Message #2 From:
Jason Date: March 17, 2007 08:00:37 PM
CGLD: Mining Operations Scheduled to Begin This Week at Capital Gold's El Chanate Gold Mining Project in Sonora, Mexico
Drilling program designed to increase reserves on schedule
Capital Gold Corporation (TSX: CGC; OTC Bulletin Board: CGLD pennny stock forum) said today that mining operations will begin this week at the company's El Chanate gold mining project, located in Sonora, Mexico.
Gifford Dieterle, Chairman of Capital Gold said, 'The process of stacking crushed ore on the leach pads will begin this week. We have been stacking screened ore on the pads for several weeks for use as overliner material, but now that we are ready to commence stacking crushed ore, the production process has truly begun.'
John Brownlie, Capital Gold's Chief Operating Officer said his production team will be stacking crushed ore for several weeks before they start applying the cyanide solution. 'Once the solution application begins, we are probably anywhere from 45 to 75 days away from the beginning of actual gold production at El Chanate,' he said. The El Chanate mine construction is nearly complete. Both the electrical system and the crushing system have been hot commissioned. The only material remaining system, the ADR plant (which extracts the gold from the cyanide solution), should be completed in April. Gold production will follow shortly thereafter. The project continues to stay within budget.
Meanwhile, an aggressive drilling program, designed with the intent of bringing additional gold ounces into the reserve totals, is moving along at a rapid pace. To date, 33 holes have been drilled, totaling 4,650 meters. The average depth has been 141 meters. Already 3,050 samples have been collected. Assay results should start coming in later this month.
'We started drilling in the area south of the 'East Pit' and we have drilled between the two planned pits, and around the south side of the main planned pit. Drilling has focused on areas close to the pit limits, outside the reserve blocks. Drilling along the south side of the pit has shown mineralization that may extend further south, especially on the southwest side of the pit. Drilling on the west side of the pit also looks promising. Nine additional holes have been added to the program, bringing the new total to 60 holes,' Brownlie added. The remaining holes left to be drilled will be exploration holes concentrated on the eastern extremities of the known ore body. The drilling program is expected to be concluded in early April.
About Capital Gold
Capital Gold Corp. (CGLD) is a gold exploration and development company. CGLD, through its Mexican subsidiaries, owns 100% of the El Chanate gold property in Sonora, Mexico. During August 2006 CGLD completed debt financing for the construction of the Chanate Mine. Engineering Procurement and Construction Management activities commenced June 1, 2006. Gold production is estimated to begin in the second quarter of 2007. Further information about Capital Gold and the El Chanate Gold Mine, along with current photographs, are available on the Company's website, http://www.capitalgoldcorp.com.
