Lucapa Diamond to restart halted Merlin mine
The phased approach will begin with an 18-month initial phase focused on excavating and dredging five existing pits.
Latin American Minerals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:LAT) announced that on July 5, 2011, it signed a definitive Option Agreement for the potential earn-in and joint venture development of the Company’s Itapoty Diamond Project by Olivut Resources Ltd (TSX VENTURE:OLV). Olivut is a Canadian diamond exploration company focused on projects in the NWT, Canada and in Uruguay, South America. The Itapoty Diamond Project is one of several exploration and mining projects being developed by Latin American Minerals in Paraguay.
The Agreement provides Olivut with the option to earn 50% of the project by investing CDN$250,000 in exploration and project expenses during the first 12 months and an additional CDN$750,000 during the following 18 month period. Olivut will be the Operator of the project and expects to initiate their exploration programme immediately. After completing the earn-in conditions, a Joint Venture representing the two companies in equal proportion would be formed and the continued project development would be overseen by a joint management committee.
Miles Rideout, the President and CEO of Latin American Minerals Inc. said, “LAT holds a large property package with multiple probable diamond sources. Eleven percent of our Itapoty reconnaissance samples have returned diamonds, which is an extraordinarily high success rate. By teaming with Olivut on this project, we increase the technical and financial resources available to move this important project through exploration and development. The agreement also enables us to further focus our own technical expertise on our growing Paso Yobai gold project.”
The Itapoty Diamond Project is located in eastern Paraguay and consists of four mineral concessions 100% owned or controlled by the Company. Work to date at Itapoty has produced encouraging results:
Good road access and infrastructure facilitate work at the project. Although Paraguay is underexplored, it has tremendous potential for mineral wealth. It further boasts excellent regulations for investment and has infrastructure and social conditions well suited to mine and industrial development.
About Latin American Minerals:
Latin American Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on new mineral regions within Latin America. The company is developing its Paso Yobai Gold Project, also located in Paraguay, by building a pilot plant and extending exploration over extensive new gold targets. The Company’s Chiriguelo Niobium and Rare Earth Element project is also located in Paraguay.
Dr. Waldo Perez is the Corporation’s internal “Qualified Person” under the requirements of National Instrument 43-101.
