Titan Mining Corporation (TSX: TI, OTCQB: TIMCF)
(“
Titan” or the "
Company") is
pleased to announce district scale exploration plans, updated
mineral resource estimate and extended mine life for its Empire
State Mines (“
ESM”) zinc operations. The regional
and near mine exploration plans cover ESM’s 80,000 acres of
controlled mineral rights in upstate New York and target multiple
high quality, near mine and district scale targets with potential
to increase near term production and further extend mine life.
Highlights:
- Increase in
measured & indicated contained pounds of zinc by 22%1 as
compared to Titan’s 2020 Zinc Mineral Resource Estimate (net of
depletions)
- Updated base
case life of mine plan with extended life of mine until 2033
- The updated life
of mine plan (the “Zinc LOM Plan”) provides total
recoverable zinc of 636 million pounds and payable zinc production
of 541 million pounds.
- Established
operating base with 5,000 tpd mill and 130+ employee workforce in a
Tier 1 jurisdiction
- 40,000 ft of
near mine underground drilling planned in 2025 within existing
mining areas. 31,000 ft of exploration drilling also planned for
2025 with 13,000 ft in near mine drilling and 18,000 ft in regional
surface drilling
- The 100+ year
track record at ESM of converting near-mine exploration targets
into production suggests the Company’s exploration program has the
potential to continue adding incremental production in the near
term
- The exploration
drilling comprises fifteen drill ready targets. Of these, eleven
are within the historic Balmat (ESM) – Pierrepont trend
- Total near mine
targets for further exploration are estimated to contain between
4.8mt-5.3mt of mineralized material at average zinc grades of
10-14%, containing 935 mlbs to 1,470 mlbs of contained zinc
The potential quantity and grade of these
exploration targets are based on historic production figures from
geologically similar horizons. The potential quantity and grade is
conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to
define a mineral resource at these targets. It is uncertain if
further exploration will result in these targets being delineated
as a mineral resource.
Don Taylor, CEO of Titan commented: “We are
pleased with the results of the most recent Zinc LOM Plan
demonstrating an increased mine life and a strong base case
production. As we ramp up exploration plans in 2025, we aim for
increased production and a significantly enhanced mine-life. We see
a bright future for ESM in 2025 and beyond, as the team continues
to focus on lowering unit costs, expanding the mineral resource,
growing zinc production while we continue our evaluation of the
Kilbourne graphite project.”
Rita Adiani, President of Titan commented: “Our
Zinc business demonstrates a robust growth profile and significant
volumes of contained zinc in near mine exploration targets. Our
existing infrastructure and 5,000 tpd mill provide the unique
opportunity to translate exploration into production in the near
term at a low capital cost. Our management team remains focused on
delivering value growth for shareholders as we assess and deliver
on the district scale potential in a Tier 1 jurisdiction.”
2024 Zinc Mineral Resource Tables
Table 1: Underground Mineral Resource
Estimate
Classification |
Tons (000’s US short tons) |
Zn (%) |
Contained pounds (Mlbs) |
Measured |
295 |
17.1 |
101 |
Indicated |
1,158 |
15.7 |
364 |
Measured + Indicated |
1,453 |
16.0 |
465 |
Inferred |
4,327 |
12.1 |
1,049 |
Source: ESM 2024
Notes:
- The qualified person for the 2024 Zinc Mineral Resource
Estimate (the “2024 Zinc MRE”), as defined by National Instrument
(“NI”) 43-101 guidelines, is Donald (Don) R. Taylor, of Titan
Mining Corp., SME registered member (#4029597).
- Three-dimensional (3D) wireframe models of mineralization were
prepared in Leapfrog Geo based on the geological interpretation of
the logged lithology on contiguous grade intervals defining
mineralized sub-domains. The 2024 Zinc MRE (underground)
encompasses 36 vein domains and 6 indicator RBF interpolant shells
totaling 42 individual wireframes.
- Geological and block models for the 2024 Zinc MRE (underground)
used data from a total of 1,100 surface and underground diamond
drill holes (core). The drill hole database was validated prior to
resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using
industry-standard control charts for blanks and commercial
certified reference material inserted into assay batches by Empire
State Mine personnel.
- High-grade capping was evaluated and implemented on the raw
assay data on a per-zone basis using histograms and log-probability
plots. Outliers were further evaluated during estimation and
limited if necessary using the Leapfrog Edge clamping method.
- The 2024 Zinc MRE was compiled from 10 individual block models
that were prepared using Leapfrog Edge. Block models were
sub-blocked at domain boundaries and samples were composited using
vein length intervals where a single composite is generated for
each complete vein intersection with a drillhole. Composites were
generated within the indicator RBF interpolant models as 10 foot
run-length composites with residuals less than 5 feet added to the
prior interval, honoring the modeled geological boundaries. Grade
estimation was carried out using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW)
methods coupled with variably orientated search ellipses derived
from modelled vein surfaces.
- The specific gravity (SG) assessment was carried out for all
domains using measurements collected during the core logging
process. Where there is sufficient sampling the SG is interpolated
into model blocks using IDW techniques. If insufficient sampling
exists then density was assigned to models based on calculated
means or by a regression formula.
- Resources are reported using a 5.3% Zinc cut‑off grade, based
on actual break-even mining, processing, G&A costs, and smelter
terms from the ESM operation at a zinc recovery of 96.4%.
- Resources stated as in‑situ grade at a Zinc price of
$1.30/lb.
- The resource classification considered the quality, quantity
and distance to the data informing blocks in the model, as well as
the geological continuity of the mineralized zones. Classification
parameters vary slightly depending on the nature and continuity of
the individual zones. Block classification was explicitly domained
based on a calculation that used quality, quantity, and distance
parameters.
- Quantities and grades in the 2024 Zinc MRE are rounded to an
appropriate number of significant figures to reflect that they are
estimations.
- The 2024 Zinc MRE was prepared following the CIM Estimation of
Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines
(November 29, 2019).
- CIM definitions and guidelines for Mineral Resource Estimates
have been followed.
- The effective date of the underground mineral estimate is July
16, 2024.
Zinc LOM Plan Update Summary
Table 2 presents the key metrics of the Zinc LOM
Plan compared to the LOM Report issued in 2021 (the “2021
Zinc LOM Plan”), considering the comparable periods from
July 16, 2024 onwards (the effective date of the Zinc LOM
Plan).
The total zinc production in the Zinc LOM Plan
has increased by 35% compared to the 2021 LOM Plan. LOM throughput
rate increased by 37% to 1,775 tons per day with total tons
processed increased by 35% to 4.5mt over LOM.
Table 2- Summary of the Zinc LOM Plan and Comparison to
the 2021 Zinc LOM Plan
LOM Plan comparisons |
Unit |
Latest Zinc LOM Plan |
2021 Zinc LOM Plan |
Change |
Change (%)2 |
Mine Life |
Years |
9 |
7 |
2 |
29% |
Resource Mined |
kt |
4,469 |
3,309 |
1,160 |
35% |
LOM Throughput Rate |
t/d |
1,775 |
1,294 |
481 |
37% |
Average Head Zinc Grade |
% Zn |
7.4 |
6.6 |
0.8 |
12% |
LOM Recovered Zinc |
Mlbs |
636 |
470 |
166 |
35% |
LOM Payable Zinc |
Mlbs |
541 |
400 |
141 |
35% |
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and
do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty
that any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted
into a Mineral Reserves Estimate. The results disclosed herein are
the results of a preliminary economic assessment. On this basis, it
is considered preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral
resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have
the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them
to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty
that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
Opportunities - Near Term Increase in Production and
District Scale Potential
Titan is assessing various near term production
increase opportunities at N2D and Turnpike. Accelerating mining of
N2D and commencement of open pit mining at Turnpike could increase
near term production, cash flows and project NPV over the life of
the zones. Near mine exploration targets provide opportunities for
mineral resource expansion that could increase mine life and are
summarized in Figure 3 below.
Figure 3- Near mine exploration and production
opportunity targets
Targets for exploration drilling can be broken
into three categories, near mine, within the Balmat (ESM #1-#4) -
Pierrepont trend, and within the greater district. Figure 4 shows
the current near mine drill targets.
In 2025, near mine exploration is expected to
expand the Mahler, Mud Pond Main and New Fold zones with planned
underground drilling totaling 40,000 ft and test Arnold Pit/Wight,
Streeter East, Streeter West, and Little York with planned surface
drilling totaling 13,000 ft.
Total near mine targets for further exploration
are estimated to contain between 4.8mt-5.3mt of mineralized
material at average zinc grades of 10-14%, containing 935 Mlbs to
1,470 Mlbs of contained zinc, providing significant potential to
increase mine life. The potential quantity and grade of these
exploration targets are based on historic production figures from
geologically similar horizons. The potential quantity and grade is
conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to
define a mineral resource at these targets. It is uncertain if
further exploration will result in these targets being delineated
as a mineral resource.
In addition to the near mine targets, the
Company has developed an additional fifteen drill ready targets. Of
these, eleven are within the historic Balmat (ESM) – Pierrepont
trend. Targeting has focused on: the extension of historic
mineralized intercepts with room down dip, and along strike to
accommodate a significant body of mineralization; testing
historically productive stratigraphic units; and testing down dip
from surficial zinc anomalies. Targets for the 2025 in trend drill
program include Pleasant Valley, Pork Creek, and Bend (See Figure 4
below).
There are currently four drill ready targets
within the district. These target: the down dip extensions of zinc
anomalies identified through surface geochemical sampling;
stratigraphy with known past base metal production; and conceptual
geologic and geophysical targets. The Company currently has 18,000
ft planned to test targets within the trend and district. The
primary district drill target for 2025 is Moss Ridge.
In addition to the 71,000 ft planned for the
2025 drill programs, the Company plans on collecting greater than
2,000 soil samples annually from its existing and future mineral
tenure. This program will begin targeting historically productive
stratigraphic units within the trend, and historic geochemical
samples (rock and soil) with elevated Zn recorded. The Company’s
2022 soil program led to the development of the Pork Creek, and
Moss Ridge drill targets.
Figure 4 – District Drilling and Geochemical Sampling
Targets
An NI 43-101 technical report supporting the
results disclosed herein will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of
the Company’s December 3, 2024 press release.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Core drilling was completed using ESM owned and
operated drills which produced AWJ (1.374 in) size drill core. All
core was logged by ESM employees. The core was washed, logged,
photographed, and sampled. All core samples were cut in half,
lengthwise, using a diamond saw with a diamond-impregnated blade
and sampled on 5 ft intervals with adjustments made to match
geological contacts. After a sample is cut, one half of the core
was returned to the original core box for reference and long-term
storage. The second half was placed in a plastic or cloth sample
bag, labeled with the corresponding sample identification number,
along with a sample tag. All sample bags were secured with staples
or a draw string, weighed and packed in shipping boxes.
For graphitic samples, shipping boxes are placed
onto pallets and shipped by freight to SGS Lakefield laboratory in
Lakefield, ON, Canada for sample preparation and graphitic carbon
analysis. Pulps are forwarded to SGS Burnaby laboratory in Burnaby,
BC, Canada for multi-element analysis. SGS Lakefield is a Canadian
accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025) and independent of ESM. SGS
Lakefield prepares the pulps and analyzes each sample for graphitic
carbon (Cg-CSA06V) with a detection limit of >0.01%. Pulps are
shipped to SGS Burnaby for multi-element analysis by aqua regia
digestion (GE-ICP21B20 for 34 elements) with an ICP – OES finish.
All samples in which silver, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and
sulfur exceed their upper limit are re-run using methods of aqua
regia digestion (Fe-ICP21B100), four acid digestion (Ag, Ca, Zn,
and Mn-ICP42Q100) and infrared combustion (S-CSA06V) with the
elements reported in percentage (%). Standards and blanks are
inserted during the logging process. The assays for QA/QC samples
are reviewed as certificates are received from the laboratory.
Failures are identified on a batch basis and followed up as
required.
For samples related to zinc operations and
exploration, shipping boxes are placed on pallets and shipped by
freight to ALS Geochemistry (“ALS”), an independent ISO/IEC
accredited lab located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. ALS prepares a
pulp of all samples and sends the pulps to their analytical
laboratory in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, for analysis. ALS analyzes
the pulp sample by an aqua regia digestion (ME-ICP41 for 35
elements) with an ICP – AES finish including Cu (copper), Pb
(lead), and Zn (zinc). All samples in which Cu (copper), Pb (lead),
or Zn (zinc) are greater than 10,000 ppm are re-run using aqua
regia digestion (Cu-OG46; Pb-OG46; and Zn-OG46) with the elements
reported in percentage (%). Silver values are determined by an aqua
regia digestion with an ICP-AES finish (ME-ICP41) with all samples
with silver values greater than 100 ppm repeated using an aqua
regia digestion overlimit method (Ag-OG46) calibrated for higher
levels of silver contained. Gold values are determined by a 30 g
fire assay with an ICP-AES finish (Au-ICP21).
Mr. Taylor has a fulsome staff of experts
on-site that thoroughly review and verify ESM technical data on a
regular basis, as described above. For this reason, Mr. Taylor has
relied entirely on such verification procedures for verifying the
scientific and technical data in this news release. Mr. Taylor has
not identified any legal, political, environmental, or other risks
that could materially affect the potential development of the
mineral resources disclosed herein.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by
Donald R. Taylor, MSc., PG, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
and Deepak Malhotra, P. Eng, who is independent of the Company.
Each of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Malhotra is a qualified person for the
purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Taylor has more than 25 years of mineral
exploration and mining experience and is a Registered Professional
Geologist through the SME (Registered Member #4029597). Dr.
Malhotra has more than 52 years of mineral exploration and mining
experience and is a Registered Professional Geologist through the
SME (Registered Member No. 2006420).
About Titan Mining
Corporation
Titan is an Augusta Group company which produces
zinc concentrate at its 100%-owned Empire State Mine located in New
York state. The Company is focused on value creation and operating
excellence, with a strong commitment to developing critical mineral
assets that enhance the security of the U.S. supply chain. For more
information on the Company, please visit our website
at www.titanminingcorp.com.
Contact
For further information, please contact: Rita Adiani, President.
Email: radiani@titanminingcorp.com, Investor Relations: Email:
info@titanminingcorp.com
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements and information contained in
this new release constitute "forward-looking statements", and
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These
statements appear in a number of places in this news release and
include statements regarding our intent, or the beliefs or current
expectations of our officers and directors, including realization
of the results of the PEA, including an increased mine life, the
results of the new mine plan, mine design, economic and financial
results; we see a bright future for ESM in 2025 and beyond, as the
team continues to focus on lowering unit costs, expanding the
mineral resource base, and growing production, and potential future
exploration results; our existing infrastructure and 5,000 tpd mill
provides the unique opportunity to translate exploration into
production in the near term at a low capital cost; near term and
existing drilling continues and is expected to expand the Mahler,
Mud Pond Main and New Fold zones with 40,000 ft of drilling
targeted for 2025; accelerating production from N2D has the
potential to increase project NPV over the life of the zone and add
incrementally to near term production and cash flows; drilling of
surface near-mine and district exploration targets to be increased
in 2025 with key targets being Pleasant Valley, Pork Creek, Moss
Ridge, Bend, Little York , Streeter East, and Streeter West; 31,000
ft of exploration drilling planned for 2025 with 13,000 ft in near
mine drilling and 18,000 ft in regional surface drilling;
estimates; total near mine targets for further exploration are
estimated to contain between 4.8mt-5.3mt of mineralized material at
average zinc grades of 10-14%, containing 935 mlbs to 1,470 mlbs of
contained zinc, providing significant potential to increase mine
life; realization of near mine exploration targets that provide
mineral resource expansion and increase mine life; exploration
targets and plans. When used in this news release words such as “to
be”, "will", "planned", "expected", "potential", and similar
expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking
statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements since the Company can give no assurance that such
expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause actual results or events to vary materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including risks
relating to cost increases for capital and operating costs; risks
of shortages and fluctuating costs of equipment or supplies; risks
relating to fluctuations in the price of zinc; the inherently
hazardous nature of mining-related activities; potential effects on
our operations of environmental regulations in New York State;
risks due to legal proceedings; risks related to operation of
mining projects generally and the risks, uncertainties and other
factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian
securities regulators. Such forward-looking statements are based on
various assumptions, including assumptions made with regard to our
forecasts and expected cash flows; our projected capital and
operating costs; our expectations regarding mining and
metallurgical recoveries; mine life and production rates; that laws
or regulations impacting mining activities will remain consistent;
our approved business plans, our mineral resource estimates and
results of the PEA; our experience with regulators; political and
social support of the mining industry in New York State; our
experience and knowledge of the New York State mining industry and
our expectations of economic conditions and the price of zinc; the
ability to advance exploration efforts at ESM; the results of such
exploration efforts; the ability to secure adequate financing (as
needed); the Company maintaining its current strategy and
objectives; and the Company’s ability to achieve its growth
objectives. While the Company considers these assumptions to be
reasonable, based on information currently available, they may
prove to be incorrect. Except as required by applicable law, we
assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results
of any change to any forward-looking statement contained herein to
reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in
assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the
forward-looking statements. If we update any one or more
forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we
will make additional updates with respect to those or other
forward-looking statements. You should not place undue importance
on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon these
statements as of any other date. All forward-looking statements
contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their
entirety by this cautionary statement.
1 Includes the open pit resource2 Net of depletions
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/622c7190-1cd7-4239-b68b-29761aa0b2eahttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7789056a-44a7-46c1-836d-dd08e24cbc01
Titan Mining (TSX:TI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2024 to Jan 2025
Titan Mining (TSX:TI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2024 to Jan 2025