TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 10, 2013) - Midlands Minerals Corp. ("Midlands" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:MEX) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent with Reservoir Minerals Inc. ("Reservoir") (TSX VENTURE:RMC) for an option to earn up to a 75% interest in the Parlozi Lead-Zinc-Silver Project in Serbia ("Parlozi" or "the project").
The Letter of Intent provides that Midlands can earn an initial 51% interest in the project by spending CDN$4.5 million on exploration over four years, of which the first year expenditure of CDN$500,000 is a firm commitment. Thereafter, Midlands can earn an additional 14% interest over two years by obtaining a Mining Exploitation Permit from the Serbian Government and a further 10% (for a total of 75%) by completing a Bankable Feasibility Study within two years of obtaining a Mining Exploitation Permit. Reservoir will be the project operator until Midlands has earned the initial 51%.
The grant of the option is subject to completion by Midlands of legal and financial due diligence and the execution of a definitive agreement.
The Parlozi project is a 91 square kilometre exploration permit and is conveniently located 35 kilometers south of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The Parlozi permit covers occurrences of historical lead-zinc-silver mining in the Kosmaj-Babe area of the Sumadija mining district in central Serbia. The mineralization in the permit comprises silver-bearing vein and replacement-type lead-zinc sulphides hosted by carbonate sedimentary rocks associated with intrusive Neogene quartz latite dykes and volcanic breccias. This type of mineralization has long supported lead-zinc-silver mining operations in the region. An example is the Trepça mining complex which has geological similarities with Parlozi and which produced from 1931 to 1998 over 34 million tonnes averaging 6% lead, 4% zinc, 75 g/t silver and 102 g/t bismuth.
Mineral exploration in the permit area during the 1970s and 1980s by state-controlled companies of the former Yugoslavia included 36 drill holes totalling 15,105 meters, exploration adits, airborne and ground geophysical surveys, and detailed geological and mineralogical studies. Based on this work, the Serbian Geo Institute calculated in 1986 an historical resource estimate at Parlozi prospect, classified as C1 plus C2 resources according to the Yugoslav reporting system of 6.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 4.1% lead, 2.1% zinc, 0.3% copper and 130 g/t silver within the Permit area. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources, the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources.
Reservoir validated these base metal grades in a single confirmatory hole (PA-1 of 600 meters) and also achieved encouraging base metals, silver and gold intercepts (6.15 m averaging 2.81 g/t Au from 121.60m; 7.8 m averaging 214 g/t Ag, 1.4% Zn and 4.8% Pb from 195.30m and 7.2m @ 129.0 g/t Ag, 5.7% Pb, 0.8% Zn from 242.2m including 2.1m averaging 386.2 g/t Ag, 15.8% Pb, 2.2% Zn and 0.7% Cu from 247.3m). Reservoir filed a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Independent Technical Report on the Parlozi Property on October 11, 2011. This report is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Craig Pearman, President and CEO of Midlands stated that "We are energized by the expansion potential of the historic resource at Parlozi and the upside of the other prospects on the permit, some of which have an historical mining record. The convenient location and infrastructure around the project and access to skilled labour bode well for Parlozi. Midlands has taken note of the strong medium term fundamentals in the zinc market and believes success at Parlozi will position the company well to leverage shareholder value. Midlands is also happy to be partnering with a creditable company like Reservoir who have an established and successful track record in Serbia."
Qualified Person:
Dr Dominique Fournier, EurGeol, a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this press release.
About Midlands Minerals:
Midlands Minerals is a Canadian resource company with common shares that trade on the TSXV under the symbol "MEX". Additional information on Midlands can be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or on Midlands' website: www.midlandsminerals.com which is currently under re-construction.
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the execution of the Definitive Agreement, the completion of the Transaction, the receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals, the Company's future plans, objectives or expectations of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks relating to the fluctuating gold prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor the OTCQX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.