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RNC Minerals Announces Continued Strong Gold Results From Infill and Exploration Drilling at Beta Hunt Mine and Provides Tolling Update

Multiple intersections > 5 g/t, including true width of 8.8 m of 8.48 g/t at A Zone, and 23.4 m of 3.03 g/t and 19.1 m of 3.94 g/t at Western Flanks

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2017 /CNW/ - RNC Minerals (TSX: RNX) ("RNC") announces additional positive infill and exploration drilling results at its Beta Hunt Mine in Western Australia.

"These drilling results highlight Beta Hunt's massive exploration potential, which we are just beginning to unlock with the help of a second diamond drill added at the end of June. The infill and exploration results in each zone have strong thicknesses and grades, and will underpin our efforts to continue to improve mined grades. A further 2,000 metres of drilling results are pending, and we expect to complete an additional 15,000 metres of drilling by year end. During the month of August, we also completed our first toll under our lower cost tolling arrangement with Westgold. We continue to see improved grades in our most recent tolls, and look forward to continued quarter-over-quarter improvement." said Mark Selby, President and CEO of RNC.

Highlights of the 68 holes (total of more than 6,900 metres) drilled since RNC's news release dated June 26, 2017 include:

  • 232 intersections greater than 5 g/t gold
  • 74 intersections greater than 10 g/t gold
  • 23 intersections greater than 20 g/t gold

A Zone Results

Infill drilling of 31 holes was completed (total of 2,166 metres) from the next levels in A Zone, yielding multiple thick, higher grade intersections, significantly wider than the true thicknesses that are being mined today. Drilling highlights from A Zone are outlined below in Table 1a (See Table 2 for full assay results):

Table 1a: Highlights from A Zone Infill Drilling



Downhole

Downhole

Interval

True
Width1

Gold2



From (m)

To (m)

(m)

(m)

g/t

AZ13-048


67.00

78.20

11.20

10.56

4.12

AZ13-050           


68.00

73.00

5.00

4.91

10.99


including

70.20

71.85

1.65

1.62

30.81

AZ13-056


73.50

81.00

7.50

7.11

4.07

AZ13-058


88.00

100.25

12.25

10.85

5.38


including

98.00

100.25

2.25

1.99

13.91

AZ13-061           


102.00

108.00

6.00

5.46

7.94


including

105.50

107.00

1.50

1.37

22.87


and

141.18

148.94

7.76

7.02

6.05


including

141.18

142.20

1.02

0.92

36.60

AZ13-063


25.00

31.00

6.00

3.76

7.36


including

28.80

29.50

0.70

0.44

38.01


and

43.90

63.75

19.85

12.34

3.39


including

50.50

56.00

5.50

3.42

7.15

AZ13-069           


27.00

32.00

5.00

3.42

8.57

AZ13-077


22.00

32.00

10.00

8.77

8.48


including

22.00

27.20

5.20

4.56

12.87

AZ13-081


21.00

30.40

9.40

8.93

4.08

AZ13-087


19.00

33.00

14.00

13.29

5.67


including

19.00

26.90

7.90

7.50

8.70

1.

Estimated true width.

2.

All gold assays uncut.

Western Flanks Results

15 infill and 4 exploration holes (totaling 2,243 metres) in Western Flanks continue to show strong results, including very thick intersections in holes WF18-044 of true width of 23.4 metres of 3.03 g/t and WF18-015 of 19.1 metres of 3.94 g/t. Both holes contain high grade intersections in excess of 5 g/t. Drilling highlights in Western Flanks are outlined below in Table 1b (See Table 2 for full assay results):

Table 1b: Highlights from Western Flanks Infill and Exploration Drilling



Downhole

Downhole

Interval

True
Width1

Gold2



From (m)

To (m)

(m)

(m)

g/t

Infill







WF18-018           


15.20

20.00

4.80

3.86

5.49

WF18-021           


25.00

30.50

5.50

3.78

10.30


including

28.00

29.00

1.00

0.69

18.80















WF18-044


66.60

90.00

23.40

23.40

3.03


including

85.13

90.00

4.87

4.87

5.26


and

97.00

103.00

6.00

6.00

5.38

WF18-053


62.55

73.40

10.85

9.74

3.49

WF18-058


60.00

65.35

5.35

5.23

4.37


including

64.70

65.35

0.65

0.63

12.40

Exploration







WF18-015


165.00

190.00

25.00

19.1

3.94


including

187.00

190.00

3.00

2.29

6.04

WF18-030


133.00

136.00

3.00

1.80

4.17

WF18-031           


134.00

139.00

5.00

3.12

12.82

1.

Estimated true width.

2.

All gold assays uncut.

A Zone Extension

Infill and exploration drilling of 18 holes (totaling 2,494 metres) in the A Zone Extension areas yielded several intersections in excess of 5 g/t. The first set of exploration holes yielded only a few narrower intersections.  Drilling highlights at A Zone Extension are outlined below in Table 1c (See Table 2 for full assay results):

Table 1c: Highlights from A Zone Extension Infill Drilling



Downhole

Downhole

Interval

True
Width1

Gold2



From (m)

To (m)

(m)

(m)

g/t

WFE17-10


65.15

72.00

6.85

6.27

3.38


and

90.00

91.00

1.00

0.92

12.00

WFE17-20


73.00

82.00

9.00

8.94

5.39


including

79.60

82.00

2.40

2.39

12.04


and

98.92

104.00

5.08

5.05

6.86


including

99.40

101.00

1.60

1.59

12.81

WFE17-24           


18.00

22.99

4.99

3.92

8.01


including

18.00

19.10

1.10

0.86

13.87


Including

22.00

22.99

0.99

0.78

15.00

1.

Estimated true width.

2.

All gold assays uncut.

RNC is running two diamond drills at Beta Hunt to support infill and exploration drilling plans. Results will continue to be released as assays become available and will be utilized to update resource models. 

Tolling Update

RNC successfully completed two tolls during August, including the first toll under new lower cost tolling agreement at Westgold's Jubilee Mill. The second toll at Jubilee is now underway and RNC expects to toll approximately 185kt of material during the third quarter, nearly double the 98kt milled during the second quarter, and with continued improvement in grades, milled ounces sold are expected to be more than double the ounces milled during the second quarter. 

Table 2: Beta Hunt Infill and Exploration results since June 26, 2017 news release (Kambalda Nickel Operations Mine Grid)

Drill
Hole

Easting

Northing

Elevation

Dip 
deg)

Azimuth
(deg)

Depth
(m)

From
(m)

To
(m)

Length
(m)

True
Width1
(m)

Gold2
(g/t)

 A ZONE INFILL                                                                                                  

AZ13-048

374469

544543

-150

-16

354

84

44.00

46.00

2.00

1.89

3.48







and

67.00

78.20

11.20

10.56

4.12

AZ13-050

374469

544543

-150

-7

357

81

68.00

73.00

5.00

4.91

10.99

AZ13-051

374469

544543

-151

-36

359

93

78.80

82.00

3.20

2.57

2.36

AZ13-052

374469

544543

-150

-26

4

81

33.70

42.00

8.30

7.43

2.79







and

61.40

65.40

4.00

3.57

2.14

AZ13-053

374470

544543

-151

-13

18

69

34.00

36.20

2.20

2.14

2.65







and

42.00

44.30

2.30

2.23

6.22







and

53.60

57.90

4.30

4.17

2.92

AZ13-054

374469

544543

-151

-39

21

75

61.90

65.59

3.69

2.88

2.48

AZ13-055

374470

544544

-150

-19

43

62

27.45

30.00

2.55

2.40

7.46







and

35.75

37.90

2.15

2.02

2.69







and

44.00

46.10

2.10

1.97

2.18







and

54.00

56.15

2.15

2.02

2.25

AZ13-056

374473

544536

-150

-17

76

87

42.00

45.45

3.45

3.27

3.61







and

68.00

81.00

13.00

12.29

3.52

AZ13-057

374472

544535

-151

-46

74

99

80.00

82.00

2.00

1.40

2.04







and

91.20

93.25

2.05

1.44

3.87

AZ13-058

374473

544535

-150

-27

92

105

88.00

100.25

12.25

10.85

5.38

AZ13-061

374473

544535

-150

-22

108

162

102.00

108.00

6.00

5.46

7.94







and

116.30

118.83

2.53

2.29

2.33







and

130.22

136.27

6.05

5.48

3.32







and

141.18

150.00

8.82

7.97

5.36

AZ13-062

374582

544472

-153

-23

5

44

22.00

27.00

5.00

4.59

4.01







and

31.00

34.00

3.00

2.75

2.05

AZ13-063

374582

544471

-154

-51

5

66

25.00

31.00

6.00

3.76

7.36







and

38.00

40.70

2.70

1.68

2.00







and

43.90

63.75

19.85

12.34

3.39

AZ13-065

374583

544470

-153

-31

46

66

28.00

30.00

2.00

1.70

3.34







and

45.00

47.00

2.00

1.69

3.82

AZ13-066

374582

544471

-153

-52

46

60

27.00

42.00

15.00

9.42

2.09







and

53.00

57.00

4.00

2.51

5.26

AZ13-068

374584

544470

-153

-22

82

65

31.85

35.55

3.70

3.40

5.58







and

42.00

50.00

8.00

7.35

2.72







and

57.85

60.00

2.15

1.97

4.14

AZ13-069

374584

544470

-154

-47

82

66

27.00

37.45

10.45

7.15

5.09







and

43.00

46.90

3.90

2.65

3.09







and

55.00

57.10

2.10

1.43

4.72

AZ13-071

374615

544444

-153

-17

46

60

31.00

33.00

2.00

1.91

4.24







and

42.60

45.80

3.20

3.05

2.24







and

56.80

60.00

3.20

3.05

3.87

AZ13-072

374615

544444

-153

-42

45

69

15.00

17.60

2.60

1.91

5.60







and

30.00

41.82

11.82

8.67

2.35







and

55.90

59.00

3.10

2.27

2.71

AZ13-073

374615

544443

-154

-64

46

57

28.00

30.00

2.00

0.88

4.56







and

37.00

39.00

2.00

0.88

4.06







and

42.27

45.00

2.73

1.20

2.39







and

52.00

54.00

2.00

0.88

5.32

AZ13-074

374647

544418

-153

-20

8

69

21.00

33.00

12.00

11.10

2.35







and

42.00

44.00

2.00

1.85

2.26







and

59.00

61.00

2.00

1.84

2.96

Drill
Hole

Easting

Northing

Elevation

Dip
(deg)

Azimuth
(deg)

Depth
(m)

From
(m)

To
(m)

Length
(m)

True
Width1
(m)

Gold2

(g/t)

AZ13-075

374647

544418

-153

-45

8

50

24.00

26.00

2.00

1.41

2.35







and

32.80

36.00

3.20

2.26

5.03







and

41.00

43.00

2.00

1.42

2.43

AZ13-076

374646

544417

-153

-67

6

84

39.00

41.00

2.00

0.80

3.36







and

52.00

54.15

2.15

0.86

2.52







and

68.00

70.00

2.00

0.80

2.17

AZ13-077

374647

544418

-153

-28

44

45

18.09

37.00

18.91

16.57

5.61

AZ13-080

374671

544395

-149

41

54

48

25.00

27.25

2.25

1.74

2.57







and

33.00

35.00

2.00

1.55

4.35

AZ13-081

374671

544395

-151

21

54

42

21.00

32.00

10.99

10.44

3.86

AZ13-082

374648

544417

-153

-21

86

51

35.00

38.00

3.00

2.76

3.50







and

43.00

45.00

2.00

1.84

9.05

AZ13-085

374671

544395

-151

49

75

52

33.15

35.20

2.05

1.44

2.14







and

37.75

41.10

3.35

2.35

2.58

AZ13-087

374671

544395

-152

-17

64

42

19.00

33.00

14.00

13.29

5.67

AZ13-089

374671

544395

-153

-70

51

81

49.00

60.00

11.00

4.01

2.47







and

63.90

79.00

15.10

5.54

3.95

AZ13-092

374671

544395

-152

-26

92

51

6.00

8.00

2.00

4.50

4.63







and

18.00

20.30

2.30

2.00

2.12







and

32.00

34.00

2.00

4.30

4.48

 WESTERN FLANKS ZONE INFILL                                                                                                                                                                                                               

WF18-016

375134

543671

-323

18

231

50

15.55

17.60

2.05

1.93

3.27







and

37.00

40.40

3.40

3.20

3.45

WF18-017

375134

543670

-325

-11

231

57

14.00

17.25

3.25

3.19

2.62

WF18-018

375134

543670

-325

2

231

48

12.20

20.00

7.80

6.27

4.16







and

24.00

27.30

3.30

2.64

3.55







and

45.85

49.00

3.15

2.52

4.27

WF18-019

375134

543670

-325

-51

231

78

29.75

41.80

12.05

5.87

4.09

WF18-021

375144

543662

-325

-49

226

54

22.00

30.50

8.50

5.84

7.56







and

45.55

48.00

2.45

1.67

6.07

WF18-023

375155

543654

-324

-17

186

57

23.00

25.00

2.00

1.94

3.03







and

49.00

52.00

3.00

2.90

4.88

WF18-024

375155

543655

-325

-43

186

60

42.80

45.00

2.20

1.65

3.22







and

51.00

56.00

5.00

3.74

3.08

WF18-026

375144

543662

-325

-23

226

39

10.00

13.00

3.00

2.81

2.97







and

28.90

31.00

2.10

1.98

2.02

WF18-027

375158

543655

-325

-1

212

96

72.00

74.00

2.00

1.77

3.23







and

89.00

91.00

2.00

1.77

2.39

WF18-032

375007

543864

-305

-18

189

128

91.40

99.00

7.60

4.70

2.97

WF18-037

375005

543865

-305

-8

215

105

37.00

39.00

2.00

1.98

3.09







and

64.00

70.35

6.35

6.29

4.34







and

75.10

78.00

2.90

2.88

4.88

WF18-044

374951

543930

-317

-2

198

147

53.00

55.00

2.00

2.00

3.72







and

66.60

90.00

23.40

23.40

3.03







and

97.00

108.00

11.00

10.99

4.16







and

113.00

115.00

2.00

2.00

4.82







and

118.50

122.00

3.50

3.50

4.99

WF18-053

374949

543932

-315

25

246

123

62.55

65.00

2.45

2.20

6.85







and

70.70

73.40

2.70

2.42

6.68

WF18-054

374949

543932

-317

5

245

153

50.00

54.30

4.30

4.29

2.38







and

58.00

67.25

9.25

9.22

3.16







and

115.65

118.00

2.35

2.34

5.08

WF18-058

374948

543932

-316

13

258

134

60.00

66.75

6.75

6.60

3.89







and

131.00

134.50

3.50

3.42

4.09

WESTERN FLANKS ZONE EXPLORATION

Drill
Hole

Easting

Northing

Elevation

Dip
(deg)

Azimuth
deg)

Depth
(m)

From
(m)

To
(m)

Length
(m)

True
Width1
(m)

Gold2

(g/t)

WF18-015

375131

543746

-308

-40

273

255

165.00

190.00

25.00

19.10

3.94

WF18-029

375131

543744

-308

-55

273

221

207.00

211.90

4.90

2.69

3.19

WF18-030

375131

543744

-308

-52

232

219

108.00

110.00

2.00

1.20

2.08







and

133.00

136.00

3.00

1.80

4.17







and

143.00

145.00

2.00

1.20

2.56

WF18-031

375131

543744

-308

-51

207

219

134.00

139.00

5.00

3.12

12.82







and

154.00

156.10

2.10

1.32

5.31

A ZONE EXTENSION INFILL

WFE17-08

375223

543668

-296

-28

5

150

23.00

25.00

2.00

1.76

2.63







and

43.00

45.00

2.00

1.75

4.33







and

105.30

107.45

2.15

1.84

2.17

WFE17-09

375224

543668

-295

0

15

135

14.00

17.00

3.00

3.00

2.02







and

89.00

91.00

2.00

2.00

6.39

WFE17-10

375224

543667

-296

-21

66

113

65.15

72.00

6.85

6.27

3.38







and

87.00

91.00

4.00

3.64

3.56







and

99.00

101.00

2.00

1.81

3.61

WFE17-11

375224

543668

-295

2

5

105

29.45

31.80

2.35

2.35

3.27

WFE17-12

375224

543668

-296

2

66

117

6.00

9.00

3.00

2.99

2.56

WFE17-20

375225

543665

-296

0

93

143

10.60

13.00

2.40

2.40

2.19







and

73.00

76.15

3.15

3.14

6.10







and

79.60

82.00

2.40

2.39

12.04







and

98.92

104.00

5.08

5.05

6.86

WFE17-21

375224

543666

-296

-38

84

135

20.00

22.00

2.00

1.57

2.98







and

90.00

92.30

2.30

1.79

5.20

WFE17-22

375224

543666

-296

-21

84

120


No Significant Intersections

WFE17-23

375224

543666

-296

-32

75

117


No Significant Intersections

WFE17-24

375224

543666

-296

-38

68

129

18.00

22.99

4.99

3.92

8.01







and

47.00

49.60

2.60

2.04

2.03

WFE17-25

375224

543666

-296

-46

32

120

43.10

45.10

2.00

1.40

2.90







and

99.00

102.00

3.00

2.10

3.88

WFE17-26

375224

543666

-296

-27

27

122

76.20

78.40

2.20

1.94

2.52







and

86.00

88.00

2.00

1.77

2.72

A ZONE EXTENSION EXPLORATION

WFE17-27

375043

543884

-304

3

48

150


No Significant Intersections

WFE17-28

375043

543884

-302

25

48

162


No Significant Intersections

WFE17-29

375044

543882

-302

25

90

192


No Significant Intersections

WFE17-30

375044

543883

-304

3

90

149


No Significant Intersections

WFE17-31

375042

543885

-304

3

13

165

88.95

91.00

2.05

2.05

2.90

WFE17-33

375043

543883

-305

-45

69

171

71.65

74.00

2.35

1.65

4.49

1.

Estimated true width.

2.

All gold assays uncut.

Compliance Statement (JORC 2012 and NI 43-101)
The technical information in this news release relating to results at the Beta Hunt Mine is based on information reviewed by Steve Devlin, who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Devlin is a full time employee of Salt Lake Mining Pty Ltd and has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results".

Drill core sampling was conducted by SLM personnel. Samples are shipped to SGS Mineral Services of Kalgoorlie for preparation and assaying by 50 gram fire assay analytical method. First sample of each sample submission incorporates a barren rock sample as a flush to clean the lab crusher and pulveriser and as a check for contamination. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of insertion of additional blank material and certified standards. The lab is also required to undertake a minimum of 1 in 20 wet screens on pulverised samples to ensure a minimum 90% passing at -75µm. 

The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Alger St-Jean, P. Geo., Vice President Exploration of RNC and Kevin Small, Director, Mining Operations of RNC, both Qualified Persons under NI 43-101.

About RNC
RNC is a multi-asset mineral resource company with a portfolio of gold and base metal production and exploration properties. RNC's principal assets are the producing Beta Hunt gold and nickel mine in Western Australia, a 50% interest in a nickel joint venture with Waterton that holds the Dumont Nickel Project in the Abitibi region of Quebec, and a 30% stake in the producing Reed Mine in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake region of Manitoba, Canada. RNC also owns a majority interest in the West Raglan and Qiqavik projects in Northern Quebec. RNC has a strong management team and Board with over 100 years of mining experience at Inco and Falconbridge. RNC's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol RNX. RNC shares also trade on the OTCQX market under the symbol RNKLF.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to the liquidity and capital resources of RNC, production guidance and the potential of the Beta Hunt Mine.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of RNC to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to RNC's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although RNC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and RNC disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE RNC Minerals

For further information: Rob Buchanan, Director, Investor Relations, T: (416) 363-0649, www.rncminerals.com