Noront Resources Ltd. Files Project Description for Eagle's Nest Development
Noront's President and CEO, Wes Hanson, states: "The Project Description initiates the permitting process for development of the Eagle's Nest deposit. This is the first step of the permitting process and establishes a starting point for future consultation regarding infrastructure and mine development of the Eagle's Nest deposit with the local First Nation communities as well as local, provincial and federal government agencies."
Noront's Project Description proposes a planned 1.0 million tonne per annum underground mine and mill complex processing high grade nickel, copper, platinum and palladium ore from the Eagle's Nest deposit. Proposed surface disturbance at the mine site is limited to an airstrip, an accommodation, recreation and office complex, an explosive storage site, an underground portal and site roads connecting these facilities.
The mill complex will be established in underground excavations, taking advantage of the highly competent host rocks and minimizing surface disturbance at the site. Mill tailings will be stored underground as paste or cemented paste backfill in the voids created by mining of the nickel copper ore and competent waste rock which is planned to be used as construction material.
The Mine is estimated to produce approximately 150,000 tonnes of concentrate annually, which would be pumped via a buried pipeline, approximately 100 kilometres due west to a proposed site named Webequie Junction. This site is located approximately 20 kilometres south of the community of Webequie. A filtering and drying plant will be constructed at Webequie Junction to treat the concentrate, recycle the water back to the site and transfer the concentrate to truck for shipment to a proposed railhead near Savant Lake.
A diesel generating station will be established at Webequie Junction and power will be brought to site via a new power line. Both the power line and the buried concentrate slurry pipeline will follow a winter road that is proposed between the Eagle's Nest deposit and Webequie Junction. The winter road will limit the environmental footprint on the James Bay Lowlands.
At the end of the winter road from Eagle's Nest to Webequie Junction, an all season road is proposed to connect Webequie Junction to Highway #808 north east of Pickle Lake. This proposed route generally follows the existing Ministry of Natural Resources winter road corridor thereby limiting the environmental impact. This route will allow truck haulage of concentrate to the proposed rail facility.
During operation, mine consumables supply will utilize the same route, the proposed all season road to Webequie Junction followed by the winter road to site. People and perishable goods will be transported to site via air to the proposed airstrip.
Noront's senior management have reviewed this release including Mr. Paul Semple, P.Eng., Noront's Chief Operating Office and a Qualified Person under Canadian Securities Administrators guidelines.
About Noront:
Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on its significant and multiple, high-grade nickel-copper-platinum-palladium, chromite, gold and vanadium discoveries in an area known as the "Ring of Fire", an emerging multi-metals district located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, Canada. Noront is the dominant land holder at the Ring of Fire and continues to delineate and prove up its discoveries with NI 43-101 technical and economic reports and an aggressive and well financed drill program. All material information on Noront can be found on the Company's website at http://www.norontresources.com or at SEDAR at www.sedar.com
Wesley (Wes) Hanson
President & Chief Executive Officer
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion, growth of the Company's businesses, operations, plans and with respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting time lines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation and timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic studies.
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "planned", "expects" or "looking forward", "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or "belief", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Although Noront has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Neither 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.
For further information:
Wes Hanson, President & CEO
at (416) 367-1444
or visit Noront's website at
http://www.norontresources.com