Bralorne Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:BPM)(PINK SHEETS:BPMSF)(BERLIN:GV7)(FRANKFURT:GV7)(WKN A0B75M) has provided an update on underground exploration and development at the Bralorne- Pioneer Mine property, B.C.
Mining Development Update
Mining resumed on the BK and North veins on January 4. On the BK vein, a total of 16 lifts of 1.8 meter height have been blasted to date, comprising about 2/3 of the target resource. Assay results for the stope as of February 28 averaged 31.0 g/T gold (0.905 oz/ton) over 0.5 meters (1.8 ft) for the vein. The average grade over the full mining width is 11.9 g/T gold (0.348 oz/ton) over 1.5 meters (5.1 ft. The broken inventory in the stope is estimated at 8,700 tonnes (9,600 tons) at an average grade of 12.3 g/T (0.36 oz/ton) gold.
Mining was completed on the North vein, for an estimated total of 4,250 tonnes (4,685 tons) grading 14.4 g/T gold (0.419 oz/ton) mined and stockpiled at surface.
Stock Pile and Mill Start-up
Underground development material has been stockpiled at the surface for mill feed. By the end of February, a total of 11,866 tonnes (13,080 tons) of material was stockpiled at an estimated average grade of 12.5 grams per tonne (0.365 oz/ton) gold. The total to date of the stockpile plus the underground broken inventory currently stands at 20,500 tonnes (22,678 tons) at an estimated average grade of 12.4 grams per tonne (0.363 oz/ton) gold.
The Company is very pleased to report that it is close to finalizing the permit from the Ministry of Environment. Start-up of the mill is now planned following completion of service repairs that were initiated in last fall.
New BK3 Zone
Exploration development of the new BK-3 resource is planned to start shortly. An exploration raise will be driven up on the vein from the main 800 level to define the grade in the lower part of the zone, while the decline that was collared in 2009 will be continued to intersect the zone at about the 575 Level. Drifting to the limits of the mineralization followed by raise and sublevel development is then planned to prepare for mining.
Further surface and underground drill exploration will be done on the BK vein to define the limits of the BK3 zone and search for other mineralized shoots. In addition, numerous other targets requiring drilling or development are being re-assessed throughout the 5 km strike length and 2 km vertical extent of the historic Bralorne-Pioneer gold mine.
Gold assays for mine development are being done at the on-site laboratory. Assay quality is being achieved by assaying by the metallics method for all vein samples, and by the fire assay method using 1 assay ton charges for host rock assays and muck samples. Quality control includes insertion of blank and standard samples at a frequency of 10%, and repeat assays of pulps at Ecotech Laboratory.
Dr. Matt Ball, P.Geo., Chief Operating Officer for the Company, is the qualified person who prepared the technical information contained in this news release.
Source: Bralorne Gold Mines Ltd.