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TSX Venture Exchange
Trading Symbol: ARC
Frankfurt: 0GT1
VANCOUVER, Jan. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Arian Resources
Corp. ("Arian" or "Company") - ARC: TSX-V.
- Acquires fully permitted past producing mine with a high grade
historic resource
- Project has had over 170,000 meters drilled
- Acquires a significant adjacent land package of 2,300
hectares
Mr. Zahir (Zip) Dhanani, CEO and Chairman
of Arian, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the past
producing, high-grade Perlat copper-gold-silver-cobalt mine in
Albania. The 290 hectare Perlat
exploitation permit contains a significant, high grade historic
resource. The project is permitted for mining for 25 years, with a
10 year renewal option.
Based on the results of geophysics conducted by
Arian as part of its due diligence, the Company has significantly
expanded the footprint of the project by acquiring an adjacent
2,300 hectare exploration license.
Perlat Copper-Gold-Silver-Cobalt
Project
The Perlat exploitation permit lies within the
productive Mirditë and Pukë Districts in northern Albania and is located 80 kilometres north of
the capital Tirana. The Perlat permit is easily accessed by
an 18 kilometre road from the town of Rreshen. Power and
water are readily available throughout the property.
Contained within the Perlat permit is the past
producing Perlat copper-cobalt mine which is one of eleven
volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits mined from a linear
trend within the Mirditë and Pukë Districts.
Copper mineralization at Perlat was first
discovered in the 1960's. An extensive drill program
commenced in 1975 by the Albanian Geological Service and the
Albanian state run Rubik Geological Enterprise. Drilling of
460 holes totalling 165,213 metres was completed on a 100m by 90m
grid which was tightened to 50m by 45m in mineralized zones.
Drilling was undertaken, over the 2.5km strike
length of the exploitation permit. The historic exploration
of the deposit was focussed on copper and cobalt and only on rare
occasions were analyses undertaken for zinc and gold. Select
intercepts from this drill program are presented in the following
table. Gold and zinc assays are presented where
available.
Hole |
Location |
Interval |
Cu |
Au |
Zn |
Co |
|
|
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
% |
ppm |
% |
ppm |
010A |
North |
219.10 |
226.10 |
7.00 |
2.09 |
|
|
179 |
" |
North |
269.80 |
278.40 |
8.60 |
1.33 |
|
|
138 |
013/4 |
North |
56.00 |
62.40 |
6.40 |
8.34 |
|
|
42 |
013A |
North |
284.05 |
301.90 |
17.85 |
2.54 |
|
|
490 |
025/56 |
North |
241.50 |
266.30 |
24.80 |
3.10 |
|
|
287 |
036/36 |
North |
80.50 |
83.40 |
2.90 |
0.48 |
|
14.87 |
69 |
" |
North |
287.00 |
291.80 |
4.80 |
1.91 |
|
20.13 |
401 |
036A/36/1 |
North |
284.79 |
288.35 |
3.56 |
5.60 |
33.34 |
|
817 |
046/46 |
North |
272.15 |
278.10 |
5.95 |
2.01 |
|
|
418 |
051/51 |
North |
353.30 |
358.00 |
4.70 |
1.96 |
|
|
67 |
123/123 |
North |
219.30 |
222.70 |
3.40 |
5.11 |
|
|
94 |
144/144 |
North |
252.70 |
260.00 |
7.30 |
3.45 |
|
|
1639 |
177/177 |
North |
48.30 |
51.90 |
3.60 |
3.26 |
|
0.46 |
|
178/178 |
North |
97.40 |
106.60 |
9.20 |
5.21 |
|
0.80 |
418 |
222/176 |
North |
71.60 |
82.75 |
11.15 |
8.28 |
|
2.36 |
507 |
262/262 |
North |
318.80 |
324.10 |
5.30 |
9.53 |
|
|
846 |
269/269 |
South |
167.60 |
188.90 |
21.30 |
1.76 |
|
0.06 |
104 |
270/270 |
South |
197.80 |
204.70 |
6.90 |
2.42 |
|
|
56 |
285/285 |
South |
249.40 |
253.80 |
4.40 |
2.09 |
|
|
72 |
286/286 |
South |
252.15 |
258.30 |
6.15 |
1.91 |
|
|
84 |
287/287 |
South |
154.70 |
158.80 |
4.10 |
2.37 |
|
1.32 |
62 |
369/369 |
South |
193.80 |
196.00 |
2.20 |
12.33 |
|
3.18 |
72 |
006/540 |
South |
454.20 |
462.30 |
8.10 |
5.13 |
|
|
574 |
" |
South |
472.00 |
474.90 |
2.90 |
4.42 |
|
|
683 |
" |
South |
480.40 |
482.75 |
2.35 |
2.09 |
|
|
150 |
" |
South |
488.40 |
491.60 |
3.20 |
4.94 |
|
|
454 |
042/522 |
South |
342.90 |
348.75 |
5.85 |
7.90 |
|
|
|
042/383 |
South |
288.00 |
299.60 |
11.60 |
5.67 |
|
|
553 |
043/549 |
South |
377.80 |
381.20 |
3.40 |
5.28 |
|
|
|
045/508 |
South |
357.70 |
361.40 |
3.70 |
3.24 |
|
|
|
046/555 |
South |
394.55 |
397.85 |
3.30 |
2.89 |
|
|
|
The VMS mineralization at Perlat is of the
Cyprus-type and is concentrated at
and conformable with an andesite and basalt agglomerate and
tuff-agglomerate unit. Small massive sulphide lenses and
disseminated sulphides in altered volcanic rocks comprise a number
of zones which vary from 4 to 20 metres in thickness. The
dominant sulphide minerals are pyrite and chalcopyrite with minor
sphalerite and marcasite. The mineralization lies on a
north-northeast trend extending for over 2 kilometres.
Mining commenced on the northern portion of the
Perlat deposit in 1979 and continued until 1991 at the time of the
collapse of communism in Albania
and of low copper prices. The mine, which includes two shafts
on the northern portion of the deposit and an exploration shaft and
drive on the southern portion of the deposit, was decommissioned in
1997.
To support the mine operations extensive
underground development was undertaken. Though production
statistics are not available, nine mineralized lenses were mined by
sub-level caving. Lower grade ore from the mine was sent to
mills at either Kurnesh or Rreshen whilst high grade ore was sent
directly to a smelter in Rubik.
The Rubik Geological Enterprise has presented
historic Mineral Resources for portions of the Perlat Deposit in
1979, 1983, 1986 and most recently in 1993. These historic
Mineral Resources were classified under the Russian "reserve"
classification system into Categories A, B, C1 and
C2 in order of decreasing confidence where:
- Category A means reserves are known in detail (usually defined
by underground workings);
- Category B includes reserves outlined by exploratory workings
and/or closely spaced drilling;
- Category C1 includes reserves defined at the project
by a drilling grid of 50m by 45m; and
- Category C2 refers to less well defined reserves
indicated by geological and/or geophysical information
confirmed by drill holes at spacing between 50m x 45m and
100m x 60m.
A qualified person has not done sufficient work to
classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources and
the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current
mineral resources and the historical estimate.
In 1986 undiluted geological "reserves" of Category
B+C1 (likely equivalent to Indicated to Inferred
Resourced by modern definition standards) totalling 2,565,155t
grading 2.202% Cu and "reserves" of Category C2 (likely
equivalent to Inferred Resources by modern definition standards)
totalling 1,186417t grading 1.779% Cu were estimated at a cut off
of 0.7% Cu. An unknown amount of this was mined in the
following 5 years to when the mine was closed in 1991.
Between 1986 and 1992 additional drilling was
conducted in the southern and central portions of the Perlat
Deposit. This work resulted in additional Category
C1 "reserves" totalling 635,746t at a grade of 3.491% Cu
and Category C2 "reserves" totalling 344,044t at a grade
of 2.845% Cu were estimated (undiluted geological "reserves" at a
0.7% Cu cut-off). These resources in the southern portion of
the Perlat Deposit were never mined.
In 2006 Balkan Resources Inc acquired the property. Balkan
commenced a drill program in late 2007 to confirm the previous
drill results. Drilling continued through to October of 2008
by which time 18 holes totalling over 5,000 metres had been
drilled.
Hole P-32-2008 was designed to confirm the tenor of the
mineralization in the northern portion of the Perlat Deposit.
From a depth of 316.1m a 7.02m zone of mineralization was
intersected which contained 7.33% copper, 6.31 g/t gold 31.46 g/t
silver and 0.16% zinc. This intercept confirmed the high
metal contents previously reported.
Balkan also tested the southern portion of the exploitation
license, approximately 1,000m south of Hole P-32-2008. This
drilling returned not only elevated copper values but also
significant gold, silver and zinc credits.
Significant intercepts from the Balkan drilling in the southern
portion of the exploitation license are presented in the following
table:
Hole |
Interval |
Cu |
Au |
Ag |
Zn |
Cu Eq. |
|
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
% |
ppm |
ppm |
% |
% |
P-09-2008 |
145.7 |
152 |
6.30 |
0.95 |
1.63 |
21.54 |
1.02 |
2.34 |
" |
206.4 |
216.6 |
10.20 |
0.05 |
2.32 |
3.93 |
0.29 |
1.47 |
P-10-2008 |
246 |
253.8 |
7.80 |
0.62 |
0.57 |
7.00 |
2.14 |
1.60 |
P-13-2008 |
208.4 |
227.3 |
18.90 |
0.47 |
1.62 |
5.57 |
0.56 |
1.58 |
P-14-2008 |
203.15 |
205.6 |
2.45 |
0.05 |
2.13 |
12.25 |
1.75 |
1.84 |
" |
227 |
240.5 |
13.45 |
0.70 |
0.76 |
3.46 |
0.17 |
1.21 |
P-15-2008 |
177.5 |
182.5 |
5.00 |
0.88 |
0.78 |
4.49 |
0.78 |
1.57 |
" |
208 |
222.9 |
14.90 |
0.03 |
1.27 |
5.30 |
0.26 |
0.86 |
*Cu Eq. (copper equivalent) has been used to express the
combined value of copper, gold, silver and zinc as a percentage of
copper, and is provided for illustrative purposes only. No
allowances have been made for recovery losses that may occur should
mining eventually result. Calculations use metal prices of US
$3.25/lb copper, $1250/oz gold, $20/oz silver, and $0.90/lb zinc using the formula Cu Eq.% = Cu% +
(Au g/t x 0.561) + (Ag g/t x 0.0090) + (Zn% x 0.277).
These holes have revealed that the southern portion of the
exploitation license also contains mineralization and that although
historic exploration of the project was limited to copper and
cobalt there are zones within the deposit that are enriched in
gold, silver and zinc.
Zahir (Zip) Dhanani, President and CEO of Arian
comments: "Arian is excited to acquire a high grade, fully
permitted mine with a historic resource. The extension of
this past producing mine has benefited from a massive drill program
that has defined a substantial zone of mineralization. Our
immediate target is to use the historic data to produce an NI
43-101 report. In addition, we have applied for a substantial
exploration permit adjacent to the Perlat project, which has the
potential to host additional mineralization. We have received
excellent support from the government in expediting regulatory
approvals, skilled manpower and equipment are readily available in
the vicinity of the project and we believe that we can create
substantial shareholder value going forward."
Agreement Terms
Arian will acquire 100% of Balkan Resources Sh.p.k., which owns
the Perlat Exploitation permit from Balkan Resources Canada
(Balkan). This agreement is subject to receipt of applicable
regulatory approvals including acceptance by the TSX Venture
Exchange. Arian will acquire the permit through a series of
shares and cash payments to Balkan.
On February 14, 2014 Arian will
grant Balkan 5,000,000 common shares.
On June 30, 2015 Arian will make a
CAD $2 million dollar cash payment to
Balkan. On December 30, 2016
Arian will make a further CAD $2 million
dollar cash payment to Balkan.
On the date that a concentrate emanating from the Perlat
exploitation license has been accepted by a smelter Arian will make
a cash payment to Balkan of CAD $2 million
dollars and will have the option to either pay Balkan a
further CAD $3 million dollars or
issue Balkan 3 million common shares.
If a concentrate from the Perlat exploitation license has not
been accepted by a smelter by December 31,
2018 then Arian will make a cash payment of CAD $2 million dollars to Balkan.
Upon commercial production Balkan will receive a 2.5% Net
Smelter Return for the duration of the life of the mine.
In addition Arian has the following work commitments to
Balkan: By August 1, 2014 Arian
is to have spent US $472,100 on the
project. By August 1, 2015
Arian is to have spent US $3,448,000
on the project. By August 1,
2016 Arian is to have spent US $9,298,300 on the project. In addition
Arian is to extract 20,000 tonnes of ore between August 1, 2015 and July
31, 2016.
Should Arian not fulfill the obligations above, the shares of
Balkan Resources Sh.p.k. will be transferred back to Balkan.
A finder's fee, payable in Common Shares of Arian, in the
maximum amount allowed by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange,
will be paid to a party who is arm's length to Arian.
Chad Ulansky, PGeo, is the
qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed
the technical disclosure in this news release and is responsible
for the technical information contained in this release.
Financing
Arian announces the Company is arranging a
non-brokered private placement of up to 16,000,000 units (the
"Units") at a price of $0.15 per
Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $2,400,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit is
comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each
share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to acquire
one additional common share for a period of two years at a price of
$0.25.
Each warrant is subject to accelerated expiry
provisions such that if at any time after the expiry of any resale
restriction governing the subscribed shares, the corporation's
common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange at or above a
volume-weighted average trading price of 40
cents per common share for 10 consecutive trading days, the
company may give notice to the holders that each warrant will
expire 30 days from the date of providing such notice.
In connection with the Offering, subject to
regulatory approval, the Company will pay certain eligible finders
finder's fee for units sold in the Offering, at the discretion of
Arian.
Proceeds of the placement will be applied to the
Company's Albanian properties and to general working capital.
All securities issued in connection with the
Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months
plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable
securities law. The Offering is subject to a number of conditions
including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory
approvals, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Zahir ( Zip ) Dhanani,
President & CEO
About Arian Resources Corp.
Arian Resources Corp. is a junior exploration
company with a focus on the exploration of prospective mineral
properties in Albania.
This news release may contain forward-looking
statements including but not limited to comments regarding the
closing the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement,
subscription of Units, resignation and appointment of directors of
the Board and the timing of the Completion Date. Forward-looking
statements address future events and conditions and therefore
involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ
materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and
Arian undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as
required by law.
Neither the 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.
SOURCE Arian Resources Corp.
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