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Message: Estimate for MacArthur Copper Deposit/Drilling Results Through Year-End 2008
| January 26, 2009 |
| Quaterra Announces Initial Resource Estimate for MacArthur Copper Deposit; Updates Drilling Results Through Year-End 2008 |
| VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 26, 2009) - Quaterra Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:QTA)(NYSE Alternext US:QMM) today announced that Tetra Tech, Inc. of Golden, Colorado, has completed a NI43-101 compliant independent resource estimate for its 100%-owned MacArthur Copper Project in Lyon County, Nevada. MacArthur's initial measured and indicated oxide/chalcocite resource of 57.36 million tons averaging 0.239% total copper (TCu) contains 273.6 million pounds of copper. An inferred oxide/chalcocite resource of 75.8 million tons averaging 0.283% TCu contains 429.3 million pounds of copper. An inferred primary sulfide resource of 6.4 million tons averaging 0.539% TCu contains 68.9 million pounds of copper. A summary of measured, indicated and inferred resources at various cutoff grades is shown in Table 1-1 at the end of this news release. The base case cutoff grade for the leachable (oxide/chalcocite) resources is 0.18% TCu. The base case cutoff grade for the primary sulfide resource is 0.30% TCu. Both of these values are representative of actual cutoff grades in use as of the date of this report. The Tetra Tech report indicates that significant potential for development of additional mineral resources are present at MacArthur within and adjacent to the current drill-hole pattern and recommends more drilling to accomplish three primary objectives: 1. Infill drilling within the known oxide/chalcocite resource, including a 2,000 foot by 2,000 foot area west of the pit, to fill in where drill coverage is poor to absent. 2. Stepout drilling to enlarge the oxide/chalcocite resource areas to the north, south and west. 3. Deeper drilling to evaluate the potential for additional primary sulfide mineralization at depth. "The MacArthur deposit has demonstrated a surprising capacity for growth," says Eugene Spiering, Quaterra's VP Exploration. "Drilling on 500 foot centers around the MacArthur pit historic resource has been very successful in defining a large inferred resource that can be upgraded with infill drilling. The mineralized area currently covers an area of approximately 1.5 square miles and remains open to extension on three sides and near the deposit center just west of the pit." Tetra Tech's resource calculation is based on 449 Quaterra and Anaconda drill holes containing 134,255.6 feet and 26,727 sample assay values. The MacArthur geologic model was used to guide the statistical and geostatistical analysis of the copper assay data for the resource estimate. The analysis of the copper assays further confirmed the geologic divisions made by Quaterra in the geologic model. Copper grades were estimated in the individual blocks of the model measuring 25 by 25 feet by 20 feet high, by ordinary, whole-block kriging. The rock model was then assigned a tonnage factor based on the historic information that indicates an average in-place bulk density of 12.5 cubic-feet per ton. The tonnage factors were based on a number of tests from the core and, in Tetra Tech's opinion, are representative of the various rock units, and are acceptable for estimation of the in-place geologic resources. The copper resources were estimated using whole block kriging techniques and oriented search ellipsoids based on the individual variograms and were then classified into measured, indicated, and inferred categories by a combination of kriging variance, number of points used in the estimate, and number of sectors used. Table 1-2 details the results of the classification. The location of the various categories of resource blocks in the estimate reflects the density of drill holes on the project. Measured and indicated resource blocks are predominantly in or adjacent to the MacArthur pit where the drill hole spacing is the tightest. Inferred resource blocks trace the wider-spaced, 500 foot by 500 foot drilling pattern to the north and west of the pit. Several isolated areas containing indicated resource blocks are also estimated where one or more angle holes have been drilled from the same location in the wider spaced pattern. A Datamine image of the resource model is shown with the project maps on the Company's website. Quaterra has commissioned Tetra Tech to prepare a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (NI43-101) compliant Technical Report for the MacArthur Copper Project. The Tetra Tech resource estimate for the project is included with a description of the project history, geology, mineralization, sampling procedures, and laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures. The NI43-101 Technical Report will be filed within 45 days of the date of this release. This report will be available at www.sedar.com. The Qualified Person for the MacArthur Copper Project resource estimate and the technical report is Mr. John W. Rozelle, P.G., Principal Geologist for Tetra Tech, Golden Colorado. MacArthur Drilling Program Update Since April 2007, Quaterra has completed 80,137 feet of drilling in 49 core holes and 124 reverse circulation holes prior to discontinuing the program to facilitate the completion of the Technical Report. The intercepts of 33 new holes totaling 16,100 feet are reported in this release in Table 2-1 and are included on a complete list of intercepts that has been posted on the Company's website. All but the last three holes (QM-083, QM-084 and QM-085) of the 33 new holes were used in the calculation of today's resource estimate. The results of the three unused holes, located in the MacArthur pit, were later inserted and used by Tt to validate the resource model add confidence to the orientation and interpolation parameters used for the estimate. The most recent round of drilling concentrated on defining the mineralization along the northern margin of the deposit and infilling the historic drill pattern within and around the MacArthur pit. The zone of acid-soluble copper mineralization continues to be extended to the northwest. Hole QM-60, located on the north central margin, intercepted 260 feet of predominantly chalcocite mineralization averaging 0.38% copper at a depth of 140 feet. The intercept includes a higher grade interval of 50 feet averaging 0.89% copper. Recently completed drill holes along the northeast margin of the deposit encountered high grade primary copper mineralization in pervasive sericite and magnetite that defines a new porphyry copper target. Hole QM-68 intercepted 115 feet averaging 1.15% copper at a depth of 470 feet. A similar section of mineralization in QM-70 averaged 1.02 % Cu over a thickness of 45 feet at a depth of 435 feet. Together with mineralized intercepts in QM-26, the results point to a possible porphyry center in the foot wall of the MacArthur fault where it is "blind" except for a small patch of pervasive sericite alteration exposed on the surface immediately south of holes QM-70 and QM-72. The alteration appears to be too far to the east to be related to the MacArthur oxide porphyry center. The sulfide mineralization may develop down dip to a larger deposit similar to the Yerington porphyry copper deposit. Work is now concentrating on integrating historic IP data and the Company's aero-magnetic data that covers the target area. Additional drilling on the MacArthur project is dependent on receipt of an approved Plan of Operations (POO) that is now pending with the Bureau of Land Management. A Class III cultural survey has been completed on the entire claim block and submitted with a draft EA that outlines an initial plan for 272 drill-hole locations necessary to define the margins of mineralization and infill the resource area. Until the POO is approved and a Decision Record issued, work on the project is expected to include preliminary metallurgical testing, geophysical studies, and a review of district exploration data from the Anaconda Library in Laramie, Wyoming. Mr. Eugene D. Spiering is the Qualified Person with Quaterra Resources responsible for the information in this section of the news release. For a complete table of MacArthur drill hole intercepts and project maps, please visit the company's website. Quaterra Resources Inc. is a junior exploration company focused on making significant mineral discoveries in North America. The company uses in-house expertise and its extensive network of consultants, prospectors and industry contacts to identify, acquire and evaluate prospects in mining-friendly jurisdictions with the potential to host large base metal, precious metal or uranium deposits. The company's preference is to acquire a 100% interest in properties on reasonable terms and maintain this interest through initial evaluation. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Thomas Patton, President and CEO, Quaterra Resources Inc. |
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