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ION VIDEO LTD — Capital/Financing Update 2012
Jan 9, 2012
65133_rns_2012-01-09_f2402818-3c80-4d5b-949e-466032f84aa2.pdf
Capital/Financing Update
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ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
10 JANUARY 2012
Firestrike signs Letter of Intent to develop Copper, Silver and Gold project in Utah, USA.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Highly prospective for gold, silver and base metals.
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Historical workings with previous production and extensive field work completed
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Considered as advanced exploration, drill ready (drilling planned second quarter 2012).
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Situated in similar geological setting to Rio Tinto’s Bingham Copper mine at Salt Lake City.
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Close to major infrastructure including rail road, highway, power and 200km south of Salt Lake City, the Utah State Capital.
Firestrike Resources Limited (the “Company” or “Firestrike”) [ASX: FIE] wishes to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Escalante Star LLC to acquire a majority interest in Escalante Star’s Elephant Canyon copper, silver, gold and polymetallic porphyry project in Utah .
Porphyry related mineralisation such as the Elephant Canyon Project is well documented globally and plays host to many of the world class deposits for copper and other poly metallic ores.
To the north in a similar geological setting, is the Bingham Canyon mine, reputedly one of the world’s largest copper mines. The Bingham Canyon mine (Rio Tinto) is reported to generate over 300,000 tons of copper and 400,000 ounces of gold every year. It is one of the largest copper mines in the world[1] .
“This is a very exciting and unexpected opportunity for the Company to establish a strategic position within a highly regarded copper/gold mineralised State in the USA. Utah is home to Rio’s Kennecott Bingham Copper mine which has been the provider of over 13% -18% of the copper consumed within the US and is reportedly the 4th largest US gold mine.[2] ” Managing Director David Holden adds ,
“Certainly we are exploring in the right region”
Mr Holden goes on to explain
“ Although we recognise that the currently held assets in Australia are significant in their own right, this opportunity gives the company greater exposure to potentially large scale projects, and increases our opportunity for significant discovery ”.
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Figure 1: Location Map including the World class Bingham copper mine, and Tintic mining district as similar mineral belts to the Elephant Canyon Project.
2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingham_Canyon_Mine
The Project is considered by the Company to meet its strategic development plans with strong geological evidence of extensive mineralisation observed at numerous workings, shafts and historical production, dating from the 1870’s through to 1960’s.
Escalante Star LLC have been carrying out geological mapping and sampling of the workings since 2008 and exploration is now entering the phase of development where drilling is required.
They will provide the technical expertise on location, with geologists and land managers based in the area of the project who have a long history of exploration and development in the Beaver/Milford region. As a result this will give Firestrike a ready-made team capable of fast tracking exploration in the region.
Under the terms of the LoI, (which is subject to a satisfactory Due Diligence investigation anticipated for completion before March 2012), the company is to acquire up to 80% equity in the project by the completion of set milestones. Terms of LoI include an initial minimum expenditure on the project of $2 million and the completion of resource estimations in accordance with the JORC code and guidelines. The current vendors of the project will be free carried until the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study (“BFS”).
In addition to funding the Joint Venture, Firestrike will also award the Vendor’s up to 5 million shares based upon the project meeting the milestones. Initially 1 million will be awarded on signing a formal Joint Venture Agreement; thereafter 1 million awarded on definition of 500,000 ounces in inferred resources (gold equivalence); 1 million shares awarded on definition of 1,000,000 ounces inferred resources (gold equivalence); and 2 million shares on a positive outcome to an independent pre-feasibility study prior to commencement of the BFS.
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Figure 2: Generalised Geology map showing alteration zones and mineralised trends identified in relation to the numerous workings and outcrop.
ABOUT THE PROJECT.
The Elephant Canyon Project is within the Beaver County and topographically is a Canyon within the Star Range.
This mineralisation is within one of three well defined mineral fields with the other two as hosts to the Bingham mine and the Tintic mining district respectively. (See figure 3).
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Figure 3: Total Magnetic intensity image and Utah State geology map showing Bingham Canyon, Tintic (the second linear feature shown); and Star Range, home of the Elephant Canyon Project.
Utah plays host to the Bingham Copper mine, whilst the greater Tintic district (between Bingham Canyon and Elephant Canyon) has produced substantial gold (over 2.7 million ounces) and silver (272 million ounces), as well as 127,000 tons of copper; 114 million tons of lead and 225,000 tons of zinc over its history of development[3] . The Tintic district is experiencing renewed interest in re-evaluating the historical mines.
The local geology at the Elephant Canyon Project ( star Range) is considered to be a sequence of sedimentary rocks, over 6,000 metres in thickness and ranging in age from the Devonian through to Jurassic. Younger tertiary rocks intrude and overlay the older
3 http://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/misc_pubs/MP‐05‐5.pdf
sequence. Mineralisation is seen at a number of horizons within the stratigraphical column.
Included in the current project area is the Harrington Hickery mine. This mine was operating until mid 1960’s and developed underground to a depth of 200 metres.
In the area of the Hickery Harrington mine the Permian Kaibab limestone has been the most productive however mineralisation, as skarn and fissure fill veins, are seen throughout the sequence from the Devonian age Simonson and Sevy dolomites up to the aforementioned Kaibab limestone. Ore previously mined in the historical workings is described by the vendor as a series of ore bodies, 6 - 8 metres wide and extending down to 200 metres from surface.
The style of mineralisation throughout the Project area is inferred to be porphyry related in genesis with gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and molybdenum present. Within the field area porphyry bodies are present at surface. In particular, the Vicksberg stock appears to be ringed with a zone of silica breccia containing gold and silver mineralisation. Within the core of the area is a magnetic anomaly inferred to represent a large deep seated porphyry system which so far remains untested.
Multiple episodes of structural deformation in the area from 30 - 35 Million years ago have further controlled the influence of intrusive rocks and subsequent fissure/vein development.
The area of the current claims encompasses a number of historical mines and waste dumps active from the late 1800’s to the late 1960’s. Subsequent exploration and production was hampered by lower commodity prices and a lack of consolidated mining claims held by multiple owners. With a strong metals price and vendor’s ability to consolidate claims, the project has become a viable exploration proposition.
Nearby the former Western Utah Copper Corporation commenced operations in 2008. Recently the property has changed owners and is looking to re-establish production in the coming months. Current resources reported at the mine include existing proven, indicated and inferred categories and the current owners report over 600,000 pounds of copper alone[4] . As this mill is approximately 10 kilometres from the existing patents and claims owned by Escalante, synergies exist with this infrastructure. The Elephant Canyon Project is also adjacent to a main highway and the Union Pacific railway with heavy load handling facilities at Milford some 6 kilometres from the mineral claims area.
Ongoing exploration plans by Escalante Star LLC includes finalising the compilation of all historical data and field mapping in 2011 with drilling proposed for the second quarter of
4 http://news.yahoo.com/cs‐mining‐announces‐acquisition‐assets‐western‐utah‐copper‐203057896.html
- Escalante Star LLC has identified 14 targets of which 6 are considered at or near drill ready.
Firestrike is currently reviewing all remaining technical data as part of the Due diligence process and subsequent to the completion of Due diligence will require formal Joint Venture documentation to be successfully completed.
Ends
David Holden
Managing Director
The information in the report to which this statement is attached relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves compiled by Mr D. J. Holden, who is a Chartered Professional Member of The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, with over 20 years experience in the mining industry. Mr Holden has sufficient experience, as to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 edition of the “Australian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore reserves”. Mr Holden consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
About Firestrike
Firestrike is a Western Australian based mineral exploration company. In July 2011, Firestrike Resources Limited listed on the Australian Stock market focused on building its inventory of mineral resources.
The Company has two Kimberley based gold projects at Grants Creek and Angelo near Halls Creek and a Victorian Project at Elaine near Ballarat.
The Directors believe that whilst the Company has acquired three advanced projects with strong gold potential, other projects both in Australia and overseas will be considered for either acquisition or joint venture should they have the potential to add value to the Company.
Firestrike Resources Limited has 31 million shares on issue.
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