Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) today updated
its mineral resource estimate for its wholly-owned Fourmile project
in Nevada, resulting in a 192% increase in indicated resources (1.4
million ounces grading 11.76g/t), a 137% increase in inferred
resources (6.4 million ounces grading 14.1g/t) and a 35% increase
in grade relative to Barrick’s 2023 year-end mineral resource
estimate1.
The increases reflect the addition of 25 new
drill holes to the 2023 mineral resource estimate across the
southernmost portion of the orebody, immediately adjacent to the
Goldrush project at Cortez which is part of the Nevada Gold Mines
joint venture (NGM).
Speaking today at Barrick’s Investor Day in New
York, president and chief executive Mark Bristow said that the
Fourmile project was a truly world-class asset and could be
compared to the original Goldstrike deposit, the foundational asset
of Barrick which is now part of NGM’s Carlin.
“Our strategy of investing in organic growth
through exploration and mineral resource management has set us
apart from the industry. We believe in creating real value through
discovery and development rather than relying on an increase in the
gold price to justify high-premium mergers and acquisitions,” he
said.
“Since the formation of the NGM joint venture in
2019, we have added more than 19Moz of proven and probable mineral
reserves to the life of mine plan on a 100% basis2. This does not
yet reflect the additional exploration upside that we see today,
including Greater Leeville and Hanson in Cortez Underground,” said
Bristow.
Mineral resource management and evaluation
executive Simon Bottoms added that the updated mineral resource
estimate for Fourmile only covers approximately one-third of the
overall orebody as defined by drilling to date.
“To illustrate the potential value that a truly
world-class orebody like Fourmile has, we have completed a
preliminary economic assessment using conservative mining rates and
costs, all of which draw directly from the current Goldrush mine
plan. The results highlight the potential for annual operating cash
flows resulting from Fourmile to be more than 70% higher than the
already world-class Goldrush project3. For the next stage of the
project, we plan to start a three-year prefeasibility study in
2025, which will not only continue to define substantial resources
and reserves across the entire orebody from surface drilling, while
the northern Bullion Hill access is permitted and developed, but
will also undertake pilot autoclave and roaster test work,” Bottoms
said.
Enquiries:
President and CEOMark Bristow+1 647 205 7694+44 788 071 1386 |
Senior EVP and CFOGraham Shuttleworth+1 647 262 2095+44 779 771
1338 |
Investor and Media RelationsKathy du Plessis+44 20 7557 7738Email:
barrick@dpapr.com |
Website: www.barrick.com
Technical Information
The scientific and technical information
contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by
Craig Fiddes, SME-RM, Lead, Resource Modeling, Nevada Gold Mines;
Simon Bottoms, CGeol, MGeol, FGS, FAusIMM, Mineral Resource
Management and Evaluation Executive; John Steele, CIM, Metallurgy,
Engineering and Capital Projects Executive; and Joel Holliday,
FAusIMM, Executive Vice-President, Exploration—each a “Qualified
Person” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
All mineral reserve and mineral resource
estimates are estimated in accordance with National Instrument
43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Unless
otherwise noted, such mineral reserve and mineral resource
estimates are as of December 31, 2023 except Fourmile, which is as
of November 22, 2024.
Endnote 1
Estimated in accordance with National Instrument
43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as required
by Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
Fourmile 2024 Gold Mineral
Resources1,2,3,4,5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at November 22, 2024 |
MEASURED (M)6 |
|
INDICATED (I)6 |
|
(M) + (I)6 |
|
INFERRED7 |
|
Tonnes |
Grade |
Contained ozs |
|
Tonnes |
Grade |
Contained ozs |
|
Contained ozs |
|
Tonnes |
Grade |
Contained ozs |
Based on attributable ounces |
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
|
(Moz) |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
Fourmile underground (100%) |
— |
— |
— |
|
3.6 |
11.76 |
1.4 |
|
1.4 |
|
14 |
14.1 |
6.4 |
TOTAL |
— |
— |
— |
|
3.6 |
11.76 |
1.4 |
|
1.4 |
|
14 |
14.1 |
6.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See “Mineral Reserves and Resources Endnotes”. |
Fourmile 2023 Gold Mineral
Resources1,2,3,4,5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at December 31, 2023 |
MEASURED (M)6 |
|
INDICATED (I)6 |
|
(M) + (I)6 |
|
INFERRED7 |
|
Tonnes |
Grade |
Contained ozs |
|
Tonnes |
Grade |
Contained ozs |
|
Contained ozs |
|
Tonnes |
Grade |
Contained ozs |
Based on attributable ounces |
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
|
(Moz) |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
Fourmile underground (100%) |
— |
— |
— |
|
1.5 |
10.04 |
0.48 |
|
0.48 |
|
8.2 |
10.1 |
2.7 |
TOTAL |
— |
— |
— |
|
1.5 |
10.04 |
0.48 |
|
0.48 |
|
8.2 |
10.1 |
2.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See “Mineral Reserves and Resources Endnotes”. |
Endnote 2
Proven and probable reserve gains at Nevada Gold
Mines calculated from cumulative net change in reserves from year
end 2019 to 2023, as shown in the table below (100% basis):
Year |
P&P Reserves(Moz) |
Acquisition &
Divestments(Moz)i |
Depletion(Moz) |
Net Change(Moz) |
2019a |
48 |
- |
(4.5 |
) |
4.5 |
2020b |
45 |
- |
(4.0 |
) |
0.85 |
2021c |
50 |
0.38 |
(4.3 |
) |
9.0 |
2022d |
48 |
- |
(3.7 |
) |
1.8 |
2023e |
47 |
- |
(3.5 |
) |
2.7 |
2019 – 2023 Total |
N/A |
0.38 |
(20 |
) |
19 |
- Net impact of the asset exchange of
Lone Tree to i-80 Gold for the remaining 50% of South Arturo that
NGM did not already own.
Totals may not appear to sum correctly due to
rounding.
All estimates are estimated in accordance with
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects as required by Canadian securities regulatory
authorities.
a Estimates as of December 31, 2019, unless
otherwise noted. Proven reserves of 160 million tonnes grading
4.24 g/t, representing 22 million ounces of gold, and
Probable reserves of 410 million tonnes grading 2.02 g/t,
representing 26 million ounces of gold. Conversions may not
recalculate due to rounding.b Estimates as of December 31, 2020,
unless otherwise noted. Proven reserves of 150 million tonnes
grading 4.23g/t, representing 21 million ounces of gold, and
Probable reserves of 360 million tonnes grading 2.11g/t,
representing 24 million ounces of gold. Conversions may not
recalculate due to rounding.c Estimates as of December 31, 2021,
unless otherwise noted. Proven mineral reserves of 99 million
tonnes grading 4.82g/t, representing 15 million ounces of gold, and
Probable reserves of 420 million tonnes grading 2.58g/t,
representing 35 million ounces of gold. Conversions may not
recalculate due to rounding.d Estimates as of December 31,
2022, unless otherwise noted. Proven mineral reserves of
83 million tonnes grading 5.24g/t, representing 14 million
ounces of gold, and Probable reserves of 500 million tonnes grading
2.12g/t, representing 34 million ounces of gold. Conversions
may not recalculate due to rounding.e Estimates as of
December 31, 2023, unless otherwise noted. Proven mineral
reserves of 52 million tonnes grading 4.42g/t, representing
7.5 million ounces of gold, and Probable reserves of
530 million tonnes grading 2.35g/t, representing
40 million ounces of gold. Conversions may not recalculate due
to rounding.
Endnote 3
Fourmile financial metrics and production
metrics are based upon Barrick’s internal preliminary economic
assessment which is conceptual in nature because it 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 preliminary economic
assessment for Fourmile is based upon $1,900/oz mineable
stope optimizer. The assumptions outlined within the preliminary
economic assessment have formed the basis for the
ongoing study and are made by a Qualified
Person. Fourmile is currently 100% owned by Barrick. As
previously disclosed, Barrick anticipates Fourmile being
contributed to the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, at fair market
value, if certain criteria are met.
Mineral Reserves and Resources
Endnotes
- Mineral reserves
(“reserves”) and mineral resources (“resources”) have been
estimated as at December 31, 2023 except Fourmile, which is as
of November 22, 2024, (unless otherwise noted) in accordance with
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) as required by Canadian securities
regulatory authorities. For United States reporting purposes, the
SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the
mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose
securities are registered with the SEC under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These
amendments became effective February 25, 2019 (the “SEC
Modernization Rules”) with compliance required for the first fiscal
year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization
Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements for
mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7,
which was rescinded from and after the required compliance date of
the SEC Modernization Rules. As a result of the adoption of the SEC
Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of
“measured”, “indicated” and “inferred” mineral resources. In
addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of “proven mineral
reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” to be substantially
similar to the corresponding Canadian Institute of Mining,
Metallurgy and Petroleum definitions, as required by NI 43-101.
U.S. investors should understand that “inferred” mineral resources
have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great
uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In
addition, U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part
or all of Barrick’s mineral resources constitute or will be
converted into reserves. Mineral resource and mineral reserve
estimations have been prepared by employees of Barrick, its joint
venture partners or its joint venture operating companies, as
applicable, under the supervision Craig Fiddes, Lead, Resource
Modeling, Nevada Gold Mines and reviewed by Simon Bottoms, CGeol,
MGeol, FGS, FAusIMM, Mineral Resource Management and Evaluation
Executive. Barrick’s normal data verification procedures have been
employed in connection with the calculations. Verification
procedures include industry-standard quality control practices.
Resources have been estimated using
varying cut-off grades, depending on both the type of
mine or project, its maturity and ore types at each
property.
- All mineral
resource and mineral reserve estimates of tonnes andAu oz are
reported to the second significant digit.
- For 2024,
Fourmile mineral resources have been estimated based on an assumed
gold price of US$1,900 per ounce, and long-term average exchange
rates of 1.30 CAD/US$. For 2023, mineral resources have been
estimated based on an assumed gold price of US$1,700 per ounce, and
long-term average exchange rates of 1.30 CAD/US$.
- All mineral
resources are reported inclusive of mineral reserves.
- Mineral
resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability.
- All measured and
indicated mineral resource estimates of grade and all proven and
probable mineral reserve estimates of grade are reported to two
decimal places.
- All inferred
mineral resource estimates of grade for Au g/t, Ag g/t and Cu % are
reported to one decimal place.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Information
Certain information contained or incorporated by
reference in this press release, including any information as to
our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating
performance, constitutes “forward-looking statements”. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements. The words “progress”, “continue”,
“target”, “ramp up”, “potential”, “project”, and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular,
this press release contains forward-looking statements including,
without limitation, with respect to: Barrick’s forward-looking
production guidance, including our ten-year outlook for gold and
copper and anticipated production growth from Barrick’s organic
project pipeline and reserve replacement; our expected progress
with respect to our growth projects, including our mine extension
projects at Leeville and the Pipeline region and the ramp up at
Goldrush; our exploration strategy; the potential for Fourmile to
become a world-class asset and anticipated annual operating cash
flows from the project; Barrick’s sustainability strategy; and
expectations, regarding future price assumptions, financial
performance and other outlooks or guidance.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based
upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material
estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below
that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of
this press release in light of management’s experience and
perception of current conditions and expected developments, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic, and
competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance
should not be placed on such statements and information. Such
factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to
political instability in certain of the jurisdictions in which
Barrick operates; risks associated with projects in the early
stages of evaluation and for which additional engineering and other
analysis is required; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of
gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as diesel fuel,
natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development; changes in mineral production
performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; risks
associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets;
changes in national and local government legislation, taxation,
controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of
laws, policies and practices; expropriation or nationalization of
property and political or economic developments in Canada, the
United States, or the other jurisdictions in which the Company or
its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; risks
related to disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in
construction and mining activities, including disruptions in the
supply of key mining inputs due to the invasion of Ukraine by
Russia and conflicts in the Middle East; risk of loss due to acts
of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; risks
associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics; litigation
and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations
including loss of key employees; failure to obtain key licenses by
governmental authorities; increased costs and physical and
transition risks related to climate change, including extreme
weather events, resource shortages, emerging policies and increased
regulations related to greenhouse gas emission levels, energy
efficiency and reporting of risks; and availability and increased
costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there
are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral
exploration, development and mining, including environmental
hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations,
pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or
gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate
insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these
risks).
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies
can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers
are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in
this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual
Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial
securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of
some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the
risks that may affect Barrick’s ability to achieve the expectations
set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release.
Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required
by applicable law.
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