Morien Announces Commencement of Royalty Payments from Banks Island Gold Ltd.
August 5th, 2014 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – Morien Resources Corp. (“Morien” or the “Company”) (TSXV:MOX), is pleased to announce it has received an initial royalty payment from Banks Island Gold Ltd. (“Banks Island”) arising from the Company’s 1.5% net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty on production from its Yellow Giant Gold project.
Banks Island is a TSX-V listed mining company focused on the development of the Yellow Giant Gold property located on Banks Island along the North Coast of British Columbia. Initial production is from the Bob Prospect, one of four prospects that have established high grade gold resources.1 The resources developed to date only extend to 150 metres depth with all zones open at depth and along strike. Banks Island has identified 12 additional gold showings along a 10 kilometre trend of gold mineralization.2 The table below displays gold production from the Bob Prospect for the period of February 01 through June 10 of this year.3
Table – Gold Production from the Bob Prospect 2
| Period (2014) | Contained in Concentrate | Payable from Smelter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold (oz) | Silver (oz) | Gold eq* (oz) | |
| February 1-28 | 628 | 2,152 | 589 |
| March 1-31 | 2,005 | 5,604 | 1,866 |
| April 1-30 | 2,294 | 5,618 | 2,123 |
| May 1-31 | 1,681 | 4,704 | 1,507 |
| June 1-10 | 537 | 480 | 494 |
| Total Sales – Bob Zone | 7,145 | 18,559 | 6,579 |
*Gold equivalent is calculated by converting payable silver at a ratio of 1/65th to payable gold ounces
Note: Morien’s royalty is based on net smelter return, not on production
Banks Island is targeting production for 2014 at 28,000 ounces gold equivalent.2 Based on that projection, the NSR calculation to date, and assuming a US$1,200 per ounce gold price, Morien estimates the royalty that will be generated from the 2014 production to exceed $300,000. Banks Island has a right to reduce Morien’s 1.5% royalty to 1.0% for a cash payment of $300,000.
Morien is a non-operating royalty and minority interest investment Company focussed on the mining industry. The Company is focussed on unique mineral industry opportunities in Canada with current interests in:
Donkin Coal Project: Morien holds a 25% minority interest, with a $9 million carried interest, in one of the largest undeveloped coal deposits in North America, located within 30 kilometres of a deep water port in Sydney, Nova Scotia; approximately $43 million has been invested since 2006, including $15 million by Morien. The 75% owner and project manager, Glencore plc, is currently in discussions with third parties regarding the sale of its interest, which if brought to a successful conclusion, is expected to lead to development of the Project.
Black Point Aggregate Project: Vulcan Materials Company, the United State’s largest producer of construction aggregates, purchased Morien’s rights to the Black Point Aggregate Project in Q2 2014 and is currently permitting the Project for expected production within the 2018 to 2020 period. Morien received $1 million in payments from Vulcan on the sale and will receive an additional payment of $800,000 on the receipt of all environmental permitting necessary for the mining of aggregate and shipping of aggregate via ocean-going vessels from the property, anticipated in Q3 2015. Morien and Vulcan are working jointly towards the successful completion of the Environmental Assessment process. Morien has an industry competitive royalty for the life of mine which is expected to continue for over 50 years.
Banks Island Gold Project: Morien holds a 1.5% NSR royalty over the marketable metal, ores, minerals and concentrates produced and shipped from a 1,987 hectare area within the Yellow Giant Gold property located 105 kilometres south of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
U.S.A. Industrial Mineral Interests: Morien holds various direct and indirect interests in industrial mineral properties in the United States.
About Morien
Morien Resources Corp. is a Canadian company focused on creating value through the identification, acquisition and advancement of non-operating royalty and minority interests in strategically located projects that host commodities with strong market fundamentals. Its principal asset is a 25% interest in the Donkin Coal Project in Nova Scotia. Morien has 49,256,240 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 52,886,240. Further information is available at www.morienres.com www.morienres.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable securities laws. These statements reflect Morien’s current expectations of future revenues and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to Morien. Morien cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Morien currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties described in Morien’s annual information form filed with the Canadian Securities regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Morien cautions that its royalty revenue will be based on production by third party property owners and operators who will be responsible for determining the manner and timing for the properties forming part of Morien’s royalty portfolio. These third party owners and operators are also subject to risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted herein including: volatility in financial markets or general economic conditions; capital requirements and the need for additional financing; fluctuations in the rates of exchange for the currencies of Canada and the United States; prices for commodities including gold, coal and aggregate; unanticipated changes in production, mineral reserves and mineral resources, metallurgical recoveries and/or exploration results; changes in regulations and unpredictable political or economic developments; loss of key personnel; labour disputes; and ineffective title to mineral claims or property. There are other business risks and hazards associated with mineral exploration, development and mining. Although Morien believes that the forward-looking information contained herein is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Morien expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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.
For more information, please contact:
John P.A. Budreski, President and CEO
Phone: (416) 930-0914
or
Dawson Brisco, Manager Corporate Development
Phone: (902) 466-7255
info@morienres.com
www.morienres.com
1Banks Island NI 43-101 Technical Report, February 1, 2014; located on SEDAR
1Banks Island corporate presentation, January 2014; located on Banks Island website
1 Modified from Banks Island press release, July 10, 2014; located on Banks Island website
