Oban Provides New Resource Estimate for Marban Project
posted on
Jun 13, 2016 11:44AM
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Highlights:
John Burzynski, President and CEO of Oban, commented: "We are very pleased with the new updated resource estimate for the Marban Project. Whittle-constrained in-pit M&I resources for the Marban and Norlartic deposits increased by 16% for a total of 1.48 M oz at $US1250 gold price, with an additional 134,000 oz in the inferred category. It is important to note that at higher cut-off grade of 1.0 g/t Au, the deposits still contain a total of 1.04 M oz in the M&I categories at a grade of 1.97 g/t Au, representing 70% of the overall M&I resources. Significantly, the new Whittle shells have lowered the overall strip ratio to 6.3 and we feel confident that this ratio can be further reduced with the upcoming detailed engineered pit shells. We are particularly pleased that the global mineral inventory remains at a strong combined number, allowing for additional potential upside in a rising gold price environment."
Table 1 - Undiluted resource estimates within US$1,250
Whittle pit shell1
Deposit | Category | Grade (g/t) | Tonnes (M)2 | Oz Au3 |
Norlartic | Measured | - | - | - |
Norlartic | Indicated | 1.30 | 8.6 | 358,000 |
Norlartic | M+I | 1.30 | 8.6 | 358,000 |
Norlartic | Inferred | - | - | - |
Marban | Measured | 1.47 | 7.7 | 363,000 |
Marban | Indicated | 1.13 | 20.8 | 758,000 |
Marban | M+I | 1.23 | 28.4 | 1,121,000 |
Marban | Inferred | 1.15 | 3.6 | 134,000 |
All | Measured | 1.47 | 7.7 | 363,000 |
All | Indicated | 1.18 | 29.4 | 1,117,000 |
All | M+I | 1.24 | 37.0 | 1,479,000 |
All | Inferred | 1.15 | 3.6 | 134,000 |
1 Cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au and average strip ratio of 6.29 (excluding overburden). |
2 Rounded to nearest 1 million, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
3 Rounded to nearest 1 thousand, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
Sensitivity of the undiluted in-pit resource (based on variable minimum cut-off grades) is as follows:
Table 2a - Sensitivity of undiluted resource estimates to cut-off, within US$1,250 Whittle pit shell
Marban Deposit
Measured+Indicated | Inferred | |||||
Cut-off | Grade (g/t) |
Tonnes (M)1 |
Oz Au2 | Grade (g/t) |
Tonnes (M)1 |
Oz Au2 |
0.30 | 1.13 | 31.9 | 1,160,000 | 1.07 | 4.04 | 139,000 |
0.40 | 1.23 | 28.4 | 1,121,000 | 1.15 | 3.60 | 134,000 |
0.50 | 1.33 | 25.0 | 1,071,000 | 1.27 | 3.09 | 126,000 |
0.60 | 1.45 | 21.7 | 1,013,000 | 1.39 | 2.65 | 118,000 |
0.70 | 1.58 | 18.8 | 952,000 | 1.51 | 2.28 | 111,000 |
0.80 | 1.71 | 16.2 | 889,000 | 1.62 | 2.00 | 104,000 |
0.90 | 1.85 | 14.0 | 829,000 | 1.75 | 1.71 | 96,000 |
1.00 | 1.99 | 12.1 | 771,000 | 1.87 | 1.48 | 89,000 |
1 Rounded to nearest 1 million, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
2 Rounded to nearest 1 thousand, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
Table 2b - Sensitivity of undiluted resource estimates to cut-off, within US$1,250 Whittle pit shell
Norlartic Deposit
Measured+Indicated | Inferred | |||||
Cut-off | Grade (g/t) |
Tonnes (M)1 |
Oz Au2 | Grade (g/t) |
Tonnes (M)1 |
Oz Au2 |
0.30 | 1.23 | 9.28 | 366,000 | - | - | - |
0.40 | 1.30 | 8.59 | 358,000 | - | - | - |
0.50 | 1.38 | 7.83 | 348,000 | - | - | - |
0.60 | 1.48 | 7.02 | 333,000 | - | - | - |
0.70 | 1.57 | 6.28 | 318,000 | - | - | - |
0.80 | 1.68 | 5.57 | 301,000 | - | - | - |
0.90 | 1.78 | 4.95 | 284,000 | - | - | - |
1.00 | 1.89 | 4.38 | 267,000 | - | - | - |
1 Rounded to nearest 1 million, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
2 Rounded to nearest 1 thousand, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
Table 2c - Sensitivity of undiluted resource estimates to cut-off, within US$1,250 Whittle pit shell
Marban+Norlartic Deposits
Measured+Indicated | Inferred | |||||
Cut-off | Grade (g/t) |
Tonnes (M)1 |
Oz Au2 | Grade (g/t) |
Tonnes (M)1 |
Oz Au2 |
0.30 | 1.15 | 41.2 | 1,526,000 | 1.07 | 4.04 | 139,000 |
0.40 | 1.24 | 37.0 | 1,479,000 | 1.15 | 3.60 | 134,000 |
0.50 | 1.35 | 32.8 | 1,419,000 | 1.27 | 3.09 | 126,000 |
0.60 | 1.46 | 28.7 | 1,346,000 | 1.39 | 2.65 | 118,000 |
0.70 | 1.58 | 25.1 | 1,270,000 | 1.51 | 2.28 | 111,000 |
0.80 | 1.71 | 21.8 | 1,190,000 | 1.62 | 2.00 | 104,000 |
0.90 | 1.84 | 18.9 | 1,113,000 | 1.75 | 1.71 | 96,000 |
1.00 | 1.97 | 16.5 | 1,038,000 | 1.87 | 1.48 | 89,000 |
1 Rounded to nearest 1 million, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
2 Rounded to nearest 1 thousand, which may cause apparent discrepancies. |
Global mineral inventories are not pit-constrained and, for reporting purposes here, represent mineralization extending to a depth of 400 metres below surface for the Marban deposit and 200 metres below surface for the Norlartic deposit. Both deposits are open at depth. Global M&I mineral inventories currently stand at 1.83 million ounces at an average grade of 1.20 g/t Au and the global inferred mineral inventory stands at 0.40 million ounces at an average grade of 1.03 g/t Au:
Table 3 - Global Mineral Inventory Estimates at 0.4 g/t lower cut-off
Deposit | Category | Grade (g/t) | Tonnes (M) | kOz Au |
Norlartic | Measured | 0.00 | 0 | 0 |
Norlartic | Indicated | 1.26 | 9.95 | 402 |
Norlartic | M+I | 1.26 | 9.95 | 402 |
Norlartic | Inferred | 0.78 | 0.38 | 9 |
Marban | Measured | 1.45 | 8.52 | 398 |
Marban | Indicated | 1.10 | 29.1 | 1,030 |
Marban | M+I | 1.18 | 37.6 | 1,428 |
Marban | Inferred | 1.04 | 11.8 | 396 |
All | Measured | 1.45 | 8.53 | 398 |
All | Indicated | 1.14 | 39.1 | 1,432 |
All | M+I | 1.20 | 47.6 | 1,830 |
All | Inferred | 1.03 | 12.2 | 405 |
Details on the parameters of the resource estimates are as follows:
Parameter | Unit | Value |
Gold price | US$/oz | 1250 |
Royalties | % | 3.0% |
Refining cost | US$/oz | 3.75 |
Milling Rate | Tpd | 10,000 |
Processing cost | US$/t milled | 10.60 |
Administration | US$/t milled | 0.75 |
Sustaining capital | US$/t milled | 0.94 |
Total ore cost | US$/t milled | 12.29 |
Recovery | % | 89.0% |
Cut-off grade | g/t Au | 0.40 |
Base mining cost rock | US$/t mined | 1.88 |
Incr. bench cost | US$/bench | 0.02 |
Mining cost overburden | US$/t mined | 1.50 |
Density overburden | t/m3 | 2.0 |
Pit slopes N-E-W walls | degrees | 50 |
Pit slopes south walls | degrees | 45 |
Qualified Persons
Mr. Elzéar Belzile, Eng. of Belzile Solutions Inc. (global resource estimate) and is independent "Qualified Person", as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), responsible for the technical information reported herein, including verification of the data disclosed. Mr. Thomas L. Dyer, P.E. of Mine Development Associates is also independent "Qualified Person" and is responsible for Whittle pit optimizations. Mr. Yan Ducharme, P. Geo. and Mr. Robert Wares, P. Geo., are "Qualified Persons" (as defined in NI 43-101) internal to Oban who have reviewed and approved the resource estimates and the technical contents of this news release.
About Oban Mining Corporation
Oban is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Oban holds a 100% in the high-grade Windfall Lake gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Québec and holds a 100% undivided interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area (82,400 hectares), a 100% interest in the Marban project located in the heart of Québec's prolific Abitibi gold mining district, and properties in the Larder Lake Mining Division in northeast Ontario, including the Jonpol and Garrcon deposits on the Garrison property, the Buffonta past producing mine and the Gold Pike mine property. The Corporation also holds interests and options in a number of additional properties in northern Ontario. Oban is well financed with approximately $74 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Cautionary Notes Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources
This news release uses the terms measured, indicated and inferred resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not economic mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. In addition, inferred resources are considered too geologically speculative to have any economic considerations applied to them. 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 or economic studies except for Preliminary Assessment as defined under NI 43-101. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about resource estimates, the Marban and Norlartic deposits, pending drilling, ongoing drill program, potential mineralization, the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic, the ability to complete any proposed exploration activities and the results of such activities; the continuity or extension of any mineralization; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Oban, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Oban to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to property interests; ability of Oban to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Oban cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Oban nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Oban does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.
Contact: John Burzynski
President and Chief Executive Officer
(416) 363-8653