Mosquito Consolidated Gold Mines Limited – Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment of CUMO Molybdenum-Copper-Silver Project Confirms Multi-Billion Dollar Net Present Value and Excellent Internal Rate of Return
MSQ – TSX Venture Exchange
Based on a pre-tax financial model (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) and using a long-term, base-metal price scenario, Ausenco’s study showed the CUMO project having a Net Present Value (NPV) of
Ausenco’s PEA of CUMO outlined several options for the further development of the project under four different production rates: Ore production rates of 50,000, 100,000, 150,000 and 200,000 short tons per day were considered for the data analysis. All associated costs were also tabulated corresponding to these production rates, including: preliminary pit designs, scoping-level tailings, storage facilities and waste rock sites, power and water requirements, mine scheduling, mine plant, capital and operating costs.
“Ausenco’s assessment of CUMO provides independent confirmation of the staggering economic potential of this project,” said Mosquito President
Adding to Mr. McClay’s comments, Mosquito’s Exploration Manager
The following two tables show highlight figures from Ausenco’s CUMO-PEA, for 150,000 and 100,000 short tons of ore per day for a mine life of 40 years. All prices and values are in US$. Based on a pre-tax financial model and long-term base-metal prices of
150,000 short tons per day
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Net Present Value ((NPV 5%) $16 Billion dollars
Internal Rate of Return 36 %
Cost/lb: Molybdenum oxide/Copper $3.9/$0.5
Startup Capital Cost $2,800 Million dollars
Payback Period (see Notes) 2.3 years
100,000 short tons per day
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Net Present Value (NPV 5%) $10 Billion dollars
Internal Rate of Return 29 %
Cost/lb: Molybdenum oxide/Copper $4.3/$0.6
Startup Capital Cost $2,200 Million dollars
Payback Period (see Notes) 3.0 years
Cost/lb: Molybdenum oxide/Copper is the total operating cost per pound,
assuming all by-products are credited against the costs of production of
the reference metal.
Three other price scenarios were undertaken to analyze the project’s sensitivity to metal prices. These consisted of high-, low- and ten-year cyclical prices.
High Price
High metal prices are
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Pre-tax, 5% discount rate 100,000 short tpd 150,000 short tpd Units
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Net Present Value (NPV) $22 $35 Billions US$
Internal Rate of Return 51% 61% %
Payback Period 1.6 1.2 Years
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Cyclical Price
Cyclical metal prices consist of a range of prices between the low and the high in a ten-year cycle starting on a rising price trend and passing through the low every ten years. Prices are
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Pre-tax, 5% discount rate 100,000 short tpd 150,000 short tpd Units
------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----
Net Present Value (NPV) $12 $21 Billions US$
Internal Rate of Return 39% 49% %
Payback Period 1.9 1.5 years
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Low Price
Low metal prices are
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Pre-tax, 5% discount rate 100,000 short tpd 150,000 short tpd Units
------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----
Net Present Value (NPV) $1.1 $2.9 Billions US$
Internal Rate of Return 9% 12% %
Payback Period 9.6 6.4 years
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The results for all production rates can be found in the tables on page 9 of this release.
Studies and reviews for the PEA were conducted by Ausenco and Vector Engineering Inc. (Vector), a member of the Ausenco group of companies. Based in Grass Valley,
Capital Costs
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Ausenco and Vector examined various potential milling complex-, waste dump- and tailings sites in the area around CUMO and concluded that several options exist for mine-, waste dump- and tailings sites that are suitable for the overall project. Ausenco and Vector proceeded to estimate the capital cost requirement based on utilizing these sites. The analysis also includes the project’s own roasting and acid-making complex to be located at a different site from the mine and milling complex. Capital cost estimates are considered to have an accuracy of +/- 35% in this PEA, not including provisions for costs to complete the feasibility study and are as follows:
Capital (millions US $)
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50,000 short tpd 100,000 short tpd
Description Starting Sustaining Total Starting Sustaining Total
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Mine Pre-Development
(with Pre-strip) $750 $0 $750 $700 $0 $700
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Mine Equipment &
Infrastructure $100 $300 $400 $200 $720 $920
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Tailings $40 $200 $240 $80 $470 $550
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Mill (fixed plant) $590 $250 $830 $1,020 $430 $1,450
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Roaster $120 $50 $170 $200 $80 $280
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Overall Total $1,600 $800 $2,400 $2,200 $1,700 $3,900
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150,000 short tpd 200,000 short tpd
Description Starting Sustaining Total Starting Sustaining Total
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Mine Pre-Development
(with Pre-strip) $640 $0.0 $640 $660 $0.0 $660
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Mine Equipment &
Infrastructure $270 $1,030 $1,300 $270 $960 $1,230
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Tailings $80 $720 $800 $160 $690 $850
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Mill (fixed plant) $1,540 $620 $2,160 $1,960 $800 $2,760
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Roaster $270 $130 $400 $350 $150 $500
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Overall Total $2,800 $2,500 $5,300 $3,400 $2,600 $6,000
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Mining capital costs for CUMO were estimated using information from InfoMine,
The CUMO process plant capital cost estimates were derived from the mechanical equipment costs. Costs were based on recent equipment quotations or from previous projects. The cost estimates for all other disciplines were determined from the mechanical equipment list using factors developed from the Ausenco data base of projects.
Operating Costs
---------------
CUMO mining costs have been estimated based on a factored analysis of the costs estimated for similar large open pit operations. Using the four production rates, Ausenco produced possible operating costs for the various aspects of the project. Wherever possible, numbers from existing producing mines were used, such as Thompson Creek, Morenci, and Highland Valley. Operating cost estimates are considered to have an accuracy of +/- 35% in this PEA.
The processing plant operating cost estimate was developed based on fixed and variable components relating to ore throughput and ore characteristics. Metallurgical requirements were estimated from the SGS test work and combined with market prices for consumables and benchmarked operating data for fixed operating costs from similar sized facilities. The results are summarized below:
Operating Cost (million US $ per year)
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50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
short short short short
Description tpd tpd tpd tpd
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Mining Cost of ore $13 $18 $21 $27
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Mining Cost of stockpile material $29 $27 $26 $22
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Mining Cost of waste $39 $40 $35 $32
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Total Mining Cost $81 $85 $82 $81
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Plant $91 $169 $251 $331
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General & Administration $5 $7 $8 $9
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Closure and Reclamation Cost Allowance $1 $2 $3 $4
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Subtotal - Mine site Costs $178 $263 $344 $425
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Roaster $17 $32 $48 $60
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Realization costs per ton milled $8 $13 $19 $26
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TOTAL UNIT OPERATING COST $203 $308 $411 $510
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TOTAL UNIT OPERATING COST ($/short
ton ore milled) see Note $11.2 $8.6 $7.6 $7.1
TOTAL UNIT OPERATING COST ($/short
ton ore milled without stockpile
mining cost) see Note $9.6 $7.8 $7.1 $6.8
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Note: For the purposes of this PEA, a fixed mine and plant life of 40
years has been selected to conduct the economic comparison despite the
fact that the mine is not exhausted under any of the current proposed
mining rates. This results in the cost per ton of ore being higher than
other comparable operations. The costs attributed to the mining of the
stockpile are recovered beyond the 40 year studied life. Removing the
cost of mining the stockpile from the overall operating costs gives a
better indication of the true long term unit operating costs (excluding
additional stockpile re-handle and tailings costs), rather than having
the ore carry the entire cost.
Ore will be crushed and sent by conveyor to the mill complex, stockpile will be stored in the vicinity of the pits and waste will be placed in waste dumps and used in the construction of tailings storage facilities. Other assumptions include a near pit crushing location, 15 miles per hour average truck speed, 10% ramps (Morenci), sufficient water available at the mine site and electrical power being available from the nearby grid at same costs as the nearby Thompson Creek mine.
The analysis also includes operating costs for the project’s own roasting and acid making complex to be located up to 200 km from the mine and milling complex. Operating costs for the smelter includes molybdenum roaster costs and smelting and refining charges associated with delivering a copper concentrate to a third-party smelter.
Mineral Resource
----------------
The recently announced (
Indicated
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Grade
greater Re-
than Re- cov.
Cutoff Cutoff Contained Metal cov. Lbs
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mill- Mill- Mill- Mill- Mill- Mill-
GRV ions MoS2 Cu Ag W ion ion ion ion ion Cu MoO3
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(short lbs. lbs lbs oz lbs
$US tons) (%) (%) (g/t)(ppm) Mo MoO3 Cu Ag W Equiv Equiv
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less
than
7.50 206.2 0.017 0.08 2.29 33.62 43.1 64.6 314.0 13.8 13.9 0.18 0.36
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7.5-
20 581.6 0.045 0.09 2.58 43.45 314.4 471.6 1052.0 43.8 50.5 0.48 0.95
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grea-
ter
than
20 659.1 0.110 0.06 1.95 47.88 869.0 1303.6 845.0 37.5 63.1 1.02 2.03
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Inferred
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Grade
greater Re-
than Re- cov.
Cutoff Cutoff Contained Metal cov. Lbs
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mill- Mill- Mill- Mill- Mill- Mill-
GRV ions MoS2 Cu Ag W ion ion ion ion ion Cu MoO3
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(short lbs. lbs lbs oz lbs
$US tons) (%) (%) (g/t)(ppm) Mo MoO3 Cu Ag W Equiv Equiv
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less
than
7.50 843.1 0.013 0.07 2.19 34.32 133.2 199.8 1256.0 53.7 57.9 0.18 0.36
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7.5-
20 844.6 0.042 0.08 2.29 34.40 429.8 644.8 1411.0 56.3 58.1 0.44 0.89
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grea-
ter
than
20 828.6 0.097 0.06 2.00 36.05 964.2 1446.3 1000.0 48.4 59.7 0.89 1.79
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Four different-sized pits (each progressively larger) were constructed using the indicated and inferred blocks contained within the resource. The pit slope used varied, starting at 45 degrees for 1,000 feet, 40 degrees for the next 1000 feet and 35 degrees for below. The highest wall is 2800 feet with an average slope of 38 degrees, similar to the high wall at Bingham Canyon mine. Pit design parameters at this stage are conceptual only and are not based on any collected geotechnical data.
For the purposes of the PEA, material above
Using updated metal recoveries to reflect the mill circuit designed by Ausenco, a production table with recovered grades was generated for each treatment rate. These were then used in the economic analyses.
Mosquito is continuing drilling to both expand the existing resource and to convert the inferred to indicated, in an attempt to delineate the required resource and subsequent reserves to meet the established targets. Following completion of the ten hole 2009 exploration program, an updated mineral resource will be calculated. A final exploration program will then be outlined that would provide sufficient drilling to establish the measured and indicated resource required to support the 100,000 to 150,000 short tons per day ore production rates.
Metallurgical Recoveries
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Metallurgical recoveries used for the Giroux Resource, (2009) (see table in Notes) were adjusted to reflect the recoveries within the mill circuit designed by Ausenco. These adjustments take into account additional unit processes required in the processing plant, which had not been included in the SGS test work study to produce salable products. The additional unit processes required include flotation recovery from bulk concentrate, ferric chloride leaching and roasting.
The assumed recoveries used in the economic analysis are as follows:
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Zone Cu% MoS2% Ag %
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CuAg 64% 83% 70%
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CuMo 85% 92% 78%
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Mo 72% 95% 55%
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In addition, 90% recovery of rhenium in molybdenum concentrate and the production rate of one ton of sulphuric acid per one ton of concentrate were assumed at the roaster and acid plant.
Potential Opportunities
-----------------------
The PEA has identified several areas and opportunities that may provide significant costs savings and improved economics for the project, including the following:
Mining
- Optimization of the pit designs and definition of a mineable
reserve becomes available
- Optimization of waste and stockpile haulage methodology to
reduce the amount of trucking involved.
- Optimization of the in-pit haulage through the utilization of
trolley assisted programs, and/or in-pit crushing
- Detailed equipment costing to determine potential discounts to
list price for all major components.
Milling
- More metallurgical work to determine optimum grind size
(the current assessment is based on the finest grind tested to
date) and analyze recoveries of the various metals.
- Optimize reagents to reduce costs and improve metallurgy.
- Work on the potential for a tungsten recovery circuit is
required (currently excluded)
Tailings
- Detailed analysis of tailings storage facilities and design to
reduce overall costs.
Other
- Pre-strip waste material could be used for a potential
hydroelectric power dam development, reducing mine capital cost
and providing lower power costs to the project.
Hydroelectric power can be developed, using non-fish bearing
creeks that are in the area.
These and other areas will be examined in more detail as part of the next engineering phase.
Based on the excellent results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment of CUMO, Mosquito plans to complete the 2009 drilling and update the current mineral resource. At the same time, work will continue on the environmental baseline, engineering, and metallurgical work required to bring the project to feasibility.
A Preliminary Assessment Summary Technical Report is being finalized to comply with
Mr.
On Behalf of the Board
MOSQUITO CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINES LTD.
Brian McClay
President
About Mosquito Consolidated Gold Mines
Headquartered in
Table 1a Preliminary Assessment Financial results for the Base Case Metal
Prices.
Note: Cost/lb: molybdenum oxide/Copper, capital and operating costs for
each throughput option are the same for all metal price cases.
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50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
------ ------- ------- -------
Pre-tax, 5% discount rate short tpd short tpd short tpd short tpd
------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Present Value
(millions US $) $3,900 $9,800 $15,700 $20,900
Internal Rate of Return (%) 19% 29% 36% 40%
Cost/Lb: Molybdenum
oxide/Copper (US$/lb) $5.5/$0.7 $4.3/$0.6 $3.9/$0.5 $3.8/$0.5
Starting Capital
(millions US $) $1,600 $2,200 $2,800 $3,400
Sustaining Capital
(millions US $) $800 $1,700 $2,500 $2,600
Payback Period (years) 4.9 3.0 2.3 2.0
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Table 1b Preliminary Assessment Financial results for the High Price case
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50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
------ ------- ------- -------
Pre-tax, 5% discount rate short tpd short tpd short tpd short tpd
------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Present Value
(millions US $) $10,000 $22,000 $35,000 $45,000
Internal Rate of Return (%) 36% 51% 61% 66%
Payback Period 2.4 1.6 1.2 1.1
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Table 1c Preliminary Assessment Financial results for the Cyclical Price
case
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50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
------ ------- ------- -------
Pre-tax, 5% discount rate short tpd short tpd short tpd short tpd
------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Present Value
(millions US $) $5,400 $12,000 $20,000 $27,000
Internal Rate of Return (%) 26% 39% 49% 55%
Payback Period 2.8 1.9 1.5 1.3
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Table 1d Preliminary Assessment Financial results for the Low Price case
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50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
Pre-tax, 5% discount rate short tpd short tpd short tpd short tpd
------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Present Value
(millions US $) -$500 $1,100 $2,900 $4,400
Internal Rate of Return (%) 3% 9% 12% 15%
Payback Period 25.1 9.6 6.4 5.6
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Notes:
Net Present Value (NPV) is defined as the total present value of a time series of cash flows. It is a standard method for using the time value of money to appraise long-term projects. In the calculation each yearly cash flow is discounted back to its present value using a discount rate.
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is a rate of return used in capital budgeting to measure and compare the profitability of investments. It is also called the discounted cash flow rate of return. For example, the interest the bank pays is the rate of return on an investment. Minimum rate of return for most mines in
Payback Period is the period of time required for the return on an investment to “repay” the sum of the original investment. In the PEA, the straight-line method is presented which does not take into account the time value of money.
Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resources can include mineral reserves.
An Indicated Mineral Resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade can be estimated, on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed geological and grade continuity.
$RV cutoff used for the resource estimate is a recovered value calculated using metal recoveries shown below.
Copper equivalent (Cu. Equiv.) and Molybdenite equivalent (MoS2 Equiv.) are based on the following metal prices(all in US$): Copper
Other factors include 1% = 20 pounds; 1 ppm = 1 gm/T; 1000 ppb =1 ppm = 1 gm/T.
Metallurgical recoveries used in the resource calculation are as follows for each metal zones. Recoveries are slightly lower that those currently reported by SGS in their recent metallurgical study.
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Zone Cu% MoS2% Ag% W%
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Oxide 60% 80% 70% 35%
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CuAg 68% 85% 73% 35%
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CuMo 87% 92% 78% 35%
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Mo 80% 95% 55% 35%
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Formulas (resource calculation):
Recv for a metal is taken from the above table for each assay/block in a particular zone and is value percentage/100
$RV= ((Cu*20*$* recv)+((MoS2*20*(1.5/1.6681)*$(MoO3)* recv)+(Ag*$* recv)+(W*$* recv))
Recovered Cu. Equiv. = $RV/($(Copper) *20)
Recovered MoS2. Equiv. = $RV/((1.6681/1.5)* $(MoO(3))*20)
This Preliminary Assessment is preliminary in nature and includes the use of Inferred Resources which do not have demonstrated economic viability and are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the Preliminary Assessment will be realized.
THIS NEWS RELEASE WAS PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT WHO TAKES FULL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS
REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF
THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR
ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
This news release includes certain statements that express management’s expectation or estimates of future performance and may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements include plans, estimates, forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations regarding the CUMO Project. These forward-looking statements involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary materially. For these reasons shareholders should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.
CONTACT: Tel: (604) 689-7902, Fax: (604) 689-7816, www.mosquitogold.com
SOURCE Mosquito Consolidated Gold Mines Limited
