B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) (“B2Gold” or
the “Company”) is pleased to announce positive exploration drilling
results from its 2024 drilling campaign at the Goose Project, part
of the Back River Gold District in Nunavut, Canada. All dollar
figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.
For 2024, B2Gold approved a $28 million
exploration budget to complete approximately 25,000 meters (“m”) of
drilling on the Back River Gold District, including confirmation
drilling at the Umwelt deposit, as well as exploration drilling at
several Goose Project regional targets that were developed based on
structural modelling and geophysical re-processing.
As of November 7, 2024, B2Gold had completed
25,126 m of drilling over 68 drill holes at the Goose Project,
including 14,480 m over 40 drill holes at the Umwelt deposit, 3,899
m over 14 drill holes at the Llama deposit area, 6,610 m over 13
exploration target drill holes, and 137 m over one metallurgical
hole at the Goose Main deposit. Significant drill hole locations
from 2024 are shown on the map in Figure 1.
Goose Project Drill
Results Highlights
- Exploration drilling
intersected high-grade mineralization 1,000 m west and down plunge
of the Goose Main deposit at the Goose Project’s Nuvuyak
deposit
- Drill hole 24GSE-683Z1 returned
6.39 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold over 28.80 m from 982.20 m,
including a higher-grade interval of 23.49 g/t gold over 6.45 m and
4.66 g/t gold over 20.94 m from 1,037.16 m, including 8.60 g/t gold
over 9.62 m; and
- This result demonstrates the
continuity of high-grade zones within the Nuvuyak deposit by
extending high-grade gold mineralization approximately 150 m to the
north-northwest.
-
Exploration drilling also intersected high-grade
mineralization at the Mammoth target 450 m up plunge of the Nuvuyak
deposit towards the Goose Main deposit
- Mammoth drill hole 24GSE-687Z1
returned 17.45 g/t gold over 10.96 m from 837.14 m, including a
higher-grade interval of 68.61 g/t gold over 2.51 m;
- Mammoth drilling tested down plunge
of the fold between the Nuvuyak deposit and the Hook target;
and
- This result demonstrates that the
Nuvuyak and Mammoth zones have strong potential for future
underground mining.
- The
Nuvuyak deposit and Mammoth target are not included in the existing
Goose Project mine plan; these exploration results demonstrate
potential to further increase Mineral Resources and extend the mine
life at the Goose Project
-
Drill results
for infill and
mine development at
the Goose
Project’s Umwelt deposit
confirm the
continuity of
high-grade gold
mineralization, with
several drill
holes returning intercepts
with higher gold
grades and
widths than
predicted by the existing
mineral resource model
- Drill hole 24GSE-671 returned 27.28
g/t gold over 11.10 m from 457.80 m;
- Drill hole 24GSE-675 returned 19.63
g/t gold over 15.95 m from 389.85 m;
- Drill hole 24GSE-677Z3 returned
9.27 g/t gold over 13.58 m from 664.25 m;
- Drill hole 24GSE-681 returned 11.18
g/t gold over 15.50 m from 779.45 m;
- Drill hole 24GSE-684B returned
29.49 g/t gold over 22.79 m from 332.25 m; and
- Drill hole 24GSE-685 returned 10.51
g/t gold over 21.45 m from 306.00 m.
-
Exploration drilling intersected high-grade gold
mineralization 530 m down plunge from the estimated open pit
boundary at the Goose Project’s Llama deposit
- Drill hole 24GSE-663 returned 14.34
g/t gold over 27.95 m from 406.05 m, including a higher-grade
interval of 54.17 g/t gold over 6.00 m and 205.00 g/t gold over
0.80 m, at a vertical depth of 370 m, which tested an area of
limited drilling 530 m down plunge from the Llama open pit;
and
- This result demonstrates the down
plunge continuity of gold grades and widths of these mineralized
structures, and the Llama deposit remains open at depth.
Figure 1. Goose Project Drill Hole
Locations.
Figure 1 is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed2d9455-caf1-48af-b959-515f573c3805
Goose Project
Exploration
The Goose Project consists of five known
deposits with existing mineral resources, Umwelt, Llama, Goose,
Echo and Nuvuyak, which occur along a strike length of eight
kilometers (“km”). The Company believes that exploration upside
exists on all known deposits that are open at depth, as well as
several zones of interest that remain relatively untested within
the footprint of the favorable host banded iron formation (“BIF”)
stratigraphy. At Goose, the BIF extends over 10 km in a folded
package up to 1.5 km wide hosted within a northwesterly to westerly
striking, steeply-dipping belt of folded, clastic sediments.
Ongoing structural and data review has formed the basis of the 2024
exploration season that has drill tested several zones of
interest.
The Umwelt deposit is the single largest deposit
at the Goose Project and will be a significant contributor to
initial production. At the Umwelt deposit, 2024 drilling finished
with 14,480 m completed over 40 drill holes with gold assays
received for 34 of the 40 drill holes. Implementation of
directional core drilling technology (Devico) has added accuracy
and cost efficiency to the program of deep and strategic drilling.
Drilling was designed to increase confidence in the geometry and
continuity of high-grade mineralization below the planned open
pits. Drilling has shown the intersection of steeply dipping
brittle-ductile high strain zones and fold-thickened BIF is the
primary control on gold mineralization.
Significant 2024 drill results from the Umwelt
deposit at the Goose Project include:
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
Au (g/t) |
Au
(g/t)Capped1 |
24GSE671 |
457.80 |
468.90 |
11.10 |
27.28 |
21.14 |
Incl |
464.20 |
468.30 |
4.10 |
50.97 |
34.36 |
Incl |
465.00 |
466.00 |
1.00 |
112.00 |
50.00 |
and |
478.85 |
506.95 |
28.10 |
4.45 |
4.28 |
Incl |
490.35 |
496.10 |
5.75 |
14.33 |
13.50 |
24GSE673Z1 |
925.00 |
939.20 |
14.20 |
7.32 |
7.11 |
Incl |
936.25 |
939.20 |
2.95 |
23.57 |
22.57 |
24GSE675 |
389.85 |
405.80 |
15.95 |
19.63 |
16.65 |
Incl |
390.80 |
396.71 |
5.91 |
32.76 |
N/A |
Incl |
401.34 |
404.84 |
3.50 |
26.25 |
26.25 |
24GSE677Z3 |
664.25 |
677.83 |
13.58 |
9.27 |
7.79 |
Incl |
667.45 |
669.70 |
2.25 |
42.72 |
33.79 |
24GSE680Z1 |
889.93 |
911.37 |
21.44 |
7.58 |
6.96 |
Incl |
893.15 |
897.35 |
4.20 |
22.94 |
19.78 |
Incl |
905.90 |
910.70 |
4.80 |
9.40 |
9.40 |
24GSE681 |
779.45 |
794.95 |
15.50 |
11.18 |
10.62 |
Incl |
779.45 |
780.15 |
0.70 |
26.10 |
26.10 |
Incl |
790.05 |
792.80 |
2.75 |
33.36 |
30.22 |
24GSE684B |
332.25 |
355.04 |
22.79 |
29.49 |
13.68 |
Incl |
332.25 |
333.50 |
0.70 |
301.00 |
50.00 |
Incl |
343.35 |
346.65 |
3.30 |
83.86 |
40.62 |
Incl |
352.00 |
355.04 |
3.04 |
45.67 |
31.88 |
24GSE685 |
306.00 |
327.45 |
21.45 |
10.51 |
6.00 |
Incl |
319.80 |
325.30 |
5.50 |
34.22 |
16.66 |
Incl |
323.25 |
325.30 |
0.70 |
188.00 |
50.00 |
24GSE685Z1 |
310.90 |
328.05 |
17.15 |
9.49 |
9.49 |
Incl |
319.95 |
324.70 |
4.75 |
27.24 |
27.24 |
Notes:1. Capped at 50 g/t gold2. Drill intercepts are
perpendicular to the zones so true widths are very similar to
reported drill lengths
At the Llama deposit, which outcrops 1,500 m
north of the Umwelt deposit, a total of 1,428 m was drilled over
seven drill holes (including three abandoned holes) in areas within
the Inferred Mineral Resource boundary below the open pit. Drill
hole 24GSE-668B returned 19.65 g/t gold over 8.20 m from 158.75 m,
including a higher-grade interval of 37.13 g/t gold over 4.00
m.
In addition, a total of 2,471 m over seven drill
holes (with two currently in progress) are testing areas down
plunge from the planned Llama open pit. Drill hole 24GSE-663, which
tested an area of limited drilling 530 m down plunge from the
planned Llama open pit, returned 14.34 g/t gold over 27.95 m from
406.05 m at a vertical depth of 370 m, including higher-grade
intervals of 54.17 g/t gold over 6.00 m and 205.00 g/t gold over
0.80 m. The drill result demonstrates the down plunge continuity of
gold grades and widths of these mineralized structures, and the
Llama deposit continues to remain open at depth. In addition, two
drill holes totaling 1,241 m were completed 1,440 m down dip from
Llama in the Llama Extension area, with assays pending. One more
drill hole will be completed in 2024 at the Llama Extension
area.
Significant 2024 drill results from the Llama
deposit at the Goose Project include:
Hole ID |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
Au (g/t) |
Au
(g/t)Capped1 |
24GSE663 |
406.05 |
434.00 |
27.95 |
14.34 |
9.91 |
Incl |
426.50 |
432.50 |
6.00 |
54.17 |
33.50 |
Incl |
429.35 |
430.15 |
0.80 |
205.00 |
50.00 |
24GSE668B |
158.75 |
166.95 |
8.20 |
19.65 |
13.50 |
Incl |
160.75 |
164.75 |
4.00 |
37.13 |
24.53 |
Incl |
163.00 |
163.80 |
0.80 |
113.00 |
50.00 |
Notes:1. Capped at 50 g/t gold2. Drill intercepts are
perpendicular to the zones so true widths are very similar to
reported drill lengths
Goose Project Exploration Drilling
A total of 6,610 m over 13 drill holes have been
drilled at Goose Project exploration targets including Nuvuyak,
Mammoth, Stovepipe, Muskox, Wing, Boomerang, Goose Neck South, Hook
and Slingshot. Drilling is ongoing at the Mammoth and Hook targets.
Results have been received for Nuvuyak, Mammoth and Wing, and are
pending for the other targets.
Highlights to date include encouraging results
at Nuvuyak and Mammoth. Nuvuyak drill hole 24GSE-683Z1 returned
6.39 g/t gold over 28.80 m from 982.20 m, including a higher-grade
interval of 23.49 g/t gold over 6.45 m and 4.66 g/t gold over 20.94
m from 1,037.16 m, including 8.60 g/t gold over 9.62 m. Nuvuyak is
located approximately 500 m west and 1,000 m down plunge of the
Goose Main deposit and demonstrates the continuity of high-grade
zones within the Nuvuyak deposit by extending high-grade gold
mineralization approximately 150 m to the north-northwest. The
existing Inferred Mineral Resource estimate at Nuvuyak is 2.42
million tonnes grading 7.50 g/t gold for a total of 583,000 ounces
of gold.
Mammoth drill hole 24GSE-687Z1 returned 17.45
g/t gold over 10.96 m from 837.14 m, including a higher-grade
interval of 68.61 g/t gold over 2.51 m. This encouraging intercept,
located 450 m up plunge of Nuvuyak towards the Goose Main deposit,
shows the Nuvuyak and Mammoth zones have strong potential for
future underground mining.
Significant 2024 drill results from the Goose
Project exploration drilling include:
Hole ID |
Area |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
Au (g/t) |
Au
(g/t)Capped1 |
24GSE683Z1 |
Nuvuyak |
982.20 |
1,011.00 |
28.80 |
6.39 |
6.17 |
Incl |
Nuvuyak |
1,004.55 |
1,011.00 |
6.45 |
23.49 |
22.49 |
and |
Nuvuyak |
1,037.16 |
1,058.10 |
20.94 |
4.66 |
4.66 |
Incl |
Nuvuyak |
1,037.16 |
1,046.78 |
9.62 |
8.60 |
8.60 |
24GSE687Z1 |
Mammoth |
820.40 |
823.45 |
3.05 |
8.32 |
8.32 |
and |
Mammoth |
837.14 |
848.10 |
10.96 |
17.45 |
8.57 |
Incl |
Mammoth |
837.65 |
840.16 |
2.51 |
68.61 |
29.83 |
Notes:1. Capped at 50 g/t gold
Back River Gold District 2024 Surface
Exploration Program
During 2024, regional target definition was
supplemented through an integrated surface exploration program
comprising of mapping, prospecting, geophysics and the collection
of 1,798 till samples, 35 trenches (216 samples) and 285 rock
samples in six properties including Boot, Boulder, Del, BB13,
Needle and Beech. See Figure 2 for an overview of the Back River
Gold District properties.
Figure 2. Back River Gold District
Properties.
Figure 2 is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b05478a1-4c28-4e98-903e-5b71994fc042
Geophysics consisted of ground Induced
Polarization (3D-IP) in Boot and Boulder and heli-magnetics in
BB13, Needle and Beech as well as re-processing of old geophysical
data. In addition, a BHTEM (borehole transient electromagnetics)
survey was completed over 3,800 m across five drill holes including
three at the Umwelt deposit and one each at Nuvuyak and Mammoth.
Results are being processed.
This work has generated new regional and
near-mine targets that will be further evaluated and drill tested
in 2025.
Quality
Assurance/Quality Control
on Sample
Collection and
Assaying
The primary laboratory utilized for the Back
River Gold District drilling program in 2024 is ALS laboratory in
North Vancouver, Canada. Core samples are prepared at the ALS
preparation facility in Yellowknife with representative pulp
samples sent to the ALS North Vancouver laboratory for gold
analysis. Gold is analyzed by a fire assay/atomic absorption
spectrometry (FA/AAS) finish using a 50 gram subsample of the coin
pulp. FAs were finished with AAS, and samples with higher grades
that exceeded the maximum detection limit of AAS received a
supplemental gravimetric (“GRAV”) finish. All samples over 3,000
parts per billion are analyzed by FA/GRAV using a 50 gram subsample
of the coin pulp. Bureau Veritas Minerals (BV) in Vancouver,
Canada, is the umpire laboratory.
Quality assurance and quality control procedures
include the systematic insertion of blanks and standards into the
core sample strings. The results of the control samples are
evaluated on a regular basis with batches re-analyzed and/or
resubmitted as needed. All results stated in this announcement have
passed B2Gold’s quality assurance and quality control
protocols.
About B2Gold
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold
producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007,
today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the
Philippines, the Goose Project under construction in northern
Canada and numerous development and exploration projects in various
countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland. B2Gold forecasts
total consolidated gold production of between 800,000 and 870,000
ounces in 2024.
Qualified Persons
Andrew Brown, P.Geo., Vice President,
Exploration, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the
scientific and technical information related to exploration and
mineral resource matters contained in this news release.
ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.
“Clive T.
Johnson”President and Chief Executive
Officer
Source: B2Gold Corp.
The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC
neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this
news release.
Production results and production guidance
presented in this news release reflect total production at the
mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our
Annual Information Form dated March 14, 2024 for a discussion of
our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.
This news release includes certain
"forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
(collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of
applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation,
including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates;
and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and
operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and
cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and
operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and AISC,
and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis; future or
estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or
sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore
processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling,
development, construction, permitting and other activities or
achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation:
remaining well positioned for continued strong operational and
financial performance in 2024; projected gold production, cash
operating costs and AISC on a consolidated and mine by mine basis
in 2024; total consolidated gold production of between 800,000 and
870,000 ounces (including 20,000 attributable ounces from Calibre)
in 2024, with cash operating costs of between $835 and $895 per
ounce and AISC of between $1,420 and $1,480 per ounce; B2Gold's
continued prioritization of developing the Goose Project in a
manner that recognizes Indigenous input and concerns and brings
long-term socio-economic benefits to the area; the Goose Project
producing in excess of 310,000 ounces of gold per year from 2026 to
2030; and the potential for first gold production in the second
quarter of 2025 from the Goose Project. All statements in this news
release that address events or developments that we expect to occur
in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are statements that are not historical facts and are
generally, although not always, identified by words such as
"expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential",
"schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe"
and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that
events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or
"might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond
B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to:
the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes
in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and
mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource
estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates;
actual production, development plans and costs differing materially
from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the
ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or
authorizations required for mining activities; environmental
regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations
associated with mining activities; climate change and climate
change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and
identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of
companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate
new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability
of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential
restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and
the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in
foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign
laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia,
the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes
in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local
ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally;
remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure;
fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs
necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in
necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and
country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and
the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties
and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making
authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns
the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the
dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain
skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss;
adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk;
competition with other mining companies; community support for
B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the
halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small
scale miners; failures of information systems or information
security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal
controls over financial reporting as required by law, including
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with
anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures;
social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre
having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in
Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre;
as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail
under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual
Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and
B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be
viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the
"Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may
affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on
the applicable assumptions and factors management considers
reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information
available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors
include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to
B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations,
including: development and exploration activities; the timing,
extent, duration and economic viability of such operations,
including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the
accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts,
studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve
estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign
exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary
approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future
obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable
terms when required; the current and future social, economic and
political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally
associated with the mining industry.
B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on
the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current
expectations regarding future events and operating performance and
speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any
obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or
management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other
than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results, performance or achievements could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold
will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Mineral Reserve
and Resource EstimatesThe disclosure in this news release was
prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101,
which differs significantly from the requirements of the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and resource and
reserve information contained or referenced in this news release
may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by public
companies subject to the technical disclosure requirements of the
SEC. Historical results or feasibility models presented herein are
not guarantees or expectations of future performance.
For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com or contact:
Michael McDonald
VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
+1 604-681-8371
investor@b2gold.com
Cherry DeGeer
Director, Corporate Communications
+1 604-681-8371
investor@b2gold.com
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