CUU refresher
posted on
Nov 18, 2012 06:28PM
CUU own 25% Schaft Creek: proven/probable min. reserves/940.8m tonnes = 0.27% copper, 0.19 g/t gold, 0.018% moly and 1.72 g/t silver containing: 5.6b lbs copper, 5.8m ounces gold, 363.5m lbs moly and 51.7m ounces silver; (Recoverable CuEq 0.46%)
From CUU web site:
The recent discovery of high-grade copper-gold mineralization at depth below the Red Chris porphyry deposit located in northwest British Columbia has changed the thinking related to the possibility of finding deep higher grade mineralization below what typically was thought to be moderate to low grade porphyry deposits.
The depth of the pre-2010 drilling at Schaft Creek averaged 226m, a very shallow depth in terms of porphyry deposits. The work completed in 2010 clearly shows a large zone of higher grade mineralization at depth which could have significant depth extent, possibly in excess of 800m at the north end of the Schaft Creek deposit.
The majority of the resources defined to date at Schaft Creek are in what was formerly referred to as the Liard Zone. The 2010 geophysical program and the pre 2010 drilling results strongly suggest this zone occurs on the flank of the deposit and the former Paramount Zone, at the north end of the deposit is the core of the porphyry system, where deep and higher grade mineralization would be expected to occur. So far, the 2010 drilling completed in the Paramount Zone supports this interpretation.
The value of a mineral project has two major components, the Net Present Value of the mineral deposit based on a feasibility study and the value related to the potential of finding additional mineralization. Copper Fox identified four aspects of the preliminary feasibility study that would have a direct impact on improving the economics of the Schaft Creek deposit. These are: i) "a higher-grade" starter pit, ii) increased daily milling rate, iii) reduced capital costs, and iv) a realistic resource estimate geared toward maximizing the economic return/benefits of the Schaft Creek deposit over the life of mine.
The above four points are being assessed in the feasibility study currently underway. Due to the limited amount of drilling completed, only a portion of the deep zone of higher grade mineralization intersected in 2010 will be included in the resource estimate. After completion of the feasibility study additional drill testing of the deep zone of higher grade mineralization is being considered and if successful, is expected to add considerable value to the Schaft Creek mineral property.
Less than 1,500 acres of the 50,000 acre Schaft Creek property has been explored using modern exploration techniques. To identify/add value over and above that established by the feasibility study, Copper Fox is considering the merits of completing a high sensitivity airborne geophysical survey over the entire Schaft Creek property to identify other potential areas of porphyry style mineralization.