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Perth, Dec 15, 2009 (ABN Newswire) - Conquest Mining Limited (ASX:CQT) (PINK:CQMLF) is pleased to provide an update on the progress of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for its Silver Hill gold-silver-copper project in northern Queensland.
As stated in the Company's ASX announcement of 8 October 2009(1), the scope of the DFS was restricted to evaluation of the technical plus economic feasibility of mining the currently defined Silver Hill resource, and processing to produce a high-grade precious metals concentrate.
In parallel to the current focus on high-grade precious metals concentrate production, the Company continues to assess options for a potential secondary production process of lowergrade tailings using bioleaching.
In summary (and having regard to separate criteria for environmental impact assessments), the Company is examining two possible stages for the Silver Hill production process:
- Stage 1 - Production of high-grade gold and silver concentrate, expected to commence in Q1 2011
- Stage 2 - Secondary processing through bacteria leaching, expected to commence in Q1 2012
In April 2009, Conquest released the findings of a Pre-feasibility Study (PFS) which considered the economics of developing the Silver Hill project under both Stages 1 and 2. The estimates arising from the PFS provided the Conquest Board with sufficient comfort to confirm those findings in a DFS.
The draft DFS has been provided to the Company by the appointed consultants, Arccon Mining Services and, in accordance with a proper due diligence process, is under review by the Board and its advisers (peer review). Although the economics of the project under a Stage 1 process only are positive in the DFS, there are enhancements which are being evaluated. These will give rise to changes in the DFS outcomes.
The Company considers that the peer review should be allowed to take its course and all findings of the enhancement study be incorporated into the final DFS. Depending on delays arising from the holiday period, this process may take until February 2010 to complete. The Company considers the economic value enhancement potential sufficient to warrant the deferral of the final DFS.
The Company remains confident in the Silver Hill project, which has reserves(2) of 7.4Mt at 3.12g/t gold and 67g/t silver and significant exploration, well above the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) estimates (as shown in the table below). The PFS had estimated some 5.9Mt would be processed(3).
Equivalent gold calculations based on spot commodity prices as at 11/12/09 of US$1,133/oz gold, US$/17.38/oz silver & US$3.10/lb of copper, and recoveries of 80% for gold, 68% for silver and 86% for copper.
Conquest will continue to keep shareholders fully informed of all developments associated with Silver Hill and the broader Mt Carlton project area.
(1) ASX announcement dated 8 October 2009 (http://www.conquestmining.com.au/pdf/495_.pdf)
(2) ASX announcement dated 7 December 2009 (http://conquestmining.com.au/images/conquest---aical.pdf)
(3) For PFS, the tonnes are a reference to production estimate. For DFS, the tonnes are derived from the reserves calculation.
As stated in the Company's ASX announcement of 8 October 2009(1), the scope of the DFS was restricted to evaluation of the technical plus economic feasibility of mining the currently defined Silver Hill resource, and processing to produce a high-grade precious metals concentrate.
In parallel to the current focus on high-grade precious metals concentrate production, the Company continues to assess options for a potential secondary production process of lowergrade tailings using bioleaching.
In summary (and having regard to separate criteria for environmental impact assessments), the Company is examining two possible stages for the Silver Hill production process:
- Stage 1 - Production of high-grade gold and silver concentrate, expected to commence in Q1 2011
- Stage 2 - Secondary processing through bacteria leaching, expected to commence in Q1 2012
In April 2009, Conquest released the findings of a Pre-feasibility Study (PFS) which considered the economics of developing the Silver Hill project under both Stages 1 and 2. The estimates arising from the PFS provided the Conquest Board with sufficient comfort to confirm those findings in a DFS.
The draft DFS has been provided to the Company by the appointed consultants, Arccon Mining Services and, in accordance with a proper due diligence process, is under review by the Board and its advisers (peer review). Although the economics of the project under a Stage 1 process only are positive in the DFS, there are enhancements which are being evaluated. These will give rise to changes in the DFS outcomes.
The Company considers that the peer review should be allowed to take its course and all findings of the enhancement study be incorporated into the final DFS. Depending on delays arising from the holiday period, this process may take until February 2010 to complete. The Company considers the economic value enhancement potential sufficient to warrant the deferral of the final DFS.
The Company remains confident in the Silver Hill project, which has reserves(2) of 7.4Mt at 3.12g/t gold and 67g/t silver and significant exploration, well above the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) estimates (as shown in the table below). The PFS had estimated some 5.9Mt would be processed(3).
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Table: Comparative resources & reserves
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PFS* DFS* Increase*
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Resources 22.8Mt @2.86g/t 25.7Mt @2.80g/t
2.10m oz 2.31m oz 210k oz
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Production 5.9Mt 7.4Mt @4.79g/t
1.14m oz 1.14m oz
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*All grades and contained metal figures refer to gold equivalent.Equivalent gold calculations based on spot commodity prices as at 11/12/09 of US$1,133/oz gold, US$/17.38/oz silver & US$3.10/lb of copper, and recoveries of 80% for gold, 68% for silver and 86% for copper.
Conquest will continue to keep shareholders fully informed of all developments associated with Silver Hill and the broader Mt Carlton project area.
(1) ASX announcement dated 8 October 2009 (http://www.conquestmining.com.au/pdf/495_.pdf)
(2) ASX announcement dated 7 December 2009 (http://conquestmining.com.au/images/conquest---aical.pdf)
(3) For PFS, the tonnes are a reference to production estimate. For DFS, the tonnes are derived from the reserves calculation.
About Conquest Mining Limited
Conquest Mining Limited (ASX:CQT) (PINK:CQMLF) is an Australian based and listed mining company with a focus on activities in north Queensland. The company has a 100% interest in the Mt Carlton gold-silver-copper project, near Townsville, that is being advanced towards development. Optimisation studies and a review of the proposed process flowsheet are underway and a development decision is expected in the December quarter of 2010.
Conquest is a growth oriented company that has the focus and ability to deliver a growth plan to achieve mid-tier market status and to take advantage of the benefits available to a company of this status. Conquest will seek to deliver this growth through successful development of its Mt Carlton project and by acting on consolidation opportunities in the relatively fragmented and poorly funded junior market sector.
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