NioGold is an extremely compelling gold play, management has a well thought out plan for success and they are operating in the heart of one of the most prolific gold producing areas in the world – 170 million ounces of gold have been pulled out of the Abitibi gold belt.
NioGold has consolidated a large 120 km2 land package in the heart of the Cadillac, Malartic and Val-d’Or gold mining camps. The Cadillac, Marlartic and Val-D’or gold camp projects have area mine production of 45 million ounces of gold.
The Malartic project holds NI 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 600,000 ounces gold in addition to Inferred resources of 360,000 ounces gold. The gold resources are defined along a three-kilometre segment of a regional gold mineralised fault zone, in and around the former Marban, Norlartic and Kierens gold mines.
Marban deposit drilling - The 2011 first phase drill program demonstrated the continuity of the mineralisation between surface and -250 metres vertical depth, as well as the grade consistency, and led to the discovery of the Western High Grade Zone.
This first phase also identified the Eastern Down Dip Extension Zone which is located below -250 metres vertical depth and remains open at depth and laterally.
The second phase program will include 34,000 metres of diamond drilling, an updated mineral resource estimate and basic technical studies, including metallurgical testwork. Drilling commenced on December 13, 2011, and four drill rigs are currently in operation to expand the mineral resources of the Marban deposit.
May 14, 2012 - NioGold Mining Corp. (TSX-V: NOX) (OTCQX: NOXGF) (“NioGold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that all matters presented to shareholders at its Annual General Meeting held on May 10, 2012 were approved, including the appointment of Messrs. Michael Iverson, Michele Marrandino, Toby Lim and Peter J. Hawley to the Board of Directors, and the re-appointment of Davidson & Company, LLP, as auditors of the Company.
Shareholders also approved the Company's amended stock option plan, and the adoption of the Company's shareholder rights plan.
NioGold is pleased to welcome Mr. Peter J. Hawley to the Board. Mr. Hawley is a professional geologist with over 30 years experience in the mining industry, from grassroots exploration through to mine development and production, on projects throughout the Americas. He spent over 22 of those years working in the Val D'Or mining camp, including the Norlartic, Kierens and Marban mines – all of which are now part of NioGold's current land holdings and being actively re-evaluated by NioGold.
Mr. Hawley has worked extensively with a number of large and established mining companies, including Teck Corp., Noranda Inc., Placer Dome Inc., Aur Resources and Barrick Gold Corp. In 1998, he founded Scorpio Mining Corporation, a low cost underground silver producer in Mexico which is listed on the TSX with a market capitalization of $200 million. Peter served as Scorpio Mining's CEO until November 2010 and currently holds office as Chairman of the Board. During his time at Scorpio Mining, Peter managed and participated in all exploration, staffing, mine development and production design, in addition to raising over $120M for the project's development.
After stepping down as CEO of Scorpio Mining, he founded Scorpio Gold Corporation where he has served to date as CEO and President. Within 17 months of purchasing the Mineral Ridge Gold mine in Nevada, Scorpio Gold brought the low cost open pit gold mine into production with Peter overseeing all construction, mine planning and development, and exploration while raising all the capital required to build-out of the project.
Mr. Hawley also continues to serve as a director and officer of a number of other public companies, and brings a wealth of experience in project exploration and development, financing and corporate governance to NioGold.
The Company also announces that it has granted 350,000 options, exercisable at a price of $0.39 for a period of five years, to Mr. Hawley. Mr. Michael Iverson has assumed the office of President of the Company in addition to that of CEO, and Mr. Yan Ducharme, Exploration Manager, has been promoted to the office of Vice-President of Exploration.
NioGold Mining Corporation – « On Canada’s Golden Highway »
NioGold Mining Corporation is a mineral exploration company focused on gold. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Cadillac - Malartic - Val-d’Or region of the prolific Abitibi gold mining district Quebec. The Cadillac, Malartic and Val-d’Or mining camps have produced over 45 million ounces of gold since the 1930’s and presently encompasses six producing gold mines including Osisko Mining’s new Canadian Malartic operations.
NioGold’s land holdings within the Abitibi presently cover 130km2 and encompass four former gold producers, namely the Norlartic, Kierens (First Canadian), Marban and Malartic Hygrade mines that collectively produced 640,000 ounces of gold. NioGold has outlined Indicated resources of 598,000 ounces gold and Inferred resources of 361,000 ounces gold in and around these deposits.
NioGold’s experienced and qualified technical team are overseeing the advancement of these projects, with current drill programs underway, targeting expansion of the resource base.
NioGold invites you to visit the company website at www.niogold.com. For information on NioGold Mining Corporation contact:
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes "forward looking statements", as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Unites States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward looking statements, including without limitation any statements concerning the Company's intentions, plans, estimates, expectations or beliefs regarding the future. Although the Company believes that any forward looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are based on assumptions none of which can be assured, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements.
Any forward looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in the forward looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We may use certain terms in this news release, such as ‘measured resources’, ‘indicated resources’ and ‘inferred resources’, which the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. The news release may contain information about adjacent properties on which we have no right to explore or mine. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties may not be indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.
