Franconia Minerals Corporation is pleased to report the initiation of a Waste Characterization Study program on its the Birch Lake copper nickel platinum group metal deposit, one of three underground resource areas identified so far at Franconia's Birch Lake Project in Minnesota.
A recently updated NI 43-101 report (i) estimates an Indicated Resource of 131.2 million tonnes, plus an Inferred Resource of 37.5 million tonnes for the Birch Lake deposit.
Waste characterization is a scientific process used to predict how natural waste materials, primarily rock, will weather when they are exposed or stockpiled during the mining process. The long term results of these studies will be used in the design and development of any future mine plan in order to minimize or eliminate potential environmental impacts created by such weathering.
Franconia has engaged the services of Geochimica Inc to conduct the independent studies. Representatives of Geochimica Inc recently began their review of Franconia's project documents, including the Company's preliminary mine development plan. The team is also developing an understanding of the geology of the deposit by examining drill core and other geologic data particularly as it relates to ore and gangue mineralogy. Core and other rock samples will also be identified for initial testing in preparation for an examination of all types of potential waste.
Dr William C Brice director of Government & Community Relations for Franconia said that "We know that each deposit in the Duluth Complex will have somewhat unique mineralogy and rock types, making the findings from these studies very important to our mine design. Additionally, important information is also available from other deposits and years of waste characterization research which has been conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources within the Duluth Complex. Combining the results of all the studies will enable us to design the most environmentally benign mine that we can."
Mr Brian Gavin president & CEO of Franconia said that "This is just one of a number of studies we are beginning to conduct on the Birch Lake deposit as we advance our development plans through the coming year or so. Our goal is to be ready to become the second company in the Duluth Complex, after Polymet, to build a mine. Of course, a key difference is that we are targeting an underground deposit to mine, which logically, should produce a relatively small amount of waste rock to be stockpiled at the surface."
