After turning down a $21-million settlement last fall, Aquiline Resources has won ownership of the Navidad silver deposit in Argentina, defeating IMA Exploration Inc. in the case.
But IMA plans to appeal the decision.
Aquiline, based in Toronto, says the B.C. Supreme Court rendered a judgment late Friday in the case involving Minera Aquiline Argentina SA as plaintiff and IMA Exploration and Inversiones Mineras Argentinas SA as defendants.
In March 2004, Aquiline launched a suit alleging that Vancouver-based IMA used confidential mineral survey data owned by Minera Aquiline to identify and acquire the Navidad project.
"We welcome the judge's decision, which should finally bring clarity to the ownership of Navidad and accelerate the development of this world-class project for the benefit of all stakeholders," Aquiline CEO Martc Hendersion said in a release.
"This was a milestone case involving issues of particular importance to global resource industries and we are gratified that Aquiline's position has been upheld."
IMA said it plans an appeal.
"It is expected that the appeal will focus on the legal correctness of the trial judge's interpretation of the confidentiality agreement, as well as other grounds of appeal," IMA said in a release.
In the B.C. court judgment, Madam Justice Koenigsberg also ruled that Aquiline should pay development costs and left open the possibility of court costs being awarded to Aquiline.