West Kirkland Provides an Update on the Hasbrouck Gold Project
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb 29, 2016) - West Kirkland Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE:WKM) (the "Company") provides an important update on its Hasbrouck Gold Project in Nevada. The public comment period for the final state permit for construction of the Three Hills mine closed on February 23, 2016 with no comments received. A Federal Decision Record for the Three Hills part of the Hasbrouck Project was obtained in November 2015 and the last permit required for construction and operation is expected from Nevada in the next 60 days.
The Three Hills mine is a run-of-mine open pit heap leach operation and is the first phase of the Hasbrouck Gold Project. The second phase is an open pit crushed-ore heap leach operation at the Hasbrouck mine to the south.
West Kirkland Mining owns 75% of the Hasbrouck Project and is the operator. Combined Measured and Indicated resources (100% basis) of both the Hasbrouck and Three Hills deposits contain 927,000 ounces of gold and 14.1 million ounces of silver. Inferred resources at both deposits contain an additional 136,000 oz of gold and 2.2 million ounces of silver. Reserves for both deposits contain approximately 762,000 ounces of gold and 10.6 million ounces of silver. Tonnage and grade of all resources and reserves are summarized below.
The July 2015 pre-feasibility study planned 71,000 ounce of gold per year over 8 years. The Three Hills mine will provide 2 to 3 years of production as a low cost open pit run-of-mine heap leach operation, generating substantially all cash needed to build the second phase at Hasbrouck mine. The Company's 2015 pre-feasibility study has been filed on SEDAR and is available on the Company's website (www.wkmining.com).
CEO R. Michael Jones, P.Eng said "The current gold price is right on our assumptions in the Hasbrouck Pre-feasibility Study (US$ 1,225) and it is an ideal time for the permitting to be completed. Hasbrouck is one of the only truly shovel-ready gold heap leach projects in Nevada. The ability to start in ore at surface at Three Hills and put run-of mine material on the heap leach with a very good gold recovery adds to the attractiveness of the project."
Since the November 2015 Federal Decision Record, the Company has developed a detailed execution plan for the construction of the Three Hills mine. This has both confirmed and developed the July 2015 pre-feasibility study findings.
The Company continues permitting the larger Hasbrouck Peak open pit and is preparing to make a construction decision at Three Hills as market conditions improve. West Kirkland also holds a 60% interest in the open pit heap leach TUG Gold deposit in Utah in Joint Venture with Newmont.
About the Hasbrouck Gold Project
Located near Tonopah, Nevada, the Hasbrouck Gold Project consists of two oxidized gold deposits eight kilometers apart, Three Hills and Hasbrouck. West Kirkland has a 75% controlling interest in the project. In 2015, Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP bought a 25% interest in the Hasbrouck Gold Project and certain exploration assets for US $17.5 million. All numbers presented below are on a 100% basis.
- 567,000 recoverable gold ounces, 71,000 ounces annual production for 8 years
- US $708 adjusted operating costs per ounce, US $779 all-in sustaining costs
- US $90.6 million Pre-Tax NPV (5%), 29% IRR at US $1,225/oz Au and US $17.50/oz Ag
- US $75.3 million After-Tax NPV (5%), 26% IRR at US $1,225/oz Au and US $17.50/oz Ag
- US $54.3 million initial capital
Hasbrouck Project Resources and Reserves
Resources are reported inclusive of reserves.
| Hasbrouck Deposit Reported Mineral Resources* | |||||
| November 3, 2014 Mine Development Associates | |||||
| (0.006oz AuEq/ton Cut-off) | |||||
| Class | Tons | oz Au/ton | oz Au | oz Ag/ton | oz Ag |
| Measured | 8,261,000 | 0.017 | 143,000 | 0.357 | 2,949,000 |
| Indicated | 45,924,000 | 0.013 | 595,000 | 0.243 | 11,147,000 |
| M+I | 54,185,000 | 0.014 | 738,000 | 0.26 | 14,096,000 |
| Inferred | 11,772,000 | 0.009 | 104,000 | 0.191 | 2,249,000 |
| Notes: oz AuEq/ton = oz Au/ton + (oz Ag/ton x 0.000417) | |||||
| Three Hills Reported Mineral Resources* | |||
| August 4, 2014 Mine Development Associates | |||
| (0.005oz Au/ton Cut-off) | |||
| Class | Tons | oz Au/ton | oz Au |
| Indicated | 10,897,000 | 0.017 | 189,000 |
| Inferred | 2,568,000 | 0.013 | 32,000 |
| Notes: |
| (1) CIM definitions are followed for classification of Mineral Resources. 100% Project Basis |
| (2) Mineral Resources are estimated using a gold price of US $1,300 per ounce and a silver price of US $22 per ounce. |
| (3) Totals may not represent the sum of the parts due to rounding. |
| (4) The Mineral Resources have been prepared by Paul Tietz, C.P.G of Mine Development Associates in conformity with CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines and are reported in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators NI43-101. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserve. |
Proven and Probable reserves total 45.3 million tons containing 762,000 ounces gold and 10.6 million ounces silver as detailed below:
| Hasbrouck Project Reserves June 3, 2015 Mine Development Associates (1,2) | ||||||
| Three Hills | K tons | Grade | K oz Au | oz Ag/ton | K oz Ag | |
| (oz Au/ton) | ||||||
| 0.005 opt | Proven | - | - | - | - | - |
| Au cut-off | Probable | 9,653 | 0.018 | 175 | - | - |
| P&P | 9,653 | 0.018 | 175 | - | - | |
| Hasbrouck | ||||||
| Variable(3) | Proven | 6,242 | 0.020 | 127 | 0.410 | 2,562 |
| Probable | 29,374 | 0.016 | 461 | 0.273 | 8,007 | |
| P&P | 35,617 | 0.017 | 588 | 0.297 | 10,569 | |
| Total Hasbrouck Project | ||||||
| Variable(3) | Proven | 6,242 | 0.020 | 127 | 0.410 | 2,562 |
| Probable | 39,028 | 0.016 | 635 | 0.205 | 8,007 | |
| P&P | 45,270 | 0.017 | 762 | 0.233 | 10,569 | |
| Notes: |
| (1) The estimation and classification of Proven and Probable reserves have been prepared by Thomas L. Dyer, P.E., of Mine Development Associates following CIM standards. 100% Project Basis. |
| (2) Reserves are estimated based on US $1,225/oz gold and US $17.50/oz silver. |
| (3) Cut-off grades used for reserves are: Three Hills 0.005 oz Au/ton, Hasbrouck Upper Siebert 0.008 oz Au/ton, and Hasbrouck Lower Siebert 0.007 oz Au/ton. |
See Technical Report on SEDAR filed July 17, 2015 and the News Release dated June 3, 2015 for risk factors, QAQC and other details.
Qualified Persons
The Prefeasibility Study and Mineral Resource Estimate were prepared in conformance with NI 43-101 by Mine Development Associates (MDA). The report was prepared by Thomas L. Dyer, P.E. and Paul Tietz, C.P.G. of MDA, with contributions by Herb Osborne, Metallurgical Eng., SME, of H.C. Osborne & Associates (metallurgy), Ryan Baker, P.E., of Newfields (civil and heap leach) and Carl Defilippi, SME, of Kappes Cassiday & Associates (process design). Each person is a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the information in this news release relevant to the portion of the Hasbrouck prefeasibility study for which they are responsible. MDA has reviewed and verified the data disclosed in this news release to be in conformity with generally accepted CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices" guidelines.
Sandy McVey, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer for West Kirkland, and a non-independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the information contained in this news release and has verified the data.
About West Kirkland Mining Inc.
West Kirkland was formed in 2010 to focus on gold exploration along major geological trends in North America. The Company has consolidated significant mineral rights positions within known gold trends of Nevada and Utah, including the Hasbrouck and Three Hills properties in southern Nevada. The founders, management, and board members of West Kirkland have extensive experience in gold discovery, mine development, and mine operations in Nevada and other gold producing jurisdictions in North America. The founders have a successful track record of international mining finance.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, the statements regarding the use of proceeds, ability to achieve the recoveries and the processing capacity of the mines; regulatory processes and permitting; estimates of gold or other minerals grades; anticipated costs, anticipated sales, project economics, the realization of expansion and construction activities and the timing thereof; production estimates and other statements that are not historical facts. Information concerning mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic analysis thereof contained in the prefeasibility study are also forward-looking statements in that they reflect a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered, and the results of mining it, if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Although West Kirkland believes that such timing and expenses as set out in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and estimates will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the market for gold or other minerals that may be produced generally, significant increases in any of the machinery, equipment or supplies required to develop and operate a mine, a significant change in the availability or cost of the labor force required to operate a mine, a significant increases in the cost of transportation for the Company's products, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies and other risks associated with the exploration and development of mineral properties. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding the Use of Mining Terms
This press release has been prepared in accordance with the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resources and reserve estimates included in this press release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Industry Guide 7, and resource or reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, "resources" and "reserves" established under NI 43-101 standards may not qualify as "resources" and "reserves" under U.S. standards. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. In addition, under U.S. standards, a "Final" or "Bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical 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. 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 standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth in this press release may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.
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.
Contact
West Kirkland Mining Inc.
Sandy McVey
Chief Operating Officer
(604) 685-8311
info@wkmining.com
www.wkmining.com