Resource Estimate Completed on Eagle Plains’/Shoshone Silver’s “Blende” Silver-Lead-Zinc Project
Yukon Territory | October 5, 2004A detailed National Instrument 43-101-compliant technical report authored by B. Price, M.Sc., P.Geo. has recently been received by Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (EPL:TSX-V) and option partner Shoshone Silver Mining Co. (SHSH:OTC) relating to the Blende deposit, located approximately 65 NE of Keno in central Yukon, Canada. Shoshone may earn a 60% interest in the 72 unit (1587 hectare) property from EPL by completing US$5,000,000 in exploration expenditures and issuing 1,000,000 common shares. A 1% NSR has been reserved for B. Kreft.
In his technical report, Price used calculations prepared in 1991 by Billiton Metals Canada Ltd., which identified a resource estimate for the property comprising a total of 19,600,000 tonnes (21,500,000 tons) grading 56.0 g/T silver and 5.84% combined lead-zinc. Within this resource is 15,300,000 tonnes grading 67.5 g/T silver and 6.27% combined lead-zinc.
In terms of contained metals, the Blende property contains at least:
- 35M ounces silver
- 1.3B lbs zinc
- 1.2B lbs lead
Price noted that “Mineralization estimates are considered reliable and relevant, but were prepared prior to National Instrument 43-101 standards. The resource calculations have been examined in detail by the writer and conform with the definition of an Inferred Mineral Resource.”
Although initially explored as an open pit target, Eagle Plains and Shoshone management believe that there is excellent potential to develop the deposit as an underground operation, which would allow mining of a smaller tonnage with higher grade. By adjusting the cutoff grade of the blocks calculated previously, the resource could be reduced in tonnage, but increased in grade to 4.1 million tonnes grading 105 g/T (3.1 oz/t) silver, 6.7% lead, and 4.6% zinc. At the completion of work in 1994, the deposit was found to be open along strike to the west, and down-dip.
Numerous high-grade intersections have been reported by past operators, including hole 88-02 which assayed 282 g/t (8.22 oz/t) silver, 12.2% lead, and 4.4% zinc over 19.8m from a depth of 70.7 to 90.5m. Hole 88-03 returned 8.5m grading 550.1 g/t (16.04 oz/t) silver, 15.3% lead and 4.6 % zinc from 118.0 to 126.5m, and hole 90-15 intersected 9.5m grading 351.2 g/t (10.24 oz/t) silver, 14.11% lead, and 6.59% zinc from 60.1 to 69.6m. Step-out drilling in 1994 confirmed the continuation of ore-grade mineralization westward, with the addition of significant copper values. Hole 94-81 contained 14.9 m of mineralization which assayed 228.4 g/t (6.66 oz/t) silver, 9.71% lead, 5.48% zinc, and 0.78% copper from 9.2m to 24.1m, while hole 94-84 intersected 8.5m which returned 136.1 g/t (3.97 oz/t) silver, 6.74% lead, 3.65% zinc and 2.43% copper from 45.5-54.0m.
Prior work also established that the deposit is non-acid generating and could be mined by open pit methods with a stripping ratio of 2.1:1. Preliminary metallurgical studies indicate no significant concentrations of deleterious elements, although oxide lead and zinc interfere to some extent with recoveries, requiring a more complicated processing flow-sheet
Mineralization at the Blende was originally noted by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1961 and was first staked in 1975 by Cyprus Anvil Mining Corp., which carried out mapping and geochemical sampling later that year. Archer Cathro & Associates (1981) Ltd. restaked the property in April 1981 and conducted trenching and rock sampling from 1981 to 1984. NDU Resources Ltd. purchased the property in 1987, and in 1988 drilled 3 holes (718 m) and explored by mapping and hand trenching. In 1989 NDU carried out mapping, road construction, soil sampling, magnetic and VLF-EM surveys. Billiton optioned the property in 1989 and as project operator drilled 15 holes (3659.7 m) in 1990. Billiton’s 1991 work included completion of the soil geochemical and geophysical coverage, drill-testing of the deposit over a 3.3 km strike length, and preliminary metallurgical tests. The 1991 drilling consisted of 62 holes totaling 11,525m, including 15 holes in the West Zone, 34 holes in the East Zone and 13 holes in the central area between the two zones. Billiton elected in 1993 to convert its interest to a 10% net profits royalty. In 1994 NDU drilled 7 step-out holes (596m) which successfully extended the West Zone 150m further westward (the West Zone remains open in this direction). This activity is the last recorded exploration of the property. In March, 1998 NDU merged with United Keno Hill Mines Ltd. (UKHM) and the property came under the control of UKHM, which subsequently went into receivership. Eagle Plains consultants in Whitehorse commenced staking in January, 2001, soon after the original claims expired.
Price estimates total expenditures on the property from 1984 to 2001 to be approximately $4.2 million. In his report, he proposes a 2-phase, $1.6 million exploration program consisting of extensive diamond drilling to outline a higher grade resource which may be amenable to underground development.
Eagle Plains Resources continues to conduct research, acquisition and exploration projects in western Canada. The Company controls over 30 gold and base-metal projects, many of which are currently optioned to or joint-ventured with third parties including NovaGold Inc., Kobex Resources Ltd., Northern Continental Resources Inc., Shoshone Silver Mining Co., and Golden Cariboo Resources Inc. These agreements expose Eagle Plains to over $18 million in exploration expenditures over the next five years. In recent years, Eagle Plains has completed option agreements with Billiton Metals, Rio Algom Exploration, Kennecott Exploration, Viceroy Resource Corp. and numerous other junior exploration companies, resulting in nearly 13,000 m (43,000 ft) of drilling and over $5,000,000 in exploration spending on its projects since 1998.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Signed
“Tim J. Termuende”
President and CEO
For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at 1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)
Email: mgl@eagleplains.com or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com
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