 |
Afton - Ajax Development
|
| Afton-Ajax
South Central British Columbia, Canada
Overview
| |
Open Pit Afton Mining Camp
|
In June 2009 Abacus completed a compliant positive preliminary economic analysis on the Ajax property, after a series of successful drill programs from 2005-2008. The results of the PEA indicate the potential for a robust mining operation capable of processing 60,000 tonnes of ore per day. Metal prices used for the base case are US $2.00 per pound copper and US $700 per ounce gold.
The Ajax property comprises eight 100% owned Crown grants including the historic Ajax East and West pits. Also included is an interest in claims between the pits acquired as a result of a joint-venture agreement signed with New Gold Inc. The Ajax area lies nine kilometres southeast along an existing haul road from the Afton mill, shop facilities, tailings area, and water rights which Abacus agreed to purchase in 2005 from Teck-Cominco.
Highlights (All figures in US dollars and pre-tax)
- Average annual production estimated at 106 million pounds of copper and 99,400 ounces of gold in concentrate
- Net present value of $192.7 million discounted at 8%
- Mine life of approximately 23 years
- Return on initial capital expenditures of $535 million is 40.4%
- Existing infrastructure including mill buildings, shop facilities, tailings area, haul road, water rights and related permits
- Excellent exploration potential for expansion on strike and at depth
Preliminary AnalysisThe preliminary analysis on Ajax underscores the potential for a robust mining operation. The National Instrument 43-101 compliant study completed by Wardrop, a Tetra Tech Company ("Wardrop"), contains production parameters, capital costs, operating costs, and other financial projections for an open pit mine processing 60,000 tonnes of mill feed per day. The metal prices used for the base case were US $2.00 per pound copper and US $700 per ounce gold.
Base Case Highlights (All figures in US dollars and pre-tax)
- Net present value of $192.7 million discounted at 8%
- Return on initial capital expenditures of $535 million is 40.4%
- Average life of mine cash costs of $1.17 per pound copper net of gold credit at $700 per ounce
- Average annual production estimated at 106 million pounds of copper and 99,400 ounces of gold in concentrate
- Mine life of approximately 23 years
- The pit inventory resource contains 2.6 billion pounds of copper and 2.4 million ounces of gold in the measured and indicated category
- Highly sensitive to the upward movement in copper and gold prices
The following sensitivity tables provide net present value, internal rate of return, return on initial capital and payback period data at a discount rate of 8%:
Net Present Value (M$@8%) |
Copper price ($/pound) |
2.00 |
2.25 |
2.50 |
Gold price
($/ounce) |
700 |
192.7** |
442.7 |
692.8 |
800 |
282.5 |
532.5 |
782.6 |
900 |
372.3 |
622.3 |
872.4 |
**Base Case
Return on Initial Capital (%)* |
Copper price ($/pound) |
2.00 |
2.25 |
2.50 |
Gold price
($/ounce) |
700 |
40.4** |
92.8 |
145.2 |
800 |
59.2 |
111.6 |
164.1 |
900 |
78.1 |
130.5 |
182.9 |
*The return on initial capital is the ratio between the Net Present Value of the free cash flows and the Present Value of the initial project investment, both discounted at 8%
** Base Case
Internal Rate of Return (%) |
Copper price ($/pound) |
2.00 |
2.25 |
2.50 |
Gold price
($/ounce) |
700 |
12.4** |
17.5 |
22.2 |
800 |
14.3 |
19.2 |
23.8 |
900 |
16.1 |
20.9 |
25.4 |
*Internal rate of return (IRR) is the annualized effective compounded return rate which can be earned on invested capital
**Base Case
Payback (years) |
Copper price ($/pound) |
2.00 |
2.25 |
2.50 |
Gold price
($/ounce |
700 |
6.5** |
5.3 |
3.8 |
800 |
6.0 |
4.9 |
3.4 |
900 |
5.6 |
4.3 |
3.0 |
** Base Case
The following table presents the cash cost per pound of copper which includes all site operating cost, concentrate shipping cost and concentrate smelting cost offset by a credit for payable gold production:
Gold Price ($/ounce) |
700 |
800 |
900 |
Cash cost ($/pound of Copper) |
1.17** |
1.08 |
0.99 |
**Base Case
Mining and Milling
A detailed open pit mine plan was completed to supply 21.9 million tonnes of ore per year (60,000 tonnes per day) to the mill. The mine life is approximately 23 years and has an average strip ratio of 1.7:1 (waste tonnes: mill feed tonnes). The open pit was designed with 12 metre benches and pit slopes adjusted to comply with the geotechnical analysis. The ore and waste will be drilled for blasting utilizing electric drills capable of drilling 311 millimetre diameter blast-holes. Blasted material will then be loaded into 228 tonne haul trucks with 35 cubic metre electric rope shovels and 19 cubic metre front-end loaders.
The ore will be delivered to a 60 inch x 89 inch gyratory primary crusher. The crushed ore will feed to a conventional copper concentrator. The concentrator design includes a single 40 foot x 25 foot SAG mill followed by two 24 foot x 42 foot ball mills. Copper and gold are then recovered in concentrate through a conventional flotation circuit. The concentrate will then be filtered and shipped by rail to the port in Vancouver. Metal production in concentrate is estimated at approximately 106 million pounds of copper and 99,400 ounces of gold per year.
Metallurgical recovery equations were based on a series of lock-cycle recovery tests performed by G&T Labs of Kamloops, B.C. The expected recoveries were determined to be 81.5% copper and 81.1% gold providing a 25% copper concentrate at the average mill feed grade. Further metallurgical testing will be carried out in conjunction with the prefeasibility work.
Location and Infrastructure
The Ajax property is favorably situated in south-central British Columbia, approximately 10 kilometres from the city of Kamloops. The local economy is largely resource and service oriented with a major emphasis on forestry, mining, agriculture, and ranching. The city is a central trading hub to a region with population of 127,000 with established transportation routes and communication infrastructure.
The infrastructure that presently exists near the Ajax property is significant. The property is surrounded by two major highways and rail lines with direct access to deep sea ports. Power and water are also readily available, with both running up to the historic Afton mine camp that was operated by Teck between the 1970s and 1990s.
On the property, access is gained by haul roads constructed by Teck in the 1980s. The haul roads connect the Ajax area to the Company's tailings storage facility, and to other high priority targets in the Afton area, including the Rainbow and DM zones.
Capital
The total capital cost to commence production is estimated at $535 million. Included in the capital estimate are costs for the initial mining equipment, pre-production stripping, a 60,000 tonnes per day copper concentrator, shop, warehouse, infrastructure and indirect costs associated with the design engineering procurement and construction, commissioning, spare parts, contingency and owner's cost. The costs also include the initial expansion of the existing tailings facility. All capital costs are estimated to an accuracy of + 25% / -5%.
Environmental
In preparation for permitting an environmental baseline study was completed to assess the current environmental status across the mine site. The study includes evaluation of the flora and fauna, ground and surface water quality and static testing for acid generating potential. The study concluded that no significant issues are present that would impede the permitting process. The static testing for acid generating suggested the material to be mined is not acid generating. Kinetic testing is scheduled for completion during the upcoming pre-feasibility study.
Summary
The results of the PEA confirm the confidence in the economic viability of the Ajax project. In addition to the quality resource, the location of the project and existing infrastructure gives Abacus a significant advantage. The tailings storage facility can be re-activated with little effort. Water and power are readily available, along with access to major trucking routes and railways.
The focus for Abacus will be to complete a prefeasibility study on the Ajax deposit by the end of 2009. Drilling is planned on the Ajax East extension area with the intent to convert inferred resources into a measured and indicated status. Results of this drilling could also add additional tonnes of higher grade material and improve the economics shown in the PEA. The Ajax deposit remains open on strike and at depth.
Ajax Deposit
The 43-101 compliant resource estimate is based on 411 exploration drill holes, with more than 140,000 metres completed in the Ajax West, Ajax East and the New Gold joint venture ground in between. The mineral resources of the Ajax deposit were classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards and 43-101 Best Practices. The mineralization is classified into Measured, Indicated and Inferred mineral resource categories.
The following table below presents the estimate of the resource of the Ajax deposit as at June 2009. At a 0.13% copper equivalent cut-off, the Measured and Indicated resource totals 442 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.30% copper and 0.19 g/t gold, with an additional 80.6 million tonnes of Inferred at 0.22% copper and 0.16 g/t gold.
Ajax Deposit - Estimated Mineral Resource:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contained
Metal |
|
Cutoff
CuEq (%) |
Tonnes
(Mt) |
Cu
(%) |
Au
(g/t) |
*CuEq
(%) |
Cu
(M lb) |
Au
(Koz) |
Measured |
0.13 |
231 |
0.30 |
0.18 |
0.32 |
1,527.3 |
1,364403 |
Indicated |
0.13 |
211 |
0.29 |
0.19 |
0.32 |
1,367.7 |
1,287 |
Measured
+
Indicated |
0.13 |
442 |
0.30 |
0.19 |
0.32 |
2,895.0 |
2,651 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inferred |
0.13 |
81 |
0.22 |
0.16 |
0.24 |
391.0 |
404 |
*Copper equivalency based on metal prices of $2.00/lb Cu and $700 /oz Au, at a copper recovery of Cu Rec=43.619 x Cu(%) + 63.002, max value = 92%, and gold recovery of Au Rec=33.87 1 x Au(g/t) + 75.29, max value = 90%. These were the metal recoveries developed during the preparation of the PEA. The Copper Equivalent (CuEq) was calculated using the following formula: CuEq = (Cu_Val + Au_Val) / (22.0462 x Cu price $/lb) where: Cu_Val = Cu(%) x Cu_Rec x Cu_price x 22.0462 and Au_Val = Au(g/t) x Au_Rec x Au_Price x 0.032151
A block model was created from the drill data, and conceptual pit shells were generated using the Lerchs-Grossmann algorithm. The resource was then estimated within the ultimate designed pit, and summarized in the following table, at a US$3.84/t Net Smelter Return ("NSR") cut-off grade. This estimated pit inventory resource is the basis of the PEA mine plan and financial analysis.
Ajax Deposit - Estimated Pit Inventory Resource:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contained Metal |
|
Cutoff
NSR
($/t) |
Tonnes
(Mt) |
Cu
(%) |
Au
(g/t) |
NSR*
($/t) |
Cu
(M lb) |
Au
(Koz) |
Measured |
3.84 |
231 |
0.29 |
0.18 |
11.32 |
1,454.8 |
1,300 |
Indicated |
3.84 |
193 |
0.27 |
0.18 |
10.93 |
1,153.6 |
1,100 |
Measured
+
Indicated |
3.84 |
424 |
0.28 |
0.18 |
11.14 |
2,608.4 |
2,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inferred |
3.84 |
78 |
0.21 |
0.15 |
8.28 |
357.5 |
400 |
*NSR based on metal prices of $2.00/lb Cu and $700 /oz Au, at a copper recovery of Cu Rec=32.591xCu(%)+72.732, max 92%, and gold recovery of Au Rec=33.871xAu(g/t)+75.29, max 90% . These were the metal recoveries developed during the preparation of the PEA.
Approximately 15.5% of the mineral resources in the mine production plan are classified as inferred. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There are no known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues which may materially affect the mineral resource.
Approximately 80% of the resource is located on land 100% owned by the Company. The remaining 20% of the resource is located within the ground covered by a joint venture with New Gold, Inc. As previously announced (October 30, 2007), interests in the joint venture down to 500 metres below surface are 60% Abacus and 40% New Gold. New Gold will have 90 days from receipt of the PEA report to elect to either accept agreed terms, or revert to a 10% net profits interests.
| |
