GOLD-COPPER: Kemess underground environmental application accepted by province

BRITISH COLUMBIA – The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office has accepted the application of AuRico Metals for review of its Kemess underground project, 6 km north of the Kemess South open pit and 430 km northwest of Prince George. Underground block caving could produce 105,000 oz of gold and 44 million lb of copper annually for the Toronto based company. AuRico said it is making revisions and reformatting the application to integrate the clarifications and additional information required. A 180-day review of the project will then begin, perhaps in as little as two weeks. Ore from a new Kemess underground mine will be processed at the existing 52,000-t/d mill and the tailings impounded in the existing facility. All-in sustaining costs over the life of the project will be US$352 per oz of gold. Pre-production capital requirements are C$451 million. AuRico estimates there are 100.37 million tonnes of probable reserves grading 0.56 g/t Au and 0.28% Cu at the Kemess underground project. Additional information is available at www.AuRicoMetals.ca.