Duran Ventures Inc. (TSX-V: DRV) (OTC: DUVNF) (Frankfurt: 6D7) (BVL: DRV) is
the subject of a Mining MarketWatch Journal Review offering insight and
opportunity afforded investors as DRV is focused on achieving production in Peru
with Rio Alto Mining among others, that are well financed proven miners able and
committed to taking several of Duran's projects to revenue generating status.
DRV has a market cap under $25 million, presents exceptional value, and appears
poised for considerable share price appreciation as projects advance and the
reality of the accomplishments underway are appreciated by the markets.
Duran Ventures has entered into joint ventures (JV) on three of its properties
with well funded proven miners that will see the projects advanced without
dilution to Duran's share structure. Duran's flagship Aguila copper-molybdenum
project, with nearly 2.5billion lbs of copper and 188million lbs of molybdenum,
is still 100% owned.
Rio Alto Mining's decision to JV with Duran is particularly significant since
this is Rio Alto's first foray outside its exceptionally successful 200,000+oz
gold per annum La Arena project in central Peru. In its early days Rio Alto
mainly funded itself using the South American capital markets and created a lot
of happy shareholders in its wake, with initial financings between ~36 cents to
~$2 and the stock now sitting above well above $5 -- Duran's aim is to replicate
that type of success in shares of DRV and Rio Alto's belief is that Duran's
properties offer the ability to deliver. Rio Alto's CEO, Alex Black, is now on
the board of directors of DRV offering guidance. The terms of the JV on Duran's
Minasnioc high sulphidation gold-silver project are such that the potential
outcome from this one project alone to be a 'company-maker' in its own right is
phenomenal; the terms essentially state that Rio Alto can earn a 70% interest by
completing an initial resource and advancing the project to the point where it
has obtained mining permits.
In order to facilitate matters, this Q4 2012 two mining engineers joined Duran's
board of directors and DRV also obtained a listing on the Lima Stock Exchange to
better access the South American capital markets and better reflect the fact
it's properties, people, and focus are 100% in Peru.
The full Mining Journal review may be found at
http://miningmarketwatch.net/drv.htm online.
The following 4 properties of Duran Ventures are being advanced toward potential
meaningful revenue generation, three of the properties are being advanced by
well funded proven miners:
1) Minasnioc high sulphidation gold-silver project, central Peru; Rio Alto
Mining will earn 70% interest by completing an initial resource and advancing
the project to the point where it has obtained mining permits. Recently obtained
data reveal the property contains an advanced stage Au-Ag deposit that was
previously drilled by Barrick, having received 41 drill holes (over 5863 m of
drilling), demonstrating a deposit with potential similar, in part, to what Rio
Alto is currently successfully heap leach mining in Peru. Results include 1.2
g/t Au over 17.7 m, 1.6 g/t Au over 18.4 m, 0.55 g/t Au over 55.8 m. The
mineralization is classic vuggy silica and alunite alteration with geology
similar to Pierina and Alto Chicama Gold-Silver mines in Peru. The high
sulphidation target is similar to nearby IRL’s Corihuarmi Gold Mine and Pan
American Silver’s Pico Machay Gold Project.
2) Ichuña Cu-Ag-Au project, central Peru; Rio Alto Mining to earn 65% by
spending $8million and paying $500,000. A 4000 meter diamond drill program is
currently planned. Duran's 1000 hectares Ichuña property is located ~3 km from
the Gold Fields-Buenaventura 7.6 M Oz Gold Equivalent Chucapaca Discovery. Duran
staked this land years before the big area discovery and geophysics indicate a
similar anomaly exists to potentially host a similar find. DRV is permitted and
ready to drill. Surface values at Ichuña as high as 10.2% Cu and associated
silver up to 1,645 g Ag/T.
3) Don Pancho Silver-Lead-Zinc project - central Peru; A private Peruvian mining
company is to earn 70% interest in Duran's 600 hectares Don Pancho's
polymetallic project in consideration of a US$2,030,000 payment schedule to DRV,
completion of US$3,500,000 in exploration, and undertaking to commence an
economic study. The property is proximal to the 2000TPD mill of Trevali
Resources' Santander Mine. There is a large breccia body on the Don Pancho
property that runs ~400m wide and 800m long that has numerous lead-zinc
showings; samples are up to 250 grams of silver (~8-10 ounces) per tonne and 4%
- 5% lead-zinc. These are very similar numbers as to the Trevali numbers and it
is the same geology.
4) Aquila copper-molybdenum project, central Peru (100% owned flagship); Aguila
is now demonstrating world class tonnage potential and is approaching the point
to consider commissioning a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). A first
resource calculation was issued March 8, 2012 revealing 375 Million lbs Copper &
22 Million lbs Molybdenum Indicated and 2.1 Billion lbs Copper & 166 Million lbs
Molybdenum Inferred, this was based on 23,000+ metres of core drilling from 2007
- 2011. DRV has established mineralization over an area ~800m x 400m x 500+m
(depth). Aguila has yielded impressive grades in the order of 0.5 - 0.6%+ copper
(ie.718m grading 0.555% Cu and 0.041% Mo = 1%+ copper equivalent) in the main
intrusive. This expanding deposit is host to a past producing open-pit mine and
is part of a major mineralized district actively taking shape with Penoles
active on its own porphyry adjacent DRV's claim line. Important to note is that
Duran's flagship Aguila copper-molybdenum project is still 100% owned, which is
a good thing as what is occurring next door on Peñoles' ground is adding
remarkable value; Mining giant Peñoles has been intensively drilling (10 drill
rigs were on site in 2012) what is understood to be a separate porphyry body
just off Duran's claim line to the south and it also shares a separate porphyry
body in the SW section of Duran's claim group. Any mine Peñoles hopes to build
would ultimately need to involve Duran as Duran has a sizeable ore body on one
side of the gully and all the flat land across the gully and sloping up to where
Peñoles is drilling; DRV.V has the only logical place to build plus it would
make no sense for two mines to be built. The inherent value of Duran's flagship
Aquila property should materialize in share price appreciation for DRV
shareholders as this scenario approaches a climax.
Duran’s Aguila project is now demonstrating world class tonnage potential and a
resource (~2.5 billion lbs Copper & 188 million lbs Molybdenum*) of this size
now commands a market cap for DRV comparable to many of the other copper
explorers in Peru that currently in the $100M - $200M+ range (DRV market cap is
currently under $25M).
With only ~205M shares outstanding (~260M fully diluted) and trading under
CDN$0.15 DRV is poised for significant upside revaluation. The risk-reward
characteristics are highly advantageous for investors establishing a long
position in DRV as the current market cap of DRV relative to the inherent value
of their projects seem disproportionate. To underscore the point, based on the
resource at its flagship Aguila property alone the copper in situ is for sale
under 1.5 cents/lb and molybdenum under 20 cents/lb via shares of DRV.
The full Mining Journal review may be found at
http://miningmarketwatch.net/drv.htm online.
This release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events that
involve risk and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking
statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual events or
results. Articles, excerpts, commentary and reviews herein are for information
purposes and are not solicitations to buy or sell any of the securities
mentioned. "*" refers to "in all categories" - refer to table 1 in review
article found in URL for breakdown. Readers are referred to the terms of use, disclaimer and disclosure
sections located at the above referenced URL.
Contact Information:
James O'Rourke, Associate Editor
Mining MarketWatch Journal