VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Sept. 1, 2016) – West Kirkland Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE:WKM) (“West Kirkland” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the results of an independent pre-feasibility study (the “2016 PFS”) of its Hasbrouck Project. The 2016 PFS updates the July 2015 pre-feasibility study (the “2015 PFS”) with value engineering, detailed scheduling, revised contractor cost estimates, an updated gold price and various other changes. Refinements to the Life of Mine (“LOM”) plan and economic model in the 2016 PFS are positive, and the updated gold price provides additional value. Mineral Reserves and Resources are unchanged from the 2015 PFS. Exploration potential near the fully permitted Three Hills open pit is highlighted. The 2016 PFS and the 2015 PFS were both prepared by a team of Qualified Persons headed by Mine Development Associates (MDA) of Reno, Nevada.
The Hasbrouck Project consists of the Hasbrouck and the Three Hills deposits and surrounding land package, located near Tonopah, Nevada. All dollar values presented in this news release are in U.S. dollars and are presented on a 100% project basis. Highlights include:
- 594,000 recoverable gold equivalent ounces
- 74,000 gold equivalent ounces annually for eight years
- $661 Adjusted Operating Cost per ounce
- $709 All-In Sustaining Cost per ounce
- $120 million NPV (5%) and a 43% IRR, after-tax, with a 3.1 year pay-back
- $1,275/oz Au and $18.21/oz Ag metal price assumptions
- $47 million initial capital
- No change to Mineral Resources or Reserves from the 2015 PFS
- Good exploration potential proximal to the Three Hills permitted pit
- Fully permitted Three Hills Mine, shovel-ready
The Company has a 75% interest in the Hasbrouck Project with rights to the remaining 25% owned by Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP. Waterton’s 25% interest is fully participating and the holder must contribute to capital or be diluted.
“On a global basis the Hasbrouck Project is one of only a handful of shovel-ready, high margin gold projects. The Hasbrouck Project is very simple construction and the first phase can be commenced today”, said Sandy McVey, West Kirkland’s Chief Operating Officer. The Hasbrouck and Three Hills deposits are all-oxide with low stripping ratios, minimal pre-strip, and no adverse environmental or cultural factors. The resources and their metallurgy have been well-studied and analyzed. Good infrastructure exists nearby consisting of accommodations, grid electricity, paved highways and multiple water sources. The Phase 1 Three Hills Mine is fully permitted and permitting work for the Phase 2 Hasbrouck Mine is underway. For further information on permitting at Three Hills please refer to the Company’s November 27, 2015 news release.
The completion of the 2016 PFS confirms strong operating margins for the Hasbrouck Project.
Effect of Changes on Project Economics
| Item | NPV (5%) | IRR | Initial Capital | LOM Cash Flow | Payback | ||
| (US $M) | (%) | (US $M) | (US $M) | (years) | |||
| 2015 Pre-feasibility Study | $75 | 25.6 | % | $54 | $117 | 3.7 | |
| Changes Made in 2016 PFS | |||||||
| Diesel Cost Reduced | $7 | 2.3 | % | $0 | $10 | ||
| Pre-Production Mining Cost Increased | $1 | -0.6 | % | $5 | $1 | ||
| Gold Plant Deferred (2 Years) | $1 | 2.3 | % | -$6 | $0 | ||
| Re-furbished Crushing & Conveying Plant | $3 | 1.6 | % | $0 | $4 | ||
| Water Sourced from Wells | $7 | 7.1 | % | -$1 | $3 | ||
| Gold Recovered During Drain Down Recognized | $10 | 1.7 | % | $0 | $15 | ||
| Reclamation Bond Amounts Recalculated | $0 | 0.3 | % | -$2 | $0 | ||
| Metal Price Increased ($1,275/$18.21 vs $1,225/$17.50) | $19 | 5.2 | % | $0 | $24 | ||
| Other * | -$3 | -2.4 | % | -$4 | -$2 | ||
| Summed Changes in 2016 PFS | $45 | 17.6 | % | -$8 | $55 | ||
| 2016 Pre-feasibility Study | $120 | 43.2 | % | $47 | $171 | 3.1 | |
| * Other is due to consequential impacts on working capital, contingencies, and indirects due to changes above. | |||||||
The following information is taken from the 2016 PFS and “will” refers to the plan if a positive construction decision is made and the project financed. The 2016 PFS estimates initial capital at $47 million (2015 PFS – $54 million) which will be used to construct the Phase 1 Three Hills Mine. Capital to build the Phase 2 Hasbrouck Mine will come from free cash flow generated by Three Hills. Six million tons of ore will be processed annually to produce 74,000 gold-equivalent ounces per year for eight years. Adjusted Operating Costs are projected to be $661 per ounce of gold, with All-In Sustaining Costs of $709 per ounce of gold, both net of silver by-product credits.
The Three Hills and Hasbrouck deposits are 8 kilometers apart and located within a large land position hosting multiple near-surface gold intercepts. Known gold intercepts are located proximal to current resources; these are not included in the resource model. These intercepts present exploration targets with the potential to increase and extend known resources.
The 2016 PFS estimates Phase 1 production for two years at the Three Hills Mine followed by Phase 2 production for six years at the Hasbrouck Mine. Combined production is estimated at 594,000 gold equivalent ounces. LOM stripping ratio is estimated at 1.1:1. LOM head grade is estimated at 0.6 g/t gold (0.017 oz Au/ton) while gold recovery from heap leaching is estimated at 76%.
A Carbon-In-Columns (“CIC”) plant will be installed at the Three Hills Mine. Gold will be stripped from carbon off-site by a contractor. An Adsorption-Desorption-Recovery plant (ADR) complete with CIC will be installed at the Hasbrouck Mine to handle the greater amount of silver at Hasbrouck.
Project Highlights – in US dollars, based on 100% of the project (1):
| Three Hills | Hasbrouck | Total Hasbrouck | |||
| Units | Mine | Mine | Project | ||
| PRODUCTION STATISTICS | |||||
| Headgrade | oz Au/ton – g Au/t | 0.018 – 0.62 | 0.017 – 0.57 | 0.017 – 0.58 | |
| Ore | million tons | 10 | 36 | 45 | |
| Stripping Ratio | waste:ore | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | |
| Annual Ore Processed | million tons | 5 | 6 | 6 | |
| Processing Rate | tons per day | 15,000 | 17,500 | 15,986 | |
| Gold Grade | oz Au/ton – g Au/t | 0.018 – 0.62 | 0.017 – 0.57 | 0.017 – 0.58 | |
| Silver Grade | oz Ag/ton – g Ag/t | NA | 0.297 – 10.17 | 0.233 – 8.00 | |
| Contained Gold | kOz | 175 | 588 | 762 | |
| Contained Silver | kOz | NA | 10,569 | 10,569 | |
| Contained Gold Equivalent (1) | kOz | 175 | 610 | 784 | |
| Gold Recovery | % | 81.5% | 74.0% | 75.7% | |
| Silver Recovery | % | 11.0% | 11.0% | ||
| Recoverable Gold | kOz | 142 | 435 | 577 | |
| Recoverable Silver | kOz | NA | 1,163 | 1,163 | |
| Recoverable Gold Equivalent($1,275/$18.21) | kOz | 142 | 452 | 594 | |
| Average Annual Gold Production | kOz | 69 | 71 | 71 | |
| Average Annual Silver Production(2) | kOz | NA | 194 | 194 | |
| Average Annual Gold Equivalent Production | kOz | 69 | 74 | 74 | |
| Gold Price | US$/oz | $1,275 | $1,275 | $1,275 | |
| Silver Price | US$/oz | $18 | $18 | $18 | |
| CAPITAL | |||||
| Initial Capital | US$ million | $47 | |||
| Growth Capital | US$ million | $83 | |||
| Sustaining Capital | US$ million | $13 | |||
| Life of Mine Capital | US$ million | $143 | |||
| Contingency (included) | US$ million | $6 | $15 | $21 | |
| Contingency (included) | % | 14% | 19% | 17% | |
| OPERATING COST | |||||
| Adjusted Operating Cost per Ton of Ore (3) | US$/ton ore | $7.40 | $8.71 | $8.43 | |
| Mining | US$/ton ore | $3.18 | $3.74 | $3.62 | |
| Processing | US$/ton ore | $2.55 | $3.93 | $3.63 | |
| G&A | US$/ton ore | $0.44 | $0.46 | $0.46 | |
| Other (4) | US$/ton ore | $1.23 | $0.58 | $0.72 | |
| Adjusted Operating Cost per Ounce(3) | US$/oz Au net of by-products | $502 | $714 | $661 | |
| All-In Sustaining Cost per Ounce (5) | US$/oz Au net of by-products | $510 | $774 | $709 | |
| Life of Mine | year | 1.7 | 7.1 | 8.8 | |
| PROJECT ECONOMICS | |||||
| NPV (5%) – after tax | US$ million | $120 | |||
| IRR – after tax | % | 43% | |||
| Payback Period | year | 3.1 |
| notes: |
| (1) Gold equivalent calculations are made using the ratio of recovered silver / gold and metal prices |
| (2) Silver production is averaged over the Hasbrouck mine life only |
| (3) World Gold Council – Adjusted Operating Costs include: |
| On-site mining and G&A, royalties and production taxes, permitting and community cost related to current operations, 3rd party smelting, refining and transport costs, stock-piles and inventory write-downs, site-based non-cash remuneration, operational stripping costs and by-product credits |
| (4) Other category includes royalties, production taxes, permitting, refining, and by-product credit |
| (5) World Gold Council All-in Sustaining Costs includes: |
| Adjusted Operating Costs (above) plus corporate G&A, reclamation & remediation-accretion & amortization, expenditures sustaining exploration and study costs, capital exploration, capitalized stripping and sustaining capital |
| (6) World Gold Council All-In Cost includes: |
| All-In Sustaining Costs (above) plus community, permitting, and reclamation and remediation costs not related to current operations and non-sustaining exploration and study costs, capital exploration, capitalized stripping and capital expenditure |
| (7) Project economics are presented for 100% of the project which is jointly owned by WKM (75%) and Waterton Precious Metals Fund (25%) |
Sensitivity to Gold Price
| After Tax Sensitivity – Metal Price (K USD) | ||||
| Au Price | Undisc. Cash Flow 000’s |
NPV 5% 000’s |
IRR | Ag Price |
| $1,000 | $36,130 | $16,779 | 12% | $14.29 |
| $1,100 | $86,063 | $54,971 | 24% | $15.71 |
| $1,200 | $135,024 | $92,477 | 35% | $17.14 |
| $1,225(1) | $147,164 | $101,779 | 38% | $17.50 |
| $1,275(2) | $171,446 | $120,384 | 43% | $18.21 |
| $1,300 | $183,587 | $129,687 | 46% | $18.57 |
| $1,400 | $230,210 | $165,393 | 56% | $20.00 |
| $1,500 | $275,060 | $199,698 | 65% | $21.43 |
| Notes: |
| (1) Gold price used in 2015 PFS |
| (2) Gold price used in 2015 PFS |
Hasbrouck Project Mineral Reserves
Proven and Probable Reserves total 45.3 million tons containing 762,000 ounces gold and 10.6 million ounces silver as detailed below:
| Hasbrouck Project Reserves, June 3, 2015, Mine Development Associates (1, 2) | ||||||
| Three Hills Mine Reserves | K tons Ore |
Grade (oz Au/ ton) |
K oz Au | Grade (oz Ag/ton) |
K oz Ag | |
| 0.005 optAu cutoff | Proven | – | – | – | – | – |
| Probable | 9,653 | 0.018 | 175 | – | – | |
| P&P | 9,653 | 0.018 | 175 | – | – | |
| Hasbrouck Mine Reserves | ||||||
| Variable cutoff grade(3) | Proven | 6,242 | 0.020 | 127 | 0.410 | 2,562 |
| Probable | 29,374 | 0.016 | 461 | 0.273 | 8,007 | |
| P&P | 35,617 | 0.017 | 588 | 0.297 | 10,569 | |
| Total Hasbrouck Project | ||||||
| Variable cutoff grade(3) | Proven | 6,242 | 0.020 | 127 | 0.410 | 2,562 |
| Probable | 39,028 | 0.016 | 635 | 0.205 | 8,007 | |
| P&P | 45,270 | 0.017 | 762 | 0.233 | 10,569 | |
| Notes: |
| (1) The estimation and classification of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves have been prepared by Thomas L. Dyer, P.E., of Mine Development Associates following CIM standards |
| (2) Mineral Reserves are estimated based on $1,225/oz gold and $17.50/oz silver |
| (3) Cutoff grades used for Mineral Reserves are: Three Hills 0.005 oz Au/ton, Hasbrouck Upper Siebert 0.008 oz Au/ton, and Hasbrouck Lower Siebert 0.007 oz Au/ton |
Hasbrouck Project Mineral Resources
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
| Hasbrouck Deposit Reported Mineral Resources* November 3, 2014, Mine Development Associates (0.006oz AuEq/ton Cutoff) |
|||||
| Class | Tons | oz Au/ton | oz Au | oz Ag/ton | oz Ag |
| Measured | 8,261,000 | 0.017 | 143,000 | 0.357 | 2,949,000 |
| Indicated | 45,924,000 | 0.013 | 595,000 | 0.243 | 11,147,000 |
| M+I | 54,185,000 | 0.014 | 738,000 | 0.26 | 14,096,000 |
| Inferred | 11,772,000 | 0.009 | 104,000 | 0.191 | 2,249,000 |
| Notes: oz AuEq/ton = oz Au/ton + (oz Ag/ton x 0.000417) | |||||
| Three Hills Deposit Reported Mineral Resources* August 4, 2014, Mine Development Associates (0.005oz Au/ton Cutoff) |
|||
| Class | Tons | oz Au/ton | oz Au |
| Indicated | 10,897,000 | 0.017 | 189,000 |
| Inferred | 2,568,000 | 0.013 | 32,000 |
| Notes: |
| (1) CIM definitions are followed for classification of Mineral Resources |
| (2) Mineral Resources are estimated using a gold price of $1,300 per ounce and a silver price of $22 per ounce |
| (3) Totals may not represent the sum of the parts due to rounding |
| (4) The Mineral Resources have been prepared by Paul Tietz, C.P.G of Mine Development Associates in conformity with CIM “Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices” guidelines and are reported in accordance with the Canadian Securities Administrators NI43-101. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves |
Outlook
West Kirkland plans to continue advancing Phase 2 Hasbrouck Mine permitting, thereby reducing risk to Phase 2, and is preparing to make a construction decision at Three Hills Mine as market conditions dictate. West Kirkland plans to engage with its major shareholders with regards to a potential construction decision.
The reader is cautioned that a production decision might be made on the 2016 PFS and that the Company may proceed to production without completion of a feasibility study. There is an increased risk associated with making a production decision based only on a pre-feasibility study.
Authors and Qualified Persons Statement
The 2016 PFS was prepared in conformance with NI 43-101 by Mine Development Associates (MDA). Technical work, analysis and findings were completed by Thomas L. Dyer, P.E. and Paul Tietz, C.P.G. of MDA, with contributions by Herb Osborne, Metallurgical Eng., SME, of H.C. Osborne & Associates (metallurgy), Ryan Baker, P.E., of Newfields (civil and heap leach) and Carl Defilippi, SME, of Kappes Cassiday & Associates (process design). Each person is a “Qualified Person” under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the information in this news release relevant to the portion of the 2016 PFS for which they are responsible. MDA has reviewed and verified the data disclosed in this news release to conform to CIM “Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices” guidelines and to NI 43-101. West Kirkland will file an NI 43-101 technical report in support of the technical disclosures made in this news release on SEDAR within 45 days.
Sandy McVey, P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer for West Kirkland, and a non-independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has also reviewed the information contained in this news release and has verified the data.
Sample Preparation, Analyses, and Security
It is MDA’s opinion that the sampling, assaying, and security procedures used at Three Hills and Hasbrouck deposits follow industry standard procedures, and are adequate for the estimation of the current Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.
Data Verification
MDA completed audits of the database, performed a site visit, reviewed QAQC data and confirmed historic assays. After performing their review, they consider the assay data to be adequate for the estimation of the current Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.
About West Kirkland Mining Inc.
West Kirkland owns a 75% interest in the Hasbrouck Gold Project in Tonopah, Nevada. A completed Pre-Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment with construction level drawings for the Three Hills Mine provides a shovel-ready gold project. West Kirkland also holds a 60% interest in the open pit heap-leach TUG Gold Project in Utah in Joint Venture with Newmont.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “postulate” and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, the statements regarding the ability to achieve the recoveries and the processing capacity of the mines; regulatory processes and permitting; estimates of gold or other minerals grades; anticipated costs, anticipated sales, project economics, the realization of expansion and construction activities and the timing thereof; production estimates and other statements that are not historical facts. Information concerning mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic analysis thereof contained in the prefeasibility study are also forward-looking statements in that they reflect a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered, and the results of mining it, if a mineral deposit were developed and mined. Although West Kirkland believes that such timing and expenses as set out in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and estimates will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company’s equity securities, the state of the market for gold or other minerals that may be produced generally, significant increases in any of the machinery, equipment or supplies required to develop and operate a mine, a significant change in the availability or cost of the labor force required to operate a mine, a significant increases in the cost of transportation for the Company’s products, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company’s ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies and other risks associated with the exploration and development of mineral properties. The reader is referred to the Company’s public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding the Use of Mining Terms
This press release has been prepared in accordance with the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resources and reserve estimates included in this press release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Industry Guide 7, and resource or reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, “resources” and “reserves” established under NI 43-101 standards may not qualify as “resources” and “reserves” under U.S. standards. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. In addition, under U.S. standards, a “Final” or “Bankable” feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth in this press release may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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