Westmin gets more good news from Myra Falls

More spectacular assay results were released by Westmin Resources (TSE) from ongoing drilling to further test a recently discovered zone on its Myra Falls mine property near Campbell River, B.C. The latest hole, 14-717 on section 14+00E, returned 26 metres (85.3 ft.) grading 7.8 grams (0.228 oz.) gold and 234 grams (6.8 oz.) silver per tonne, 3.05% copper, 1.74% lead and 25.4% zinc from 187.8-213.8 metres (616.1-701.4 ft.). This hole encountered the zone about 18 metres (59 ft.) north of hole 14-713, the spectacular discovery hole which returned 33.1 metres (108.5 ft.) grading an average of 3.6 grams (0.1 oz.) gold and 365 grams (10.6 oz.) silver per tonne, 4.5% copper, 0.5% lead and 18.5% zinc. The initial discovery hole was drilled in a previously untested gap area on the Myra Falls mine property and encountered high-grade massive sulphides well above the average grades of ore currently being mined from the H-W and Lynx underground mines. Westmin’s Myra Falls mining operation has been producing for over 25 years. Another recent hole encountered only minor mineralization where it penetrated the target area about 30 metres (98.4 ft.) north of hole 15-446, the discovery hole on section 12+60E. This previously reported hole returned 22.6 metres (74.1 ft.) grading 1.4 grams (0.04 oz.) gold, 222 grams (6.4 oz.) silver, 2.8% copper, 0.5% lead and 20.4% zinc. Drilling is continuing on the property. Recent results, however, are increasing optimism that the mineralization encountered to date represents a higher-grade zone that can be reached and mined from existing H-W mine workings. During the past year, Westmin has initiated a number of measures aimed at improving the operating performance of the H-W and Lynx mines. As an example, the company said significant improvements are being achieved in the mill at Myra Falls since column cell technology was introduced and both the zinc and copper circuits were “vastly simplified.” Shareholders were told at the company’s annual meeting in early May that the operation is now achieving higher-grade concentrates, better recoveries and lower reagent consumption. Shareholders were also told that the benefits of introducing bulk mining methods (to replace room-and-pillar and conventional cut-and-fill) should be received later this year. Manpower levels were also reduced to 568 from 721 at Myra Falls, which the Westmin said was accomplished without a loss in production levels.