VANCOUVER, Jan. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Curis Resources Ltd. (TSX: CUV) ("Curis"
or the "Company") announces results for recently completed ongoing
large scale metallurgical test work in advance of finalization of the
prefeasibility study (PFS) on its 100% owned Florence Copper project in
Arizona.
Highlights of the In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") test results shown in Table 1
include the following:
-
ISR tests 17-22 have now been completed with copper extraction ranging
from 51 percent to 90 percent. All tests in this most recent series were run as previously described in
the Curis press release dated October 11, 2012.
-
When all the copper extraction results are incorporated with recent
sweep efficiency modelling, preliminary indications are that overall copper recovery of approximately 70 percent will be achieved from a
typical mineralized block.
"The results from this final set of metallurgical test work clearly
demonstrate the potential for improved copper recovery rates at
Florence Copper," stated Dan Johnson, Vice President of Technical Services and Environment
with Curis. "Our objective now is to integrate these results into a new financial and
engineering model for Florence Copper that is scheduled for release in
Q1 2013 in the form of a pre-feasibility study (PFS)."
"Improved copper recoveries, combined with a revised mineral extraction
plan and updated capital and operating cost estimates, are expected to
further confirm Florence Copper as having the potential to be one the
lowest cost near term copper producers in the world," continued Johnson. "We are very happy with the results of our work over the past year in
refining our development plans and confirming our engineering
assumptions for Florence Copper."
Background
Averaging 69 percent copper extraction, the ISR test 17-22 series
results compare favorably with the 70 percent average extraction rates
previously reported for boxes within the ISR test 1-16 series (see
Curis Press release on October 11, 2012). The economic model presented
in the September 2010, Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the
Florence Copper project utilized an average total copper recovery of 49
percent.
The next step in the metallurgical testing program is to incorporate
these results into an overall assessment of predicted ultimate copper
recoveries for inclusion in the prefeasibility study which is expected
to be released in Q1 2013.
The goal of the ongoing ISR test program has been to represent a
cross-section through a typical mineralized block in the deposit, and
to simulate in-situ treatment of the Florence Copper ore body by
allowing recovery solutions to flow horizontally through intact pieces
of drill core assembled as a mineralized block using a specially
designed laboratory apparatus. This successful physical simulation and
test program was designed by Curis and Metcon Laboratories of Tucson,
Arizona, with oversight and direction from acknowledged world
metallurgical expert, Dr. Terry McNulty.
Dr. McNulty stated that "I continue to believe that the laboratory technique being employed by
Metcon is much more realistic than earlier methods of projecting
non-sulfide copper extraction by in-situ leaching. Also, ongoing
mineralogical characterization of leached residues is improving our
understanding of the behavior of host rock constituents and copper
minerals during these tests."
Metallurgical testing to confirm and improve on historical copper
recovery estimates for the Florence Copper property began in June 2011
at Metcon. Bottle roll and laboratory scale ISR test results on 16
initial samples from a 2011 core drilling program were reported in
previous Curis press releases dated February 23 and October 11, 2012.
The results compared favorably to work completed by BHP Copper ("BHP")
in the mid-1990s, as summarized in Curis' September 2010 PEA.
Laboratory scale ISR test results for six additional samples from the
2011 core drilling program have now been received and are summarized
here.
Detailed In-Situ Recovery Test Results
The following Table 1 provides details from ISR tests 17-22.
Table 1: ISR Laboratory Test Results For Boxes 17-22 |
Test Number | Calculated Head Assay (% Cu) | Cumulative Extraction (%Cu) |
|
|
|
Box 17
|
0.44
|
62.58
|
Box 18
|
0.25
|
51.26
|
Box 19
|
0.36
|
70.45
|
Box 20
|
0.44
|
57.96
|
Box 21
|
0.59
|
90.46
|
Box 22
|
0.49
|
80.88
|
The metallurgical test program is being supervised by Dr. Terry McNulty,
P.E., of T. P. McNulty and Associates, Inc. of Tucson, Arizona who is a
Qualified Person (QP) as defined by NI43-101 and has reviewed this
disclosure.
About Curis
Curis Resources Ltd. is a mineral development company associated with
Hunter Dickinson Inc., a diversified global mining company with a
25-year history of mineral development success. Curis is focused on the
acquisition, development and operation of high-quality next-generation
copper properties in progressive jurisdictions around the world. It is
currently focused on advancing its 100% owned Florence Copper project
in Arizona, USA to production.
For more information about Florence Copper, to sign up for news and
updates and learn more about the project's projected economic benefits
to the local community, please go to www.florencecopper.com.
For further details on the Company, please visit www.curisresources.com or contact Susie Bell, Manager of Investor Relations, at (604) 684-6365
or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.
Michael McPhie
President & CEO
SOURCE: Curis Resources Ltd.
<p> Susie Bell<br/> Manager, Investor Relations<br/> Tel: 604-684-6365<br/> Email: <a href="mailto:Susiebell@hdimining.com">Susiebell@hdimining.com</a> </p>