Trevali Produces High-Grade Zinc Concentrate From Tailings
Thursday April 3, 9:00 am ET
https://biz.yahoo.com/ccn/080403/200804030452790001.html?.v=1
Commences Scoping Study to Examine the Feasibility of Fast-Tracking to Low Cost Production
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 3, 2008) - Trevali Resources Corp. ("Trevali" or the "Company") (CNQ:ZINC)(PINK SHEETS:TREVF - News; FRANKFURT:4TI - News) is pleased to announce that preliminary sampling and metallurgical test-work of the extensive tailings material at the former Santander poly-metallic mine, Peru has demonstrated the feasibility producing a saleable, high-grade (49%), zinc concentrate (Table 1).
Consequently the Company has commenced a 70 borehole resource definition program of the tailings dam to determine the quantity, grade and recoverability of this potentially significant metal resource.
Table 1: Summary of Initial Tailings Concentrate Metallurgical Test:
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Sample(i) Zn% Pb% Ag oz Cu%
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Composite ROM 1.95% 0.03 0.29 0.08
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Zn Conc. 49.19% 3.5% 1.73 0.98
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(i) Analysis by SGS Laboratories
Trevali is presently examining the feasibility of fast tracking mining operations of tailings material which, contingent on positive results, would add significant value to the project through increased Life-Of-Mine and accelerated capital payback.
Drill and metallurgical testing of the former tailings facility will compliment the thus far highly successful hard-rock exploration and resource definition programs currently under-way in the central and northern portions of the property (see TRC-NR-08-01 & 02 for details).
Tailings Background
Examination of historic records indicates that Santander was initially operated as a lead-silver mine with significant quantities of zinc reporting to the tailings. In later years, the switch from open-pit to underground extraction, depressed metal prices united with a lack of capital to maintain the Concentrate Plant resulted in a relatively high zinc cut-off of 6% coupled with relatively poor metal recoveries. The outcome of which was additional zinc reported to the tailings pond.
A 19-day pilot scale test prior to mine-closure demonstrated the feasibility of upgrading this material and producing a saleable zinc concentrate. Geological and engineering studies during this period suggests that the former tailings facility contains a non-43-101 compliant resource of approximately 5Mt of processed 'run-of-mine' material with grades ranging from approximately 1 to 4% Zn and averaging circa 2% zinc.
Project Background
The former Santander Mine is estimated to have produced approximately 8Mt at 6 to 10% Zinc, between 1% and 4% Lead and 60 g/t Silver, with additional Copper credits from a single high grade pipe or chimney. Mining ceased in 11% Zn and historic underground drilling indicates that mineralization extends for at least an additional 200 meters depth.
Site infrastructure includes a circa 1,000 person camp and associated support facilities, an ore processing / concentrator plant (including various crushers, mills and cell houses) able to produce zinc, lead-silver and copper concentrates, and the Tingo hydro-electric power-station, located some 17 kilometres down-valley to the West.
Future Work
The Company is committed to adding shareholder value by fast-tracking this highly prospective, eminently accessible and exciting project to production in the shortest time-frame feasible. Presently there are five drill rigs conducting resource definition drilling on the property.
Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance
EurGeol Dr. Mark D. Cruise, Trevali's President & CEO and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Cruise is not independent of the Company, as he is an officer and shareholder.
The work programs at the Company's property were designed by, and are supervised by, Mark D. Cruise, President & CEO, Trevali, and Les Oldham, General Manager, Consultora Minera Anglo Peruana S.A.(independent geological consultants), who together are responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program. On-site personnel at the project rigorously collect and track samples which are then security sealed and shipped to SGS Laboratories, Lima, for assay. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Quality control is further assured by the use of international and in-house standards. Blind certified reference material is inserted at regular intervals into the sample sequence by Trevali personnel in order to independently assess analytical accuracy. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are routinely forwarded to ISO compliant third party laboratories for additional quality control.
About Trevali Resources Corp.
The Company is currently exploring and conducting various scoping level studies on the former Santander poly-metallic mine Peru in order to ascertain as best as possible the cost and feasibility of re-commencing mining operations in a timely manner should exploration prove to be successful.
The common shares of the Company are currently listed on the CNQ (symbol ZINC). For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.trevaliresources.com), Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of TREVALI RESOURCE CORP.
Mark D. Cruise, President
The CNQ has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact:
Mark D. Cruise
Trevali Resources Corp.
(604) 408-7488 Ext. 235
(604) 408-7499 (FAX)
Email: markcruise@trevaliresources.com
Website: www.trevaliresources.com