FOR: RAMBLER METALS & MINING PLC
TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: RAB
AIM SYMBOL: RMM
July 9, 2008
Rambler's Ming Mine Dewatered and Project Update
LONDON, ENGLAND and BAIE VERTE, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - July 9, 2008) -
Rambler
Metals and Mining plc (TSX VENTURE:RAB)(AIM:RMM) ('Rambler') is pleased to provide an update
on
operations and ongoing activities at the Ming Mine.
Project Highlights:
- Ming Mine dewatered.
- Development equipment arrives and access development begins to the 1807 zone.
- Detailed metallurgical work begins.
- Hiring of key personnel.
- Internal plans focusing on a start up small tonnage mine nearer the historical production
rates (650
tpd) mining high grade ore.
- Titan 24 deep geophysics program to begin 14th July.
- Fish habitat work initiated.
George Ogilvie, President and CEO, commented,
"The completion of the mine dewatering is another key milestone towards Rambler's goal of
bringing the
former Ming Mine back into production. The development out to the 1807 Zone will provide
Rambler with
access to ore grading better than 4% Cu and 2 g/t Au before the end of the year. Importantly
these
access drifts will also act as exploration platforms to further test the extent of the 1807
zone
mineralization which is open both up-plunge and down plunge. I'm also pleased to announce that
Rambler
has been able to attract well qualified and experienced individuals to the project
particularly in
light of today's difficult labour market. We now have the basis of a management team that can
carry
the project through to production."
Rambler Declares the Ming Mine Dewatered
After 12 months of operations and 245 million gallons of water pumped and treated, Rambler
has
finished dewatering the old Ming Mine. Despite most of the mine being submerged since the
early 1980s
ground conditions along the main ramp were excellent and required minimal rehabilitation. At
the time
of this release water levels sit near the 2600 level, this was the last mined level, and is in
close
proximity to the old property boundary.
Development equipment arrives at site and access development begins to the 1807 zone
Following recommendations made by SRK Consulting (Canada) during the Scoping Study, Rambler
has
planned an exploration development drift specifically targeting the high grade massive
sulphide of the
1807 zone. This new development will allow drill rigs access to underexplored areas of the old
mine
while preparing the ore zone for production. It will also give Rambler an opportunity to
explore the
potential up-plunge extension of the 1806 and 1805 zones where wire gold had been reported
during the
closing phase of the mine in 1982. To carry out this work Rambler has purchased a jumbo
underground
drill rig and a second haulage truck. Development to the 1807 zone will take approximately two
months.
Detailed metallurgical work begins
Metallurgy work for the Scoping Study was limited to small samples from drill core. Now that
the mine
is dewatered and access to old stopes and remnant pillars is possible, a bulk sample has been
collected to confirm the processing flow sheet of the past and to optimize flotation for the
higher
grade 1807 zone. A high grade sample has been shipped to the testing lab in New Brunswick,
Canada,
with the final report expected to be delivered before the end of 2008.
Hiring of key personnel
Rambler is pleased to announce the addition of key personnel to the operations team. Over the
past two
months a Human Resources Administrator, Financial Controller and Senior Mine Planner have all
been
hired forming the basis of the operations management team.
Internal plans focusing on lower tonnage mining high grade ore
The NI43-101 resource statement published in April of this year outlined a substantial
resource for
the footwall supporting a 4000 tonnes per day operation with a mine life in excess of ten
years.
However to achieve this production rate a significant amount of time and capital would need to
be
invested upfront before any mining could take place. To accelerate Rambler's goal of putting
the mine
back into production internal plans have been focused on smaller scale mining of the 1807 Zone
and
high grade massive sulphides nearer to the historical production rates of 650 tonnes per day.Rambler
believes this approach will not only allow for a quicker start up but also minimize the amount
of
capital required to bring the mine into production. Over the coming months the newly hired
mine
planner will bring this plan into reality.
Exploration
Two underground drill rigs are now operating on the property. The new smaller air drill is
testing
strike and plunge extensions of the Ming Massive Sulphide as well as new gold mineralization. The
addition of any high grade massive sulphide fits well into Rambler's plans for a smaller high
grade
tonnage start up.
The second, larger drill continues delineation drilling of the Lower Footwall Zone and is
focused on
moving the inferred resource to the indicated category or better before the resource update at
the end
of this calendar year. To support the two drills, a new junior geologist has been added to
the
exploration team.
Line cutting for the Titian 24 deep geophysics program is now complete and the official survey
is
expected to begin in mid July. The purpose of this program is to explore for new sulphide
mineralization across strike, near surface and at depth. The results from this work will be
announced
later this year.
Rambler is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding
with the
Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). This agreement will allow for a free exchange of data and
ideas
with the hopes of identifying new mineralization.
Environment and Reclamation
In preparation for the Environmental permitting process Rambler has contracted AMEC to conduct
a Fish
Habitat study in the waters surrounding the Ming Mine. The field work for this program is
nearly
complete and the final report is expected in September 2008. This work will help define the
location
and extent of the tailings facility.
Larry Pilgrim, P.Geo. is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this
release
and has reviewed and approved it accordingly. Mr. Pilgrim is an independent consultant
contracted by
Rambler Metals and Mining plc.
All tonnes are dry metric tonnes.
National Instrument 43-101 compliance information regarding sampling and analytical protocols
pertaining to the Rambler Project can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.ramblermines.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Rambler Metals and MiningCanada Limited
George Ogilvie, P.Eng.
President and CEO
(709) 532-4990
OR
Rambler Metals & Mining Plc
Leslie Little
Company Secretary
+44 (0) 20-7661-8104
Website: http://www.ramblermines.com
OR
Seymour Pierce Limited
Nandita Sahgal
+44 (0) 20-7107 8000
OR
Pelham Public Relations
Chelsea Hayes/Klara Kaczmarek
+44 (0) 20-7743-6675 /20-3159-4395
The TSX-Venture Exchange does not accept responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Rambler Metals & Mining Plc
|