VANCOUVER, BC -- 10/29/09 --
North American Gem Inc. (NAG) (TSX-V: NAG) is
pleased to announce the commencement of operation at North American Gem
Mine #1 in Whitley County, Kentucky. The new mining permit number is
#918-0420. At this time, equipment is being moved onto the site with the
first task of upgrading the haulage road to the mine face. Since the area
had been mined previously, an existing haul road is in place which will
require an establishment of proper drainage and stone for the surface. The
length of the road is less than 1/2 kilometer in length. The augering
equipment set up has begun and North American Gem Inc. expects to have coal
prepared for transport to market by Friday, November 6th, 2009.
The North American Gem Mine #1 is permitted for the use of augers to enter
the coal seam from the exposed wall with minimal additional excavation and
maximum cost effectiveness. This type of mining dramatically reduces the
amount of surface disturbance and allows for recovery of coal without
removal of overlying material. Engle Hollow Mining (EHM) has allocated 2
augers to work simultaneously on different work faces to ensure continuous
production.
Based on the capabilities of the mining equipment being employed at the
North American Gem Mine #1 coupled with the mining conditions that exist on
the site, the production goal is 10,000 net tons per month of production,
at this time.
There is currently a sale agreement with Blue Star Energy for up to 15,000
tons per month of production which ensures the sale of total production
from the mine (See NAG October 21st, 2009 release). The coal sample taken
by Blue Star from the North American Gem Mine #1 resulted in analysis of 8%
ash, < 1% sulphur and 12,800 Btu.
The method of mining to be used at the North American Gem Mine #1 is known
as contour mining. This type of mining is done on properties that were
previously mined prior to the enactment of the Surface Mine Control and
Reclamation act of 1977. This law requires that after any surface mining,
the land must be restored to approximate original contour unless otherwise
specified in the permit application and approved by the Kentucky Department
of Natural Resources (KDNR). When "pre-law" mining was done, the general
practice was to mine along the contour of a slope to the maximum profitable
ratio and leave the resulting highwall and a wide, flat bench where the
material covering the coal was removed and then graded somewhat flat as
opposed to restoring the original slope.
All of North American Gem Inc.'s potential mining operations will
incorporate sediment control methods that will keep ahead of the increased
regulations and restrictions. Furthermore, in anticipation of increased
regulations, NAG has, in all of its permitting applications, begun the
sampling of receiving streams and groundwater wells utilizing the most
stringent and extensive sampling parameters. This will allow NAG to comply
with the regulatory requirements and will also result in a much shorter and
smoother permitting application process.
North American Gem Inc. plans to have any coal requiring processing from
the North American Gem Mine #1 to be the first coal to run through the
North American Tippling Production Plant (See NAG September 22nd, 2009
release). Most of the coal produced, based on laboratory and exploration
data gathered during the evaluation period, is expected to be of high
enough quality to ship directly to the buyer.
The North American Gem Inc. mining operation establishes NAG as a coal
producer with the ability to enter into supply contracts. The supply
contracts established by production from the North American Gem Mine #1 are
expected to be expanded upon as the Company increases operations in the
area. The performance and capabilities of production from the North
American Gem Mine #1 will determine the point at which further production
from additional leases is commenced.
Mr. Dean Schafer is acting as operations manager of all the Company's
Kentucky coal leases and is currently implementing an overall mine plan.
Mike Magrum, PEng, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has
approved the technical content of this news release.
North American Gem Inc. (TSX-V: NAG) is a Junior Exploration Company based
in Western Canada. The Company's primary goal is to explore for Coal in
North America, currently the focus is in Kentucky, Saskatchewan, and West
Virginia. In addition to Coal exploration, the Company also has interests
in Uranium, Copper, Gold, Molybdenum and other base metals in Canada.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
NORTH AMERICAN GEM INC.
"Charles Desjardins"
Charles Desjardins
President and Director
"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
Cautionary note:
This report contains forward looking statements. Resource estimates,
unless specifically noted, are considered speculative. Any and all other
resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be
relied upon. The production rate and mine-life projections have been made
without support of a feasibility study, there is no certainty the proposed
operations will be economically viable. By their nature, forward looking
statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and
depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may
vary depending upon exploration activities, industry production, commodity
demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to,
general economic factors. Cautionary Note to US investors: The U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of
certain terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual
production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and
legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.
Contact:
North American Gem Inc.
430 - 609 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V7Y 1G5
Phone 604-683-5445
Facsimile 604-687-9631
info@northamericangem.com
www.northamericangem.com
TSX-Venture: NAG