Talisman Advances Underground
Auckland, July 21, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - New Talisman (
ASX:NTL) today announced an update to its progress at the Talisman mine in the Karangahake Gorge. Site works at surface are complete and refurbishments of old sets underground. The underground refurbishments are progressing well and ahead on both time and budget. It is expected these works will be complete by end of September. 5KG Samples are being taken currently and will be sent off to SGS for lab testing in areas of the old stopes and workings.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Underground work has commenced and is 300 Metres into the mine
- Communications from Site office to underground workers installed
- Revision of mine plan targeting areas such as Dubbo to increase grade
- Samples currently being collected for assay at SGS
- Ventilation Lock framework has commenced at portal entrance
- Next Module for Talisman Resource Upgrades due to be released
- Significant International and local interest following Deeps upgrade
At Site
The small, 0.4 hectare surface footprint of the site has been once again closed off and secured as it has been for over 26 years. Future work will be mainly done underground and once strengthening and widening of sets is complete there will be sufficient to allow a small underground loader to traverse all areas of the mine being targeting for prospecting and future small-scale mining/Bulk Sampling.
Surface disturbances have been small and a silenced generator is being used while we investigate restoring mains power to the mine.
Terra Firma and the Talisman team have done a tremendous amount of work.
- The site has been completely cleaned of gorse and other invader species and a site office set up;
- Wifi has a permanent installation now on site.
- The buried culvert on the left hand side of the portal has been recovered and water from the stream now runs into the pond as it should, not over the pad;
- A nursery for native species has been set up along with silt dams
- Fencing has been erected around the perimeter of the pad and a secondary gate established;
- The old portal structure has been dismantled and a new, much stronger structure erected which is likely to be used as the structure for the ventilation lock;
- A barricade has been erected around the pond to prevent unintentional access;
- Scaling of the hanging and sidewalls of the No 8 Drive is complete to the 280m mark and the first of the old sets dismantled and new, wider sets erected in their place;
- Underground communication via a Pageboss intercom system is in place and will be extended as the crew advance. The control room is permanently manned when people are underground and the crew report in hourly.
- The Team is now 300M underground and commencing work on the third sets The focus is on ensuring stable ground through the mine and works will shortly commence on installation of services.
Establishing a reliable pipeline for material procurement and transport is complete and we now have a reliable supply route and have at least two day of supplies on site at any time.
Much effort has been expended over the last month on developing fit for purpose hazard management plans and the accompanying procedures. With considerable input from the team this has progressed well and we now have a robust system to underpin our vision of a safe and healthy workplace.
Environment and Community
The company's environmental policy has been implemented and site inspections by WRC, HDC and DOC have been well received.
- Silt Dams have been completed.
- Culverts for water flow through to other side of the pond at level 8 are complete.
- Hay Bales and silt dams continue to ensure water which flows across in heavy rains is well managed.
- Procedures to control spread of Kauri Dieback have been put in place and we are advised by the Department of Conservation that these are appropriate. We will continue to engage with DOC on any other measures required in the future.
- A Nursery for native plants has been set up.
- An eradication plan for invasive species of animals has commenced with traps already in place.
The company has a very good relationship with the Department of Conservation and we continue to support DOC wherever possible. Over the years our donations have significantly enhanced the experience of tourists who visit Karangahake and walk through the workings known as Windows Walk which was recently refurbished with materials donated by New Talisman. The Walking track which will take walkers along the "New Talisman Track" and off the public road has been designed and work will commence on this in the coming months.
Talisman Deeps
The recent announcement of the Dubbo Deeps Resource Estimate has resulted in significant international interest in the Company together with resurgent local interest from smaller kiwi investors wishing to be part of the development of this mine. Highlights of the Resource estimate are as follows:
- Resource modelling of the Dubbo Zone has resulted in Measured, Indicated, and Inferred resources increasing to 312,800 oz gold equivalent (Au Eq) at a grade of 21.98g/t Au Eq. This is an increase of 102% over the 2004 resource estimate of 140,600 oz gold and 445,800 oz Ag for this zone (154,690 oz Au Eq). Reporting standards are compliant with those set out in the 2012 version of the JORC Code.
A lower cut-off grade of 3.0g/t Au Eq (previously 0g/t) was applied to reflect the mine cut-off grade estimated for the financial modelling in the 2013 prefeasibility study.
Gold equivalents have been used as the historic data is expressed in bullion values. These have been converted to gold equivalents based on the gold price during the main historic mining period to 1919 where gold price was a constant GBP4.25 or USD20.47. All more recent exploration data has been converted to gold equivalents at the same metal prices for consistency of resource estimation and reporting. The gold/silver ratio in the orebody averages approximately 1:4.
- An Exploration Target of a possible further 95,000 oz Au Eq has also been identified within a potential grade range of 12g/t to 31g/t. This constitutes a global Exploration Target as defined in the 2012 JORC Code. The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.
Matthew Hill stated "While it has taken over 2 decades to be an overnight success we are very proud of the work which has been accomplished in such a short space of time. The development of this national treasure which historically employed thousands of people before slowing down due to a world war is once again well on its way to production. We are delighted at the support by most of the local community. As they say Grade is King and the Talisman mine which is up there in the world's highest grade gold deposits is well set on its pathway towards to becoming a world class mine.
Terra Firma Mining Ltd an experienced local company has been engaged to provide civil engineering services to the project. The company's knowledge and experience operating in the local mining and underground construction sectors, coupled with a strong track record in health and safety management, will be of considerable value in the safe and efficient execution of the project.
To view tables and figures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/Z0335B35
About New Talisman Gold Mines Limited
New Talisman Gold Mines Limited (NZE:NTL) (ASX:NTL) is a dual listed with over 2,300 shareholders who are mainly from Australia and New Zealand. It is a leading New Zealand minerals development and exploration company with a mining permit encompassing the Talisman mine one of New Zealand's historically most productive gold mines. Its gold properties near Paeroa in the Hauraki District of New Zealand are a granted mining permit, including a JORC compliant mineral resource within the original Talisman underground mine, and a Heads of agreement with Newcrest on an adjacent exploration permit along strike from the mine. The company is now advancing its plans to develop the mine, and advance the exploration project.
More about New Talisman Gold visit the Company website, here.
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