Rambler's First 600 Tonne Lot of Copper Con...
FOR: RAMBLER METALS & MINING PLC
TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: RAB
AIM SYMBOL: RMM
July 16, 2012
Rambler's First 600 Tonne Lot of Copper Concentrate Sold to Transamine
LONDON, ENGLAND and BAIE VERTE, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - July 16, 2012) - Rambler Metals and Mining plc
(TSX VENTURE:RAB)(AIM:RMM) ('Rambler' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce the sale of its first lot of 600 tonnes
("001") of copper concentrate from the Company's 100% owned Ming Copper-Gold Mine ("Ming Mine") in Newfoundland and
Labrador's Baie Verte Peninsula, Canada.
HIGHLIGHTS
/T/
-- The Company has now invoiced and sold its first 600 tonne, lot 001, of
copper concentrate to Transamine Trading with a 90% provisional payment
having been received. Provisional grade for the lot was 29.7% copper,
5.43 g/t gold and 47 g/t silver with no deleterious material or
penalties
-- As of 16 July 2012, there are 1,700 tonnes of copper concentrate in
storage at the Company's port warehouse facility. Lot 002 of 800 tonnes
of copper concentrate is awaiting assays for invoicing and provisional
payment
-- Copper concentrate live commissioning commenced on 14 May 2012 with
material from the Lower Footwall Zone only
-- Average tonnage rate and mill head grade for May 2012 was 455 dry tonnes
per day and 1.49% copper equivalent with the rate and mill head grade
increasing in June to 585 dry tonnes per day and 2.16% copper
equivalent. June's increase was due to the blending of higher grade
development ore from its 1807 zone with Lower Footwall Zone material
-- Mill copper recoveries range from 85% to 99% with an average to date of
92.5%
/T/
George Ogilvie, President and CEO of Rambler, commented:
"The live commissioning of the copper concentrator is progressing smoothly, and on schedule. As we gain more knowledge
of the process we will continue to maximize the tonnage throughput while increasing the mill feed grade by steadily
blending in more massive sulphide ore, particularly from the 1807 zone. The eventual goal is to only process massive
sulphide ore, which carries a much higher grade and increased margins. It is our objective to reach Commercial
Production during the second half of 2012 with the first 5,000 tonne load of copper concentrate being shipped to market
prior to calendar year end.
"The realization of revenue from the sale of the first lot of copper concentrate is another important milestone for the
Company. While the fiscal 2013 budget is being finalized, we expect to provide guidelines on our fiscal targets after
Commercial Production is declared. In light of current volatility in financial markets, a key objective of the budget
will be strengthening the balance sheet through cash flow from operations while paying close attention to cost control."
COPPER PRODUCTION
Live ore commissioning with Lower Footwall Zone material commenced on 14 May 2012. The average tonnage rate and mill
head grade during May's start-up was 455 dry tonnes per day and 1.49% copper equivalent followed by a rate increase in
June to 585 dry tonnes per day and 2.16% copper equivalent. The increase is a result of blending higher grade
development ore from its 1807 zone with the Lower Footwall Zone. During the period copper recoveries in the mill were
encouraging, ranging from 85% to 99% with an average of 92.5%.
The Company has now invoiced and sold its first 600 tonne, lot 001, of copper concentrate to Transamine Trading. As per
the off-take agreement with Transamine a 90% provisional payment for lot 001 has been received. The concentrate produced
has been a quality product with 29.7% copper, 5.43 g/t gold and 47 g/t silver and no deleterious material or penalties.
Following the successful commissioning of the concentrator, ore from the 1807 Zone is now being blended resulting in an
increase of the average head grade to 2.16% copper equivalent. Blending ratios of high grade ore will increase as
development headings through the 1807 zone are completed. Additionally the first stoping tonnes are expected to be
drilled and blasted during the month of July with a copper equivalent grade expected better than 6%.
To date there are 1,700 tonnes of copper concentrate in storage at the Company's port warehouse facility. Lot 002 of 800
tonnes of copper concentrate is awaiting assays for invoicing and provisional payment.
FINAL GOLD RECONCILIATION
The Company received information from the Johnson Matthey refinery that material from the cleanout of the mill,
following the processing of the 1806 zone ore, has provided an additional 613 ounces of gold.
This brought the total gold produced over the five month period to 14,918 ounces at an average realized price of $1649
CAD per ounce. This is approximately 400 ounces of gold more than the Company had previously reported.
Larry Pilgrim, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this release and has reviewed
and approved it accordingly. Mr. Pilgrim is an independent consultant contracted by Rambler Metals and Mining plc.
Drill hole referenced tonnes are dry metric tonnes while milling throughputs are quoted as wet tonnes unless otherwise
indicated.
ABOUT RAMBLER METALS AND MINING
Rambler Metals and Mining plc is a copper and gold producer that has 100% ownership of the Ming Copper-Gold Mine in Baie
Verte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada., Rambler's strategy is to become a mid-tier mining company by continuing the
development of the Ming Mine, discovering new deposits and pursuing mergers and acquisitions.
The initial six years of the Ming Mine project is based on the underground mining of massive sulphides with a mineable
reserve estimate of 1.498 million ore tonnes grading 1.62% copper, 2.40 g/t gold and 10.90 g/t silver (24,252 tonnes of
copper, 115,549 ounces of gold and 525,139 ounces of silver of contained metal). All massive sulphide zones remain open
both up and down plunge with the current exploration program focused on extending the known mineralization for inclusion
in the resource/reserve estimate.
In addition to the outlined reserve estimate, there is a sizeable footwall deposit beneath the massive sulphide horizon
that has been outlined with an indicated resource grade of 18.3M tonnes grading 1.43% copper (261,258 tonnes of
contained copper at a 1.00% copper cut-off grade). This zone forms the basis of the preliminary economic assessment,
compiled by independent consultants, which envisions the Ming Mine transitioning itself into a bulk tonnage mining
operation. For further information on the Ming Mine project, please refer to the Company's NI 43-101 compliant technical
reports, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Over the coming months and years, as the Company seeks to optimize the Ming Copper-Gold Mine into a cash positive
position, it is expected that future expansion into the footwall zone will be formalized with the goal of maximizing
returns for shareholders and increasing the life of the mine.
Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:
Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating
performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance
constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
regarding the financial strength of the Company, estimates regarding timing of future development and production and
statements concerning possible expansion opportunities for the Company. Where the Company expresses or implies an
expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed
to have a reasonable basis. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors,
which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, interpretation and implications of drilling and
geophysical results; estimates regarding timing of future capital expenditures and costs towards profitable commercial
operations. Other factors that could cause actual results, developments or events to differ materially from those
anticipated include, among others, increases/decreases in production; volatility in metals prices and demand; currency
fluctuations; cash operating margins; cash operating cost per pound sold; costs per ton of ore; variances in ore grade
or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; reserves and/or resources; the ability to successfully integrate
acquired assets; operational risks inherent in mining or development activities and legislative factors relating to
prices, taxes, royalties, land use, title and permits, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection.
Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-
looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to
update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other
documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable
securities law.
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Rambler Metals & Mining Plc
George Ogilvie, P.Eng.
President and CEO
709-800-1929 or 709-800-1921
OR
Rambler Metals & Mining Plc
Corporate Office
+44 (0) 20 8652-2700
+44 (0) 20 8652-2719 (FAX)
www.ramblermines.com
OR
Seymour Pierce Limited
Stewart Dickson / Jeremy Stephenson
+44 (0) 20-7107-8000
OR
Pelham Bell Pottinger
Charles Vivian / Daniel Thole
+44 (0) 20 7861 3921
OR
Ocean Equities Limited
Guy Wilkes
+44 (0) 20-7786-4370
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
-0-
Rambler Metals & Mining Plc