February 09, 2012
Westminster and Capstone Mining Corp. sign Letter of Intent granting Capstone the option to earn 70% by funding $ CDN 9.3 million in staged expenditures at Westminster's Cumbral-San Bartolo property, Sonora, Mexico
VANCOUVER, Westminster Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: WMR)
and Capstone Mining Corp. (TSX: CS) have entered into a Letter of
Intent concerning WMR's prospective Porphyry-IOCG targets at the
Cumbral-San Bartolo property, Sonora , Mexico. Capstone is a base
metal producer with two operating mines, the Minto Mine in Canada and
the Cozamin Mine in Mexico and two development projects, a large Iron
Oxide-Copper-Gold ("IOCG") deposit called Santo Domingo in Chile and a
VMS deposit called Kutcho in British Columbia.
The LOI covers an exploration funding arrangement for an "earn in" Joint
Venture whereby:
a) in stages Capstone has the exclusive right and option to earn 70%
interest in Cumbral-San Bartolo by expending $9.3 million on
exploration, and b) Capstone subscribing for 5,000,000 common shares of
Westminster at a price of $0.15 per share for a total of $750,000 to be
used by WMR for working capital. The earn-in stages are as follows:
|
STAGE ONE
|
Capstone has the exclusive right and option to earn a 49% interest by
paying to WMR $3.3 million:
1) on or before December 31, 2012 $1,600,000
2) on or before December 31, 2013 $1,700,000
|
|
STAGE TWO
|
Capstone has the exclusive right and option to earn a further 11%
interest by expending $3,000,000 on or before December 31, 2014
bringing their interest up to 60%.
|
|
STAGE THREE
|
Capstone has the exclusive right and option to earn a further 10%
interest bringing their total interest to 70% by:
1) completing additional expenditures on or before December 31, 2015 $3,000,000
2) delivering a scoping study by June 30, 2016
|
|
STAGE FOUR
|
Following completion of STAGE THREE, Capstone (70%) and Westminster
(30%) each party will be responsible for their portion of funding going
forward on a proportionate basis. Should WMR elect not to participate
beyond STAGE THREE, Capstone will have the exclusive right and option
to earn an additional 5% (for a total of 75%) undivided interest in the
property by delivering a preliminary economic analysis on the property.
|
|
STAGE FIVE
|
Should WMR elect not to participative in funding at Stage Four and
Capstone earns an additional 5% then each party will be responsible for
their portion of funding going forward on a proportionate basis of the
earn-in at Capstone (75%) and Westminster (25%). Thereafter each party
will be responsible for contributing funding for the continued
exploration and development of the Property on a proportionate basis to
their ownership percentage. If either party elects not to participate
fully in such funding, its ownership percentage will be diluted
accordingly.
|
|
|
If Capstone does not elect to become the operator of the project prior
to Stage 2 of the earn-in, it shall make payments to WMR in lieu of the
applicable required expenditures (for the same amount) in Stage 2 and
Stage 3 in order to satisfy the applicable thresholds, which amounts
shall be used by WMR solely for exploration expenditures on the
project.
|
The parties anticipate the closing of The Definitive Agreement resulting
from the LOI before April 30, 2012.
In 2010, Westminster Resources acquired the San Bartolo area target and
in May 2011 discovered the Cumbral trend during regional mapping and
follow-up of Aster anomalies in an area that is underlain by a large
intrusive complex. By July 2011, Westminster completed a VTEM-MAG
airborne geophysical survey at 200m line spacing over the JV property.
The airborne magnetic survey features magnetic highs and lows in
"magnetically active" patterns similar to other IOCG districts
worldwide. Within the trends of the magnetic anomalies, copper oxide
mineralization is found in association with areas of intense
brecciation, potassium alteration and silicification, and in
association with iron oxides (Magnetite-Hematite) as veins and
breccia-cement in outcroppings over a 4 km by 2 km area. A suite of
pink granite intrusions is present along the margins of the batholith
and are associated with a magnetic low feature that is more than 7
kilometers long. Silver and gold grades accompany the copper and iron
oxide mineralization. Recent ground magnetic and IP-resistivity
geophysical surveying has been completed over 73 line kilometers on a
portion of the Cumbral trend. WMR has already identified in the ground
geophysical data, several high priority Magnetic and Induced
Polarization anomalies that are coincident with newly discovered copper
occurrences. While waiting for the final geophysical analysis, work
will commence on a soil geochemistry survey targeting these anomalies
in order to better define drill targets.
Glen Indra, President of WMR commented: "We look forward to an early
exploration start which includes diamond drilling at the Cumbral-San
Bartolo Project and we are very pleased to have Capstone as our
partner; they are a successful mine operator and have an experienced
aggressive exploration team that will add a significant depth of
knowledge to the projects advancement."
All technical content in the foregoing disclosure has been verified and
approved by Glen C. Macdonald, P.Geo., (a qualified person for the
purpose of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects). Mr. Macdonald is a director of Westminster Resources
Ltd., and has visited the project.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WESTMINSTER RESOURCES LTD.
"Glen J. Indra"
About Westminster:
Managed by an experienced exploration team the Company is focused on
exploring and developing its 28,644 hectare El Cobre and 19,362 hectare
Navojoa properties in Sonora, Mexico. Gold-silver-copper discoveries
and prospects include Cumbral-San Bartolo, Guayacan, Anita Mine, Saddle
and several Skarn-Porphyry Systems.
This news release may contain forward-looking information which is not
comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events,
results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
Forward looking information in this news release may include, but is
not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such
forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, those
risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information,
which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no
assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed
time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than
as required by law. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does
not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information:
For further information regarding Westminster Resources Ltd.,
please contact Leif Smither or Fulvio Scrigner at 604-608-0400, Toll Free: 1-877-608-0007
or visit our website at www.westminsterres.com
Or
Kin Communications Inc.
At 604-684-6730, Toll free: 1-877-684-6730
Website: www.kincommunications.com