YUKON - Vancouver-based YUKON ZINC CORP. (formerly Expatriate Resources) has committed $14 million for underground test mining at its Wolverine base metal project in the Finlayson District. The company says that mining equipment and most of the needed supplies were at the site this week.
The test mining program includes an exploration decline from surface to access the Wolverine deposit and test mining of the massive sulphide mineralization to confirm mining conditions and remove additional sample material for final metallurgical testing. Planned lateral development will provide an underground platform for definition drilling of the deeper parts of the deposit. PROCON MINING & TUNNELLING was awarded the test mining contract.
Definition drilling from surface of the upper part of the deposit is progressing to convert most of the resources to reserves. The new mining, metallurgy and reserve information will be used in a bankable feasibility study planned for completion in late 2005. Earlier estimates put the probable reserve at 3.47 million tonnes grading 12.43% Zn, 1.44% Pb, 1.37% Cu, 336.6 g/t Ag and 1.59 g/t Au.
In February, Yukon Zinc hired Pamela Ladyman as its manager of environmental and community affairs to oversee its development projects. More information about the company is available at www.YukonZinc.com.
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