Condor Gold redesign their pit to avoid moving the town after protests

Condor Gold {AIM: CNR / TSX: COG} announced that it has formally submitted an amendment to an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Nicaragua, to redesign the open pit without resettling 1,000 people.

This comes after protests and unrest in the area surrounding the mine, in Leon, Nicaragua.

 

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Condor Gold is pleased to announce that it has formally submitted an amendment to an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Nicaragua (“MARENA”), which is part of an application for an Environmental Permit, to construct and operate a processing plant with capacity to process up to 2,800 tonnes per day (“tpd”) or 1 million tonnes per annum (“tpa”), without the need to resettle approximately 330 houses or 1,000 people.

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Mark Child, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Condor, commented:
“Condor has been in constructive dialogue for several months with Nicaraguan
Government officials at Minister level to permit the construction and operation of a new
gold mine at Mina La India, Nicaragua. The general feedback has been that permitting will be much easier if the mine can be redesigned to proceed without resettling 1,000 people. 

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Condor has accordingly formally submitted an amendment to the main permit application to proceed without resettlement.

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I am delighted to say that Condor’s technical team believe that the La India Project is both technically viable and economically attractive to proceed with a redesigned open pit that does not require community resettlement and also includes the relocation of the
processing plant approximately 1,200 metres from the village. Mine scheduling studies
are on-going, and further details will be provided in due course. Condor Gold does not
anticipate a material change in the total ounces of gold expected to be recoverable from
the redesigned open pit compared to the open pit disclosed in the PFS (as defined
below).”

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Key Amendments to the ESIA
A study has been completed to progress the La India Project without the need for
resettlement of the village of La Cruz de La India (the “Village”). The main changes are a redesigned open pit, the relocation of the processing plant 1,200 meters from the Village, the possible elimination of the southern waste dump, the elimination of the road relocation in year 3 of production and the relocation of the explosive magazine. A 5 metre high berm.

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is planned between the redesigned open pit and the Village to reduce noise and dust
pollution. The mine site infrastructure requirements will be reduced by over 30% to

which commenced in 2013. In addition to describing the potential impacts of a future
commercial mine on the environment, the ESIA also contains detailed environmental
management plans and social management plans to monitor and control any such
impacts.

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The ESIA follows the Terms of Reference issued by MARENA in May 2015 and is the
principal document that will be assessed by MARENA in consideration of awarding the
Environmental Permit. The Environmental Permit is the key permit for mining in
Nicaragua. Many other permits, such as a water management permit, are conditional

– Ends –

For further information please visit www.condorgold.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PDAC 2018 preview

PDAC 2018 is upon us, and once again I am making my annual pilgrimage to the frozen Arctic weather conditions that prevail in Toronto  in early March, in order to participate in what is my favourite large mining conference.

Here I preview the PDAC from an investor’s viewpoint, and outline why I enjoy attending this conference so much.

 

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PDAC 2018 – An investor’s eye view

 

Once again, I am making my annual pilgrimage to brave the artic like weather that generally prevails in Toronto at the beginning of March, to participate in the PDAC mining conference, the world’s biggest, and probably still the best.

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People often ask me what attending this show is like, so I thought it would be useful to describe it from my personal viewpoint, as I have been attending as an investor since 2006.

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The PDAC started in the Royal York Hotel, opposite Union Station, but quickly outgrew the space available there, and has moved across the railway tracks to the Convention Centre South, in downtown Toronto, next to the famous CN Tower.

 

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Arriving on a crisp Sunday morning, (it’s always cold) I descend to the first sub level, where there is a throng of thousands of people queueing to register or self-printing badges at the self service registration computers. Once registered, another two escalator rides down, and I arrive at the Investor’s Exchange, my home for the next three and a half days.

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I always feel a tinge of excitement on that first morning as the booths come into view and the expectation of finding some new, exciting, and undiscovered companies to invest in appears once again.

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Once inside the massive L shaped hall, where there are around 600 company booths, the buzz is electric on that first morning as people dart around between booths seeking information or the chance to chat over past results and future plans. Sunday is the main day for private investors, and the ‘mom and pops’ are always in attendance, lovely people, and everyone enjoys talking to them.

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One useful and unique feature of PDAC is that companies normally retain their booth positions year on year, so if you have some companies you want to meet every year, their booth is in the same place as last year. It makes life so much easier given the size of the venue.

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Sunday finishes, like every other day, with a whole host of receptions and networking opportunities in nearby hotels and restaurants.  Sunday night I always go to the Silver Party on the 18th floor of the Royal York Hotel, which is a lovely setting, and they serve tasty canapes and fine wines.

 

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Monday is the professional’s day, so the PDAC is quieter, with fewer investors in evidence, and more people wearing suits. The suits are either brokers there to connect with companies, or part of the myriad of service companies such as IR or geologists, that are there to seek to sell their wares to the mining industry.

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It is this inclusivity that makes the PDAC so special in my opinion.  Everyone is welcome, both investors and people seeking commercial opportunities, and you never know who you might bump into or sit next to whilst taking a much needed rest and a cup of coffee.

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Tuesday and Wednesday get progressively quieter, and many booths are often left unattended during the day, so it’s much harder to connect with someone you wish to meet. Each evening involves social functions, all events are free, and each day I grow more tired than the previous one, and after walking all day on wafer thin carpet over solid concrete, the feet really hurt!

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At one o’clock on Wednesday lunch time a loud voice bellows out that “the PDAC has closed, take down your booths”, to loud cheers and great relief all round, and another year of endless walking and talking has ended.

 

There’s enough time to pick up the baggage and head up to the Airport for the 18.30 flight home, arriving first thing next morning in London.

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The PDAC is the original mining and trade show, the biggest, and still the best in my opinion. They run a great show, make everyone feel welcome, and keep attracting hundreds of companies and around twenty five thousand delegates each year.

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I Will be back next year…

 

 

 

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Nouveau Monde Graphite Announces the Results of Its recent Drill Program

Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. {TSX.V: NOU}  announced the results of its January 2018 drilling program in the extension of the West Zone of the Tony claim block, part of its Matawinie graphite property.  The results contain intervals of several tens of meters including one at 69.5 meters grading 5.08% Cg.

 

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SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS, QUEBEC– March 1, 2018) – Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. {TSX.V: NOU} has the pleasure to announce the results of its January 2018 drilling program in the extension of the West Zone of the Tony claim block, part of its Matawinie graphite property. The results contain intervals of several tens of meters including one at 69.5 meters grading 5.08% Cg. This last drilling campaign sought to increase the graphite resource through the extension of the projected pit towards the south and to maximize the mining plan in view of the feasibility study. The project is located in the Saint-Michel-des-Saints area, some 150 km north of Montreal, Québec, Canada. A prefeasibility study, completed in accordance with the NI 43-101 guidelines, was published in Fall of 2017 (see press release dated October 25th, 2017).

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“I am very pleased with the results of the most recent drilling program in the extension of the West Zone of the Tony block because these seem to confirm the presence of a zone reporting content with a higher grade than the current resource estimate. Importantly, this area has very little overburden and outcrops significantly, making for easier access and lower mining costs than other areas of the projected pit. This interesting scenario should positively impact the next mineral resource updates on our West Zone as well as the project’s economic factors to be detailed in the feasibility study planned for Fall 2018,” explains Éric Desaulniers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nouveau Monde.

 

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To access the full report, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Avalon completes planned drilling program on Separation Rapids Lithium Project

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. {TSX: AVL} announced that it has completed the diamond drilling program on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario. As planned, six holes totalling 1,500 metres were completed in just under one month.

 

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Avalon completes planned drilling program on Separation Rapids Lithium Project.

 

 

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Toronto, ON  Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. {TSX: AVL} is pleased to announce that it has completed the diamond drilling program on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario. As planned, six holes totalling 1,500 metres were completed in just under one month. The program ran very smoothly without delays or technical issues.

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The objective of the drill program was to expand lithium resources of both the lepidolite and petalite-rich mineralisation and better define near surface resource geometry for mine planning purposes. Results from visual observations confirm continuity of lithium mineralisation to depth with increased thicknesses of lepidolite-rich lithium mineralisation on the east end of the deposit. Assay results are expected in four to six weeks.
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The main deposit consists of a large, zoned vertical pegmatite dyke typically averaging 15 to 35 metres in thickness, accompanied by a swarm of narrower mineralised dykes of similar but variable lithium mineralogy. These dykes tend to be lepidolite-rich on both the east and west extensions and on the northern side of the main petalite-rich portion of the deposit. Resource estimates to date have indicated that about 20% of the presently estimated tonnage is lepidolite-rich, accompanied by petalite, and the remaining portion is petalite with minor lepidolite content.

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Drilling on the main deposit involved four holes (SR18-77-80). Holes 77 and 78 tested depth extensions on the west end of the deposit to approximately 225 metres and encountered similar thicknesses of lithium mineralisation as nearby holes. Holes 79 and 80 tested the east side of the deposit to similar depths and intersected a wider zone of lepidolite-rich lithium mineralisation than anticipated. Hole 79 intersected 45 metres of mainly lepidolite-petalite mineralisation, which represents a true thickness of approximately 20 metres.

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Two short holes, SR18-75 and 76, were drilled to test the Western Pegmatite, which is about 800 metres along strike from the main deposit. The results confirmed lateral continuity of the petalite mineralization over relatively narrow widths compared to the main deposit.

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Assay results will be disclosed once all results have been compiled and interpreted, following which an updated resource estimate will be prepared.

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The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the Company’s Vice President, Exploration, Dr. William Mercer, P. Geo (Ont), a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The drill program was supervised by Senior Project Geologist, Chris Pedersen.

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Separation Rapids Lithium Project Block Model with 2018 Hole Locations

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Annual General Meeting Reminder

Avalon also reminds shareholders that the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on February 27th at 4:30 pm at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel – Kenora Room, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario. An update on recent activities on the Separation Rapids Lithium Project and the East Kemptville Tin Project will be provided.

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About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. 

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specialising in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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City Investors Circle February 2018 update issued

City Investors Circle  monthly investor update for February 2018 has just been issued. Comments include why stocks have suddenly become volatile, why that may continue, and what may happen to crypto currencies next.

To receive your free update please email andrew@city-investors-circle.com or go to www.city-investors-circle.com and fill in the subscribe section.

 

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City Investors Circle  monthly investor update for February 2018 has just been issued. Features this month include why stocks have suddenly become volatile, and what may happen to cryptos next.

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Our free to receive monthly update features news and views from the world of investments, what to watch out for, and information on our always free to attend presentations.

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Our presentations always take place in the City, and  are wonderful events where you can meet the CEO’s of exciting junior companies, and network with fellow investors and city professionals in a relaxed atmosphere.

 

To receive yours please email andrew@city-investors-circle.com or go to www.city-investors-circle.com and fill in the subscribe section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Strongbow Resources release new video presentation

Strongbow Resources {TSX.V: SBW} have issued a new video presentation of their South Crofty mine, located in Cornwall, south west England.

South Crofty is a former tin mine that Strongbow are going to return to production. It has a 43-101, and is 100% owned.

 

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Keith Russ, a technical service engineer of the South Crofty Tin Project, stands in a mining tunnel at South Crofty tin mine in Redruth, U.K., on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. Strongbow Exploration Inc., who the bought mine last month, could have the mine in production by 2019 or 2020, delivering 20 tons of tin a day, according to Chief Executive Officer Richard Williams. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

 

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To view the video, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GoldMining Inc. buys down the Cachoeira royalty and files the Crucero Technical Report

GoldMining Inc. {TSX-V: GOLD} is pleased to announce BRI Mineração Ltda. has entered into a royalty purchase agreement  with certain royalty holders on the Cachoeira Project.

The Company has also filed a NI 43-101 technical report for its Crucero Project located in the Department of Puno, southeast Peru. 

 

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GoldMining Inc – Sao Jorge Aerial view

 

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GOLDMINING BUYS DOWN CACHOEIRA ROYALTY AND FILES CRUCERO TECHNICAL REPORT

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Vancouver, British Columbia – February 22, 2018 – GoldMining Inc.  {TSX.V: GOLD} is pleased to announce BRI Mineração Ltda. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a royalty purchase agreement with certain royalty holders (the “Vendors“) on the Cachoeira Project.  In addition, further to its press release dated January 16, 2018, the Company has filed a National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) technical report (the “Technical Report”) for its Crucero Project located in the Department of Puno, southeastern Peru.

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Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining, commented: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with several of the royalty holders on the Cachoeira Project, which extinguishes a portion of the current advance royalty payment, as well as making it more attractive in the future when the deposit is developed or sold.  In 2018, we will continue to look at innovative ways to advance our portfolio of resource-stage gold projects in the Americas to maximize value for our shareholders”.

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Royalty Purchase Agreement
Pursuant to the Agreement, BRI will acquire the Vendors’ 66.66% interest in the existing 4.0% net production royalty (the “Royalty“) on the Company’s Cachoeira Project, in consideration (the “Consideration“) for US$133,320 payable in cash to the Vendors, and 698,161 common shares of the Company.

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The common shares of the Company to be issued under the transaction are subject to a four month and one day hold period and certain resale restrictions pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.

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Crucero Technical Report
The Technical Report, dated effective December 20, 2017, is titled “Technical Report on the Crucero Property, Carabaya Province, Peru”.  The Technical Report was authored by Mr. Greg Z. Mosher, M.Sc., P.Geo. of Global Mineral Resource Services, who is a qualified person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and is independent of the Company.

The Technical Report includes the following resource estimate for the Crucero Project at a 0.4 g/t gold cut-off (Tables 1 to 3).

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Table 1: NI 43-101 indicated resource estimate for the A1 deposit.

Gold Cut-off Tonnage Grade Contained Metal
(g/t) (Mt)  Gold (g/t) Gold (Moz)
2.0 876,000 2.3 64,000
1.0 13,504,000 1.4 606,000
0.8 19,617,000 1.2 783,000
0.6 25,378,000 1.1 912,000
0.4 30,653,000 1.0 993,000
0.2 33,019,000 1.0 1,013,000
0.0 33,341,000 0.9 1,013,000

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Table 2: NI 43-101 inferred resource estimate for the A1 deposit.

Gold Cut-off Tonnage Grade Contained Metal
(g/t) (Mt) Gold (g/t)  Gold (Moz)
2.0 827,000 2.4 63,000
1.0 14,265,000 1.4 656,000
0.8 21,662,000 1.3 874,000
0.6 28,958,000 1.1 1,038,000
0.4 35,779,000 1.0 1,147,000
0.2 38,706,000 0.9 1,173,000
0.0 39,479,000 0.9 1,174,000

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Table 3: Assumptions utilised to establish the conceptual pit for the purposes of the above resource estimate.

Parameter Value Unit
Gold Price 1,500 US$/oz
Mine Operating Cost (Mineralization and Waste) 1.60 US$/t mined
Process Operating Cost 16.00 US$/t milled
Overall Pit Slope 47 Degrees

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The Crucero Project occurs within the Puno Orogenic Belt, which is host to orogenic gold deposits and associated extensive alluvial deposits in eastern Peru and Bolivia.  The Project is road accessible by paved road from Juliaca to the town of Crucero, approximately 150 km to the northeast, with the remaining 50 km to the site by gravel road.  High-power electrical lines pass within 8 km of the property.

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The A1 deposit, as currently defined by trenching and drilling, strikes northwest and dips vertically to steeply to the northeast.  The deposit is approximately 750 m long by 100 m in width and has been traced to a vertical depth of 400 m, but most of the drilling is confined to within 250 m of surface.  The deposit is open at depth and along strike to the northwest and southeast.  The structurally controlled gold mineralization is associated with sulphide veins hosted within strongly deformed metasedimentary rocks.

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Historic exploration programs have focused on the A1 deposit, however geophysical and geochemical surveys have identified additional targets for follow-up exploration.

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Qualified Person

The resource estimate disclosed herein on the Crucero Project was prepared for GoldMining by Mr. Greg Z. Mosher, B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Geo., of Global Mineral Resource Services (the “Qualified Person”).  Mr. Mosher is recognized as a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, is independent of the Company and has reviewed and approved the disclosure regarding the resource estimate for the Crucero Project disclosed herein.

Paulo Pereira, President of GoldMining Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.  Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelors degree in Geology from Universidade do Amazonas in Brazil, is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.

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Cautionary Note

Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in the “measured”, “indicated” and “inferred” categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves with demonstrated economic viability or that inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and/or indicated categories through further drilling.  In addition, the estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources.  Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of pre-feasibility or feasibility studies.

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About GoldMining Inc.

GoldMining Inc. is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of gold assets in the Americas.  Through its disciplined acquisition strategy, GoldMining now controls a diversified portfolio of resource-stage gold and gold-copper projects in Canada, U.S.A., Brazil, Colombia and Peru.  Additionally, GoldMining owns a 75% interest in the Rea Uranium Project, located in the Western Athabasca Basin of Alberta, Canada.

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For additional information, please contact:

GoldMining Inc.
Amir Adnani, Chairman
Garnet Dawson, CEO
Telephone: (855) 630-1001
Email: info@goldmining.com

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This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of GoldMining with respect to its business and future events, including expectations and future plans respecting its acquisition strategy and the completion of the acquisition of the royalty interest, and future plans respecting the Project and statements with respect to the details of the mineral resource estimate.  Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which GoldMining operates, including: (i) that the acquisition of the royalty interest will complete as contemplated and that the conditions under the Agreement will be satisfied, and (ii) the inherent risks involved in resource estimation and the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in resource estimation and interpreting drill results and other exploration data, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with GoldMiningꞌs expectations, accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Project.  Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: that the parties may not satisfy all of the conditions under the Agreement, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future.  These risks, as well as others, including those set forth in GoldMiningꞌs filings with Canadian securities regulators, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.  There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate.  GoldMining does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

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Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, nor its Regulation Services Providers (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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GoldMining Inc.
1030 West Georgia Street 
Suite 1830
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6E 2Y3




Major banks clamping down on crypto trading by credit card, is it an admission of failure on their part?

Bitcoin $BTC and crypto currencies have surged in value, attracting the attention of less sophisticated investors looking for easy money on a one way bet that cannot fail.

One symptom of this is that people start to ‘invest’ with credit rather than their own funds, increasing the risk in the event that their chosen investment declines in value, as Bitcoin did recently. Major banks have started to slam this door shut.

 

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Major banks starting to clamp down on crypto trading by credit card

 

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Bitcoin $BTC and crypto currencies have surged in value, attracting the attention of less sophisticated investors looking for easy money on a one way bet that cannot fail.

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One symptom of this is that people start to ‘invest’ with credit rather than their own funds, increasing the risk in the event that their chosen investment declines in value, as Bitcoin did recently. Major banks have started to slam this door shut.

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The first major banks to announce they would no longer allow transactions with credit cards to Bitcoin exchanges were in the USA, JP Morgan, Citibank, and Bank of America on the 3rd February. This was promptly followed by Lloyds Bank Group in the UK, Virgin Money Group in South Africa and Australia, and now Citibank India, for both debit and credit card purchases.

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The TD bank of Canada has now announced a debit and credit card crypto purchasing ban, and whilst the Royal Bank of Canada still does allow this activity, they are contacting customers to inform them they are reviewing the risks involved with such trading, and customers’ ability to pay.

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It is refreshing to see some corporate responsibility emerging, but one has to question whether the banks have the right to dictate where their customers spend their money? Isn’t it their responsibility to set prudent credit levels in the first place, such that a maxed out customer still has the ability to service his debt? By these announcements it would appear they don’t have the faith in themselves to do this, and maybe credit limits are set too high?

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It seems to be an admission by the banks that they have abdicated their responsibilities as prudent lenders if they are expressing concerns about people using the credit the banks have assessed they are good for.

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If a credit card customer spends £4,000 on the holiday of a lifetime, at the end of it they have cherished memories, but nothing tangible, except the debt to repay of course. If a crypto investor spends £4,000 on Bitcoin or a similar coin or token, in the worst case it could reduce to zero (unlikely, IMO) or it could multiply in value many times, enabling the debt to be fully repaid and the investor retain the profit.

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So I question why the banks are doing this? Are they afraid of Bitcoin and other cryptos becoming too mainstream and their banking system being circumvented and usurped? That’s what it looks like to me.

 

Comments welcome – andrew@city-investors-circle.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Barkerville Gold intersects 23.86 g/t AU over 6.65 m at the Shaft Zone, Cariboo Gold Project, B.C.

 Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. {TSX.V: BGM} announced additional drilling results from the 2017 Phase II Island Mountain exploration and infill drilling program at the Company’s flagship Cariboo Gold Project.  The Company is currently exploring and delineating the Shaft Zone with seven drill rigs.

 

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BGM INTERSECTS 23.86 G/T AU OVER 6.65 METERS AT SHAFT ZONE

12.16 G/T AU OVER 13.30 METER INTERSECTED AT DEPTH

TORONTO, ON – February 21st, 2018 – Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. {TSX.V: BGM} is pleased to announce additional drilling results from the 2017 Phase II Island Mountain exploration and infill drilling program at the Company’s flagship Cariboo Gold Project.

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 The Company is currently exploring and delineating the Shaft Zone with seven drill rigs. Detailed drilling results, a drill hole location plan map and vertical sections are presented at the end of this release. The exact geometry and hence true width of the mineralized zones cannot be assuredly concluded at this time therefore core lengths are reported.
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Drilling Highlights

  • IM-17-201: 104.5 g/t Au over 1.00 meter
  • IM-17-215: 23.86 g/t Au over 6.65 meters
  • IM-17-215: 12.16 g/t Au over 13.30 meters
  • IM-17-226: 28.73 g/t Au over 4.45 meters
  • IM-17-231: 24.76 g/t Au over 5.10 meters

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The Company is pleased to report new mineralisation expansion from the ongoing drilling at Island Mountain. Phase II drillhole IM-17-201 intersected 104.5 g/t Au over 1.00 meters at a vertical depth of 10 meters from surface. This new intersection is 40 meters up dip from previously modelled vein corridor, therefore potentially extending this vein corridor near surface.

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IM-17-215 intersected 23.86 g/t over 6.65 meters at a vertical depth of 400 meters from surface and, further down hole, intersected 12.16 g/t Au over 13.30 meters at a vertical depth of 570 meters from surface, demonstrating wide corridors at depth. IM-17-215 represents one of the deepest intercepts to date, drilling at these depths are widely spaced and untested at depth.  Additional drilling is warranted to expand this mineralisation.
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Shaft Zone – Corridors Discussion
Mineralized quartz veins at the Shaft Zone on Island Mountain are hosted within the sandstones and are an anastomosing network of high vein density with an overall sub-vertical dip and northeast strike. Recent modelling of veins at Shaft Zone proposes 50 mineralized vein corridors with an estimated horizontal width of 3 meters and a strike length of up to 300 meters. These corridors, as well as others that are developing in the Shaft and Valley Zones have been defined from surface to a vertical depth of 600 meters and remain open for expansion to depth and down plunge. Drillhole spacing in the corridors currently averages 25 meters between drilling sections with vertical drilling separations ranging from 20 to 75 meters with hole spacing increasing at depth. Gold grades are intimately associated with vein-hosted pyrite as well as pyritic, intensely silicified wall rock haloes in close proximity to the veins.

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Qualified Persons

Exploration activities at the Cariboo Gold Project are administered on site by the Company’s Exploration Manager, Maggie Layman, P.Geo. As per National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on the Cariboo Gold Project.

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Quality Assurance – Quality Control

Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged.  The remaining drill core is subsequently stored on site at the Company’s secure facility in Wells, BC.  Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements.  The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company’s Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration.

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Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry’s analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 250 grams is pulverised. Analysis for gold is by 50g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 1,000g screen metallic fire assay. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-elemental geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

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For further information on Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. please contact:
Chris Lodder
President & Chief Executive Officer
155 University Avenue, Suite 1440
Toronto, Ontario, Canada




Nouveau Monde Graphite announces the results of their expandable graphite process

Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. {TSX.V: NOU} announced the results of its research project aiming to develop a new expandable graphite production process.

The 6-month research project was conducted in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

 

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Nouveau Monde announces the results of their expandable graphite process

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SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS, QUEBEC Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. {TSX.V: NOU} is proud to announce the results of its research project aiming to develop a new expandable graphite production process. The 6-month research project was conducted in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as well as a Quebec research center. The results obtained are most convincing, foretelling expansions of some 342 mL/g. The graphite used to conduct this research was exclusively sourced from the West Zone of the Tony claim block of Nouveau Monde’s Matawinie graphite property.

 

Methodology

The major goal of this first phase of the expandable graphite research program was to prove the process’ feasibility in laboratory mode and test out the expansion properties of the Matawinie property graphite concentrate. Influence levels of other factors, such as graphite flake size, treatment time and heating temperature, on the process’ successful outcome and expansion levels obtained, were also assessed.

 

Graphite flakes were initially subjected to the reaction mixture for a predetermined time. Three different treatment times were tested (t, t+1 h, t+2 h). Flakes were then recovered by filtration, washed and dried. To create expansion, they were then rapidly oven-heated at three varying temperatures (T °C, T+100 °C, T+200 °C), at three varying heating times (15, 30 and 60 seconds). After being submitted to such treatment, the graphite was transferred into a graduated tube in order to measure its volume and mass and help determine the process’s expansion factor in mL/g. These controlled conditions were tested on two different types of flake samples; a mix of “large” and “medium” flakes (60–120 mesh) and a “medium” and “fine” flakes mix (120–200 mesh).

 

Main results

This preliminary research draws the conclusion that, in the implemented process, chemical treatment time, expansion temperature and flake size are all important factors that impact substantially the expansion levels of graphite concentrate.

 

As a matter of fact, the expansion factor obtained varies between 125 and 342 mL/g for flakes of 60–120 mesh, depending on the chemical treatment and heating conditions the mineral was subjected to. The optimal result of 342 mL/g was obtained through a chemical treatment time of t+1 h and a thermal treatment time of 15 seconds at heating temperatures of T+200°C.

 

Influential Factors

Increasing the chemical treatment time has proven to have nuanced effects. Graphite expansion increased when treatment time was set at t+1 h and decreased at a treatment time of t + 2h. As per the effect of temperature, an increase in heat generally resulted in increased expansion levels. Exposure time at high temperature has proven to have a negative impact in some cases, while its effect appears to be neutral under other heating conditions.

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To read the full news release, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Silver Bull resources reports high grade silver, zinc, and copper intersects at Sierra Mojada

Silver Bull Resources, Inc. {TSX: SVB} provided results of 7 drill holes from its continued underground drill program targeting the newly discovered Sulphide Zone, which sits under the previously defined oxide zone on the Sierra Mojada Project in Coahuila, Northern Mexico.

 

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Vancouver, British Columbia  Silver Bull Resources, Inc. {TSX: SVB} is pleased to provide results of 7 drill holes from its continued underground drill program targeting the newly discovered Sulphide Zone, which sits under the previously defined oxide zone on the Sierra Mojada Project in Coahuila, Northern Mexico.

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Highlights from the seven holes announced in this news release include:

  • Hole T17022 — 6 meters @ 802g/t silver, 5.87% zinc, 3.3% copper, and 0.54% lead.
  • Hole T17019 — 2 meters @ 1,300g/t silver, 13.52% zinc, 3.87% copper, and 2.95% lead.
  • Hole T17021 — 6 meters @ 5.8% zinc, and 0.47% copper.

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The Sulphide Zone: A continuous underground channel sampling program conducted by Silver Bull during the month of August 2017 identified a series of east-west trending high angle structure hosting sulphide mineralisation (announced in a news release on 11 September 2017). Results from the continuous channel sampling program yielded 31.5 meters grading at 22.36% zinc, 134.5 g/t silver, 2.05% lead, 0.21% copper and 10.5 meters @ 432 g/t silver, 1.15% zinc, 0.05% lead, and 1.22% copper and is the target of the current drill program.

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The Drill Program: For the drill program Silver Bull is utilizing a company owned Termite drill rig which aims to test the grade, thickness, and continuity of the sulphide mineralization identified by the channel sampling program. The Termite is capable of drilling up to 100 meters of NQ diamond core and five drill stations are presently planned with more expected to be added as the drill program progresses.

 

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To read the full news release, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Enviroleach updates investors on Tennessee plant commissioning

 Mineworx {TSX.V: MWX} provided an update on the Mineworx / EnviroLeach {CSE: CTI} Joint Venture E-Waste processing plant commissioning and start-up underway at the 650,000 square foot facility in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

 

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Mineworx {TSX.V: MWX} provided an update on the Mineworx / EnviroLeach {CSE: CTI} Joint Venture E-Waste processing plant commissioning and start-up underway at the 650,000 square foot facility in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

To read the full news release, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lithium Power – First lithium carbonate samples produced from their Maricunga project, Chile

Lithium Power International {ASX: LPI} have announced the first production of lithium carbonate samples from their Maricunga project, in northern Chile.

Initial purity is 99.4%, which is battery quality.

 

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Lithium Power International {ASX: LPI} have announced the first production of lithium carbonate samples from their Maricunga project, in northern Chile.

Initial purity is 99.4%, which is battery quality.

 

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To read the full news release, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bitcoin fighting back after the recent turmoil

Bitcoin $BTC and the crypto currencies are staging a strong recovery sine the recent market turmoil sent the price of Bitcoin down 75%.

Bitcoin has doubled in price in a week, from the nadir at $6,200 to around $10,800 currently, and other cryptos are responding in similar fashion, begging the question, is the volatility over?

 

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Crypto currencies, led by Bitcoin, are fighting back after the recent collapse.

 

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Bitcoin $BTC and the crypto currencies are staging a strong recovery sine the recent market turmoil sent the price of Bitcoin down 75%.

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Bitcoin has increased in price 35% in a week, from around $8,200 (the recent nadir was $6,200) to around $10,800 currently, and other cryptos are responding in similar fashion, begging the question, is the volatility over?

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I’m not so sure, now that the CME has some control via the Futures Contract, I feel we may see more volatility in the future.

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What the recent volatility probably did do, in those countries where bitcoin is heavily traded, (China, South Korea, and Japan), is wipe out a lot of margined players. It’s hard to see how this did not happen due to the rapidity and severity of the falls.

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If my theory of margin players being wiped out (or worse!) is true, it will take some time for confidence to be restored and new players enter the game.  Those people predicting Bitcoin could only go up and never fall have been proved badly wrong, and confidence shaken, and that will take some time to recover.

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The benefit of the recent volatility is that people will have learned that Bitcoin and crypto currencies, like stocks and bonds, can go down as well as up, and that’s not a bad thing in the long run.

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Tinka Resources Announces high grade intercepts in Zone 3 at Ayawilca zinc project

Tinka Resources Ltd. {TSX.V: TK} announced assay results for a further nine drill holes from the Company’s ongoing drill program at its 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc project, central Peru. 

All the holes tested for mineralisation outside the existing mineral resource boundaries.

 

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Vancouver, Canada Tinka Resources Limited {TSX.V: TK} is pleased to announce assay results for a further nine drill holes from the Company’s ongoing drill program at its 100%-owned Ayawilca zinc project, central Peru.

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 All holes were testing for mineralisation outside of the existing mineral resource boundaries. (Ayawilca Inferred Mineral Resource estimate: 42.7 million tonnes grading 6.0% Zn, 0.2% lead, 17 g/t silver and 79 g/t indium; Nov 8, 2017). Four holes (107, 109, 110 and 111) were drilled at the new Zone 3 discovery area, part of a large geophysical target believed to be the northeastern extension of Ayawilca. An additional five holes were drilled at South, West and Central Ayawilca. Drilling of hole A18-112 at Zone 3 has now commenced, with a second drill rig expected to start up once the wet weather conditions improve in March.

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High-grade zinc mineralisation intersected in holes A18-110 & A18-111 at Zone 3 is associated with flat-dipping massive sulphide replacements of the Pucará limestone and lower Goyllar sandstone, similar in style to the zinc mineralisation at South and West Ayawilca. In addition, high-grade vein-style polymetallic mineralisation (zinc-lead-silver-tin) has been intersected in phyllite rocks at Zone 3 (hole A17-109), which represents a new style of mineralisation encountered at Ayawilca for the first time. The high-grade polymetallic veins are believed to be feeder structures for the zinc and tin mineralisation in the overlying limestones.

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Key Highlights
Massive sulphide drill intercepts#

Hole A18-111 (Zone 3):

  • 5.0 metres at 20.2 % zinc, 0.3 % lead, 74 g/t silver & 420 g/t indium from 173.8 metres depth.

Hole A18-110 (Zone 3):

  • 6.0 metres at 5.6 % zinc & 50 g/t indium from 436.0 metres depth; and
  • 4.0 metres at 8.4 % zinc & 126 g/t indium from 454.0 metres depth, including
    • 0.5 metres at 41.7 % zinc & 366 g/t indium from 456.2 metres depth; and

Hole A17-107 (Zone 3):

  • 16.0 metres at 0.65 % tin & 0.09 % copper from 576.0 metres depth, including
    • 2.8 metres at 2.4 % tin & 0.01 % copper from 582.5 metres depth.

 

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High-grade polymetallic veins* 
Hole A17-109 (Zone 3):

  • 0.7 metres at 4.8 % zinc, 8.8 % lead, 674 g/t silver & 0.76 % tin from 577.0 metres depth; and
  • 1.2 metres at 5.2 % zinc, 10.1 % lead, 621 g/t silver & 0.29 % tin from 611.2 metres depth; and
  • 0.6 metres at 5.5 % zinc, 4.8 % lead, 305 g/t silver & 0.48 % tin from 615.4 metres depth; and
  • 0.35 metres at 6.5% zinc, 9.0 % lead, 557 g/t silver & 0.76 % tin from 681.6 metres depth.

Hole A18-110 (Zone 3):

  • 0.35 metres at 17.1 % zinc, 7.5 % lead, 1.15% copper & 513 g/t silver from 530.4 metres depth.

# True thicknesses of the zinc and tin intersections in massive sulphides are estimated to be at least 85% of the downhole thicknesses.
* True thicknesses of the veins are unknown at this time.

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Dr. Graham Carman, Tinka´s President and CEO, stated: “The discovery of high grade mineralisation in limestones and in deep veins at Zone 3 is very exciting, as it opens up a lot more exploration potential at the project. It is still early days for the exploration at Zone 3, it is a large target area with only a handful of holes drilled so far and with several geophysical anomalies untested (see drill map, Figure 1). Other priority targets for this year include extensions of the mineralization at West, South, and Central Ayawilca. A new geological interpretation suggests that high-grade, thick zinc mineralisation generally lies near the intersection points of northeast-trending faults and north-south trending folds in the strata. Tinka plans to drill an additional 25 to 30 step-out holes into a range of targets during the first half of 2018.

The Company has two key objectives for 2018: (1) Continue our exploration drill program targeting additional zinc resources at Ayawilca with 15,000 metres of drilling planned; and (2) Advance the project with desktop mining studies and detailed metallurgical tests that will form the basis of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) planned for the second half of 2018. Exact timing of the PEA will depend on the extent to which significant new mineralization is identified in the first half of 2018.

The strong backdrop for zinc remains, with zinc prices close to 11-year highs while inventories are reaching critically low levels not seen since 2008. In particular, there remains a shortage of large high-grade exploration-development projects for zinc in good mining jurisdictions, like Ayawilca, in the marketplace.”

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Geological review and new interpretations
A recent geological review of drill cores by Tinka’s geologists, with input from consultant Dr. Paul Pearson of Latin Global Pty Ltd, has led to some new interpretations of the structural controls to the mineralization at Ayawilca. We believe that the lower contact of the Mesozoic Pucará limestone, the principal host to the zinc mineralization at Ayawilca, is a low-angle ‘thrust’ fault that can be traced over several kilometres and dips to the east, in contact with underlying phyllite basement rocks.

 

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To read the full news release, please click HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Canuc Resources gold and silver explorer plans another gas well in Texas

Canuc Resources Corporation {TSX.V: CDA}  announced plans for drilling another gas well on the Thompson lease in Stevens County, West Texas.

The Company currently has 6 producing gas wells on the Thompson lease, and there are a number of offset locations which can be drilled.

 

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Canuc plans another gas well on the Thompson lease in West Texas
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Canuc Resources Corporation {TSX.V: CDA} is pleased to announce plans for drilling another gas well on the Thompson lease in Stevens County, West Texas. The Company currently has 6 producing gas wells on the Thompson lease, and there are a number of offset locations which can be drilled.

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Wells drilled on the Thompson lease have identified 3 productive horizons. Decline rates for natural gas production in the lowest and first productive horizon, the Iona Hickey Conglomerate, have proven slow which suggests a robust natural gas endowment and a long field life. Above the Iona Hickey Conglomerate zone there are 2 further productive horizons. The first of these 2 further horizons is the Caddo Limestone, which is a well-known oil producer in the area. Further up the pipe is the Strawn Sand which is a gas zone. Both the Caddo Limestone oil zone and the Strawn Sand natural gas zone can be produced pursuant to sufficient decline of natural gas production from the lower Iona Hickey Conglomerate zone.

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The 6 producing wells on the Thompson lease are connected to a short collector line which ties into a major natural gas line a few miles distance. This line supplies consumers local to Steven’s County and ensures a higher net gas price as a result of low transportation costs.

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So far, the initial 6 wells on the Thompson lease have experienced slow decline rates, producing at in excess of 80% of initial production rates after 5 years of operation, and are still producing gas from the first of the three productive horizons (Iona Hickey Conglomerate). The addition of new wells can potentially contribute further to oil and natural gas operations.

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“Monthly revenues have helped us to cover corporate and public company expenses, and have assisted us in preventing unnecessary share dilution and treasury share issuance while permitting us to work at developing shareholder value with our high quality silver-gold metal assets at the San Javier Project in Mexico. By drilling additional ‘in field’ natural gas wells in West Texas, we are seeking to expand on, and further, this strategy,” stated Hub Mockler, Executive Chairman.

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About Canuc

Canuc is a junior resources company whose principal focus is exploration and development of the San Javier Silver-Gold Project located 146 km east of Hermosillo in Sonora State, Mexico. The company also generates cash flow from natural gas production in Central West Texas, where Canuc has an interest in several producing gas wells, and has rights for further in field developments.

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For further information on the content of this release or about Canuc Resources, please contact:

Canuc Resources Corporation                   




Komet Resources close the second tranche of their non brokered placement

Komet Resources {TSX.V: KMT} announced that it has closed a second tranche of a non-brokered private placement with accredited investors by issuing 3,364,000 units at a price of CA$0.37 per Unit, for total gross proceeds to Komet of CA$1,244,680.

 

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Komet Resources {TSX.V: KMT} is pleased to announce that it has closed a second tranche of a non-brokered private placement with accredited investors by issuing 3,364,000 units at a price of CA$0.37 per Unit, for total gross proceeds to Komet of CA$1,244,680. Each Unit consists of one common share and one-half common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share of the Corporation at a price of CA$0.45 for 12 months from the closing date of the private placement. From this amount, 30,000 common shares and 15,000 warrants were issued to a director of the issuer.

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The Company paid a finder’s fee amounting CA$88,326 and issued 238,720 finder’s warrants.

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Securities issued under the private placement will be subject to a four month hold period from the Closing Date.

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Komet will use the private placement proceeds to accelerate exploration of their properties in Burkina Faso and Mali.

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The private placement was carried out pursuant to prospectus exemptions of applicable securities laws and is subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

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As a result of the private placement, 71,171,342 common shares of Komet are issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kootenay Silver President and CEO James McDonald buys 100,000 shares in the market

Kootenay Silver Inc {TSX.V :KTN} President, CEO, and Director James McDonald bought 100,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th.

The shares were acquired in the market, at an average cost of C$0.20 per share, for a total consideration of C$20,000.

 

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Comment

It’s always good to see a director putting his hand in his own pocket and buying shares in the market.

Kootenay have  released decent frill results recently on three different drill campaigns, there’s a lot going on, yet the shares are failing to respond.

I suspect this purchase id designed to send a confident message to the market, we shall see.

 

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Kootenay Silver Inc {TSX.V :KTN} President, CEO, and Director James Mcdonald bought 100,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$0.20 per share, for a total consideration of C$20,000.

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Kootenay recently released three sets of drill results from their projects, and the company looks in good shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Zenyatta Ventures dissident group seek the replacement of directors

Zenyatta Ventures {TSX.V: ZEN}  A group of concerned shareholders of Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. requested by a letter delivered to the board of directors on Feb. 8, 2018, that a special meeting be held on or before March 27, 2018, to remove CEO Aubrey Eveleigh and three other named directors.

 

 

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Zenyatta dissidents seek meeting to replace directors

2018-02-12 05:09 ET – News Release

Dr. Francis Dube of the concerned shareholders reports

A group of concerned shareholders of Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. requested by a letter delivered to the board of directors on Feb. 8, 2018, that a special meeting be held on or before March 27, 2018, for the purpose of considering the composition of the board of directors of the corporation and to conduct the following business.

To consider and, if thought fit, approving the following:

  1. That Aubrey Eveleigh, Barry Allan, Sean Whiteford and Keith Morrisson be removed as directors of the corporation forthwith;
  2. That Dr. Francis Dube, OD, BSc; Eric Wallman, CPA, CA; and Brian Bosse, CFA, be appointed as directors of the corporation forthwith, subject to the act.
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For any company to be successful it needs strong leadership and strategic planning with timelines and accountability. A publicly traded junior mining company also needs to communicate with shareholders and financial institutions to ensure the strategic plan is clear and that the company is properly financed.

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The areas that have not been adequately addressed by management are:

  1. Inability to finance current and future operations of the business;
  2. Non-completion of metallurgical report;
  3. Lack of progress on the prefeasibility study;
  4. Lack of consistent communication with shareholders;
  5. No update to the preliminary economic assessment to reflect revised business strategy, including focus on higher margin graphene.

 




Inovio Pharmaceuticals announces a collaboration with Wistar for TB and Malaria vaccines

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. {NASDAQ: INO}  announced that the company is collaborating with The Wistar Institute to advance two novel SynCon® vaccine programs against tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, fully funded by more than $4.6 million in total grants.

 

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Inovio and The Wistar Institute Receive More Than $4.6 Million in R&D Funding to Advance Vaccines Against Tuberculosis & Malaria
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PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – February 12, 2018  Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. {NASDAQ: INO} today announced that the company is collaborating with The Wistar Institute to advance two novel SynCon® vaccine programs against tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, fully funded by more than $4.6 million in total grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Grants from the Gates Foundation (for malaria) and from the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (for TB) will fully support Inovio’s efforts to develop new DNA vaccines employing its versatile ASPIRE (Antigen SPecific Immune REsponses) platform that is leading the way forward for activation immunotherapy. This one-of-a-kind platform delivers optimized synthetic antigenic genes into cells, where it is translated into protein antigens that activate an individual’s immune system to generate robust targeted T cell and antibody responses.

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Malaria and TB remain two of the largest global health problems existing today. Efforts to develop better malaria control tools have gained new urgency as drug resistance has rendered the cheapest and most widely-used anti-malarial drugs useless in many parts of Africa. New combination treatments for malaria are more effective but have remained out of reach for millions of Africans due to supply shortages and the relatively high cost of the drugs. In 2013, there were an estimated 584,000 deaths from malaria with around 90% of these occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, and 83% in children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa. There is currently no vaccine on the market for protection against malaria.

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Dr. Laurent Humeau, Inovio’s Senior VP, Research and Development, said, “Inovio is pleased to collaborate with The Wistar Institute and laboratory of Inovio’s co-founder, Dr. David B. Weiner, to develop novel, effective vaccines against the global health threats of malaria and TB. What we learn from developing vaccines against these infectious disease programs using our versatile ASPIRE™ technology platform we can also apply to advance our cancer-focused therapies. This platform is well suited to address global health outbreaks, with its demonstrated potency and long safety track record in the clinic as well as its rapid design, ease of manufacturing and transportation/storage. Based on the quality of preclinical data, Inovio and collaborators plan to obtain additional funding to advance the vaccines into clinical studies.”

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DNA vaccines have a significant public health potential to rapidly impact emerging pandemics, as this technology has conceptual safety, development, speed of production, field stability, and deliverability advantages for vaccine and immunotherapy development,” said Dr. David B. Weiner, Ph.D., executive vice president, director of the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center at The Wistar Institute and the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Professor in Cancer Research. “These synthetic DNA approaches can be developed for important infectious diseases, and with our collaborators, we have shown this consistently by rapidly engineering multiple synthetic DNA vaccines and advancing them to clinical study with positive outcomes of safety and immune potency.” 

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Inovio and Wistar will also develop and evaluate a novel SynCon vaccine against TB in non-human primates. This research will be funded under a National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases) grant to Wistar. In use today is a decades-old TB vaccine (BCG) that, while somewhat effective, has variable protective efficacy and is unreliable in protecting against pulmonary TB, which accounts for most of the disease burden worldwide, according to the CDC. A safe, effective and affordable TB vaccine that covers a broad spectrum of strains would represent a major advance in the control of the disease, which is currently experiencing treatment ineffectiveness due to the rise of multi-drug resistances.

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The Inovio/Wistar TB program will also build on recent clinical success by newer genetic immune modulators focused on improved T cell and antibody induction. The program will concentrate on increasing the breadth of coverage induced by optimized SynCon vaccines by exploring the potential of a multivalent DNA vaccine targeting multiple TB antigens at both active and latent stages of infection. Furthermore, Inovio plans to develop this collection of technologies in a simplified vaccine scheme that has distinct clinical advantages for global testing. 

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Tuberculosis is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. In 2016, 10.4 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.7 million died from the disease. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Seven countries account for 64% of the total, with India leading the count, followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, and South Africa. In 2016, an estimated one million children became ill with TB and 250,000 children died of TB (including children with HIV-associated TB). TB is also the leading killer of HIV-positive people: in 2016, 40% of HIV deaths were due to TB.

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About Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Inovio is taking immunotherapy to the next level in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases. We are the only immunotherapy company that has reported generating T cells in vivo in high quantity that are fully functional and whose killing capacity correlates with relevant clinical outcomes with a favorable safety profile. With an expanding portfolio of immune therapies, the company is advancing a growing preclinical and clinical stage product pipeline. Partners and collaborators include MedImmune, Regeneron, Genentech, The Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, DARPA, GeneOne Life Science, Plumbline Life Sciences, ApolloBio Corporation, Drexel University, NIH, HIV Vaccines Trial Network, National Cancer Institute, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, and Laval University.

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For more information, please visit www.inovio.com

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CONTACTS:
Investors: Ben Matone, Inovio, 484-362-0076, ben.matone@inovio.com
Media: Jeff Richardson, Inovio, 267-440-4211, jrichardson@inovio.com