Lawyers’ grade up by 25% – After downgrading tonnage

Underground development work by Cheni Gold Mines (TSE) on the Cliff Creek zone at the Lawyers mine in north- central British Columbia indicates minable grades will be 20-25% higher than anticipated. The results come as welcome news to Cheni after it significantly downgraded reserve tonnage at its wholly owned mine in 1990. The downgrade came as a result of a summer drilling program which indicated the Cliff Creek zone was not as continuous as previously thought.

Reserves were subsequently decreased to 466,000 tons in the probable category grading 0.19 oz. gold and 7.7 oz. silver per ton, plus 114,000 tons of possible reserves grading 0.17 oz. gold and 7.8 oz. silver.

Probable reserves had previously been stated at 839,000 tons grading 0.18 oz. gold and 7.8 oz. silver while possible reserves were estimated at 525,000 tons grading 0.17 oz. gold and 6.6 oz. silver.

The development work is proceeding on seven levels over a vertical extent of 377 ft. and a strike length of 328 ft.

Vern Smith, mine manager, said although the minable grade may be increased, he did not see much chance of increasing the reserve tonnage as a result of the current development work.