TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Verde Potash Plc (TSX-V:NPK) ("Verde" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an
expansion as a result of further drilling, to the resource estimate for
the Cerrado Verde Potash Project located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil
("Cerrado Verde"). The estimate comprises an indicated resource of 74
million tonnes with an average grade of 9.22% K2O and an inferred resource of 2.68 billion tonnes with an average grade
of 8.88% K2O (applying a 7.5% K2O cut-off). The drilling program defined sub-horizontal potash
mineralization from surface to a maximum depth of 85m, rendering the
resource amenable to open pit mining.
A summary of the resource estimation is shown in Table 1:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Table 1 - Resource Estimation: Cerrado Verde Potash Project
|
|
|
Previous Estimate
(August, 2011)
|
New Estimate
|
|
|
Tonnage
(Mt)
|
Average Grade
(% K2O)
|
Tonnage
(Mt)
|
Average Grade (% K2O)
|
|
Indicated
|
74.04
|
9.22
|
74.04
|
9.22
|
|
Inferred
|
1,071.16
|
9.37
|
2,682.18
|
8.88
|
The new resource estimated for the Cerrado Verde targets is based on
24,148m of drilling performed as 424 RC holes and 932m as 13 DC holes
with drillhole spacing ranging from 400m by 400m to 200m by 200m.
President & CEO, Cristiano Veloso, said: "Given the enormity of the
Cerrado Verde inferred resource, the project should be able to support
large scale production of multiple potash products. Brazil's annual K2O consumption is approximately 4 million tonnes. By comparison, the new
resource represents approximately 250 million tonnes of K2O."
The mineral resource has been classified by qualified person Volodymyr
Myadzel (BSc (Geo) MAIG) principal consulting geologist for BNA
Consultoria e Sistemas ("BNA") in accordance with NI 43-101 effective
as of December 2, 2011. The estimate comprises an indicated resource
of 74 million tonnes with an average grade of 9.22% K2O and an inferred resource of 2.68 billion tonnes with an average grade
of 8.88% K2O (applying a 7.5% K2O cut-off):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2 - Grade Tonnage Report: Cerrado Verde Potash Project
Inverse Distance Weighting with power two (IDW2) estimate
(Block Model - 50mE X 50mN X 10mRL)
|
|
Target
|
Cut-off grade
(%K2O)
|
Tonnage
(Mt)
|
Average Grade
(% K2O)
|
|
Indicated
|
|
Target 6
|
7.5
|
23.25
|
8.83
|
|
Target 7
|
7.5
|
50.79
|
9.39
|
|
Total Indicated
|
|
74.04
|
9.22
|
|
Inferred
|
|
Target 1
|
7.5
|
235.86
|
8.72
|
|
Target 2
|
7.5
|
11.63
|
8.54
|
|
Target 3
|
7.5
|
126.52
|
8.72
|
|
Target 4
|
7.5
|
146.67
|
9.03
|
|
Target 5
|
7.5
|
27.27
|
8.31
|
|
Target 6
|
7.5
|
47.85
|
8.84
|
|
Target 7
|
7.5
|
873.59
|
9.45
|
|
Target 10
|
7.5
|
28.50
|
10.10
|
|
Target 11
|
7.5
|
46.79
|
8.27
|
|
Target 12
|
7.5
|
235.68
|
8.80
|
|
Target 13
|
7.5
|
168.25
|
8.50
|
|
Target 14
|
7.5
|
325.20
|
8.65
|
|
Target 16
|
7.5
|
257.49
|
8.15
|
|
Target 17
|
7.5
|
150.89
|
8.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Inferred
|
|
2,682.18
|
8.88
|
Note:
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated
economic viability
Appropriate rounding has been applied
Table is EXCLUSIVE of Target 8, Funchal Norte, inferred resource
estimate completed by Coffey Mining in March 2010 (105 million tonnes
at 10.3% K2O (using a 7.5% K2O cut-off)). See Release dated March 8, 2010
|
Cerrado Verde is a 100% owned project of the Company and is defined by
flat lying potash rich metasiltstones belonging to the Serra da Saudade
Formation of Neoproterozoic age. The metasiltstone beds are between 30m
and 80m thick. The Company has mapped the distinctive green unit over a
strike length of 100km within their granted permits.
Qualified Person
Beau Nicholls, MAIG consulting geologist to Verde is the Qualified
Person with respect to drilling and sampling for the Cerrado Verde
Potash Project. Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Core (DC) samples
were taken at between one and two metre intervals by Verde's technical
staff, utilizing internationally accepted drilling and sampling
techniques. All reverse circulation drill samples were weighed on site
to determine whether recovery had been adequate. DC drill holes
consisted predominantly of HQ core. DC was logged and sawn on site with
half core samples sent to the laboratory. All samples were analyzed for
K2O using standard Whole Rock XRF by SGS Geosol Laboratory, in Belo
Horizonte. QAQC programs show industry acceptable precision and
accuracy limits on both Certified Standards and duplicate samples. An
additional 120 Umpire samples were sent to ALS laboratory and returned
excellent precision when compared to SGS Geosol results. Bulk density
samples are routinely measured in all DC drilling, and the company has
also undertaken independent validation checks of the density results
with excellent precision returned.
BNA Consultoria e Sistemas, under the direction of Volodymyr Myadzel,
MAIG, is the independent Qualified Person with respect to this mineral
resource estimate. Mr. Myadzel validated the database and QAQC
programs. He undertook wire-framing of the grade shells, performed the
IDW2 estimate for the block modelling, estimated the resource, and has
approved this news release.
About Verde Potash
Verde is a fertilizer exploration and development company; it was
founded and is led by Brazilians. Verde is developing the Cerrado Verde
project in Brazil, a source of potash-rich rock from which the Company
plans to produce a potash fertilizer product. Founded as Amazon Mining
Holding Plc in 2005, the Company changed its name to Verde Potash Plc
in April 2011 to better reflect its core business.
About the Cerrado Verde Potash Project
Cerrado Verde is a unique project: 1) its high grade potash rock
outcrops and is amenable to strip mining, allowing fast construction of
a scalable operation; 2) it is located in the midst of the world's
third largest and fastest growing fertilizer market; 3) it connects to
Brazil's largest fertilizer distribution districts via existing and
high quality infra-structure.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Verde Potash, Cristiano Veloso, President and CEO.
For additional information please contact:
Cristiano Veloso, President & Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (416) 866-2966; Fax: (416) 866-8829; Email: cv@verdepotash.com
www.verdepotash.com
Cautionary Language and Forward Looking Statements
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS
THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE)
ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN "FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS", WHICH
INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, STATEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE RESOURCE
SUPPORTING LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION OF MULTIPLE FERTILIZER PRODUCTS.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN GENERALLY BE IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF
WORDS SUCH AS "PLANS", "EXPECTS", OR "DOES NOT EXPECT" OR "IS
EXPECTED", "ANTICIPATES" OR "DOES NOT ANTICIPATE", OR "BELIEVES",
"INTENDS", "FORECASTS", "BUDGET", "SCHEDULED", "ESTIMATES" OR
VARIATIONS OF SUCH WORDS OR PHRASES OR STATE THAT CERTAIN ACTIONS,
EVENT, OR RESULTS "MAY", "COULD", "WOULD", "MIGHT", OR "WILL BE TAKEN",
"OCCUR" OR "BE ACHIEVED". FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND
UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY CAUSE THE
ACTUAL RESULTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SAID STATEMENTS. SUCH FACTORS INCLUDE A
MATERIAL CHANGE IN BRAZIL'S K2O CONSUMPTION, GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS OF
MINING OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, RECLAMATION EXPENSES, TITLE
DISPUTES OR CLAIMS, LIMITATIONS OF INSURANCE COVERAGE, FLUCTUATION LAB
AND CONSULTANT AVAILABILITY, MATERIAL CHANGE IN COMPANY FINANCES AND
OTHER FACTORS DISCLOSED UNDER THE HEADING "RISK FACTORS" IN THE
COMPANY'S CURRENT ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM AVAILABLE ON SEDAR AT
WWW.SEDAR.COM. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCES THAT FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE, AS ACTUAL RESULTS AND FUTURE
EVENTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SAID
STATEMENTS. ACCORDINGLY, READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
THE GRADES DETAILED IN THIS RELEASE ARE CONCEPTUAL IN NATURE. THERE HAS
BEEN INSUFFICIENT EXPLORATION TO DEFINE A MINERAL RESOURECE. SHOULD THE
COMPANY ENGAGE IN FURTHER EXPLORATION, IT IS UNCERTAIN THAT IT WILL
RESULT IN THE TARGETS BEING DELINEATED AS A MINERAL RESOURCE.
|