Karmin Announces Developments at the Aripuanã Zinc Project

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

TORONTO--()--Karmin Exploration Inc. (“Karmin”) (TSXV and the Lima Stock Exchange: KAR) is pleased to report significant progress at the Aripuanã Zinc Project (“Aripuanã”) located in north-western Brazil. Karmin has a 30% carried interest in Aripuanã until 12 months after the delivery of a feasibility study.

2016 Work Program

The very extensive 2016 work program at Aripuanã continues with the following activities;

  1. Seven surface drill rigs have been operating for several months with the objective of completing approximately 22,000 metres of diamond drilling during 2016. The primary target has been the “LINK ZONE” that lies between the AREX and AMBREX zones. The latter two zones contain 19.1 million tonnes of measured and indicated resources and 14.7 million tonnes of inferred resources (Table 1). To date, over US$50 million has been spent by Karmin's partners on developing Aripuanã including the completion of approximately 165,000 metres of drilling in over 500 diamond drill holes of which over Cdn$15 million has been spent during the past 3 years.
  2. As previously reported (Karmin press release dated November 17, 2015) Karmin has engaged RPA Inc. to update the Mineral Resources and prepare a Technical Report at Aripuanã in accordance with the requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Karmin anticipates that RPA Inc. will complete this work early in 2017 which will include the results of the drilling on the LINK ZONE.
  3. Engineering studies conducted by Worley Parsons Ltd. and other consultants, retained by Karmin's partners, have been evaluating capital cost estimates and mine plans, assessing portal development for mine access, flow sheet optimization, tailings disposal, road conditions, bridge requirements, transmission line trade offs and concentrate shipment routes.
  4. Social and environmental work has included acquisition of land required for mine site development, updates for an environmental impact study, indigenous peoples studies and archaeological evaluations.

Corporate Developments with Aripuanã’s Owners

Compañía Minera Milpo S.A.A. (“Milpo”) (Lima Stock Exchange: MILPOC1) and Votorantim Metais Zinc S.A. (“Votorantim”) jointly own 70% of Aripuanã and are responsible for 100% of expenditures until 12 months after the delivery of a feasibility study. Under the terms of the Contract of Association, the feasibility study must be in a form acceptable to lending organizations for the purpose of raising financing, preferably as project finance on a limited recourse basis.

On April 12, 2016 it was reported that Votorantim Metais–Cajamarquilla S.A. purchased 20.17% of Milpo through the facilities of the Lima Stock Exchange thereby increasing its controlling stake in Milpo to 80.24%.

On November 30, 2016 Milpo is to have a shareholders’ meeting to vote on a motion to delist its shares from the Lima Stock Exchange. If this motion is carried Karmin will be the only public company exposed to the future developments of Aripuanã.

About Karmin

The common shares of Karmin are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Lima Stock Exchange and trade in both markets under the symbol “KAR”. The principal business of Karmin is to acquire, explore and develop resource properties.

Karmin owns 30% of Aripuanã, one of the ten largest undeveloped zinc projects in the world. Aripuanã covers an 820 square kilometre mineralized massive-sulphide district that includes five areas of mineralization (Ambrex, Arex, Babacu, Massaranduba and Mocoto) over a 25-kilometre strike length. Votorantim and Milpo own the remaining 70% of Aripuanã, but are responsible for 100% of the project costs until 12 months after the completion of a feasibility study.

The Summary of Mineral Resources at Aripuanã is outlined in Table 1. This summary is detailed in a Technical Report prepared by RPA Inc. which conforms to NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is dated January 29, 2013 (see Karmin press release dated February 21, 2013).

TABLE #1 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES – ARIPUANÃ

September 12, 2012

 
        Grade     Contained Metal
Tonnage Zn     Pb     Cu     Au     Ag Zn     Pb     Cu     Au     Ag
      Mt     %     %     %     g/t     g/t     M lb     M lb     M lb     Oz     K Oz
AREX
Measured 2.4 7.15 2.50 0.51 0.24 73 378 132 27 19,000 5,633
Indicated 2.5 3.50 1.18 1.36 0.64 37 195 65 76 52,000 2,996
Inferred 3.2 3.9 1.4 0.8 0.7 39 278 101 57 73,000 4,001
 
AMBREX
Indicated 14.2 3.39 1.23 0.07 0.18 29 1,062 386 23 82,000 13,389
Inferred 11.5 5.0 1.7 0.1 0.30 40 1,269 436 36 108,000 14,657
 
AREX + AMBREX
Measured + Indicated 19.1 3.87 1.38 0.30 0.25 36 1,635 584 125 153,000 22,018
Inferred 14.7 4.8 1.7 0.3 0.4 39 1,547 536 93 181,000 8,560
 
Notes:
    1. CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
2. Mineral Resources are reported as within mineralized wireframes modelled at 3% Zn in the stratabound zone and 0.5% Cu in the stringer zone and include internal dilution.
3. The Ambrex resource database does not include results of drilling in 2012.
4. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
 

Karmin owns 100% of the Aripuanã Gold Project, which encompasses the gold and silver mineralization associated with near-surface oxidized portions of numerous massive-sulphide deposits in the 820-square-kilometre Aripuanã Zinc Project in north-western Brazil.

Karmin owns 100% of the 25 square-kilometre Cushuro Gold Project located in the world-class Alto Chicama gold-mining district of northern Peru.

Qualified Person

The Mineral Resources for Aripuanã disclosed in this press release have been prepared by Votorantim and reviewed by Ms. Valerie Wilson, P.Geo, an employee of RPA and independent of Karmin. Ms. Wilson, P.Geo., has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource estimate.

Disclaimer Relating to Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the belief of management and reflect Karmin’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, possible events and statements. The words “potential,” “possible,” “expects,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or “believes,” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” or “will” be taken or occur, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, but are not limited to the mineral resource estimates and the business plans of Karmin. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Karmin with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

Such statements are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections in the forward-looking statements will not occur, and that actual performance and results in future periods may differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The Aripuanã Zinc Project and the land it relates to is an exploration property only. Accordingly, there are a number of important factors that could cause Karmin’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors relating to the Aripuanã Zinc Project include, among others, the timing and content of work programs, results of the development of mineral properties, the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, the uncertainties of resource and reserve estimates, receipt and security of mineral property titles, receipt of licenses to conduct mining activities, project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, fluctuations in metal prices and general market and industry conditions, changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, policies and regulations, the security of personnel and assets, and political or economic developments in Canada and Brazil, operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development and the risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Except as required by law, Karmin disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Karmin undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts

Karmin Exploration Inc.
David Brace, 416-367-0369
Chief Executive Officer
davidbrace@karmin.com
or
John Iannozzi, 519-337-5302
Chief Financial Officer
johni@karmin.com

Contacts

Karmin Exploration Inc.
David Brace, 416-367-0369
Chief Executive Officer
davidbrace@karmin.com
or
John Iannozzi, 519-337-5302
Chief Financial Officer
johni@karmin.com