Northern Vertex Files NI 43-101 Technical Report Regarding Previously Announced Feasibility Study Results
After-tax IRR 44.3% and NPV@5% US$55.25 million at Gold Price of US$1,250/oz and Silver Price of US$20/oz
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jul 23, 2015) - Northern Vertex Mining Corp. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:NEE)(OTCQX:NHVCF) is pleased to announce that it has filed a technical report prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 "Disclosure Standards for Mineral Projects" ("NI 43-101") in support of the Company's June 8th, 2015 news release, which outlined the results of a recently completed Feasibility Study on its Moss Gold-Silver Project located in Mohave County, Arizona, USA.
The independent technical report is entitled "Moss Gold-Silver Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study, Mohave County, Arizona". (the "Technical Report") is dated July 13th, 2015, and has an effective date of June 8th, 2015. The report was prepared by MineFill Services, Inc. of Washington, USA ("MineFill") and M3 Engineering and Technology Corporation, Tucson, Arizona ("M3"), with contributions by David M.R. Stone, P.E. of MineFill, Thomas Drielick, P.E. of M3, Daniel K. Roth, P.E. of M3, Eugene Muller, P.E., of Golder Associates and Scott Allan Britton, C.Eng. of SAB Mining Consultants Ltd., all of whom are independent Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101 . The Technical Report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and will be available on the Company's website: www.northernvertex.com
The key highlights, at prices of US$1,250/oz Gold and US$20/oz Silver, 100% Project basis are:
Annual Production (5,000 tpd) | 1,750,000 tonnes per year |
Strip Ratio | 1.62 |
Average Gold grade | 0.826 grams per tonne |
Average Silver grade | 9.282 grams per tonne |
Average Gold Equivalent ("AuEq") grade* | 0.93 grams per tonne |
Recoveries to Doré | Gold 82% and Silver 65% |
Life of Mine Gold Production | 173,490 oz |
Life of Mine Silver Production | 1,530,650 oz |
Initial Capital Costs (including indirects) | US$33 million |
Operating Costs (@5,000 tpd) | US$13.19/tonne |
Gold Equivalent Ounces/yr (Avg. @5,000 tpd) | 42,000 oz/yr |
Gold Equivalent Cash Cost (@5,000 tpd) | US$ 514.27/oz |
Cash Cost net of Ag/oz (@5,000tpd) | US$409.07 |
All-in Sustaining Costs AuEq**(LOM) | US$624.01/oz |
NPV 5% after tax | US$55.25 million |
IRR after tax | 44.3% |
Payback Period after tax | 2.4 years |
* Gold equivalent grades are defined in the footnotes to the Reserve Statement on page 101 of the Technical Report.
** All-in Sustaining Costs ("AISC") as presented are defined by the World Gold Council ("WGC") less corporate G&A
Dick Whittington, President and CEO, states: "We are pleased to be able to achieve this milestone. The Feasibility Study shows the Moss Mine to be an economically robust, higher margin, lower risk project in one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions. The report's sensitivity analyses show the project is still robust even at current spot prices. We look forward to building on this solid foundation to position ourselves as a premier, development stage, junior gold mining company. We have now completed the final requirement of our earn-in agreement with Patriot Gold so it is an exciting time for the Company and we look forward to realizing on the potential that the Moss Mine project offers."
The technical information in this release related to the Technical Report has been approved by David M.R. Stone, P.E., who is an independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.
About Northern Vertex
Northern Vertex Mining Corp. is a Canadian based exploration and mining company focused on the reactivation of the Moss Mine Gold-Silver Project located in NW Arizona, USA where the Company has now completed the requirements to earn-in to a 70% property interest and to form a Joint Venture with Patriot Gold Corp. The Moss Mine Gold-Silver Project is an epithermal, brecciated, low sulphidation quartz-calcite vein and stockwork system which extends over a strike length of 1,400 meters and has been drill tested to depths of 370 meters vertically. It is a potential heap leach, open pit project that has been advanced to the Feasibility Study stage to ensure that technical, economic, permitting and funding requirements are met prior to proceeding with the development of the mine. The Company's management comprises an experienced management team with a strong background in all aspects of acquisition, exploration, development, operations and financing of mining projects worldwide. The Company is focused on working effectively and respectfully with our stakeholders in the vicinity of the historical Moss Mine and enhancing the capacity of the local communities in the area.
The Company and Patriot Gold are engaged in an arbitration process under the Company's Exploration and Option to Enter Joint Venture Agreement dated February 28th, 2011 (the "Earn-in Agreement") in connection with certain allegations by Patriot that, amongst other items, allege that a) Patriot is entitled to the "operating profits" portion of the approximately US$5.5 million in gross metals revenue from pilot plant operations while the Company denies there were operating profits from those operations, and b) that the Feasibility Study was required to analyze a property-wide mine whereas the Earn-in Agreement expressly provides that the scope of any mine is within Northern Vertex's discretion. The Company rejects both allegations and is vigorously challenging Patriot Gold's allegations; however, the timing and outcome of any arbitration can never be predicted with certainty.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J.R.H. (Dick) Whittington, President & CEO
Neither 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.
Forward-Looking Statements: The information in this news release has been prepared as at July 22, 2015. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", constitute "forward-looking statements" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expected", "may", "will" or similar terms.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Cautionary Notes to US Investors Concerning Reserve and Resource Estimates
The definitions of Proven and Probable Reserves used in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") differ from the definitions in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Guide 7 standards, a "Final" or "Bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three year history average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.
In addition, the terms "Mineral Resource", "Measured 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 normally are 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.
Accordingly, information contained in this News Release, and on the Company's website, containing descriptions of Northern Vertex's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by US companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations there under.
2015 number 10
Contact
Northern Vertex Mining Corp.
Investor Relations
604-601-3656 or 1-855-633-8798
www.northernvertex.com