Orex: Preliminary Economic Assessment-Positive Report
April 16 2014 - 9:45AM
Marketwired
Orex: Preliminary Economic Assessment-Positive Report
MONTREAL, CANADA--(Marketwired - Apr 16, 2014) - OREX
EXPLORATION INC. (TSX-VENTURE:OX) ("Orex" or "the Corporation") -
The board of Directors have received the Preliminary Economic
Assessment ("PEA") on the Goldboro gold project undertaken by
MineTech International Limited ("MineTech") of Halifax, Nova
Scotia. MineTech reviewed the Boston Richardson and the East and
West Goldbrook deposits at Goldboro, Nova Scotia, Canada, which
collectively holds a Measured Resource of 27,900 ounces of gold
(149,000 tonnes at 5.8 g/t gold) and Indicated Resource of 358,700
ounces (1,436,000 tonnes at a grade of 7.8 g/t gold) using a 3 g/t
cutoff grade. The deposits also contain Inferred Resources of
343,400 ounces gold (1,537,000 tonnes at 6.95 g/t gold) as
disclosed in the February, 11th 2013 Mercator NI 43 - 101
report.
The Preliminary Economic Assessment includes inferred mineral
resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have
the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them
to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty
that the Preliminary Economic Assessment will be realized.
The Board of Directors have reviewed the document and have
approved the release of the report, which will be posted on SEDAR
shortly.
Highlights from the report:
- A mechanised underground mine, with cash cost of production
forecast at US$500 per ounce over the life of the mine. Initial
output of 21,000 ounces of gold per annum (after mill recovery and
NSR), is expected to rise to over 30,000 ounces per annum (after
mill recovery and NSR) following the planned expansion in year
three. Peak production in years seven and eight is forecast at over
40,000 ounces per annum (after mill recovery and NSR).
- An expenditure of US$24.3 million is needed for pre-production
and first-year capital, including a 20% contingency. An additional
US$3.7 million is needed for working capital. Expansion from 350
tonnes per day to 500 tonnes per day is estimated to cost US$8.8
million during years two and three including the expansion of the
milling capacity. The sustaining capital over the life-of-mine is
forecast to be US$13.4 million or approximately US$2.2 million per
annum, commencing in year four.
- The mine life is estimated to be eleven years and the table
produced below illustrates the Net Present Value of the Goldboro
project based on a range of gold prices and discount rates. The
base case used by MineTech during modelling was US$1,200 per
ounce.
|
|
Goldboro Mine Nova Scotia |
GOLD PRICE IN US$ PER OUNCE |
$1,200 |
$1,250 |
$1,300 |
$1,350 |
$1,400 |
$1,450 |
Discount Rate |
Net Present Value after tax (NPV) |
5.0% |
$98 M |
$107 M |
$116 M |
$124 M |
$133 M |
$142 M |
7.5% |
$80 M |
$88 M |
$95 M |
$103 M |
$110 M |
$118 M |
10.0% |
$66 M |
$72 M |
$79 M |
$85 M |
$92 M |
$99 M |
- Underground mining will initially be carried out using a single
drill jumbo. At this time no surface mining is planned.
- Metallurgical test work showed that 70% of the gold can be
recovered using a simple gravity separation process. A flotation
concentrate will recover another 20 - 23%. It is planned to treat
concentrate on site and produce doré bars.
- Mining would commence using the existing portal and developed
areas, which will mean that only minor development work is required
to access the first two years of production.
- An initial estimated workforce of 85 people will be required
and that up to 120 long term jobs will be created in the area.
- The Corporation intends to continue to explore at the Goldboro
property with a view to increasing the size of the deposit at depth
and to the eastern boundary of the property. It is also planned to
carry out infill drilling in an effort to convert some of the
current inferred and indicated resources into measured
resources.
- The property boasts excellent resource expansion potential in
all directions which could extend the current estimated mine
life.
It is anticipated that an environmental study capable of
complying with world recognised Equator Principles will be
undertaken. www.equator-principles.com
Technical information pertaining to the Preliminary Economic
Analysis contained in this news release was reviewed by Patrick
Hannon, M.A.Sc., P. Eng., of MineTech International Limited, who is
an independent Qualified Person as defined under National
Instrument 43-101.
Commenting on this development, Willie McLucas, President and
CEO said "When I first visited the Goldboro property in August
2013, I was excited by the opportunity and I am very pleased that
the results shown in the PEA confirm my optimism. The recent
increase in interest in gold projects in Nova Scotia can only be of
benefit to our cause. Your Board will now actively commence the
search for a debt funding package of this project in order to
minimise dilution to existing shareholders."
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services
provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this news release. The statements made in this news
release that are not historical facts are `forward-looking
statements, and readers are cautioned that any such statements are
not guarantees of future performance and that actual developments
or results may vary materially from those in these
"forward-looking" statements.
Willie McLucas, President and CEO+44 7881 816 980
wpm@mclucasfamilyholdings.comMark Billings, Chairman(514)
296-1641mark@marengomgt.com