East Asia drilling

East Asia continues drilling at Sangihe

2017-12-13 14:02 ET - News Release

Mr. Terry Filbert reports
EAST ASIA PROVIDES UPDATE ON DRILLING PROGRESS FOR INDONESIAN GOLD PROPERTY
East Asia Minerals Corp. has released an update on current exploration activities relating to the continuing Indonesian feasibility study (IFS), AMDAL environmental report status, geotechnical and metallurgical work being conducted at its Sangihe gold property in Indonesia.

The company's focus is on completing the Indonesian feasibility study (IFS) and AMDAL environmental reports as once they are submitted and accepted by the Indonesian Mining Department (MEMR), construction of the mining facilities and infrastructure can begin at the Sangihe project. The company anticipates making a decision for gold processing and production to begin by mid 2018. The Indonesian feasibility study is not a feasibility study as defined by Canadian Institute of Mining as required by National Instrument 43-101 but is required under Indonesian law in order to obtain a licence to construct a production facility. The company cautions readers that the any production decision made by the company will not be based on an NI 43-101 feasibility study of mineral reserves that demonstrates economic and technical viability and as such, there may be increased uncertainty and various technological and economic risks.

The IFS, which is being conducted by Resindo Resources and Energy, an Indonesian consulting firm, is well under way and comprised of several elements. Metallurgical drilling of three twin holes has been completed during the month of October. These holes identify the most suitable heap-leaching locations. Samples obtained are currently undergoing metallurgic bottle-roll testwork at Geoservices Laboratory. Cyanide-soluble assay results received for the metallurgy samples submitted showed gold recoveries of 85 per cent and silver recoveries of 96 per cent.

Drilling of six geotechnical holes has commenced with hole number three in progress. This drilling is a required component for Indonesian feasibility study (IFS) in order to provide the most up to date and accurate core samples for pit-wall design. Hydro-geological surveying is complete and is designed to help locate and identify the water table level in the pit design and best water sources needed for upcoming drilling, heap-leaching and ultimately gold production.

The company is very pleased with the drilling progress considering the weather conditions have been less than favourable. The monsoon season started earlier than normal this year, making the drilling process difficult which could ultimately delay the final AMDAL and IFS reports by a few weeks. Overall site layout including the location of heap-leach pads, processing plant and waste-dump areas has been completed. The overall site layout was designed to be very concise and therefore has a total footprint area of 42 hectares which is 0.1 per cent of the 42,000 hectares Sangihe gold property total area.

Frank Rocca, BAppSc (geology), MAusIMM, chief geologist of East Asia Minerals, is the qualified person as defined under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approves the content of this release.
Sangihe project

The Sangihe gold-copper project is located on the island of Sangihe off the northern coast of Sulawesi and has an existing National Instrument 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 114,700 indicated ounces and 105,000 inferred ounces of gold. The company's 70-per-cent interest in the Sangihe mineral tenement contract of work is held through PT Tambang Mas Sangihe. The remaining 30-per-cent interest in PTTMS is held by three unaffiliated Indonesian corporations. The term of the Sangihe CoW agreement is for 30 years upon commencement of the production phase of the project.
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