Additional core drilling conducted at the Pebble Project site has verified the grade and distribution of mineralization in the high-grade eastern portion of the deposit, while substantially increasing the amount of contained metal and upgrading the confidence classification. The new drill results, in concert with revised economic parameters, have resulted in an improved mineral resource estimate for the Pebble deposit.

The new Pebble resource estimate is based on 509 core holes, including 37 new holes drilled since mid-2008, and updates the estimate released on December 4, 2008. The new estimate represents a 17% increase in resources within higher confidence measured and indicated categories, and a 12%, 14% and 16% increase in contained copper, gold and molybdenum, respectively.

"The quantity, grade and continuity of mineralization at Pebble, as well as the fact that more than 55% of the resource is now classified in measured and indicated categories, demonstrate the project's potential to be one of the great metal producers of the 21st century," said Northern Dynasty President & CEO Ron Thiessen. "Based on this estimate, the Pebble Project has further entrenched its status among the top-tier of global copper and molybdenum resources, and the most significant undeveloped gold resource in the world."

Mineral resources are reported at various cut-off grades as presented in the Table of Pebble Deposit Mineral Resources -- January 2010 below.

At a 0.30% copper equivalent (CuEQ, see Note 1) cut-off, the Pebble Deposit Mineral Resources comprise:

• 5.94 billion tonnes of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources grading 0.78% CuEQ, containing 55 billion pounds of copper, 67 million ounces of gold, and 3.3 billion pounds of molybdenum; and
  
  
• 4.84 billion tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resources grading 0.53% CuEQ, containing 25.6 billion pounds of copper, 40.4 million ounces of gold, and 2.3 billion pounds of molybdenum.

The estimate was prepared for the Pebble Partnership. David Gaunt, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under 43-101 who is not independent of Northern Dynasty, is responsible for the estimate. He has reviewed the contents of this release. A technical report providing details of the estimate will be filed on www.sedar.com within 45 days.

The Pebble Project is located in southwest Alaska on state land designated for mineral exploration and development. It is situated approximately 1,000 feet above sea-level, 65 miles from tidewater on Cook Inlet and presents favourable conditions for successful mine site and infrastructure development. The Pebble Partnership is working to advance a Prefeasibility Study for the Pebble Project and preparing to initiate project permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 2011, a process estimated to take 2 - 3 years to complete.

The Pebble Partnership was established in July 2007 as a 50:50 partnership between a wholly-owned affiliate of Northern Dynasty and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anglo American plc. To retain a 50% interest, Anglo American is required to invest US$1.425 to $1.5 billion to advance the Pebble Project toward permitting and operations.

Note 1 Copper equivalent calculations used metal prices of US$1.85/lb for copper, US$902/oz for gold and US$12.50/lb for molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries of 85% for copper, 69.6% for gold, and 77.8% for molybdenum in the Pebble West area and 89.3% for copper, 76.8% for gold, 83.7% for molybdenum in the Pebble East area. Recovery values reflect average results of metallurgical testwork completed to date and are subject to revision pending ongoing metallurgical studies. Revenue is calculated for each metal based on grades, recoveries and selected metal prices: accumulated revenues are then divided by the revenue at 1% copper.

Recoveries for gold and molybdenum are normalized to the copper recovery as show below:

CuEQ (Pebble West) = Cu % + (Au g/t x 69.6%/85% x 29.00/40.79) + (Mo % x 77.8%/85% x 275.58/40.79)

CuEQ (Pebble East) = Cu% + (Au g/t x 76.8%/89.3% x 29.00/40.79) + (Mo % x 83.7%/89.3% x 275.58/40.79)

Note 2 By prescribed definition, "Mineral Resources" do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The mineral resources fall within a volume or shell defined by long-term metal price estimates of US$2.50/lb for copper, US$900/oz for gold and US$25/lb for molybdenum.

Note 3 For bulk underground mining, cut-offs such as 0.60% CuEQ, are typically used for porphyry deposit bulk underground mining operations at copper porphyry deposits located around the world. A 0.30% CuEQ cut-off is considered to be comparable to that used for porphyry deposit open pit mining operations in the Americas.

Note 4 All mineral resource estimates, cut-offs and metallurgical recoveries are subject to a feasibility study.

Ronald W. Thiessen
President and CEO

ALS Chemex in North Vancouver, Canada (an ISO 9003 certified facility) is the main laboratory for the analysis of drill core samples from the Pebble Project. Duplicate samples are analyzed by Acme Analytical Laboratories of Vancouver, Canada.

You can view the Next News Releases item: Thu Feb 25, 2010, Pebble Limited Partnership Initiates US $73 Million Work Program for 2010

You can view the Previous News Releases item: Thu Nov 5, 2009, Pebble Fund Provides Second Round of Grants to Bristol Bay Community Groups

You can return to the main News Releases page, or press the Back button on your browser.