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HALIFAX,
NS, May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - GoGold
Resources Inc. (TSX: GGD) (OTCQX: GLGDF) ("GoGold", "the
Company") is pleased to release the results of its initial
Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at its Los Ricos North
Project located in Jalisco State, Mexico. This is the Company's second PEA
completed within the Los Ricos District, in addition to the Los
Ricos South PEA completed in January
2021, with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") and
PEA for Los Ricos South expected to follow this summer.
Highlights of the PEA, with a base case silver price of
US$23/oz and gold price of
US$1,800/oz are as follows (all
figures in US dollars unless otherwise stated):
- After-Tax NPV (using a discount rate of 5%) of $413 Million with an After-Tax IRR of 29% (Base
Case);
- 13-year mine life producing a total of 110.3 Million payable
silver equivalent ounces ("AgEq"), consisting of 68.0 Million
silver ounces, 221,700 gold ounces, 22.8 Million pounds of copper,
144.1 Million pounds of lead and 242.2 Million pounds of zinc;
- Initial capital costs of $221
Million, including $29 Million
in contingency costs, over an expected 18 month build, additional
expansion capital of $137 Million,
and sustaining capital costs of $6
Million over the life of mine ("LOM");
- Average LOM operating cash costs of $9.50/oz AgEq, and all in sustaining costs
("AISC") of $9.68/oz AgEq
- Average annual production of 8.8 Million AgEq oz in years one
through twelve;
- Approximately 3/4 of LOM production is from four open pits
containing oxide mineralization and approximately 1/4 is from a
separate open pit which contains only sulphide mineralization.
"This is a first look at the strong economics around our Los
Ricos North Mineral Resource with average annual production of 8.8
Million AgEq oz at a first quartile AISC of $9.68/oz AgEq. Los Ricos North forms a pipeline
of growth after the construction of Los Ricos South, which we see
as a high grade bulk underground mine targeted to be our first
deposit advanced to production. We look forward to the updated Los
Ricos South Mineral Resource including the Eagle Zone and an
updated PEA to be completed this summer," said Brad Langille, President and CEO. "The release
of this PEA represents one of the milestones for the 2023 year in
the Los Ricos District. The other key milestones for the 2023 year
in the Los Ricos District are an updated Mineral Resource and PEA
in Los Ricos South incorporating the Eagle Zone, followed by a
Pre-Feasibility Study in Los Ricos South which is anticipated
before year's end. With US$100
Million in cash we are well positioned to develop Los Ricos
South pending the results of the upcoming studies."
PEA Summary
The PEA was prepared by independent consultants P&E Mining
Consultants Inc ("P&E"), with metallurgical test work completed
by SGS Canada Inc.'s Lakefield
office ("SGS"), process plant design and costing by D.E.N.M.
Engineering Ltd., and environmental and permitting led by CIMA
Mexico.
Table 1 below shows the key economic assumptions and results of
the PEA, with Table 2 showing the physical attributes, Table 3
showing a sensitivity analysis based on varying metal prices and
assumptions, and Table 4 showing a sensitivity analysis based on
changes to operating and capital costs.
Table 1 – Los Ricos North PEA Key Economic Assumptions and
Results
Assumption /
Result
|
Unit
|
Value
|
|
Assumption /
Result
|
Unit
|
Value
|
Total Oxide Feed
Mined
|
kt
|
25,557
|
|
Net Revenue
|
US$M
|
2,307
|
Total Sulphide Feed
Mined
|
kt
|
9,964
|
|
Initial Capital
Costs
|
US$M
|
221
|
Total Plant Feed
Mined
|
kt
|
35,521
|
|
Sustaining Capital
Costs
|
US$M
|
143
|
Total Strip
Ratio
|
Ratio
|
6.0
|
|
Mining Costs
|
$/t Mined
|
2.07
|
Mine Life
|
Yrs
|
13
|
|
Mining Costs
|
$/t Plant
Feed
|
12.28
|
Average process
rate
|
t/day
|
8,000
|
|
Operating Cash
Cost
|
US$/oz AgEq
|
9.50
|
Silver Price
|
US$/oz
|
23.00
|
|
All in Sustaining
Cost
|
US$/oz AgEq
|
9.68
|
Gold Price
|
US$/oz
|
1,800
|
|
After-Tax NPV (5%
discount)
|
US$M
|
413
|
Copper Price
|
US$/lb
|
4.00
|
|
Pre-Tax NPV (5%
discount)
|
US$M
|
645
|
Lead Price
|
US$/lb
|
1.00
|
|
After-Tax
IRR
|
%
|
29.1
|
Zinc Price
|
US$/lb
|
1.40
|
|
Pre-Tax IRR
|
%
|
39.8
|
Payable AgEq
|
Moz
|
110.3
|
|
After-Tax Payback
Period
|
Yrs
|
3.0
|
Table 2 – Los Ricos North PEA Summary of Physical
Attributes
Attribute
|
Unit
|
Oxide
|
Sulphide
|
Total
|
Plant Feed
Mined
|
kt
|
25,557
|
9,964
|
35,521
|
Silver
Grade1
|
g/t
|
83.2
|
30.1
|
68.3
|
Gold
Grade1
|
g/t
|
0.29
|
0.07
|
0.23
|
Copper
Grade1
|
%
|
-
|
0.12
|
0.12
|
Lead Grade
|
%
|
-
|
0.87
|
0.87
|
Zinc Grade
|
%
|
-
|
1.24
|
1.24
|
Silver
Recovery
|
%
|
87
|
88
|
87
|
Gold
Recovery
|
%
|
87
|
76
|
86
|
Copper
Recovery
|
%
|
-
|
89
|
89
|
Lead
Recovery
|
%
|
-
|
75
|
75
|
Zinc
Recovery
|
%
|
-
|
89
|
89
|
Payable
Silver
|
Moz
|
59.5
|
8.5
|
68.0
|
Payable Gold
|
koz
|
205.2
|
16.5
|
221.7
|
Payable
Copper
|
Mlb
|
-
|
22.8
|
22.8
|
Payable Lead
|
Mlb
|
-
|
144.1
|
144.1
|
Payable Zinc
|
Mlb
|
-
|
242.2
|
242.2
|
Payable AgEq
|
Moz
|
75.5
|
34.8
|
110.3
|
1.
|
Grades shown are LOM
average plant feed grades. Dilution of approximately 10% was
used.
|
Table 3 – Los Ricos North PEA Metal Price
Sensitivities
Sensitivity
|
|
|
|
Base
Case
|
|
|
|
Silver Price
(US$/oz)
|
17
|
19
|
21
|
23
|
25
|
27
|
30
|
Gold Price
(US$/oz)
|
1330
|
1487
|
1643
|
1800
|
1957
|
2113
|
2348
|
Copper Price
(US$/lb)
|
2.96
|
3.30
|
3.65
|
4.00
|
4.35
|
4.70
|
5.22
|
Lead Price
(US$/lb)
|
0.74
|
0.83
|
0.91
|
1.00
|
1.09
|
1.17
|
1.30
|
Zinc Price
(US$/lb)
|
1.03
|
1.16
|
1.28
|
1.40
|
1.52
|
1.64
|
1.83
|
After-Tax NPV (5%)
(US$M)
|
120
|
222
|
318
|
413
|
508
|
603
|
746
|
After-Tax IRR
(%)
|
13.3
|
19.2
|
24.3
|
29.1
|
33.6
|
37.9
|
44.0
|
After-Tax Payback
(years)
|
5.4
|
4.4
|
3.6
|
3.0
|
2.5
|
2.1
|
1.8
|
Table 4 – Los Ricos North Operating Expense and Capital
Expense Sensitivities
Sensitivity
|
-20 %
|
-10 %
|
Base
Case
|
10 %
|
20 %
|
Operating Costs – NPV
(US$M)
|
503
|
458
|
413
|
368
|
323
|
Operating Costs – IRR
(%)
|
33.4
|
31.2
|
29.1
|
26.8
|
24.5
|
Capital Costs – NPV
(US$M)
|
457
|
435
|
413
|
392
|
370
|
Capital Costs – IRR
(%)
|
36.3
|
32.2
|
28.8
|
25.9
|
23.4
|
Capital and Operating
Costs
The Los Ricos North Project has been envisioned as an open pit
mining operation, with contract mining comprising five open pits.
The first four pits contain oxide mineralization and will be mined
over years one to nine of the Project, with the final pit
containing sulphide mineralization which will be mined in years 10
to 13.
The processing plant is comprised of conventional crushing,
grinding, cyanide tank leaching, tailings filtration (dry stack),
and Merrill Crowe precipitation for
the oxide mineralization. For the sulphide mineralization,
processing will be completed through a flotation circuit which is
included in sustaining capital and will be constructed in year
eight of the Project.
Water supply to the process plant will be provided by a nearby
surface water source and high voltage grid power will be provided
by the local utility.
Key components of the capital cost estimate are provided in
Table 5 and operating costs are provided in Table 6.
Table 5 – Capital Cost Estimate
Type
|
Initial
(US$K)
|
Expansion
(US$K)1
|
Sustaining
(US$K)
|
Total
(US$K)
|
Process plant direct
costs
|
141,020
|
25,864
|
5,000
|
171,884
|
Pre-stripping and haul
roads
|
10,268
|
88,090
|
|
98,358
|
Project indirect
costs
|
19,108
|
2,870
|
|
21,978
|
EPCM
|
13,792
|
2,328
|
|
16,120
|
Infrastructure
|
7,680
|
|
|
7,680
|
Total
|
191,869
|
119,151
|
5,000
|
316,020
|
Contingency
(15%)
|
28,780
|
17,873
|
750
|
47,403
|
Total
|
220,649
|
137,024
|
5,750
|
363,423
|
1. Expansion capital is
not included in AISC calculations
|
Table 6 – Operating Costs (Average LOM)
Operating Costs
(Average LOM)
|
US$/tonne
Plant
Feed
|
US$/tonne
Rock
|
Mining
|
12.28
|
2.07
|
Processing
|
13.81
|
|
General
and admin
|
1.02
|
|
Total
|
27.12
|
|
Mining
The open pit mining will be contracted and carried out by
drilling and blasting followed by conventional loading and truck
haulage to the waste rock storage facilities and the process
plant.
Metallurgy
A preliminary metallurgical test program was carried out by SGS
Lakefield of Ontario, Canada on
four Los Ricos North deposit areas – Favor, Trini, Casados, and
Orito. Based on the zone geology, Favor, Trini, and Casados (oxide)
were designated for whole mineralized material cyanidation testing.
The Orito (sulphide) sample was deemed to be flotation ideal. The
subsequent oxide testing included grinding (no comminution testing)
and leaching only. The sulphide testing included grinding and bulk
flotation to produce a single bulk concentrate with locked cycle
(LCT) testing completed. The samples were comprised of four drill
core rejects representing the noted zones of the Mineral Resource.
This preliminary test program estimated a gold and silver oxide
recovery of 87% for both. The sulphide recovery on the Orito sample
recovered 76% gold, 88% silver, 89% copper, 89% zinc, and 75%
lead.
Mineral Resource
Estimate
The basis for the PEA is the Mineral Resource Estimate completed
by P&E in the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on
the Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Los Ricos North
Project located in Jalisco State, Mexico, which has an effective date of
December 1, 2021. A summary of the
Mineral Resource Estimate is provided in Table 7.
Table 7: Los Ricos North Mineral Resource Estimate
(1-11)
Deposit
|
Tonnes
|
Average
Grade
|
Contained
Metal
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Cu
|
Pb
|
Zn
|
AuEq
|
AgEq
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Cu
|
Pb
|
Zn
|
AuEq
|
AgEq
|
|
(Mt)
|
(g/t)
|
(g/t)
|
( %)
|
( %)
|
( %)
|
(g/t)
|
(g/t)
|
(koz)
|
(koz)
|
(Mlb)
|
(Mlb)
|
(Mlb)
|
(koz)
|
(koz)
|
Indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
El Favor
|
7.7
|
0.27
|
98
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.61
|
119
|
68
|
24,413
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
399
|
29,454
|
Casados
|
3.2
|
0.42
|
124
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2.09
|
154
|
43
|
12,871
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
218
|
16,061
|
La Trini
|
3.1
|
0.54
|
74
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.54
|
114
|
54
|
7,428
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
155
|
11,424
|
Mololoa
|
0.4
|
0.36
|
130
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2.12
|
157
|
5
|
1,788
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
29
|
2,161
|
Silver-Gold
Oxide Zone
|
14.5
|
0.37
|
100
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.71
|
127
|
171
|
46,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
801
|
59,100
|
El Orito Sulphide
Zone1
|
7.8
|
0.06
|
28
|
0.11
|
0.88
|
1.33
|
1.55
|
114
|
15
|
7,011
|
19
|
151
|
229
|
389
|
28,708
|
Total
Indicated
|
22.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.66
|
122
|
186
|
53,510
|
|
|
|
1,190
|
87,808
|
Inferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
El Favor
|
12.4
|
0.27
|
89
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.47
|
108
|
106
|
35,505
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
587
|
43,350
|
Casados
|
1.8
|
0.35
|
108
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.82
|
135
|
21
|
6,323
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
106
|
7,843
|
La Trini
|
0.1
|
0.43
|
108
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.89
|
139
|
1
|
201
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
260
|
Mololoa
|
0.7
|
0.39
|
94
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.66
|
122
|
9
|
2,102
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
37
|
2,739
|
Silver-Gold
Oxide Zone
|
15.0
|
0.28
|
91
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1.52
|
112
|
136
|
44,131
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
734
|
54,191
|
El Orito Sulphide
Zone1
|
5.5
|
0.06
|
28
|
0.12
|
0.74
|
1.20
|
1.46
|
108
|
11
|
4,888
|
15
|
90
|
146
|
258
|
19,007
|
Total
Inferred
|
20.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.51
|
111
|
148
|
49,019
|
|
|
|
992
|
73,198
|
1.
|
El Orito is a
silver-base metal sulphide zone, all other deposits are silver-gold
oxide zones.
|
2.
|
Mineral Resources which
are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially
affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.
|
3.
|
The Inferred Mineral
Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that
applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted
to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority
of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated
Mineral Resource with continued exploration.
|
4.
|
The Mineral Resources
in this news release were estimated in accordance with the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards
on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines
(2014) prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve
Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council and CIM Best Practices
(2019).
|
5.
|
Historically mined
areas were depleted from the Mineral Resource model.
|
6.
|
Approximately 98.9% of
the Indicated and 91.3% of the Inferred contained AgEq ounces are
pit constrained, with the remainder out-of-pit. See tables 4 and 6
for details of the split between pit constrained and out-of-pit
deposits.
|
7.
|
The pit constrained
AgEq cut-off grade of 29 g/t Ag was derived from US$1,550/oz Au
price, US$21/oz Ag price, US$3.66/lb Cu, US$0.90/lb Pb, US$1.26/lb
Zn, 93% process recovery for Ag and Au, 90% process recovery for
Cu, 80% process recovery for Pb and Zn, US$18/tonne process and
G&A cost. The constraining pit optimization parameters were
US$2.00/t mineralized mining cost, US$1.50/t waste mining cost and
50-degree pit slopes.
|
8.
|
The out-of-pit AuEq
cut-off grade of 119 g/t Ag was derived from US$1,550/oz Au price,
US$21/oz Ag price, US$3.66/lb Cu, US$0.90/lb Pb, US$1.26/lb Zn, 93%
process recovery for Ag and Au, 90% process recovery for Cu, 80%
process recovery for Pb and Zn, US$57/t mining cost, US$18/tonne
process and G&A cost. The out-of-pit Mineral Resource grade
blocks were quantified above the 119 g/t AgEq cut-off, below the
constraining pit shell within the constraining mineralized
wireframes and exhibited sufficient continuity to be considered for
cut and fill and longhole mining
|
9.
|
No Mineral Resources
are classified as Measured.
|
10.
|
AgEq and AuEq
calculated at an Ag/Au ratio of 73.8:1.
|
11.
|
Totals may not agree
due to rounding
|
The Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report will be
filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.
Qualified Persons
Robert Harris, P.Eng. and
David Duncan, P.Geo. are the GoGold
Qualified Persons and Eugene
Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining
Consultants Inc. and David Salari,
P. Eng., DENM Engineering Ltd. are Independent Qualified Persons
all as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and whom are
responsible for the technical information in this press
release.
VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D
Presentation
VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with
investors using 360° virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D
models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by
website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps.
The VRIFY 3D Slide Deck for GoGold can be viewed
at: https://vrify.com/companies/gogold-resources-inc and
on the Company's website at: www.gogoldresources.com.
Los Ricos District Exploration
Projects
The Company's two exploration projects at its Los Ricos Property
are in Jalisco state, Mexico. The Los Ricos South Project began in
March 2019 and an initial Mineral
Resource Estimate was announced on July 29,
2020, which disclosed a Measured & Indicated Mineral
Resource of 63.7 Million ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq contained
in 10.0 Million tonnes, and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 19.9
Million ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq contained in 3.3 Million
tonnes. An initial PEA on the Project was announced on January 20, 2021, indicating an after-tax
NPV5% of US$295M. The
Eagle Concession was acquired in October
2022 and is adjacent to the Main Area which contains the
initial Mineral Resource.
The Los Ricos North Project was launched in March 2020 and an initial Mineral Resource
Estimate was announced on December 7,
2021, which disclosed an Indicated Mineral Resource of 87.8
Million ounces AgEq grading 122 g/t AgEq contained in 22.3 Million
tonnes, and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 73.2 Million ounces
AgEq grading 111 g/t AgEq contained in 20.5 Million tonnes.
About GoGold Resources
GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold
producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring
high quality projects in Mexico.
The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South
and Los Ricos North exploration Projects in the state of
Jalisco. Headquartered in
Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a
portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information
visit gogoldresources.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:
The securities described herein
have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or
any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within
the United States or to, or for
the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the
U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration
requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release
does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer
to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States.
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as
defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All
statements other than statements of historical fact, included in
this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding
the Los Ricos South and North projects, and future plans and
objectives of GoGold, including the NPV, IRR, initial and
sustaining capital costs, operating costs, and LOM production of
Los Ricos South, constitute forward looking information that
involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking
information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which
have been used to develop such information but which may prove to
be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in
connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a
going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral
prices, the accuracy of Mineral Resource Estimates, and the
performance of the Parral project. There can be no assurance that
such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such forward-looking information.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and
development risks associated with GoGold's projects, the failure to
establish estimated Mineral Resources or Mineral Reserves,
volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, and
global economic conditions. For additional information with respect
to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to
GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time
with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's
Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained
in this release is made as of the date of this release.
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SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc.