Americas Bullion Announces Updated Brewery Creek Oxide Resource Estimate of 577,000 Indicated Oxide Ounces at 1.27 g/t Gold and 279,000 Inferred Oxide Ounces at 0.93 g/t Gold at $1,250 Gold
Highlights of the updated estimate include:
- Oxide indicated resources of 577,000 ounces of gold at 1.27 g/t with an average cutoff grade of 0.50 g/t and oxide inferred resources of 279,000 ounces at 0.93 g/t with an average cutoff grade of 0.53 g/t for un-mined pit material and a 0.30 g/t gold cutoff for all resources to be reprocessed from the existing pad;
- Total Indicated oxide and sulfide resources are estimated to be 17.6 million tonnes grading 1.27 g/t gold;
- Total Inferred oxide and sulfide resources are estimated to be 21.7 million tonnes grading 1.18 g/t gold;
- Total Estimated oxide plus sulfide resources contain approximately 719,000 gold ounces classified as indicated (577,000 oxide ounces) and 825,000 ounces classified as inferred (279,000 oxide);
- A gold price of $1,250/oz was utilized (all dollar figures are in USD).
“This updated resource estimate, with a significant increase in leachable oxide ounces at over a gram per ton gold, makes the Brewery Creek project a more robust project with enhanced economics,” said William M. Sheriff, Chairman & CEO. “This latest resource which remains open to expansion in several directions, coupled with the impressive metallurgy, released earlier this year, paves the way for attracting a quality operator as a joint venture partner. We will continue to push the project through permitting while actively seeking a qualified partner.”
Table 1: Brewery Creek Indicated & Inferred Resources
Brewery Creek Indicated & Inferred Resources | |||||||||||||
Indicated | Inferred | ||||||||||||
Tonnes | Au (g/t) | Contained Au (ounces) | Tonnes | Au (g/t) | Contained Au (ounces) | ||||||||
Oxide | 14,152,000 | 1.27 | 577,000 | 9,309,000 | 0.93 | 279,000 | |||||||
Sulfide | 3,459,000 | 1.28 | 142,000 | 12,408,000 | 1.37 | 546,000 | |||||||
Total | 17,611,000 | 1.27 | 719,000 | 21,717,000 | 1.18 | 825,000 |
1. The resource estimate includes fourteen separate deposits plus the historic Viceroy leach pad.
2. Each deposit had different gold capping thresholds based on statistical analysis.
3. Oxide resources for 10 of the deposits are pit constrained; see table 2 for detailed parameters.
4. Four deposits are not pit constrained because two, Classic and Lone Star, only consist of inferred mineralization and two, North Slope and Sleeman, were previously estimated and reported in the previous resource technical report (EBA, 2013).
5. A Gold price of $1,250/oz was used. Tonnes and contained ounces have been rounded to the nearest 1,000.
6. The effective date of this Mineral Resource Estimate is June 1st, 2013.
Variable gold cutoff grades were established for oxide material for each deposit depending on metallurgical recoveries and mining costs as shown in Table 2. A gold cutoff grade of 0.70 g/t was used to tabulate sulfide resources.
Table-2 Oxide Pit Shell Parameters
Oxide Pit Shell Parameters | ||||||||||
Resource Area | Mining | G&A
| Processing | Au | Au Cutoff | |||||
Kokanee, Golden | $3.10 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 70% | 0.54 | |||||
Pacific, Blue | $2.78 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 70% | 0.53 | |||||
Lucky | $3.20 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 70% | 0.54 | |||||
Bohemian | $3.20 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 77% | 0.49 | |||||
Schooner | $3.20 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 74% | 0.51 | |||||
Lower Fosters | $2.97 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 73% | 0.51 | |||||
West Big Rock | $2.92 | $2.65 | $9.41 | 83% | 0.45 | |||||
East Big Rock | $2.92 | $ 2.65 | $9.41 | 77% | 0.48 |
Metallurgical recoveries for Bohemian, Schooner, Lower Fosters, West Big Rock and East Big Rock are based on extensive metallurgical testing from 2012 and 2013 that included crushing the material to 80% passing 9.5 mm and column leach tests by McClelland Laboratories and were reported in detail in a May 30, 2013 Press Release. Recoveries for Kokanee, Golden, Pacific, Blue and Lucky are based on actual recovery information reported for these pits during the former heap leach operation when the material was placed on the pad as run of mine material and then recoveries were factored for increased recoveries expected after crushing based on industry norms.
A more complete discussion of oxide pit parameters will be found in the technical report, by Gustavson & Associates, to be filed within 45 days.
A total of fifteen mineral resource estimates were completed and have been prepared or validated independently by three independent Qualified Persons (QP's): Michael J. Lechner, P.Geo., of Resource Modeling Inc. (RMI); James Barr, PGeo., of EBA a Tetra Tech Company (EBA); and Donald E Hulse, P.E., of Gustavson and Associates (Gustavson). Oxide mineral resource estimates for the East Big Rock, West Big Rock, Lower Fosters, Bohemian, Schooner, and the formerly mined Kokanee, Golden, Pacific, Blue and Lucky deposits contain Indicated and Inferred Resources which are located inside of conceptual pits. Both Indicated and Inferred Resources were used to generate the pits and no value was attributed to sulfide material. Oxide cutoff grades for resource declaration were established using the parameters shown in Table 2.
Americas Bullion prepared mineral resource estimates for the Pacific, Blue, Kokanee, Golden and Lucky resource areas which were verified by Gustavson. The estimates utilized drilling information obtained by the Company along with historical drilling and sampling data that was independently validated and consisted of a total of 47,789 samples from 1,327 core and RC holes. Donald E. Hulse is the responsible QP for the Pacific, Blue, Kokanee, Golden and Lucky resource estimates.
RMI prepared the mineral resource estimates for the Bohemian, Schooner, Lower Fosters, West Big Rock, East Big Rock, Classic, and Lone Star deposits, and for the historical heap leach pad material. The estimates utilized the Company’s drilling and sampling programs, together with independently validated historic drilling and sampling data conducted by other operators. A total of 85,892 drilling meters in 1,076 core and RC holes were used for the estimate. Mr. Lechner is the responsible QP for these resource estimates.
EBA reported mineral resource estimates for the North Slope and Sleeman deposits in the 2012 Technical Report effective March 11, 2012, and amended in January, 2013. The estimates utilized the Company’s drilling and sampling programs together with historic drilling and sampling data available at the effective date that was independently validated and consisted of a total of 35,696 drill meters from 205 core and RC holes. These estimates were originally reported using a 0.2 g/t Au as the base case cut-off for oxide resources in the previous Technical Report. The base case is being revised to use the 0.5 g/t Au cut-off reported in the Technical Report’s sensitivity tables to better reflect current market conditions. James Barr is the responsible QP for the North Slope and Sleeman resource estimates.
For the eight deposits estimated by RMI and the five estimated by Americas Bullion-Gustavson, 3D block models were constructed for each resource area using MineSight® (a commercial mine engineering software package). A combination of lithologic and structural domains were defined for each resource area and were used to constrain the estimate of block gold grades. Unique search ellipses were established for each resource area based on variography. Drillhole gold grades were composited at nominal 6 meter down-hole intervals based on two key logged lithologic units (intrusive and metasedimentary rocks). Blocks were estimated using only composites from the same lithologic and structural domains using a three-pass inverse distance weighting interpolation plan.
RMI constructed a 3D block model of the heap leach pad and estimated grades using data from 177 samples from 18 sonic drillholes. A block size of 3m x 3m x 3m was selected along with 3-meter-long composites. Fire assay and cyanide soluble gold grades were estimated using a three pass inverse distance method. Because it is intended for the material on the pad to be moved and reprocessed, the bottom three meters of the heap leach pad was not estimated and will be left as a buffer zone to protect the integrity of the existing synthetic liner.
The North Slope and Sleeman estimates were constructed using drill samples that were composited to 2 m lengths and interpolated into two separate Gemcom GEMS partial block models. Ordinary Kriging (OK) methodology was applied to interpolate gold grades for the deposits. Oxide resources were defined by partial or full blocks lying above an interpreted redox boundary supplied by the company and based on actual drill logs.
Table 3: Oxide Mineral Resources
Oxide Mineral Resources | ||||||||||||||||||||
Resource | Au Cutoff (g/t) | Indicated Oxide Resources | Inferred Oxide Resources | Constrained | QP Responsible | Estimated | ||||||||||||||
Tonnes | Au (g/t) | Au Ozs (000) | Tonnes (000) | Au (g/t) | Au Ozs (000) | |||||||||||||||
Kokanee | 0.54 | 1,201 | 1.19 | 46 | 279 | 1.19 | 11 | Yes | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Golden | 0.54 | 1,070 | 1.38 | 47 | 247 | 1.25 | 10 | Yes | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Pacific | 0.53 | 373 | 1.01 | 12 | 131 | 0.91 | 4 | Yes | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Blue | 0.53 | 250 | 1.29 | 10 | 29 | 0.98 | 1 | Yes | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Lucky | 0.54 | 2,394 | 1.36 | 105 | 236 | 1.27 | 10 | Yes | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Bohemian | 0.49 | 1,491 | 1.31 | 63 | 134 | 1.49 | 6 | Yes | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Schooner | 0.51 | 1,108 | 1.99 | 71 | 243 | 2.65 | 21 | Yes | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Lower Fosters | 0.51 | 1,090 | 1.61 | 56 | 492 | 1.52 | 24 | Yes | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
West Big Rock | 0.45 | 722 | 1.27 | 29 | 38 | 0.75 | 1 | Yes | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
East Big Rock | 0.48 | 596 | 1.10 | 21 | 21 | 0.87 | 1 | Yes | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Classic | 0.54 | - | - | - | 3,711 | 0.81 | 97 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Lone Star | 0.54 | - | - | - | 1,522 | 0.88 | 43 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
North Slope | 0.50 | 756 | 1.15 | 28 | 412 | 1.05 | 14 | No | James Barr | Yes | ||||||||||
Sleeman | 0.50 | 124 | 1.14 | 5 | 132 | 0.84 | 4 | No | James Barr | Yes | ||||||||||
Historical Viceroy Pad | 0.30 | 2,977 | 0.88 | 84 | 1,682 | 0.60 | 32 | No | Mike Lechner | No | ||||||||||
Total | 14,152 | 1.27 | 577 | 9,309 | 0.93 | 279 | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Table 4: Sulfide Mineral Resources | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sulfide Mineral Resources | ||||||||||||||||||||
Resource | Au Cutoff | Indicated Sulfide Resources | Inferred Sulfide Resources | Constrained | QP Responsible | Estimated | ||||||||||||||
Tonnes | Au | Au Ozs | Tonnes | Au (g/t) | Au Ozs (000) | |||||||||||||||
Kokanee | 0.70 | - | - | - | 1,547 | 1.33 | 66 | No | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Golden | 0.70 | - | - | - | 649 | 1.20 | 25 | No | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Pacific | 0.70 | - | - | - | 707 | 1.45 | 33 | No | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Blue | 0.70 | - | - | - | 1,358 | 1.31 | 57 | No | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Lucky | 0.70 | - | - | - | 1,783 | 1.36 | 78 | No | Don Hulse | Yes | ||||||||||
Bohemian | 0.70 | - | - | - | 973 | 1.58 | 50 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Schooner | 0.70 | - | - | - | 313 | 1.42 | 14 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Lower Fosters | 0.70 | - | - | - | 883 | 1.45 | 41 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
West Big Rock | 0.70 | - | - | - | 381 | 1.28 | 16 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
East Big Rock | 0.70 | - | - | - | 170 | 1.00 | 5 | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Classic | 0.70 | - | - | - | - | - | - | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
Lone Star | 0.70 | - | - | - | - | - | - | No | Mike Lechner | Yes | ||||||||||
North Slope | 0.70 | 2,122 | 1.26 | 86 | 2,686 | 1.36 | 118 | No | James Barr | Yes | ||||||||||
Sleeman | 0.70 | 1,337 | 1.30 | 56 | 958 | 1.40 | 43 | No | James Barr | Yes | ||||||||||
Total | 3,459 | 1.28 | 142 | 12,408 | 1.37 | 546 |
Brewery Creek Project
The Brewery Creek Project is a past producing heap leach gold mining operation with about 280,000 oz Au produced from seven near-surface oxide deposits along the property's Reserve Trend from 1996 through 2002, when the mine (operated by Viceroy Resource Corporation) shut down primarily due to low gold prices. The 200 km2 property is located 55 km due east of Dawson City, accessible by paved and gravel roads from the junction of the North Klondike and Dempster Highways.
The Project is in receipt of all necessary permits required to conduct additional exploration and is advancing permitting. The Brewery Creek Project holds a Type A Water License with an expiry date of December 31, 2021, subject to the restrictions and conditions contained in the Yukon Water Act and Regulations. The Project also holds a Quartz Mining License (QML) with an expiry date of December 31, 2021. The Company is working to amend the Water License and the QML to incorporate current mine planning and design studies which are currently underway. In addition, a restated and amended Socio-Economic Accord with Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation with respect to the Brewery Creek Project is in place.
A PFS commissioned by the Company in 2012, investigated a mine plan based on an anticipated resource size; however, due to a larger than anticipated oxide resource the mine plan requires further engineering on pit designs, waste dump sites and scheduling to accommodate an enhanced operation. The Company intends to complete a mine plan and resulting PFS and publish a subsequent NI 43-101 Technical Report once engineering studies have been finalized.
The Brewery Creek Project has the support of the community of Dawson City and the Tr’ondek Hwech’in because the Company remains committed to advancing the project in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, rehabilitating a previously operational gold mine bringing social and economic benefits to the region and, particularly to the Tr’ondek Hwech’in who have partnered with the Company for the development of this project.
The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Maslowski BSc, CPG, the Company's Chief Operating Officer and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43?101.
Brewery Creek Project
To view a map of the Brewery Creek Project, click onto the following link:
http://www.usetdas.com/maps/americasbullion/americasbullionsept192013004.gif
Americas Bullion Royalty Corp.
Americas Bullion Royalty Corp. invests in undervalued natural resource assets seeking to provide superior investment returns. Americas Bullion’s assets include royalty holdings across Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Oregon, and California; the Springer Mine and Mill; the Taylor mill and Humboldt mill site; the Brewery Creek project, and a portfolio of Yukon exploration properties. The Company continues to advance and monetize its holdings to optimize and realize asset values for its shareholders.
This press release uses the terms "indicated resources" and "inferred resources", which are calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. We advise investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. In addition, "Inferred 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. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an Inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally minable.
Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves and do not demonstrate economic viability. The quantity and grade of inferred resources reported herein are uncertain in nature and exploration completed to date is insufficient to define these Mineral Resources as indicated or measured. There is no guarantee that further exploration will result in the inferred Mineral Resources being upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource category. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted to mineral reserves. Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other factors. Quantity and grade are estimates and are rounded to reflect the fact that the resource estimate is an approximation.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and Americas Bullion’s plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, Americas Bullion assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.
Contact
Americas Bullion Royalty Corp.
William M. Sheriff, Chairman & CEO
(208) 635-5415
info@aubullion.com
www.aubullion.com