🕐14.01.10 - 19:17 Uhr
Xtierra Inc. (TSXV:XAG) reports metallurgical results on oxide resources as part
of its Bilbao feasibility study
Xtierra Inc_Text.jpg
Press Release
XTIERRA REPORTS METALLURGICAL RESULTS ON OXIDE RESOURCES AS PART
OF ITS BILBAO FEASIBILITY STUDY
Toronto, January 14, 2010, Xtierra Inc.
(TSXV C XAG) (Xtierra or the
Company), is pleased to announce that it has completed oxide
metallurgical test work as part of a Feasibility Study being conducted on
Xtierras 100% owned Bilbao silver-zinc-lead-copper deposit located in the
Central Mineral Belt of Mexico in the State of Zacatecas and is now
proceeding to implement a pilot plant test program.
The work was carried out at the Metallurgical Institute in San Luis Potos.
Commenting on the Bilbao Oxide Metallurgical Test Results, Xtierras
President & CEO, Terence McKillen said, The oxide test results are
extremely positive and indicate that we have a practical and economic
solution to the processing and recovery for the oxide resources which
represent approximately 40% of the total resource potential at Bilbao.
More
importantly, it allows us to focus on open pit mining methods for the
initial development of Bilbao, including all of the oxide and transition
resources with the potential of extracting a significant portion of the
sulphide resources before underground development.
The objective of the oxide metallurgical study was to develop a process for
the recovery of silver, zinc, lead, copper and gold to commercially
acceptable levels.
The process involves crushing and grinding all
run-of-mine material to 80% -200 mesh and then removal of 40-50% of the
volume of material (pre-concentrating) using a high intensity magnetic
separator (HIMC).
This results in a significant reduction in the material
requiring downstream processing.
The non-magnetic concentrate, containing
the majority of the payable metals, is then subject to processing including
sulphuric acid leaching to recover copper and zinc metal; flotation to
recover lead and silver in a concentrate; and cyanide leaching to recover
gold and silver.
The flow sheet design exhibits a number of advantages which are anticipated
to impact positively on operating and capital costs.
Acid consumption
represents one-third of that required without the HIMC process.
Transportation and smelting costs are reduced as lead concentrate is the
only product requiring smelting and it will contain only lead and a
percentage of the silver.
All of the other contained metals are recovered as
direct metal products and dor.
Savings in capital cost result from a
40-50% reduction in the size capacity of downstream processing equipment.
In
addition, the 40-50% magnetic reject from the HIMC process contains 35% iron
oxide which may be a marketable product to the cement industry.
The metal recoveries from the metallurgical test work on the oxide material
include:
Zinc 61.2%
Lead 41.0%
Silver 66.7%
Copper 71.0%
Gold 55.0%
Even though these appear to be low recoveries relative to recoveries in a
conventional flotation process on sulphide ores, the resulting gross values
are expected to be similar since pure metal is produced in all cases other
than lead and the smelting/refining process is circumvented.
Additional
optimization will occur during the pilot plant test program which will begin
in February 2010.
Test work on the primary sulphide and transition (mixed oxide and sulphide)
resources is currently in progress with encouraging results to date.
Sulphide resources will be processed utilizing a conventional flotation flow
sheet.
Qualified Person
Information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this release
has been prepared by or under the supervision of Gerald Gauthier, P.Eng.,
the Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation and a Qualified Person within
the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities
Administrators.
About Xtierra Inc.
Xtierra Inc.
is a Toronto based exploration and development company listed
on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Xtierras shares trade under the symbol
XAG.
Xtierra has 49,862,003 shares issued and outstanding.
Xtierra is
conducting a feasibility study on its 100% owned Bilbao silverzinccopper
project in Zacatecas, Mexico.
Xtierras objective is to become a mid ier
producer of precious and base metals through the development of its Bilbao
and Laguna projects, both located in the Central Mexican Mineral Belt in the
State of Zacatecas, as well as through exploration, organic growth and M & A
opportunities.
This news release may include certain "forward-looking statements".
All
statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this
release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential
mineralization, resources and reserves, exploration results, and future
plans and objectives of Xtierra, are forward-looking statements that involve
various risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Xtierras
expectations are exploration risks detailed herein and from time to time in
the filings made by Xtierra with securities regulators.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.
For further information visit www.xtierra.ca or
contact:
Terence N.
McKillen, President & Chief Executive
+1 (416) 362-8243
Tim Gallagher, Director
+1 (416) 925-0090
Alejandro Alaniz, Director Finance & Administration (Mexico) + 52
(492) 925-0804
Brett Whitelaw
+1 (778) 836-5891
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