NYSE AMERICAN: MTA
TSXV: MTA
VANCOUVER, BC, March 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Metalla Royalty &
Streaming Ltd. ("Metalla" or the "Company") (NYSE
American: MTA) (TSXV: MTA) is pleased to announce it has completed
the acquisition of an existing 0.5% NSR Royalty on a portion of
Barrick Gold's
("Barrick")(NYSE: GOLD)(TSX: ABX) Alturas-Del Carmen Project
("Del Carmen") for a total consideration of C$1.6 million in cash from Coin Hodl Inc (TSXV:
COIN). In addition, Metalla has completed the acquisition of
an existing 0.45% NSR Royalty on Agnico Eagle Mines' ("Agnico
Eagle")(NYSE: AEM)(TSX: AEM) Amalgamated Kirkland ("AK
Property") and Kirkland Lake
Gold's ("Kirkland
Lake")(NYSE: KL)(TSX: KL) North AK Property ("North
AK") located in Kirkland Lake,
Ontario, for C$0.7 million in
cash from private third parties.
Brett Heath, President &
CEO of Metalla, commented, "These two transactions provide
extraordinary value for Metalla shareholders. Alturas-Del Carmen is
a ~9 million ounce gold project actively being explored and
advanced toward development by one of the world's largest gold
producers. The Amalgamated Kirkland development projects reside on
one of Canada's most proven
geological trends. It also provides an easily accessible mill feed
for Agnico Eagle's large Kirkland
Lake camp with significant exploration potential."
Further to its news release dated March
16, 2021, Metalla has also closed (the "CentroGold
Closing") the acquisition of an existing 1-2% net smelter
return royalty on Oz Minerals Limited's ("Oz Minerals")
(ASX: OZL) CentroGold Project as described further below.
ALTURAS-DEL CARMEN PROJECT (0.5%
NSR)(1)(2)
The royalty that Metalla has acquired applies to the Del Carmen
property that is on the Argentina
side of Barrick's Alturas-Del Carmen district in the El Indio belt
south of the Veladero Mine in the San Juan Province. Del Carmen is
a large high-sulphidation oxide gold-silver deposit comprised of
three zones: Rojo Grande, Cerro Amarillo and the recently
discovered Chibolita high grade corridor. The project
mineralization is associated with Barrick's 8.9Moz Alturas-Del
Carmen inferred resource which shares similar geological
characteristics to the nearby Veladero mine in Argentina. Mineralization at Del Carmen is at
or near surface and could provide a source of early ore for
potential development scenarios at Alturas. Barrick has engaged a
project team focused on updating mineral estimation, pit
optimization, and updating scoping level economics. They recently
stated they are reviewing options for a Del Carmen starter pit and
will be advancing to a preliminary economic assessment in 2021.
Barrick also proposed a 2021 drill campaign testing metallurgy,
structural and geological controls to mineralization with a focus
on expanding mineralization at Chibolita and Rojo Grande North. The program is expected to
complement the successful 2020 drill program where significant near
surface intercepts targeted at Chibolita in Del Carmen included
1.56 g/t gold over 71 metres and 3.38 g/t gold over 28 metres
including 5.2g/t gold over 17 meters. Barrick acquired the Del
Carmen project from Malbex Resources in 2015 who declared a
historic inferred resource on the Rojo Grande deposit of 1.01 Moz
of gold at 1.01 g/t and 10.9 Moz of silver at 11 g/t(3).
Barrick had stated a significant amount of additional unclassified
mineralization has now been defined by drilling beyond the
Alturas-Del Carmen 8.9Moz inferred resource, and this unclassified
inventory is predominantly on the Del Carmen property in
Argentina.
DEL CARMEN ROYALTY MAP
DEL CARMEN EXPLORATION UPSIDE
(1)(2)(4)(5)(6)
Exploration
Upside
|
|
Tonnes
|
Gold
|
|
(Millions)
|
(g/t)
|
(Moz)
|
Rojo
Grande
|
63.5 – 77
|
0.6 – 0.9
|
1.2 – 2.2
|
Cerro
Amarillo
|
15 – 18.5
|
1.75 – 2.2
|
0.84 – 1.3
|
AGNICO EAGLE'S AMALGAMATED KIRKLAND (0.45% NSR)
(1,8)
The Amalgamated Kirkland royalty is split into two separate
zones, one operated by Agnico Eagle in its Kirkland Lake camp and one operated by
Kirkland Lake at its Macassa mine.
The AK Property along with the Upper Beaver and Upper Canada deposits collectively make up
Agnico Eagle's large Kirkland Lake
camp where internal studies conceptualize a potential 180Koz to
240Koz per annum gold operation. The AK Property is an underground
lode style deposit hosted by one of many northeast-trending
structures that lie between the Kirkland Lake Main Break and the
Larder-Cadillac Deformation Zone. In 2021, Agnico Eagle
expects to spend US$14 million for
52,200 metres of drilling at the Kirkland
Lake project.
KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD'S MACASSA
NORTH AMALGAMATED KIRKLAND ROYALTY (0.45%
NSR)(7,9)
The royalty is located on claims that are owned and operated by
Kirkland Lake as part of its
Macassa mine and is immediately south of the South Mine Complex
mineralization which consists of 2.3Moz in 2P reserves.
Mineralization from the South Mine Complex and the recently
announced near-surface 86Koz of gold reserve estimate at
Amalgamated Kirkland is immediately adjacent and along strike with
the North AK royalty property. The North AK royalty further
complements Metalla's Kirkland
Hudson royalty in the Macassa complex.
AGNICO EAGLE'S AMALGAMATED KIRKLAND RESOURCE ESTIMATE
(1)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)
Resource
Estimate
|
|
Tonnes
|
Gold
|
|
(000's)
|
(g/t)
|
(Koz)
|
Indicated
Resources
|
1,268
|
6.51
|
265
|
Inferred
Resources
|
2,373
|
5.32
|
406
|
Total
Resources
|
3,641
|
5.71
|
671
|
CENTROGOLD CLOSE
Metalla is pleased to announce that, further to its news release
dated March 16, 2021, it has closed
the acquisition from Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar") (TSX:
JAG) of an existing 1-2% net smelter return royalty interest on
gold produced and sold from Oz Minerals CentroGold Project located
in Maranhão, Brazil. The
CentroGold Royalty is a 1% NSR on the first 500Koz of gold
production, a 2% NSR on the next 1Moz of gold production, and a 1%
NSR on gold production thereafter in perpetuity.
On the CentroGold Closing, Metalla paid US$7 million in cash to Jaguar.
Metalla has also agreed to pay up to an additional US$11 million to Jaguar upon the achievement of
certain milestones as described in the March
16, 2021 news release.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The technical information contained in this news release has
been reviewed and approved by Charles
Beaudry, geologist M.Sc., member of the Association of
Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and the Ordre des Géologues du Québec
and a consultant to Metalla. Mr. Beaudry is a Qualified Person as
defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of disclosure for
mineral projects.
ABOUT METALLA
Metalla was created for the purpose of providing shareholders
with leveraged precious metal exposure by acquiring royalties and
streams. Our goal is to increase share value by accumulating a
diversified portfolio of royalties and streams with attractive
returns. Our strong foundation of current and future
cash-generating asset base, combined with an experienced team,
gives Metalla a path to become one of the leading gold and silver
companies for the next commodities cycle.
For further information, please visit our website at
www.metallaroyalty.com.
ON BEHALF OF METALLA ROYALTY & STREAMING LTD.
signed "Brett Heath"
Neither the TSXV nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Notes:
|
|
(1)
|
For details on the
estimation of mineral resources and reserves, including the key
assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral
Resources and Mineral Reserves, Canadian investors should refer to
the NI 43-101 Technical Reports for Del Carmen &
Amalgamated Kirkland and on file at www.sedar.com.
|
(2)
|
See Barrick Q2 2020
Presentation Pg. 24 and Barrick Gold Investor Day 2020 Pg. 94 and
Barrick Gold Q4 2020 MD&A Pg. 80 and Barrick Gold Q2 2020
MD&A Pg. 64
|
(3)
|
See technical report
titled "Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic
Assessment For The Rojo Grande Deposit At The Del Carmen Property"
dated October 9, 2013."
|
(4)
|
Barrick Gold
disclosure: Exploration upside estimates are conceptual in nature
and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral
resource at this time. Exploration upside has not been optimised in
a pit design,
|
(5)
|
Numbers may not add
due to rounding.
|
(6)
|
Mineral resources
which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
|
(7)
|
See technical report
titled "Technical Report On The Resources At Amalgamated Kirkland
Property" dated October 18, 2011.
|
(8)
|
See Agnico Eagle
Fourth Quarter 2020 Results and Agnico Eagle BMO 2021 Conference
Presentation Pg. 12,
|
(9)
|
See Kirkland Lake
Gold Q4 2020 Results
|
(10)
|
Total resource grade
was back calculated using the following formula (sum of ounces *
31.1035 / sum of tonnage).
|
TECHNICAL AND THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION
Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this press
release relating to Del Carmen and Amalgamated Kirkland &
Macassa and CentroGold is based on information publicly disclosed
by the owners or operators of this property and information/data
available in the public domain as at the date hereof and none of
this information has been independently verified by Metalla.
Specifically, as a royalty holder, Metalla has limited, if any,
access to the property subject to the royalties. Although Metalla
does not have any knowledge that such information may not be
accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party
information is complete or accurate. Some information publicly
reported by the operator may relate to a larger property than the
area covered by Metalla's royalty interests. Metalla's royalty
interests often cover less than 100% and sometimes only a portion
of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and
production of a property.
Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and scientific
disclosure contained or referenced in this press release, including
any references to mineral resources or mineral reserves, was
prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101
("NI 43-101"), which differs significantly from the requirements
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, the scientific
and technical information contained or referenced in this press
release may not be comparable to similar information made public
by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure
requirements of the SEC.
"Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty
as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic
and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of
an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. Historical results or feasibility models presented herein
are not guarantees or expectations of future performance.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is
expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims",
"anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including
negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be
identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may",
"could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or
be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include,
but are not limited to, statements with respect to any
production decision at Del Carmen, the accretive nature of and
value to be derived from the transactions, future exploration,
development, production, recoveries, cash flow, the profitability
margins that may be achieved, other anticipated or possible future
developments at the properties on which the Company currently
holds or has agreed to acquire royalty and stream interests or
relating to the companies owning or operating such
properties, current and potential future estimates of mineral
reserves and resources, the future value of the Company's common
shares, the Company's potential to become a leading gold and silver
company, anticipated or possible future developments at the
CentroGold Project, the properties on which the Company currently
holds royalty and stream interests or relating to the companies
owning or operating such properties, the future value of the
Company's stock on the stock exchanges, the sufficiency of the
Company's future cash reserves and the completion of any milestone
payments at the CentroGold Project. Forward-looking statements and
information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of
amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed
by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to
significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and
contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are
subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many
of which are beyond the ability of Metalla to control or predict,
that may cause Metalla's actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from those expressed or
implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such
risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including
but not limited to: the risk that the parties may be unable to
satisfy the closing conditions for the contemplated transactions or
that the transactions may not be completed; risks associated with
the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence
of control over mining operations from which Metalla will purchase
precious metals or from which it will receive stream or royalty
payments and risks related to those mining operations, including
risks related to international operations, government and
environmental regulation, delays in mine construction and
operations, actual results of mining and current exploration
activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in
project parameters as plans are refined; problems related to the
ability to market precious metals or other metals; industry
conditions, including commodity price fluctuations, interest and
exchange rate fluctuations; interpretation by government entities
of tax laws or the implementation of new tax laws; regulatory,
political or economic developments in any of the countries where
properties in which Metalla holds a royalty, stream or other
interest are located or through which they are held; risks related
to the operators of the properties in which Metalla holds a royalty
or stream or other interest, including changes in the ownership
and control of such operators; risks related to global pandemics,
including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic,
and the spread of other viruses or pathogens; influence of
macroeconomic developments; business opportunities that become
available to, or are pursued by Metalla; reduced access to debt
and equity capital; litigation; title, permit or license disputes
related to interests on any of the properties in which Metalla
holds a royalty, stream or other interest; the volatility of the
stock market; competition; future sales or issuances of debt or
equity securities; use of proceeds; dividend policy and future
payment of dividends; liquidity; market for securities;
enforcement of civil judgments; and risks relating to Metalla
potentially being a passive foreign investment company within the
meaning of U.S. federal tax laws; and the other risks and
uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the
Company's most recent annual information form, annual report on
Form 40-F and other documents filed with or submitted to the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at
www.sedar.com and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Metalla undertakes no obligation
to update forward-looking information except as required by
applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents
management's best judgment based on information currently
available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and
actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers
are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements or information.
SOURCE Metalla Royalty and Streaming Ltd.