Aurizon Advances Joanna Project to Final Feasibility

Aurizon Mines has received a positive, NI 43-101 compliant pre-feasibility study for its Joanna project, 20 km east of Rouyn- Noranda, Quebec, and is proceeding to final feasibility. The proposed 8,500-mt/d openpit operation would produce an average of 110,000 oz/y of gold over a mine life of 8.3 years. Life-of-mine gold recovered would total 887,000 oz. Pre-production capital costs are estimated at C$187 million.

BBA Inc. prepared the Joanna pre-feasibility study, with contributions from other engineering firms and consultants, and has been commissioned by Aurizon to prepare the final feasibility study, which is scheduled for completion during the fourth quarter of 2010.

The pre-feasibility study was based on mineral reserves in the Hosco deposit and did not consider other resources on the Joanna property. It also did not consider potential synergies arising from Aurizon’s ability to utilize the milling facilities, management and infrastructure at its Casa Berardi mine, also located in the Abitibi region of Quebec, to improve the economics of the project. The final feasibility study will address these matters.

Metallurgical testwork, utilizing the gold recovery process planned for the Joanna flotation concentrate, also is currently being performed on the Casa Berardi ore. Sharing some of the ore processing facilities for Joanna and Casa Berardi could improve the economics of both operations, reducing capital and operating costs.

As featured in Womp 2009 Vol 10 - www.womp-int.com