Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 18, 2017) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) ("Los Andes", or the
"Company") is pleased to announce the results of the metallurgical testwork performed by SGS and coordinated and supervised by
Empirica Consultores on the Company's 100% owned Vizcachitas copper—molybdenum porphyry project in Central Chile.
Key findings:
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Overall copper recoveries remain at over 90% using a coarser grind size when compared to historical test work
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Rock competence (hardness) and resulting energy consumption is in line with similar deposits in Chile
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Coarser grind size reduces power requirements, improves water recovery, and increases throughput in the mills — the
optimization will be captured in the Company's anticipated Q1 2018 preliminary economic assessment ("PEA")
Antony Amberg, President & CEO of Los Andes, commented:
"We are delighted with the results of our recent metallurgical test work. The Company has been able to
show that given the nature of the deposit, we are able to recover over 90% of contained copper at
significantly coarser grinding levels.
"This reduction in grinding for the rougher flotation stage would result in a decrease
in the power and water consumption of the project. These reductions could have significant
effects in mill throughput and operating costs, as well as help reduce the environmental footprint of the
project.
"We look forward to providing further information in our forthcoming Q1 2018 updated PEA
following our expected 43-101 resource update in January 2018 as we continue to progress the Vizcachitas
project."
Metallurgical Test work
Sample Selection/Head Characterization
Forty samples were selected from the 2015/2016 and 2017 drilling campaigns, from an area of 676 metres East-West x 682 metres
North-South with an elevation ranging between 1176 and 1994 metres. Head grades for the samples averaged 0.48% Cu and 0.022% Mo.
Four predominant rock types were identified (Andesite, Breccia, Diorite and Tonalite) in combination with five alteration types
(Biotite, Chloritic, Qtz-Ser, Ser-Cl and Si-Ser).
The predominant copper bearing sulfide species is chalcopyrite although a minor presence of bornite, covellite and chalcocite
was observed in samples located in the andesitic/surface zone of the orebody.
Grindability
SAG mill and ball mill grindability tests showed relatively competent andesitic and dioritic samples, whereas the tonalitic and
breccia samples require less energy. The tonalitic mineralization is relatively abrasive with respect to the other three rock
types.
Bond mill work index averages 12.0 kWh/st for the 40 samples, and the Starkey SAG mill grindability test gave an average result
of 67 minutes. Hardness for SAG grinding is comparable to similar orebodies in Chile, whereas ball mill hardness is slightly
lower.
Flotation
Rougher stage recoveries were determined for a grind size (P80) that ranged from 150 to 240 microns, consistent with
recommendations and observations from the previous PEA in 2014. Individual rougher stage recoveries for Cu show a minor decrease
from 98% at 150 microns to 95% at 240 microns. For the cleaner flotation stage, three composite samples were used representing
different sections of the deposit.
Overall (rougher + cleaner) Cu recovery was determined in locked cycle tests at a rougher grind size (P80) of 240 microns. All
three composite samples achieved an overall Cu recovery over 94%.
The relatively small decrease in recovery that is observed when comparing finer with coarser grind size in the rougher stage,
warrants further test work with an even coarser grind up to 300 microns. It should be noted that several existing mills currently
operate in this range and it is expected that this reduction in grinding for the rougher flotation stage would result in a decrease
in the power and water consumption of the project. These reductions could have significant effects in mill throughput and operating
costs, as well as help reduce the environmental footprint of the project.
Additional tests are currently underway with the objective of confirming final product grade and recovery for both Cu and
Mo.
Resource update and PEA
The Company has been working with its consultants to collate the results of its recent drilling programmes into an updated
43-101 resource estimate. The Company anticipates publishing this in January 2018 which will allow the Company to rapidly advance
work on a revised PEA for the project. The PEA is expected to be published in Q1 2018.
Ms. Romke Kuyvenhoven MSc MBA is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 who supervised and approved the scientific and technical
disclosure in this news release. Ms. Kuyvenhoven is a mining engineer with a master's degree in mining and petroleum engineering
with specialization in extractive metallurgy from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. She also has an MBA from
Universidad de Chile & Tulane University (double degree). Ms. Kuyvenhoven has almost 20 years of experience in metallurgy; working
in engineering, consulting and research for projects in Chile, Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Zambia and Canada. She began her career
in 1998, working for Hatch as project metallurgist. In 2001 she joined SGS Lakefield as metallurgy manager. She later worked for
Aminpro and Gecamin before before becoming an independent consultant in 2013 working with Empirica Consultores. In addition to the
consulting work, over the last seven years Ms. Kuyvenhoven has been a professor of mineral processing for metallurgical and
chemical engineering students at the Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria.
For more information please contact:
Antony J. Amberg, President & CEO
Tel: +56 2 2954-0450
Aurora Davidson, CFO
Tel: 604-697-6207
E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com
About Los Andes Copper Ltd.
Los Andes Copper Ltd. is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development
of advanced stage copper deposits in Latin America. The Company owns 100% of the Vizcachitas project in Chile, the largest copper
deposit in the Americas not controlled by the majors. Vizcachitas is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 120 km
north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure.
Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA.
Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the
Securities Act (Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always,
identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend"; statements that
an event or result is "due" on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions.
More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information; including, without limitation, the
achievement and maintenance of planned production rates, the evolving legal and political policies of Chile, the volatility in the
Chilean economy, military unrest or terrorist actions, metal and energy price fluctuations, favourable governmental relations, the
availability of financing for activities when required and on acceptable terms, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves,
current and future environmental and regulatory requirements, the availability and timely receipt of permits, approvals and
licenses, industrial or environmental accidents, equipment breakdowns, availability of and competition for future acquisition
opportunities, availability and cost of insurance, labour disputes, land claims, the inherent uncertainty of production and cost
estimates, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties, including those
described in Management's Discussion and Analysis in the Company's financial statements. Such Forward-Looking Information is based
upon the Company's assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and
energy, and the Company's production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company's future results of
operations and financial conditions are changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined,
a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things.
Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking
Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under
applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
