UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
CIK # 878518
as at December 12, 2006
TASEKO MINES LIMITED
800 West Pender Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver , British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F...X.... Form 40-F.........
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to
security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .....
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to
the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Jeffrey R. Mason
Director and Chief Financial Officer
Date: December 12, 2006
Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.
-------------------
1020
- 800 W Pender St.
Vancouver BC
Canada V6C 2V6
Tel 604 684 - 6365
Fax 604 684 - 8092
Toll Free 1 800 667 - 2114
http://www.tasekomines.com
TASEKO ADDS 74 MILLION TONS TO GIBRALTAR'S MINERAL RESERVES
December
12, 2006, Vancouver, BC - Taseko Mines Limited ("Taseko"
or the "Company") (TSX: TKO; AMEX: TGB) announces an increase in
the mineral reserves at its 100% owned Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine.
The Gibraltar mine is located near the City of Williams Lake in south-central
British Columbia.
The new Gibraltar reserves represent a 40% increase from those reported
at the Company's previous year end (September 30, 2005) and a 72% increase
from the reserves reported when the mine was re-opened in October
Sixty-seven new diamond drill holes, completed to the end of August 2006,
were included in the geological model and this, combined with updated pit
wall optimizations, current mining cost projections and metal price information
has allowed for further expansion of Gibraltar's Granite Lake pit.
In addition to the increase of 74 million tons, the new reserves have a
5% higher copper grade and an 11% higher molybdenum grade than the previously
reported reserves.
Under present mine operating parameters of 36,000 tons milled per day, this
addition to reserves extends the mine life to 21 years. Upon completion
of the mill expansion in December 2007 to 46,000 tons per day, Gibraltar
mine life will be approximately 15 years. The Company is continuing to drill
through the winter with the expectation that the reserves will be expanded
again in 2007.
Russell Hallbauer, Taseko's President and CEO says "This is very
important and exciting news as continued reserve growth at Gibraltar allows
the Company to consider additional expansions beyond those announced, providing
opportunities for further increases in production and reductions in unit
costs."
Gibraltar's reserves as of September 30, 2006 are tabulated below:
Gibraltar Mineral Reserves at 0.20% Copper Cut-off |
||||
Pit |
Category |
Tons (millions) |
Cu (%) |
Mo (%) |
Pollyanna |
Proven |
17.2 |
0.335 |
0.011 |
Probable |
1.4 |
0.276 |
0.009 |
|
Subtotal |
18.6 |
0.331 |
0.011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PGE Connector |
Proven |
43.0 |
0.297 |
0.010 |
Probable |
13.3 |
0.278 |
0.014 |
|
Subtotal |
56.3 |
0.293 |
0.011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granite Lake |
Proven |
97.0 |
0.318 |
0.009 |
Probable |
10.5 |
0.317 |
0.006 |
|
Granite Lake Additional |
Proven |
60.6 |
0.334 |
0.011 |
Probable |
13.4 |
0.326 |
0.011 |
|
Subtotal |
181.5 |
0.324 |
0.010 |
|
Total |
|
256.4 |
0.318 |
0.010 |
In addition to the above reserves, the mineral resources at Gibraltar are
estimated to be:
Gibraltar Mineral Resources at 0.16% to 0.20% Copper Cut-off |
|||
Category |
Tons (millions) |
Cu (%) |
Mo (%) |
Measured Indicated |
414 197 |
0.284 0.272 |
0.008 0.007 |
Total |
611 |
0.280 |
0.008 |
The resource and reserve
estimation was completed by Gibraltar mine staff under the supervision of
Ian S. Thompson, P.Eng., Superintendent of Technical Services and a Qualified
Person under National Instrument 43-101. Mr Thompson has verified the methods
used to determine grade and tonnage in the geological model, reviewed the
long range mine plan, and directed the updated economic evaluation. The
estimates used long term metal prices of US$1.50/lb for copper and US$8.00/lb
for molybdenum and a foreign exchange of C$0.88 per US dollar. A technical
report will be filed on www.sedar.com.
For further details on Taseko Mines Limited, please visit the Company's
website at www.tasekomines.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365
or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
------------
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained
in this news release.
Forward
Looking Statement
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements". All statements in this release,
other than statements of historical facts, that address estimated resource
quantities, grades and contained gold, possible future mining, exploration
and development activities, are forward-looking statements. Although the
Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements
are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any
way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or
developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in forward-looking statements include market prices for metals, the conclusions
of detailed feasibility and technical analyses, lower than expected grades
and quantities of reserves or resources, mining rates and recovery rates
and the lack of availability of necessary capital, which may not be available
to the Company on terms acceptable to it or at all. The Company is subject
to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general
economic and business conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors
should review the Company's annual Form 20-F filing with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings
that are available at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary
Note Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Resources
This
news release also uses the terms "measured resources" and "indicated
resources". Taseko advises U.S. investors that although these terms
are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument
43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned
not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories
will ever be converted into reserves.