News Releases
| Wed Sep 27, 2006 Bear Creek Announces Positive Initial Metallurgical Results For Corani | |
| Vancouver, B.C. - Bear Creek Mining (TSX Venture: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce positive results from the initial phase of metallurgical test work. These tests show that the Corani ore recovers well using simple and cost effective methods. The initial indications are that the probable recovery method will involve grinding, flotation and leaching to produce a silver rich lead concentrate, a zinc concentrate and silver dore. Test results so far will provide the basis for future work aimed at optimization of the metallurgical results and development of a process flow sheet for estimating development and operating costs. The program will include drilling of additional metallurgical drill holes and metallurgical testing to improve recoveries and final product quality. Highlights of the test work indicate: • An average combined silver recovery of approximately 76% has been obtained in high-sulfide material; the best cyanide leach test achieved 79% silver recovery in non-sulfide material. It is expected that silver recovery ultimately will approach 80% as optimization tests are completed. • A lead recovery of 60% is indicated to be achievable producing high quality, silver rich lead concentrates; although, a 70% lead recovery resulted from a higher grade composite suggesting substantial up-side for improvement with continued testing. • An overall recovery of zinc of approximately 60%; again, with higher recoveries using above average grade composites. Andrew Swarthout, President and CEO, stated "we are very encouraged with the initial results from our metallurgical test work program. The objectives of this initial phase of testing have been achieved in that we have demonstrated that we can obtain good recoveries using low cost flotation and leaching methods which are known technologies for the treatment of silver-base metal deposits. Additionally, we have shown that we can produce high grade, marketable concentrates of lead-silver and zinc. Importantly, the highest grade ores expected in the first years of mining show even higher recoveries which will have a very favorable impact on project economics. Similarly to the drilling and resource estimates, these preliminary metallurgical results represent a snapshot in the continuing evolution of the project. We are now focusing on the next phase of test work in order to optimize recoveries and the process flow sheet." Test Work Summary Bear Creek Mining has completed 59 flotation and 19 agitated cyanide leach tests to determine metallurgical characteristics of the Corani Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization. The test work has been performed at Dawson Metallurgical Laboratories in Salt Lake City and G&T Metallurgical Services in Kamloops. The mineralogical studies have been conducted at Hazen Research in Denver as well as G&T Metallurgical Services in Kamloops. The testing to date is summarized as follows: • Based on this preliminary work, the ore responds well to conventional processing. A combination of selective flotation to recover silver-rich lead concentrates and, when the zinc grade warrants, a zinc concentrate, followed by cyanidation of the flotation tailings to recover additional silver, is the indicated process flow sheet for the project. • Marketable lead-silver concentrates with grades as high as 60% lead and greater than 5,000 g/t silver have been produced. • Zinc concentrates with grades of 45% to 50% have been produced. • The arsenic and antimony contents are below smelter penalty levels. • The best lead flotation results were obtained on a composite at a grade of 4.46% Pb, yielding a 70% lead recovery and a 49% silver recovery. Cyanide leaching of the flotation tails in this case recovered an additional 24% of the total contained silver giving an overall silver recovery of 73%. • The favorable metallurgical performance in the higher-grade mineralization is important as over 73%, or 188M ounces silver (17.4Mt @ 91.4g/t Ag measured and 53.9Mt @ 79.2g/t Ag indicated) contained in the currently defined resource occurs within the higher grade core of the deposit using a 45 g/t Ag cutoff (see news release 23 August '06 ). • Zinc recovery by flotation is favorable at zinc grades above 1%. The best zinc flotation results were obtained on a higher grade zinc composite (4.4% Zn) producing a zinc concentrate assaying 46% zinc at a 65% recovery. This is important as 72% (1.14 billion pounds) of the contained zinc metal (5.3Mt @ 2.21% Zn measured and 21.3Mt @1.87% Zn indicated) occurs in 19% of the resource tonnes at an average grade of 1.94% Zn (see news release 23 August '06). • Cyanidation of low sulfide whole ore composites yielded silver extractions in the range 57 to 79%. Cyanide consumption was relatively high (greater than 2.8 kg/t) at the high concentrations used in the tests. Testing indicates that lower leach solution concentrations are effective with significantly lower cyanide consumption. Further testing is necessary to optimize the leaching process; however, direct cyanide leaching appears appropriate for low sulfide portions of the resource. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. - End - Andrew Swarthout - President and CEO, or Patrick De Witt - Investor Relations Phone: 604-685-6269 Direct: 604-628-1111 E-mail: info@bearcreekmining.com For further information, please visit the Company's website (www.bearcreekmining.com) Regulatory footnotes: All of Bear Creek's metallurgical test programs and pertinent disclosure of the related technical or scientific data are prepared by or prepared under the direct supervision of Marc Leduc, P.Eng., Bear Creek's Vice President of Technical Services, who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101. The metallurgical tests were performed by Dawson Metallurgical Laboratories, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah and G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd. of Kamloops, British Columbia. Mineralogical studies have been performed by Hazen Research Inc. of Denver Colorado and by G&T. G&T is an ISO 9001:2000-registered laboratory. Certain disclosure in this release, including management's assessment of Bear Creek's plans and projects, constitutes forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to Bear Creek's operation as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. *Any reference to the potential quantity & grade of mineralization at Corani is conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the property and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in discovery of a mineral resource on the property. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Bear Creek 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. | |