ECR Minerals Regulatory News (ECR)

17 Aug 2009 07:00

MERCATOR GOLD plc("Mercator Gold", "Mercator" or "the Company")

Mercator Acquires Exclusive Optionover New Mexico Copper Project

Mercator Gold plc is pleased to announce that further to its release of 27 July 2009 the Company has acquired an exclusive option over the Copper Flat porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold-silver project in the Las Animas mining district in south central New Mexico, United States, by making a payment of US$150,000 as consideration for the grant of the option.

Mercator continues to carry out due diligence on the Copper Flat project, which is a former producing mine. Key areas of focus for the development plans will include the evaluation of the economics of a return of the project to production; assessment of the potential for expansion of existing reserves and resources; and an assessment of the likely time required to secure all necessary permits for the recommencement of production.

About the Copper Flat Project

The Copper Flat deposit has historical reserves of 45.5 million metric tons grading 0.45% Cu, 0.015% Mo, 0.15g/t Au and 2.25g/t Ag (cut-off grade 0.23% Cu), equivalent to 50.2 million short tons @ 0.45% Cu, 0.015% Mo, 0.14g/t Au and 2.04g/t Ag (cut-off grade 0.23% Cu). An open pit mining operation treating up to 6 million short tons per annum to produce up to 20,000 metric tons (30-45 million lb) of copper per annum at Copper Flat will be the basis for planning. Extensive feasibility studies on the restart of production at the project were carried out during the 1980s by highly reputable technical consultants. The most recent Pincock, Allen & Holt plan for a resumption of production at Copper Flat envisaged the mining of 5.8 million short tons of ore and 4 million short tons of waste annually for 11.6 years. In order to restart production, a suitable processing plant, either new or second hand, would need to be procured and commissioned. Important infrastructure from previous mining operations remains in place at Copper Flat. A full pre-strip of the ore body has been completed, which along with the infrastructure in place represents a substantial proportion of the capital investment that would be required if the project were to be brought into production from scratch. Much of the groundwork necessary to obtain the permits required for a return of the project to production has been completed, and Mercator has access to highly qualified project-level management. Detailed metallurgical test work has been carried out, with flotation tests performed on drill core and a 6,000 short ton underground bulk sample. These consistently showed a recovery of 92% copper and the production of highly marketable concentrates with an average copper grade of 28%. The test work results were confirmed during the actual mine production that took place in 1982. The Copper Flat deposit appears to have excellent continuity and consistency of grade. It also has a low estimated stripping ratio of approximately 0.9:1, based on previous mining plans. Some 181 reverse circulation and core drill holes have previously been completed (equating to approximately 39,000m) along with approximately 300m of underground drifting.

Exercise of the Option

In order to exercise its option over the Copper Flat project, Mercator would make payments to the vendors as follows: US$1m by 14 February 2010; US$1.85m by 14 August 2010; and US$7m by 14 February 2011. All the payments are discretionary, and Mercator can elect not to proceed with the exercise of the option at any stage. The final payment may be deferred until 16 May 2011 for an additional payment of US$150,000. The vendors would retain a net smelter return (NSR) of 3.25%.

For further information please contact

Mercator Gold plc
Michael Silver, Chairman				Tel:		+44 (0) 20 7929 1010
Patrick Harford, Managing Director
Email: info@mercatorgold.com
Website: www.mercatorgold.com
Bankside Consultants Ltd				Tel:		+44 (0) 20 7367 8888
Simon Rothschild
Oliver Winters
Cenkos Securities plc
Adrian Hargrave				Tel:		+44 (0) 20 7397 8900
Beth McKiernan
Old Park Lane Capital PLC
Forbes Cutler, Director of Corporate Broking				Tel:		+44 (0) 20 7518 2603

AIM: MCR

Copyright Business Wire 2009