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Showing posts with label Black Fox mine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Fox mine. Show all posts

Monday, October 26, 2015

Primero Mining Corp Continues to Grow Black Fox at Depth and Announces Wide Extension of the Froome Zone

SOURCE: Primero Mining Corp.
Primero Mining Corp.
October 26, 2015 06:50 ET



TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - October 26, 2015) - Primero Mining Corp. ("Primero" or the "Company") (TSX: P) (NYSE: PPP) today announces further extensions to the Deep Central Zone at the Company's Black Fox mine, located near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Primero additionally reports the expansion of the Froome zone, located approximately 1 kilometre west of the open-pit at its Black Fox Complex.
Highlights:
  • Black Fox Continues to Grow at Depth: Wide intercepts demonstrate the continuation of high-grade mineralization at depth and include highlights of 16.0 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold over 11.9 metres (520-EX482-76) and 15.4 g/t gold over 10.9 metres (520-EX482-64) located over 800 metres below surface.
  • Delineation Drilling Continues to Grow the High-Grade Deep Central Zone: Results from the Deep Central Zone including 10.9 g/t gold over 10.5 metres (580-F392-38A), 8.7 g/t gold over 9.1 metres (580-F392-37) and 9.2 g/t gold over 8.4 metres (580-F392-41) have given Primero increased confidence in the wide, high-grade mineralization characteristics of this zone.
  • New Gold Zone Materializing at Black Fox: Recent drilling from the Froome zone, located 1 kilometre west of the Black Fox open-pit, include long mineralized intercepts of 5.1 g/t gold over 56.7 metres (15PR-G015),4.8 g/t gold over 52.4 metres (15PR-G007) and 5.1 g/t gold over30.9 metres (15PR-G013), demonstrating considerable continuity over long mineralized intervals.
  • Gibson South Zone Shows Promise: Highlights include 5.2 g/t gold over 34.0 metres (GF15-1043), and 6.4 g/t gold over 7.0 metres (GF15-1045) at the Gibson South deposit, located 300 metres to the southwest of the Grey Fox Contact zone.
"Our 2015 exploration program at Black Fox continues to exceed expectations, reaffirming our original investment thesis that the high-grade gold mineralization is much more extensive than previously identified," commented Joseph F. Conway, Chief Executive Officer. "Exploration drilling is already expected to have replaced our estimated full-year underground production at Black Fox, encouraging us that with continued success we'll be able to grow our resources beyond depletion this year. The extension of the Froome zone into a wide, continuous mineralized zone, located near the Black Fox mine confirms our belief that there remains significant exploration upside outside of the identified deposits at the Black Fox Complex."
Black Fox Continues to Grow at Depth
Today Primero announces additional drilling from the Black Fox mine, targeting the high-grade mineralization in the Deep Central Zone, located between the mine's 600 metre level and the 820 metre level. Two exploration holes have encountered the deeper extensions of this mineralized zone, returning long intercepts including 16.0 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold over 11.9 metres (520-EX482-76) and 15.4 g/t goldover 10.9 metres (520-EX482-64). Both intersections are located over 800 metres below surface.
Delineation drilling also targeting the Deep Central Zone continues to demonstrate wide intervals of high-grade mineralization. Specific highlights include 10.9 g/t gold over 10.5 metres (580-F392-38A), 8.7 g/t gold over 9.1 metres (580-F392-37) and 9.2 g/t goldover 8.4 metres (580-F392-41). The area remains open along strike and down dip and is expected to continue to expand with the results of additional exploration drilling.
Underground exploration drilling results are included in Table 1 with locations identified in Figure 1.
Table 1: Deep Central Zone - Highlighted Drilling Results
             
             
Hole  From
(m)
 To
(m)
 Core Length
(m)
 Gold Grade
(g/t)
520-EX482-64  361.4  372.3  10.9  15.4
520-EX482-76  366.4  378.3  11.9  16.0
520-L401-63A  334.0  339.5  5.5  7.6
 and  341.0  343.1  2.1  15.0
520-L401-67  337.0  345.5  8.5  7.6
580-F392-37  145.2  154.3  9.1  8.7
580-F392-38A  114.6  117.8  3.2  8.7
 and  129.7  140.1  10.5  10.9
580-F392-39A  129.6  132.5  2.9  11.2
 and  137.3  140.6  3.3  6.8
 and  148.8  155.2  6.4  5.3
580-F392-40  151.9  153.7  1.8  18.3
580-F392-41  152.0  160.4  8.4  9.2
580-F392-46  104.0  106.5  2.5  14.0
 and  119.0  122.6  3.6  4.8
          
          
*All assays are capped at 30 g/t gold, average gold grades over core length widths.
Froome Zone Demonstrates Black Fox's Continued Prospectiveness
The Company's surface drilling program at Black Fox has also been successful in expanding the Froome zone discovery. The Froome zone, located approximately 1 kilometre west of the Black Fox open-pit, was initially encountered in late-2014 and intersected by the discovery hole 14BF-591 which targeted a strong Induced Polarization ("IP") chargeability anomaly. Results from this initial hole were reported in the Company's February 23, 2015 news release and highlighted a long intercept of continuous mineralization grading 1.7 g/t gold over 66.0 metres. The Froome zone became a priority for 2015 surface exploration, and to-date 39 holes have targeted this new mineralized area.
Highlighted recent drill results from the Froome zone include 5.1 g/t gold over 56.7 metres (15PR-G015) and 4.8 g/t gold over 52.4 metres (15PR-G007) both less than 200 metres below surface, and provide the Company with confidence that this area could continue to expand. The Froome zone continues to be a priority for surface exploration through the remainder of 2015 and 2016.
The Froome zone demonstrates considerable continuity of mineralization and extends laterally over 500 metres dipping 70 to 75 degrees and is located along the highly prospective Gibson-Kelore Fault Zone ("GKFZ"). The GKFZ has been interpreted to be a southeast trending 2nd order splay of the Destor Porcupine Fault Zone ("DPFZ"), which is the major fault structure controlling much of the gold mineralization in the Timmins Gold Camp. The GKFZ is projected to originate from the DPFZ a few kilometres west-northwest of the Black Fox deposit, trending southeast and gradually splitting near the Grey Fox 147 zone at the south boundary of the Black Fox Complex properties.
The GKFZ is an economically important regional structure hosting a series of significant gold deposits including the 147, Contact, Gibson, and Gibson South zones at Grey Fox. It also hosts the two Hislop open-pit deposits, and the Ross Gold Mine. These deposits are all hosted along a 4 to 5 kilometre stretch of this fault.
Additional drilling is still required to fully define the extension of the Froome zone, which is open to the east, west, and at depth. The zone has been traced to the bedrock surface, located 30 metres below the ground surface level. Primero expects to complete approximately 9,000 metres (30 holes) of additional drilling in 2015 at the Froome zone.
Highlighted exploration drilling results from the Froome zone are included in Table 2 with locations identified in Figure 2. The true depth of the Froome intercepts listed below is approximately 100 metres below surface.
Table 2: Froome Zone - Highlighted Surface Exploration Drilling Results
             
             
Hole  From
(m)
 To
(m)
 Core Length
(m)
 Gold Grade
(g/t)
14BF-591 (previously reported)  219.0  285.0  66.0  1.7
15PR-G007  191.6  244.0  52.4  4.8
15PR-G010  349.0  352.0  3.0  4.5
15PR-G012  280.0  306.3  26.3  2.9
15PR-G013  176.9  207.8  30.9  5.1
 And  213.0  225.5  12.5  2.5
 And  275.0  277.5  2.5  6.2
15PR-G014  214.7  258.5  43.8  4.9
 Including  231.8  240.1  8.4  10.1
15PR-G015**  160.9  217.6  56.7  5.1
15PR-G042A  124.3  162.5  38.3  4.5
         
         
*All assays are capped at 100 g/t gold, average gold grades over core length widths.
**90 assay intervals (less than 1.0 metre each) are still pending for hole 15PR-G015.
Gibson South Zone Continues to Show Promise
Primero also announces recent drilling results from its Grey Fox project, located approximately 4 kilometres south-east of the Black Fox mine. The Grey Fox project currently includes two potential open-pits at the Contact and 147 zones, but the Grey Fox property also contains a number of other mineralized zones (Grey Fox South, Whisky Jack, Gibson, and Gibson South zones), all within close proximity to each other. These zones also have the potential to become additional sources of ore as part of the Black Fox Complex and are within trucking distance of the Black Fox mill facility.
Similar to the Froome zone, as described above, the Gibson South zone is also located along the GKFZ. The Gibson South zone is located approximately 300 metres southwest of the Contact Zone and south of the historic Gibson Decline, which was used in 1989 to extract an 8,000 tonne bulk sample with an average grade of 27.4 g/t.
Recent drilling at the Gibson South zone has returned results including 5.2 g/t gold over 34.0 metres (GF15-1043).
Highlights of Gibson South zone exploration drill results are included in Table 3 with locations identified in Figure 3.
Table 3: Gibson South Zone - Highlighted Surface Exploration Drilling Results
             
             
Hole  From
(m)
 To
(m)
 Core Length
(m)
 Gold Grade
(g/t)
GF15-1016  317.0  324.0  7.0  5.0
GF15-1043  305.0  339.0  34.0  5.2
GF15-1045  370.0  377.0  7.0  6.4
         
         
*All assays are capped at 100 g/t gold, average gold grades over core length widths.
The majority of 2015 drilling has been focused on infilling the Contact zone. This drilling continues to confirm the continuity mineralization within that zone. The two main Grey Fox area deposits, Contact zone and 147 zone have now been drilled off at 15 metre centres.
Highlights of Contact zone infill drill results are included in Table 4 with locations identified in Figure 3.
Table 4: Contact Zone - Highlighted Surface Exploration Drilling Results
             
             
Hole  From
(m)
 To
(m)
 Core Length
(m)
 Gold Grade
(g/t)
GF15-1013  24.00  37.00  13.0  4.1
GF15-1024  59.00  83.00  24.0  3.0
GF15-1027  82.00  85.60  3.6  8.8
GF15-1031  116.00  125.00  9.0  5.8
GF15-1034  127.65  150.00  22.4  6.3
         
         
*All assays are capped at 100 g/t gold, average gold grades over core length widths.
Black Fox Complex drilling was conducted by Norex Drilling supervised by Primero's exploration team. Mr. Gabriel Voicu, P. Geo., Vice President Geology and Exploration, reviewed the technical exploration information in this news release as the Qualified Person ("QP") for the Company for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). All samples are 1/2 core and analyses reported herein were performed by the independent laboratories Polymet Labs of Cobalt, Ontario, which is ISO 9001:2000 certified in North America using standard fire assay procedures, AGAT Laboratories of Mississauga, Ontario, which is ISO 9001/IEC17025 certified, Accurassay Laboratories, which is ISO/IEC 17025 certified, ALS Laboratories, which is ISO 9001/IEC17025 certified, SGS Canada Laboratories, which is ISO9001/IEC17025 certified, using fire assay with ICP-OES finish or using gravimetric finish for values generally over 10 g/t gold, or Swastika Laboratories, which is ISO 17025 certified. Intercepts cited do not necessarily represent true widths, however drilling is generally intersecting interpreted mineralized zones at a high angle. Primero's quality control program includes systematic insertion of blanks, standard reference material and duplicates to ensure laboratory accuracy. Generally, in a block of twenty samples one will be a duplicate, one will be a standard and one will be a blank.
About Primero
Primero Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer that owns 100% of the San Dimas gold-silver mine and the Cerro del Gallo gold-silver-copper development project in Mexico and 100% of the Black Fox mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black River‐Matheson near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Primero offers immediate exposure to un-hedged, below average cash cost gold production with a substantial resource base in politically stable jurisdictions. The Company is focused on becoming a leading intermediate gold producer by building a portfolio of high quality, low cost precious metals assets in the Americas.
Primero's website is www.primeromining.com.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND QUALIFIED PERSON NOTES
The scientific and technical information regarding exploration results contained herein is based on information prepared by or under the supervision of Mr. Gabriel Voicu P.Geo., Vice President, Geology and Exploration, of Primero and a QP for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). Mr. Voicu has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release contains "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and operations of Primero Mining Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Primero" or the "Company"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "in order to", "is focused on" (a future event), "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information is also identifiable in statements of currently occurring matters which will continue in future or other statements that may be stated in the present tense and are not historical facts.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's estimation of mineral reserves and resources and the realization of mineral reserve estimates (including all assumptions), the ability to identify new resources and convert resources into reserves and resources, the ability to access or find ore below the current mining level, the timing, nature and success of exploration activities, the ability to replace its estimated 2015 full-year production, and intentions to becoming an intermediate gold producer. The assumptions made by the Company in preparing the forward-looking information contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: the expectations and beliefs of management; the specific assumptions set forth above in this news release; that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations; that the Company does not change its development and exploration plans; that prices for gold and silver remain consistent with the Company's expectations; that the Company identifies new mineralization and extensions of existing mineralization, that the Company's current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery are accurate, the discovery of additional ounces close to infrastructure and that mine development progresses as planned.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Primero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: the ability to achieve planned production levels; the ability to fund exploration and development expenditures and for the expenditures to discover mineralization in minable quantities; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates, mine development and operating risks; that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, damage to or loss of equipment, whether as a result of natural occurrences including flooding, political changes, title issues, intervention by local landowners, loss of permits, or environmental concerns or otherwise; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, exploration and development plans; mining risks, including unexpected formations and cave-ins, which delay operations or prevent extraction of material; risks associated with foreign operations; governmental and environmental regulation; landowner dissatisfaction and disputes; damage to equipment; and the ability to build a portfolio of precious metals assets in the Americas. Certain of these factors are discussed in greater detail in Primero's registration statement on Form 40-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and its most recent Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. In addition, although Primero has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Primero does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/10/26/11G068958/Images/BF_Highlight_Holes_FINAL-1188292015719.jpg
Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/10/26/11G068958/Images/Froome_Map_October_19th,_2015-881063557483.jpg
Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/10/26/11G068958/Images/GF_Map_October_19th,_2015-70484734502.jpg
Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/10/26/11G068958/PR20-15_BF_Exploration_Release_Final-1298314484896.pdf

Contact Information


For further information, please contact:
Evan Young
Manager, Investor Relations
Tel: (416) 814-2694
eyoung@primeromining.com

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Brigus reports 49% increase in Gold production output and 40% reduction in "all in" costs of production

Brigus Gold Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 

Brigus Gold Corp. ("Brigus" or the "Company") (NYSE MKT: BRD) (TSX: BRD)
 today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013.

"Brigus delivered strong operating and financial results during quarter three. The Black Fox mine achieved record gold production while costs on a per ounce basis were at an all-time low, and lower than guidance.Moving forward, our top priorities continue to be safe production, cost management, and disciplined capital allocation," commented Wade Dawe, Brigus' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "I am proud of our team's operational performance and the fact that our workforce has worked over 1,400 days without a lost time incident."

Third Quarter 2013 Financial Highlights
-- Sold 28,344 ounces of gold, a 49% increase over Q3 2012
-- Cash costs of $617 and All in Sustaining Costs (AISC) of $992 per ounce of gold sold (40% reduction)
-- Made long-term debt repayments of $4.9 million
-- Revenue of $36.9 million, a 22% increase over Q3 2012
-- Adjusted cash flow from operations of $15.5 million, a 38% increase over Q3 2012
Third Quarter 2013 Operational Highlights
-- Produced 27,174 ounces of gold, a 39% increase over Q3 2012
-- Processed 207,559 tonnes of ore (2,256 tonnes per day) at 4.34 grams per tonne and a 94% recovery
-- Averaged 811 tonnes per day from underground at an average grade of 5.69 grams per tonne


During the third quarter of 2013, income from mining operations was $5.9 million. AISC per ounce for the third quarter was $992 per ounce, compared to $1,649 in the third quarter of 2012, a decline of $657 or 40%. Cash costs per ounce decreased by 15% from $728 per ounce in Q3 2012 to $617 per ounce in Q3 2013.
During the quarter the Company's cash balance increased to $21.1 million, compared to $20.9 million at the end of the previous quarter, while the balance sheet was strengthened as long term debt was reduced. Income from mining operations on a year-to-date basis totalled $18.8 million, an increase of $4.7 million compared to the same period in 2012.The increase relates to the 47% increase in ounces sold and an 11% decrease in cash costs, offset by a 10% decrease in the average realized gold price and 58% increase in depreciation and amortization expense. 

Total liabilities decreased by $23.7 million, from $188.7 million as of December 31, 2012, to $165.0 million as of September 30, 2013, and shareholders' equity increased from $232.6 million to $243.8 million year to date.
Cost management continues to be a key focus for the Company.The Company expects capital spending for mine development and other sustaining capital to total $38.5 million in 2013, down from the original estimate of $41.5 million in Q1 2013. The Company reviewed its long-term capital requirements and is forecasting total capital spending on mine development and sustaining capital of $20 - $25 million in 2014.
During the quarter, the Company announced an updated independent NI 43-101 resource estimate for the 147, Contact, and Grey Fox South zones. The resource estimate included a constraining pit shell which had not been included in the previous resource estimates.Highlights include a total of 507,400 indicated ounces (255,000 relating to the underground and 252,400 relating to the open pit) and 228,600 inferred ounces (184,800 relating to the underground and 43,800 relating to the open pit). The underground and open pit cut-off grades were set at 2.84 grams per tonne and 0.72 grams per tonne, respectively. The 147, Contact and Grey Fox South zones remain open for future expansion and drilling continues.
At Grey Fox, Brigus completed an additional 21,458 metres (46 drill holes) of drilling since the June 30th cut-off date and initiated additional metallurgical studies to increase gold recoveries from the 83 percent threshold, as previously reported. Initial results from the ongoing test work have been favourable. The Company is now planning to release a Preliminary Economic Assessment for Grey Fox during the second quarter of 2014.
Exploration Subsequent to quarter end, the Company released two high grade gold intersections from underground drilling at Black Fox. Hole 645-34-W assayed 18.09 grams per tonne gold over 37.80 metres, including 39.45 grams per tonne gold over 10.35 metres. This 37.80 metre mineralized intercept is from a drill interval of 316.9 to 354.7 metres, and remains open as the last sample at 354.7 metres graded 15.34 grams per tonne gold. Therefore, the full thickness of this high grade intercept is unknown at this time. Hole 645-34-W intersected high grade mineralization 30 metres to the west of hole 645-01-W, which assayed 40.71 grams per tonne gold over 26.75 metres, including 103.20 grams per tonne gold over 8.35 metres.In light of these positive exploration results, we have recommenced underground exploration drilling at Black Fox. 12 to 15 holes are planned and will target this new high grade zone.
Third Quarter Webcast and Conference Call A webcast and conference call will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at noon Atlantic Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time).
Analysts and other interested parties wanting to participate in the call should dial 1-877-407-8133 (international 201-689-8040) at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No pass code is required. The teleconference will be recorded. If you are unable to join the teleconference live, you can dial for playback, toll-free at 1-877-660-6853 (international 201-612-7415), please use conference ID 100499. The event will be archived and available for replay until midnight on November 27, 2013. The teleconference will also be accompanied by a presentation made available on the Company's website at www.brigusgold.com.
This release should be read in conjunction with Brigus' 2013 third quarter Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis report at www.brigusgold.com. Brigus' unaudited 2013 third quarter Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis have been filed with Canadian securities regulators (available at www.sedar.com) and with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov). Brigus shareholders may obtain a copy of the financial documents free of charge upon request to the Company.
About Brigus Gold Brigus is a growing gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration and select acquisitions. The Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox Mine and Mill in the Timmins Gold District of Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black River‐Matheson, Ontario, Canada. Brigus also owns the Goldfields Project located near Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona gold deposits. In the Dominican Republic, Brigus has signed an agreement to sell its remaining interests in three mineral exploration projects. In Mexico, Brigus owns the Ixhuatan Project located in the state of Chiapas.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources This news release uses the term mineral "resources". The Company advises U.S. investors that while these terms are defined in and required by Canadian regulations, these terms are not defined terms under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7 and are generally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. The SEC generally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant "reserves" as in‐place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
Cautionary and Forward‐Looking Statements Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward‐looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements. All statements regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its production, total cash costs, steady state annual production and mining rate estimates; estimated average gold grades for the open pit and underground operations; increase in gold production; increase in profitability; exploration drill results and resource additions, are forward‐looking statements and estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties. This forward‐ looking statements include, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the outcome of legal proceedings, the issue of permits, the size and quality of the Company's mineral resources, progress in development of mineral properties, future production and sales volumes, capital and mine production costs, demand and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining charges, and the financial results of the Company.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward‐looking statements include environmental risks and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Brigus' most recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis filed under the Company's name at www.sedar.com and annual report on Form 40F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov as well as elsewhere in Brigus' documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. All forward‐looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward‐looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Brigus Gold Corp.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Graphene micro super capacitors will change the world according to UCLA Prof

University of California - Los Angeles

UCLA researchers develop new technique to scale up production of graphene micro-supercapacitors

While the demand for ever-smaller electronic devices has spurred the miniaturization of a variety of technologies, one area has lagged behind in this downsizing revolution: energy-storage units, such as batteries and capacitors.

Now, Richard Kaner, a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Maher El-Kady, a graduate student in Kaner's laboratory, may have changed the game.

The UCLA researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique that uses a DVD burner to fabricate micro-scale graphene-based supercapacitors — devices that can charge and discharge a hundred to a thousand times faster than standard batteries. These micro-supercapacitors, made from a one-atom–thick layer of graphitic carbon, can be easily manufactured and readily integrated into small devices such as next-generation pacemakers.

The new cost-effective fabrication method, described in a study published this week in the journal Nature Communications, holds promise for the mass production of these supercapacitors, which have the potential to transform electronics and other fields.

"The integration of energy-storage units with electronic circuits is challenging and often limits the miniaturization of the entire system," said Kaner, who is also a professor of materials science and engineering at UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. "This is because the necessary energy-storage components scale down poorly in size and are not well suited to the planar geometries of most integrated fabrication processes."

"Traditional methods for the fabrication of micro-supercapacitors involve labor-intensive lithographic techniques that have proven difficult for building cost-effective devices, thus limiting their commercial application," El-Kady said. "Instead, we used a consumer-grade LightScribe DVD burner to produce graphene micro-supercapacitors over large areas at a fraction of the cost of traditional devices. Using this technique, we have been able to produce more than 100 micro-supercapacitors on a single disc in less than 30 minutes, using inexpensive materials."

The process of miniaturization often relies on flattening technology, making devices thinner and more like a geometric plane that has only two dimensions. In developing their new micro-supercapacitor, Kaner and El-Kady used a two-dimensional sheet of carbon, known as graphene, which only has the thickness of a single atom in the third dimension.

Kaner and El-Kady took advantage of a new structural design during the fabrication. For any supercapacitor to be effective, two separated electrodes have to be positioned so that the available surface area between them is maximized. This allows the supercapacitor to store a greater charge. A previous design stacked the layers of graphene serving as electrodes, like the slices of bread on a sandwich. While this design was functional, however, it was not compatible with integrated circuits.

In their new design, the researchers placed the electrodes side by side using an interdigitated pattern, akin to interwoven fingers. This helped to maximize the accessible surface area available for each of the two electrodes while also reducing the path over which ions in the electrolyte would need to diffuse. As a result, the new supercapacitors have more charge capacity and rate capability than their stacked counterparts.
 Interestingly, the researchers found that by placing more electrodes per unit area, they boosted the micro-supercapacitor's ability to store even more charge.

Kaner and El-Kady were able to fabricate these intricate supercapacitors using an affordable and scalable technique that they had developed earlier. They glued a layer of plastic onto the surface of a DVD and then coated the plastic with a layer of graphite oxide. Then, they simply inserted the coated disc into a commercially available LightScribe optical drive — traditionally used to label DVDs — and took advantage of the drive's own laser to create the interdigitated pattern. The laser scribing is so precise that none of the "interwoven fingers" touch each other, which would short-circuit the supercapacitor.

"To label discs using LightScribe, the surface of the disc is coated with a reactive dye that changes color on exposure to the laser light. Instead of printing on this specialized coating, our approach is to coat the disc with a film of graphite oxide, which then can be directly printed on," Kaner said. "We previously found an unusual photo-thermal effect in which graphite oxide absorbs the laser light and is converted into graphene in a similar fashion to the commercial LightScribe process. With the precision of the laser, the drive renders the computer-designed pattern onto the graphite oxide film to produce the desired graphene circuits."

"The process is straightforward, cost-effective and can be done at home," El-Kady said. "One only needs a DVD burner and graphite oxide dispersion in water, which is commercially available at a moderate cost."
The new micro-supercapacitors are also highly bendable and twistable, making them potentially useful as energy-storage devices in flexible electronics like roll-up displays and TVs, e-paper, and even wearable electronics.

The researchers showed the utility of their new laser-scribed graphene micro-supercapacitor in an all-solid form, which would enable any new device incorporating them to be more easily shaped and flexible. The micro-supercapacitors can also be fabricated directly on a chip using the same technique, making them highly useful for integration into micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS).

These micro-supercapacitors show excellent cycling stability, an important advantage over micro-batteries, which have shorter lifespans and which could pose a major problem when embedded in permanent structures — such as biomedical implants, active radio-frequency identification tags and embedded micro-sensors — for which no maintenance or replacement is possible.

As they can be directly integrated on-chip, these micro-supercapacitors may help to better extract energy from solar, mechanical and thermal sources and thus make more efficient self-powered systems. They could also be fabricated on the backside of solar cells in both portable devices and rooftop installations to store power generated during the day for use after sundown, helping to provide electricity around the clock when connection to the grid is not possible.

"We are now looking for industry partners to help us mass-produce our graphene micro-supercapacitors," Kaner said
(Ed Note:  the video explains one of many potential aplications)
Video presentation

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Brigus Gold Hits 2012 Production Target

 (bwire)
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (Business Wire) -- Brigus Gold Corp. (“Brigus” or the “Company”)(NYSE BRD; TSX: BRD) is pleased to announce record production levels of 22,672 gold ounces in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company finished the year within the guidance set on February 21, 2012 of 77,000 – 85,000 ounces with a total of 77,374 ounces.

“We finished the year in a very strong position and are well poised for growth heading into the new year,” said Wade Dawe, Brigus' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Gold production increased each quarter in 2012, a trend that will continue into 2013 as we reach annual steady state production levels.”
The Black Fox mill processed 185,727 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 4.04 grams of gold per tonne and an average recovery of 94 percent in the quarter. Throughput averaged 2,019 tonnes per day.
The Company will release complete fourth quarter and year-end financial and operational results on March 28, 2013.

2013 OUTLOOK
In 2013, Brigus will fund Black Fox and Grey Fox operations with internally generated cash flows. Mining operations will continue to be profitable and cash flow positive as gold production increases. Brigus' production guidance for 2013 is 90,000 to 100,000 ounces and cash costs are anticipated to stabilize in the range of $700 - $750 per ounce.

Capital costs for 2013 are forecasted as follows; $16 million (M) for underground development, $13M for open pit capital stripping and overburden removal, $20M for property plant, equipment and other capital items, and $10.5M for Grey Fox and Black Fox underground exploration. Capital costs for the development of the Grey Fox mine will be outlined in the feasibility study scheduled to be released during the second half of 2013.

The Company remains focused on increasing gold resources at Grey Fox and at the Black Fox underground mine through targeted exploration drilling which will continue throughout the year. 

About Brigus Gold
Brigus is a growing gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration and select acquisitions. The Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox Mine and Mill in the Timmins Gold District of Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ontario, Canada. Brigus is also advancing the Goldfields Project located near Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona gold deposits. In Mexico, Brigus has the Ixhuatan Project located in the state of Chiapas. In the Dominican Republic, Brigus has signed an agreement to sell its remaining interests in three mineral exploration projects.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its production, total cash costs, steady state annual production and mining rate estimates; increase in gold production; increase in profitability; exploration drill results and resource additions, are forward-looking statements and estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking statements include, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the outcome of legal proceedings, the issue of permits, the size and quality of the Company's mineral resources, progress in development of
mineral properties, future production and sales volumes, capital and mine production costs, demand and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining charges, and the financial results of the Company.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include environmental risks and other factors disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Brigus' most recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis filed under the Company's name at www.sedar.com and annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov as well as elsewhere in Brigus' documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.


Brigus Gold
Kate Wood, (902) 442-7184
Manager, Investor Relations
kwood@brigusgold.com
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

More high grade Gold discovered at Grey Fox!

Brigus Gold Reports Additional 147 Zone High-Grade Gold Results
 5 hours ago by Business Wire
 Brigus Gold Corp. ("Brigus" or the "Company") (NYSE MKT: BRD; TSX: BRD) is pleased to announce that exploration drilling on the Company's Grey Fox property continues to return high-grade gold assays from the 147 Zone.
The following table includes highlights from the drill holes reported today from the 147 Zone (all assays are capped at 100 gpt gold, average gold grades over core length widths): 



 Hole Number  From     To     Core Length  Gold Assay   Grams X Width
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------
               (m)     (m)        (m)      grams/tonne
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------
  GF12-489   142.00  143.30      1.30         47.41          62
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
             179.00  213.00      34.00        3.54           120
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  including  187.00  193.00      6.00         14.19          85
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-512   160.00  218.40      58.40        2.70           158
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  including  195.00  206.00      11.00        8.05           89
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-516    92.40   98.00      5.60         5.53           31
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
             183.00  222.00      39.00        6.33           247
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-518   137.00  159.00      22.00        3.17           70
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
             176.00  208.70      32.70        2.13           70
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-519   149.00  168.00      19.00        5.80           110
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  including  156.00  162.00      6.00         14.68          88
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-523   133.00  139.00      6.00         3.97           24
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
             172.80  176.00      3.20         38.30          123
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
             191.00  208.00      17.00        3.90           66
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-553   203.00  205.60      2.60         42.78          111
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  GF12-561   221.00  224.00      3.00         10.62          32
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
             300.50  358.00      57.50        5.17           297
             ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
  including  350.00  357.00      7.00         24.86          174
-----------  ------  ------  -----------  -----------  -------------
 
"Drill results from the 147 Zone continue to return high gold grades over wide intervals," said Howard Bird, Brigus' Senior Vice President of Exploration. "Drilling is ongoing with four drill rigs working to expand the gold resource on the Grey Fox property." 

Brigus' Grey Fox property is located on the southern portion of the Black Fox Complex and is comprised of the 147, Contact and Grey Fox South zones. Planning is underway to develop this property into the Company's next mine. The Grey Fox Mine is expected to be in production by early 2015. 

Over the past two years, exploration at Grey Fox has been very successful with the definition of a new 571,000 ounce resource including 480,850 ounces in the Indicated category from the Contact and 147 zones - adding more than 50 percent to the gold resource on the Black Fox Complex. 

Details of the most recent 147 Zone drill holes and drill-hole location map can be found on the Company's website at www.brigusgold.com

Surface drilling was conducted by Norex Drilling and was supervised by the Brigus exploration team. All sample analyses reported herein were performed by Polymet Labs of Cobalt, Ontario, which is ISO 9001:2000 certified in North America using standard fire assay procedures. Intercepts cited do not necessarily represent true widths, unless otherwise noted. Brigus Gold's quality control checks include insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates to ensure laboratory accuracy. Senior Exploration Project Manager John A. Dixon, P. Geo., reviewed the technical exploration information in this release as the Qualified Person for the Company. 

About
Brigus Gold 
Brigus is a growing Canadian gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration and select acquisitions. The Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox Mine and Mill in the Timmins Gold District of Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine, the new Grey Fox property and adjoining properties in the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox mine is in production and the Grey Fox mine, located four kilometres from Black Fox is in development. Brigus is also advancing the Goldfields Project located near Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona gold deposits. In Mexico, Brigus owns the Ixhuatan Project located in the state of Chiapas. In the Dominican Republic, Brigus has signed an agreement to sell its remaining interests in three mineral exploration projects. 

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements regarding the Company's ability to successfully expand the Black Fox Complex gold resource, add to Black Fox resources, advance new discoveries to production, convert resource estimates into near-term production, release of an updated mineral resource estimate in 2012 and the Black Fox underground mine exploration drilling program and continue to obtain positive down dip continuity of significant gold mineralization are forward-looking statements and estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include environmental risks and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Brigus Gold's most recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis filed under the company's name at www.sedar.com and annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and elsewhere in Brigus Gold's documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. 

SOURCE: Brigus Gold Corp.
Brigus Gold Corp. 
Jennifer Nicholson, CA 
Executive Vice President 
Phone: (902) 442-7186 
Email: jnicholson@brigusgold.com 
or 
Kate Wood 
Manager, Investor Relations 
Phone: (902) 442-7184 
Email: kwood@brigusgold.com
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