Excelsior Mining Commences Mine Construction at the Gunnison Copper Project
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NEWS RELEASE
Excelsior Mining Commences Mine Construction at the Gunnison Copper Project
December 4, 2018
Excelsior Mining Corp. (TSX: MIN) (FSE: 3XS) (OTCQX: EXMGF) ("Excelsior" or the “Company”)
is pleased to announce that construction has started at the Gunnison Copper Project (“Gunnison”), in
southeast Arizona; first copper production is anticipated in Q4 of 2019.
“Our ability to move quickly from the close of project financing to the initiation of construction at our
Gunnison Copper Project is a demonstration of the operational capacity and experience of the Excelsior
team,” said Stephen Twyerould, President & CEO. “We look forward to updating all stakeholders as we
move through the construction process. Our approach during this stage of development will remain , as
always, focused on delivering technical excellence and long-term value for our shareholders.”
Hydro Resources has commenced drilling the production wellfield and the accompanying compliance
wells. Hydro Resources are experienced in-situ recovery (“ISR”) wellfield drillers; this experience includes
drilling for in-situ copper recovery projects. There are currently three drilling rigs on site with two additional
drilling rigs arriving in January. A total of 63 wells, including 41 production wells and 22 compliance wells
totalling approximately 82,000 feet will be completed. The significant number of compliance wells will
ensure groundwater protection as per state and federal regulatory requirements. Drilling of the production
wellfield is expected to be finished in Q2 of 2019. The initial wellfield area will be 400 feet by 400 feet
with a spacing of approximately 70 feet between delivery and production wells.
Schmueser and Associates has been chosen as the general contractor. Construction activities will
include:
• Wellfield drilling and infrastructure – The wellfield has been designed to provide maximum
operational flexibility including reversing wells and adjustable flowrates to maximize copper
production.
• Access road construction - An additional access road south of the I10 Highway is currently
being installed. The Gunnison Copper Project is one of the most easily accessible mining projects
in the world.
• Johnson Camp Mine (“JCM”) plant upgrades – Upgrades to the processing facilities include
enhanced controls and instrumentation, new rectifiers, increased solution heating capacity as well
as a number of other modifications that will ensure Gunnison produces Grade A, 99.999% pure
copper cathode.
• Pipeline distribution and infrastructure – A two-mile-long high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
pipeline corridor will safely transport solution to the JCM processing facilities. Pipeline corridor
liners, double -pipe containment and maintenance ponds will ensure best practice in terms of
environmental management and safety.
• Electrical distribution and infrastructure – Electrical distribution to the wellfield will include
moving and utilizing the existing substation near the crushing facilities that are currently on care
and maintenance; thereby providing substantial cost savings to Excelsior.
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• Process pond upgrades and completions – The existing ponds are being modified to
accommodate the copper solutions from the wellfield. Additional pregnant leach solution (PLS)
capacity is also being created at Gunnison to provide operational flexibility.
• New acid storage facilities – These new facilities have been designed to enable the Company
to take advantage of market acid pricing opportunities as they arise.
“Schmueser & Associates, LLC is pleased to have been selected as the General Contractor for the Stage
I Gunnison Copper Project/Johnson Camp Mine ,” said Larry Schmueser II, President of Schmueser &
Associates. “We look forward to working with Excelsior Mining Corp . on this low cost, environmentally
friendly, copper production process. The goal of our Project Team puts a priority on safety with the
understanding that achieving the budget and schedule are critical to the success of the project.”
About Excelsior Mining
Excelsior “The Copper Solution Company ” is a mineral exploration and development company that is
advancing the Gunnison Copper Project in Cochise County, Arizona. The project is a fully-permitted, fully
finance, advanced staged, low cost, environmentally friendly in -situ recovery copper extraction project .
The Feasibility Study projected an after-tax NPV of US$ 807 million and an IRR of 40% using a US$ 2.75
per pound copper price and a 7.5% discount rate.
Excelsior’s technical work on the Gunnison Copper Project is supervised by Stephen Twyerould, Fellow
of AUSIMM, President & CEO of Excelsior and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-
101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.
Additional information about the Gunnison Copper Project can be found in the technical report filed on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com entitled: “Gunnison Copper Project, NI 43 -101 Technical Report, Feasibility
Study” dated effective December 17, 2016.
For more information on Excelsior, please visit our website at www.excelsiormining.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Excelsior Mining Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018.
JJ Jennex, Vice President, Corporate Affairs
T: 604 723 1433
www.excelsiormining.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may
occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to,
statements with respect to: (i) the results of the Feasibility Study, including operating and capital cost estimates and
the economic benefits from the Gunnison Copper Project ; (ii) the details of the various construction activities that
will be undertaken on the Gunnison Copper Project; (iii) the potentia l for cost savings; ; and (iii) the ability to mine
the Gunnison Copper Project using in-situ recovery mining techniques.
In certain cases, forward -looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or
"does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does
not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results
"may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other
expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance.
Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding,
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among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral res erves, the realization of resource and
reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the
estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the progress
of development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the estimation of insurance coverage, and
assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar
matters. Wh ile the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently
available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward -looking information. Such factors include risks
inherent in the exploration and de velopment of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not commence at
the Gunnison Copper Project, risks relating to variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates
resulting from current exploration and development activities, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure,
risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper
and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products and in
the mining industry generally, risks related to current global financial conditions, uncertainties inherent in th e
estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in
the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating
costs and the risk o f delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the development process,
regulatory risks, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and
interest, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s reports
and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results
to dif fer materially from those described in forward -looking information, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news
release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.