Comstock Mining Commences Clean KAM-Thio Tests; Collaborating with Itronics on the Dayton Resource Development

VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., Sept. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Mining Inc. (the “Company” or “Comstock”) (NYSE American: LODE) today announced that the Company and Itronics Inc. (OTC: ITRO), have commenced testing Itronics’ clean, KAM-Thio recovery system on unprocessed gold and silver bearing minerals extracted from Comstock’s Dayton resource area, located in Lyon County, Nevada.

The previous tests recovered the substantial majority of the silver while the new KAM-Thio residual solution was substantially regenerating during the metal recovery process, thus reducing the net consumption of the reagents and creating a potentially compelling economic solution. Itronics has also previously reported that the remaining cyanide in the leached material was neutralized by the new leaching process, reducing the cyanide to an almost undetectable level on the spent material and potentially to drinking water standards in the residual solution.

Corrado De Gasperis, Executive Chairman and CEO commented, “We have previously reported positive results processing this solution on previously leached material, especially with silver, so we are extending the tests onto higher-grade, virgin materials to determine if we can replicate the clean extraction with both silver and gold.”

The testing on freshly exposed mineralized material should better model and validate the key processing steps for the extraction of the gold, as well as the silver.  The combined process results could dramatically reduce reclamation costs and associated bonding for the Dayton project.    

This now extends the collaboration between our two companies beyond evaluating whether the engineered, process flow design works for extracting remaining gold and silver from previously leached materials, to applications for extracting both gold and silver from virgin mineralized materials.  This enhanced process could improve the economic feasibility of the Company’s Dayton project and potentially also result in the production of clean rock products that may be saleable.

Mr. De Gasperis concluded, “A breakthrough with higher, cleaner recoveries, coupled with reduced waste and the recently discovered higher precious metal grades (up to 0.25 opt gold and 3.5 opt silver) in the Dayton adit, positions us toward an updated resource estimate and, more importantly, the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) of those gold and silver resources.  We look forward to publishing all of these results, along with the rest of our progress, in a stand-alone, NI 43-101 technical report, later this year.”

About Comstock Mining Inc.
Comstock Mining Inc. is a Nevada-based, gold and silver mining company with extensive, contiguous property in the Comstock District and is an emerging leader in sustainable, responsible mining. The Company began acquiring properties in the Comstock District in 2003. Since then, the Company has consolidated a significant portion of the Comstock District, amassed the single largest known repository of historical and current geological data on the Comstock region, secured permits, built an infrastructure and completed its first phase of production. The Company continues evaluating and acquiring properties inside and outside the district expanding its footprint and exploring all of our existing and prospective opportunities for further exploration, development and mining. The near-term goal of our business plan is to maximize intrinsic stockholder value realized, per share, by continuing to acquire mineralized and potentially mineralized properties, exploring, developing and validating qualified resources and reserves (proven and probable) that enable the commercial development of our operations through extended, long-lived mine plans and developments that are economically feasible and socially responsible.

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These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.  Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in this report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us; acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, cyanide, water, diesel fuel and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the SEC; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market; inability to maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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