Continental Nickel Reports a Major Increase in Mineral Resources, Including the First Mineral Resource Estimate for the Sleeping Giant Nickel-Copper Sulphide Deposit in Tanzania
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 03/02/11 -- Continental Nickel Limited (TSX VENTURE: CNI) is pleased to report that Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources at Ntaka Hill, using a US$17/tonne Net Smelter Return ('NSR') cut-off, have increased to 4,981,000 tonnes grading 1.22% nickel and 0.24% copper, with additional Inferred Mineral Resources totalling 1,860,000 tonnes grading 0.68% nickel and 0.15% copper. At the new Sleeping Giant discovery, Inferred Mineral Resources calculated at a US$17/tonne NSR cut-off total 15,400,000 tonnes grading 0.77% nickel and 0.17% copper. At a US$80/tonne NSR cut-off, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources total 3,683,000 tonnes grading 1.52% nickel and 0.28% copper and Inferred Mineral Resources, dominated by the Sleeping Giant deposit, total 10,900,000 tonnes grading 0.98% nickel and 0.22% copper.The NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate was completed by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ('RPA') of Toronto, Ontario and incorporates additional drilling completed, after the 2009 Mineral Resource estimate (Press Release July 15, 2009), on seven separate sulphide deposits, including the new Sleeping Giant deposit discovered in 2010. The estimate is based on data obtained from 230 diamond drill holes totalling 35,361 metres completed to explore for and delineate the various sulphide zones at nominal 25 to 100 metre drill section spacing.
Highlights:
- Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (US$17/tonne NSR cut-off) at Ntaka Hill have increased by 61% by tonnage since the last estimate and now contain 60,900 tonnes of Nickel.
- Inferred Mineral Resources (US$17tonne NSR cut-off), dominated by the newly discovered Sleeping Giant deposit, total 17.26 million tonnes with 131,000 tonnes of contained nickel.
- Mineral characterization work (press release February 9, 2011) has confirmed high recoveries of nickel are also possible from mineralization at the Sleeping Giant deposit using conventional mineral processing.
- The Sleeping Giant deposit remains open in all directions and additional 'step out' drilling to expand the deposit is a priority in 2011.
- A scoping study to assess the economic viability of potential production options is also planned for 2011.
Craig MacDougall, President & CEO of Continental Nickel Limited, commented 'this is an outstanding achievement by the exploration team which has not only significantly upgraded the Mineral Resources at Ntaka Hill, but has also advanced the new Sleeping Giant deposit from discovery to an inferred Mineral Resource in just 6 months. This new discovery, which has demonstrated drill intersections of significant grade over width, including locally high grade intercepts, as well as potentially high nickel recoveries, remains open in all directions and has the potential to develop into a major new nickel sulphide deposit. These results continue to justify our ongoing commitment to exploration. Further 'step out' drilling to define the extent of the Sleeping Giant deposit will be a primary objective in 2011, along with the commencement of a scoping study. The project's location, within 200kms of a deep water port in a mining friendly jurisdiction such as Tanzania, is an important positive factor in future economic and feasibility studies.'
Mineral Resources were calculated from a geostatistical block model using GEMS software and reported at various NSR cut-off values per tonne, constrained by preliminary pit shells constructed by Whittle software. Only resources falling within the pit shells are reported as Mineral Resources. A minimum NSR cut-off of US$17/tonne was utilized to design the preliminary pit shells. Mineral Resources calculated at US$17/tonne, S$40/tonne and US$80/tonne NSR cut-offs are provided in Table I below.
Table I: Mineral Resources calculated at US$17, US$40 and US$80 /tonne NSR cut-offs for the Ntaka Hill and Sleeping Giant deposits (Note: Ntaka Hill is comprised of the G, H, J, L, M and NAD013 sulphide zones).
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Contained
Tonnes % % % NSR Ni
Zone Category (000's) Ni Cu Co (US$/t) (tonnes)
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NSR Cut-off: US$17/tonne
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Ntaka Hill Measured 1,871 1.74 0.30 0.05 275 32,500
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Ntaka Hill Indicated 3,110 0.91 0.20 0.04 148 28,400
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Total M + I 4,981 1.22 0.24 0.04 196 60,900
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Ntaka Hill Inferred 1,860 0.68 0.15 0.03 110 13,000
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Sleeping Giant Inferred 15,400 0.77 0.17 0.02 120 119,000
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Total Inferred 17,260 0.76 0.17 0.02 120 131,000
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NSR Cut-off: US$40/tonne
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Ntaka Hill Measured 1,862 1.74 0.31 0.05 276 32,500
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Ntaka Hill Indicated 3,102 0.92 0.20 0.04 149 28,400
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Total M + I 4,964 1.23 0.24 0.04 196 60,800
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Ntaka Hill Inferred 1,860 0.68 0.15 0.03 110 13,000
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Sleeping Giant Inferred 15,400 0.78 0.17 0.02 120 120,000
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Total Inferred 17,260 0.77 0.17 0.02 120 133,000
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NSR Cut-off: US$80/tonne
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Ntaka Hill Measured 1,575 1.99 0.34 0.05 315 31,400
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Ntaka Hill Indicated 2,108 1.16 0.24 0.05 188 24,500
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Total M + I 3,683 1.52 0.28 0.05 242 55,800
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Ntaka Hill Inferred 1,110 0.90 0.18 0.03 140 10,000
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Sleeping Giant Inferred 9,790 0.99 0.22 0.02 160 96,000
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Total Inferred 10,900 0.98 0.22 0.02 160 106,000
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Notes on Mineral Resources:
1. Mineral Resources were prepared in accordance with the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ('CIM') definition
standards regarding Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.
2. Assays of drill core were completed at ALS Minerals of Vancouver, BC and
included a comprehensive Quality Assurance / Quality Control ('QA/QC')
program. All aspects of the core sampling, assay procedures and QA/QC
program have been reviewed by RPA and were judged to be of industry
standard and suitable for use in the estimation of Mineral Resources.
RPA also completed a data verification exercise including independent
core sampling and assaying with satisfactory results.
3. Resource models were prepared based on drill section interpretation
using a nominal 0.25% nickel grade cut-off. 3D solids were constructed
by CNI geologists using GEMS software, then reviewed and revised as
necessary by RPA.
4. The estimation employed statistical analysis and variography of nickel,
copper and cobalt values with construction of block models by zone using
GEMS software. Block cell size was 2.5 x 5 x 5 metres.
5. Grade interpolation to assign grade values to cells used Inverse
Distance squared ('ID(2)') methods. Grades were also determined for Pt,
Pd and Au but are not reported here as, on a combined basis, they fall
below 1.0 gram/tonne.
6. A total of 3,529 bulk density determinations on core using the immersion
method were used for the estimate, with densities assigned where data
were not available, based on an analysis of the correlation between
specific gravity and sulphur.
7. Mineral Resources are reported at NSR cut-off values of US$17/t, US$40/t
and US$80/t and are based on open pit mining.
8. NSR values derived from grade were determined using average long-term
nickel, copper and cobalt prices of US$10.00/lb, US$3.50/lb, and
US$20.00/lb, respectively; preliminary metal recoveries estimated at 87%
for nickel, 81% for copper and 80% for cobalt, and allowances for
transportation of concentrate and standard industry treatment charges
for smelting and refining.
9. No minimum mining width was used.
10. Resource classification involved a review of geological and grade
continuity and was based on drill hole spacing.
11. Preliminary pits used to constrain the Mineral Resources reported were
constructed using Whittle software based on slope walls of 45 degrees, 5
metre bench heights, and production costs of US$2.50/tonne mined,
US$12.00/tonne processed and US$5.00/tonne general and administration
costs.
12. Totals may differ due to rounding.
13. The Company is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title,
taxation, socio-political or marketing issues that are material to the
statement of the Mineral Resources.
14. The Mineral Resource Estimate is effective March, 2011.
15. A copy of the Mineral Resource Estimation report completed by RPA will
be posted on SEDAR and the company's web site within 45 days of this
release.
Qualified Persons / Quality Control
The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Toronto, Ontario under the supervision of Chester Moore, P. Eng., Principal Geologist. Mr. Moore is an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
The quality control, technical information and all aspects of the exploration program were supervised by Patricia Tirschmann, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for CNI. The information in this release was prepared under the direction of Craig MacDougall, P. Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer for Continental Nickel Limited. Both Ms. Tirschmann and Mr. MacDougall are qualified persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
About Continental Nickel
Continental Nickel Limited is focused on the exploration, discovery and development of nickel sulphide deposits in geologically prospective, but under-explored regions globally. The Company's key asset is its 75% interest in the Nachingwea project in Tanzania, where NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resources (Measured and Indicated) have defined 60,900 tonnes of contained nickel, and an additional 131,000 tonnes of contained nickel in Inferred Mineral Resources. The project is a 75:25 Joint Venture between the Company and IMX Resources Limited ('IMX') of Australia.
The Company also has an option joint venture on the St. Stephen project in New Brunswick, Canada where it has discovered new Ni-Cu sulphide zones from the 2010 diamond drill program.
Continental Nickel Limited has 39,004,708 shares issued and outstanding (46,211,514 on a fully-diluted basis) and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CNI. The Company remains well-funded with currently over C$9.0 million in the treasury.
On behalf of Continental Nickel Limited
'Craig MacDougall' 'John Nitschke'
President & Chief Executive Officer Chairman
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: This News Release includes certain 'forward-looking statements'. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, potential or estimated metal recoveries, resources and reserves, exploration results, future plans and objectives of Continental Nickel Limited, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Continental Nickel Limited's expectations are the risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by Continental Nickel Limited with securities regulators.
Information in this announcement relating to the estimation of Mineral Resources is based on data verified and estimation methodologies supervised by Mr. Chester Moore who is a Principal Geologist with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Toronto Ontario, Canada. Information relating to exploration results and data used in the Mineral Resource estimate was gathered and compiled under the supervision of Ms. Patricia Tirschmann who holds the position of Vice President, Exploration and is a full time employee of Continental Nickel Limited. Mr. Moore is a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario. Ms. Tirschmann is a registered member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Each has sufficient relevant experience to qualify as a Competent Person under the 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr. Moore and Ms. Tirschmann both consent to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Contacts:
Continental Nickel Limited
Craig MacDougall, P. Geo.
President and CEO
(905) 815-0533
(905) 815-0532 (FAX)
info@continentalnickel.com
www.continentalnickel.com
Marguerite Manshreck-Head
Investor Relations
(613) 395-4487