Vancouver, B.C., September 22, 2016. Centurion Minerals Ltd. (CTN: TSX-V) (“Centurion”, or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its Argentine joint venture partner, Demetra Minerals Inc. (“Demetra”) has entered into a purchase agreement for both a primary crushing facility and a secondary crushing unit. At present, upgrading and refurbishing of the primary crusher is well underway and manufacturing of the secondary crusher is on-schedule. Both units will form the main components of a pilot plant facility capable of processing up to 40,000 tons/annum of agri-gypsum material. Demetra anticipates the crushers will be transported to the Ana Sofia project site in Santiago del Estero, Argentina in early October. Site preparation, including clearing, compaction, and access road upgrading is nearing completion and concrete foundations are being installed in preparation for mounting of the crushing facility. The pilot plant can be viewed at: Centurion Minerals – Pilot Plant.
All mining extraction, environmental and export permits are in place to operate the plant and Demetra’s fertilizer distributor in Paraguay has reconfirmed an off-take agreement to purchase up to 50,000 tons/annum of agri-gypsum material at the current market price.
Analytical results from the recent test-pitting program are anticipated to be available shortly and this data will be utilized to complete formal geological modeling and resource estimation work. Currently, a stockpile comprising approximately 2,500 tons of gypsum material, produced during the recent test-pitting and trenching program, is available as initial feed for the pilot plant.
Centurion CEO, Mr. David Tafel comments, “We are extremely pleased with the advances our Argentine partner has made in designing and developing a low cost pilot plant operation. This initial plant facility will allow us to fine-tune the material delivery, crushing and processing operations while we complete initial and subsequent resource estimates of the property. Having a sales distribution arrangement in place will allow us to generate revenue offsetting the cost of resource delineation, operational expenses, and processing expansion.”
The Ana Sofia project comprises two mining concessions totaling 50 hectares (ha) in size within a larger (approximately 500 ha) exploration permit area. Trenching and test pit sampling work completed by joint venture partner Demetra Minerals Inc. in 2014-15 and Centurion in 2016 identified multiple, high grade, near surface gypsum layers. Small scale producers located in the vicinity are currently extracting agricultural gypsum and selling to fertilizer distributors and farmers. Agricultural gypsum is a valuable plant nutrient and plays a vital role in maintaining soil structure and nutrient balance in South American soils, allowing greater crop yields. Further information related to the use of agricultural gypsum can be found at: Centurion Minerals – Agricultural Gypsum Videos.
ABOUT CENTURION
Centurion Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based company with an international focus on the exploration and development of agri-mineral and precious mineral projects.
On Behalf of the Board,
“David G. Tafel”
President and CEO
the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For Further Information Contact:
David Tafel
President and CEO
604-484-2161
This news release may contain forward looking statements concerning future operations of Centurion Minerals Ltd. (the “Company”). All forward looking statements concerning the Company’s future plans and operations, including management’s assessment of the Company’s project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company’s control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections.