Wed Dec 1, 2004
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IMA Exploration Inc. (IMR -- TSX.V, IMXPF -- OTC.BB) is pleased to announce the results of the Phase II resource estimate at it's 100% owned Navidad project in Patagonia, Argentina. The resource estimate was completed by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Inc. using results from IMA's recently completed Phase II drill program that tested the Navidad Hill and Connector Zones. Both the Indicated and Inferred Resources at the Navidad project have been significantly increased; the new total resources are currently estimated at:
Indicated Resource (Galena Hill, Navidad Hill and Connector Zones)
• 268 million ounces of contained silver and 1,175,600 tonnes lead.
• 80.8 million tonnes at 103 g/t silver and 1.45% lead
* Estimated using a 50 g/t silver equivalent1 cut-off grade.
Inferred Resource (Galena Hill, Navidad Hill and Connector Zones)
• 39.3 million ounces of contained silver and 70,500 tonnes lead.
• 15.7 million tonnes at 78 g/t silver and 0.45% lead
* Estimated using a 50 g/t silver equivalent1 cut-off grade.
Detailed review of the geological interpretation and block model shows that the Navidad Hill Deposit remains open and is insufficiently drill tested in several areas. The Phase III drill program currently underway will more fully test the boundaries of the Navidad Hill zone, with the intent to increase the Navidad Hill Indicated Resource.
Recent discoveries of new zones of silver mineralization on surface (Loma de la Plata and Sector Zeta) and the large scale potential at Calcite Hill as shown by hole 88 (72.3m of 202 g/t silver) clearly demonstrate the potential for continued significant resource growth at the Navidad Project. The Company is very encouraged by the results of this resource estimate and is committed to steadily increasing the total silver resource at the Navidad Project.
The Phase II resource estimate was performed by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Inc (Neil Burns, M.Sc., P.Geo., Independent Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101). Snowden created a block model (block size 12.5 x 12.5 x 10m) of the Navidad Hill and Connector Zones, coded this model into multiple domains based on geologic interpretation, and then estimated grade using Multiple Indicator Kriging techniques. The new resource estimate at the Connector Zone replaces portions of the previously reported Galena Hill Inferred Resource, however, the Galena Hill Indicated Resource (see May 25, 2004 release) remains unchanged.
A table showing the breakdown of Indicated and Inferred Resources at Navidad Hill, the Connector Zone, and Galena Hill at cut-off grades of 50 and 100 g/t silver equivalent1 are presented below.
Navidad Project Indicated and Inferred Resources at 50 g/t AgEq(1) cut-off:
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Contained Contained
Silver Lead
Tonnes Silver Lead Copper Zinc (Million (1,000
(millions) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) Ozs) tonnes)
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Navidad Hill
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Indicated 15.17 115 0.35 0.12 0.09 56.3 52.4
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Inferred 3.37 97 0.74 0.09 0.16 10.5 25.0
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Connector Zone
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Indicated 2.05 74 0.27 0.03 0.09 4.9 5.6
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Inferred 6.50 100 0.20 0.04 0.10 20.9 12.9
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Galena Hill
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Indicated(2) 63.57 101 1.76 0.03 0.24 207.3 1117.5
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Inferred 5.79 43 0.56 0.01 0.08 7.9 32.6
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Navidad Project Total Resources - at 50 g/t AgEq(1) cut-off
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Indicated 80.80 103 1.45 0.05 0.21 268.5 1175.6
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Inferred 15.66 78 0.45 0.04 0.11 39.3 70.5
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The Navidad Hill resource estimation was performed using data from 41 diamond drill holes drilled within an area of approximately 400m x 350m. The majority of the 15.2 million tonne resource is located within less than 100m from the surface and Snowden has classified the majority of it as Indicated.
At the Connector Zone estimated resources are primarily classified as Inferred (see table above) as much of the zone has been drilled with relatively few, wide-spaced holes (18 drill holes covering a strike length of 600m). As at Navidad Hill, the Connector Zone remains open in several directions and will be more fully tested during the Phase III drill campaign. It is anticipated that ongoing drilling will significantly increase the current Indicated Resource at the Connector Zone by converting Inferred to Indicated Resources and perhaps also extending the mineralized zone.
Navidad Project Indicated and Inferred Resources at 100 g/t AgEq(1) cut-off:
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Contained Contained
Silver Lead
Tonnes Silver Lead Copper Zinc (Million (1,000
(millions) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) Ozs) tonnes)
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Navidad Hill
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Indicated 7.70 176 0.56 0.16 0.09 43.6 43.3
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Inferred 1.90 136 1.13 0.12 0.15 8.3 21.5
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Connector Zone
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Indicated 0.68 122 0.29 0.04 0.10 2.7 1.9
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Inferred 3.36 145 0.21 0.06 0.09 15.7 7.2
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Galena Hill
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Indicated(2) 38.80 149 2.40 0.04 0.22 186.4 932.4
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Inferred 0.59 56 1.95 0.01 0.19 1.0 11.4
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Navidad Project Total Resources - at 100 g/t AgEq(1) cut-off
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Indicated 47.19 153 2.07 0.06 0.20 232.6 977.7
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Inferred 5.85 133 0.69 0.07 0.12 25.1 40.1
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Notes:
1. Silver equivalent calculated using US$5.50/oz silver, $0.30/lb lead, $1.10/lb copper, and $0.40/lb zinc. (AgEq = Ag + (%Pb*10,000/242.5) + (%Cu*10,000/66.1) + (%Zn*10,000/181.9). No attempt has been made to adjust these relative values by accounting for metallurgical recoveries as insufficient or no information is available to do so. Metal prices have been left unchanged from the prior estimate at Galena Hill in May 2004 in order to simplify comparisons to the prior estimate.
2. The Galena Hill Indicated Resource remains unchanged from the Phase I resource estimation released on May 25, 2004.
3. Strict quality control and quality assurance procedures have been observed at all stages of data collection leading to this resource. Please see IMA's website (http://www.imaexploration.com) for a detailed overview of these procedures.
4. Resource categories (Indicated and Inferred) used here and the preparation of this resource estimate conform to Industry Best Practices standards as set out by National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of disclosure for mineral projects" and those of the 2000 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (the "CIM") "Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves".
5. A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report documenting the Snowden Resource Estimate will be filed at http://www.sedar.com as is required by Security Commission regulations.
6. An 'Inferred Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes.
7. An 'Indicated Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics, can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Joseph Grosso"
Mr. Joseph Grosso, President & CEO
IMA meldet hervorragende Ergebnisse. Sie haben erst einen Teil ihres Geländes untersucht. Gigantisch, was hier peu a peu ans Tageslicht kommt. Die Reserven/Ressourcen werden immer größer.