Mar 30 2017
Quaterra Resources Inc. (“Quaterra” or the “Company”) and its subsidiary Singatse Peak Services LLC (“SPS”) today announced drilling had commenced for the 2017 drill program of approximately 20,000 feet to test targets throughout the Company’s 51-square-mile land package located in the historic Yerington Copper District of Nevada.
SPS has selected targets on the basis of geology, geophysical surveys, previous drilling results, and a recently completed induced polarization (IP) survey totaling 34 line kilometers. Drilling will include both reverse circulation (RC) and core, with Layne Christensen Company, Chandler, Arizona, providing both drill rigs. Holes will be started using RC and completed with core.
A number of holes will be drilled to test new targets in and around the Yerington pit and in the MacArthur mine areas. At least two holes will test targets outside of known mineralized areas in the north and east parts of the property. The first hole has been collared in the northwest end of the Yerington pit.
Freeport-McMoRan Nevada LLC (“Freeport Nevada”) has made an accelerated option payment of $1.5 million that SPS is using for the current drilling program. (All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars). Freeport Nevada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Freeport Minerals Corporation, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX).
Freeport Nevada’s accelerated $1.5 million option payment is in addition to an option payment in December 2016 of $1.25 million by Freeport Nevada to SPS that is being used for property maintenance, G&A and environmental compliance at Yerington. December’s option payment was the second of a four-tranche agreement totaling $5.75 million over two years announced in June last year to extend Stage 2 of Freeport Nevada’s option to acquire an interest in the Company’s Yerington Copper Project.
In June 2014, Quaterra and its subsidiary SPS entered into an agreement which gives Freeport Nevada an option to earn an initial 55% interest in SPS by providing $40.7 million in option payments to SPS. In June 2016, Stage 2 of the agreement was potentially extended by another two years. The Stage 2 extension option payments and any accelerated option payments will reduce the payments required for Freeport Nevada to earn its initial 55% interest in SPS. Freeport Nevada can earn a further 20% in SPS (increasing its holding to 75%) by spending $99.5 million or by funding a feasibility study, whichever comes first. Before then, Freeport Nevada can terminate the agreement at its discretion.
Quaterra’s Yerington Copper Project is located in the historic Yerington Copper District, about 70 miles southeast of Reno, Nevada. It consists of the Yerington pit sulfide and oxide deposit previously mined by Anaconda; the MacArthur oxide and sulfide deposit; the Bear porphyry copper deposit; and several untested exploration targets. Quaterra’s 51-square-mile land package is situated in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with a history of copper production and good infrastructure. It also owns valuable water rights in the district. Quaterra has invested some $36 million in the Yerington District since 2006, and has released NI 43-101-compliant oxide and sulfide resources at both MacArthur and Yerington, and a preliminary economic assessment at MacArthur.
Technical information in this news release has been approved by Thomas Patton, Ph.D., the CEO of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.
Source: https://quaterra.com/