Los Andes Announces Filing of Updated Preliminary Economic
Assessment and Updated Mineral Resources for Vizcachitas
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2014) - Los
Andes Copper Ltd. ("Los Andes", or the "Company") (TSX-VENTURE:LA)
is pleased to announce that the Company has filed a Preliminary
Economic Assessment ("PEA") and an updated resource estimate on its
100% owned Vizcachitas porphyry copper-molybdenum project
("Vizcachitas Project") located in Region V, Chile.
The PEA and updated mineral resources announced on December 13,
2013 was prepared during the process of consolidation of the
non-consumptive water rights over a section of the Rocin River,
Putaendo, Fifth Region, Chile, together with the engineering and
other studies and reports for the development of a run-of-river
hydroelectric project generation facility. Such consolidation took
place effective January 23, 2014. This updated PEA does not change
in any way the resource estimate or the technical and economic
aspects of the PEA except that it removes all references and
economic calculations related to the possibility that these water
rights might not have been included in Los Andes.
The PEA was prepared by Coffey Consultoria y Servicios SpA
(Coffey) and Alquimia Conceptos S.A., and can be accessed under the
Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's
website.
Resource Estimate Update
As part of the PEA the resource estimate for the Vizcachitas
Project was updated by Coffey. At a 0.3 % copper equivalent (Cu Eq)
cut-off, the Indicated Resources are 1,038 Mt @ 0.434 % Cu Eq
(0.373 % Cu and 0.012 % Mo), containing an estimated 8.5 billion
pounds of copper and 281 million pounds of molybdenum, and the
Inferred Resources are 318 Mt @ 0.405 % Cu Eq (0.345 % Cu and 0.013
% Mo) containing an estimated 2.4 billion pounds of copper and 88
million pounds of molybdenum.
The estimate increases the Indicated Resources from the mineral
resources which had an effective date of June 9, 2008. The resource
estimate was based on a total of 146 drill holes and 40,383 metres
drilled, including a total of 16 drill holes and 5,128 metres of
drilling completed after the June 9, 2008 resource estimate.
The Mineral Resource estimates for different cut-off grades with
an effective date of January 23, 2014 are shown in the tables
below:
INDICATED
Cut-Off (Cu Eq %) |
Tonnage Mt |
Cu Eq % |
Cu Grade % |
Mo Grade % |
Cu Mlb |
Mo Mlb |
0.20 |
1,317 |
0.396 |
0.341 |
0.011 |
9,913 |
318 |
0.25 |
1,191 |
0.414 |
0.356 |
0.012 |
9,353 |
305 |
0.30 |
1,038 |
0.434 |
0.373 |
0.012 |
8,539 |
281 |
0.35 |
824 |
0.462 |
0.396 |
0.013 |
7,201 |
240 |
0.40 |
566 |
0.501 |
0.431 |
0.014 |
5,374 |
179 |
0.45 |
368 |
0.543 |
0.467 |
0.015 |
3,788 |
125 |
0.50 |
244 |
0.588 |
0.509 |
0.016 |
2,515 |
79 |
INFERRED
Cut-Off (Cu Eq %) |
Tonnage Mt |
Cu Eq % |
Cu Grade % |
Mo Grade % |
Cu Mlb |
Mo Mlb |
0.20 |
521 |
0.343 |
0.296 |
0.010 |
3,407 |
111 |
0.25 |
404 |
0.376 |
0.322 |
0.011 |
2,873 |
101 |
0.30 |
318 |
0.405 |
0.345 |
0.013 |
2,415 |
88 |
0.35 |
212 |
0.443 |
0.372 |
0.015 |
1,734 |
70 |
0.40 |
130 |
0.488 |
0.402 |
0.018 |
1,152 |
51 |
0.45 |
76 |
0.533 |
0.428 |
0.022 |
714 |
36 |
0.50 |
40 |
0.584 |
0.466 |
0.024 |
415 |
22 |
- Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the
following expression: Cu Eq (%) = CuT (%) + 4.95 x Mo (%), using
the metal prices: $ 2.75 / lb. Cu and $13.6 / lb. Mo.
- Small discrepancies may exist due to rounding
errors.
- The quantities and grades of reported Inferred Mineral
Resources are uncertain in nature and further exploration may not
result in their upgrading to Indicated or Measured
status.
- Mineral Resources are reported within a Whittle pit shell
based on: Mine Cost - 2.25 USD/t, Process Cost - 6.94 USD/t, Copper
Price - 3.00 USD/lb, Molybdenum Price - 13.6 USD/lb. Conc. Copper
Sales Cost - 0.5537 USD/lb., Conc. Molybdenum Sales Cost - 1.60
USD/lb., Recovery Copper - 90%, Recovery Molybdenum - 60%, Slope
Angles - 42° to 47°.
PEA Highlights
The PEA evaluated four mining scenarios feeding flotation
facilities with a throughput of 44 ktpd, 88 ktpd, 176 ktpd and 88
ktpd with a step up in production to a final throughput of 176
ktpd. The 176 ktpd case was selected to be the base case as it
produced the highest net present values (NPV).
The base case has a life of mine of 28 years, initial capital
expenditures of $2.9 billion, sustaining capital expenditure of
$0.7 billion for the construction of the second tailings dam
facility and mine extensions, and considered flat projected copper
prices of $2.75/lb and molybdenum prices of $13.64/lb.
On a pre-tax basis, the base case, results in an NPV of $746
million, internal rate of return (IRR) of 11.4%, and an estimated
payback period from initial commercial operations (Payback Period)
of 5.9 years. On an unlevered after-tax basis, the base case,
results in an NPV of $274 million, IRR of 9.5%, and a Payback
Period of 6.0 years.
Note: The Preliminary Economic Assessment is considered
preliminary in nature and 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. Mineral resources
that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
An updated NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report on the
Vizcachitas Copper Molybdenum Porphyry Project has been filed on
www.sedar.com and on the Company's Internet site
www.losandescopper.com.
The Technical Report is authored by independent Qualified
Persons and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The contents of
this press release have been approved by the following independent
Qualified Persons:
John Wells BSc, MBA, FSAIMM.
Manuel Hernández, BSc, FAusIMM.
PorfÃrio Rodriguez, BSc, MAIG.
Román Flores, BSc, Registered Member of Chilean Mining
Commission.
Antony J. Amberg, M.Sc., CGeol., a qualified person as defined
by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the
technical information in this news release.
Certain of the information and statements contained herein
that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British
Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act
(Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking
Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of
words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate",
"expect" and "intend"; statements that an event or result is "due"
on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be
achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically,
Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking
Information; including, without limitation, the achievement and
maintenance of planned production rates, the evolving legal and
political policies of Chile, the volatility in the Chilean economy,
military unrest or terrorist actions, metal and energy price
fluctuations, favourable governmental relations, the availability
of financing for activities when required and on acceptable terms,
the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, current and
future environmental and regulatory requirements, the availability
and timely receipt of permits, approvals and licenses, industrial
or environmental accidents, equipment breakdowns, availability of
and competition for future acquisition opportunities, availability
and cost of insurance, labour disputes, land claims, the inherent
uncertainty of production and cost estimates, currency
fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other
risks and uncertainties, including those described in Management's
Discussion and Analysis in the Company's financial statements. Such
Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company's assumptions
regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market
conditions and the price of metals and energy, and the Company's
production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the
Company's future results of operations and financial conditions are
changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, a
change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations
and restrictions and technological changes, among other things.
Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions,
forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking
Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue
reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under
applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking
Information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release
Los Andes Copper Ltd.Eduardo CovarrubiasPresident &
CEO(56-99) 323-3156Los Andes Copper Ltd.Michael KutaCorporate
Secretary604-697-6201info@losandescopper.comwww.losandescopper.com
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