GCM Mining Corp. (“GCM Mining” or the “Company”) (TSX: GCM, OTCQX:
TPRFF) announced today that it has completed updated Mineral
Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates for its Segovia Operations
prepared in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining
Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”) Definition Standards incorporated
by reference in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) with an
effective date of December 31, 2021.
Highlights of the updated Mineral Resource
Estimate as of December 31, 2021 (the “2021 MRE”) include:
- Total Measured & Indicated
Resources increased to 4.6 million tonnes at a grade of 11.0 g/t
totalling 1.62 million ounces of gold, up 14% from last year.
- Total Inferred Resources increased
to 5.3 million tonnes at a grade of 9.9 g/t totalling 1.70 million
ounces of gold, up 41% compared to last year.
- The Company more than replaced the
Mineral Resources it mined in 2021 representing the sixth
consecutive year that it has, at a minimum, replaced the Mineral
Resources mined at its Segovia Operations. El Silencio and Sandra K
were the primary areas of growth within the 2021 MRE.
- The 2021 MRE continues to reaffirm
confidence in the high-grade nature of the Segovia gold deposits
which have been in continuous operation for more than 100
years.
- The brownfield exploration program,
which focused on exploration for new resources at the brownfield
exploration targets on the 24 veins within the Segovia mining title
that are not currently in production, yielded its first addition in
the 2021 MRE with inferred resources reported at the Vera
Project.
The following table summarizes the 2021 MRE with
an effective date of December 31, 2021 for the Segovia Operations
and the changes by category in tonnes, grade and ounces of gold
compared with the previous total MRE as of December 31, 2020:
|
|
|
Measured |
Indicated |
Measured & Indicated |
Inferred |
Project |
Deposit |
Type |
Tonnes(kt) |
Grade(g/t) |
Au Metal(koz) |
Tonnes(kt) |
Grade(g/t) |
Au Metal(koz) |
Tonnes(kt) |
Grade(g/t) |
Au Metal(koz) |
Tonnes(kt) |
Grade(g/t) |
Au Metal(koz) |
|
Providencia |
LTR |
263 |
|
12.0 |
|
101 |
385 |
|
8.8 |
|
109 |
|
648 |
|
10.1 |
|
210 |
|
367 |
|
7.0 |
|
83 |
|
|
|
Pillars |
156 |
|
17.5 |
|
88 |
88 |
|
9.3 |
|
26 |
|
243 |
|
14.6 |
|
114 |
|
458 |
|
17.6 |
|
259 |
|
|
Sandra K |
LTR |
17 |
|
12.2 |
|
7 |
498 |
|
9.5 |
|
153 |
|
515 |
|
9.6 |
|
159 |
|
704 |
|
12.3 |
|
279 |
|
|
|
Pillars |
27 |
|
14.7 |
|
13 |
188 |
|
10.4 |
|
63 |
|
214 |
|
10.9 |
|
75 |
|
67 |
|
26.8 |
|
58 |
|
Segovia |
El Silencio |
LTR |
|
|
|
1,601 |
|
11.2 |
|
577 |
|
1,601 |
|
11.2 |
|
577 |
|
2,159 |
|
8.8 |
|
609 |
|
|
|
Pillars |
|
|
|
1,228 |
|
11.4 |
|
449 |
|
1,228 |
|
11.4 |
|
449 |
|
341 |
|
12.1 |
|
133 |
|
|
Verticales |
LTR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
771 |
|
7.1 |
|
176 |
|
|
Subtotal |
LTR |
280 |
|
12.0 |
|
108 |
2,484 |
|
10.5 |
|
839 |
|
2,764 |
|
10.4 |
|
928 |
|
4,001 |
|
8.9 |
|
1,146 |
|
|
Segovia Project |
Pillars |
182 |
|
17.1 |
|
100 |
1,504 |
|
11.1 |
|
538 |
|
1,675 |
|
11.8 |
|
634 |
|
867 |
|
16.2 |
|
450 |
|
Carla |
Subtotal Carla Project |
LTR |
|
|
|
129 |
|
7.9 |
|
33 |
|
129 |
|
7.9 |
|
33 |
|
224 |
|
9.6 |
|
69 |
|
Vera |
Subtotal Vera Project |
LTR |
|
|
|
6 |
|
10.9 |
|
2 |
|
6 |
|
10.9 |
|
2 |
|
257 |
|
4.6 |
|
38 |
|
December 31, 2021 (1) |
|
462 |
|
14.0 |
|
208 |
4,123 |
|
10.6 |
|
1,412 |
|
4,585 |
|
11.0 |
|
1,620 |
|
5,349 |
|
9.9 |
|
1,704 |
|
December 31, 2020 (2) |
|
327 |
|
19.8 |
|
208 |
3,639 |
|
10.4 |
|
1,217 |
|
3,967 |
|
11.2 |
|
1,425 |
|
3,661 |
|
10.3 |
|
1,209 |
|
% Change vs previous |
|
41% |
|
-29% |
|
- |
13% |
|
2% |
|
16% |
|
16% |
|
-2% |
|
14% |
|
46% |
|
-4% |
|
41% |
|
(1) The Mineral Resources are reported at an in
situ cut-off grade of 2.9 g/t Au over a 1.0 m mining
width, which has been derived using a gold price of US$1,800 per
ounce and suitable benchmarked technical and economic parameters
for the existing underground mining (mining = US$99.0/t, processing
= US$26.0/t, G&A = US$22.0/t, Royalties = US$6.1/t) and
conventional gold mineralized material processing (90.5%). Each of
the mining areas have been sub-divided into Pillar areas
(“Pillars”), which represent the areas within the current mining
development, and long-term resources (“LTR”), which lie along
strike or down dip of the current mining development. Mineral
Resources are reported inclusive of the Mineral Reserve. Mineral
Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated
economic viability. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative
accuracy of the estimate. All composites have been capped where
appropriate. Some production at Segovia is sourced from mining
areas that are not currently included in the Company’s MRE.(2)
Sourced from the NI 43-101 Technical Report, Prefeasibility Study
Update, Segovia Project, Colombia dated May 13, 2021 and effective
as of December 31, 2020, prepared by SRK Consulting (US) Inc.
(“SRK”).
The 2021 MRE reflects an increase in the diamond
drilling database of 412 holes for 93,868 meters compared to
December 2020. A new vein has been added to the Mineral Resource at
the historical Vera mine, which includes an additional 63 holes for
9,640 meters (including 27 holes for 7,509 meters of new drilling),
bringing the total cumulative drilling database to 2,553 holes for
378,846 meters. All diamond core drilling during 2021 has been
logged and sent for preparation at the SGS laboratories in
Medellin, with associated Quality Control Programs. In addition to
the drilling, a total of 13,001 channel samples totalling some
11,485 meters in length were added to the database in 2021,
including 4,588 channel samples totalling 3,326 meters from
historical FGM sources, and 92 channels for 106 meters of GCM check
sampling for Vera.
The 2021 MRE was prepared using a block model
constrained with 3D wireframes of the principal veins, which have
been sub-domained using high-grade mineralisation wireframes to
constrain the influence of higher grade material. Assays are capped
prior to compositing. Values were interpolated using ordinary
kriging for well informed areas and inverse distance squared
methodology for smaller veins with limited data. All models have
been depleted using projections of the mining faces through the
entire width of the veins. Classification has been applied based on
a combination of data quality, confidence in the spatial location,
and confidence in the mining depletion shapes. Only material
reporting above a cut-off of 2.9 g/t over a minimum stope width of
1.0 m has been included in the 2021 MRE. The MRE for Las Verticales
has not been updated as no new information is currently available
and the previous estimate for this project remains valid.
Ben Parsons, Principal Consultant (Resource
Geology) with SRK, prepared the Segovia MRE according to CIM
Definition Standards and will be supported by a NI 43-101
independent report which will be published and filed on the
Company’s website and SEDAR profile within 45 days. Mr. Parsons is
a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The NI 43-101
independent report will include detailed information on the key
assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral
resources.
Segovia’s Life-of-Mine (“LOM”) Mineable Gold
Reserves Total Approximately 633,000 Contained Ounces Effective
December 31, 2020
SRK has also completed preliminary results of an
updated Preliminary Feasibility Study (“Segovia PFS”) for the
Segovia Operations effective December 31, 2021 and is currently
finalizing the technical report. At December 31, 2021, Segovia’s
reported Mineral Reserve totaled approximately 745,000 proven and
probable ounces of gold, based on 2.3 million tonnes of material at
an average head grade of 10.1 g/t, compared with 633,000 ounces at
the end of 2020 based on 2.2 million tonnes of material at an
average head grade of 9.0 g/t.
For the Segovia PFS, SRK included the geological
and resource modelling of the various deposits and mining areas
that comprise the operating mine site of the Segovia Operations. A
mining study and schedule was prepared by both SRK’s and the
Company’s technical professionals to create a LOM production
schedule, including both Company-operated areas and
contractor-operated areas within the Company’s Providencia, El
Silencio, Sandra K and Carla mines. The Segovia PFS production
schedule includes only Proven and Probable Reserves, and as such,
the annualized level of production over the seven-year projected
mine life in the Segovia PFS may be lower than the Company’s
current expectations. This is largely due to the exclusion of
Inferred Resources in the LOM production schedule in the Segovia
PFS which the Company currently mines and intends to continue
mining in the future. In addition, the material processed under
operating contracts at the Company’s Maria Dama plant from the
small-scale mines located in the Company’s mining title is not
included in the LOM production schedule in the Segovia PFS as it
falls outside the Company’s mines and is therefore not included in
the Company’s 2021 MRE or Mineral Reserves.
The following table shows a breakdown of the
Mineral Reserve as of December 31, 2021 by area and category
compared with the total Mineral Reserve as of December 31,
2020:
Area |
Category |
Tonnes(kt) |
Grade(g/t) |
Au Metal(koz) |
Providencia |
Proven |
204 |
|
12.0 |
|
79 |
|
Providencia |
Probable |
154 |
|
9.9 |
|
49 |
|
Sandra K |
Probable |
399 |
|
8.0 |
|
103 |
|
El Silencio |
Probable |
1,461 |
|
10.5 |
|
492 |
|
Carla |
Probable |
72 |
|
9.6 |
|
22 |
|
December 31, 2021 (1) |
Total |
2,290 |
|
10.1 |
|
745 |
|
December 31, 2020 (2) |
Total |
2,196 |
|
9.0 |
|
633 |
|
% Change vs previous |
|
4% |
|
13% |
|
18% |
|
(1) Ore reserves are reported
using a gold cutoff grade ranging from 3.20 to 3.51 g/t depending
on mining area and mining method. The cutoff grade calculations
assume a $1,650/oz Au price, 90.5% metallurgical recovery, $6/oz
smelting and refining charges, 3.5% royalty, $21.72/t G&A,
$26.06/t processing cost and mining costs ranging from $99.70/t to
$114.05/t. The reserves are valid as of December 31, 2021. Note
that costs/prices used here may be somewhat different than those in
the final economic model. This is due to the need to make
assumptions early on for mine planning prior to finalizing other
items and using long term forecasts for the life of mine plan.
Mining dilution is applied to a minimum mining height and estimated
overbreak (values differ by area/mining method) using a zero grade.
Reserves are inclusive of Mineral Resources. All figures are
rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Totals
may not sum due to rounding. Mineral Reserves have been stated on
the basis of a mine design, mine plan, and economic model. There
are potential survey unknowns in some of the mining areas and lower
extractions have been used to account for these unknowns. The
Mineral Reserves were estimated by Fernando Rodrigues, BS Mining,
MBA, MMSAQP #01405, MAusIMM #304726 of SRK, a Qualified
Person.(2) Sourced from the NI 43-101 Technical
Report, Prefeasibility Study Update, Segovia Project, Colombia
dated May 13, 2021 and effective as of December 31, 2020, prepared
by SRK.
A summary of the key LOM operating and financial
parameters of the current Segovia PFS dated as of December 31, 2021
compared with the previous Segovia PFS prepared as of December 31,
2020 is as follows:
|
December 31,2021 |
December 31,2020(1) |
|
|
|
Operating data: |
|
|
Ore milled (tonnes) |
2,290,000 |
2,196,000 |
LOM head grade (g/t) |
10.1 |
9.0 |
LOM mill recovery (%) |
90.5% |
90.5% |
Gold produced (ozs) |
674,000 |
573,000 |
|
|
|
Financial data (U.S. dollars): |
|
|
Expected long-term gold price |
$1,650/oz |
$1,600/oz |
LOM gold revenue |
$1,112 million |
$916 million |
Total cash cost, including refining |
$807/oz |
$796/oz |
LOM sustaining capex, including exploration |
$151 million |
$134 million |
Mine-level AISC |
$1,032/oz |
$1,030/oz |
Undiscounted after-tax free cash flow |
$264 million |
$226 million |
NPV after-tax free cash flow @ 5% |
$242 million |
$209 million |
(1) Sourced from the NI 43-101 Technical Report, Prefeasibility
Study Update, Segovia Project, Colombia dated May 13, 2021 and
effective as of December 31, 2020, prepared by SRK.
Fernando Rodrigues, BS Mining, MBA, MAusIMM,
MMSAQP Practice Leader/Principal Consultant (Mining Engineer) with
SRK, prepared the Segovia Mineable Reserve according to CIM
Definition Standards and will be supported by a NI 43-101
independent report which will be published and filed on the
Company’s website and SEDAR profile within 45 days. Mr. Rodrigues
is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The NI 43-101
independent report will include detailed information on the key
assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineable
reserve.
About GCM Mining Corp.
GCM Mining is a mid-tier gold producer with a
proven track record of mine building and operating in Latin
America. In Colombia, the Company is the leading high-grade
underground gold and silver producer with several mines in
operation at Segovia Operations. Segovia produced 206,000 ounces of
gold in 2021. In Guyana, the Company is advancing its fully funded
Toroparu Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold/copper
projects in the Americas, which is expected to commence production
of more than 200,000 ounces of gold annually in 2024. GCM Mining
pays a monthly dividend to its shareholders and has equity
interests in Aris Gold Corporation (44%; TSX: ARIS; Colombia –
Marmato), Denarius Metals Corp. (27%; TSX-V: DSLV; Spain –
Lomero-Poyatos and Colombia – Guia Antigua, Zancudo) and Western
Atlas Resources Inc. (26%; TSX-V: WA: Nunavut – Meadowbank).
Additional information on GCM Mining can be
found on its website at www.gcm-mining.com and by reviewing its
profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Information:
This news release contains "forward-looking
information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements
with respect to mineral reserves and resources, LOM production,
Segovia PFS financial data and other anticipated business plans or
strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can
be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is
expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including
negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might"
or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of GCM Mining to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March
31, 2021 which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date
of this press release and GCM Mining disclaims, other than as
required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, results, future
events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions
should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
For Further Information,
Contact:Mike DaviesChief Financial Officer(416)
360-4653investorrelations@gcm-mining.com
GCM Mining (TSX:GCM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2024 to Jan 2025
GCM Mining (TSX:GCM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2024 to Jan 2025