November 21, 2011 Sabina Announces Increase in Resource Estimate for Back River Gold Project, Nunavut
-------------------------------------------------- Mineral Resource estimate at Back River now comprises indicated resources of 22.3 million tonnes grading 5.62 g/t for 4.03million oz Au and additional inferred resources of 10 million tonnes grading 6.23 g/t for 2.02 million oz Au
Vancouver, BC -- Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (SBB-T) is pleased to announce new resource estimates at the Company's 100% owned Back River gold project in Nunavut, Canada.
"We are very excited to announce our third Back River resource update in 2011." said Rob Pease, President & CEO. "the Company has more than doubled the resource on the Back River property in essentially two drilling campaigns. Given that there is a limited window for drilling in Nunavut, this success speaks to the prospectivity of the Back River project as well as to the skill and innovation of our exploration team. Their application of our exploration tool box on the geological settings at Back River continues to add ounces at an affordable rate. To date, our discovery cost per resource ounce at Back River is C$13 per resource ounce. With an updated resource in hand, we are now pushing forward with our preliminary economic assessment on the project, anticipated to be completed at the end of the first quarter, 2012."
Back River Resource Additions -- 2010/2011
The majority of the resource additions are a result of expansion drilling at the Umwelt deposit, which was extended along strike to over 1.14km and 1.5km down plunge in 2011. Drilling in 2011 increased the size of Umwelt and also established its continuity. Towards the end of the drilling season, deeper drilling at Umwelt identified a new G2 zone (Good Grade, Good Width). The G2 zone is a thicker higher grade zone at depth which is still open and has great potential to keep adding to the resource.
New Umwelt Resource Estimate
Umwelt Inside Whittle Shell Classification Grade cut-off Tonnage Au Au tonnes g/t ounces Indicated 2.0 g/t 5,441,800 5.56 973,500 1.0 g/t 6,532,100 4.89 1,026,000 0.53 g/t 7,007,200 4.61 1,037,800 Inferred 2.0 g/t 829,600 5.01 133,500 1.0 g/t 1,159,600 4.00 149,300 0.53 g/t 1,444,800 3.37 156,500 Umwelt Outside Whittle Shell Classification Grade cut-off Tonnage Au Au tonnes g/t ounces Indicated 3.0 g/t 3,179,800 6.40 653,900 2.0 g/t 4,407,400 5.31 751,900 Inferred 3.0 g/t 2,866,000 5.97 550,400 2.0 g/t 4,328,100 4.78 665,100
While drilling at the Llama deposit at the Goose claim block did extend the Llama deposit, the structure remains complex and the ounces added were not material enough to support a new resource calculation. The Llama deposit also remains open with many areas to be tested in 2012.
Back River Resource Estimate -- November 2011
Classification Location Tonnes Au (g/t) Ounces Au Open Pit Indicated Goose 7,697,000 4.45 1,101,000 Llama 1,860,000 9.41 562,000 Umwelt 6,532,000 4.89 1,026,023 Total Open Pit Indicated 16,089,000 5.20 2,689,023 Underground Indicated Umwelt 4,407,000 5.31 751,900 George 1,838,000 10.00 590,000 Total Underground Indicated 6,245,000 6.69 1,341,900 Total Indicated OP + UG 22,334,000 5.62 4,030,923 Open Pit Inferred Goose 436,000 3.53 50,000 Llama 981,000 5.71 180,000 Umwelt 1,160,000 4.00 149,300 Total Open Pit Inferred 2,577,000 4.57 379,300 Underground Inferred Goose 570,000 5.81 106,000 Umwelt 4,328,000 4.75 665,100 George 2,563,000 10.50 866,000 Total Underground Inferred 7,461,000 6.81 1,637,100 Total Inferred OP + UG 10,038,000 6.23 2,016,400
Notes: 1. CIMM definition standards were followed for Mineral Resources 2. The Qualified Person for the Goose, George and Llama Mineral Resource estimates is Doug Cater P. Geo., Project Manager, Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. 3. The Qualified Person for the Umwelt resource estimate is Wayne Barnett, Pr.Sci.Nat, SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc 4. Mineral Resources for Goose are estimated at a pit discard cut-off grade of 0.70 g/t Au ( Goose) and a 0.76 g/t Au ( Llama) and 90% recovery at an average long term gold price of US$1300 per ounce (Goose) and US$1200 per ounce ( Llama). Pit optimizations were used to constrain the resources. 5. The Umwelt drill hole database contains 120 surface diamond drill holes at approximate spacings of 25m , 50m and 100m. Mineral resources for Umwelt are estimated at a pit discard cut-off grade of 0.53g/t Au using an average long term gold price of US$1360 per ounce. Resources outside of the pit are estimated using a cut-off grade of 1.75 g/t Au. Resources as reported utilize a slightly higher cut-off for Umwelt of 1.0 gm/t for potential open pit and 2.0 gm/t for potential underground resources 6. . 7. A 5 g/t Au Cut-off grade was used to calculate the George resource estimate. 8. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for mineability, selectivity, mining loss and dilution. These mineral resource estimates include inferred mineral resources that are normally 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 measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied.
The Qualified Person under NI 43-101 is Doug Cater, Project Manager for Sabina Gold & Silver Corp, who has approved this release as it applies to the Llama, Goose and George mineral resource estimates.
The Qualified Person under NI 43-101 is Wayne Barnett (Pr.Sci.Nat.) of SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc, who has approved this news release as it applies to the Umwelt mineral resource estimate.
2012 BUDGET & PLANNING
In 2011, the Company spent approximately $30 million on Back River and $10 million on Wishbone and completed approximately 74,000 metres (Goose + George were 61,600m and Wishbone was ~ 11,700m) of drilling combined. While the majority of work focussed on expanding and extending the existing deposits on the Goose claim block, work was also directed at finding new deposits on the George claim block as well as at the gold prospects on Wishbone. The Company was successful in identifying approximately nine new discoveries on the properties all of which will be evaluated in the off season to determine their potential for growth into large open pit deposits.
The Company intends to continue aggressive and disciplined exploration in 2012 on the Nunavut properties, with the goal to further expand resources, drill test new discoveries, and continue exploration for new prospects.
As announced previously, the Company has hired a Vice-President, Engineering to push engineering studies forward, as well as a Director of Environmental and Community relations to oversee the permitting process. Development work in 2012 will focus on baseline studies and in-fill drilling to push the deposits towards development. The detailed budget for 2012 is being developed, however it is anticipated that spending will be increased from 2011 levels.
SABINA GOLD & SILVER CORP.
|