For immediate release
13 October 2022
Serabi Gold plc
("Serabi" or the "Company")
Third quarter
2022 operational review
Serabi Gold plc (AIM:SRB, TSX:SBI), the
Brazilian-focused gold mining and development company,
is pleased to report strong production in
the third quarter of 2022
and provide a review of its development and
exploration activities.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Third Quarter
gold production totalled
8,542
ounces recovered, compared to 8,418 ounces in the second
quarter.
- Year to date
production of
24,021 ounces,
ahead of the run rate for annual production guidance of 30,000
ounces.
- The Coringa mine
development continued with 600 metres of on-lode development now
completed. The ramp has also reached the next level at 290mRL.
Significant channel samples (see news release dated 17
August 2022) included:
-
0.63 metres @
108.34g/t
Au (SRR-320-069 – development 320_V1N)
-
0.33 metres @
171.67g/t
Au (SRR-320-073 – development 320_V3S)
-
0.63 metres @
93.80g/t Au (SRR-320-102 –
development 320_V3S)
-
0.94 metres @
57.94g/t
Au (SRR-320-103 – development 320_V3N)
-
0.32 metres @
179.00g/t Au (SRR-340-073 –
development 340_V3S)
-
0.25 metres @
302.37g/t Au (SRR-320-109 –
development 320_V3S)
- The third quarter saw 2,600 tonnes
of higher grade Coringa development ore transported to Palito,
contributing 570 ounces of gold production for the quarter.
- Underground exploration drilling at
Palito intersected the Zonta Vein which lies some 100 metres
further west of the Senna Vein which is in production. Once
developed, Zonta will be the most westerly production vein at
Palito. High grade intercepts (see news release dated 26 September
2022) included:
- 0.55 metres @ 55.99g/t Au from 397.15 metres
(PDD0289)
- 0.75 metres @ 34.75g/t Au from 217.00 metres
(PUD0793)
- 1.00 metres @ 36.46g/t Au from 223.55 metres
(PUD0801)
- 1.20 metres @ 10.65g/t Au from 300.80 metres
(PUD0803)
- 1.00 metres @ 10.69g/t Au from 234.45 metres
(PUG009)
- Access and development of the Zonta
vein is already underway with a simple cross-cut from the Senna
Vein The resulting resource is expected to make a meaningful
contribution to our forthcoming mineral resource update and gold
production in 2023 and 2024.
Mike Hodgson, CEO of Serabi,
commented:
“Another strong quarter for Serabi, with 8,542
ounces produced, which is the best quarter this year meaning we are
on track to now exceed our revised 2022 guidance of 30,000
ounces. The third quarter saw excellent mine output
from Palito, which has been made possible through the development
of new sectors during the first half of the year, and the overdue
arrival of much needed new fleet, which hampered the operation in
the latter part of 2021. We continue to optimise the Palito
operation as best we can. We are not immune from the tough economic
headwinds facing most industries today, but we continue to do what
is possible through manpower reductions, energy optimisation and
grade improvements, all with a view to keeping down our unit
costs.
“We are very pleased with progress at Coringa
where underground mine development is advancing well. The quarter
saw 2,600 tonnes of the high grade portion of the mined ore being
transported and processed through the Palito plant, contributing
570 ounces of gold.
“Following the exploration success from the
three holes drilled at the Matilda Prospect, which confirmed a
copper gold molybdenum porphyry discovery, the Company has received
site visits from numerous mid-tier and major mining companies. We
are continuing to evaluate the best options for the Company to move
Matilda and other regional targets forward over the coming
months.
“It is an exciting time for the Company as we
see improved production from Palito, development at Coringa
progressing apace and a new porphyry discovery at Matilda. We look
forward to keeping all stakeholders updated as to the progress
across our projects.”
OPERATIONAL
RESULTS
Total production for the third quarter of 2022
was 8,542 ounces, (Q1 2022: 7,062 ounces, Q2 2022: 8,414 ounces).
Total production for the year to date is 24,021 ounces including a
contribution of 570 ounces from Coringa in the third quarter.
Total ore mined from the Palito Operation during
the third quarter was 43,180 tonnes at 6.28 grammes per tonne
(“g/t”) compared to 44,008 tonnes at 6.26 g/t of gold for the
second quarter of 2022. Total ore mined during the first nine
months of 2022 of 125,213 tonnes at 6.13 g/t, compared with 125,663
tonnes at 6.87 g/t for the first nine months of 2021. Coringa
development generated a total of 3,683 tonnes at 5.46 g/t in the
third quarter of 2022.
44,867 tonnes of run of mine (“ROM”) ore were
processed through the plant during the third quarter, with an
average grade of 6.34 g/t of gold, compared with 43,448 tonnes at
6.43 g/t in the second quarter. 129,712 tonnes of ROM at 6.17 g/t
were processed during the first nine months of 2022. This included
2,610 tonnes of Coringa ore with a grade of 7.00 g/t.
A total of 2,458 metres of horizontal
development has been completed at Palito during the third quarter
of which 1,356 metres was ore development. The balance is the ramp,
cross cuts and stope preparation development. Horizontal
development at Coringa totalled 632 metres during the quarter with
an increase on previous periods due to additional crews and fleet
being moved from Sao Chico.
SUMMARY PRODUCTION STATISTICS FOR 2022 AND
2021 |
|
|
Qtr 1 |
Qtr 2 |
Qtr 3 |
YTD |
Qtr 1 |
Qtr 2 |
Qtr 3 |
Qtr 4 |
Full Year |
2022 |
2022 |
2022 |
2021 |
2021 |
2021 |
2021 |
2021 |
2021 |
Group |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold
production (1)(2) |
Ounces |
7,062 |
8,418 |
8,542 |
24,021 |
8,087 |
9,048 |
9,035 |
7,678 |
33,848 |
Mined
ore |
Tonnes |
40,606 |
44,008 |
46,863 |
128,896 |
40,371 |
43,051 |
42,240 |
44,599 |
170,261 |
|
Gold grade (g/t) |
5.95 |
6.26 |
6.22 |
6.11 |
6.27 |
7.12 |
7.18 |
5.81 |
6.59 |
Milled
ore |
Tonnes |
41,357 |
43,488 |
44,867 |
129,712 |
41,462 |
43,679 |
41,995 |
43,663 |
170,799 |
|
Gold
grade (g/t) |
5.72 |
6.43 |
6.34 |
6.17 |
6.27 |
7.09 |
7.20 |
5.90 |
6.61 |
Palito Complex |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold
production (1)(2) |
Ounces |
7,062 |
8,418 |
7,972 |
23,451 |
8,087 |
9,048 |
9,035 |
7,678 |
33,848 |
Mined
ore |
Tonnes |
40,606 |
44,008 |
43,180 |
125,213 |
40,371 |
43,051 |
42,240 |
44,599 |
170,261 |
|
Gold grade (g/t) |
5.84 |
6.26 |
6.28 |
6.13 |
6.27 |
7.12 |
7.18 |
5.81 |
6.59 |
Milled
ore |
Tonnes |
41,357 |
43,488 |
42,257 |
127,102 |
41,462 |
43,679 |
41,995 |
43,663 |
170,799 |
|
Gold grade (g/t) |
5.72 |
6.43 |
6.30 |
6.15 |
6.27 |
7.09 |
7.20 |
5.90 |
6.61 |
Horizontal development |
Metres |
2,938 |
3,353 |
2,458 |
8,749 |
3,573 |
2,961 |
2,842 |
3,318 |
12,694 |
Coringa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold
production (1)(2) |
Ounces |
|
|
570 |
570 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mined
ore |
Tonnes |
|
|
3,683 |
3,683 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold grade (g/t) |
|
|
5.46 |
5.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
Milled
ore |
Tonnes |
|
|
2,610 |
2,610 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold grade (g/t) |
|
|
7.00 |
7.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
Horizontal development |
Metres |
212 |
302 |
632 |
1,146 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The table may not sum due
to rounding.(2) Production numbers are subject to
change pending final assay analysis from refineries.
Mine performance in the third quarter of 2022
was very much as seen in the second quarter. Mine development rates
at the Palito Complex declined reflecting reduced development at
Sao Chico, with some mining crews and fleet being transferred to
Coringa.
Mined grades from the Palito orebody were
especially encouraging, averaging 6.77 g/t for the quarter and 7.70
g.t for September. The Chico da Santa sector in Palito on levels
-80mRL, -100mRL and now -130mRL have been significant grade
contributors, along with the newly developed Caxias vein.
Underground exploration drilling continues
targeting the Chico de Santa, G3 Central, G3 North and Senna veins
at depth. The purpose is to drill at least 250m depth extensions
below all sectors.
FINANCE UPDATE
Cash balances at the end of September 2022 were
US$10.3 million which compares with a cash balance of US$9.8
million at the end of June 2022
The information contained within this
announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
The person who arranged for the release of this
announcement on behalf of the Company was Clive Line, Director.
Enquiries
SERABI GOLD plcMichael
Hodgson t +44
(0)20 7246 6830Chief Executive
m +44 (0)7799 473621
Clive Line
t +44 (0)20 7246
6830Finance
Director m
+44 (0)7710 151692
e
contact@serabigold.com
www.serabigold.com
BEAUMONT CORNISH
LimitedNominated Adviser & Financial
AdviserRoland Cornish / Michael
Cornish t
+44 (0)20 7628 3396
PEEL HUNT LLPJoint UK
BrokerRoss Allister / Alexander
Allen t
+44 (0)20 7418 9000
TAMESIS PARTNERS LLPJoint
UK BrokerCharlie Bendon/ Richard
Greenfield t
+44 (0)20 3882 2868
CAMARCOFinancial PRGordon
Poole / Emily
Hall t
+44 (0)20 3757 4980
Copies of this announcement are available from
the Company's website at www.serabigold.com.
See
www.serabigold.com for more information
and follow us on twitter @Serabi_Gold
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following is a glossary of technical
terms:
“Ag” |
means silver. |
“Au” |
means gold. |
“assay” |
in economic geology, means to analyse the proportions of metal in a
rock or overburden sample; to test an ore or mineral for
composition, purity, weight or other properties of commercial
interest. |
“CIM” |
means the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum. |
“chalcopyrite” |
is a sulphide of copper and iron. |
“Cu” |
means copper. |
“cut-off grade” |
the lowest grade of mineralised material that qualifies as ore in a
given deposit; rock of the lowest assay included in an ore
estimate. |
“dacite porphyry intrusive” |
a silica-rich igneous rock with larger phenocrysts (crystals)
within a fine-grained matrixi |
“deposit” |
is a mineralised body which has been physically delineated by
sufficient drilling, trenching, and/or underground work, and found
to contain a sufficient average grade of metal or metals to warrant
further exploration and/or development expenditures; such a deposit
does not qualify as a commercially mineable ore body or as
containing ore reserves, until final legal, technical, and economic
factors have been resolved. |
“electromagnetics” |
is a geophysical technique tool measuring the magnetic field
generated by subjecting the sub-surface to electrical
currents. |
“garimpo” |
is a local artisanal mining operation |
“garimpeiro” |
is a local artisanal miner. |
“geochemical” |
refers to geological information using measurements derived from
chemical analysis. |
“geophysical” |
refers to geological information using measurements derived from
the use of magnetic and electrical readings. |
“geophysical techniques” |
include the exploration of an area by exploiting differences in
physical properties of different rock types. Geophysical methods
include seismic, magnetic, gravity, induced polarisation and other
techniques; geophysical surveys can be undertaken from the ground
or from the air. |
“gossan” |
is an iron-bearing weathered product that overlies a sulphide
deposit. |
“grade” |
is the concentration of mineral within the host rock typically
quoted as grams per tonne (g/t), parts per million (ppm) or parts
per billion (ppb). |
“g/t” |
means grams per tonne. |
“granodiorite” |
is an igneous intrusive rock similar to granite. |
“hectare” or a “ha” |
is a unit of measurement equal to 10,000 square metres. |
“igneous” |
is a rock that has solidified from molten material or magma. |
“IP” |
refers to induced polarisation, a geophysical technique whereby an
electric current is induced into the sub-surface and the
conductivity of the sub-surface is recorded. |
“intrusive” |
is a body of rock that invades older rocks. |
“mineralisation” |
the concentration of metals and their chemical compounds within a
body of rock. |
“mineralised” |
refers to rock which contains minerals e.g. iron, copper,
gold. |
“Mo-Bi-As-Te-W-Sn” |
Molybdenum-Bismuth-Arsenic-Tellurium-Tungsten-Tin |
“monzogranite” |
a biotite rich granite, often part of the later-stage emplacement
of a larger granite body. |
“mt” |
means million tonnes. |
“ore” |
means a metal or mineral or a combination of these of sufficient
value as to quality and quantity to enable it to be mined at a
profit. |
“oxides” |
are near surface bed-rock which has been weathered and oxidised by
long term exposure to the effects of water and air. |
“ppm” |
means parts per million. |
“saprolite” |
is a weathered or decomposed clay-rich rock. |
“sulphide” |
refers to minerals consisting of a chemical combination of sulphur
with a metal. |
“vein” |
is a generic term to describe an occurrence of mineralised rock
within an area of non-mineralised rock. |
“VTEM” |
refers to versa time domain electromagnetic, a particular variant
of time-domain electromagnetic geophysical survey to prospect for
conductive bodies below surface. |
Assay ResultsAssay results reported within this
release include those provided by the Company's own on-site
laboratory facilities at Palito and have not yet been independently
verified. Serabi closely monitors the performance of its own
facility against results from independent laboratory analysis for
quality control purpose. As a matter of normal practice, the
Company sends duplicate samples derived from a variety of the
Company's activities to accredited laboratory facilities for
independent verification. Since mid-2019, over 10,000 exploration
drill core samples have been assayed at both the Palito laboratory
and certified external laboratory, in most cases the ALS laboratory
in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. When comparing significant assays with
grades exceeding 1 g/t gold, comparison between Palito versus
external results record an average over-estimation by the Palito
laboratory of 6.7% over this period. Based on the results of this
work, the Company's management are satisfied that the Company's own
facility shows sufficiently good correlation with independent
laboratory facilities for exploration drill samples. The Company
would expect that in the preparation of any future independent
Reserve/Resource statement undertaken in compliance with a
recognised standard, the independent authors of such a statement
would not use Palito assay results without sufficient duplicates
from an appropriately certificated laboratory.
Forward-looking statementsCertain statements in
this announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking
statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use
of terms and phrases such as ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, “should”
‘‘envisage’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘will’’
or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions,
including references to assumptions. These forward-looking
statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the
Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the
Company’s future growth, results of operations, performance, future
capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and
sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business
prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements reflect
the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on
information currently available to the Directors. A number of
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks
associated with vulnerability to general economic and business
conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory
changes, actions by governmental authorities, the availability of
capital markets, reliance on key personnel, uninsured and
underinsured losses and other factors, many of which are beyond the
control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements
contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors
believe to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure
investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward
looking statements.
Qualified Persons StatementThe scientific and
technical information contained within this announcement has been
reviewed and approved by Michael Hodgson, a Director of the
Company. Mr Hodgson is an Economic Geologist by training with over
30 years' experience in the mining industry. He holds a BSc (Hons)
Geology, University of London, a MSc Mining Geology, University of
Leicester and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals
and Mining and a Chartered Engineer of the Engineering Council of
UK, recognizing him as both a Qualified Person for the purposes of
Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and by the AIM Guidance Note on
Mining and Oil & Gas Companies dated June 2009.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, nor any other securities
regulatory authority, has approved or disapproved of the contents
of this news release
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