The 2020 exploration programme is focussed on reserve replacement, near-term resource growth, long term resource definition and new life of mine target generation.
Centamin strives to make new discoveries, growth and value-creation opportunities through exploration within the portfolio. Our efforts are primarily focused on Sukari, in Egypt and developing our organic projects at Doropo, in Côte d’Ivoire and Batie West, in Burkina Faso.
GROUP RESERVE & RESOURCE STATEMENTS
Please refer to the tables below for details regarding mineral Reserve and Resource estimation, including classification, key assumptions, parameters, methods used, data verification procedures and associated risks.
The Mineral Resource data presented in the tables included in this document comprise a summary extract for the Mineral Resource reports for all the Group’s properties. For comparative purposes, data for 2018 has been included where possible. Numbers have been rounded and therefore there may be small differences in the totals. Varying cut-off grades have been clearly stated.
The Mineral Resources were estimated using a gold price assumption of US$1,900/oz at Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt and to a maximum vertical depth of 250 metres at both the Doropo Project and ABC Projects in Côte d’Ivoire.
The significant figures used in the table are intended to reflect the level of accuracy of the different resource classifications reported; figures in the table may not add correctly due to rounding.
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Category | Tonnage (Mt) | Grade (g/t) | Gold Content (Moz) | Tonnage (Mt) | Grade (g/t) | Gold Content (Moz) | ||
Sukari Gold Mine | Measured | 248 | 1.05 | 8.21 | 254 | 0.99 | 8.02 | |
(open pit: 0.3g/t cut-off; underground 2.0g/t cut-off) | Indicated | 74 | 0.88 | 2.11 | 104 | 0.89 | 2.98 | |
M+I | 321 | 1.01 | 10.3 | 358 | 0.96 | 11 | ||
Inferred | 12 | 1.49 | 0.59 | 34 | 0.8 | 0.88 | ||
Doropo Project | Measured | 5.2 | 1.52 | 0.26 | - | - | - | |
(0.5g/t cut-off) | Indicated | 56.1 | 1.21 | 2.18 | 50 | 1.31 | 2.13 | |
M+I | 61.3 | 1.22 | 2.4 | 50 | 1.31 | 2.13 | ||
Inferred | 30.1 | 1.1 | 1.04 | 19 | 1.3 | 0.8 | ||
ABC Prospect | Measured | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
(0.5g/t cut-off) | Indicated | 20 | 1.03 | 0.65 | 20 | 1.03 | 0.65 | |
M+I | 20 | 1.03 | 0.7 | 20 | 1.03 | 0.65 | ||
Inferred | 16 | 0.90 | 0.50 | 16 | 0.87 | 0.45 | ||
Batie West Project | Measured | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
(0.5g/t cut-off) | Indicated | 34 | 1.7 | 1.92 | 34 | 1.7 | 1.92 | |
M+I | 34 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 34 | 1.7 | 1.92 | ||
Inferred | 25 | 1.70 | 1.30 | 25 | 1.7 | 1.33 | ||
GROUP MINERAL RESOURCES | M+I | 435 | 1.09 | 15.3 | 462 | 1.07 | 15.7 | |
Inferred | 81 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 94 | 1.14 | 3.42 |
Sukari Gold Mine only
The Mineral Reserve data presented in the tables included in this document comprise a summary extract for the Sukari Gold Mine Mineral Reserve report. Currently, all the Mineral Reserves are contained within the Sukari tenement. For comparative purposes, data for 2018 has been included. Numbers have been rounded and therefore there may be small differences in the totals.
Included in the Resources, at 18 July 2019, the Mineral Reserves were 7.0 million ounces of gold, all at the Sukari Gold Mine. The decrease from year-end 2018 is attributable to mining depletion in excess of Mineral Reserve additions, Mineral Resource changes and stope sterilisation. There was no change to the gold price assumption of US$1,300 per ounce for estimating Mineral Reserves. Based on the expected throughput rates, the remaining mineral reserve life of Sukari open pit operation is approximately 16 years and approximately 5 years for the underground, as of 31 December 2019.
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Category | Tonnage (Mt) | Grade (g/t) | Gold Content (Moz) | Tonnage (Mt) | Grade (g/t) | Gold Content (Moz) | ||
Open pit | Proven | 134.6 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 131.1 | 1.1 | 4.7 | |
(0.4g/t cut-off) | Probable | 29.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 43.1 | 1 | 1.5 | |
P & P | 163.6 | 1.1 | 6.0 | 174.2 | 1.1 | 6.2 | ||
Underground | Proven | 0.8 | 5.1 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 6.9 | 0.3 | |
(3.0g/t cut-off) | Probable | 3.2 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 0.5 | |
P & P | 4.0 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 0.8 | ||
Stockpiles | Proven | 20.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 16 | 0.5 | 0.2 | |
(0.4g/t cut-off) | Probable | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
P & P | 20.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 16 | 0.5 | 0.2 | ||
SUKARI MINERAL RESERVE | P & P | 188.4 | 1.1 | 7.0 | 194.6 | 1.2 | 7.25 |
Mineral Resource Notes
All open-pit Mineral Resources are estimates of recoverable tonnes and grades using Multiple Indicator Kriging with block support correction produced in the GS3 software.
Sukari Gold Mine
- Measured resources lie in areas where drilling is available at a nominal 25 x 25 metre spacing, Indicated resources occur in areas drilled at approximately 25 x 50 metre spacing and Inferred resources exist in areas of broader spaced drilling
- The resource estimate extends over a strike length of 2.2 kilometres, a width of 440m and from current surface to a depth of 800m
- All available surface drilling and channel samples were used as at 18 July 2019, and longer underground production holes were included. The resource data set comprised 389,856 two metre down hole composites and surface rock chip samples
- The open pit Mineral Resource Estimates were adjusted to the mining surface and underground mining voids as at end of June 2019, and planned underground mining voids were excised to avoid double counting of underground Mineral Reserves
Doropo Project
- Measured Resources occur in areas drilled at approximately 25 x 25 metre spacing and Indicated resources occur in areas drilled at approximately 50 x 50 metre spacing. Inferred resources exist in areas of broader spaced drilling.
- The reported estimates are limited to blocks with a maximum depth of 250 metres below surface and within 80 metres of drill hole data
- All available data was used as at 18 August 2019
- A cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold is used for reporting as it is believed that the majority of the reported resources can be mined at that grade.
ABC Project
- Indicated resources occur in areas drilled at approximately 50 x 50 metre spacing and Inferred resources exist in areas of broader spaced drilling
- The reported estimates are limited to blocks with a maximum depth of 250 metres below surface and within 100 metres of drill hole data
- All available ABC data was used as at 10 December 2018
- A cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold is used for reporting as it is believed that the majority of the reported resources can be mined at that grade
- The Doropo and ABC resource data set includes RC and Diamond drill data and gold estimates are based on 50 grams Fire Assays completed at Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories, Abidjan.
Batie West Project
- 2014 Konkera MRE was a geologically constrained estimate using 10m x 5m x 2.5m blocks with an associated block proportion coded into each block with a precision of +/-1%.
- Semi-variograms were generated for each mineralisation domain ranging from 50-95m along strike and 45-70m down dip. Search ellipses ranged from 70m x 60m x 10m to 60m x 50m x 5m with a maximum of 24 composites and a maximum of 3 composites per hole for any single block estimate.
- The classification methodology involved an unbiased allocation of block mode parameters into a quality of estimate (QLTY) measure for measured, indicated and inferred. Nominally Measured resources occur in areas drilled at approximately 25 x 25 metre spacing, Indicated resources occur in areas drilled at approximately 50 x 50 metre spacing and Inferred resources exist in areas of broader spaced drilling.
- The reported estimates are reported using a gold cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t
- All available data was used as at 1st February 2014.
Mineral Reserve Notes
-
Open pit Mineral Reserve Estimate includes 7.5Mt at 0.4g/t for 0.1Moz gold, using a 0.2 g/t gold cut-off, for the dump leach
-
Underground cut-offs for reporting are 0.4g/t gold for development with stopes defined within a 3.0g/t gold cut-off
Information of a scientific or technical nature in this document, including but not limited to the mineral reserve and resource estimates, was prepared by and under the supervision of Group Qualified Person(s) and independent Qualified Person(s) as below:
Sukari Gold Mine, Egypt
- Mineral Reserve (open pit) - Quinton de Klerk of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd
- Mineral Reserve (underground) - Adrian Ralph of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd
- Mineral Resource (open pit) - Arnold van der Heyden of H&S Consultants Pty Ltd
- Mineral Resource (underground) - Mark Zammit of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd
Doropo Project, Côte d’Ivoire
- Rupert Osborn of H&S Consultants Pty Ltd
ABC Project, Côte d’Ivoire
- Rupert Osborn of H&S Consultants Pty Ltd
Batie West Project, Burkina Faso
- Don Maclean of Ravensgate Consultants Pty Ltd
A “Qualified Person” is as defined by the National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. The named Qualified Person(s) have verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in this announcement in accordance with standards appropriate to their qualifications. Each Qualified Person consents to the inclusion of the information in this document in the form and context in which it appears.
Investors should be aware that the figures stated are estimates and no assurances can be given that the stated quantities of metal will be produced.
Mineral Resource Estimates contained in this document are based on available data as at:
- Sukari Gold Mine - 18 July 2019
- Doropo Project - 18 August 2019
- ABC Project - 10 December 2018
- Batie West Project - 26 March 2014
H&S Consultants PTY Ltd completed the open pit MIK MRE for Sukari as at the end of June 2019. The estimates are reported below the end of June 2019 mined surface and within a pit shell generated by Cube Consulting using a nominal gold price of US$1900/oz. A cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t gold is used for reporting the open pit MRE because this is the nominal economic open-pit cut-off grade used at the Sukari mine.
Cube Consulting Pty Ltd (Cube) completed the estimation of the Sukari Gold Mines Underground Mineral Resource as at the end of June 2019. All UG mineral resources defined below the USD $1,900/oz shell are estimated using the economic underground cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t and are combined with the open pit MRE to provide a global MRE for Sukari. The global mineral resource estimate includes the underground resource estimate.
Varying cut-off grades have been used, and clearly marked, for calculating the mineral resource estimates at different Group properties, depending on the stage of project, maturity and ore type.