Antilles Gold (ASX:AAU)

Results of Updated Scoping Study for Nueva Sabana Mine, Cuba


Antilles Gold Limited (“Antilles Gold” or the “Company”) (ASX: AAU, OTCQB: ANTMF) is pleased to advise the results of the Updated Scoping Study for the first stage of the proposed Nueva Sabana gold-copper mine in Cuba. The Study has been prepared by the 50% owned Cuban joint venture company, Minera La Victoria SA (“MLV”), which is undertaking the project.

  • The Updated Scoping Study is based on a pit limited to 100m depth which, at a mining rate of 500,000tpa of ore, will result in an initial mine life of 4.8 years.
  • With additional exploration, and a greater mining depth, the project life and NPV could be increased.
  • Metallurgical testwork set out in ATTACHMENT C indicates the mine will initially produce a gold concentrate grading ~57.5g/t Au for around 18 months, followed by a blended copper-gold concentrate with an average grade of ~28.3% Cu, and ~29.8g/t Au.
  • Payables for these concentrates have been received from a major international commodity trader that the joint venture is negotiating with to establish an offtake agreement.
  • The off-take agreement is expected to include a provision for advanced payments for concentrates to assist in the funding of construction costs.
  • The 752ha concession covering the Nueva Sabana oxide deposit also hosts the El Pilar, Gaspar, and Camilo porphyry copper intrusives, and numerous shallow gold targets identified by artisanal mining.
  • The Nueva Sabana deposit has a small gold cap, an underlying copper-gold zone, and a deeper sulphide copper zone with mineralisation open at depth at 150m which could potentially transition into the El Pilar porphyry copper deposit offset to the south.
HIGHLIGHTS OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR STAGE ONE OF THE NUEVA SABANA MINE:
  • Estimated Operating Profit of ~US$60M from the first 22 months of concentrate production will comfortably permit repayment of the ~US$28.5M project debt before the end of this period.
  • MLV intends to drill the copper mineralisation that continues below the stage one mining depth of 100m with the aim of deepening the Nueva Sabana mine and extending its life.
  • The Revised MRE for Nueva Sabana which is incorporated as ATTACHMENT A in the Study, established approximately 25M lb of 0.75% copper in Inferred Resources within the 50m below the initial mine depth, which is a positive indication of the potential to extend its life.
  • MLV also intends to drill identified oxide gold-copper targets overlying the nearby Gaspar and Camilo porphyry copper deposits to potentially increase resources.
  • Subject to the results of additional drilling, consideration will be given to doubling the mining rate in the copper domain to 1.0Mtpa of ore to increase annual profitability and cash flow.
  • It is possible that the Nueva Sabana mine could be significantly expanded and extended in the future to mine the three porphyry copper deposits located within the mining concession.

Antilles Gold Chairman, Mr Brian Johnson, commented: “The first stage of Nueva Sabana, while relatively small, has an excellent IRR and will deliver significant free cash within a short timeframe.

MLV’s priority at this time is to finalise current negotiations on a concentrate off-take agreement for the project, and to arrange financing for the mine construction.

Antilles Gold’s share of the estimated NPV8 for the first stage of Nueva Sabana is ~A$70M at current metal prices of US$2,600 per oz Au, and US$9,300/t Cu, and an exchange rate of A$1.00 = US$0.66, which is significantly higher than the Company’s current market capitalisation of A$7.5M.

The opportunity to unlock further value for Antilles Gold will occur with the proposed development of the joint venture’s flagship project, the La Demajagua gold-silver-antimony mine, where the Company’s share of NPV8 reported to ASX on 30 March 2023 was ~A$150M, prior to the joint venture’s decision to expand the project to produce gold doré from the mine’s gold arsenopyrite concentrate, and to increase antimony production.

Before the end of 2024, Antilles Gold will contribute the final US$0.4M of the US$15.0M earn-in for its 50% shareholding in the joint venture company, Minera La Victoria (“MLV”), after which the Company’s cash burn will be substantially reduced.”

Click here for the full ASX Release

This article includes content from Antilles Gold (ASX:AAU), licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.

AAU:AU
The Conversation (0)
Antilles Gold Limited

Antilles Gold Limited

Developing Gold and Copper Projects in mineral‐rich Cuba

Antilles Gold to Raise $1.0M for Working Capital

Antilles Gold to Raise $1.0M for Working Capital

Antilles Gold Limited (AAU:AU) has announced Antilles Gold to Raise $1.0M for Working CapitalDownload the PDF here. Keep Reading...
Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow Report

Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow Report

Antilles Gold Limited (AAU:AU) has announced Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow ReportDownload the PDF here. Keep Reading...
Summary of Pre-Feasibility Study for Nueva Sabana Mine

Summary of Pre-Feasibility Study for Nueva Sabana Mine

Antilles Gold Limited (AAU:AU) has announced Summary of Pre-Feasibility Study for Nueva Sabana MineDownload the PDF here. Keep Reading...
Revision to Updated Scoping Study Nueva Sabana Mine, Cuba

Revision to Updated Scoping Study Nueva Sabana Mine, Cuba

Antilles Gold Limited (AAU:AU) has announced Revision to Updated Scoping Study Nueva Sabana Mine, CubaDownload the PDF here. Keep Reading...
Gold bars and rising graph; "5 Top Canadian Mining Stocks This Week" text overlay.

Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Prospector Metals Gains 356 Percent

Welcome to the Investing News Network's weekly look at the best-performing Canadian mining stocks on the TSX, TSXV and CSE, starting with a round-up of Canadian and US news impacting the resource sector.The big event impacting markets this week was the shutdown of the US government. Although... Keep Reading...
Gold nugget, stock chart,and US flag with "Weekly Editor's Picks" text.

Editor's Picks: Gold Price Sets Sights on US$3,900, Silver Breaks US$48

The gold price continued to move this week, approaching the US$3,900 per ounce level and setting a fresh all-time high on the back of a US government shutdown.The closure came after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a spending bill ahead of the new American fiscal year, which began on... Keep Reading...
Gold "M&A" letters on textured wood background with lighting effects.

Minera Alamos Closes Nevada Mine Acquisition, Expands US Gold Footprint

Minera Alamos (TSXV:MAI,OTCQX:MAIFF) has completed its purchase of the Pan gold mine and two development-stage projects in Nevada from Equinox Gold (TSX:EQX,NYSEAMERICAN:EQX).The Toronto-based company said Wednesday (October 1) that it closed the previously announced transaction to acquire the... Keep Reading...
Option Exercise Nets $2.3M to Expand Exploration at Pinjin

Option Exercise Nets $2.3M to Expand Exploration at Pinjin

Kalgoorlie Gold Mining (KAL:AU) has announced Option exercise nets $2.3M to expand exploration at PinjinDownload the PDF here. Keep Reading...
Adam Rozencwajg, gold bars.

Adam Rozencwajg: Gold's Record Run Not Over Yet, Silver Still Looks Cheap

Adam Rozencwajg, managing partner at Goehring & Rozencwajg, discusses the factors driving gold's current price run and why he thinks it will continue. "I think that this rally is sustained. I think that it's going on until I see otherwise," he said. Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for... Keep Reading...
Gold bar on nuggets with "5 Top Australian Mining Stocks" text overlay.

Top 5 Australian Mining Stocks This Week: Nelson Resources Soars on Deal to Advance Yarri Project

Welcome to the Investing News Network's weekly round-up of the top-performing mining stocks listed on the ASX, starting with news in Australia's resource sector.Gold companies dominate this week's list of top gainers as the metal continues to soar. In mining company news, BHP... Keep Reading...

Latest Press Releases

Related News