- GMIN to acquire the CentroGold Project in Brazil's prospective Gurupi Gold Belt from
BHP
- CentroGold contains 1.7 million ounces of indicated and 0.6
million ounces of inferred JORC-compliant gold resource that is
open for expansion in all directions and at depth
- District-scale land package comprises 47 tenements covering
~1,900 km2 and offers potential for multiple new
discoveries
- CentroGold to provide long-term growth following Tocantinzinho
ramp-up and Oko West
development
- Accretive transaction adds to GMIN's project pipeline with
no upfront cost
BROSSARD, QC, Sept. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - G Mining Ventures
Corp. ("GMIN" or the "Corporation") (TSX: GMIN)
(OTCQX: GMINF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a
purchase and sale agreement to acquire tenements in the Gurupi Gold
Belt from wholly-owned subsidiaries of BHP Group Limited
("BHP") (ASX: BHP, NYSE: BHP, LSE: BHP, JSE: BHG). This
includes the CentroGold Project ("CentroGold" or the
"Project"). In consideration for the acquisition, GMIN will
grant BHP a 1.0% NSR royalty on the first 1 million ounces of gold
produced at the tenements and a 1.5% NSR royalty on gold production
thereafter (the "Transaction").
CentroGold is in the state of Maranhão, located in northern
Brazil, and comprises 47 tenements
encompassing ~1,900 square kilometers ("km2").
The Project hosts multiple identified gold targets along a +80 km
mineralized trend, including the Blanket, Contact and Chega Tudo
open pit deposits, which currently host 2.3 million ounces of
JORC-compliant gold resources and remain open for
expansion. In July 2019, Oz
Minerals Limited ("Oz Minerals"), which was later acquired
by BHP in 2023, released a pre-feasibility study on the Blanket and
Contact deposits. The pre-feasibility study envisioned a 10-year
mine life with an average annual gold production of 100,000 to
120,000 ounces per year, with 190,000 to 210,000 ounces of gold per
year in the first two years of production.
GMIN views the Project as an advanced-stage exploration asset
with extensive exploration and engineering work completed to date,
which includes over 135,000 meters of exploration core drilling.
The Project's size, scope, and development timeline will be
redesigned to suit GMIN's long-term growth plans, ensuring
resources are allocated in line with our strategy of maximizing
value for all stakeholders. GMIN intends to build on CentroGold's
existing geologic model and redesign the Project from first
principles to better fit today's new permitting requirements and
economic environment. Shortly after the Transaction's closing, GMIN
plans to update the JORC-compliant gold resource to meet National
Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
("NI 43-101"). The current corporate priorities that will
take precedence are ramping up the Tocantinzinho Gold Mine in
Brazil to nameplate capacity and
advancing the Oko West Gold Project in Guyana toward a construction decision in
H2-25.
Louis-Pierre Gignac, President
& Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are excited to
acquire another prospective project and begin to grow into the
multi-asset growth company we always envisioned to become.
CentroGold boasts an attractive starting resource base on a large
land package that covers ~1,900 km2 with significant
exploration upside, located within a proven geological belt. This
acquisition rounds out a high-quality portfolio of gold assets,
which includes a producing mine in Tocantinzinho, a development
project in Oko West, and a
high-potential exploration project in CentroGold. I believe this
cash-flowing and high-growth portfolio offers our shareholders
tremendous opportunity for value creation."
Dušan Petković, Senior Vice
President, Corporate Strategy, commented: "The acquisition
of CentroGold perfectly aligns with our strategy of acquiring
high-quality, undervalued assets that GMIN is uniquely qualified to
unlock. 2024 has been a transformational year for GMIN, headlined
by two acquisitions that have grown our gold resource base from 2.1
million ounces measured and indicated to 8.1 million ounces, and
from 50 thousand inferred to 2.2 million ounces, creating an
exciting pipeline of near-term and longer-dated growth projects.
Looking forward, we are excited to demonstrate and realize our
asset base's immense potential."
CentroGold Highlights
- High-quality resource base open for expansion – 1.7
million ounces of indicated and 0.6 million ounces of inferred
JORC-compliant gold resource across three open pit deposits that
are open for expansion
- Large prospective land package – ~1,900
km2 land package with multiple identified gold targets,
which remain under-explored, with existing resource occupying only
~8% of the total land package
- District-scale potential – Property encompasses +80
km mineralized trend covering +80% of the total prospective Gurupi
geological province
- Opportunity for tier 1 project – A pre-feasibility
study was completed by Oz Minerals in July
2019 that outlines the potential for a compelling initial
project with high operating margin and return
- Leverages GMIN's expertise – GMIN's management team
is ideally positioned to unlock CentroGold's value, leveraging
in-country and global community engagement experience to advance
Project permitting
- Fortifies GMIN Growth Pipeline – Ideally sequenced
to provide long-term growth following Tocantinzinho ramp-up,
brownfield exploration, and Oko West
development and construction
Blanket & Contact Reserve & Resource Estimate
|
Tonnage
|
Grade
|
Contained
|
|
Reserve &
Resource Estimate
|
(000 t
Material)
|
(g/t Au)
|
(000 oz Au)
|
|
Proven & Probable
Reserves
|
20,000
|
1.7
|
1,100
|
|
Indicated
Resources
|
21,000
|
1.9
|
1,300
|
|
Inferred
Resources
|
7,300
|
1.8
|
410
|
|
Total
Resources
|
28,300
|
1.9
|
1,710
|
|
Note:
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
|
Chega Tudo Resource Estimate
|
Tonnage
|
Grade
|
Contained
|
|
Resource
Estimate
|
(000 t
Material)
|
(g/t Au)
|
(000 oz Au)
|
|
Indicated
Resources
|
8,200
|
1.6
|
425
|
|
Inferred
Resources
|
3,100
|
1.5
|
152
|
|
Total
Resources
|
11,300
|
1.6
|
577
|
|
Note:
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
|
Transaction Summary
GMIN has agreed to purchase the CentroGold Project from BHP in
exchange for a 1.0% NSR royalty on the first 1 million ounces of
gold produced at the Project and 1.5% NSR on gold production
thereafter.
The Transaction is expected to close in Q1-25 and is subject to
customary closing conditions, including BHP receiving the
appropriate approvals from the Vietnamese and Brazilian Competition
bodies.
Advisors and Counsel
RBC Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to GMIN and
its Board of Directors. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and
Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados are
acting as GMIN's legal advisors.
Qualified Person
Louis-Pierre Gignac, President
& Chief Executive Officer of GMIN, a QP as defined in NI
43-101, has reviewed the press release on behalf of the Corporation
and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this press
release.
About G Mining Ventures Corp.
G Mining Ventures Corp. (TSX: GMIN) (OTCQX: GMINF) is a mining
company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of
precious metal projects to capitalize on the value uplift from
successful mine development. GMIN is well-positioned to grow into
the next mid-tier precious metals producer by leveraging strong
access to capital and proven development expertise. GMIN is
currently anchored by the Tocantinzinho Gold Project in
Brazil and Oko West Project in
Guyana, both mining friendly and
prospective jurisdictions.
Additional Information
For further information on GMIN, please visit the website at
www.gmin.gold.
Notes
1.
|
For details on the
estimation of mineral resources and reserves, including the key
assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral
resources and mineral reserves, Canadian investors should refer to
the ASX JORC Code Technical Reports for CentroGold and on file at
www.asx.com.au and the Oz Minerals 2020 Annual
Report.
|
2.
|
See Oz Minerals
December 2020 Quarterly Report Presentation.
|
3.
|
See technical report
titled "Gurupi province potential strengthened on CentroGold
Pre-Feasibility Study" dated July 11, 2019 and report titled
"CentroGold Project Combined 'Blanket' and 'Contact' Mineral
Resource as at 06 May 2019 and Ore Reserve as at 24 June 2019
Statement".
|
4.
|
See Avanco Copper
Chega Tudo ASX technical report titled "CentroGold Resources
Increase 45% and Exceeds 1.8 Million Ounces" dated November 13
2017.
|
5.
|
Numbers may not add
due to rounding.
|
6.
|
Mineral resources
which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
|
7.
|
Mineral resources
are inclusive of mineral reserves.
|
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
certain securities laws and are based on expectations and
projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking
statements contained in this press release include, without
limitation, those related to (i) GMIN closing the Transaction in Q1
2025; (ii) CentroGold's resources being open for expansion in all
directions and at depth; (iii) CentroGold hosting multiple gold
targets; (iv) CentroGold's prospective land package and exploration
upside; (v) the conclusions of the July
2019 pre-feasibility study; (vi) GMIN's plans to allocate
the CentroGold resources in line with its strategy and build on
CentroGold's existing geological model to redesign it; (vii) GMIN's
plans to update CentroGold's existing resource to NI 43-101
standards; (viii) GMIN's priorities to ramp up the Tocantinzinho
mine to nameplate capacity and to advance Oko West toward a construction decision in H2
2025; (ix) the quoted expectations of GMIN's President &
Chief Executive Officer and those of GMIN's Senior Vice President,
Corporate Strategy; and * more generally, the two
tables outlining the resource estimates" as well as the sections
entitled "CentroGold Highlights" and "About G Mining Ventures
Corp.".
Forward-looking statements are based on expectations,
estimates and projections as of the time of this press release.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of
estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the
Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently
subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions
may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions include,
without limitation, those relating to the price of gold and
currency exchange rates, those outlined in the 2019 pre-feasibility
study and those underlying the items listed on the above sections
entitled "CentroGold Highlights" and "About G Mining Ventures
Corp.".
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or
indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking
statements. There can be no assurance that, notably but without
limitation, the Corporation will (i) CentroGold will provide
long-term growth and prove an accretive transaction, (ii) any of
CentroGold's targets will lead to additional resources and
eventually to gold production, (iii) the expected mine life and
annual gold production indicated in the 2019 pre-feasibility study
will materialize, (iv) GMIN's expectations regarding CentroGold, as
set out in the section entitled "CentroGold Highlights" will
materialize, (v) GMIN will achieve its stated objectives for
Tocantinzinho and Oko West, or (vi)
use TZ and Oko West to grow GMIN
into the next intermediate producer, as future events could differ
materially from what is currently anticipated by the Corporation.
In addition, there can be no assurance that Brazil and/or Guyana will remain mining friendly and
prospective jurisdictions.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and
risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other
forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions
do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are
provided for the purpose of providing information about
management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements as a number of important risk factors and future events
could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the
beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates,
assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking
statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this
press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and
those made in the Corporation's other filings with the securities
regulators of Canada including,
but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the relevant
sections of the Corporation's (i) Annual Information Form dated
March 27, 2024, for the financial
year ended December 31, 2023, and
(ii) Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions
that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results
is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time
to time. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any
material difference between subsequent actual events and such
forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by
applicable law.
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SOURCE G Mining Ventures Corp