| | Water Exploration in Progress at Sierra Mojada
Wednesday October 4, 12:58 pm ET
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Adequate water supply is a critical requirement for development at Metalline Mining Company's (OTC Bulletin Board: MMGG - News) Sierra Mojada Project, Coahuila, Mexico. Green Team International (GTI) and Pincock Allen and Holt, engineering firms performing the feasibility study for Metalline, have identified a need to develop a water source able to supply the mine and concentrator operation.
The water in this desert area currently comes from wells that produce from depths of around 150-160 meters (about 500 feet). This water is the public water supply for the towns of Sierra Mojada and Esmeralda. Metalline buys water from the local government for use at the Company camp and in its exploration and development activities. However, the known supply is inadequate to support a large mining operation or to supply the additional workers that would be employed in such an operation.
The company has been working since spring of 2006 to identify a new source. It retained David Hawkins of Barranca Group, LLC, as consulting hydrologist to participate in these activities. Mr. Hawkins has more than 25 years of varied experience in hydrology and has been involved in the development of water supplies for 15 mines in the southwestern US and Mexico. He is a valuable addition to our feasibility project team.
Metalline has performed a ground water inventory of water wells within about 35 kilometers of Sierra Mojada. This inventory involved locating existing wells, determining the depth to water in the wells and determining the water quality and rate of production.
In April, 2006 the Company contracted with Layne de Mexico for a large reverse circulation drill to conduct a campaign of water exploration drilling. In June a drill rig became available and the first hole was drilled. The first hole was at a Company owned well site which had produced water for local mines in the early 20th century. A test boring at this site reached a depth of 417 m without encountering significant water flows. Older pumping seems to have mined out most of the water in this area.
Exploration was continued with 4 holes drilled at progressively larger distances to the east of the district mines. Water was present in fractured carbonate rocks in all but one of these holes. These are not the same aquifers as provide water for domestic purposes in this area and constitute an untapped resource. The level of the water in these tests and data from our well inventory allow us to estimate the elevation of the regional water table in the area.
The gallons per minute that a well might produce are estimated by air lift testing using the large capacity air compressor on the drilling rig. The quality of the water is estimated by measuring the electrical properties of the water produced. Only one of the exploration wells had an estimated production rate that would justify completing it as a well, but all of the wells had good water quality.
Our first round of exploratory drilling indicates an area, about 20 kilometers east of the district mines, where a relatively shallow, high quality water supply may be developed. Our next round of exploration drilling will be in this area. We have obtained leases for surface access well sites and pipeline construction in areas where we will be drilling.
The flow rates of exploration borings cannot be accurately evaluated until the holes are completed as wells, a pump is installed and a lengthy series of pump tests are performed. We will determine which holes we will complete after we have completed the exploration drilling. We will not announce any flow rates until the rates are confirmed in accordance with good engineering practices.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Metalline's future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry in which Metalline operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Metalline's management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of Metalline's future financial performance, Metalline's anticipated growth and potentials in its business and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified elsewhere herein and Metalline's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 under "Risk Factors." Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Metalline undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Contact: Merlin Bingham
(208) 665-2002
Source: Metalline Mining Company
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