BRITISH COLUMBIA - The new resource estimates from the Kutcho Creek project in the north-central part of the province are in. The property contains 672 million lb of copper and 959 million lb of zinc at an average copper equivalent (CuEq) grade of 3.65%, says owner WESTERN KELTIC MINES of Vancouver.
The estimate is based on 158 drillholes in the Kutcho deposit and 44 holes in and around the Esso West deposit. Using a cut-off grade of 0.5% Cu, the Kutcho deposit is estimated to contain measured and indicated resources of 13.06 million tonnes grading 1.94% Cu, 2.59% Zn, 0.41 g/t Au and 33.7 g/t Ag. This is a slight increase in grade and slight decrease in tonnage over the previous estimate. The Esso West deposit has indicated resources of 2.12 million tonnes at 3.26% Cu, 5.86% Zn, 0.71 g/t Au and 75.7 g/t Ag when a cut-off grade of 1.5% Cu is applied. The new estimate has 25% more tonnage and slightly higher precious metals grades when compared with earlier work.
A report prepared by WRIGHT ENGINEERS for the previous owner, ESSO MINERALS, considered an open pit mine for the Kutcho deposit and a 4,000-tons/day mill. At that rate the property would have annual production of more than 60 million lb of copper and 70 million lb of zinc. Western Keltic plans to begin a feasibility study early this year.
Maps and photos of the Kutcho project are posted at www.keltic.com.
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