UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
October 19, 2007
Date of Report (Date
of earliest event reported)
NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| DELAWARE | 0-26407 | 85-0212139 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Commission File | (IRS Employer Identification |
| incorporation) | Number) | No.) |
| 1 West Wetmore Road, Suite 203 | |
| Tucson, Arizona | 85705 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
520-292-0266
Registrant's telephone
number, including area code
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| [ ] |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| [ ] |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| [ ] |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| [ ] |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Item | Description |
| 8.01 | Other Events |
| 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
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SECTION 8 – OTHER EVENTS
| Item 8.01 | Other Events |
On October 19, 2007, Nord Resources Corporation (“Nord” or the “Company”) issued a news release announcing an update of its reserve estimate for the Johnson Camp Mine and provided an update on the status of restart of the Johnson Camp Mine.
Proven and Probable Reserve Increase
The Company reported a 109% increase in its proven and probable reserve estimate. This reserve increase is primarily due to an increase in copper price utilized for mine modeling: previous reserve estimates were based on $0.90 copper, whereas current pits are based on a copper price of $1.50.
As shown in the following table, the updated proven and probable reserve estimate as of September 2007 is 73.4 million tons of ore at an average total copper grade of 0.335% total copper based on a copper price of $1.50 per pound and a stripping ratio of 0.66 to 1:
| Reserves | ||||||||||||
| Cu Pounds | Cu Pounds | |||||||||||
| Contained | Recoverable | |||||||||||
| Category | Tons (thousands) | Grade (% Copper) | (thousands) | (thousands) | ||||||||
| Proven Reserves | 54,977 | 0.338 | 318,540 | 245,279 | ||||||||
| Probable Reserves | 18,410 | 0.327 | 173,482 | 128,863 | ||||||||
| Total | 73,387 | 0.335 | 492,022 | 374,142 | ||||||||
The updated reserve estimate is based on the Johnson Camp Mine Project Feasibility Study and Technical Report prepared by Michael Bikerman, Ph.D., P.G., David Bikerman, M.S., E.M, and Thomas McGrail, E.M., all of Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates, Inc. The report was prepared pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators and the reserves are compliant with CIM and SEC Guide 7 guidelines. Michael Bikerman, David Bikerman and Thomas McGrail are all independent to Nord and are “Qualified Persons” within the meaning assigned in National Instrument 43-101.
In addition to the above mentioned reserves, mineralized material is contained in the Burro and Copper Chief deposits at the Johnson Camp property and was estimated using the guidelines established in, and is compliant with, National Instrument 43 101 standards. In addition, the Company has numerous other prospects of mineralized material that remain to be explored and tested.
Economic Analysis
The feasibility study includes an economic analysis of the Johnson Camp Mine based on the mine plan, current capital and operating cost estimates, and a three-year trailing average copper price of $2.45 per pound over the life of the mine. Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates has concluded in the feasibility study that resumption of operations at the Johnson Camp Mine in accordance with the mine plan will generate positive discounted cash flows over a 16 year mine life at 8%, 15% and 20% discount rates.
Based on the feasibility study and technical report, the Company expects the Johnson Camp Mine to produce approximately 25 million pounds of copper per year, for an anticipated mine life of 16 years and estimated initial capital expenditures of approximately $28 million. These and other figures referred to in this current report do not represent a forecast by the Company of copper prices, discount rates or expenditures.
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The economic analysis of the Johnson Camp Mine is based on the mine plan included in the technical report, capital and operating estimates as of the second quarter of 2007, and, as indicated above, a three year trailing average copper price of $2.45 per pound (New York Commodity Exchange) for the life of the mine. The economic analysis was developed by Bikerman Engineering & Technology Associates using a production schedule derived from reserve estimates. The economic analysis resulted in an net present value (“NPV”) of 8% of $176 million, an internal rate of return (“IRR”) of 77% and a payback of 1.6 years.
The following table indicates the after-tax NPV and IRR of the Johnson Camp Mine at various copper prices using the foregoing reserve estimates.
| Copper Price/lb | $2.13 | $2.45 | $2.82 | $3.19 | $3.55 |
| NPV @ 8%(1) | $118(2) | $176(2) | $243(2) | $310(2) | $377(2) |
| IRR | 60% | 77% | 93% | 108% | 122% |
| (1) |
The economic analysis does not reflect the impact, if any, of the company’s federal and state net operating loss carryforwards. |
| (2) |
$ in millions |
President and CEO, John Perry commented, “We are pleased with the significant increase in proven and probable reserves. These results, along with the results of our current drilling program underway at Johnson Camp, will be evaluated to determine the viability of potential future production increases.”
Status Update of Restart of Johnson Camp Copper Mine
The Company also provided an updated on the progress of the restart of the Johnson Camp Copper Mine in Arizona, which was previously announced on July 5, 2007.
The Company’s mine operating plan calls for residual leaching of the existing old dumps and an active leach program of newly mined ore.
Start-up is on schedule for initial copper production from residual leaching operations to commence in December 2007, and copper production from new ore placed on the heaps commencing in August 2009. Our goal is to complete the first copper cathode sale by December 2007. The restart plan includes estimated production of 25 million pounds of copper cathodes per annum with estimated copper cathode production of 12.5 million pounds for calendar year 2008.
The following progress has been made relative to the restart of Johnson Camp:
Residual Leach Operations
Key operating staff hired and on site
Electrification of facility completed
Reconstruction of the main raffinate pond is nearly complete
Rehabilitation of the solvent-extraction plant is proceeding on schedule
Rehabilitation of leaching circuit is nearly complete
Resumption of application of sulfuric acid to the existing heaps to commence in late October
Movement of material from heap number 1 and 2 to other leach areas by the mining contractor is well underway
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Mining/Crushing Operations
Key operating staff hired and on site
Primary crusher has been relocated from Nevada to the Johnson Camp Mine
Secondary crushing system and agglomerator have been ordered with expected delivery on schedule
The news release contains a cautionary note on forward looking statements.
SECTION 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit |
| 99.1 | News release dated October 19, 2007* |
*Filed herewith
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 hereunto duly authorized.
| NORD RESOURCES CORPORATION | ||
| By: | ||
| DATE: October 19, 2007 | /s/ John T. Perry | |
| John T. Perry | ||
| President and CEO | ||
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