Toronto, June 29, 2012 – Scorpio Mining Corporation (TSX:SPM) (“Scorpio Mining” or the “Corporation”) today announced an independent updated Mineral Resource estimate for its 100% owned Nuestra Señora Mine in Sinaloa State, Mexico, completed by Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada (“MDA”) on behalf of Scorpio Mining. The updated National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) compliant Mineral Resource estimate was commissioned by Scorpio Mining to allow the Corporation to prepare a development model that allows for better planning, scheduling, and budgeting, taking into account the most recent information available to it and recognizing more appropriately the current understanding of the ore body’s spatial complexity. Scorpio Mining has commissioned MDA to prepare a mine plan based on the resource estimate and other criteria in order to present a reserve estimate which is anticipated around the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter 2012.
General methodology used and details on the parameters of the Mineral Resource estimate are as follows:
- The block model is made up of 3m by 3m by 3m blocks and the resource is fully diluted to that block size.
- Geologic cross sections on 20m intervals and level plans on 3m intervals were interpreted.
- Silver, zinc, lead, and copper were each modeled and estimated separately and each with their own set of mineral-domain interpretations on 20m and 3m intervals for sections and levels, respectively.
- Inverse-distance to the fifth power estimation was used for the reported resource.
- Specific gravity assigned to the block model varied by lithology and metal domain and ranges from 2.68g/cm3 to 3.09 g/cm3.
- Mined material as of the end of May, 2012 was extracted from the model prior to reporting this resource.
- The database contains data from over 170,000 meters of core from 1,500 holes for a total of around 48,000 samples generated up until February 20, 2012 for detailed interpretations.
- Drilling is ongoing at Nuestra Señora to define additional mineable material.
Table 1. Mineral Resources, Nuestra Señora Mine
Notes to Mineral Resource Statement:
1. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the estimated Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.
2. All Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the Standards Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council on December 11, 2005 and updated on November 27, 2010.
3. Mineral Resource estimates are as of June 1, 2012.
4. Silver Equivalent (AgEq) is calculated using metal prices of $24/oz Ag, $0.85/lb Zn, $0.85/lb Pb, and $2.70/lb Cu.
5. AgEq is calculated on a contained-metal basis using the metal prices noted above, without recovery factors taken into account.
6. Mineral Resources tonnage and contained-metal have been rounded to the nearest thousand and numbers might not add due to rounding.
The reader is cautioned that resources reported are not necessarily mineable and due to the complexity of the Nuestra Señora ore bodies it is too early to determine at what rate resources will convert to minable reserves. This will be the subject of the reserve report to be submitted by MDA and anticipated around the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter, 2012.
Technical Information
The Mineral Resource estimate for the Nuestra Señora Mine was prepared by Mr. Steven Ristorcelli, C. P. G. and Mr. Michael Lindholm, C. P. G., of MDA, both of whom are “Qualified Persons”, as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Ristorcelli and Mr. Lindholm are independent of the Corporation and have not previously reported estimates for the Nuestra Señora Mine. A NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report, supporting the disclosure of the updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Nuestra Señora Mine is being prepared by MDA and will be filed by Scorpio Mining within 45 days of this press release. Mr. Ristorcelli and Mr. Lindholm have each reviewed and approved the contents of this news release with respect to the Mineral Resource estimates.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Scorpio Mining’s Vice President of Exploration, Mr. James Stonehouse, is a Registered Geologist with the Society of Mining Engineers (Registration #4168919) and is a Qualified Person for this disclosure and has supervised the preparation of the technical information submitted to MDA which formed the basis for the updated Mineral Resource estimates disclosed in this press release.
Scorpio Mining’s exploration programs are directly supervised by Mr. James Stonehouse, and all technical information for the Corporation’s projects is obtained and reported under a formal quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Data used in the updated Mineral Resource estimate comes from numerous drill programs conducted since 1999 and continuing to the present day. For purposes of this new Mineral Resource estimate, the QA/QC program was reviewed in terms of current standards and found to be adequate and typical of databases of this size.
For details of QA/QC procedures and results implemented for all exploration programs, reference should be made to the upcoming Technical Report to be posted within the statutory 45 days of this press release.
About Us
Scorpio Mining is a silver producer operating in Mexico with significant base metal by-product credits. In addition, the Corporation has over 40 exploration targets mostly in the vicinity of its current operations.
The Corporation’s 100% owned Nuestra Señora Mine and plant located in the Cosalá District of Sinaloa State, Mexico, has proven to be a low-cost operation with the benefit of flexible mining methods and diversified metal production. It has a fully mechanized underground operation and a processing facility built for expansion to 4,000 tonnes per day. The plant produces zinc, copper and lead concentrates; with a significant silver component in the copper and lead concentrates. Scorpio Mining’s strategy focuses on exploring and developing its existing mineral properties. At the nearby San Rafael and El Cajón deposits, an extensive diamond drilling program is in progress, with the goal of increasing the mineral resource base and ultimately an upgrade to reserve category.
Scorpio Mining also holds a 100% interest in the advanced, high-grade La Revancha silver and Tepozán silver-gold projects, both located in the productive Parral District within the respective states of Chihuahua and Durango, Mexico.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors:
Scorpio Mining reports its resource estimates in accordance with standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to as NI 43-101. These standards are different from the standards generally permitted in reports filed with the SEC. Under NI 43-101, Scorpio Mining reports measured, indicated and inferred resources, measurements which are generally not permitted in filings made with the SEC. According to Canadian NI 43-101 criteria, the estimation of measured resources and indicated resources involve greater uncertainty as to their economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 criteria, measured, indicated and inferred resources are considered Mineralized Material. The SEC considers that in addition to greater uncertainty as to the economic feasibility of Mineralized Material compared to proven and probable reserves, there is also greater uncertainty as to the existence of Mineralized Material. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured or indicated resources will be converted into economically mineable reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources.
ON BEHALF OF SCORPIO MINING CORPORATION
Parviz Farsangi
President & CEO
For further information contact:
Victoria Vargas, Vice President Investor Relations and Corporate Communications +1 416-585-2200 Email: [email protected]
Rich Kaiser, YES International: 1-800-631-8127; 001-757-306-6090 (outside North America)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.scorpiomining.com
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Corporation’s operations, exploration and development plans, expansion plans, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, geological interpretations, estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions and projections of the future. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “projects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or “variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “can”, “could”, “would”, “might”, or “will” be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Scorpio Mining Corporation to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the exploration and development and operation of the Corporation’s projects in Mexico, risks related to international operations, construction delays and cost overruns, the actual results of current exploration, development and construction activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of silver, zinc, copper, lead and gold, risks relating to completing acquisition transactions as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors of our business filed in Scorpio Mining Corporation’s required securities filings on SEDAR, including its Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2012. Although Scorpio Mining Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended.
There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Scorpio Mining Corporation does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
