Exeter Resource Corporation
Exeter Resource Corporation is one of the most active exploration and mine development companies operating in South America. The Company has C$30 million in cash, no debt and two principal assets: the Caspiche gold-copper porphyry discovery and the Cerro Moro high-grade gold-silver deposit.
Exeter Resources to spin-out Cerro Moro gold-silver project in separate wholly-owned company
South American operating mineral exploration company, Exeter Resource Corp (AMEX: XRA, TSX: XRC, Frankfurt: EXB) has decided to spin-out the high grade Cerro Morro gold-silver project in Argentina, creating two independent and highly focused exploration companies. Exeter said the transaction is designed to create shareholder value by unlocking the value of Cerro Moro and the other exploration properties in Argentina.
Under the terms of the proposal, Exeter will retain all assets relating to the Caspiche gold-copper discovery in Chile. With approximately US$50 million in working capital, Exeter will focus solely on the advancement of Caspiche. The newly established spin-out company will be listed on a major stock exchange, and will have US$25 million in working capital. In addition to the Cerro Moro project, Newco will also own the other exploration properties in Argentina.
"Since the discovery of the large Caspiche gold-copper deposit in Chile, with its 19.6 million ounce inferred gold resource, investor focus has logically been centred on the opportunity provided by such a sizeable discovery”, said Exeter chairman Yale Simpson, “The creation of Newco is expected to enhance shareholder value by bringing both investor focus and technical expertise to the Cerro Moro asset.”
Upon completion, shareholders will own one share in the new spin-out company for each Exeter Resources share held. The will be no changes to the number of Exeter shares in issue.
The new company will initially focus on the progression of the Cerro Moro project through feasibility, project financing, development and into production. Newco intends to significantly expand the near-mine resources by drilling the many targets which have yet to be fully explored.
Exeter has drilled nearly 230 infill holes on the Escondida vein structure, on the Cerro Moro property, in order to upgrade inferred resources to indicated resources for the highest priority areas for mining. The most recent inferred mineral resource estimate was for 646,000 ounces gold equivalent at a grade of 18 grams per tonne gold equivalent.
An accelerated 50,000 metre drilling is currently underway on the property. In December the company doubled the number of rigs on-site. A new Cerro Moro resource estimate is scheduled for April 2010, which will be followed by a mine development study in Q2-2010. The studies will form the basis of the mine development decision and the submission of the project to Provincial authorities for permitting.
As the exploration drilling continues through 2010, a new mining camp will be constructed close to the high grade Escondida Vein.
New provincial legislation passed in November in the Santa Cruz province of Argentina reflecting the region’s exploration potential. The provincial government designated the area hosting the Cerro Morro property and the Formicruz joint ventures as ‘an area of special interest for mining’. Going forward, Newco will initiate an exploration program to realize the discovery potential of the other Argentinean projects in the portfolio.
The board sees the Cerro Moro project as a stepping stone for Newco’s development into a mid-tier gold-silver producer. “We expect this will provide our shareholders with a long term investment opportunity, far beyond the scope of the Cerro Moro asset alone”, said Simpson. The Exeter chairman and proposed co-chairman of Newco compared the project’s potential to Meridian Gold’s original high grade El Penon mine, whose strong operational performance led the company to become a successful mid-tier producer, before it was acquired by Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY).
Exeter’s current mine development manager, Dr. Eric Roth will be appointed the Newco’s CEO and president, with Simpson and CEO Bryce Roxburgh becoming Newco’s co-chairmen. Roth has extensive experience in mine development, through his roles as a mine geologist and an exploration geologist for BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP; LSE: BLT), Rio Tinto (LSE, ASX: RIO) and AUR Resources. Most recently he was head of greenfields exploration for AngloGold Ashanti (LSE, ASX: AGG; NYSE: AU).
Meanwhile the Exeter board and the Chilean management team will remain to take the Caspiche project forward. Exeter said it intends to continue building shareholder value through the expansion of the large gold-copper resources and the completion of the mine development studies currently underway. Like at Cerro Moro, the initial 20,000 metre programme was increased in December to 35,000 metres. Exeter accelerated the drilling with an additional two rigs joining the work programme.
On the Caspiche Project, located on the Maricunga Belt of Chile, Exeter recently announced an inferred mineral resource estimate of 1,117 million metric tons (Mt) at a grade of 0.55 grams per metric ton gold and 1.12 grams per metric ton silver, including 1,017 Mt at a grade of 0.22% copper. The resultant in-situ inferred resource, equates to 19.6 million ounces of gold, 40 million ounces of silver and 4.84 billion pounds of copper.
Other Exeter Resource Corporation articles
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18/11/09 Exeter Resources may spin out Cerro Moro into seperate vehicle
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20/10/09 Exeter Resources Begins Latest 20,000 Meter Drilling Programme at the Caspiche
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14/09/09 Exeter Resources doubles inferred resource to Caspiche to 19.6 million ounces gold, 137 million ounces silver, and 4.84 billion pounds copper
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01/09/09 More bonanza gold grades for Exeter Resource Corp at Cerro Morro
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24/03/09 Exeter Resource Corp's inferred resource at Caspiche hits 8.7 million ounces gold
Other Exeter Resource Corporation news
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15/03/10 Exeter Resource split approved to handle two very different types of gold deposit
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18/02/10 Exeter Resource to list Extorre on TSX and OTC
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11/02/10 Exeter Resource calls shareholder meeting for spin-out of Cerro Morro project into Extorre Gold Mines
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03/02/10 Exeter’s Cerro Morro project continues to return excellent drill results
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26/01/10 Exeter Resource encounters new gold mineralisation at Caspiche, to release resource estimate in late Q1/early Q2
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19/01/10 Exeter Resources to spin-out Cerro Moro gold-silver project in separate wholly-owned company
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21/12/09 Exeter Resources to join Standard and Poor’s TSX Gold and TSX Mining indices
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07/12/09 Exeter Resource expands drilling campaign at Caspiche and Cerro Moro gold projects with 2 more rigs each
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04/12/09 Exeter Resource raises C$7.5 million via fully exercised over-allotment option
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27/11/09 Exeter Resource's Cerro Moro gold project within newly designated ‘area of special interest for mining’ in Argentina
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