Vancouver, June 7, 2012 — First Point Minerals Corp. (FPX-TSX.V) (“First Point” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that field exploration has begun at its 100%-owned Klow project in central British Columbia in preparation for an 1,800-metre drilling campaign that is expected to get underway towards the end of June. The Company’s overall 2012 exploration program is budgeted at $3 million and will also include 2,700 metres of drilling at the 100%-held Wale project in northern B.C., as well as an ongoing global exploration search for new nickel-iron alloy targets.
Tl’azt’en Nation Signs Exploration Memorandum Of Understanding With First Point Minerals Corp. And Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Canada Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC – June 6, 2012 — Tl’azt’en Nation (“Tl’azt’en”), First Point Minerals Corp. (FPX-TSX.V) (“First Point”) and Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Canada Inc., an affiliate of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) (“Cliffs”), are pleased to announce the signing of an Exploration Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) for the Decar nickel-iron alloy project, located in central British Columbia, Canada.
The MOU formalizes protocols for continuing the cooperative working relationship established between the Tl’azt’en Nation including constituent Keyoh families, First Point and Cliffs regarding exploration activities for the Decar Project. The MOU confirms the Tl’azt’en Nation’s support for the exploration activities and acknowledges as well as describes how project activities will be managed with respect to:
- cultural and environmental interests of the Tl’azt’en communities;
- on-going community consultation activities; and
- socio-economic benefits to the Tl’azt’en communities through community contribution funds and business opportunities.
The MOU also establishes processes for the future negotiation of a comprehensive Impact and Benefits Agreement should the project proceed to mine development, emphasizing the mutual respect and positive long-term relationship between the parties during all phases of the Decar Project.
Peter Bradshaw, chairman of First Point said, “The signing of this MOU represents a very positive step in the advancement of this property and I look forward to continuing the very positive and constructive relationship with the Tl’azt’en Nation.”
Chief Pierre, stated, “On behalf of the Tl’azt’en Nation, I commend Cliffs for working with us in good faith to ensure that the exploration program safeguards environmental and cultural values while also providing opportunities and benefits to our members. The agreement lays a foundation for a successful working relationship between Cliffs, First Point and our people.”
“Cliffs shares First Point’s and Chief Pierre’s positive sentiments about the signing of the MOU,” stated Brian Butterworth, president of Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Canada Inc. “We will seek to employ and source goods and services for the Decar Project locally, with a particular emphasis during the exploration phase on training to maximize employment opportunities.”
About the Decar Project
The Decar Project is currently in the preliminary economic assessment phase. For the project to become a viable developed mine, there are key milestones to be met including prefeasibility, feasibility and environment assessment approvals. The Decar property is located 90 km northwest of Fort St. James in central British Columbia, Canada. The property is located near road, rail and power line infrastructure. The Decar property is approximately 239 km2 in size and covers part of the Mount Sidney Williams ultramafic/ophiolite complex.
Nickel-iron alloy mineralization has been identified in target areas within this complex as confirmed by diamond drilling and relevant assaying (see www.firstpointminerals.com for more detail). The Decar property is under option to Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Canada Inc. pursuant to an option agreement with First Point Minerals Corp. entered into November 2009.
About First Point Minerals Corp.
First Point Minerals Corp. is a Canadian base and precious metal exploration company, focused on the exploration and development of naturally occurring stainless steel nickel-iron alloy deposits worldwide. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.firstpointminerals.com or contact James S. Gilbert, President and CEO, or Rob Robertson, VP Corporate Development, at (604) 681-8600.
Forward-Looking Statement
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is considered “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in First Point’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. First Point does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is an international mining and natural resources company. A member of the S&P 500 Index, the Company is a major global iron ore producer and a significant producer of high- and low-volatile metallurgical coal. Cliffs’ strategy is to continually achieve greater scale and diversification in the mining industry through a focus on serving the world’s largest and fastest growing steel markets. Driven by the core values of social, environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs associates across the globe endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency.
Cliffs operates iron ore and coal mines in North America and two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia. Cliffs also has a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia. In addition, Cliffs has a major chromite project, in the feasibility stage of development, located in Ontario, Canada. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.cliffsnaturalresources.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking” statements within the safe harbor protections of the U.S. federal securities laws. Although Cliffs believes that its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to Cliffs’ operations and business environment that are difficult to predict and may be beyond Cliffs’ control. Such uncertainties and factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons including: the uncertainty or weakness in global economic and/or market conditions; trends affecting our financial condition, results of operations or future prospects; the ability to successfully integrate acquired companies and achieve post-acquisition synergies; the outcome of any contractual disputes with our customers, joint venture partners or significant energy, materials or services providers, or any other litigation or arbitration; our ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic investments; the failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the results of scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies in relation to projects; impacts of increasing governmental regulation, including failure to receive or maintain required environmental permits, approvals, modifications or other authorization of, or from, any governmental or regulatory entity; our actual economic ore reserves or reductions in current resource estimates; the ability to maintain adequate liquidity and successfully implement our financing plans; availability of capital equipment and component parts; risks related to international operations; and problems or uncertainties with third-party contractors, unanticipated geological conditions, weather conditions, natural disasters, tons mined, changes in cost factors, the supply or price of energy, transportation and employee benefit costs and other risks of the mining industry; and other factors and risks that are set forth in Cliffs’ most recently filed reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained herein speaks as of the date of this release and may be superseded by subsequent events. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cliffs does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tl’azt’en Nation
Chief Ralph Pierre
(250) 648-3212
First Point Minerals Corp.
James S. Gilbert, President and CEO
(604) 681-8600
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Patricia Persico, Director, Global Communications
(216) 694-5316
Cliffs Refuses to Provide First Point with Key Data
Vancouver, May 5, 2012 — First Point Minerals Corp. (FPX-TSX.V) (“First Point” or the “Company”) announces that it has served notice of arbitration on Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Canada Inc. and Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Inc. (collectively “Cliffs”) over Cliffs’ refusal to provide First Point with information prepared by their consultants with respect to the Decar Nickel-Iron Alloy Project in British Columbia.
Cliffs has refused to provide First Point with certain key reports prepared by consultants and contractors with respect to the Decar Project. The reporting obligations under the Option Agreement currently in effect require that Cliffs provide First Point, on a timely basis, with: “…copies of all reports…and consultants’ and contractors’ reports.”
First Point regrets having no alternative to taking this step against a major company such as Cliffs, but repeated requests by First Point for delivery of the information have been either refused or ignored, and Cliffs’ refusal thus far to provide these reports is damaging the interests of First Point and its shareholders. Management of First Point cannot speculate on the possible nature of the content of the reports that would cause Cliffs to refuse to share the information with First Point as required in the Option Agreement.
The market capitalization of Cliffs’ parent company is US$8.6 billion; the market capitalization of First Point is C$53 million. Cliffs currently holds a 15% stake in the First Point parent company. The Cliffs ownership interest in First Point is subject to a standstill agreement through December 27, 2013.
First Point is the original owner of a 100% interest in the Decar Project, which First Point believes to be the first property of its type anywhere in the world to be explored for possible commercial production of nickel entirely from awaruite, a naturally-occurring nickel-iron alloy, effectively naturally-occurring “stainless steel”. Under the terms of the Option Agreement currently in effect between First Point and Cliffs, Cliffs has earned a 51% interest in the Project and has agreed to prepare a NI-43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) by March, 2013, delivery of which would increase Cliffs’ interest in the Project to 60%.
On April 16, 2012, First Point announced the maiden Inferred resource for the Project, totaling 1.2 billion tonnes grading 0.113% Davis Tube Recoverable Nickel (“Davis Tube Recoverable Nickel” refers to the basis on which the Inferred resource for the Decar Project has been estimated and reported, details of which are provided in the First Point press release, dated April 16, 2012, announcing the resource), or 1,352,610 tonnes of contained Davis Tube Recoverable Nickel, based on a cut-off grade of 0.06%. Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Cliffs is the manager of the ongoing exploration, metallurgical testing, market study and PEA programs on behalf of the Project. The mineral resource estimate was prepared by Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. (“Caracle Creek”), which supervised and managed the 2011 drilling program at Decar on behalf of Cliffs. The mineral resource block model was reviewed on Cliffs’ behalf by Roscoe Postle Associates (“RPA”), an engineering and geological consulting firm.
About First Point
First Point Minerals Corp. is a Canadian base and precious metal exploration company. For more information, please view the Company’s website at www.firstpointminerals.com or contact Jim Gilbert, President and CEO, or Rob Robertson, VP Corporate Development, at (604) 681-8600.
On behalf of First Point Minerals Corp.
“James Gilbert”
James Gilbert, President and CEO – TSX Venture Exchange: FPX
Suite 906 — 1112 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2S1
Tel: 604.681.8600 Fax: 604.681.8799
e-mail: [email protected]
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
First Point Minerals Extends Expiry Date of Warrants
First Point Minerals Corp. (FPX-TSX.V) (“First Point” or the “Company”) has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to extend the term of the warrants, which would have otherwise expired on April 26, 2012.
A total of 7,500,000 warrants were originally issued in connection with a private placement of First Point units on April 26, 2010. Those warrants had an expiry date of April 26, 2012. During the year ended April 26, 2011, 3,537,100 warrants were exercised at $0.65 per share, leaving a balance of 3,962,500 warrants outstanding, exercisable at $0.80 per share with the April 26, 2012 expiry date. The expiry date has been extended by a full year, such that the 3,962,500 warrants will now expire on April 26, 2013, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at $0.80 per share.
The warrants when originally issued contained a provision whereby the expiry date could be accelerated under certain circumstances. That provision continues to apply to the 3,962,500 warrants with the extended expiry date. If the closing price of the Company’s shares equals or exceeds $1.10 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the warrants by giving 30 days written notice to the warrant holders.
About First Point
First Point Minerals Corp. is a Canadian base and precious metal exploration company. For more information, please view the Company’s website at www.firstpointminerals.com or contact Jim Gilbert, President and CEO, or Rob Robertson, VP Corporate Development, at (604) 681-8600.
On behalf of First Point Minerals Corp.
“Jim Gilbert”
Jim Gilbert, President and CEO – TSX Venture Exchange: FPX
Suite 906 — 1112 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2S1
Tel: 604.681.8600 Fax: 604.681.8799
e-mail: [email protected]
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
First Point Reports a 1.2-Billion-Tonne Inferred Mineral Resource Grading 0.113% Recoverable Nickel for its Decar Nickel Alloy Project
Vancouver, April 16, 2012 – First Point Minerals Corp. (FPX-TSX.V) (“First Point” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the results of an independent National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the Baptiste deposit at its Decar nickel alloy project in central British Columbia. The Decar project is managed and operated by Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Canada Inc., an affiliate of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) (“Cliffs”).
Baptiste Deposit Mineral Resource:
Tonnes | Davis Tube Recoverable Nickel Content | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
(% Ni) | (Tonnes) | (Pounds) | ||
Inferred | 1,197,000,000 | 0.113% | 1,352,610 | 2,981,900,000 |
This first inferred mineral resource estimate for the Baptiste deposit is based on a Davis Tube recoverable nickel cut-off grade of 0.06%, using results from 12,565 metres of core in 42 drill holes and applying an ordinary kriging method. The mineral resource block model was prepared by Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. (“Caracle Creek”), which supervised and managed the 2011 drilling program at Decar on behalf of Cliffs. Caracle Creek views this inferred resource calculation as a reasonable base case scenario. The mineral resource block model was reviewed on Cliffs’ behalf by Roscoe Postle Associates (“RPA”), an engineering and geological consulting firm.
“First Point is gratified that Cliffs’ efforts in quickly advancing the project from a greenfields discovery through to a maiden mineral resource estimate in two years have validated our exploration approach in identifying large-scale nickel-iron alloy targets,” said Jim Gilbert, President & CEO of First Point.
“The homogenous and robust nickel alloy mineralization at Decar, demonstrated by drill sections over a strike length of 2.3 kilometres and by surface mapping, confirms the continuity of this style of mineralization,” said Dr. Ron Britten, First Point’s Vice-President of Exploration.
Proposed 2012 Decar Program
Caracle Creek has recommended a 2012 infill drilling program consisting of 49 core holes totalling 16,500 metres. The objective of the proposed 2012 program is to upgrade the inferred resource to an indicated category. Six of the 49 drill holes are planned to be drilled to a down-hole depth of 600 metres whereas all others will be approximately 300 metres deep.
In addition, six vertical diamond drill holes totalling 1,800 metres will be drilled for hydrological purposes. Additional geotechnical drill holes may be planned depending on recommendations by Tetra Tech WEI Inc. (formerly Wardrop Engineering), which is preparing a NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) of the Decar project, due to be completed no later than March 2013. Environmental baseline studies commenced in May 2011, and scoping-level, laboratory-scale metallurgical testing was completed in July 2011.
In preparation for the 2012 drill season at Decar, Cliffs has secured drilling services and is currently reviewing quotes for a 50-person exploration camp.
Resource Estimate Details
The block model tonnage and grade were calculated at various cut-off grades in order to demonstrate the sensitivity of the mineral resource estimate with respect to reporting cut-off grade. Cut-offs shown in Table 1 are based on % Davis Tube recoverable nickel.
Cut-off Grade (%) | Tonnes | Davis Tube Recoverable Nickel Grade (%) |
---|---|---|
0.02 | 1,283,530,000 | 0.108 |
0.04 | 1,257,920,000 | 0.110 |
0.06 | 1,197,040,000 | 0.113 |
0.08 | 1,060,460,000 | 0.118 |
0.10 | 862,030,000 | 0.125 |
0.12 | 486,770,000 | 0.135 |
The geological resource model was constructed by Caracle Creek and is based on raw drill hole data and down-hole survey data in conjunction with regional and local geology maps. The geological model consists of a large, curved volume, which is 2.3 kilometres long, 350 to 600 metres wide and extends up to 350 metres vertically. The Baptiste deposit remains open in several directions, including along strike in both the east and west directions, to the south in the central area and at depth over the entire system. It is covered by an average of 10 metres of overburden.
The mineralized body is cut by several non-mineralized dykes, which range in thickness from 2 to 15 metres. It is bound to the south and west by steeply dipping faults. The northern and eastern limits to mineralization remain open, but were constrained in the model by a 100-metre step-out equal to half the drill hole spacing. The bottom boundary was extended past the final depth of drilling by 100 metres.
Approximately 3.5% of the rock mass consists of various types of dykes, which were modeled using optical and acoustic televiewer structural information provided by DGI Geosciences. A specific gravity of 2.7 tonnes per cubic metre was used for the resource estimate. This value is based on the analysis of 300 samples of the mineralized peridotite host rock by Activation Laboratories in Ancaster, Ontario. In total, 325 samples were analyzed for specific gravity, including rock types other than peridotite.
Caracle Creek used ordinary kriging to estimate the “Davis Tube recoverable nickel” resource, based on block models of 40 metres x 40 metres x 10 metres. “Davis Tube recoverable nickel” is the nickel content recovered by magnetic separation using a Davis Tube followed by standard assaying procedures to determine the nickel assay of the concentrate; in effect a mini-scale metallurgical test. Cliffs employs large scale magnetic separation methods in several of its operating iron ore mines, and the Davis Tube method was used to provide a more accurate measure of variability in recoverable nickel. The Davis Tube method is the global, industry standard geometallurgical test for magnetic recovery operations and exploration projects. Actual recoveries of nickel-in-alloy are subject to confirmation in the PEA currently underway.
The mineral resource estimate for the Baptiste deposit was completed by Jason Baker, P. Eng., of Caracle Creek, an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Luke Evans, P.Eng, of RPA, an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, and Valerie Batterham, Senior Geologist with RPA, were responsible for reviewing and approving this mineral resource estimate. RPA reviewed, verified and approved the technical data and underlying sampling, analytical and test data used by Caracle Creek in the resource estimate. The mineral resource estimate is classified as inferred, consistent with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) definitions referred to in NI 43-101. This NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate will be filed in a Technical Report on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.
QA/QC
Representative 1-metre-long samples of drill core were collected every 4 metres down each hole during the 2011 drill program. The remaining core was retained for future metallurgical testing. Drill core samples were shipped in batches to Activation Laboratories for analysis. The laboratory protocol involves a grinding/pulverizing stage (95% of crushed material to pass a 75 micron sieve), following which a 30-gram split of the sample is passed through a Davis Tube magnetic separator in slurry form to produce a magnetic fraction. This magnetic fraction is dried, weighed and analyzed by standard fusion X-Ray Fluorescence (“XRF”) that generates high quality multi-element data, including nickel analysis. The Davis Tube recoverable nickel is calculated by multiplying the fusion XRF nickel value by the weight of the magnetic fraction, divided by total recorded weight. Standards, blanks and duplicates were inserted in the batches to provide quality control. In addition, the 2010 Baptiste drill holes were re-assayed using Davis Tube magnetic separation and XRF analysis
Cliffs currently owns a 51% interest in the project and has the right to increase its ownership (i) to 60% by completing a NI 43-101 compliant preliminary economic assessment by March 2013, (ii) to 65% by completing a prefeasibility study; and (iii) ultimately to 75% by completing a bankable feasibility study. Should Cliffs earn a 75% interest in Decar, First Point would hold a 25% participating interest, plus a 1% net smelter return royalty interest.
Dr. Ron Britten, P. Eng., First Point’s Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.
Cautionary Notes
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and have no demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for minability, selectivity, mining loss and dilution. These mineral resource estimates include inferred mineral resources that are normally considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that these inferred mineral resources will be converted to measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied. The mineral resource estimates referenced in this news release use the terms “Inferred Mineral Resources.” While these terms are defined in and required by Canadian regulations (under NI 43-101), these terms are not recognized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC”). The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant “reserves” as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. None of First Point’s securities has been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
About First Point
First Point Minerals Corp. is a Canadian base and precious metal exploration company. For more information, please view the Company’s website at www.firstpointminerals.com or contact Jim Gilbert, President and CEO, or Rob Robertson, VP Corporate Development, at (604) 681-8600.
On behalf of First Point Minerals Corp.
“Jim Gilbert”
Jim Gilbert, President and CEO
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is considered “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.