Boliden's mineral resources and ore reserves show stable trend


Boliden's mineral resources and ore reserves show stable trend

Boliden's annual ore reserve and mineral resource calculation shows
exploration results and higher metal prices have resulted in a continued
stable trend.

“Our ore reserves and mineral resources have continued to develop
positively in 2010. Garpenberg's mineral resources have increased by 38
per cent and Aitik's have increased by 14 per cent. Ore reserves in the
Boliden Area have risen by 29 per cent. A certain decrease can be noted
at Garpenberg, Aitik and Tara but the ore reserves are continued good
levels,” says Jan Moström, President, Business Area Mines.

The primary focus of Boliden's exploration is on zinc, copper and
precious metal-bearing ores. In addition to the exploration work
conducted in the vicinity of all the mines, 2010 has seen targeted
exploration efforts carried out in the Boliden Area, Bergslagen,
Norrbotten and Dorotea in Sweden.   

“We invested SEK 229 million in exploration in 2010, which, among other
things, resulted in 140,000 metres being drilled. The strategy we
developed in 2006 has generated substantial net additions to the mineral
resources and ore reserves at Aitik and Garpenberg in particular, but
also in the Boliden Area,” continues Jan Moström.

Exploration results, 2010:

Aitik
Positive drilling results in the vicinity of the open pit mines at Aitik
and Salmijärvi, as well as new geological interpretations of findings,
have resulted in a substantial contribution to mineral resources of 200
million tonnes or 14 per cent. 28 million tonnes of ore were mined
during the year, but the ore reserve has only fallen by 14 million
tonnes due to higher metal prices that enabled additional tonnage to be
included in the ore reserves. Production will, at the currently planned
rate, continue until 2030.

Garpenberg
Garpenberg's mineral resources increased by almost 11 million tonnes.
1.4 million tonnes were mined during the year, but the ore reserve
increased by the equivalent of half the production volume, mainly due to
higher metal prices. Production will, at the currently planned rate,
continue until 2030.

The Boliden Area
The Boliden Area's ore reserves increased by 2.4 million tonnes, while
mineral resources showed a 2.1 million tonne reduction as a result of
large quantities being upgraded from mineral resources to ore reserves.
Production will, at the currently planned rate, continue until 2021.

Tara
Tara's mineral resources totalled 11.9 million tonnes - on the same
scale of magnitude as in 2009. Exploration added 1.6 million tonnes to
the ore reserve, but 2.6 million tonnes were also mined during the year
which resulted in a net reduction in the ore reserve. Production will,
at the currently planned rate, continue until 2019.

A comprehensive version of Boliden's ore reserve calculations for 2010
is enclosed and has also been published in Boliden's Full-year Report
for 2010 and at www.boliden.com (http://www.boliden.com/). 

For further information, please contact:
Marcela Sylvander, Director Group Communications, Boliden AB, tel: +46 8
610 15 59
Frans Benson, Director Investor Relations, Boliden AB, tel: +46 8 610 15
23

Boliden is a leading European metals company whose core competence is in
the fields of exploration, mining, smelting and recycling. Boliden's
main metals are zinc and copper. Other important metals extracted and
refined include lead, gold and silver. The operations are conducted in
two Business Areas: Mines and Smelters. The number of employees is
approximately 4 400 and the turnover in 2010 amounted to approximately
SEK 37 billion.  Its shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm, segment
Large Cap and on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada.

  www.boliden.com (http://www.boliden.com)
 

Ore reserves as of 31st December 2010

                                        Quantity       Quantity
                                        2010, ktonnes  2009, ktonnes  Au
g/t  Ag g/t  Cu %  Zn %  Pb %  Mo g/t  Te g/t
The Boliden Area
Polymetallic mineralisations
Kristineberg                  Proven    1 340          1 690         
1.3     24      1.3   2.1   0.1
                              Probable  2 800          1 500         
0.6     43      0.4   7.9   0.4

Renström                      Proven    170            140           
3.6     179     0.6   9.1   1.8
                              Probable  1 590          1 110         
2.4     188     0.4   7.5   1.7

Maurliden                     Proven    1 300          1 340         
1.3     51      0.2   3.6   0.4
                              Probable

Maurliden Östra               Proven
                              Probable  1 060          1 200         
0.6     12      1.1   0.4

Total                         Proven    2 820          3 170         
1.4     46      0.8   3.2   0.3
Polymetallic mineralisations  Probable  5 400          3 780         
1.2     80      0.6   6.3   0.7

Gold mineralisations
Kankberg                      Proven    120                          
3.5     7                                 151
                              Probable  2 660          1 610         
4.1     16                                188

Aitik                         Proven    504 000        518 000       
0.15    1.6     0.25              29
                              Probable  229 000        229 000       
0.13    1.7     0.24              32

Garpenberg                    Proven    18 800         17 900        
0.3     121     0.06  5.8   2.3
                              Probable  6 300          7 900         
0.2     217     0.04  3.6   1.4

Tara                          Proven    3 500          3 800            
                   8.3   2.0
                              Probable  12 500         13 200           
                   6.8   1.7

Figures may be rounded up or down..

 

Mineral Resources as of 31st December 2010

                                         Quantity       Quantity
                                         2010, ktonnes  2009, ktonnes 
Au g/t  Ag g/t  Cu %  Zn %  Pb %  Mo g/t  Te g/t
The Boliden Area
Polymetallic mineralisations
Kristineberg                  Measured   50             50            
0.7     45      1.3   4.2   0.2
                              Indicated  1 660          1 960         
0.7     33      0.8   6.8   0.3
                              Inferred   2 300          3 250         
0.8     45      0.7   4.2   0.3

Petiknäs N                    Measured   310            310           
8.1     73      1.8   3.1   0.3
                              Indicated  1 200          1 200         
2.7     52      0.6   1.8   0.3
                              Inferred   720            720           
3.3     33      0.5   1.2   0.2

Renström                      Measured   10             10            
3.4     167     0.9   8.6   1.4
                              Indicated  1 510          1 400         
1.9     115     1.3   4.5   1.0
                              Inferred   1 890          1 890         
3.3     233     0.6   9.2   2.1

Maurliden                     Measured   1 050          1 050         
1.3     40      0.4   3.3   0.2
                              Indicated  360            360           
0.9     45      0.7   2.9   0.2
                              Inferred

Maurliden Östra               Measured
                              Indicated  410            400           
0.5     13      0.4   0.4
                              Inferred

Total                         Measured   1 400          1 400         
2.8     48      0.7   3.3   0.2
Polymetallic mineralisations  Indicated  5 100          5 300         
1.5     61      0.8   4.2   0.5
                              Inferred   4 900          5 900         
2.1     115     0.6   5.7   1.0

Gold mineralisations
Kankberg                      Measured   59                           
2.2     12                                113
                              Indicated  610            1 690         
2.4     8                                 135
                              Inferred   120                          
6.0     8                                 140

Älgträsk                      Measured
                              Indicated  2 930          2 930         
2.6     3
                              Inferred   1 270          1 270         
1.8     3

Total                         Measured   60                           
2.2     12
Gold mineralisations          Indicated  3 500          4 600         
2.6     4
                              Inferred   1 400          1 300         
2.1     3

Aitik                         Measured   708 000        633 000       
0.12    1.0     0.19              24
                              Indicated  845 000        737 000       
0.11    1.1     0.19              25
                              Inferred   164 000        131 000       
0.11    0.6     0.15              20

Garpenberg                    Measured   2 600          2 100         
0.3     95      0.07  3.9   1.7
                              Indicated  9 900          5 200         
0.5     164     0.06  5.1   2.3
                              Inferred   26 800         21 200        
0.5     146     0.06  5.2   2.5

Tara                          Measured   300            300             
                    7.8   1.9
                              Indicated  4 600          3 700           
                    6.8   2.1
                              Inferred   7 000          7 800           
                    7.3   1.8

Figures may be rounded up or down..

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