AndeanGold Announces Approval of Environmental Impact Assessment Drilling Permit Urumalqui Advanced-Stage Ag-Au Project, Peru
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/22/13 -- AndeanGold Ltd. ("the Company" or "AndeanGold") (TSX VENTURE: AAU)(LMA: AAU) is pleased to announce that it has received Directoral Resolution No 112-2013-MEM/AAM from the General Bureau of Environmental Affairs ("DGAAM") of the Ministry of Energy and Mines ("MEM") of Peru approving the Company's Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") permit for future drilling programs on its Urumalqui Advanced-Stage Ag - Au Project ("Project") located in the Department of Libertad, Peru. The EIA permit covers up to 109,400 metres of future drilling, covering all of the presently known veins on the Project.
Anthony F. Ciali, President & CEO said "Receipt of the EIA approval is the culmination of many months of hard work by our Peruvian management and consulting team and represents an important milestone for the Company. We look forward to further advancing the Urumalqui Project with our planned Phase II infill drilling program."
The initial focus of future drill programs will be on the 500 metre NW outcrop section of the Urumalqui Vein ("Vein"), where there has been only limited, wide-spaced historical drilling. The Company did not undertake any drilling on this section of the Vein during its 2011 drilling program, which was focused on infill drilling the 1,000 metre Central and SE sections of the Vein. The 2011 drilling program led to the release of a NI 43-101 Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of (see news release of November 15, 2011):
10.692 Million Ounces Silver and 86,200 Ounces Gold
1.945 Million Tonnes at 171.01 g/t Ag and 1.378 g/t Au
Based on the Company's 2012 surface channel sampling of the Vein, the trench assay results for the 500 metre NW outcrop returned very encouraging results of (see news release of May 29, 2012):
2.66 metres average width - 82.46 g/t Ag - 4.21 g/t Au - 9.42 oz/t AGE
AGE: Equivalent ounces of silver based on a gold to silver ratio of 50:1 and assuming 100% recoveries.
oz/t: Ounces per metric tonne.
The gold grade results for the 500 metre NW outcrop were consistently higher than those for the 1,000 metre Central and SE outcrops and contained some of the highest gold grades reported at the Project.
The company has selected a Lima-based drilling company to undertake up to 2,000 metres of diamond core drilling. The related drilling contract is being finalized, and the drilling company is expected to mobilize during May 2013.
AndeanGold Ltd. has the right to earn a 100% interest in the Urumalqui Project from Gitennes Exploration Inc. ("Gitennes") pursuant to an existing Option Agreement (the "60% Option") between the parties dated April 21, 2010 (see news release dated April 22, 2010) and a definitive Share Sale and Mining Agreement between the parties dated May 17, 2012, giving AndeanGold the right to acquire Gitennes' remaining 40% interest in the Project (See news release dated May 23, 2012). Pursuant to the 60% Option, the Company must complete an additional 1,929 metres of drilling in order to satisfy the requirement to complete 7,000 cumulative metres of drilling by the third anniversary of the Agreement (July 8, 2013).
The Company is committed to advancing the Urumalqui Project to the development stage as soon as practicable, as well as actively working with the local communities related to the Project. AndeanGold has had excellent community relationships and is working on several agreed to social projects for the benefit of the communities.
Mr. John E. Bolanos, Vice President Exploration of the Company, is a Qualified Person for all technical information in this news release, excluding the mineral resources, in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this release.
About AndeanGold Ltd:
AndeanGold Ltd. is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and potential development of primarily precious metals properties, principally in Peru and Ecuador. The focus of the Company's exploration activities is presently in advancing its Urumalqui Project, as well as pursuing mineral property acquisitions, in Peru. In Ecuador, the Company's activities have been limited to administrative and legal matters due to the Mining Mandate issued by the Ecuador Constituent Assembly on April 18, 2008. In November 2009, President Correa signed the Mining Regulations into law pursuant to the requirements of the new Mines Law, which was passed in January 2009. This was the final legal precursor to the re-initiation of exploration and mining development in Ecuador. The Company has been issued new mining titles under the new Mines law to its three key Ecuadorian projects and has filed the requisite documents with the Ministry of Non-Renewable Natural Resources ("MRNNR") and Ministry of Environment in support of the Company's request to renew exploration programs on its key projects in Ecuador. In September 2012, MRNNR approved the Company's application to restart exploration programs on its Curiplaya Au-Cu property.
Please refer to AndeanGold's website at www.andeangoldltd.com for further information on the Company's projects and activities.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of ANDEANGOLD LTD.
Anthony F. Ciali, President, CEO and Director
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
AndeanGold Ltd.
Tony Ciali
Corporate Office
732.940.5487
tciali@andeangoldltd.com
Ascenta Capital Partners Inc.
Jamie Mathers
Investor Relations
604.684.4743 ext. 236 or Toll free: 1.866.684.4743 ext. 23
amie@ascentacapital.com
www.andeangoldltd.com