Mr. Frank Basa reports
GOLD BULLION RECEIVES POSITIVE PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT FOR GRANADA, PROCEEDING TO PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY
Gold Bullion Development Corp. has released the first economic estimates for its Granada gold property
located on the prolific Cadillac trend in northwestern Quebec, five kilometres
south of the city of Rouyn-Noranda. The proposed combination of an open-pit and underground operation has the potential to move Gold Bullion
into gold production at the approximate rate of 102,000 ounces of gold
per year.
The preliminary economic assessment (PEA) was prepared by SGS Canada
Inc. -- SGS Geostat business unit. The PEA is based on the measured,
indicated and inferred gold resource estimation provided by SGS Geostat
that was press released on Nov. 15, 2012, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 -- standards of
disclosure for mineral projects -- as defined by National Instrument 43-101 regulations.
PEA highlights are summarized in the associated table.
ASSUMPTIONS
Gold price (U.S. dollars per ounce) -- three-year trailing average $1,470
Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar rate 1.0:1.0
MINERAL RESOURCES
(recovered ounces)
Underground resources 387,000
Open-pit resources 739,000
MINE PARAMETERS
Mill feed coming from underground mine (tonnes per day) 1,000
Mill feed coming from open-pit mine (tonnes per day) 6,500
Combined mill feed (tonnes per day) 7,500
Mine plan tonnage (tonnes) 26.4 million
Underground mine plan mill feed grade (grams/tonne) 3.51
Open-pit mine plan mill feed grade (grams/tonne) 1.07
Open-pit waste-to-ore ratio 5.91
Estimated gold recovery (%) 94.10
Total gold recovered (ounces) 1,126,000
Preproduction period (years) 2.00
Mine life (years) 11.00
Average annual gold production (ounces) 102,000
COSTS
Preproduction capital $259-million
Average underground cash cost per ounce (U.S. dollars per ounce) 1,205
Average open-pit cash cost per ounce (U.S. dollars per ounce) 985
FINANCIAL RETURN
Payback from start of production (years) 6.80
Internal rate of return (before tax) 10.4%
Net present value, pretax, 5.5-per-cent discount ($ discount) $74.3-million
RESOURCES
Resource category Tonnes Grade (g/t)
Underground Measured 18,000 2.79
Indicated 1,018,000 3.74
Inferred 2,635,000 3.42
Open pit Measured 20,485,000 1.05
Indicated 2,178,000 1.27
Inferred 112,000 0.78
Note:
The chart is presenting the resource as diluted material,
mineral resources that are not mineral reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
At the prevailing gold price on Dec. 19, 2012, of $1,650 (U.S.) per
ounce and a Canadian to U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.00, Gold Bullion
has determined that the pretax NPV increases to $217.8-million at a
5.50-per-cent discount rate while pretax IRR increases to 18.8 per cent with payback
time reduced to 4.8 years (using the same mine plan).
The study was prepared as a stand-alone project, relating solely to the
mineral resources deposit at Granada, and accordingly does not take
into account the previously outlined potential at depth disclosed on
Nov. 26, 2012, since it is not mineral resources. Additional work is therefore
required to convert the portion of potential into mineral resources.
The scoping study mentioned herein is a preliminary evaluation inclusive
of inferred mineral resources that are too geologically speculative to
infer economical considerations that would classify them into mineral
reserves. It is therefore uncertain that this preliminary evaluation
results in the expected outcome.
The complete technical report will be filed on the company's website and on SEDAR in the next 45 days.
"We are very pleased to release the preliminary economic assessment
study on the Granada gold deposit," stated Frank J. Basa, PEng,
president and chief executive officer. "Due to the dedication and
diligence of Gold Bullion's technical team and consultants, we have
been able to deliver this study within just four years of developing
the property and are proud to see Gold Bullion progress as a potential
emerging producer of gold in the near term, creating shareholder value
through successful exploration and development while continuing to seek
out other worthwhile opportunities for growth."
The delivery of the scoping (PEA) study completes the first stage of
Gold Bullion's continuous development program at Granada, aimed at
advancing the Granada project to commercial production, by
demonstrating an economic, environmental and social gain, while
simultaneously mitigating the technical, financial and environmental
risks of the project.
As mineral resources could be affected by permitting and social
acceptance issues, Gold Bullion plans to hold meetings with various
stakeholder groups prior to the completion of the prefeasibility study
and will either be incorporating those views and recommendations into
the study or retaining as recommendations to be addressed in the
possible final feasibility study.
Claude Duplessis, Eng, Gaston Gagnon, Eng, and Jonathan Gagne, Eng, are
acting as the qualified persons (QP) for Gold Bullion Development in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 and have reviewed the
technical contents of this press release.
We seek Safe Harbor.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.