Dr. Schlitt has extensive worldwide experience including Escondida Sulfide Leach Project of BHP/Rio Tinto in Northern Chile; Dos Pobres and San Juan of Phelps Dodge in Arizona; El Abra of Phelps Dodge/Coldelco in Chile; the Cerro Negro oxide deposit - Cerro Verde of Phelps Dodge in Peru; the S&K and Letpadaung Mines of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and Ivanhoe Copper in Myanmar; Newmont Gold's refractory ore bio-leach project in Nevada; Newmont's Batu Hijau mine in Indonesia; Haib Copper Project of Copper Resources Corp. in Namibia; Nord Pacific's Girilambone Copper heap leach-SX-EW project in NSW, Australia; Quebrada Blanca [formerly Falconbridge now Aur Resources] in Chile; Mt. Gunson of Shamrock Mines Ltd, Australia; Morenci Southside expansion of Phelps Dodge, Carmacks oxide leach of Western Copper in northern Canada; Kennecott's copper leaching operation at the Ray mine, Arizona; Tethyan Copper Company's Tanjeel project in Pakistan; Cobre Mining's Hanover Mountain project in New Mexico; Sanyati poly-metallic heap leach (Cu, Co, Mn, Zn), Zimbabwe; Erdenet copper dump leach in Mongolia; Kennecott Utah Copper's Bingham Canyon leach project.
The objective of this next phase of metallurgical testing is to ensure that all test work is representative of the entire ore body with regard to ore types and associated recoveries. Dr. Schlitt is reviewing current data available for the project and is recommending additional work to be performed. In addition, he will be the Company's Qualified Person for all metallurgical aspects of the Project.
Candente has recently completed the drilling of 12 core holes to be dedicated for this test work. The core from these holes will be used to determine overall copper extraction, leaching kinetics, acid consumption and the effect of particle size on kinetics and extraction. Dr. Schlitt and Mr. Rinaldi have contracted SGS-Lakefield Minerals Services to carry out all necessary test work including leaching tests using bottle rolls and column leach tests, ore characterization and mineralogical analysis of the ore. Additional metallurgical test work will include flotation testing especially for the predominantly chalcopyrite zones of the ore body. All core from the 12 drill holes is currently being shipped to the SGS Lakefield laboratory in Santiago, Chile where processing of the samples is expected to commence by April 30, 2007. Testing is expected to take 180 days (6 months) which will mimic the days expected for the majority of copper leaching which will take place in the leach pads, however, preliminary results should be received after 60 days.
Candente is a diversified exploration company with copper, gold, silver, and zinc projects in Peru and Mexico. Candente subscribes to principles, which ensure that its exploration and development activities are beneficial to the local communities.
For further information, please contact Joanne Freeze in Vancouver at: (604) 689-1957 or Tom Rinaldi at (604) 484-4212 or (511) 222-3603 or info@candente.com www.candente.com.
This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Candente relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements.