Rambler’s Ming Mine Dewatered and Project Update
Rambler Metals and Mining plc (TSX VENTURE:RAB)(AIM:RMM) (’Rambler’) is pleased to provide an update on operations and ongoing activities at the Ming Mine.
Project Highlights:
- Ming Mine dewatered.
- Development equipment arrives and access development begins to the 1807 zone.
- Detailed metallurgical work begins.
- Hiring of key personnel.
- Internal plans focusing on a start up small tonnage mine nearer the historical production rates (650 tpd) mining high grade ore.
- Titan 24 deep geophysics program to begin 14th July.
- Fish habitat work initiated.
George Ogilvie, President and CEO, commented, “The completion of the mine dewatering is another key milestone towards Rambler’s goal of bringing the former Ming Mine back into production. The development out to the 1807 Zone will provide Rambler with access to ore grading better than 4% Cu and 2 g/t Au before the end of the year. Importantly these access drifts will also act as exploration platforms to further test the extent of the 1807 zone mineralization which is open both up-plunge and down plunge. I’m also pleased to announce that Rambler has been able to attract well qualified and experienced individuals to the project particularly in light of today’s difficult labour market. We now have the basis of a management team that can carry the project through to production.”
Rambler Declares the Ming Mine Dewatered
After 12 months of operations and 245 million gallons of water pumped and treated, Rambler has finished dewatering the old Ming Mine. Despite most of the mine being submerged since the early 1980s ground conditions along the main ramp were excellent and required minimal rehabilitation. At the time of this release water levels sit near the 2600 level, this was the last mined level, and is in close proximity to the old property boundary.
Development equipment arrives at site and access development begins to the 1807 zone
Following recommendations made by SRK Consulting (Canada) during the Scoping Study, Rambler has planned an exploration development drift specifically targeting the high grade massive sulphide of the 1807 zone. This new development will allow drill rigs access to underexplored areas of the old mine while preparing the ore zone for production. It will also give Rambler an opportunity to explore the potential up-plunge extension of the 1806 and 1805 zones where wire gold had been reported during the closing phase of the mine in 1982. To carry out this work Rambler has purchased a jumbo underground drill rig and a second haulage truck. Development to the 1807 zone will take approximately two months.
Detailed metallurgical work begins
Metallurgy work for the Scoping Study was limited to small samples from drill core. Now that the mine is dewatered and access to old stopes and remnant pillars is possible, a bulk sample has been collected to confirm the processing flow sheet of the past and to optimize flotation for the higher grade 1807 zone. A high grade sample has been shipped to the testing lab in New Brunswick, Canada, with the final report expected to be delivered before the end of 2008.
Hiring of key personnel
Rambler is pleased to announce the addition of key personnel to the operations team. Over the past two months a Human Resources Administrator, Financial Controller and Senior Mine Planner have all been hired forming the basis of the operations management team.
Internal plans focusing on lower tonnage mining high grade ore
The NI43-101 resource statement published in April of this year outlined a substantial resource for the footwall supporting a 4000 tonnes per day operation with a mine life in excess of ten years. However to achieve this production rate a significant amount of time and capital would need to be invested upfront before any mining could take place. To accelerate Rambler’s goal of putting the mine back into production internal plans have been focused on smaller scale mining of the 1807 Zone and high grade massive sulphides nearer to the historical production rates of 650 tonnes per day. Rambler believes this approach will not only allow for a quicker start up but also minimize the amount of capital required to bring the mine into production. Over the coming months the newly hired mine planner will bring this plan into reality.
Exploration
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