HUGE NEWS OUT!!!Copper Fox's Schaft boasts 319.6 Mlb Cu measured
Ticker Symbol: C:CUU
Copper Fox's Schaft boasts 319.6 Mlb Cu measured
Copper Fox Metals Inc (C:CUU)
Shares Issued 374,401,054
Last Close 7/8/2011 $2.13
Monday July 11 2011 - News Release
Mr. Elmer Stewart reports
COPPER FOX METALS INC. - MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCE ESTIMATE EXCEEDS 1 BILLION TONNES AT SCHAFT CREEK DEPOSIT
Copper Fox Metals Inc has provided its shareholders the results of the recently completed National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Schaft Creek copper-gold-molybdenum-silver deposit located in northwest British Columbia, Canada. The resource estimate was prepared by AMEC Americas Limited ("AMEC") and the National Instrument 43-101 compliant report related to the resource estimation will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days. Highlights of the resource estimate using a 0.20% copper equivalent cut-off (Base Case) are as follows:
Highlights:
The Measured mineral resource for the Schaft Creek deposit (at a 0.20% copper equivalent cut-off) is estimated to be 40.3 million tonnes grading 0.36% copper, 0.023% molybdenum and 0.25g/t gold (copper equivalent of 0.61%) containing 319.6 million pounds copper, 20.5 million pounds molybdenum and 0.32 million ounces gold,
The Indicated mineral resource for the Schaft Creek deposit (at a 0.20% copper equivalent cut-off) totals 971.2 million tonnes grading 0.27% copper, 0.017% molybdenum and 0.18g/t gold (copper equivalent 0.45%) containing 5.8 billion pounds copper, 363 million pounds molybdenum and 5.5 million ounces gold,
The Measured and Indicated mineral resource for the Schaft Creek deposit (at a 0.20% copper equivalent cut-off) totals 1.01 billion tonnes grading 0.27% copper, 0.017% molybdenum and 0.18g/t gold (copper equivalent 0.46%) containing 6.1 billion pounds copper, 383 million pounds molybdenum and 5.8 million ounces gold,
The Inferred mineral resource for the Schaft Creek deposit (at a 0.20% copper equivalent cut-off) totals a further 283.6 million tonnes grading 0.24% copper, 0.011% molybdenum and 0.15 g/t gold (copper equivalent 0.39%) containing 1.5 billion pounds copper, 69 million pounds molybdenum and 1.3 million ounces gold,
The silver grade of the Schaft Creek deposit is estimated to range between 1 and 2 g/t. The silver content of the deposit has not been included in the resource estimate due to legacy data issues, and
This resource estimate reports significantly higher average copper grade in the Measured mineral resource (0.36%) category, the Indicated mineral category (0.27%) and the Inferred mineral resource (0.24%) category compared to the Measured mineral resource category (0.30%), the Indicated mineral category (0.23%) and Inferred mineral resource category (0.14%) set out in the preliminary feasibility study on the Schaft Creek deposit dated September 2008.
Elmer B. Stewart President and CEO of Copper Fox stated, "The completion of the resource estimate is a great milestone for Copper Fox. Our primary objective now is to complete the feasibility study for the Schaft Creek project as soon as possible. The strategy for the resource estimate was to eliminate areas of very low grade mineralization and therefore reduce grade smoothing. The updated resource estimate shows that the average metal grades for the deposit remain relatively constant up to a 0.25% copper equivalent cut-off, above which the tonnes decrease significantly with a corresponding increase in the average metal grades. The 2011 drilling program is focusing on the higher-grade mineralization intersected in the Paramount zone in 2010 with the objective of defining a higher-grade "starter pit" and increasing the tonnage and average grade of the metals in this zone. Copper Fox expects to complete a resource estimate update for this zone after completion of the 2011 drilling program."
Base Case:
Copper Fox has selected the 0.20% copper equivalent ("Cu Eq.") cut-off for its base case resource estimate. A 0.12% Cu Eq. cut-off was the minimum grade of copper equivalent estimated by AMEC required (using the estimated copper recovery rate, the milling and sales cost) to break-even on an operating cost per tonne basis. In adopting a more conservative approach to optimize the economics, Copper Fox has selected a higher cut-off grade to increase the average copper grade per tonne while reducing tonnage.
Resource Estimate:
The effective date of the mineral resource estimate is May 1, 2011. Mineral resources were estimated for the Liard (also referred to as the Main) Zone and the Paramount (also referred to as the Paramount-Breccia) Zone separately. The mineral resources were estimated using criteria consistent with the CIM Definition Standards (2010) and in conformity with CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice" (2003) guidelines. The estimated mineral resources (Table-1) using a 0.20% Cu Eq. cut-off grade were categorized and tabulated within an economic resource pit shell based on operating costs and metal prices shown in Table-3 and Table-4.
Table-1: Mineral Resource Estimate - Schaft Creek Deposit (David Thomas
P. Geo., Effective Date: May 1, 2011
Resource Tonnage CopperMolybdenumGoldCu Eq. Contained Metal
Category (Million Tonnes) (%) (%) g/t (%) Cu (Mlbs)Mo (Mlbs)Au (Moz)
Measured 40.30 0.36 0.023 0.25 0.61 319.60 20.5 0.32
Indicated 971.20 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.45 5,795.70 363.2 5.50
Measured and Indicated 1,011.50 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.46 6,113.70 383.6 5.81
Inferred 283.60 0.24 0.011 0.15 0.39 1,517.20 68.8 1.34
Mlbs = pounds expressed in millions
Moz = ounces expressed in million
Cu Eq. = copper equivalent grade
*The copper equivalent ("Cu Eq.") cut-off calculation is based on metal
prices of 1,200 US$/oz gold, 2.90 US$/lb of copper and 15.95 US$/lb of
molybdenum, a mining cost of $1.35 US$/t mined and a processing cost of
5.12 US$/t milled. The Mineral Resource is reported at a cut-off grade
of 0.20 % Cu Eq. contained within a Lerchs-Grossman resource pit shell
optimized on copper, gold and molybdenum grades. The contained metal
figures shown are in situ. All figures have been rounded to reflect
accuracy and to comply with securities regulatory requirements
following "best practice principles". AMEC undertook quality assurance
and quality control studies on the mineral resource data and concludes
that the collar, survey, assay and lithology data are adequate to
support resource estimation.
Resource Estimation Methodology:
A total of 387 drill holes (approximately 88,685 metres) were used by AMEC in estimating the mineral resources for the Schaft Creek deposit.
The impact of the high-grade samples on the resource estimate for the Schaft Creek deposit was completed using uncapped and capped grade models. The capping grade thresholds and the estimated percentage of metal removed from the resource estimate are shown below in Table-2.
Table-2: Cap Grade Thresholds and Estimated Metal Removed
Main Zone Cap GradeNumber CappedMetal RemovedMean No CapMean Capped
Copper 1.30% 23 0.20% 0.26065 0.26025
Gold 2.0 g/t 13 0.80% 0.18185 0.18045
Moly > 0.01% 0.30% 9 0.70% 0.02259 0.02244
Moly < 0.01% 0.05% 41 4.70% 0.00575 0.00548
Breccia ZoneCap GradeNumber CappedMetal RemovedMean No CapMean Capped
Copper 2.00% 10 0.40% 0.27754 0.27653
Gold 2.0 g/t 13 3.40% 0.16103 0.15552
Moly > 0.01% 0.31% 4 0.50% 0.02526 0.02513
Moly < 0.01% 0.05% 13 5.90% 0.00696 0.00655
The procedures used for the purposes of the resource estimate (at a 0.12% Cu Eq. cut-off) are:
Sample assays were composited to fifteen metre intervals for grade interpolation.
Grade shell solids using 0.1% copper and 0.01% molybdenum cut-off grades were chosen based on the estimated economic cut-off of 0.12% Cu Eq. Polygons were digitised on 50 and 100 m spaced east-west sections linked together from section to section to form solids and then reconciled on a second set of orthogonal sections.
Grade shells developed for the Schaft Creek deposit defined two broad domains, namely the Main (Liard) zone and the Breccia (Paramount) zone. The Main zone has a bowl shaped geometry, whereas the Breccia zone has a tabular elongate sub-vertical geometry.
Where gold assays were missing from the database, gold values were assigned to these intervals using a linear regression analysis against copper grades.
No significant statistical differences exist in copper, gold and molybdenum grades between lithological rock types within the Main zone. Significant differences exist between the metal grades of the rock types present in the Breccia zone. Validation of the grade estimates shows no global or local bias. Some over smoothing in the kriged model is observed.
The legacy data corrections and regressions do not have a significant impact on the estimation of copper, molybdenum and gold grades.
The drill hole spacings for blocks in the Measured and Indicated categories were based on confidence limits of copper, gold and molybdenum grades determined by kriging for the Liard (Main) zone and the Paramount (Breccia) zone separately. Blocks included in the Measured category required three drill holes within a 70 metre radius and Indicated blocks required at least two drill holes within a 135 metre radius. Blocks in the Measured category required that more than two thirds of the ordinary kriging weight used in grade interpolation came from the higher confidence Copper Fox drill holes. Extrapolation of Inferred resource blocks is restricted to the limits of the copper grade shells.
A total of 2,784 specific gravity determinations were used to assign a constant specific gravity value of 2.69 g/cm3 to all lithological rock types. A constant value of 1.8 g/cm3 was assigned to all overburden material.
The estimated copper, gold and molybdenum grades were determined using ordinary kriging using multiple estimation passes with incrementally increasing search distances. In the Main zone, five separate subdomains were used to split the bowl shape into volumes with an approximately consistent orientation.
Resource Statement:
For constraining the blocks to be reported as mineral resources, an economic resource pit shell was developed using a Lerchs-Grossman resource pit shell optimized on copper, gold and molybdenum grades based on the parameters listed in Table-3. Metal prices used to determine the pit shell were copper (US$2.90/lb), gold (US$1,200/oz) and molybdenum (US$15.95/lb).
AMEC's marginal cut-off value of 0.12% Cu Eq. was determined based on the parameters set out in Table-4.
The copper equivalent formula is derived below:
Cu Eq (%) = Cu (%) + Mo (%) x Mo factor + Au (g/t) x Au factor where:
Mo factor (%Cu per %Mo) 4.0568 Recovered $ from 1 % in-situ Mo converted to % in-situ Cu
Au factor (%Cu per g/t Au) 0.6243 Recovered $ from 1 g/t in-situ Au converted to % in-situ Cu
Table-3: Optimization Parameters for Resource Pit Shell - Source: AMEC,
2011
Mining Costs Unit Value (US$)
Waste Mining Reference Cost $/t mined 1.35
Total Reference Mining Costs $/t mined 1.35
Process +Tailings + G&A Cost $/t milled 5.12
Mill Sustaining Capex Allowance $/t milled 0
Closure Costs Allocation $/t milled 0.0
Total Ore Based Costs $/t milled 5.12
Cu Price US$/lb 2.90
Au Price US$/oz 1,200.00
Mo Price US$/lb 15.95
Selling Cost US$/lb Cu 0.53
US$/oz Au 6.00
US$/lb Mo 2.74
Cu Recovery % 86.5%
Au Recovery % 73.3%
Mo Recovery % 60.9%
Pit Slope(s) Degrees East 40Adegree, West 44Adegree
Table 4: Copper Equivalent Cut-off Calculation Parameters
Parameters Value
Processing (US$/t) Cost 5.12
Recovery (%) 86.5%
Price (US$/lb) 2.90
Mining Cost 0
Selling Cost (US$/lb) 0.53
Cut-off Cu equivalent (%) 0.12
The sensitivity of the mineral resource in the Schaft Creek deposit (includes the Liard and Paramount zones) to either a reduction or increase in copper equivalent cut-off is shown in Table-5. The base case mineral resource above a 0.20% Cu Eq. cut-off is reported separately within the Paramount zone (in Table-6) and within the Liard zone (in Table-7).
Table-5: Sensitivity of Mineral Resource to Cut-Off Grade (David Thomas
P. Geo., Effective Date: May 1, 2011)
Resource Cut-Off Tonnage CopperMolybdenumGoldCu Eq. Contained Metal
Category Cu eq. (Million Tonnes) (%) (%) g/t (%) Cu (Mlbs)Mo (Mlbs)Au (Moz)
Measured 0.10% 40.4 0.36 0.023 0.24 0.61 319.9 20.5 0.32
0.12% 40.4 0.36 0.023 0.24 0.61 319.9 20.5 0.32
0.15% 40.4 0.36 0.023 0.24 0.61 319.9 20.5 0.32
0.20% 40.3 0.36 0.023 0.25 0.61 319.6 20.5 0.32
0.25% 40.2 0.36 0.023 0.25 0.61 319.1 20.5 0.32
0.30% 39.4 0.36 0.023 0.25 0.61 316.0 20.3 0.32
Indicated 0.10% 995.3 0.27 0.017 0.17 0.44 5855.1 365.7 5.55
0.12% 994.9 0.27 0.017 0.17 0.44 5,854.5 365.7 5.55
0.15% 992.5 0.27 0.017 0.17 0.44 5850.1 365.5 5.54
0.20% 971.2 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.45 5795.7 363.2 5.50
0.25% 898.6 0.28 0.018 0.18 0.47 5558.3 353.0 5.29
0.30% 785.8 0.29 0.019 0.20 0.50 5105.9 333.7 4.93
Measured 0.10% 1035.7 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.45 6175.0 386.2 5.87
& Indicated 0.12% 1035.3 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.45 6174.4 386.2 5.87
0.15% 1032.9 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.45 6169.8 386.0 5.86
0.20% 1011.5 0.27 0.017 0.18 0.46 6113.7 383.6 5.81
0.25% 938.8 0.28 0.018 0.19 0.47 5871.1 373.0 5.60
0.30% 825.3 0.30 0.019 0.20 0.50 5411.0 353.4 5.23
Inferred 0.10% 301.5 0.24 0.011 0.14 0.37 1562.4 70.3 1.38
0.12% 301.3 0.24 0.011 0.14 0.37 1562.1 70.3 1.38
0.15% 299.5 0.24 0.011 0.14 0.38 1558.5 70.2 1.38
0.20% 283.6 0.24 0.011 0.15 0.39 1517.2 68.8 1.34
0.25% 244.1 0.26 0.012 0.16 0.41 1385.4 64.2 1.24
0.30% 186.8 0.28 0.014 0.17 0.46 1150.6 56.6 1.05
Table-6: Mineral Resource Reported within the Paramount Zone (at 0.20%
Cu Eq. cut-off)
Resource Tonnage CopperMolybdenumGold Cu eq. Contained Metal
Category (million Tonnes) % % (g/t) % Cu (Mlbs) Mo (Mlbs) Au (Moz)
Measured 16.1 0.32 0.024 0.21 0.55 114.1 8.5 0.11
Indicated 382.2 0.28 0.020 0.16 0.47 2,397.7 167.2 1.99
Measured & Indicated 398.4 0.29 0.020 0.16 0.47 2,511.7 175.7 2.10
Inferred 141.2 0.26 0.013 0.14 0.40 797.9 38.9 0.64
Table-7: Mineral Resource Reported within the Main Zone (Liard) at 0.20%
Cu Eq. cut-off
Resource Tonnage CopperMolybdenumGold Cu eq. Contained Metal
Category (million Tonnes) % % (g/t) % Cu (Mlbs) Mo (Mlbs) Au (Moz)
Measured 24.2 0.39 0.022 0.27 0.65 205.5 12.0 0.21
Indicated 588.9 0.26 0.015 0.19 0.44 3,398.0 196.0 3.50
Measured & Indicated 613.1 0.27 0.015 0.19 0.45 3,604.1 208.0 3.71
Inferred 142.4 0.23 0.010 0.15 0.38 719.3 29.9 0.70
AMEC determined that the silver should not be reported as a part of the mineral resource estimate due to data quality issues which preclude the classification of Measured and Indicated resources including silver. The silver grades within the Schaft Creek deposit range between 1 g/t and 2 g/t.
About Copper Fox
Copper Fox is a Canadian based resource company listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (CUU-TSX-V). Copper Fox was recently recognized by TSX Venture Exchange Inc. as a member of the distinguished TSX Venture 50® group where it had the distinction of being ranked first overall for 2010.
The Company is working on completing a feasibility study on the Schaft Creek deposit, one of the largest undeveloped copper, gold, and molybdenum deposits in North America. Categorized as a "giant porphyry deposit" this project is at the advanced development stage with a Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") prepared by Samuel Engineering, Inc. of Denver, Colorado, in September 2008.
The feasibility study is being led by Wardrop, A Tetra Tech Company on a minimum 120,000 tpd open pit mine and is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter 2011.
Copper Fox holds title and a 100% working interest in a contiguous 24,003.5 hectare (59,311 acre) property which includes the Schaft Creek deposit subject to certain royalty agreements, a 30% carried interest held by Liard Copper and an earn back option held by Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"). Copper Fox is currently earning a 78% interest in Liard Copper from Teck. Teck's earn back option to acquire 20%, 40% or 75% of the Copper Fox interest in the Schaft Creek project is triggered upon completion of a positive feasibility study. Should Teck elect to exercise its option for 75% they are required to fund subsequent property expenditures up to a total of 400% of those incurred by Copper Fox and arrange for project financing, including the Copper Fox portion. For full details of the option please refer to the Company's website
www.copperfoxmetals.com.
Additionally Copper Fox holds mineral claims totaling 3,947 hectares (9,752 acres) in the Liard Mining District of BC not subject to the Teck earn-back.
David Thomas P. Geo., of AMEC is the Qualified Person who prepared the mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release. Elmer B. Stewart, MSc. P. Geol., President of Copper Fox, is the Company's nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the technical information disclosed in this news release.
*United States investors are advised that current Mineral Resources are not current Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and in keeping with "best practice principles".
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© 2011 Canjex Publishing Ltd.