Mr. Jeffrey Pontius reports
CORVUS GOLD, PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR COMBINED NORTH BULLFROG AND MOTHER LODE DEPOSITS, NEVADA
Corvus Gold Inc. has provided its results for its initial preliminary economic assessment (PEA) combining the North Bullfrog-Mother Lode projects in southwest Nevada. Results outline a large new Nevada mining project with attractive preliminary production statistics that include estimated 347,100 ounces of annual gold production during the first four years and an after-tax 5-per-cent discounted net present value (NPV) of $586-million (U.S.) with an internal rate of return of 38 per cent and estimated payback period of 2.1 years (see "Life of mine preliminary economic assessment -- North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project," "Select statistics for first four years of PEA production plan for North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project," "Cost and resource assumptions for North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project PEA" and "North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project PEA mineral resource summary (effectiveSept. 18, 2018)" tables).
The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The project is modelled on a large open-pit mining operation utilizing both milling and run-of-mine heap leaching of the mineralized material. The initial PEA results indicate robust economics at lower gold prices and strong leverage for higher gold prices with a $1.47-billion (U.S.) pretax cash flow at $1,450 gold price (see "Sensitivity analysis for preliminary economic assessment, North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project" table). The National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects technical report for the North Bullfrog-Mother Lode PEA and initial Mother Lode mineral resource estimate will be filed on the company's SEDAR profile by the end of the business day on Nov. 1, 2018. For readers to fully understand the information in this news release, they should read the technical report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the PEA. The technical report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.
The PEA of the combined projects only includes drill results completed up until July, 2018. Continuing exploration work at the Mother Lode project is promising and there may be expansion potential of the deposit in multiple directions with further work. In addition, Corvus will begin follow-up mineral resource expansion work and new discovery drilling on priority targets at North Bullfrog in early 2019. An updated mineral resource estimate is also planned for later next year.
Jeffrey Pontius, president and chief executive officer of Corvus, states: "The results from our initial PEA study of the combined North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project is encouraging. The PEA outlined a project that has the scale and economics similar to many existing major gold mines in Nevada. The projected annual gold production during the first four years is significant, especially as a new open-pit deposit in Nevada. The PEA demonstrates the potential for the project to produce nearly 350,000 ounces of gold per year. This initial analysis in conjunction with our continued positive Mother Lode exploration drill results is encouraging for expanding and improving the economic model as our programs move forward. Furthermore, the greater Bullfrog district is seeing a resurgence of exploration activity with multiple mining companies conducting large-scale drilling programs. The North Bullfrog-Mother Lode PEA study has highlighted the re-emergence of the Bullfrog district and with Corvus Gold's commanding land position we believe we have a strong asset with excellent growth potential for our shareholders."
The PEA study has outlined a number of areas for future work to enhance the project that include:
Expanding the higher-grade, mineral resource base at both the Mother Lode and North Bullfrog projects with continued mineral resource expansion drilling, including new deep targeting of high-grade feeder zones. Continuing results from the Mother Lode indicate the deposit has the potential to grow and expand beyond its existing mineral resource, in particular mineralization is thickening to the north (current northernmost hole, ML18-083 with 65.5 metres at 1.53 grams per tonne gold reported NR18-17, Oct. 17, 2018); Continued metallurgical studies of other lower cost sulphide processing opportunities and refinement of the proposed milling operation including sulfide heap leaching studies;Improved open-pit mining and development plans to enhance project economics; Life-of-mine preliminary economic assessment -- North Bullfrog-Mother Lode project.
LIFE-OF-MINE PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT -- NORTH BULLFROG-MOTHER LODE PROJECTAT $1,250 (U.S.)/OZ GOLD PRICEParameterSummary dataPretax cash flow; IRRUSD $970.2 M; 45%Posttax NPV 5%; IRRUSD $585.6 M; 38%Overall strip ratio1.08 to 1 (overburden -- process tonne)Cash cost years one to four (USD per AuEq ounce) $591Year one to four average annual gold production347,000 ouncesLOM cash cost (USD per AuEq ounce) $680LOM average annual gold production 282,000 ouncesInitial capital cost (USD) $424 MSustaining capital cost (USD) $60 MLOM capital cost (USD per AuEq oz) $187Average mill recovery (%)Au 83%Au 74%Average heap leach recovery (%)Au 74%Ag6%Average total mining rate* (t/day)169,860Average mineralization mining rate* (t/day)81,680AISC (USD/produced Au oz)$694* Minus 10-year rate including capitalized mining in year minus one.
SELECT STATISTICS FOR FIRST FOUR YEARS OF PEA PRODUCTION PLAN FOR NORTH BULLFROG-MOTHER LODE PROJECTFirst four years of production (mill and heap leach)Heap leach MillTotal Total estimated oz of mineralizedmaterial processedAu909,000914,0001,823,000Ag2,052,0003,337,0005,390,000 Recovery (%) Au 69%84%76%Ag5%74%48% Total estimated oz of mineralizedmaterial recoverableAu624,670764,0001,388,000Ag110,0802,480,0002,591,000 Estimated average annual oz gold production156,170191,000347,090
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS FOR PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT, NORTH BULLFROG-MOTHER LODE PROJECT Gold price ($/oz)Pretax cash flow (USD $M) IRR Posttax NPV @ 5% (USD $M) IRR Payback (yr)$1,050 $456 25%$237 20%2.9$1,150 $713 35%$413 30%2.4$1,250 (base case) $970 45%$586 38%2.1$1,350 $1,227 54%$756 46%1.8$1,450 $1,470 63%$914 53%1.7
COST AND RESOURCE ASSUMPTIONS FOR NORTH BULLFROG-MOTHER LODE PROJECT PEAParameter Unit Mayflower Jolly Jane* Sierra Blanca YellowJacket Mother LodeMining costUSD/total tonne $1.42$1.42$1.42$1.42 $1.42 Au cut-Off g/tonne 0.10.1 0.06 0.350.76 Processing costUSD/process tonne1.20 1.20 1.2016.74 18.89Au recovery%72 72 74 86.880 Ag recovery% 666 74.3na Administrative costUSD/process tonne0.46 0.46 0.46 0.460.46 Refining and sales USD/Au oz2.50 2.50 2.50 2.502.50 Au selling priceUSD/oz 1,2501,2501,2501,250 1,250Slope angleDegrees50 50 50 5065
NORTH BULLFROG-MOTHER LODE PROJECT PEA MINERAL RESOURCE SUMMARY (EFFECTIVE SEPT. 18, 2018)Mill resource (oxide and sulphide)Run-of-mine heap leach (0.63-0.78 g/t cut-off grade)(0.06-0.10 g/t cut-off grade) Resource category Tonnes (M) Gold (g/t) Gold (koz) Tonnes (M) Gold (g/t) Gold (koz)Measured 9.31 1.5947534.56 0.27305Indicated 18.25 1.68988 149.37 0.241,150Total M&I 27.56 1.651,463 183.93 0.251,455Inferred 2.28 1.6111878.74 0.26549* The mineral resources are effective as of Sept. 18, 2018.* Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.* There are no known legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resources.* Assumes heap leach processing of disseminated oxidized mineralization.* Assumes pressure oxidation mill processing of MLP and NBP sulphide mineralization.* Au cut-off -- break-even grade derived from Whittle input parameters at $1,250-(U.S.)-per-ounce gold price.
Qualified person and quality control/quality assurance
Jeffrey A. Pontius (CPG 11044), a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has reviewed and approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Pontius is not independent of Corvus, as he is the chief executive officer and president and holds common shares and incentive stock options.
Carl E. Brechtel (Nevada PE 008744 and registered member 353000 of SME), a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has co-ordinated execution of the work outlined in this news release and has also reviewed and approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Brechtel is not independent of Corvus, as he is the chief operating officer and holds common shares and incentive stock options.
The work program at Mother Lode was designed and supervised by Mark Reischman, Corvus Gold's Nevada exploration manager, who is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program. On-site personnel at the project log and track all samples prior to sealing and shipping. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind certified standard reference materials and blanks into each sample shipment. All mineral resource sample shipments are sealed and shipped to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) in Reno, Nev., for preparation and assaying. AAL is independent of the company. AAL's quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are forwarded to AAL and an ISO-compliant third party laboratory for additional quality control. Mr. Pontius, a qualified person, has verified the data underlying the information disclosed herein, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information by reviewing the reports of AAL, methodologies, results and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice, and all matters were consistent and accurate according to his professional judgement. There were no limitations on the verification process.
Scott E. Wilson, CPG (10965), registered member of SME (4025107) and president of Resource Development Associates Inc., is an independent consulting geologist specializing in mineral reserve and resource calculation reporting, mining project analysis, and due diligence evaluations. He is acting as the qualified person, as defined in NI 43-101, and is the primary author of the technical report for the mineral resource estimate and has reviewed and approved the mineral resource estimate and the preliminary economic assessment summarized in this news release. Mr. Wilson has over 29 years of experience in surface mining, resource estimation and strategic mine planning. Mr. Wilson is independent of the company under NI 43-101.
Mr. Wilson, a qualified person, has verified the data underlying the information disclosed herein, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information by reviewing the reports of AAL, methodologies, results and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice, and all matters were consistent and accurate according to his professional judgment. There were no limitations on the verification process.
Metallurgical testing on North Bullfrog and Mother Lode samples has been performed by McClelland Analytical Services Laboratories Inc. of Sparks, Nev., McClelland is an ISO 17025 accredited facility that supplies quantitative chemical analysis in support of metallurgical, exploration and environmental testing using classic methods and modern analytical instrumentation. McClelland has met the requirements of the IAS Accreditations Criteria for Testing Laboratories (AC89), has demonstrated compliance with ANS/ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2005, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, and has been accredited since Nov. 12, 2012. Hazen Research Inc., an independent laboratory, has performed flotation, AAO testing and cyanide leach testing on samples of sulphide mineralization from the YellowJacket zone and Swale area of Sierra Blanca, and roasting tests on Mother Lode flotation concentrate. Hazen holds analytical certificates from state regulatory agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA). Hazen participates in performance evaluation studies to demonstrate competence and maintains a large stock of standard reference materials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), the EPA, and other sources. Hazen's QA program has been developed for conformance to the applicable requirements and standards referenced in 10 CFR 830.120 subpart A quality assurance requirements, Jan. 1, 2002. Pressure oxidation test work on Mother Lode concentrate samples was performed by Resource Development Inc. of Wheatridge, Colo.
About the North Bullfrog and Mother Lode projects, Nevada
Corvus controls 100 per cent of its North Bullfrog project, which covers approximately 86.6 square kilometres in southern Nevada. The property package is made up of a number of private mineral leases of patented federal mining claims and 1,057 federal unpatented mining claims. The project has excellent infrastructure, being adjacent to a major highway and power corridor as well as a large water right. The company also controls 445 federal unpatented mining claims on the Mother Lode project which totals approximately 36.5 square km of which it owns 100 per cent. The total Corvus Gold 100-per-cent land ownership now covers over 123.1 square km, hosting two major new Nevada gold discoveries.
The combined Mother Lode and North Bullfrog projects contain a measured mineral resource for the mill of 9.3 mllion tonnes at an average grade of 1.59 grams per tonne gold, containing 475,000 ounces of gold and indicated mineral resources for the mill of 18.2 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.68 g/t gold containing 988,000 ounces of gold and an inferred mineral resource for the mill of 2.3 Mt at an average grade of 1.61 g/t gold containing 118,000 ounces of gold. In addition, the project contains a measured mineral resource for oxide, run-of-mine, heap leach of 34.6 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.27 g/t gold containing 305,000 ounces of gold and an indicated mineral resource for oxide, run-of-mine heap leach of 149.4 Mt at an average grade of 0.24 g/t gold containing 1.15 million ounces of gold and an inferred, oxide, run-of-mine heap leach mineral resource of 78.7 Mt at an average grade of 0.26 g/t gold containing 549,000 ounces of gold.
About Corvus Gold Inc.
Corvus Gold is a North American gold exploration and development company, focused on its near-term gold-silver mining project at the North Bullfrog and Mother Lode districts in Nevada. In addition, the company controls a number of royalties on other North American exploration properties representing a spectrum of gold, silver and copper projects. Corvus is committed to building shareholder value through new discoveries and the expansion of its projects to maximize share price leverage in an advancing gold and silver market.
We seek Safe Harbor.
© 2018 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.