Open Pit Mining, Processing at a Nominal Rate of 130,000 Tonnes Per Day;
A 21 Year Mine Life Producing 4.88 Billion Pounds of Copper, 4.21
Million Ounces of Gold, 25.10 Million Ounces of Silver and 214.92
Million Pounds of Molybdenum
VANCOUVER, Dec. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - Copper Fox Metals Inc. ('Copper Fox' or the 'Company') (TSX-V: CUU) is very pleased to announce the results of a positive Feasibility Study
on the Schaft Creek Project located in northwestern British Columbia,
Canada. The Feasibility Study was prepared under the direction of
Tetra Tech, an industry leading international engineering firm, with a
high level review of capital cost completed by Merit Consultants
International Inc. ('Merit'), and an internal review conducted by Matt
Bender, MBA, P.E. The Feasibility Study, with capital costs defined to
within plus/minus 15%, builds upon the previous Preliminary Economic
Assessment and Preliminary Feasibility Study prepared by Samuel
Engineering, Inc. in January and September of 2008 and metallurgical
and geotechnical work completed in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Mr. Elmer Stewart, President & CEO said "I am extremely proud of the
work put into this Feasibility Study by the Copper Fox team and its
capable consultants. Like all large scale projects located in alpine
type terrain, this project did come with its own unique technical
challenges. At an 8% discount rate as required in the Teck Option
Agreement, the Feasibility Study confirms the technical and financial
viability of a nominal 130,000 tonne-per-day ('tpd') copper mining and
processing operation at Schaft Creek. The Company will host a webcast
conference call in mid-January, details will follow by way of a
separate news release."
The Feasibility Study recommends diamond drilling to determine the
extent to which the 171.16 million tonnes of inferred resource that lie
within the proposed open pit, now treated as waste, can be upgraded to
either a Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource. If successful, this
would categorize this rock as a revenue generator.
The project has a nominal 130,000 tpd milling capacity over a 21 year
mine life representing a 30% increase from that proposed in the
Preliminary Feasibility Study prepared in September 2008, with only a
20% increase in the estimated Capex, no easy achievement.
The Feasibility Study provides for expansion of the project based on the
current mineral resource and exploration potential of the Schaft Creek
mineral trend. The potential to significantly expand the tailings
storage facility, the current concentrate storage and shipping
agreement with Stewart Bulk Terminals and most importantly access to
electrical power are positive features that support possible future
expansion of the Schaft Creek Project. Opportunity to lower operating
and capital costs and increase operating revenue could be identified
during the detailed engineering phase of project development.
The Project has the advantage of being located in the province of
British Columbia, Canada a safe geopolitical jurisdiction that strongly
supports resource development.
Highlights of the Feasibility Study (all amounts are stated in Canadian dollars):
-
Nominal 130,000 tpd open pit mine feeding a concentrator with two Semi
Autogenous Grinding ('SAG') mills;
-
Initial Capital Cost ('Capex') totals $3.256 billion, which includes
contingencies of $374 million;
-
Sustaining Capex totals $1.240 billion over the proposed mine life,
including $200 million for BC Hydro tariff;
-
Life-of-Mine ('LOM') metal production contained in concentrates totals
4.88 billion pounds ('lbs') of copper, 4.21 million ounces ('oz.') of
gold, 214.92 million lbs of molybdenum and 25.10 million oz. of silver;
-
5 years pre-production period followed with a productive mine life of 21
years;
-
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves total 940.8 million tonnes
containing 5.6 billion lbs of copper; 5.7 million oz. of gold 363.5
million lbs of molybdenum and 51.7 million oz. of silver on the basis
of drill data up to May 23, 2012;
-
Within the pit shell there is a total of 171.16 million tonnes of
inferred resource grading 0.25% copper, 0.018% molybdenum, 0.164 grams
per tonne ('gpt') gold and 1.58 gpt silver which for purposes of this
study must be treated as waste rock;
-
LOM average mill feed grades 0.271% copper, 0.191 gpt gold, 1.716 gpt
silver, 0.018% molybdenum and a copper equivalent ('CuEq') of 0.441%.
The CuEq is back calculated based on how much in situ copper is
required to provide the same after recovery value to equal the combined
metals value after recovery. The formula is: CuEq = NSR /
(CURec*NSPcu*22.046) NSR=RecCU*Cu grade*NSPcu*22.046+RecMO*Mo
grade*NSPmo*22.046+RecAU* Au grade*NSPau+RecAG*AG grade*NSPag , where
"Rec" is the recovery based on the recovery formula and grade is in
situ with no loss or dilution applied.
Summary of Economic Results
Base Case pre-tax Net Present Value ('NPV') for the Schaft Creek deposit
using long-term metal prices and exchange rates and an 8% discount rate
is CDN $513 million. Internal Rate of Return ('IRR') is 10.13% and a
payback period of 6.5 years. In addition to the base case, three
alternative cases were presented. Alternate Cases (1) and (2) are
using three years trailing average and spot metal prices (as of October
15, 2012), respectively, and are presented for comparative purposes.
Of particular significance is the third alternate case using the
sophisticated economic science referred to as Real Option Valuation
('ROV'). NPV at an 8% discount rate for the alternative cases 1, 2 and
3 are CDN $967 million, CDN $1,024 million and CDN $1,382 million,
respectively. Details about the economic analysis are on page 11
below.
ROV is a discounted cash flow technique that incorporates the
uncertainty of future metal prices and exchange rates as well as the
management flexibility to adjust the operating status of the mining
operations in the future based on the market conditions. ROV applies a
dynamic optimization process that compares the values of the
alternative plans at each point of time and makes decisions that
maximize the present value of the whole project. Market variables are
modeled using stochastic processes such as Geometric Brownian Motion
and mean-reverting process. Numerical techniques such as finite
difference, binomial lattice and Monte Carlo simulations are applied to
the ROV. In this project, the Monte Carlo method was applied using
100,000 simulations.
Project Enhancements
The Feasibility Study makes recommendations for further development of
the project that could enhance the economics of Schaft Creek including:
i)
|
Copper Fox undertakes a diamond drilling program at Schaft Creek with a
goal to determine the extent to which the 171.16 million tonnes of
inferred resource, that lie within the pit shell, can be upgraded to a
Measured or Indicated Resource. To the degree such a program is
successful it will remove the affected material from being categorized
as a rock removal expense to an ore bearing material and as such, a
revenue generator; and
|
ii)
|
Additional metallurgical testwork to pursue opportunities to increase
metal recoveries and reduce processing costs.
|
iii)
|
Shorten the project development execution timeline.
|
Permits
Copper Fox is currently preparing the Province of British Columbia
Environmental Assessment (EA) Application and a Federal Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) both required to obtain a BC EA Certificate and
Federal approval. Copper Fox anticipates submitting the EA Application
and EIS as early as Q3 2013. Copper Fox is also developing the permit
applications required to construct the access road to the mine site.
Access road permits have been prioritized based on the construction
schedule presented in the Feasibility Study. Other permit applications
required for mine site construction will follow completion of the EA
Application and EIS.
Development Schedule
-
Project development will take place over a 5 year period after initial
permitting and engineering.
-
Permitting completed June 30, 2014
-
Engineering completed February 2016
-
Access Road construction completed March 2016
-
Construction Phase I completed July 2019 and Phase II March 2020
-
Commercial Production Phase I Start December 2019 and Phase II August
2020
Mineral Resources
The project mineral resource was prepared by Tetra Tech, with an
effective date of May 23, 2012, as previously disclosed in a news
release on May 31, 2012 and filed on SEDAR on June 25, 2012.
|
Mineral Resource Estimate - Schaft Creek Deposit
|
Robert Morrison - Ph.D., MAusIMM (CP), P.Geo., Effective Date: May 23rd,
2012 |
Resource | Cut-off | | Copper | Molybdenum | Gold | Silver | Contained Metal |
Category | CuEq (%) | Tonnes | (%) | (%) | (gpt) | (gpt) | Cu (Lbs) | Mo (Lbs) | Au (oz.) | Ag ( oz.) |
Measured
|
0.15
|
146,615,300
|
0.31
|
0.017
|
0.24
|
1.78
|
1,001,824,600
|
55,624,000
|
1,149,100
|
8,402,700
|
Indicated
|
0.15
|
1,081,939,500
|
0.26
|
0.017
|
0.18
|
1.68
|
6,104,400,000
|
399,718,500
|
6,218,000
|
58,335,500
|
Measured & Indicated
|
0.15
|
1,228,554,800
|
0.26
|
0.017
|
0.19
|
1.69
|
7,106,224,600
|
455,342,500
|
7,368,000
|
66,738,200
|
Inferred
|
0.15
|
597,191,300
|
0.22
|
0.016
|
0.17
|
1.65
|
2,872,034,300
|
206,252,100
|
3,359,600
|
31,601,400
|
Notes to Mineral Resources Tables
a)
|
Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves;
|
b)
|
While the terms "measured (mineral) resource", "indicated (mineral)
resource" and "inferred (mineral) resource" are recognized and required
by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, investors are cautioned that except for that portion of mineral
resources classified as mineral reserves, mineral resources do not have
demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume
that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will
ever be upgraded into mineral reserves. Additionally, investors are
cautioned that inferred mineral resources have a high degree of
uncertainty as to their existence, as to whether they can be
economically or legally mined, or will ever be upgraded to a higher
category;
|
c)
|
A 0.15% CuEq cut-off was selected for the base case resource estimate.
A 0.15% CuEq cut-off was the minimum grade of CuEq estimated by Tetra
Tech required (using the estimated copper recovery rate, the milling
and sales cost) to break-even on an operating cost per tonne basis;
|
d)
|
CuEq grade cut-offs were used to report the mineral resource estimation
as a function of copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver. The CuEq is
based on Tetra Tech's long-range metal prices of US $2.97/lb for
copper, US $16.80/lb molybdenum, US $1,256.00/oz gold and US $20.38/oz
for silver and metal recoveries of 60.90% for molybdenum, 70.6% for
gold and 43.4% for silver. No copper recoveries were applied to the
copper equivalent grade;
|
e)
|
Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent
summations differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal
content; and
|
f)
|
Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained copper and
molybdenum are reported as pounds and contained gold and silver are
reported as troy ounces.
|
Mineral Reserve
Proven and Probable mineral reserves are the economically-mineable
portions of the Measured and Indicated mineral resources set out in the
table above, respectively, as demonstrated by the Feasibility Study.
The proven and probable reserves at Schaft Creek are summarized below:
|
Mineral Reserve |
Reserve Category | Run of Mine (Mt) | Copper % | Molybdenum % | Gold gpt | Silver gpt |
Proven |
135.4
|
0.31
|
0.0175
|
0.25
|
1.81
|
Probable |
805.4
|
0.26
|
0.0176
|
0.18
|
1.70
|
Proven & Probable |
940.8
|
0.27
|
0.0176
|
0.19
|
1.72
|
Notes to Mineral Reserves Table
a)
|
Mineral Reserves are contained within Measured and Indicated pit
designs.
|
b)
|
Appropriate mining costs, processing costs metal recoveries and inter
ramp pit slope angles varying from 27 degrees in overburden to 45
degrees in bedrock were utilized to generate the pit phase design;
|
c)
|
Mineral Reserves have been calculated using a Net Smelter Return ('NSR')
cut-off. The NSR was calculated as follows: NSR = Recoverable Revenue -
TCRC (on per tonne basis), where NSR = Net Smelter Return; TCRC =
Transportation and Refining Costs; Recoverable Revenue = Revenue in
Canadian dollars for recoverable copper, molybdenum, gold and silver,
respectively, using metal prices of US $3.52/lb, US $15.30/lb, US
$1,366.00/oz and US $25.96/oz for copper, molybdenum, gold and silver
respectively; at an exchange rate of CDN $0.96 to US $1.00; metal
recoveries used are based on recovery curves if critical average
recoveries could be calculated;
|
d)
|
The LOM average strip ratio (waste to ore) is 2:1, excluding rehandle;
|
e)
|
Rounded significant digits on Run of Mine to one decimal point;
|
f)
|
Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent
summations differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal
content, and
|
g)
|
Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained copper and
molybdenum are reported as pounds and contained gold and silver are
reported as troy ounces.
|
h)
|
The proven and probable mineral reserves are included within the
measured and indicated mineral resources as estimated by Tetra Tech on
May 23, 2012.
|
Project Description
The Schaft Creek deposit is located approximately 60 kilometres south of
Telegraph Creek, 375 kilometres northwest of Smithers and 340
kilometres northwest of Terrace on the east side of the Coast Mountain
Range where annual precipitation is approximately 900mm per year in the
form of rain and snow.
Copper Fox holds title and a 100% working interest in the Schaft Creek
project located within Tahltan Traditional Territory consisting of
55,779.56 hectares (137,834 acres) in northwestern British Columbia.
Included in this total are the "Schedule A" mineral tenures originally
conveyed to Copper Fox pursuant to the option agreement dated January
1, 2002 between Teck Resources Limited ('Teck') and Copper Fox (the
'Teck Option Agreement'), which consist of 8,334.34 hectares (20,594
acres). The "Schedule A" mineral tenures are subject to a 3.5% Net
Profits Interest held by Royal Gold, Inc., a 30% carried Net Proceeds
Interest held by Liard Copper Mines Limited ('Liard') and, together
with the additional mineral tenures obtained by Copper Fox within the
"Area of Interest" provided for in the Teck Option Agreement, an earn
back option held by Teck. On completion of the Feasibility Study,
Copper Fox earns Teck's 78% interest in Liard. Teck's earn back option
to acquire either, 20%, 40% or 75%, of Copper Fox's interest in the
Schaft Creek Project is triggered upon delivery of a "Positive Bankable
Feasibility Study" (as defined) to Teck after which they have 120 days
to make a decision. Should Teck elect to exercise its earn back option
for 75%, Teck is required to fund subsequent property expenditures up
to a total of 400% of those incurred by Copper Fox ($84.9 million to
July 31, 2012) and use best efforts to arrange for project financing,
including the Copper Fox portion. For full details of the Teck earn
back option please refer to the Company's website www.copperfoxmetals.com.
Mining of the Schaft Creek deposit is planned as a conventional
truck-shovel open-pit mining operation with a nominal 130,000 tpd
throughput over the LOM. The current 940.8 million tonne mineral
reserve should support a mine life of approximately 21 years (47.4
million tonnes per year). There is potential to extend the mine life
with additional infill drilling to upgrade the approximately 171.16
million tonnes of current inferred resource located within the proposed
open pit. Additional exploration of the Schaft Creek deposit to the
east and the north of the Paramount zone and north of the Liard zone as
well as the recently discovered Discovery zone could extend the mine
life of the Schaft Creek project.
Processing of the ore would utilize a conventional copper ore grinding
and flotation circuit, to produce a high-quality copper concentrate
with significant gold and silver credits and a separate molybdenum
concentrate. Mining and waste rock facilities would be located in the
Schaft Creek Valley and Mess Creek Valley with the plant,
infrastructure, airport and tailings facilities being located adjacent
to Mess Creek Valley, Skeeter and Start Lakes.
Annual mine production of ore and waste is projected to average
approximately 147 million tonnes per year with an in situ LOM waste/ore
stripping ratio of 2:1. Run-of-mine ore would be fed into two gyratory
crushers located at the edge of the open pit in the Schaft Creek Valley
and transported via conveyor from the Schaft Creek Valley to a coarse
ore stockpile near the proposed mill site in the Start Lake Valley.
The proposed process plant would be a conventional double-line
grinding-flotation concentrator. The plant site has sufficient mill pad
area to install a third processing line to increase daily throughput to
180,000 tpd should expansion of the mine be required to optimize the
economics of the project. Tailings would be transported to the tailing
storage facility ('TSF') through pipelines. Concentrates would be
transported by trucks to port facility in the town of Stewart, BC and
the molybdenum concentrate to the Fairview Terminals in Prince Rupert,
BC for shipment to various international destinations.
The closest provincial road to the mine site is Highway 37. The access
road to the Schaft Creek project would be used to transport material
and consumables to and from the mine site, and to deliver mine capital
equipment. Personnel would be transported to and from the Schaft Creek
site via aircraft. The road would have controlled access to ensure the
health and safety of company personnel and the public, as well as to
protect the environment. Copper Fox is in the process of preparing its
Environmental Assessment Application which is required before
application can be made for permits to construct the access road and
power line to the Schaft Creek site. Copper Fox's plan would be to
reach agreement with Galore Creek Mining Corporation regarding joint
use of the access road from Highway 37 (Kilometre 0) to approximately
Kilometre 65 including construction of the More Creek Canyon Bridge and
completion of an additional 25.2 kilometres of the Galore Creek road
for a total distance of 65.2 kilometres. The balance of the access road
would be single-lane, with occasional pullouts. Power for the Project
would be provided from the Northwest Transmission Line ('NTL')
currently being constructed by the provincial electrical authority, BC
Hydro. An 81-kilometer long, 287kV power line would run to the
processing site sub-station.
The time period estimated from completion of the Feasibility Study to
allow for permitting, detailed engineering, equipment procurement,
construction, startup to production is approximately seven-years. This
time period may be significantly shortened during the detailed
engineering phase and by running concurrent activities.
Mining
The Schaft Creek pit design for the Feasibility Study includes seven
phases. The initial phase is the excavation of the material required
for the construction of the conveyor to transport ore to the mill. The
second phase labelled 1N is a starter pit in the Paramount zone at the
north toe of the east face of Mount LaCasse, to provide construction
waste and stockpile high-grade ore to be processed in year one. The
third and fourth phases mined are 1S and 2S, which are the low strip
ratio phases at the south end of the Liard zone. The fifth and sixth
phases mined are 2N and 3N, the north phase push backs. The final
phase is 4N which extends to the ultimate pit bottom, which, based on
the resource block model would end in mineralization. Access to each
phase and bench is continuously provided by ramps built into the high
wall or cut into the re-handle face.
The total waste mined is estimated to be 1.89 billion tonnes. A portion
of the waste mined will be used for road, TSF and infrastructure
construction. The balance of the waste is planned to be stored in
three separate areas located at varying distances from the proposed
open pit designated the east, west and south dumps.
Process Plant
Initial planned mill throughput is 65,000 tpd, which will be increased
to 130,000 tpd after approximately one year of operation. The ore from
the pit will be conveyed to the process plant located approximately 8
kilometres northeast of the pit. The process for metal recovery from
the ore is conventional flotation, consisting of two process trains.
Each of the process trains consists of SAG mill - ball mills - pebble
crushers ('SABC') primary grinding, bulk rougher/scavenger flotation,
bulk concentrate regrinding and cleaner flotation circuits. The bulk
concentrate produced will be separated to produce market grade
copper-gold-silver concentrate and molybdenum concentrate. Metal
recoveries to the copper concentrate containing at least 28% copper
content are expected to be 86.6% for copper, 73.0% for gold and 48.3%
for silver. The molybdenum recovery to the molybdenum concentrate
(+50% Mo) is estimated to be 58.8%.
Estimated Metal Production
Over the 21 year mine life the parameters of the mining operation and
metals production to the copper concentrate and molybdenum concentrate
is summarized below.
|
Schaft Creek Mine Production Summary |
Parameter | Unit | Life of Mine |
Tonnes ore milled
|
000t
|
940,800
|
Strip ratio
|
|
2.0
|
Grade :
|
|
|
copper
|
%
|
0.27
|
gold
|
gpt
|
0.19
|
molybdenum
|
%
|
0.018
|
silver
|
gpt
|
1.72
|
|
Schaft Creek Concentrate Metal Production |
Description | Unit | Year 1-5 Annual Avg. | Year 1-10 Annual Avg | LOM Annual Avg | LOM Total |
Copper Concentrate
|
tonne (000's)
|
445
|
420
|
376
|
7,897
|
Copper in Concentrate
|
million lbs
|
274
|
259
|
232
|
4,875
|
Copper in Concentrate
|
tonnes (000's)
|
124
|
118
|
105
|
2,211
|
Gold in Concentrate
|
oz. (000's)
|
237
|
237
|
201
|
4,213
|
Silver in Concentrate
|
oz. (000's)
|
1,229
|
1,280
|
1,195
|
25,100
|
Molybdenum Concentrate
|
tonnes
|
8,420
|
8,957
|
9,284
|
194,967
|
Molybdenum in Concentrate
|
lbs (000's)
|
9,281
|
9,873
|
10,234
|
214,914
|
The LOM average metal content of copper concentrate is estimated to
contain 28% copper and 16.6 gpt gold, 98.9 gpt silver and the
molybdenum concentrate at 50% molybdenum. The average impurity element
levels in the final concentrates would be lower than the penalty limits
based on the test results. The moisture content is estimated to be
9.0% for the copper concentrate and 5.0% for the molybdenum
concentrate.
The copper concentrates will be trucked via Highway 37 to the Port of
Stewart for storage and loading. In 2011, Copper Fox executed an
agreement with Stewart Bulk Terminals for the storage and shipment of
up to 600,000 tonnes of concentrate per year to provide for export of
the copper concentrates to foreign markets (see News Release dated
October 12, 2011).
Tailings Storage Facility
The Project requires the design of a TSF with the flexibility to manage
tailings from either one or both of the processing trains. The south
end of the TSF is located approximately 1.8 kilometres north of the
milling facilities in Skeeter Valley and the facility is designed to
accommodate approximately 941 million tonnes ('Mt') of tailings during
the 21 year mine life. Total capacity of the TSF could be
significantly expanded by increasing the height of the retaining
embankments.
Infrastructure
The Project will require the development/construction of a number of
infrastructure items. The location of the facilities and other
infrastructure items were selected to take advantage of local
topography, accommodate environmental considerations, and ensure
efficient and convenient operation of the mine haul fleet.
Project infrastructure will include:
a)
|
A secure single-lane access road with double-lane sections to support
the construction and operation of the Project. This road will include,
and extend from, the partially constructed (approximately 40 km)
existing Galore Creek Access Road. The road will follow the Galore
Creek access road/route for the first 65.2 km from Highway 37. At Km
65.2 it turns north from the Galore Creek Access Route. Approximately
forty (40) km of new road will be constructed north through the Mess
Creek Valley to the mine site;
|
b)
|
A 287 kV power line from Bob Quinn to the site covering a total distance
of approximately 81 km;
|
c)
|
105.26 kilometre fuel pipeline from Tahltan Depot Highway 37 to site
including diesel fuel supply and distribution;
|
d)
|
TSF complete with diversion channels including a reclaim water system;
|
e)
|
site haul roads;
|
f)
|
new on-site airport, capable of receiving aircraft with a capacity of up
to 78 passengers;
|
g)
|
a depot located at the juncture of Highway 37;
|
h)
|
water supply and distribution system;
|
i)
|
sewage disposal plant;
|
j)
|
lay down area;
|
k)
|
process and ancillary facilities;
|
l)
|
power distribution network;
|
m)
|
communications infrastructure.
|
Social and Environment
Copper Fox is committed to maximizing benefits and economic
opportunities for local communities and local First Nations, including
employment and training.
Environmental baseline work on the Project started in 2006 and has
continued through 2012. The Project is currently in the first of the
province's two-staged EA process. The pre-application stage focuses on
identification of the issues and concerns to be addressed in the
Application and reflected in the AIR. The pre-application stage is
considered completed on acceptance of the Application for review by the
EAO, initiating the Application Review stage of the EA process. The
Application must comply with the Project specific AIR that is formally
approved and issued by the EAO.
Closure and reclamation plans will be considered and updated throughout
design, construction, and operation of the Project to help ensure that
the objectives can be successfully achieved. Reclamation plans have
been prepared for the TSF, open pit and waste rock.
Capital Cost Estimates
The project initial capital costs are estimated at $3.256 billion
(approximately $22,200/operating tonne - excluding contingency) with an
accuracy of plus/minus 15% as of Q3 2012, including a contingency of
$373.8 million (11.5% of initial direct and indirect capital cost
estimate). The estimates are consistent with a Class 3 estimate. Major
items of the capital costs estimate are set out below:
|
Initial Capital Costs |
| $ Millions |
Direct Costs |
|
Overall site
|
251.06
|
Mining
|
483.47
|
Primary crushing
|
179.62
|
Grinding, flotation and regrind
|
594.68
|
Tailing management facility
|
212.23
|
Site services and site utilities
|
23.86
|
Ancillary buildings
|
202.15
|
Plant mobile fleet'
|
8.88
|
Temporary services
|
5.20
|
Off-site infrastructure and facilities
|
202.34
|
Total Direct Costs | $2,163.49 |
|
Indirect Costs |
|
Project indirects
|
601.24
|
Owner's Costs
|
118.04
|
Total Indirect Costs | 719.28 |
Total Direct and Indirect Costs | $2,882.77 |
Contingency @11.5%
|
373.80
|
Total Initial Capital | $3,256.57 |
This estimate includes direct field costs, indirect costs associated
with design, construction and commissioning. This estimate is based on
pricing as of Q3 2012, with no allowances for inflation or escalation.
All currency in this capital cost estimate is expressed in Canadian
dollars, unless otherwise noted.
LOM sustaining capital is estimated to total $1.240 billion over the
projected 21 year mine life and includes development of the open pit
deposit, BC Hydro tariff (CDN $200 million) for the power line from Bob
Quinn to site, replacement of, and additions to, surface mobile
equipment, reclamation costs, and additional expenditures to expand the
capacity of the TSF. A breakdown of the major components of the
sustaining costs is set out below.
|
LOM Sustaining Capital |
Area | $Millions |
Mining
|
707
|
Tailings
|
333
|
BC Hydro
|
200
|
Total Sustaining Capital | $1,240 |
Operating Costs
LOM site unit operating cash costs, net of capitalized pre-stripping and
other predevelopment costs, are $13.33 per tonne-milled, as summarized
in the table below:
|
LOM Operating Costs |
Area | LOM CDN $/tonne milled |
Mining
|
6.56
|
Processing
|
4.87
|
Tailings Facility
|
0.22
|
Depot Services
|
0.52
|
Surface Services
|
0.34
|
General & Administration
|
0.82
|
Total | 13.33 |
Open pit mining cash costs average $6.56 per tonne of ore mined,
including waste and ore mining costs. The in situ life of mine average
strip ratio (waste to ore) is estimated to be 2:1.
LOM copper production total and cash costs per produced pound including
mine site operating costs, smelter and refining charges and concentrate
transport cost average $2.09/lb and $1.15/lb, respectively.
Economic Analysis Summary
The project economics were evaluated whereby revenues and costs are
projected into the future on an annual basis. Annual net cash flows
are then discounted at a rate of interest to reflect the time value of
money to yield a NPV. The analysis includes all site operating costs,
smelter charges, transport costs and royalties.
The most significant input which affects project economics are projected
future metals prices. The four economic cases using the previously
discussed input parameters are set out below:
|
Summary of Economic Results |
Item | Unit | Base Case | 3-Y Avg* Case | Spot Price** Case | Real Options Case |
Metal Price | | | | | |
Copper
|
US$/lb
|
3.25
|
3.63
|
3.69
|
3.25
|
Gold
|
US$/oz
|
1,445.00
|
1,445.00
|
1,736.00
|
1,445.00
|
Silver
|
US$/oz
|
27.74
|
27.74
|
32.71
|
27.74
|
Molybdenum
|
US$/lb
|
14.64
|
14.64
|
11.34
|
14.64
|
Exchange Rate
|
US:Cdn
|
0.97
|
0.99
|
1.02
|
0.97
|
Pre-tax Economic Results | | | | |
Operating Cash Flow
|
CDN$ M
|
10,746
|
12,065
|
12,161
|
11,284
|
NPV (at 5%)
|
CDN$ M
|
1,694
|
2,348
|
2,419
|
2,665
|
NPV (at 8%)
|
CDN$ M
|
513
|
967
|
1,024
|
1,382
|
NPV (at 10%)
|
CDN$ M
|
25
|
388
|
437
|
836
|
IRR
|
%
|
10.13
|
11.9
|
12.14
|
15.4
|
Payback
|
Years
|
6.48
|
5.81
|
5.7
|
4.9
|
Cash Cost/lb Cu
|
CDN$/lb
|
1.15
|
1.19
|
1.12
|
1.15
|
Total Cost/lb Cu
|
CDN$/lb
|
2.09
|
2.14
|
2.07
|
2.09
|
Avg Annual operating Cash Flow***
|
Millions
|
371
|
414
|
425
|
640
|
*between October 15, 2009 - 2012; **On October 15, 2012; *** Years 1-5
At the prices used in the base case for this study, total estimated
taxes payable on Schaft Creek profits are CDN $1,858 million over the
21 year mine life. The components of the various taxes that will be
payable are:
|
Estimated Taxes Payable |
Tax Component | LOM Amount |
(CDN$ million) |
Corporate Tax (Federal)
|
841
|
Corporate Tax (Provincial)
|
561
|
Provincial Resource Tax
|
456
|
Total Taxes | 1,858 |
Base Case and ROV (Case 4) after-tax economic results are:
|
After Tax Economic Results |
Description | Base Case | ROV Case |
Net Cash Flow (CDN$ million)
|
4,270
|
5,133
|
Discounted Cash Flow NPV (CDN$ million) at 5%
|
956
|
1,260
|
Discounted Cash Flow NPV (CDN$ million) at 8%
|
67
|
529
|
Payback (years from start of mill operations)
|
6.8
|
5.7
|
IRR (%)
|
8.3
|
12.7
|
Qualified Persons
On January 15, 2010 Copper Fox commissioned Tetra Tech to complete the
Schaft Creek Project Feasibility Study in accordance with NI 43-101. A
team of Qualified Persons from Tetra Tech, McElhanney Consulting
Services Ltd. ('McElhanney'), Moose Mountain Technical Services
('MMTS'), and Knight Piésold Ltd. ('KP') prepared and reviewed the
Feasibility Study.
The detailed mine plan was prepared by MMTS under the direction of Greg
Trout, P. Eng. The scientific and technical information in this release
have been reviewed by Marten Regan, Senior Project Manager, of Tetra
Tech, and overall manager for the Feasibility Study.
Other qualified persons involved in the Feasibility Study were:
Tetra Tech: Ali Farah, P. Eng; Robert Sinclair Morrison, Ph. D., MAusIMM
(CP) P. Geo; Hassan Ghaffari, P.Eng; John Huang, Ph. D., P. Eng; Monica
Danon-Schaffer, Ph. D., P. Eng.; Rui da Palma Adanjo, P. Eng.; Sabry
Abdel Hafez, Ph. D., P. Eng; Harvey Wayne Stoyko, P. Eng
KP: Daniel Friedman, P. Eng; Daniel Yang, P. Eng
McElhanney: David Pow, P. Eng
This release was also reviewed by Elmer B. Stewart, P.Geol, MSc,
President & Chief Executive Officer of Copper Fox and a Non-independent
Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101.
Readers should refer to the Feasibility Study Technical Report for
further details of the project development. The Feasibility Study
Technical Report will be filed in accordance with NI 43-101 on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) within the required 45 day statutory period and will be made available
on Copper Fox's website at www.copperfoxmetals.com.
About Copper Fox
Copper Fox is a Canadian-based resource development company listed on
the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: CUU) with a corporate office in
Calgary, AB and an operations office in Vancouver, BC. Its major asset
is the Schaft Creek copper, gold, molybdenum and silver deposit located
in northwestern British Columbia, Canada for which a positive
Feasibility Study was recently completed. The details of which are
included as part of this news release.
Copper Fox holds title and a 100% working interest in the Schaft Creek
project consisting of 55,779.56 hectares (137,834 acres). Included in
this total are the "Schedule A" mineral tenures originally conveyed to
Copper Fox pursuant to the Teck Option Agreement, which consist of
8,334.34 hectares (20,594 acres). The "Schedule A" mineral tenures are
subject to a 3.5% Net Profits Interest held by Royal Gold, Inc., a 30%
carried Net Proceeds Interest held by Liard and, together with the
additional mineral tenures obtained by Copper Fox within the "Area of
Interest" provided for in the Teck Option Agreement, an earn back
option held by Teck. On completion of the Feasibility Study, Copper
Fox earns Teck's 78% interest in Liard. Teck's earn back option to
acquire either, 20%, 40% or 75%, of Copper Fox's interest in the Schaft
Creek Project is triggered upon delivery of a "Positive Bankable
Feasibility Study" (as defined) to Teck after which they have 120 days
to make a decision. Should Teck elect to exercise its option for 75%,
Teck is required to fund subsequent property expenditures up to a total
of 400% of those incurred by Copper Fox ($84.9 million to July 31,
2012) and use its best efforts to arrange for project financing,
including the Copper Fox portion. For full details of the Teck earn
back option please refer to the Company's website www.copperfoxmetals.com.
The remainder of Copper Fox's registered interests in mineral tenures in
British Columbia total 47,445.22 hectares (117,240 acres). These
interests have been acquired by Copper Fox through mineral tenure
acquisitions and mineral tenure purchase agreements subsequent to
Copper Fox entering into the Teck Option Agreement. Certain portions
of these registered mineral tenures are subject to inclusion within the
Schaft Creek Project pursuant to the terms of the "Area of Interest"
provisions of the Teck Option Agreement.
Additionally the Company holds, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
mineral tenures located in Pinal County, Arizona (the 'Sombrero Butte
Copper Project') and in Miami, Arizona (the 'Van Dyke BLM Claims').
The Sombrero Butte copper project consists of 2,887 acres located in
the Bunker Hill Mining District, 44 miles northeast of Tucson and the
35 Van Dyke BLM Claims located to the west of the Van Dyke copper
deposit in Miami.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Elmer B. Stewart
President and Chief Executive Officer
Neither 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 release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information
is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may,"
"plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "budgets," "could,"
"estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "projects" and similar
expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking
information in this news release includes statements about the results
of a positive Feasibility Study for the Schaft Creek project; the
technical and financial viability of a 130,000 tonne-per-day copper
mining and processing operation at Schaft Creek; economic potential of
the Schaft Creek mineral deposit; the existence and size of the mineral
deposit at Schaft Creek; recommended future diamond drilling programs;
potential upgrade of 171.1 million tonnes of inferred resource,
currently treated as waste, to either measured or indicated mineral
resources; the productive mine life of the Schaft Creek project;
potential expansion and development of the project; opportunities to
lower operating and capital costs and increase capital revenue; the
length and scope of work for the pre-production period; additional
metallurgical testwork to pursue opportunities to increase metal
recoveries and reduce processing costs; timing and amount of estimated
future production; a Province of British Columbia Environmental
Assessment Application and a Federal Environmental Impact Statement; a
British Columbia Environmental Assessment Certificate and Federal
environmental approvals; permit applications for road and mine
construction; the development schedule for the project; estimated
timeframes to obtain permits, complete engineering, road construction,
site construction and commercial production phases; planned mining
operations and ore processing; the potential to extend the mine life;
additional exploration to the east and north of the Paramount zone and
north of the Liard zone; construction and location of mining, waste
rock plant, infrastructure, access roads, fuel pipeline, sewage
disposal plant, WSB lay down area, power supply and distribution
network, communications infrastructure, airport, and tailing
facilities; annual mine production of ore and waste and in situ
life-of-mine waste/ore stripping ratios; the construction and operation
of a proposed processing plant; transportation and delivery of
concentrates to the port facility in the town of Stewart and Fairview
Terminals in Prince Rupert; plans to reach agreement with Galore Mining
Corporation regarding joint use of the access road, construction of the
More Creek Canyon Bridge and completion of additional kilometers of the
Galore Creek road; power supply for the project and the construction of
a power line; the time estimate for permitting, detailed engineering,
equipment procurement, construction, and production; the mining pit
design, phases and scope of work for construction, and extraction
phases; estimated total waste to be mined and use of such waste;
estimated initial and ongoing mill throughput; the process and
expectations for metal recovery; estimated metal production over the
life of the mine; estimated LOM average metal content, impurity element
levels and, as applicable, moisture content; design, construction and
capacity of a tailings storage facility; employment and training for
local First Nations; reclamation plans for the tailings storage
facility, open pit and waste rock management; estimated capital costs;
life of mine copper production total and cash costs per produced pound;
projected future metal prices; the delivery of the Feasibility Study to
Teck pursuant to the option agreement; estimated timing and amounts of
future expenditures and "earn-back" options; geological interpretations
and potential mineral recovery processes. Information concerning
mineral reserves, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral
resources and inferred mineral resources also may be deemed to be
forward-looking information in that it reflects a prediction of the
mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were
developed and mined.
In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this
news release, Copper Fox has made numerous assumptions, regarding,
among other things, assumptions related to: the economic models for the
Schaft Creek project, including the Base Case, alternate and ROV
models; the calculation of estimate capital costs of the project; costs
of production; success of mining operations; projected future metal
prices; engineering, procurement and construction timing and costs; the
timing and obtaining of permitting and approvals; the potential
mineralization in the Schaft Creek deposit; the geological,
metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that Copper
Fox has received is reliable, and is based upon practices and
methodologies which are consistent with industry standards; and the
continued financing of Copper Fox's operations. While Copper Fox
considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are
inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.
Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could
cause Copper Fox's actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information
contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the
results of the positive Feasibility Study may not lead to the
development of a mine at Schaft Creek or commercial mining operations;
the project development plans and timing for Schaft Creek as outlined
in the Feasibility Study may not occur as currently anticipated, or at
all; the Feasibility Study may not be accepted by Teck as a "positive
bankable" Feasibility Study in accordance with the option agreement
with Teck; the 171.1 million tonnes of inferred resources, currently
treated as waste, may never be upgraded to a high category of resource;
uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery
rates, production estimates and estimated economic return;
uncertainties related to the estimated mine life and potential
extension thereof; the possibility of delays and cost overruns in
engineering, procurement and construction of the project and
uncertainty of meeting anticipated project milestones; the
Environmental Assessment Application and Federal Environmental Impact
Statement may not be completed timely manner, or at all, or provincial
or federal environmental approvals may not be obtained in a timely
manner, or at all; further exploration at Schaft Creek may not occur as
currently anticipated, or at all; agreement may never be reached with
Galore Mining Corporation on the completion of additional roadworks;
training and/or employment for local First Nations may not occur as
anticipated, or at all;
the actual mineralization in the Schaft Creek deposit may not be as
favourable as suggested; another deposit may never be discovered on
Copper Fox's property, or contain anticipated mineralization, or
mineralization of any significance at all; the possibility that future
drilling on the Schaft Creek project may not occur on a timely basis,
or at all; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates;
conditions in the financial markets and overall economy may continue to
deteriorate; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results
and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty
of the metallurgical testwork; the uncertainty of the estimates of
capital and operating costs, recovery rates, and estimated economic
return; the need to obtain additional financing and uncertainty as to
the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of
delay in exploration or development programs or in construction
projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones;
uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental
approvals.
A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper
Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous disclosure filings with
Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All
forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this
cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise
or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce
the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information
contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments,
except as required by law.
SOURCE: Copper Fox Metals Inc.
<p> <b>For additional information contact</b>: Investor line 1-866-913-1910 or J. Michael Smith, EVP, at 1-604-689-5080 </p>