4 | 0.01 | 0.003 |
MGI-12-260 | RC | West End | 61.0 | 85.3 | 24.4 | 1.26 | 3.3 | 0.01 | 0.002 |
And | 144.8 | 167.6 | 22.9 | 0.57 | 0.4 | 0.01 | 0.002 | ||
And | 173.7 | 207.3 | 33.5 | 1.72 | 1.3 | 0.00 | 0.002 | ||
And | 216.4 | 245.4 | 29.0 | 0.70 | 1.4 | 0.01 | 0.001 | ||
MGI-12-269 | RC | West End | 118.9 | 179.8 | 61.0 | 1.05 | 0.8 | 0.01 | 0.001 |
Including | 149.4 | 169.2 | 19.8 | 1.50 | 1.0 | 0.00 | 0.002 | ||
MGI-12-295 | Core | West End | 8.5 | 27.3 | 18.8 | 1.32 | 4.4 | 0.01 | 0.003 |
And | 168.4 | 179.5 | 11.1 | 0.67 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.001 | ||
And | 258.3 | 305.0 | 46.6 | 1.03 | 1.8 | 0.01 | 0.002 | ||
MGI-12-297(2) | Core | Yellow Pine | 48.8 | 61.0 | 12.2 | 3.64 | 4.0 | 0.01 | 0.004 |
MGI-12-303 | Core | West End | 149.5 | 163.4 | 13.9 | 0.64 | 0.8 | 0.01 | 0.004 |
And | 202.7 | 215.5 | 12.8 | 3.34 | 4.1 | 0.02 | 0.002 | ||
MGI-12-304 | Core | Yellow Pine | 29.6 | 42.7 | 13.1 | 0.54 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.001 |
MGI-12-305 | Core | West End | 61.7 | 100.3 | 38.6 | 0.90 | 1.0 | 0.00 | 0.001 |
And | 107.1 | 119.8 | 12.7 | 0.73 | 1.1 | 0.02 | 0.001 | ||
And | 133.5 | 144.9 | 11.4 | 2.81 | 2.7 | 0.01 | 0.002 | ||
And | 165.5 | 194.5 | 29.0 | 1.15 | 0.8 | 0.01 | 0.001 | ||
MGI-12-307(1) | Core | Yellow Pine | 64.6 | 78.6 | 14.0 | 0.85 | 1.6 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
And | 101.0 | 121.6 | 20.6 | 0.63 | 0.7 | 0.00 | 0.001 | ||
And | 201.0 | 250.6 | 49.5 | 5.42 | 2.5 | 0.00 | 0.002 | ||
Including | 230.7 | 246.6 | 15.9 | 12.29 | 5.4 | 0.01 | 0.002 | ||
MGI-12-309 | Core | West End | 139.0 | 200.7 | 61.7 | 1.97 | 3.7 | 0.01 | 0.003 |
Including | 174.7 | 198.4 | 23.8 | 3.19 | 7.6 | 0.01 | 0.004 | ||
And | Core | West End | 214.4 | 237.3 | 22.9 | 1.04 | 0.6 | 0.00 | 0.002 |
MGI-12-310 | Core | Yellow Pine | 123.9 | 161.4 | 37.5 | 2.94 | 2.1 | 0.04 | 0.001 |
Including | 141.6 | 159.4 | 17.8 | 5.43 | 2.9 | 0.09 | 0.001 | ||
MGI-12-316 | Core | West End | 51.5 | 63.4 | 11.9 | 0.92 | 1.4 | 0.01 | 0.012 |
And | 112.8 | 131.1 | 18.3 | 0.85 | 0.9 | 0.00 | 0.001 | ||
MGI-12-317 | Core | Yellow Pine | 235.8 | 254.1 | 18.3 | 0.68 | 1.7 | 0.05 | 0.001 |
MGI-12-318 | Core | Yellow Pine | 60.4 | 72.2 | 11.9 | 1.06 | 1.7 | 0.00 | 0.001 |
MGI-12-322 | Core | Yellow Pine | 35.7 | 51.8 | 16.2 | 2.54 | 3.3 | 0.01 | 0.002 |
(1) Based upon the current 3D interpretation of the West End and Yellow Pine deposits, the intervals quoted here are at or near true thickness and are composited using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and may include short intervals of internal waste below the cut-off grade. Intervals denoted (1) are likely to have true widths less than the interval reported herein.
(2) Hole abandoned, terminated in mineralization.
MIDAS GOLD'S 2012 EXPLORATION PROGRAM OUTLINES MULTIPLE TARGETS ON ITS GOLDEN MEADOWS PROPERTY
Several Multi-element, Multi-source Anomalies Defined Extending Known Mineralization & In New Areas
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) today announced that its 2012 geological, geochemical and geophysical programs completed across its Golden Meadows property in Idaho successfully confirmed and extended areas of known or suspected mineralization and outlined several new gold-silver-antimony targets. A number of these target areas exhibit coincident highly anomalous stream, soil and rock multi-element geochemical signatures and are associated with strong airborne electromagnetic (“EM”) and ground geophysical anomalies that show characteristics similar to those associated with the three known deposits. These results suggest potential for the discovery of further significant new gold-silver-antimony deposits at Golden Meadows, as well as extensions to known deposits. Highlights of the 2012 program include:
The 2km long trend between the already defined Hangar Flats and Yellow Pine deposits, which area encompasses three consistently highly anomalous areas in gold, silver and antimony in both stream and soil samples, each with associated Controlled Source Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (“CSAMT”) and airborne EM anomalies consistent with the adjacent deposits. Limited drilling in this area, such as in the Monday tunnel area, has already intersected high grade sulphide mineralization; these results suggest there could be significant mineral potential in these areas.
The 1km long area extending from the north end of the West End mineral resource to the Sugar prospect, also with coincident multi-element soil, rock and silt anomalies, and associated CSAMT and airborne EM anomalies. This trend is coincident with the fault offset continuation of favourable host rocks that are associated with the majority of the West End mineral resource and suggests this significant mineralized system extends considerably further than has currently been tested by drilling.
The Rabbit prospect, a Midas Gold discovery in 2010 that has developed into an approximately 1km wide zone of coincident soil and silt multi-element anomalies with associated CSAMT and airborne EM anomalies. The results suggest potential for a significant scale but blind mineralized system in the Rabbit area.
The Mule prospect, also a Midas Gold discovery, with significant gold-silver values in soils, coincident multi-gram gold values in rock samples in altered intrusives and a strong airborne EM anomaly.
Expanded previously known trends, such as the Scout-Upper Garnet-Upper Midnight trend and the Garnet-Doris K trend, where soils, CSAMT and airborne EM outline two highly anomalous approximate 1km long trends with known multi-gram assays in rock samples and wide-spaced drill holes.
“Our 2012 geochemical and ground geophysical surveys were designed to identify and delineate potential extensions to known mineral trends and identify completely new mineralized areas,” said Stephen Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “The results of our 2012 regional exploration has exceeded our expectations and has generated a target-rich environment, with multiple, large scale, multi-element, multi-survey anomalies that suggest potential for substantial extensions to known mineralized systems as well as outlining some large scale new targets,” he said. “In 2013, we intend to evaluate the potential of the highest priority of these new opportunities through drilling.” Despite the long history of exploration in the district that extends back to the earliest 1900s, most mineralization is blind and the property has not been subject to systematic modern exploration that can detect such mineralization. By way of comparison, the Hangar Flats deposit was discovered based on a single outcrop a few metres across, the Yellow Pine deposit was completely blind and the West End-style sediment-hosted mineralization was unrecognized until the 1970s; each turned into a substantial gold deposit. The recently defined Scout prospect was discovered as a result of geochemical and geophysical surveys detecting a potential blind mineralized system where drilling has subsequently demonstrated significant gold-silver-antimony grades over considerable strike length and thicknesses.
2012 Stream Sediment Sampling Program
Midas Gold staff completed a high density stream silt sampling program to assist in evaluation of anomalies generated from its 2011 airborne geophysical program. The 2012 survey involved collection of 351 silts roughly every 300-500m along all the major drainages within the project area, testing extensive areas previously not sampled and/or newly staked by Midas Gold in 2011 as a result of the airborne geophysical survey. The average catchment area of sampled drainages is roughly 1.0-1.5km2, providing a high degree of localization for the source of the anomalies. The stream sediment survey covers a total area of approximately 110km2 and encompasses most of Midas Gold’s land holdings.
Over 80% of the silt samples reported anomalous gold and pathfinder elements, with a maximum value of 1.78 ppm (1.78 g/t) gold, 1.91 ppm (1.91g/t) silver, 458 ppm antimony, 340 ppm tungsten reported from the silts collected during the 2012 sampling program. The strongest gold and multi-element pathfinder anomalies outside of the known deposits occur in silt samples collected from streams draining from the northern extension of the Hangar Flats trend (toward Yellow Pine), as well as the Garnet, Rabbit, Cinnamid-Ridgetop, Upper Midnight, Doris K and Sugar prospects.
2012 Soil Sediment Sampling Program
Midas Gold staff and contractors established several large soil grids and completed a fill-in soil sampling program designed to assist in the evaluation of airborne geophysical anomalies generated from its 2011 airborne geophysical program. This was done to confirm and further expand on anomalies outlined in various historic datasets from past operators and to expand those anomalies defined during Midas Gold’s soil surveys completed between 2009 and 2011. The soil surveys involved collection of 3,429 B-horizon soil samples covering approximately 25km2 of the Company’s 110 square kilometer property position. These new grids complement data from historic grids that cover another 13 km2 of the project area.
Multi-element pathfinder and gold-in-soil anomalies were outlined in several areas including: (1) anomalies at the Mule prospect, coincident with strong gold-in-rock and airborne geophysical anomalies; (2) at the Sugar Prospect, coincident with airborne EM, aeromagnetics and CSAMT anomalies; and, (3) at various other prospects. Over 80% of the soil samples reported anomalous gold and pathfinder elements with a maximum value of 1.9 ppm (1.9g/t) gold, 6.8 ppm (6.8g/t) silver, 2,580 ppm (0.26%) antimony and 510 ppm tungsten reported from the soils collected during the 2012 sampling program, illustrating the pervasive nature of the mineralization in the areas sampled.
2012 CSAMT Ground Geophysical Survey Program
Geophysical survey crews from Zonge Engineering, a Tucson-based contractor, completed a total of 51.5 line-km of ground geophysical surveys using CSAMT along twelve, east-west oriented, 4.3km long lines. The surveys covered approximately 21km2, with lines spaced 400m apart and stations every 25m along the lines. The survey coverage extends from north of the Yellow Pine deposit south to the DMEA area of the Hangar Flats Deposit. Preliminary results received from the contractor indicate all three of the known deposits covered by the CSAMT surveys show a response and a significant number of new anomalies were generated this year that appear to be of an appropriate size and character to warrant additional follow-up. Additional details of results from the CSAMT survey will be released when the final data is received and integrated with the other exploration datasets.
CSAMT is a low-impact, non-intrusive, commonly-used, surface-based geophysical method which provides resistivity information in the subsurface. The CSAMT method involves transmitting a controlled signal over a range of frequencies into the ground from one location (transmitter site) and measuring the received electric and magnetic fields in the area of interest (receiver site). The measured field magnitudes are used to calculate the apparent resistivity of the area underlying the receiver site. Calculated resistivity values from CSAMT data relate to geology and can be attributed to effects of rock type, porosity, pore fluids, faults and the presence of certain mineral assemblages, and in this case minerals associated with gold mineralization within the district. Areas of low resistivity may be caused by a number of factors, but can often be attributed to areas of mineralization and combined with other data can yield valuable 3-dimensional information on subsurface structures, geology and mineralization prior to drill testing.
Illustrations
To view the locations of geochemical anomalies, please click here.
Sampling Procedures and Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Christopher Dail, C.P.G., Qualified Person and Exploration Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
Stream silt samples were collected in the field from small stream catchments using stainless steel implements and wet sieved in the field to -20 mesh and then later dried and sieved in the laboratory to -80 mesh. Soil samples were collected in the field using stainless steel implements and then later dried and sieved in the laboratory to -80 mesh. Field duplicates were collected every 20th sample for quality control purposes for both silts and soils. Both soils and silt samples were digested with a 4-acid hot leach followed by analysis for gold and 41 trace elements via atomic absorption and mass spectrometry at ALS Chemex laboratories in Reno, Nevada and Vancouver, B.C. using method ME-MS41L. Blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Corporation’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc., and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, “anomalous” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licences and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
MIDAS GOLD REPORTS RESULTS FROM HIGH GRADE CORE OF YELLOW PINE DEPOSIT, GOLDEN MEADOWS PROJECT, IDAHO
Hole MGI-12-306 intersects 238m of 2.61g/t Au, and 0.29% Sb; including 61.6m of 3.37g/t Au, and 0.72% Sb
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) today announced further results from its ongoing infill and step-out core drilling program on its Golden Meadows Project, Idaho, including results from definition drilling in the high grade core of the Yellow Pine deposit beneath the former open pit. Historic mining operations ceased in the Yellow Pine pit in 1952, but high grade gold-antimony mineralization was documented as continuing well below the pit bottom in past exploration and development drilling. Hole MGI-12-306 was drilled as part of Midas Gold’s ongoing resource definition and metallurgical sample collection program, as recommended in the recently released Preliminary Economic Analysis (“PEA”). Hole MGI-12-306 was drilled in order to: (a) confirm and upgrade the resource estimates for this area that is conceptually scheduled for early production in the PEA, (b) to provide fresh samples to optimize recovery from higher grade mineralization scheduled for the early years of the conceptual mine plan outlined in the PEA, and (c) to provide additional antimony assay data to support antimony resource estimation for a larger portion of the Yellow Pine deposit. Only 17% of mill feed incorporated into the conceptual mine plan set out in the PEA currently has an antimony estimate associated with it, yet Midas drilling has outlined antimony mineralization well outside the antimony zone used in the PEA in the Yellow Pine deposit. Hole MGI-12-306 was successful in respect of all three objectives; this release also includes additional infill and step-out holes in the Yellow Pine deposit area.
Significant assay results from these most recent drill holes at Yellow Pine are summarized in Table 1, below, with more detailed results in Table 2 at the end of this release. Additional results from the ongoing program will be released when assays are received and validated.
Table 1: Highlights of Recent Drill Results from Yellow Pine
Hole ID | Target Area | Hole Type | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-306(3) | Yellow Pine | Core | 37.2 | 275.2 | 238.0 | 2.61 | 3.0 | 0.29 |
including | 200.0 | 261.5 | 61.6 | 3.37 | 6.0 | 0.72 | ||
including | 208.2 | 221.0 | 12.8 | 2.71 | 12.7 | 1.58 |
“We are pleased with the drill results from this year’s drilling at Yellow Pine, where we have expanded the limits of known gold-silver-antimony mineralization, and are now focusing on infill and step-out drilling to better define the high grade mineralization (including the antimony zones) and to convert inferred resources to indicated resources,” said Stephen Quin, President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp. “We also plan to continue testing the outer limits of the Yellow Pine system, since recent geophysical studies and 3-dimensional reconstruction of faults suggest there is potential for additional mineralization along the flanks of the Yellow Pine Deposit, where post-mineral faults may have offset mineralization, and we hope to further test these targets in the coming months,” he said.
Metallurgical Program
As part of Midas Gold’s ongoing work program to advance the project post-PEA, a large representative suite of more than 500 metallurgical sample composites was selected from core holes drilled by Midas Gold and will be utilized for flow sheet development and variability testing. On-going flotation testing will be performed by SGS in Vancouver, B.C., in order to further optimize metallurgical performance under the supervision of Blue Coast Metallurgy Ltd., B.C. The PEA incorporated quantitative evaluation of 70 variability composites for gold, antimony and host rock mineralogy by scanning electron microscope (QEMSCAN). Grindability testing and more than 130 flotation test runs have been completed to date, results of which were utilized in the PEA.
As recommended in the PEA, further metallurgical sampling and test work is continuing in order to further optimize and refine the conceptual process plant flow sheet and metallurgical parameters. This additional metallurgical testing is part of a comprehensive project optimization process being undertaken, as recommended in the PEA, to evaluate the potential for:
Optimization of flow sheets and plant sizing, including potential for a 25-50% increase in throughput.
Extending the higher grade production profile for additional time, through extensions to the higher grade known deposits, definition of additional higher grade deposits and/or definition of significantly higher grade/lower tonnage mineralization that could be blended with the lower grade West End tonnage thereby giving an effective higher grade feed to the mill;
Extension of antimony by-product credits to a broader proportion of the mineral resources as the antimony resources are currently limited to approximately 17% of the mill feed utilized in the PEA, primarily due to lack of analytical antimony values in historic drill datasets;
Increasing resources and/or reducing strip ratios by drill testing unclassified material within the conceptual pit limits that is currently treated as waste in the PEA, but is essentially undrilled;
Exploration - both around deposits and throughout district with the objective of defining higher grade mineralization that is economically advantaged relative to the lower margin West End material utilized in the PEA.
2012 Drill Program
Midas has completed over 41,000m of core and RC drilling as part of its 2012 drilling program, and currently has four core rigs operating on site after having as many as nine rigs operating over the summer months.
Illustrations
To view the locations of current drill holes, please click here.
Quality Assurance
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI43-101”) and reviewed and approved by Stephen P. Quin, P. Geo., President and CEO of Midas Gold Corp., and a Qualified Person. The exploration activities at Golden Meadows were carried out under the supervision of Richard Moses, CPG, Qualified Person and Site Operations Manager for the Golden Meadows Project.
Samples are transported, handled and stored with chain of custody procedures. Core is sawed or split in representative halves with one half submitted to the laboratory for analysis and the second half of the split saved for archival purposes. Typical core samples are 1-2m in length. All gold assays are by a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by an atomic absorption finish (with a 0.002g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 6g/t are re-analyzed using a 30g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. All composites utilize a 0.5g/t cut off and may include internal waste. Silver is analyzed via a 4-acid digestion followed by an ICP finish (with a 1.0g/t lower reporting limit). Samples reporting values > 10g/t Ag are reanalyzed using a 50g Fire Assay charge followed by a gravimetric finish. Some intervals may not add or subtract correctly due to rounding, but are deemed insignificant. Analyses are carried out by ALS CHEMEX in their Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia laboratories. Umpire samples are routinely submitted to third party labs and blank and standard samples are used for quality assurance and quality control and a review of the results of analyses of the blanks, standards and duplicates by the Company’s Qualified Person indicates values are within normal and acceptable ranges.
About Midas Gold and the Golden Meadows Project
Midas Gold Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Midas Gold Inc., and Idaho Gold Resources, LLC, is focused on the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Golden Meadows Project in the Stibnite‐Yellow Pine district of central Idaho. The principal gold deposits identified to date within the Golden Meadows Project are the Hangar Flats, West End and Yellow Pine deposits, all of which are associated with important structural corridors. Independent mineral resource estimates were reported for all three deposits in a news release dated June 27, 2012 and are detailed in a consolidated technical report entitled “Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for the Golden Meadows Project, Idaho” dated August 15, 2012, (the “Technical Report”) is available on Midas Gold’s website at www.midasgoldcorp.com or under Midas Gold’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a concept for the development of a large scale, long life, low cost open pit gold mining operation producing gold and by-product antimony based on the estimated mineral resource, as well as outlining a number of opportunities for potential enhancement of the conceptual project.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “Forward-Looking Information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future exploration activities on the Corporation’s properties; success of exploration activities; permitting time lines and requirements, requirements for additional capital, requirements for additional water rights and the potential effect of proposed notices of environmental conditions relating to mineral claims; planned exploration and development of properties and the results thereof; planned expenditures and budgets and the execution thereof. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “potential” or “does not anticipate”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that may be encountered if the Golden Meadows Project is developed. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Corporation has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration and other objectives concerning the Golden Meadows Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in exploration programs based upon results of exploration; changes in estimated mineral resources; future prices of metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; environmental risks, including environmental matters under U.S. federal and Idaho rules and regulations; impact of environmental remediation requirements and the terms of existing and potential consent decrees on the Corporation’s planned exploration on the Golden Meadows Project; certainty of mineral title; community relations; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; fluctuations in mineral prices; the Corporation’s dependence on one mineral project; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Corporation’s lack of operating revenues; governmental regulations and the ability to obtain necessary licences and permits; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects in title; currency fluctuations; changes in environmental laws and regulations and changes in the application of standards pursuant to existing laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict operations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; and estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; as well as those factors discussed in the Corporation’s public disclosure record. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Corporation and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, 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 Information 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 Information.
Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Table 2: Assay Results to Accompany Midas Gold Corp. News Release dated October 15, 2012
Hole ID | Target Area | Hole Type | Bearing | Inclination | Total Depth (m) | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Antimony (%) | Tungsten (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGI-12-297(1) | Yellow Pine | Core | 177 | -20 | 60.96 | 48.8 | 61.0 | 12.2 | 3.64 | 4.0 | 0.01 | 0.004 |
MGI-12-304 | Yellow Pine | Core | 0 | -90 | 263.35 | 29.6 | 42.7 | 13.1 | 0.54 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.001 |
MGI-12-306(3) | Yellow Pine | Core | 165 | -31 | 291.4 | 37.2 | 275.2 | 238.0 | 2.61 | 3.0 | 0.29 | 0.005 |
including | 200.0 | 261.5 | 61.6 | 3.37 | 6.0 | 0.72 | 0.003 | |||||
including | 208.2 | 221.0 | 12.8 | 2.71 | 12.7 | 1.58 | 0.002 |
(1) Hole abandoned prematurely.
(2) Based upon the current 3D interpretation of the Yellow Pine deposits the intervals quoted here are at or near true thickness and are composited using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off and may include short intervals of internal waste below the cut-off grade unless otherwise noted
(3) Intervals denoted (3) are less than true width.