FEBRUARY 20, 2013
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (MARKET WIRE) — 02/20/13 — Silvercorp Metals Inc. (“Silvercorp” or the “Company”) (TSX:SVM)(NYSE:SVM) is pleased to report results from the ongoing infill and step-out drilling exploration program at the GC silver-lead-zinc project located in Guangdong Province, China including the discovery of several new mineralized veins.
Highlights of selected intercepts and discoveries:
-- Hole CK2102 intercepted 49.65 metres ("m"), 33.29m true width at the -9m
elevation of vein V2 grading 151 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver ("Ag"),
0.68% lead ("Pb"), 1.51% zinc ("Zn") and 0.30% tin ("Sn"), including an
interval of 4.81m, 3.42m true width at the -23m elevation grading 525
g/t Ag, 2.06% Pb, 1.99% Zn and 0.87% Sn;
-- Hole CK1831 intercepted 3.85m, 3.50m true width at the 39m elevation of
vein V2 grading 460 g/t Ag, 1.20% Pb, 2.95% Zn and 0.86% Sn, including
an interval of 1.30m, 1.18m true width at the 39m elevation grading 923
g/t Ag, 0.21% Pb, 1.35% Zn and 1.84% Sn;
-- Hole CK2410 intercepted 3.88m, 3.76m true width at the 107m elevation of
vein V15-1 grading 609 g/t Ag, 0.41% Pb, 0.56% Zn and 0.03% Sn,
including an interval of 1.16m, 1.13m true width at the 107m elevation
grading 698 g/t Ag, 0.63% Pb, 0.79% Zn and 0.03% Sn;
-- Hole CK10450 intercepted 7.84m, 5.76m true width of vein V28 at the 97m
elevation grading 359 g/t Ag, 1.55% Pb, 1.09% Zn and 0.03% Sn; and
-- Hole CK2001 intercepted 3.15m, 2.76m true width at the 47m elevation of
vein V9W-2 grading 441 g/t Ag, 3.29% Pb, 5.71% Zn and 0.16% Sn,
including an interval of 1.40m, 1.23m true width at the 46m elevation
grading 661 g/t Ag, 4.80% Pb, 5.98% Zn and 0.27%Sn.
-- Discovery of new veins V25, V26, V28 as well several other new veins
(referred to as "New" in tables 1 and 2 below) which have not yet been
named.
The purpose of the 2012 GC project surface and underground drilling program was to upgrade the classification of the known resource blocks and further define and extend known vein structures in preparation for mining in 2013.
Using two underground drill rigs to achieve a drill spacing of approximately 25m by 25m, drilling of V2 was focused on an area 300m in length from mine section lines 10 through 30 and 150m in vertical depth from the 100m elevation down to the -75m elevation. Access to V2 at the 20m elevation was gained via the main ramp and existing cross-cuts. In March 2013 Silvercorp expects to have an additional access point to V2 when the exploration ramp reaches the -50 m elevation. Present drill results (as evidenced by drill hole CK2102) indicate that V2 is a thick, continuous zone that would be amenable to bulk tonnage mining. In addition to its thickness, V2 also contains high-grade silver and tin mineralization. For example drill hole CK1831 intercepted 3.50m true width grading 460 g/t Ag, 1.20% Pb, 2.95% Zn and 0.86% Sn at the 39m elevation. As noted in the Company’s news release of November 19, 2012, the presence of tin is expected to enhance the economics of the GC project.
Drilling of the V9 vein group (V9, V9-1, V9W1 and V9W-2 veins) was conducted in an area 400m in length from mine section lines 14 through 32 and 150m in vertical depth between the 0m elevation and the 150m elevation using three underground drill rigs. Access to the V9 vein group was achieved via the exploration ramp with existing drifts and cross-cuts at elevations of 150m, 100m, 50m and 0m.
In addition to the V2 and the V9 vein groups, drilling has also further defined vein groups V5, V6, V8, V13, V14 and V15. Veins V25, V26, and V28 are new discoveries. Assay results have been received for 97 drill holes totaling 7,037m of drilling. Additional assays results for twelve holes are pending. In 2013, Silvercorp plans to continue with its infill and step-out drilling program at the GC project and currently has five underground drill rigs and two surface drill rigs on site.
The following tables are highlights of selected intercepts from the V2 and the V9 vein groups including intersections from potential veins and new discoveries at the GC project. To view longitudinal sections, visit the following link: https://silvercorpmetals.com/operations/gc_project/
Table 1: Selected Intercepts from the GC project
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample True
Drill From To Length Width Elev- Ag Pb Zn Sn
Hole (m) (m) (m) (m) ation (g/t) (%) (%) (%) Vein
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1831 89.90 93.75 3.85 3.50 39 460 1.20 2.95 0.86 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 89.90 91.20 1.30 1.18 39 923 0.21 1.35 1.84
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 91.20 92.50 1.30 1.18 38 247 2.16 6.18 0.43
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2102 141.49 191.14 49.65 33.29 -9 151 0.68 1.51 0.30 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 160.32 165.13 4.81 3.42 -23 525 2.06 1.99 0.87
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 172.37 175.38 3.01 2.00 -32 542 0.90 4.24 1.45
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK1210 220.51 229.87 9.36 4.68 -88 97 1.35 3.67 0.11 V6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 225.11 226.34 1.23 0.61 -93 221 6.34 4.16 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2002 500.55 507.23 6.68 5.37 -261 246 2.41 4.33 0.57 V7-0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 503.26 504.53 1.27 1.03 -263 555 0.38 2.66 1.81
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 504.53 505.83 1.30 1.05 -264 331 4.11 9.73 0.51
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 505.83 507.23 1.40 1.13 -265 302 7.16 8.19 0.23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1000A 31.14 32.59 1.45 1.36 112 691 0.34 0.46 0.02 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 32.14 32.59 0.45 0.42 112 2190 1.04 1.42 0.06
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1810 238.93 242.62 3.69 3.02 6 400 6.09 3.21 0.14 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 241.59 242.62 1.03 0.84 4 1020 16.80 5.11 0.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1851 116.63 119.41 2.78 2.47 108 677 0.98 2.55 0.14 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1852 107.81 109.97 2.16 1.45 68 347 0.18 8.38 0.07 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2001 172.64 175.79 3.15 2.76 47 441 3.29 5.71 0.16 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 174.39 175.79 1.40 1.23 46 661 4.80 5.98 0.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2410 139.21 143.09 3.88 3.76 107 609 0.41 0.56 0.03 V15-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 139.21 140.37 1.16 1.13 107 698 0.63 0.79 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 140.37 141.42 1.05 1.02 106 1250 0.67 0.86 0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2613 161.57 162.72 1.15 1.11 104 364 1.24 0.96 0.03 V15-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10303 133.10 140.70 7.60 3.96 27 189 5.79 3.41 0.18 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 137.60 139.60 2.00 1.04 22 647 20.00 7.56 0.43
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10450 8.71 16.55 7.84 5.76 97 359 1.55 1.09 0.03 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 8.71 9.77 1.06 0.78 97 538 7.51 3.45 0.08
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 14.96 16.55 1.59 1.17 95 1140 2.13 1.11 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10623 154.75 156.08 1.33 1.07 18 226 5.80 3.80 0.20 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10650 6.76 8.06 1.30 0.95 97 491 1.98 1.42 0.07 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10622 37.85 42.00 4.15 2.94 131 157 0.14 0.47 0.03 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10703 151.95 153.50 1.55 1.14 22 301 6.27 5.09 0.23 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10850 15.79 23.61 7.82 5.16 87 99 0.02 5.21 0.32 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2550 91.34 93.85 2.51 2.26 104 614 1.19 0.45 0.08 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 91.34 92.54 1.20 1.08 104 1130 2.32 0.56 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2613 304.48 306.77 2.29 2.20 50 231 3.89 2.77 0.12 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 305.86 306.77 0.91 0.87 50 562 9.63 6.36 0.24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2: Assay Results in Addition to Table 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample True
Drill From To Length Width Elev- Ag Pb Zn Sn
Hole (m) (m) (m) (m) ation (g/t) (%) (%) (%) Vein
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK800B 53.50 56.11 2.61 1.31 63 103 0.25 0.47 0.02 V23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1000C 3.49 4.92 1.43 1.15 108 51 0.08 1.00 0.14 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK1011 127.12 128.20 1.08 1.02 127 85 3.96 2.86 0.28 V6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK1011 143.93 145.09 1.16 1.10 144 147 1.70 1.89 0.12 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1100 35.66 37.38 1.72 1.16 68 115 2.76 0.65 0.06 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1100 42.88 50.97 8.09 5.44 62 50 0.22 1.10 0.11 V7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 49.90 50.97 1.07 0.72 56 215 0.69 5.47 0.26
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK1110 119.25 122.15 2.90 2.35 43 253 0.46 0.22 0.01 V6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK1111 137.16 139.05 1.89 1.22 139 173 0.24 12.55 0.13 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK1210 220.51 229.87 9.36 4.68 -88 97 1.35 3.67 0.11 V6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 225.11 226.34 1.23 0.61 -93 221 6.34 4.16 0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1215 27.24 28.83 1.59 1.40 84 210 0.89 0.63 0.09 V7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1450 81.76 83.46 1.70 1.36 73 176 1.44 0.50 0.02 V9W-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1550 106.13 107.73 1.60 1.43 58 122 0.75 1.09 0.03 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1702 59.01 62.51 3.50 2.96 59 86 0.68 1.13 0.06 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 61.91 62.51 0.60 0.51 57 226 2.36 2.87 0.28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1703 53.30 54.91 1.61 0.80 48 103 0.08 1.36 0.02 V2-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1703 115.59 118.13 2.54 1.26 -12 148 0.16 0.50 0.44 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 115.59 117.29 1.70 0.84 -12 209 0.26 0.65 0.62
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1750 139.24 140.74 1.50 1.28 44 91 0.46 2.25 0.12 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1752 186.26 187.83 1.57 1.09 -2 70 0.17 7.18 0.11 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1810 146.63 148.22 1.59 1.30 63 102 0.19 0.87 0.06 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1831 81.24 82.44 1.20 1.09 45 106 0.04 1.02 0.30 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK1902 143.95 156.10 12.15 7.14 -32 80 1.93 2.78 0.15 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2001 161.47 164.87 3.40 2.01 54 104 0.12 1.41 0.01 V9-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2001 214.38 215.83 1.45 1.27 21 74 0.07 1.32 0.11 V9W-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2002 156.15 158.27 2.12 1.72 26 158 0.37 1.37 0.07 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 157.15 158.27 1.12 0.91 25 204 0.59 0.88 0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2002 163.32 165.96 2.64 2.14 20 215 0.77 1.49 0.30 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 164.24 165.24 1.00 0.81 19 423 1.47 2.27 0.32
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2002 192.25 195.73 3.48 2.82 -3 61 0.02 3.68 0.05 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2015 43.22 44.19 0.97 0.93 132 2,260 1.18 3.27 0.11 V15-0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2051 239.40 240.90 1.50 1.33 9 93 0.41 2.04 0.06 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2051 287.20 288.90 1.70 1.50 -20 71 0.21 2.55 0.10 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2201 154.25 155.80 1.55 1.02 105 147 0.50 0.47 0.06 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2212 52.00 54.91 2.91 2.67 129 139 0.06 0.16 0.02 V15-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2212 252.27 252.90 0.63 0.58 35 101 0.04 0.27 0.07 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2251 122.87 124.22 1.35 0.78 -18 100 0.52 1.80 0.37 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2251 167.74 169.01 1.27 0.73 -60 140 0.30 1.45 0.34 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2251 176.88 181.38 4.50 2.60 -69 99 1.11 2.61 0.31 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2301 71.68 75.53 3.85 9.25 79 71 1.15 1.82 0.07 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2302 78.41 83.02 4.61 4.30 48 88 2.20 3.35 0.13 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2302 149.88 153.18 3.30 3.08 3 77 0.12 0.42 0.25 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2350 174.66 176.89 2.23 2.16 100 80 0.54 0.63 0.09 V15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2350 239.71 241.02 1.31 1.27 75 208 0.09 1.48 0.09 V14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2351 260.93 264.63 3.70 3.44 55 89 0.26 0.82 0.13 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 263.71 264.63 0.92 0.86 54 294 1.01 1.48 0.33
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2410 226.49 227.49 1.00 0.97 69 248 0.24 7.08 0.15 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2410 292.30 293.34 1.04 1.01 40 113 0.11 0.86 0.08 V9W-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2425 72.84 79.56 6.72 6.38 63 64 0.33 2.42 0.14 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2428 58.15 59.73 1.58 1.34 60 80 0.81 2.76 0.11 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2550 79.02 81.82 2.80 2.52 111 80 0.04 1.37 0.09 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2551 36.86 37.96 1.10 0.73 122 309 0.08 7.37 0.08 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2551 123.05 124.35 1.30 0.87 46 72 0.03 2.41 0.07 V9W-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2613 274.56 275.22 0.66 0.64 60 153 1.33 4.90 0.13 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2650 69.85 71.75 1.90 1.48 123 114 0.04 0.80 0.07 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2650 121.13 126.03 4.90 3.81 101 57 0.01 3.82 0.21 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2805 127.64 127.84 0.20 0.10 56 156 6.55 5.18 0.00 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
V8-
CK2805 184.41 184.96 0.55 0.28 6 55 1.25 1.65 0.01 Branch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
V15-
CK2805 316.12 319.49 3.37 1.63 -110 131 3.83 3.73 0.39 Branch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 316.12 317.14 1.02 0.49 -110 226 5.37 5.39 0.32
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK28001 7.44 8.64 1.20 1.04 98 25 0.02 5.20 0.29 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK28001 28.12 29.02 0.90 0.78 84 24 0.02 4.06 0.05 V2-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK28A01 10.98 12.76 1.78 1.14 93 44 0.14 5.29 0.17 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK28A01 35.96 37.53 1.57 1.01 70 8 0.02 1.23 0.45 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK28A01 103.68 108.40 4.72 3.02 6 21 0.07 1.87 0.12 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2950 63.65 70.99 7.34 5.09 75 43 0.52 1.42 0.06 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2950 93.42 94.96 1.54 1.12 68 31 0.05 2.09 0.02 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2950 112.46 123.22 10.76 7.86 63 56 0.10 2.73 0.12 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 112.46 113.86 1.40 1.02 63 269 0.37 10.20 0.53
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK2951 71.57 72.98 1.41 1.16 56 101 0.03 2.49 0.23 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
V5-
CK3005 27.02 29.20 2.18 2.07 81 83 1.82 2.04 0.06 Branch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3005 50.37 51.27 0.90 0.85 73 36 0.03 3.38 0.04 V5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3005 98.12 99.33 1.21 1.15 55 114 1.55 0.82 0.03 V5-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3050 45.09 51.90 6.81 6.17 64 74 1.63 1.72 0.08 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3051 154.25 156.05 1.80 1.39 -35 228 0.21 0.24 0.03 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3202 9.53 10.30 0.77 0.70 85 53 0.01 9.80 0.23 V9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3202 30.05 31.02 0.97 0.88 71 67 0.24 7.34 0.20 V5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3202 191.75 196.49 4.74 4.36 -35 99 0.05 0.57 0.07 V2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 192.95 193.61 0.66 0.60 -36 450 0.24 0.81 0.16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3250 97.24 98.06 0.82 0.74 52 60 0.01 5.36 0.12 V5-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK3251 54.92 57.93 3.01 2.61 56 79 0.11 2.77 0.06 V9W-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 93.50 94.83 1.33 1.15 89 231 4.11 9.61 0.19 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10202 113.20 117.45 4.25 2.46 50 54 0.41 3.92 0.15 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10301 47.95 51.07 3.12 2.81 122 34 1.28 3.61 0.22 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10302 53.54 55.40 1.86 0.72 108 64 1.00 3.29 0.29 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10302 111.60 120.40 8.80 3.40 55 101 1.74 3.48 0.10 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 116.00 117.00 1.00 0.39 51 489 6.80 6.20 0.26 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10401 120.04 124.15 4.11 3.72 80 67 1.01 2.56 0.10 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10401 148.43 149.43 1.00 0.91 60 81 0.66 2.03 0.05 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10410 112.55 113.20 0.65 0.46 69 119 0.01 14.85 0.23 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10411 174.20 178.35 4.15 2.99 2 107 1.80 2.49 0.29 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10450 172.47 174.07 1.60 1.17 44 94 1.58 2.54 0.11 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10450 195.66 197.24 1.58 1.16 36 107 0.04 1.29 0.22 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10521 94.57 95.92 1.35 0.96 84 41 0.01 7.06 0.06 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10521 129.05 136.21 7.16 5.08 55 123 1.61 3.87 0.16 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 133.90 135.00 1.10 0.78 51 397 3.08 13.20 0.54 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 135.00 136.21 1.21 0.86 50 229 5.93 9.05 0.28 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10522 31.60 33.60 2.00 1.49 134 181 0.04 1.68 0.02 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10522 197.73 199.46 1.73 1.29 -23 101 6.82 2.24 0.01 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10550 8.33 9.27 0.94 0.69 97 89 1.25 1.44 0.07 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10550 14.47 18.81 4.34 3.19 95 144 1.10 3.14 0.06 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 14.47 15.20 0.73 0.54 95 256 0.59 1.04 0.09 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
including 16.00 16.96 0.96 0.70 94 237 2.50 7.26 0.10 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10550 154.99 159.82 4.83 3.55 51 50 1.18 1.65 0.02 V26
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10550 181.42 182.59 1.17 0.86 43 114 2.55 2.13 0.06 V25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10621 125.70 129.60 3.90 1.79 65 99 1.05 3.96 0.07 V28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10622 80.55 81.65 1.10 0.78 94 63 0.03 3.80 0.09 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10622 102.93 104.13 1.20 0.85 74 97 0.29 0.62 0.02 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10623 102.86 104.11 1.25 1.01 67 62 0.01 3.95 0.17 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10623 182.09 183.06 0.97 0.78 -8 105 1.20 4.10 0.07 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10650 21.54 26.17 4.63 3.40 92 86 1.32 0.66 0.08 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZK10704 84.00 85.35 1.35 1.14 104 243 0.23 0.77 0.05 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10820 21.33 27.36 6.03 5.35 80 62 0.03 3.85 0.14 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CK10820 87.43 88.97 1.54 1.37 43 84 0.54 2.47 0.07 New
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quality Control
Drill cores are in NQ size. Drill core samples, from 1.00m to 1.50m in length, or limited by apparent mineralization contact or shear/alteration contact, were split into halves by saw cutting. One half of the cores are stored in the Company’s core shacks for future reference and checking and the other remaining samples are shipped in security sealed bags to ALS Chemex in Guangzhou, China (Certification ISO 9001), located approximately 180km southeast of the GC project site for sample preparation and assay.
Sample preparation consists of drying, crushing and splitting of samples to 250 grams and then they are pulverized to 200 mesh. Silver, lead, and zinc in drill core samples were analyzed by aqua regia digestion and AAS finish. Tin was analyzed by fusing with peroxide then by leaching the melt and acidifying to precipitate the tin for AAS finish.
The Company maintains a comprehensive quality assurance and quality control program to ensure best practices in sample preparation and analysis of the drill core samples. Project geologists regularly insert certified reference materials (CRM), field duplicates and blanks to each batch of core samples to monitor the sample preparation and analysis procedures at the labs. The analytical quality of the labs is further evaluated with external checks by sending about 3% of the pulp samples to higher-level labs to check for lab bias.
Data from both the Company’s and the labs’ QA/QC programs are reviewed and evaluated in a timely manner by project geologists.
Brian O’Connor P.Geo ., is the Qualified Person on the project as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has verified the information and has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
About Silvercorp
Silvercorp is a low-cost silver-producing Canadian mining company with multiple mines in China which has paid a cash dividend since 2007. The Company is currently developing the GC project in southern China which it expects will become its next operating mine in 2013. The Company’s vision is to deliver shareholder value by focusing on the acquisition of under developed projects with resource potential and the ability to grow organically. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorp.ca.
CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER — FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “intends”, “strategies”, “targets”, “goals”, “forecasts”, “objectives”, “budgets”, “schedules”, “potential” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates at the Company’s material properties; the sufficiency of the Company’s capital to finance the Company’s operations; estimates of the Company’s revenues and capital expenditures; estimated production from the Company’s mines in the Ying Mining Camp; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; availability of funds from production to finance the Company’s operations; and access to and availability of funding for future construction, use of proceeds from any financing and development of the Company’s properties.
Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks relating to: fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licenses; title to properties; First Nations title claims and rights; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company’s existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada; environmental risks; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting as per the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2012 under the heading “Risk Factors”. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
The Company’s forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management’s assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.
Contacts: Silvercorp Metals Inc. Jonathan Hackshaw Director, Investor Relations (604) 669-9397 or Toll Free: 1(888) 224-1881 investor@silvercorp.ca www.silvercorp.ca
