Silver Bull Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: SVBL, TSX: SVB) (“Silver Bull”)
is pleased to announce its maiden Mineral Resource estimate on the
Beskauga copper-gold project completed by CSA Global Consultants
Canada Ltd (“CSA Global”). Highlights of the Mineral Resource
report include:
- An open
pit-constrained Indicated Mineral Resource of 207 million tonnes
grading 0.35 g/t gold, 0.23% copper and 1.09 g/t silver for 2.33
million ounces of gold, 476.1 thousand tonnes of copper, & 7.25
million ounces of silver.
- An open
pit-constrained Inferred Mineral Resource of 147 million tonnes
grading 0.33 g/t gold, 0.15% copper and 1.02 g/t silver for 1.56
million ounces of gold, 220.5 thousand tonnes of copper, & 4.82
million ounces of silver.
- The constraining pit was
optimised and calculated using a NSR cut-off based on a price of:
$1,500/oz for gold, $2.80/lb for copper, $17.25/oz for silver, and
with an average recovery of 81.7% for copper and 51.8% for both
gold and silver.
Beskauga Resource: The Beskauga
resource was estimated from 118 diamond drill holes, totalling
45,605.8 meters drilled between 2007 and 2017 by the private Swiss
company, Copperbelt AG. Holes were drilled from surface using an HQ
or NQ sized core diameter and varied in depth between 150m to 815m.
The estimated Mineral Resource is shown in the table below.
Table 1. Pit-constrained Mineral Resource
estimate for the Beskauga copper-gold project
Category |
Tonnage (Mt) |
Cu % |
Au g/t |
Ag g/t |
Au (Moz) |
Cu (Kt) |
Ag (Moz) |
Indicated |
207 |
0.23 |
0.35 |
1.09 |
2.33 |
476.1 |
7.25 |
Inferred |
147 |
0.15 |
0.33 |
1.02 |
1.56 |
220.5 |
4.82 |
Notes:
- An NSR $/t cut-off of $5.70/t was
used, and the NSR formula is: NSR $/t = (38.137+11.612 x Cu%) x Cu%
+ (19.18 + 12.322 x Au g/t) x Au g/t + (0.07 + 0.0517 x Ag g/t) x
Ag g/t
- The NSR formula incorporates
variable recovery formulae. Average copper recovery was 81.7%
copper and 51.8% for both gold and silver.
- Metal prices considered were
$2.80/lb copper, $1,500/oz gold and $17.25/oz silver.
- The Resource is stated within a pit
shell that considers a 1.25 factor above the metal prices.
- Mineral Resources are estimated and
reported in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards for
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted 10 May 2014.
- The Mineral Resource is not
believed to be materially affected by any known environmental,
permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing,
political or other relevant factors
- These Mineral Resources are not
Mineral Reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
- The quantity and grade of reported
Inferred Resources in this MRE are uncertain in nature and there
has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred
Resources as Indicated or Measured; however, it is reasonably
expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be
upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued
exploration.
In order to address the potential for eventual
economic extraction in an open pit context, the reported Mineral
Resources fall within an optimized Lerch-Grossman pit shell that
uses a gold price of US$1,500/oz, a copper price of US$2.80, and a
silver price of US$17.25 with an average recovery of copper at
81.7% and gold and silver of 51.8%.
Pit walls are set at 42 degrees in the
overburden and 45 degrees in the hard rock. Mining costs were
assumed to be US$1.00 in overburden and US$1.50/tonne in the hard
rock and processing costs were assumed to be US$5.70/tonne. To
determine the $/t value of the rock the following calculation was
made:
NSR $/t = (38.137+11.612 x Cu%) x Cu% + (19.18 +
12.322 x Au g/t) x Au g/t + (0.07 + 0.0517 x Ag g/t) x Ag p/t
Mineral resources were estimated by Ordinary
Kriging using Micromine modeling software in multiple passes using
20 meter X 20 meter X 20 meter blocks as the SMU size. Blocks have
been classified as Indicated or Inferred Mineral Resources.
The Mineral Resource was estimated by Serik
Urbisinov, a Principal Resource Geologist for CSA Global, who is an
independent Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument
43-101. The full Technical Report will be filed onto the SEDAR
website within the next 45 days.
Mineralization and geology: The
Beskauga deposit is interpreted to be a copper-gold porphyry.
Pyrite, chalcopyrite and tennantite are the dominant sulphide
minerals at Beskauga, with smaller amounts of bornite, chalcocite,
enargite, and molybdenite, with magnetite and hematite, also
described. Sulphides occur as fine-grained disseminations as well
as in stockwork veins and veinlets, associated with an elongated
granodiorite porphyry intrusion. The grade of the copper and gold
are highly correlated.
At surface, the deposit is covered by a 30 to 40
meter thick layer of recent sediments and remains open in all
directions including at depth, with many of the drill holes
terminating in mineralization. The chemistry and mineralogy of the
mineralization defined thus far suggests the present resource is
still in the upper part of the mineralizing system. The deposit has
not benefited from detailed geological study and modelling which
presents an opportunity to optimize extension targeting and
definition of additional resources.
Figure 1. Surface projection of the
Beskauga deposit showing the gold and the copper cut-offs. Also
shown is the outline of the Lerch-Grossman conceptual pit
is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0c04427-8517-4050-8211-3eb6972d350a
Infrastructure: The Beskauga
deposit has excellent infrastructure. All operations are based out
of the nearby mining town of Ekibastuz, which services the largest
coal mine in Kazakhstan and provides a highly trained workforce for
Silver Bull to draw upon. Paved road access, 1100 KVA power lines
and heavy rail all lie within a 25 kilometer radius of the project.
The capital city of Nur-Sultan, located approximately 300
kilometers along a double lane highway from the project, has a
major international airport allowing for easy access and
administration of the Beskauga project.
Figure 2. Map showing the location of
infrastructure near the Beskauga deposit. The project is based out
of the nearby mining town of Ekibastuz is available
at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65497a18-e567-487c-bc67-98558badd426
Tim Barry, President, CEO and director of Silver
Bull states, “We are extremely pleased with this first NI 43-101
resource estimate at Beskauga. We believe the Beskauga project
represents one of the best exploration opportunities in the world
and we see significant opportunity to expand the current resource.
We also believe there is considerable exploration potential in the
wider region for both copper and gold and expect to have a pipeline
of projects and associated news coming in from both the Beskauga
Project and the wider area during 2021.
This year is shaping up to be an exciting one
for Silver Bull. Presently, we are compiling the significant
Soviet-era historical information in the region as well as building
a team in-country. We expect to commence our on the ground
exploration program at the beginning of the second quarter of this
year.”
About Kazakhstan
Size: Kazakhstan is the ninth
largest country in the world, covering 2,717,300 square kilometers,
and has a population of 18.2 million people.
Capital City: The capital city
is Nur-Sultan which is located 300 kilometers from the project.
Nur-Sultan has a major international airport allowing for easy
access and administration of the Beskauga Project.
Mining Law: Kazakhstan adopted
a new mining code titled “Code on Surface and Subsoil Use” (the
"SSU Code") on December 27, 2017, and became effective on June 29,
2018. The SSU Code is based on the Western Australian model where
Kazakhstan moved from a contractual regime to a licensing regime
for solid minerals (except for uranium). Coincident with the
updated SSU law, the Kazakhstan government also reduced a
considerable amount of the administrative burdens for subsoil
users.
Tax: A summary of pertinent
taxes related to exploration in Kazakhstan is as follows:
- 20% corporate tax
- 12% value-added tax (VAT) is refundable for exploration
companies
- 4.7% royalty for copper
- 5% royalty for gold and silver
Geological Prospectivity:
Kazakhstan is one of the most prospective countries in the world
for a number of metals. According to the United States Geological
Survey (USGS) Kazakhstan is:
- 1st in the world for uranium production (41% of world
output)
- 2nd in the world for chromite production (18% of world
output)
- 4th in the world for titanium production (6% of world
output)
- 10th in the world for copper production
In addition, Kazakhstan has significant proven
reserves (as yet unmined) of gold, silver, lead, zinc, tin, iron
ore, nickel, cobalt, and bauxite.
The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining
Companies in 2017, ranked Kazakhstan the 24th best mining
jurisdiction in the world.
About Silver Bull: Silver Bull
is a mineral exploration company whose shares are listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange and trade on the OTCQB in the United States,
and is based out of Vancouver, Canada. In addition to the Beskauga
deposit, Silver Bull also owns the Sierra Mojada Project in
Northern Mexico which is currently under a joint Venture with
South32 Ltd.
About the Sierra Mojada
deposit: Sierra Mojada is an open-pittable oxide deposit
with a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated "global" Mineral
Resource of 70.4 million tonnes grading 3.4% zinc and 38.6 g/t
silver at a $13.50 NSR cutoff giving 5.35 billion pounds of zinc
and 87.4 million ounces of silver. Included within the "global"
Mineral Resource is a Measured and Indicated "high grade zinc zone"
of 13.5 million tonnes with an average grade of 11.2% zinc at a 6%
cutoff, giving 3.336 billion pounds of zinc, and a Measured and
Indicated "high grade silver zone" of 15.2 million tonnes with an
average grade of 114.9 g/t silver at a 50 g/t cutoff giving 56.3
million ounces of silver. Mineralization remains open in the east,
west, and northerly directions. Approximately 60% of the current
3.2 kilometer mineralized body is at or near surface before dipping
at around 6 degrees to the east.
The technical information of this news release
has been reviewed and approved by Tim Barry, a Chartered
Professional Geologist (CPAusIMM), and a qualified person for the
purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry"
Tim Barry, CPAusIMM Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director
INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687
5800info@silverbullresources.com
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors
concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred
Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured
resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which
are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. We
advise U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The
estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves
greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility
than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors
are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral
resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of
inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their
existence and economic viability than the estimation of other
categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume
that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are
economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or
indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws,
estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of
feasibility or other economic studies.
Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource
is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC
normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does
not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and
grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the
information contained in this press release may not be comparable
to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not
subject NI 43-101.
Cautionary note regarding forward
looking statements: This news release contains
forward-looking statements regarding future events and Silver
Bull's future results that are subject to the safe harbors created
under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities laws.
Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements
regarding that Beskauga is a mineralized system that has
considerable upside that has yet to be explored, and geological
prospectivity of Kazakhstan. These statements are based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Silver
Bull's exploration projects, the industry in which Silver Bull
operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Silver Bull's
management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets,"
"goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks,"
"estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and
similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended
to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including such
factors as the results of exploration activities and whether the
results continue to support continued exploration activities,
unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy,
volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of
sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the
caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the interim periods ended January 31, 2020, April 30,
2020, as amended, and July 31, 2020 and our other periodic and
current reports filed with the SEC and available on www.sec.gov and
with the Canadian securities commissions available on
www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual
results or developments may differ materially from those expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking
statement made by us in this release is based only on information
currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which
it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be
made from time to time, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise.
Silver Bull Resources (TSX:SVB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2024 to Jan 2025
Silver Bull Resources (TSX:SVB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2024 to Jan 2025