SGS Minerals S.A. is pleased to announce the commissioning of the first South American based hyperspectral laboratory with their partner Corescan Pty Ltd.

The laboratory will initially be based at SGS' Pudahuel facility in Santiago, Chile where it will be incorporated into SGS' existing geometallurgical capabilities. It offers clients high-volume and objective mineralogical and geotechnical data that increases confidence in resource estimation, domain creation and mine optimisation modelling. Relocation of the laboratory to alternate sites in Chile and other South American locations to support exploration or production campaigns is also a possibility.

SGS and Corescan entered into an agreement earlier this year to incorporate Corescan's mineralogical imaging technology into SGS' global laboratory network to service clients in both the minerals and oil and gas industries. The unit is fully mobile in a 20 foot Seacan container that can be located at one of SGS' centralised facilities, or on-site to deliver real-time mineralogical information for direct application to resource models or production monitoring programs.

The laboratory incorporates the latest hyperspectral imaging sensors integrated with ultra-high resolution core photography and 3D core profiling technologies. Data can be independently processed and interpreted by Corescan´s proprietary mineralogical software and the results are available for remote viewing via a web-based virtual core library called Coreshed. Results can also be provided in a format that is compatible for input into all standard modelling packages.

Corescan is a global services company specialising in the scanning, analysis and interpretation of drill core, rock chips and other geological samples for the mining, oil and gas, geothermal and geotechnical industries. As a service driven company, Corescan seeks to be the partner of choice for companies that demand greater objectivity, quality, efficiency and return from their investment in drilling.

SGS Minerals S.A. in Chile provides fully integrated geochemistry, environmental, metallurgy and mineralogy services, as well as, trade support services across the region. These services are available from state-of-the-art commercial laboratories and on-site facilities depending on client needs. Their technical experts can help with project development from exploration stage through to production.

For further information regarding these and other SGS services, please visit SGS Mining or contact:

Brigette Martini
VP Business Development
Corescan Inc.
PO Box 2096, Bend, Oregon
United States 97709-2096
t: +1 541 261 4623
www.corescan.com.au

Peta Hughes
Applied Mineralogy Manager
SGS Minerals S.A.
Puerto Santiago 156,
Santiago Chile
t: +56 (02) 2898 9161

About SGS

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.

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