Highlights include:

  • Initial mining blocks in Kora North containing 124,200 tonnes @ 7.17 g/t Au, 19 g/t Ag and 1.06% Cu defined in an area 150 metres long by 75 metres high.
  • The initial resource supporting the Kora North mining blocks comprises a Measured Resource of 45,000 tonnes @ 9.92 g/t Au, 27 g/t Ag and 1.94% Cu and an Indicated Resource of 41,500 tonnes @ 9.57 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag and 0.91% Cu.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 (TSXV:KNT) (OTCQB:KNTNF) is pleased to announce that an initial resource has been defined in Kora North based on results from grade control drilling and face sampling. The initial resource which covers an area 150 metres along strike by 75 metres high comprises a Measured Resource of 45,000 tonnes @ 9.92 g/t Au, 27 g/t Ag and 1.94% Cu and an Indicated Resource of 41,500 tonnes @ 9.57 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag and 0.91% Cu. See Table 1 below.

The mining blocks have been defined by applying a minimum mining width of 2.5 metres and mining dilution of 0.5 metres to the above Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource in an area 150 metres along strike between the 1160 mRL and 1235 mRL levels (75 metres vertical extent). The mining blocks contain a total 124,200 tonnes @ 7.17 g/t Au, 19 g/t Ag and 1.06% Cu. See Table 2 below. This tonnage excludes approximately 8,000 tonnes which were mined as a bulk sample from the initial 4 metre x 4 metre drive on the 1185 mRL level. It is planned that the material defined in these mining blocks will be mined over the next nine months.

The initial Mineral Resource and mining blocks defined based on the resource cover approximately half of the 150 metre by 150 metre area which is being drilled on a 25 metre by 25 metre grade control pattern from the first drill cuddy. K92 anticipated updating the Mineral Resource and mining blocks for this area by the end of December when the balance of the results from the grade control drilling have been received. The drilling from the first cuddy, at grade control spacing, is part of a strategy to define mining blocks in the Kora North discovery area while concurrently starting to test the large size potential of Kora which remains not only open along strike and at depth, but strongly mineralized at the extent of all drilling.

The next drill cuddy has been completed a further 125 metres along strike to the south towards the existing Kora mineral resource, and drilling from this cuddy will commence shortly with a new rig which has recently arrived on site.

Table 1 Initial Kora North Mineral Resource

           
Category Tonnes Au Cu Ag Au Eq
Indicated 41,500 9.57 0.91 25.90 11.26
Measured 45,000 9.92 1.94 26.70 13.12
Total 86,500 9.75 1.45 26.30 12.23
           
  • The Mineral Resources is inclusive of those mineral resources that have been included in the mining blocks defined in Table 2
  • Gold Equivalent (Au Eq) g/t was calculated using the formula Au g/t + (Cu% x 1.45) + Ag g/t x 0.0145
  • Gold Price US$1,300/oz; Silver US$18/oz; Copper US$2.75/lb
  • Cut off head grade of 4.52 g/t AuEq applied, as estimated in the ITR Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment of Irumafimpa and Kora Gold Deposits, Kainantu Project, PNG dated 2 March 2017
  • A top cut of 60 g/t was applied to the gold assays

Table 2 Initial Kora North Mining Blocks

             
Level Tonnes Au Cu Ag Au Eq AuEq Ozs
1160 mRL 51,200 9.93 1.09 22.8 11.84 19,500
1191.5 mRL 30,100 6.14 0.85 14.9 7.58 7,300
1210 mRL 42,900 4.60 1.16 16.1 6.51 9,000
Total 124,200 7.17 1.06 18.6 8.97 35,800
             
  • Gold Equivalent (Au Eq) g/t was calculated using the formula Au g/t + (Cu% x 1.45) + Ag g/t x 0.0145
  • Cut off head grade of 3.71 g/t AuEq applied, as estimated in the ITR Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment of Irumafimpa and Kora Gold Deposits, Kainantu Project, PNG dated 2 March 2017
  • The mining blocks contain all of the Mineral Resources defined in Table 1 above and includes a minimum mining width and dilution as follows:
    • Minimum Mining Width of 2.5 metres
    • Dilution of 0.5 metres at a grade of 0.5 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu and 1 g/t Ag has been applied to both the Footwall and the Hanging wall

John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, states, “We are extremely pleased with the initial resource and mining blocks that have been defined using the results from the grade control drilling and face sampling. With over 8,000 tonnes already mined and a further 124,200 tonnes remaining in the 150 metre x 75 metre mining block, our target1 of identifying mining blocks containing 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes at a grade of 7 - 9 g/t AuEq from grade control drilling covering an area of 150 metres x 150 metres from this first drill cuddy appears achievable. We will continue to mine from development within this area and expect to commence stope production from Kora North in early 2018. We are also continuing to develop along strike on the Kora lode to the south towards the existing Kora deposit.”

Note 1 The target tonnes and grade are conceptual in nature as the balance of the area has insufficient drilling to define a mineral resource or mining blocks and it is therefore uncertain whether further drilling will delineate additional resources. The target is based on extending existing results from the 150 x 75 metre area to the entire 150 metre x 150 metre area and applying a minimum mining width of 2.5 metre and dilution of 0.5 metres to the footwall and hanging wall.