August-September 2012
Tug Point Vim and deck barge NT1032 were a part of a project with Freeport Resources in northern Labrador. Below is the press release from the company...
FREEPORT
RESOURCES INC.
NEWS
RELEASE – Monday, September 10, 2012
Freeport Confirms Feasibility of Marine Logistics at Hutton
TSX Venture Exchange: FRI
Shares Issued: 16,
831,232
Freeport Resources
Inc. (FRI.V) is pleased to announce the bulk-loading strategy required for
commercial-scale production at its Hutton Garnet Beaches project has proven
feasible. Recent field work has shown site access by large commercial
vessels is possible and the site is very suitable for landing. A
tug and two barges were brought to South Beach to test the marine operational
plan for exploiting the garnet sands. A detailed route to shore was established
and recorded by a registered Marine Surveyor. Enough marine data was
collected to establish the practicality of full-scale production – a landmark
development for the Hutton project. Freeport greatly appreciates support
by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Junior Exploration Assistance
program, an incentive program encouraging mineral exploration. Please
see photos of the marine access study at Point-Vim-NT1032
, Sappatak-NT1032-Ryans-Bay
and South-Beach
. Additional photos will be made available soon at the Hutton
photo gallery on Freeport’s website.
Unique
aspects of the program included specialized advance marine forecasting and
detailed site weather predictions to identify conditions favourable for landing
barges, working ashore and to ensure safety of the vessels. Work at the
site confirmed that only certain wind conditions, namely easterlies, could
affect the proposed operation; this may be resolvable by use of spud
barges.
In June, a community meeting was held in Nain. An environmental
assessment was previously completed. A bird survey subsequently conducted at both
beaches by a team of several environmental scientists and Nain residents with
extensive local knowledge identified twelve avian species common to the
area. Geological sampling was also done to complement and verify previous
data and update tonnage estimates.
Barge
and weather delays necessitated an extension of several days to the August 31
work permit deadline. As it was not granted, the bulk sample could not be
completed as planned. However, sufficient material is available from
previous work to finish mineral processing studies and pilot plant
design. A temporary facility has already been established and processing
is planned to commence soon. Information from the 2012 work will be used
to complete the Feasibility Study. The Hutton project’s NI43-101 Prefeasibility
Study and Marketing Survey was completed in 2004.
Zdenek
Hora, M.Sc., P.Geo., is the qualified person who has reviewed this
release.
Freeport
Resources, founded in 1981, is a mineral exploration company with a portfolio
of promising, diversified properties in Canada, from precious and base metals
to industrial minerals. Please visit our website at www.freeportresources.com, email info@freeportresources.com, or
view our presentations at http://www.freeportresources.com/i/pdf/Hutton2011.pdf
and http://www.freeportresources.com/i/pdf/spanishmt2011.pdf
for more information.
Freeport Resources Inc.
Brenda Clark, MAIBC
President & CEO
1.888.275.7335 Toll free Tel
604.275.7335 Tel
1.888.275.8549 Toll free Fax
Email: info@freeportresources.com