LIMA, PERU--(Marketwired - Feb. 13, 2017) - Minera IRL Limited ('Minera IRL' or the 'Company') (CSE:MIRL)(CSE:MIRL.CN)(BVLAC:MIRL) is pleased to announce the final assay results of its 2016 Minapampa Far East drill program, at its Ollachea flagship gold project in Puno, Southern Peru. The results have demonstrated that gold mineralization at Minapampa continues over 500m to the east and remains open to the east and at depth. The results announced today are from 5,421 m (23 drill holes) of drilling conducted in 2016 at Ollachea.
The drill hole results have been used to outline an exploration target in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone of 370,000 to 550,000 ounces of gold contained within 3.1 to 4.6 million tonnes, grading 2.9 to 4.3 g/t gold, (this tonnes/grade range is reported within the framework of the N.I. 43-101 Restricted Disclosure Section 2.3(2)). The potential tonnages and grades are conceptual in nature and are based on drill results that define the approximate length, thickness, depth and grade of mineralization in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone. The exploration results from the 2016 together with this interpretation will be used as the basis for estimating a maiden Mineral Resource estimate on the zone.
"We achieved our goal of proving that the mineralization continues well beyond the existing 43.101 compliant Mineral Resource. We expect that the results will expand the Ollachea Mineral Resources and will likely extend the Minapampa mine life. We believe the Ollachea Project is still significantly underexplored, with considerable potential to add to the Mineral Reserves, which are currently over 1 million ounces1", said Diego Benavides, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.
1 Refer to previous press release dated 4 June 2014
The Company's primary objective are to advance the Ollachea Project to a construction decision and to expand the resource base through ongoing exploration. To that end, the Company expects to release a new Mineral Resource Estimate for the Minapampa Far East Area, combined with an update to the Minapampa Feasibility Study by mid-year, 2017.
Significant drill hole intercepts from the program are:
| DDH16-T06 8 m downhole @ 3.69 g/t from 122 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T07 13 m downhole @ 6.34 g/t from 143 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T10 4 m downhole @ 11.23 g/t from 217 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T11 21 m downhole @ 3.61 g/t from 96 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T12 18 m downhole @ 3.4 g/t from 122 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T14 22 m downhole @ 2.41 g/t from 176 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T16 4 m downhole @ 16.8 g/t from 294 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T18 10 m downhole @ 2.59 g/t from 186 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T18 10 m downhole @ 2.65 g/t from 198 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T19 19 m downhole @ 2.96 g/t from 188 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T24 18 m downhole @ 2.1 g/t from 190 meters of depth |
| DDH16-T24 7 m downhole @ 4.05 g/t from 213 meters of depth |
Technical details: Minapampa Far East Drill Results
Minera IRL geologists undertook detailed two dimensional geological interpretations on cross section and in plan upon receipt of the final assay results. Mineralized zones were delimited an a nominal grade threshold of 1 g/t gold. This updated interpretation attributes mineralized intercepts to different mineralized zones when compared to the initial interpretation presented in the November 28, 2016 press release.
Figure 1 displays a plan view of the project area, while figure 2 displays a longitudinal projection of the interpreted 202 mineralized zone 202, which is the dominant mineralized structure in the Minapampa Far East zone.
Figure 1. Plan view showing Minapampa Far East drill hole traces and interpreted mineralization
Figure 2. Longitudinal Projection of Mineralized Zone 202 showing composite gold grade (g/t) and true thickness (m)
Minapampa Far East Drill Results Table
The table (included with this release) details all mineralized intercepts from all drill hole results received since the initiation of the drill program on Aug. 11, 2016. Previously reported drill holes "DDH13-T01", "DDH13-T03" and "DDH13-T04" are also in the Minapampa Far East zone and so are included here for completeness. Results are uncapped. True thicknesses are reported based on the interpreted local dip and dip-direction of the mineralization and the dip and azimuth of the drill hole trace. No minimum thickness constraint is applied.
Target for further exploration
The drill hole results have been used to outline an exploration target in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone of 370,000 to 550,000 ounces of gold contained within 3.1 to 4.6 million tonnes, grading 2.9 to 4.3 g/t gold, (this tonnes/grade range is reported within the framework of the N.I. 43-101 Restricted Dislosure Section 2.3(2)). The potential tonnages and grades are conceptual in nature and are based on drill results that define the approximate length, thickness, depth and grade of mineralization in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone. The exploration results from the 2016 together with this interpretation will be used as the basis for estimating a maiden Mineral Resource estimate on the zone.
Updated Resource Estimate and Timing of Future Studies
The Company will begin a resource estimate for Minapampa Far East towards the end of February 2017. The Company anticipates combining the updated Mineral Resource Estimate and the results of an updated Feasibility Study in an updated Technical Report for the Ollachea Property. The results of this work are expected to be complete by mid-year 2017.
Qualified Person
The Minapampa Far East drill program is under the supervision of Andrew Fowler, PhD, MAusIMMCP(Geo). Dr. Fowler is a full-time employee of Mining Plus Peru SAC and is an independent Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by the N.I. 43-101. Dr. Fowler has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.
Quality Assurance - Quality Control ("QA/QC")
Thorough QA/QC protocols are followed on the project including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes. The half-core samples are submitted directly to Certimin Laboratories, Juliaca, Peru for preparation. Analysis is completed at Certimin's facility in Lima, Peru. Analysis is conducted on 50 g aliquots. Analysis of Au is performed using fire assay method with atomic absorption (AA). Certimin has been servicing the Peruvian mining industry for 21 years. It participates in international proficiency testing programs such as CANMET and GEOSTATS, and develops its services with the support of the Integrated Management System for the compliance of regulatory requirements such as ISO 9001, ISO /IEC 17025, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001. Dr. Fowler has reviewed the QA/QC results for the Minapampa Far East drilling program and considers that they adequately demonstrate the Certimin assay reliability.
