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Puma Exploration Inc
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Puma recovers 86.6% Zn in Murray Brook testing

2019-03-28 11:57 ET - News Release

Mr. Marcel Robillard reports

PUMA EXPLORATION REPORTS POSITIVE METALLURGICAL RESULTS FOR THE MURRAY BROOK DEPOSIT RECOVERY OF ZINC 86.6% (ZN) AND LEAD 70.4% (PB) IN THE HIGH-GRADE ZN-PB ZONE

Puma Exploration Inc. has released positive results for the metallurgical program currently in progress at Murray Brook deposit, located in the famous Bathurst mining camp (BMC) in New Brunswick. The program was designed to investigate the potential of processing the Murray Brook mineralization by utilizing the existing mill flowsheet at the Caribou mine. Flotation testwork was conducted from the two distinct zones (zinc/lead and copper/zinc) to the current Caribou plant grinding and flotation conditions. Additional flotation testwork of a scoping nature was also conducted to evaluate a third zone for potential optimizations of near-surface mineralization.

The zinc-lead zone (P1) of the deposit yields recoveries of 86.6 per cent zinc and 70.4 per cent lead with 39.9 per cent of silver reporting to the lead concentrate. The P1 results are higher than the published results by Trevali from the Caribou underground mine and also significantly higher than the initial recovery tests conducted by Votorantim Metals Canada in the studies of 2013.

For the first time, recovery tests were conducted on a newly defined copper-zinc zone of the Murray Brook deposit. The copper-zinc zone (P3) also reported positive results with initial copper recovery of 79.5 per cent copper with 54.9 per cent of silver reporting to the copper concentrate and a zinc recovery of 65.6 per cent zinc. Further optimization testwork is in progress on both P1 and P3 zones to evaluate the potential to further upgrade recovery and reduced reagent consumption.

        FEED GRADE ANALYSES OF THE ZONES P1, P3 AND PB COMPOSITE SAMPLES
 
Zone         Sample ID         Pb          Zn          Cu        Ag             Au 
                               (%)         (%)         (%)     (g/t)          (g/t)  
                   
P1               Zn-Pb       1.70        5.15        0.16        68          0.365   
P3               Cu-Zn       0.63        1.31        1.01        44          0.504   
PB (surface)     Zn-Cu       0.55        2.48        1.31        27          0.364   

Marcel Robillard, president and chief executive officer, stated: "We are very pleased with these metallurgical tests, as they prove the zinc-lead sulphide mineralization from Murray Brook deposit is amenable to industry-standard flotation processing and have produced excellent first-pass zinc recoveries and a market-ready concentrate, an important step towards derisking the project. The increase of the lead and consequently of the silver recovery is significant in the overall economics of the project as the MB deposit contains a current resource of 610 Mlb of Zn, 209.3 Mlb of Pb, 53.8 Mlb of Cu, 110.9 Koz of Au and 11.7 Moz of Ag (filled SEDAR)."

As an additional upside potential, preliminary recovery tests on the near-surface material were performed for the first time. The near-surface zone (PB) was found to be oxidized and rougher flotation results indicated that further scoping testwork on the rougher flotation circuit would be required to ascertain operating conditions that will allow for the efficient separation of zinc and copper. Optimization and zinc cleaning testwork is in progress on these concentrates to evaluate the potential for zinc upgrade and an estimate of final recovery.

A review of the news release since January, 2016, found on the Puma Exploration website will help to better understand the potential of these metallurgical results as they related to the current size of the deposit and reported resources.

Technical information regarding the news release

The metallurgical drilling program comprised 1,683 metres of drilling within seven new holes collared on the Murray Brook deposit. The locations, orientations and angles of the holes were defined according to a preliminarily mine design, including the two main targeted zones of the Murray Brook deposit, which are the high-grade zinc-lead (P1) and high-grade copper-zinc sulphide (P3). As a potential upside, preliminary metallurgical tests were also performed on the surface zone (PB).

        DRILL RESULTS OF THE MASSIVE SULPHIDE INTERSECTED AT THE MURRAY BROOK DEPOSIT
 
DDH number       From       To   Length       Pb       Zn       Cu       Ag                Zones 
                   (m)      (m)      (m)      (%)      (%)      (%)    (g/t)         

MB-2018-01       46.7    101.0     54.4     0.57     1.23     1.16       37                Cu-Zn
MB-2018-02       19.0    228.0    209.0     0.84     2.83     0.38       33      Zn-Pb and Cu-Zn
MB-2018-03       11.4    110.0     98.6     0.48     2.51     0.79       29      Zn-Pb and Cu-Zn
MB-2018-04      114.0    252.3    138.3     0.69     1.56     0.65       37                Cu-Zn
MB-2018-05      109.4    230.3    120.9     2.05     6.11     0.11       70                Zn-Pb
MB-2018-06A      57.0    215.1    158.1     1.20     3.75     0.15       38                Zn-Pb
MB-2018-07      154.9    242.0     87.1     2.35     6.86     0.13       96                Zn-Pb
   
Note: The true thickness is ranging from 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the core intercepts.

The aim of the metallurgical testwork conducted was to develop a favourable recovery process using the Caribou flowsheet as currently in usage or with small modifications. The historical Votorantim metallurgical composite was used as a starting point (RPC report reference No. MIS-J1859). Further objectives of the tests conducted also included evaluating the operating conditions that would produce a high-grade zinc concentrate at high zinc recovery values during zinc cleaning flotation at the P1 zone; a good copper and zinc separation during rougher flotation on the PB zone near-surface material and optimizing flotation results on P3 zone (copper-zinc zone).

Flotation testwork was therefore conducted to evaluate the response of Murray Brook material from the two zones to current Caribou plant grinding and flotation conditions, as well as some flotation testwork at a scoping level to evaluate potential optimizations. In addition to the flotation testwork, additional metallurgical testwork was performed to better understand the characteristics of the Murray Brook material; and included the following work:

  • Heavy liquid separation (HLS) tests were conducted on P1 material to evaluate the potential for preconcentration;
  • Bench scale milling testwork was conducted to obtain comminution circuit design information;
  • Mineralogical characterization was conducted to aid in designing the flotation operating conditions;
  • Zinc concentrate material produced during zone P1 locked cycle flotation was also subjected to characterization testwork;
  • Mill standardization testwork was accomplished on all three zones to ensure that target grind sizes could be reached during flotation testwork;
  • Scoping work on rougher flotation on P1 zone and P3 zone material aided in developing optimal operating conditions.

1) High-grade zinc-lead domain (P1)

A total of 75 metres of half core (270 kilograms) of high-grade zinc P1 zone core was collected from five different holes, well distributed and representatives of the higher-grade zone. The head grade of the composite sample is 5.15 per cent zinc, 1.70 per cent ;lead, 0.16 per cent copper, 68 g/t silver and 0.37 g/t gold. Through locked cycle testwork, it was found that the P1 material could produce a zinc concentrate product from the fourth cleaner cells containing 49 per cent zinc metal at a zinc recovery of 86.6 per cent in 7.4 per cent of the feed mass in closed circuit. The fourth cleaner cells lead concentrate product graded 39.29 per cent lead, 833 g/t silver and 0.465 g/t gold at 68.9-per-cent-lead recovery in 2.7 per cent of the feed mass. Detailed variability testing on lower-grade zinc zone material produced positive results during open circuit lead cleaning scoping flotation testwork.

Mineralogy of P1 material indicated that the estimated mean particle size of the sulphides was 207 microm with galena particles being approximately 11 microm, sphalerite particles being approximately 20 microm and chalcopyrite particles being approximately 12 microm. The material contained 71.78 per cent pyrite, 11.18 per cent sphalerite, 2.07 per cent galena and 0.24 per cent chalcopyrite.

Based on the P1 bench scale milling testwork, the zinc-lead zone P1 was classified as moderately soft with respect to SAG milling and as moderately hard with respect to its RWI. The sample fell in the soft range of hardness with respect to ball milling (BWI) and was also categorized as abrasive.

2) High-grade copper-zinc domain (P3)

This is the first time that the P3 zone has had metallurgical tests done on it. A total of 134 metres of half core (471 kilograms) of high-grade zinc core collected from four different holes, well distributed and representatives of this higher-grade copper-zinc zone (P3). The head grade of the composite sample is 1.31 per cent zinc, 0.63 per cent lead, 1.01 per cent copper, 44 g/t silver and 0.50 g/t gold. The P3 material was found to produce a copper fourth cleaner concentrate product containing 19.36 per cent copper, 367 g/t silver and 0.739 g/t gold at a copper recovery of 79.5 per cent in 3.8 per cent of the feed mass along with a zinc fourth cleaner concentrate containing 48.7 per cent zinc metal at a zinc recovery of 65.6 per cent in 1.1 per cent of the feed mass in a closed circuit. Further optimization testwork was recommended, to evaluate the extent to which recoveries could be further increased.

3) Surface domain (PB)

A total of 65 metres of half core (195 kilograms) of surface material core collected from two different holes representative of the near-surface zone (PB). The head grade of the composite sample is 2.48 per cent zinc, 0.55 per cent lead, 1.31 per cent copper, 27 g/t silver and 0.36 g/t gold. This is also the first time that the PB (near-surface zone) has had metallurgical testing. In these initial tests, it was found to be difficult to treat, possibly due to oxidation and further testwork was recommended to evaluate conditions that would allow for better separation of zinc and copper. At a depth of 30 metres, the metallurgical response improved as indicated from depth variability testwork and it was possible to produce a product that contained 14.78 per cent zinc and 3.67 per cent copper at recoveries of 86.1 per cent for zinc and 59.7 per cent for copper in 20.4 per cent of the feed mass. Optimization and zinc cleaning testwork was recommended on this product to evaluate the potential for producing an upgraded zinc product from this zone. Further work on a copper recovery was also recommended. The surface zone was amenable to leaching with extractions of 96.5 per cent for zinc and 79.6 per cent for copper being obtained during scoping testwork and further optimization work was recommended.

About the Murray Brook project

The Murray Brook project comprises three distinct contiguous areas that covers 8,800 hectares and more than 18 kilometres of the favourable rocks that host the operating Caribou mine (Trevali Mining Corp.), the Murray Brook deposit and the past-operating Restigouche mine (Trevali Mining Corp.). From east to west, the Murray Brook project comprises the Murray Brook East property, the Murray Brook mining lease and the Murray Brook West property.

About the Murray Brook deposit

The Murray Brook deposit covers an area of 484 hectares with a currently defined measured and indicated mineral resources of 5.28 million tonnes averaging 5.24 per cent zinc, 1.80 per cent lead, 0.46 per cent copper, 68.9 g/t silver and 0.65 g/t gold. The core of this mineral resource occurs in the West zone, which is 200 metres wide, extending from surface to 300 metres vertical and the true thickness of the massive sulphide body varies from 75 metres to 100 metres. The East zone (copper/gold) is 100 metres wide, also extending from surface to 300 vertical metres and is mainly mineralized with gold and copper. On Feb. 20, 2017, a National Instrument 43-101 report was accepted and filed on SEDAR.

About Puma Exploration Inc.

Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company with advanced precious and base metals projects in Canada. The company's major assets comprise an option to acquire 100-per-cent beneficial interest in the Murray Brook property, the wholly owned Turgeon zinc-copper project and the Nicholas-Denys project, all located in the Bathurst mining camp of New Brunswick. The company also has an equity interest in BWR Resources, exploring in Manitoba. Puma's objective for the coming year is to focus its exploration efforts in New Brunswick and advance the Murray Brook deposit.

Qualified persons and quality control/quality assurance

The content of this press release was prepared by Marcel Robillard, professional geoscientist, president, and Dominique Gagne, professional geoscientist, vice-president of exploration at Puma Exploration, qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101, who supervised the preparation and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Robillard and Mr. Gagne are not independent of the company, as both are officers and shareholders thereof.

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