Untitled Document

FORM 6-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of: ____February_________________

Commission File Number: 0-25672

MIRAMAR MINING CORPORATION
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

#300 - 889 Harbourside Drive
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V7P 3S1

(Address of principal executive offices)

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                       Form 40-F      X     

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): __________

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 — __________


SIGNATURE

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.

MIRAMAR MINING CORPORATION
(Registrant)
   
By: /s/ A. David Long
  A. David Long, Corporate Secretary

Dated: February 8, 2007


 

MIRAMAR MINING CORPORATION
 
Suite 300 - 889 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3S1 Canada
Tel: (604) 985-2572 Fax: (604) 980-0731 Toll Free: 1-800-663-8780
     
February 8, 2007 NEWS RELEASE 07-02 MAE - TSX
MNG-AMEX

Miramar Reports Final 2006 Hope Bay Drill Results
-Results continue to define mineralization for ongoing pit studies at Madrid -
-Significant mineralization in additional sampling at Boston, incl. 118g/t over 1 m
and 54.2 g/t over 2.0m-

VANCOUVER — Miramar Mining Corporation today announced the final results from the 2006 exploration program at Hope Bay, Nunavut.

The objective of Miramar’s 2006 work at Hope Bay was to define a second phase (Phase II) of production following the proposed Doris North Mine (Phase I) which is now in the permitting process. Originally, Phase II was planned to be primarily underground at Madrid, supported by the high grade ores from Boston and Doris Central. However, early in 2006 internal studies indicated that there were possible opportunities for larger scale production at Hope Bay. During 2006, the Company conducted drill programs and studies to determine the potential for a large scale Phase II operation (either open pit or underground) centered at Madrid.

The final drill results from the Madrid area have been received and continue to demonstrate that the currently modelled Madrid zones are part of a larger, continuous single deposit. Of particular interest are recent shallow intercepts from the Naartok East zone including 06PMD497, which encountered 3.4 g/t gold over 81 metres including a higher grade interval of 7.4 g/t over 12 metres. This hole is higher in grade than previous shallow drilling in this portion of the Naartok East zone and follow up drilling is planned for 2007 to determine the effect of this mineralization on ongoing pit studies.

Also in 2006, an extensive program of core sampling on un-sampled sections of previously drilled holes was completed in the Boston resource area. Three sections through the main Boston mineralization were selected for sampling to determine the potential of a lower grade halo around the currently defined resource.

Assays for these sections have returned gold values indicating that local zones around the currently modelled resources have potential to have a positive impact on ongoing technical economic studies. Additionally, significant high grade mineralization was returned from previously un-sampled zones between and on strike of the currently modelled resource. Hole BUG361 drilled in 2000, returned 54.2 g/t gold over 2m including 95 g/t over 1m and BUG 362, also drilled in 2000, returned a value of 118.5 g/t over a 1 metre sample. These results are exciting, but it is still too early to determine what impact they might have on the Boston resource and the development plans going forward. An aggressive sampling program will be undertaken in 2007 based on these results.

Evaluation of the Boston Nose (“BN”) zone, a newly discovered zone approximately 400m north of the current Boston resource also continued to return interesting results; the final holes are reported in the appended table. Drilling and sampling has indicated the BN zone is a large low grade mineralized area, geologically more analogous to Madrid style mineralization than the mineralization associated with quartz


veining at Boston. Further evaluation of this near surface zone will continue in 2007 along with additional targets including a re-evaluation of the Boston resource to help define what opportunities these deposits offer to enhance potential Phase II development and production.

In 2006 Miramar completed 65,775 m of drilling in 233 drill holes on the property, one of the largest single-project programs in the industry.

Madrid

At Madrid drilling progressed to evaluate the potential for continuous mineralization in the gaps between the Suluk, Rand and Naartok East and West deposits, with the purpose of determining if currently modelled resource zones are in fact parts of a larger more continuous deposit and to support studies on the open pit potential at Madrid.

The work completed in 2006 was successful in finding continuous mineralization in the gaps between these deposits, expanding the Suluk deposit to the south and expanding Naartok East to the north. The drilling completed in 2006 met or exceeded the Company’s expectations, including the best hole ever drilled at Hope Bay (9.3 g/tonne of gold over 93.5 meters, previously reported) at Naartok East. The data from this drilling is being used to support technical economic studies on two production alternatives at Madrid (underground vs. open pit mine) for Phase II, with additional feed coming from separate underground mines at the Boston and Doris Central deposits. Additional drilling will be required in 2007 to support a feasibility study on the optimum Hope Bay Phase II development alternative.

Highlights from the final results from the 2006 season include:

Naartok Rand Gap Area             FROM            TO            LENGTH           Au            
HOLE ID   Area   meters   meters   meters   g/t
06PMD486   Rand   65.80   102.00   36.2   2.4
06PMD488   East   20.00   83.16   63.2   2.6
includes   East   73.56   79.48   5.9   8.5
06PMD497   East   94.50   175.50   81.0   3.4
includes   East   123.00   133.50   10.5   7.7
                     
Naartok Expansion   FROM   TO   LENGTH   Au    
HOLE ID   Area   meters   meters   meters   g/t
06PMD487   East   262.00   277.00   15.0   2.9
06PMD493   East   274.00   289.25   15.3   1.5
06PMD495   East   440.50   441.25   0.8   39.3

Boston

The mineralization encountered in the 2006 drilling on the BN zone consists of altered volcanic units with disseminated sulphides and has not been previously recognized at Boston where earlier drilling tended to focus on quartz veining similar to the B2 and B3 zones. In December 3,400 samples of earlier drilling were collected and sent for analysis. Assay highlights are reported below. The work at the BN zone has focussed on possibility of identifying either a supplementary underground development area or a larger production center which may be amenable to open pit exploitation at Boston.


Additional sampling highlights:

HOLE ID   Area   FROM   TO   LENGTH   Au
        meters   meters   meters   g/t
BUG244            BOSTON            56.00            66.00            10.0            1.5
BUG260A   BOSTON   25.00   30.43   5.4   1.5
BUG264   BOSTON   107.00   122.00   15.0   1.2
BUG361   BOSTON   65.00   67.00   2.0   54.2
includes       66.00   67.00   1.0   94.7
And       74.00   83.00   9.0   3.2
BUG362   BOSTON   77.55   78.55   1.0   118.5
BUG370   BOSTON   127.87   144.90   17.0   1.1
BUG372   BOSTON   59.50   64.00   4.5   1.7
And       151.00   152.50   1.5   18.9

Initial geological modeling will evaluate for the potential of the existence of a lower grade halo around both around the BN zone and the existing resources areas such as B2 and B3.

Work for 2007

Miramar anticipates it will spend approximately $30m and complete approximately 75,000 metres of drilling on programs at Hope Bay in 2007. The 2007 program will include an increased exploration component to look for new discoveries beginning in early March as well as drilling to support ongoing technical studies, metallurgical testing, resource infill and upgrading and permitting data collection. Miramar’s immediate objective is to complete a Preliminary Assessment (“PA”) on phase II during the second quarter of 2007. The PA will outline (within the + or – 30% range of economics), two alternatives: 1) the large entirely underground development; and 2) the large scale combination underground and open pit option.

The results of the PA will define the course of direction for phase II after which the Company will embark on the phase II bankable feasibility study (“FS”). It is expected that the FS would take another 12 – 14 months to complete (1st half 2008) and would include further test work and resource upgrade/infill drilling. Once a decision has been made on which production alternative offers the best return a Preliminary Project Description can be filed with the Nunavut Impact Review Board (“NIRB”) on Phase II. The Phase II feasibility Study would need to be completed prior to filing the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment for environmental assessment by NIRB. Miramar’s detailed plans and objectives for the 2007 program at Hope Bay will be announced before the end of Q1, 2007.

In addition an update to the Doris North Feasibility Study is also underway and is expected to be completed in May 2007. The study will also examine the changes that would be required to allow the Doris North facility to process ore from the Doris Central zone in order to bridge production from Doris North to Phase II. Production from Doris Central will require further feasibility work and permitting

Miramar Mining Corporation

Miramar is a Canadian gold company that controls the Hope Bay project, one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada. The Hope Bay project covers over 1,000 sq. km. and encompasses one of the most prospective undeveloped greenstone belts in Canada. Miramar aims to become an intermediate gold producer through the integrated development of the Hope Bay belt starting with the proposed small scale,


high grade Doris North Mine. Miramar then expects to extend and expand production levels by developing through phase II, the Madrid, Boston and remaining Doris deposits.

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed by John Wakeford, P. Geo. Vice President, Exploration for Miramar Mining Corporation, and the Qualified Person for the Company as set out in NI 43-101. The analytical method for the gold analyses is gravimetric assay done by TSL Laboratories in Saskatoon, with metallic screen assays for all samples assaying over 20 g/t gold. Check assays are completed by ALS Chemex in North Vancouver.

Assay intervals reported are drill core lengths. Geologic interpretation of drill results is underway. However, it is estimated that true widths would generally be at least 70-80% of reported core lengths.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements relating to exploration work at the Hope Bay project and the expected costs and results of this work and statements regarding the expected results of the 2006 work program and the planned program for 2007, proposed Preliminary Assessment and Feasibility and other studies and production strategies and the estimates as to the adequacy of cash resources are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” ‘projects,” “aims,” “potential,” “goal,” “objective,” “prospective,” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will,” “would,” “may,” “can,” “could” or “should” occur. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling results and information concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in gold prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company’s properties; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and other tests and the estimation of gold reserves and resources; the need for continued cooperation of government agencies and Inuit groups in the development of the Hope Bay property and the possibility that required permits or government approvals may not be obtained on a timely manner or at all; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated and may preclude commercial development or render operations uneconomic; the possibility that the estimated recovery rates may not be achieved; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Miramar’s operations and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in this press release and in Miramar’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Miramar’s management on the date the statements are made. Miramar undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

All resource estimates reported in this disclosure are calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which permits U.S. mining companies in their SEC filings to disclose only those mineral deposits that qualify as proven or probable “reserves” because a determination has been made based on an appropriate feasibility study that the deposits could be economically and legally extracted or produced. Accordingly, resource information reported in this disclosure may not be comparable to similar information reported by United States companies. The term “resource(s)” does not equate to “reserves” and normally


may not be included in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and investors are cautioned not to assume that “resources” will be converted into “reserves” in the future.

This disclosure uses the term “inferred resources”. While this term is recognized by Canadian regulations concerning disclosures by mining companies, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. “Inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the “inferred resources” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of “inferred resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an “inferred resource” exists or is economically or legally feasible.


This news release has been authorized by the undersigned on behalf of Miramar Mining Corporation.

For further information contact:
Anthony P. Walsh
President & CEO, Miramar Mining Corporation
Tel: (604) 985-2572 Fax: (604) 980-0731Toll Free: 1-800-663-8780Email: info@miramarmining.com


Madrid Drill Results ( n.s.v.---- no significant values)

HOLE ID   Area   FROM   TO   LENGTH   Au
        meters   meters   meters   g/t
06PMD486            Rand            33.00           34.50            1.5           3.0
And   Rand   41.00   51.07   10.1   2.6
And   Rand   65.80   102.00   36.2   2.4
06PMD487   East   262.00   277.00   15.0   2.9
includes   East   265.00   266.50   1.5   5.2
And   East   318.50   342.50   24.0   0.7
includes   East   320.00   321.50   1.5   1.8
06PMD488   East   20.00   83.16   63.2   2.6
includes   East   43.95   44.95   1.0   11.7
and includes   East   73.56   79.48   5.9   8.5
And   Rand   307.70   315.20   7.5   5.3
And   Rand   394.70   399.20   4.5   1.4
And   Rand   439.74   444.15   4.4   1.8
06PMD489   East   461.00   465.00   4.0   1.8
And   East   493.50   499.50   6.0   1.9
And   East   514.50   516.00   3.5   1.5
06PMD490   East   263.50   277.00   13.5   0.6
06PMD491   Rand   204.23   245.10   40.9   1.4
includes   Rand   230.30   243.80   13.5   2.2
And   Rand   547.50   560.00   12.5   1.3
And   Rand   582.00   585.00   3.0   2.9
06PMD492   East               n.s.v.
06PMD492A   East   579.00   605.50   26.5   1.7
includes   East   581.00   582.00   1.0   19.4
And   East   657.50   663.50   6.0   1.4
And   East   696.00   723.14   27.1   2.1
includes   East   696.00   705.00   9.0   3.8
06PMD493   East   253.35   253.65   0.3   3.6
And   East   274.00   289.25   15.3   1.5
includes   East   278.80   283.30   4.5   2.5
06PMD494   Rand   368.00   374.00   6.0   2.3
And   Rand   405.50   428.00   22.5   1.2
And   Rand   440.50   463.50   23.0   1.8
And   Rand   483.00   489.00   6.0   1.6
06PMD495   East   440.50   441.25   0.8   39.3
And   East   451.50   454.20   2.7   1.2
06PMD496   East   488.00   498.00   10.0   1.2
06PMD497   East   94.50   175.50   81.0   3.4
includes   East   123.00   133.50   10.5   7.7
06PMD498   Rand   484.00   490.00   6.0   1.8
And   Rand   512.50   523.00   10.5   1.2
06PMD499   East   342.06   345.50   3.4   1.2
And   East   494.36   499.22   4.9   1.8
And   East   572.50   573.50   1.0   7.2

Boston Sampling Results ( n.s.v.---- no significant values)

HOLE ID   year
drilled
Area FROM   TO LENGTH Au
            meters   meters   meters   g/t
06SBD338   2006   BN   197.50   199.00   1.5   3.0
And           232.00   236.00   4.0   4.1
includes           232.00   232.68   0.7   16.4
06SBD352            2006            BN            258.90            266.11            7.2            1.3
06SBD351   2006   BN   29.00   44.00   15.0   2.2
includes           36.90   42.50   5.6   3.5
And           129.50   135.50   6.0   1.4
BUG233   2000   BOSTON   6.00   13.00   7.0   1.8
And           44.00   54.90   10.9   1.2
And           66.00   71.00   5.0   1.6
BUG238   2000   BOSTON   26.00   27.00   1.0   2.2
BUG244   2000   BOSTON   19.55   21.60   2.1   1.8
And           56.00   66.00   10.0   1.5
includes           61.00   62.00   1.0   6.0
BUG245   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG248   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG251   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG252   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG257   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG260A   2000   BOSTON   25.00   30.43   5.4   1.5
BUG261   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG264   2000   BOSTON   107.00   122.00   15.0   1.2
includes           118.00   121.50   3.5   2.6
BUG265   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG266   2000   BOSTON   22.60   24.00   1.4   2.0
And           101.00   102.50   1.5   3.6
BUG269   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG276   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG286   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG292   2000   BOSTON   104.00   121.50   17.5   1.2
includes           117.88   118.32   0.4   15.3
BUG294   2000   BOSTON   162.63   163.50   0.9   5.2
And           193.50   195.00   1.5   1.7
BUG297   2000   BOSTON   56.00   58.00   2.0   2.4
And           139.00   140.00   1.0   13.5
BUG298   2000   BOSTON   147.00   148.00   1.0   2.3
BUG301   2000   BOSTON   24.00   25.00   1.0   3.4
And           67.00   68.00   1.0   3.2
BUG302   2000   BOSTON   16.00   17.00   1.0   1.7
And           43.00   45.50   2.5   3.9
And           50.70   70.66   20.0   0.4
And           86.82   92.00   5.2   1.9
BUG320   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG340   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG347   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.

BUG352            2000            BOSTON                                                   n.s.v.
BUG357   2000   BOSTON   80.00   81.50   1.5   15.1
BUG359   2000   BOSTON               n.s.v.
BUG361   2000   BOSTON   21.00   22.00   1.0   2.6
And           65.00   67.00   2.0   54.2
includes           66.00   67.00   1.0   94.7
And           74.00   83.00   9.0   3.2
includes           74.00   75.00   1.0   9.9
includes           78.00   79.00   1.0   11.4
BUG362   2000   BOSTON    11.00   12.00   1.0   1.5
And           30.00   31.00   1.0   1.5
And           77.55   78.55   1.0   118.5
BUG370   2000   BOSTON    59.00   62.00   3.0   4.3
And           127.87   144.90   17.0   1.1
includes           137.95   139.00   1.1   7.8
And           156.00   161.94   5.9   1.4
BUG372   2000   BOSTON    59.50   64.00   4.5   1.7
And           151.00   152.50   1.5   18.9
And           175.50   177.00   1.5   2.1
S01-262   2001   BOSTON               n.s.v.
S01-263A   2001   BOSTON               n.s.v.
S04-321A   2001   BOSTON               n.s.v.