Hana Mining Ltd.: Infill Drilling Encounters More Consistent High-Grade Copper-Silver Mineralization Along the South Limb of the Banana Zone
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/19/11 -- Hana Mining Ltd. ('Hana' or the 'Company') (TSX VENTURE: HMG)(FRANKFURT: 4LH) is pleased to announce its most recent drilling results from the completion of 10 infill diamond drill holes in the Banana Zone at its Ghanzi sediment hosted Copper-Silver Project in Botswana.
Infill drilling was carried out on the South Limb (between sections 56625 to 58500 at South Limb South; Figures 1 and 2) to convert a substantial amount of the NI 43-101 compliant resources within this area into the Indicated category from the Inferred category.
These results are from new holes and are in addition to those used in the most recent NI 43-101 compliant Indicated and Inferred mineral resource calculation (see Table 1 at the end of this press release for the results from all 10 drill holes). The mineralization remains open at depth.
Highlights of recent drilling results:
-- The latest results continue to confirm the continuity of copper-
silver mineralization at the South Limb South area of the Banana
Zone.
-- Core lengths intercepts of
-- 2.96% CuEq(1), (2.42% Cu and 37.0 g/t Ag) over 2.5 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 0.98% CuEq (0.80% Cu and 12.0
g/t Ag) over 10.2 metres in hole HA-382-D,
-- 2.39% CuEq(1), (1.98% Cu and 28.0 g/t Ag) over 3.0 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 0.85% CuEq (0.72% Cu and 9.0 g/t
Ag) over 10.0 metres in hole HA-384-D,
-- 2.18% CuEq(1), (1.82% Cu and 25.0 g/t Ag) over 1.7 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 0.77% CuEq (0.63% Cu and 10.0
g/t Ag) over 9.0 metres in hole HA-383-D, and
-- 1.75% CuEq(1), (1.43% Cu and 22.0 g/t Ag) over 1.6 metres within
a wider mineralized interval of 1.11% CuEq (0.93% Cu and 12.0
g/t Ag) over 3.1 metres in hole HA-379-D.
1. Copper equivalent calculated using US$3.00/lb Cu, US$30/oz Ag and is not
adjusted for metallurgical recoveries. The formula used is as follows:
CuEq = Cu% + (Ag g/t x 0.01458).
Discussion of Results:
The infill drilling program at the South Limb again confirms that high-grade copper-silver mineralization is continuous along strike along the South Limb (Figure 3). This drilling will allow for the conversion of more mineral resources from the Inferred category into the Indicated category.
To view Figures 1-3, click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/h1216.pdf
Development Update
The following engineering and consultation activities are ongoing:
-- Work on the revised resource estimate for the Banana Zone is continuing
as expected and the Company expects to release the results of this
resource estimate in the second quarter of 2012.
-- Work continues on the Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA') which is
also expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012.
Hana Mining's CEO and Chairman, Marek Kreczmer, commented as follows:
'I am very pleased with the success of the 2011 infill drilling campaign, which has met its target of 40,000 metres at the Banana Zone. I expect the results from this drilling program to translate into a more robust resource estimate which will be completed in the second quarter of 2012. Given the success of the 2011 drilling program, the Company will resume infill drilling at the Banana Zone in January 2012. We will also commence regional exploration drilling in 2012. Our Chief Geologist, Sas Burgers, has already identified a number of compelling targets, outside of the Banana Zone, on the Ghanzi property that may host high-grade copper-silver mineralization.'
Qualified Person and Quality Assurance/Quality Control
The drilling program and results are reviewed and approved by Marek Kreczmer, Chief Executive Officer for Hana. He is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information in this press release.
Drill core is logged and photographed. Mineralized intervals are split in half by sawing and sampled at site. The remainder of the core is kept as a permanent record. Samples are placed into labelled bags, closed and packed into sealed bags that are shipped to ALS Chemex Laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa or Scientific Services Laboratories in Cape Town, South Africa. Hana has implemented an industry-standard QA/QC program that includes the blind insertion of certified standards, duplicates and blanks into the sample stream.
About Hana Mining's Ghanzi Copper-Silver Project in Botswana:
The Ghanzi Project is located in the center of the Kalahari Copper Belt in northwestern Botswana. The Ghanzi property covers 2,149 square kilometres, and contains sediment- hosted copper-silver deposits with a demonstrated cumulative tested strike length of 70 kilometres. This favorable geology extends over an estimated strike length of 600 kilometres. Hana Mining released results of its most recent NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Ghanzi Project on December 20, 2010, announcing an Indicated mineral resource of 585 million pounds of copper and 12 million ounces of silver from 19.7 million tonnes at a grade of 1.35% copper and 19.7 g/t silver. All of the Indicated resources are from the Banana Zone. There are also Inferred resources of 2.4 billion pounds of copper and 40.6 million ounces of silver from 91.2 million tonnes. This Inferred mineral resource estimate consists of 69.9 million tonnes grading 1.10% Cu and 14.98 g/t Ag in the Banana Zone, 13.4 million tonnes grading 1.66% Cu and 12.11 g/t Ag in Zone 5, 6.3 million tonnes grading 1.5% Cu and 6.7 g/t Ag in Zone 6, and 1.6 million tonnes grading 0.85% Cu and 6.4 g/t Ag in the Chalcocite Zone; all at a cut-off grade of 0.75% Cu.
The Banana Zone exhibits certain areas of higher grade Cu and Ag mineralization, particularly between sections 49700 to 52000 on the North limb and sections 63000 to 71000 on both the North and South limbs, which represent an opportunity to locate starter pits and mine initial tonnages at higher than average grades. These higher grade pockets tend to be well within open pit depth parameters and represent opportunities to improve early cash flow and overall returns in development.
The project will benefit from proposed rail and power infrastructure expansions, along with proximity to local population centers and workforce. A feasibility study is currently underway (funded by the World Bank and the governments of Botswana and Namibia) to support completion of a rail line link that would connect Botswana with the Namibian port of Walvis Bay, on the Atlantic coast. The closest existing railhead to port is at Gobabis, in Namibia, approximately 550 km from our property. Construction has begun on the 600MW expansion of the government-owned Moropule Power Plant, having secured US$825 million project funding in May 2009. The Ghanzi Copper- Silver Project is currently accessed by the paved Trans-Kalahari highway, which passes within 15 km of the property.
The Ghanzi property is one of Africa's premier future copper-silver resources.
Table 1: Drill Results from South Limb, Banana Zone, Sections 56625 to 58500
- Interval indicates down hole interval
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Est.
Mineral- True Cu
ized From To Interval Width Eq Cu Ag
Hole # Section Zone (m) (m) (m) (m) (%) (%) (g/t)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-370-D SL57125 South 70.00 85.57 15.57 13.25 0.67 0.54 9.0
Limb
South
includes 76.48 85.00 8.52 7.25 1.05 0.85 14.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-373-D SL58200 South 68.00 80.05 12.05 10.25 0.44 0.36 5.0
Limb
South
includes 75.29 77.30 2.01 1.71 1.66 1.39 19.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-375-D SL56825 South 117.85 122.64 4.79 4.07 0.21 0.15 4.0
Limb
South
HA-375-D 133.90 145.78 11.88 10.10 0.75 0.62 9.0
includes 139.00 145.00 6.00 5.10 1.05 0.85 14.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-376-D SL58500 South 42.00 60.00 18.00 15.32 0.58 0.51 5.0
Limb
South
includes 46.88 60.00 13.12 11.16 0.76 0.66 7.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-377-D SL56725 South 145.00 155.00 10.00 8.50 0.88 0.72 11.0
Limb
South
includes 147.84 154.00 6.16 5.24 1.28 1.03 17.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-379-D SL58100 South 137.00 140.69 3.69 3.14 1.11 0.93 12.0
Limb
South
includes 138.76 140.69 1.93 1.64 1.75 1.43 22.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-382-D SL58300 South 101.65 113.61 11.96 10.17 0.98 0.80 12.0
Limb
South
includes 110.65 113.61 2.96 2.52 2.96 2.42 37.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-383-D SL56825 South 79.27 89.83 10.56 8.98 0.77 0.63 10.0
Limb
South
includes 82.68 85.00 2.32 1.97 0.74 0.58 11.0
includes 87.00 89.00 2.00 1.70 2.18 1.82 25.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-384-D SL56625 South 70.00 81.80 11.80 10.03 0.85 0.72 9.0
Limb
South
includes 78.00 81.47 3.47 2.95 2.39 1.98 28.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HA-385-D SL56625 South 108.52 120.00 11.48 9.76 0.66 0.56 7.0
Limb
South
includes 116.25 120.00 3.75 3.19 1.67 1.38 20.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Copper equivalent calculated using US$3.00/lb Cu, US$30/oz Ag and is not
adjusted for metallurgical recoveries. The formula used is as follows: CuEq
= Cu% + (Ag g/t x 0.01458).
Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Hana Mining Ltd.
Marek Kreczmer
CEO
(604) 676-0824
info@hanamining.com
Hana Mining Ltd.
Patrick Donnelly
VP - Corporate Development
(604) 676-0824
(778) 370-0146 (FAX)
patrick@hanamining.com
www.hanamining.com