Karmin announces Milpo’s Purchase of an initial 7.7% Participation and Feasibility Level Studies for the Aripuanã Zinc Project
Karmin Exploration Inc. (“Karmin”) (TSXV and the Lima Stock Exchange: KAR) is pleased to report that Compañía Minera Milpo S.A.A. (“Milpo”) (Lima Stock Exchange: MILPOC1) has purchased;
- an initial 7.7% participation in the Aripuanã Zinc Project (“Aripuanã”) from Votorantim Metais Zinc S.A. (“Votorantim”) and
- an interest in the Bongará and Chambará polymetallic exploration projects from Votorantim Metais Cajamarquilla S.A. (“Cajamarquilla”).
The combined value of the acquisitions by Milpo is approximately US$53 million. These transactions were disclosed in a letter from Milpo to the Public Registrar of Markets in Peru on January 28, 2015 (“Milpo Letter”).
Milpo will also significantly advance the development of the Aripuanã Zinc Project with “plans to conduct additional geological and engineering studies to reach the level of a feasibility study within an estimated timeframe of 18 months”, according to the Milpo Letter.
Votorantim has, prior to the Milpo transaction, spent C$44.4 million on the Aripuanã Zinc Project since acquiring its 70% interest from Anglo American PLC in 2003.
David Brace, Karmin’s CEO stated “Karmin has a 30% carried interest in the world class Aripuanã Zinc Project and Milpo’s purchase of a an initial 7.7% participation and its development plans for Aripuanã are very good news for Karmin’s shareholders. Milpo and its subsidiaries are a large Peruvian mining group which produced 200,050 tonnes of zinc in concentrate and had sales of US$577 million during the nine month period January to September 2014.”
Karmin has approved this transaction as Votorantim may transfer its Aripuanã interest in whole or in part to affiliated companies. Milpo is an affiliate of Votorantim as more than 50% of the common shares of Milpo are owned by Cajamarquilla and Votorantim Metais Investimentos Ltd.
About Karmin
The common shares of Karmin are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Lima Stock Exchange and trade in both markets under the symbol “KAR”. The principal business of Karmin is to acquire, explore and develop resource properties.
Karmin owns 30% of the Aripuanã Zinc Project, one of the ten largest undeveloped zinc projects in the world. The Aripuanã Zinc Project covers an 820 square kilometre mineralized massive-sulphide district that includes five areas of mineralization (Ambrex, Arex, Babacu, Massaranduba and Mocoto) over a 25-kilometre strike length. Votorantim owns 70% of the Aripuanã zinc project, but is responsible for 100% of the project costs until the completion of a bankable feasibility study.
The Summary of Mineral resources at the Aripuanã Zinc Project is outlined in Table 1 (for more information see Karmin press release February 21, 2013).
TABLE #1 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES – ARIPUANÃ September 12, 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Grade | Contained Metal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tonnage | Zn | Pb | Cu | Au | Ag | Zn | Pb | Cu | Au | Ag | |||||||||||||
Mt | % | % | % | g/t | g/t | M lb | M lb | M lb | Oz | K Oz | |||||||||||||
AREX | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Measured | 2.4 | 7.15 | 2.50 | 0.51 | 0.24 | 73 | 378 | 132 | 27 | 19,000 | 5,633 | ||||||||||||
Indicated | 2.5 | 3.50 | 1.18 | 1.36 | 0.64 | 37 | 195 | 65 | 76 | 52,000 | 2,996 | ||||||||||||
Inferred | 3.2 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 39 | 278 | 101 | 57 | 73,000 | 4,001 | ||||||||||||
AMBREX | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Indicated | 14.2 | 3.39 | 1.23 | 0.07 | 0.18 | 29 | 1,062 | 386 | 23 | 82,000 | 13,389 | ||||||||||||
Inferred | 11.5 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.30 | 40 | 1,269 | 436 | 36 | 108,000 | 14,657 | ||||||||||||
AREX + AMBREX | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Measured + Indicated | 19.1 | 3.87 | 1.38 | 0.30 | 0.25 | 36 | 1,635 | 584 | 125 | 153,000 | 22,018 | ||||||||||||
Inferred | 14.7 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 39 | 1,547 | 536 | 93 | 181,000 | 8,560 |
Notes:
1. CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
2. Mineral Resources are reported as within mineralized wireframes modelled at 3% Zn in the stratabound zone and 0.5% Cu in the stringer zone and include internal dilution.
3. The Ambrex resource database does not include results of drilling in 2012.
4. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Karmin owns 100% of the Aripuanã Gold Project, which encompasses the gold and silver mineralization associated with near-surface oxidized portions of numerous massive-sulphide deposits in the 820-square-kilometre Aripuanã Zinc Project in north western Brazil.
Karmin owns 100% of the 25-square-kilometre Cushuro Gold Project located in the world-class Alto Chicama gold-mining district of northern Peru.
Disclaimer Relating to Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the belief of management and reflect Karmin’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, possible events and statements. The words “potential,” “possible,” “expects,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or “believes,” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” or “will” be taken or occur, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, but are not limited to the mineral resource estimates and the business plans of Karmin. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Karmin with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.
Such statements are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections in the forward-looking statements will not occur, and that actual performance and results in future periods may differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The Aripuanã Zinc Project and the land it relates to is an exploration property only. Accordingly, there are a number of important factors that could cause Karmin’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors relating to the Aripuanã Zinc Project include, among others, the timing and content of work programs, results of the development of mineral properties, the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, the uncertainties of resource and reserve estimates, receipt and security of mineral property titles, receipt of licenses to conduct mining activities, project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, fluctuations in metal prices and general market and industry conditions, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, policies and regulations, the security of personnel and assets, and political or economic developments in Canada and Brazil, operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development and the risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Except as required by law, Karmin disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Karmin undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact
Karmin
David Brace, (416) 367-0369
Chief Executive Officer
davidbrace@karmin.com
or
John Iannozzi, (519) 337-5302
Chief Financial Officer
johni@karmin.com