DGAP-News: Altaley Mining Corp
Altaley Mining Corporation (TSXV: ATLY) (OTCQX: ATLYF) (FSE: TSGA) ("Altaley" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed an updated technical report, including a Preliminary Feasibility Study ('PFS'), for its Tahuehueto Project in Durango, Mexico. (the 'Project') on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ('SEDAR') at www.sedar.com in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ('NI 43-101") and in accordance with Canadian Institute Mining's ('CIM') Best Practice Guidelines for the Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The Company made a preliminary disclosure of the PFS economics in a new release dated March 7, 2022, which results contained errors related to net smelter return calculations that under-estimated the PFS economics. With the filing of the PFS report, Altaley now updates the March 7, 2022 disclosure with a significant increase of approximately 30% to the overall economics of the project.
The technical report, entitled 'NI43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Feasibility Study, Altaley Mining Corporation, Tahuehueto Project, Durango, Mexico' and dated with an Effective date of February 23, 2022 and report date of April 21, 2022, was authored by Mr. Scott E. Wilson, CPG, President of Resource Development Associates Inc., an independent consulting geologist specializing in Mineral Reserve and Resource calculation reporting, mining project analysis and due diligence evaluations. He is acting as the Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43-101, for the overall technical report, and the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Statement. Mr. Wilson has over 32 years' experience in the mining industry and is a Registered Member (#4025107RM) of Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. Mr. Wilson and Resource Development Associates Inc. are independent of the Company under NI 43-101. 'As our Tahuehueto Gold Mine Project construction nears completion we are happy to disclose final results of the project's updated pre-feasibility study which continues to show robust economics.' said Ralph Shearing, CEO & President. 'The disclosure and filing on SEDAR of the updated PFS and reserve and resource estimation, along with our anticipated May startup of pre-production operations at Tahuehueto, are the culmination of many years of hard work by the Altaley team and as our Tahuehueto mine ramps up to full production during Q2-Q3 2022, increased cash flow will allow Altaley to recommence exploration drilling and unlock the ultimate potential of our Tahuehueto district scale project.' Pre-Feasibility Study OverviewThe Project configuration evaluated in the PFS is a conventional, owner-operated underground mine, that will utilize contractor mining in a combination sub-level long hole open stope and cut and fill mining methods. Mill feed will be processed in a 1,000 tonnes per day comminution circuit consisting of primary and secondary crushing, wet grinding to an initial two-circuit flotation/concentration plant producing precious metal rich lead and zinc concentrates; and subsequently, in second year of operation a third circuit added to produce copper concentrates. The PFS was prepared by independent third-party consultants, Resource Development Associates Inc. ('RDA') and integrated updated geological interpretations based on expanded knowledge of the mineral deposit, geological modeling, an optimized mine plan and production schedule, additional metallurgical work, a mill currently under construction and updated cost estimates, all of which de-risk the Project. The PFS provides information on the optimized Project with higher throughput rates, updated resource estimate, and capital and operating cost estimates as compared to the project evaluated in the National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ('NI43-101') January 2017 Technical Report (the '2017 Report'). The final version of the NI 43-101 technical report containing the PFS has been filed on SEDAR. As a result of the changes to the Project as evaluated in the PFS, including differences in mineral resource estimation methodology and changes to the economic parameters applied to the geologic block model (metal selling prices, recovery, CAPEX, and OPEX), all of which resulted in a change in mineral resources, the Project as evaluated in the 2017 Report is no longer considered current and the 2017 Report should therefore not be relied upon by investors. The engineering design to estimate capital costs used in the PFS are within a 20% accuracy however, the Company in 2021 elected to proceed with construction of the project which, as of the date of this press release, 95% of required construction capital has been invested in the project, advancing construction past 95% completion with most capital expenditures completed and therefore capital equipment and construction costs are known with substantially increased accuracy. The Company cautions that the PFS is preliminary in nature and is based on technical and economic assumptions which could be further refined and evaluated in a full feasibility study. The PFS is based on an updated Project reserve and resource estimate effective as of February 23, 2022. As the Company has elected to bring the Tahuehueto Mining Project into production without the project's mineral reserves supported by a full feasibility study, the Company cautions that this could result in a higher risk of economic or technical failure of the operation that if a full feasibility study had been prepared demonstrating economic and technical viability. There are no assurances that the Tahuehueto Mining Project will be found to be economic. The following is a summary of the material aspects and assumptions of the PFS. Investors are urged to review the complete NI 43-101 report filed on SEDAR for complete details of the PFS. Project LocationThe Tahuehueto Project is located in the northwest portion of the state of Durango, Mexico, approximately 250 km northwest of the capital city of Durango. The Project is located about 25 km north of the Topia polymetallic-silver mine, 48 km northwest of the La Cienega gold, silver, base metal mine, 85 km southwest of the Guanacevi silver district, 280 km southeast of the Palmarejo silver and gold mine, and 150 km northwest of the San Dimas mining district, most notable for the Tayoltita silver and gold mine.  Summary of Results of the 1,000 Tonnes Per Day PFS Table 1
Table 2
*5% discount considered reasonable due to advanced state of Tahuehueto construction where 95% of required capital has been invested in the project, advancing construction past 95% completion with most capital expenditures completed and therefore capital costs are known with substantially increased accuracy. **IRR is calculated with approximately $34 million of pre-Jan 2022 expenses on the project. $19 million of pre-2015 costs of exploration, acquisition and carrying costs have been treated as sunk costs. Sensitivity AnalysisTable 3 below shows the after-tax sensitivity of NPV, IRR to varying gold prices (US Currency) Table 3
Table 4 below shows the after-tax sensitivity of NPV, IRR to various gold mill recoveries. (US Currency) Table 4
Key capital expenditures for initial and sustaining capital requirements are identified in the following Table 5. (All figures in US$ Millions) Table 5
* From Feb 28, 2022 to positive cash flow date ** From reaching positive cash-flow date to January 2023 *** From Jan 2023 to end of mine life **** Life of mine capital costs and Pre-Jan 2022 capitalized costs All-in Sustaining CostsTable 6 highlights the all-in sustaining costs and the all-in cost over the life of the Project. Table 6
Rounding of some figures may lead to minor discrepancies in totals.
   Project Mineral ReservesTable 7 below presents the Mineral Reserve estimate for the Project as of February 23, 2022. These Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves formed the basis of the economic evaluation of the Project and are based on a metal selling prices of $1647.5 USD/Au oz, $21.64 USD/Ag oz, $0.92 USD/Pb lb, $1.14 USD/Zn lb, and $3.6 USD/lb Cu. The economic assumptions and parameters used for the calculation of reserves are the same as those used for the PFS financial model. Tahuehueto Project Mineral Reserve Estimate Table 7
Mineral Reserves are estimated using metal price forecasts of $0.92/lb for lead, $1.14/lb for zinc, $3.60/lb for copper, $1,647.50/oz for gold and $21.64/oz for silver. Totals may not add due to rounding. The foregoing mineral reserves are based upon and are included within the current mineral resource estimate for the Project. Project Mineral ResourcesThe mineral resource estimates set forth in the PFS ('2022 MRE') have been prepared by Resource Development Associates Inc. ('RDA'). Tahuehueto Project Mineral resource Estimate Table 8  Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates include inferred mineral resources which are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied that would enable them to be classified as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that inferred mineral resources will be converted to measured or indicated mineral resources. Gold equivalency was estimated using metal selling prices of US$1,650/Oz Au, US$21.02/Oz Ag, US$0.91/Lb Pb, US$1.15/Lb Zn and US$3.70/Lb Cu. Resources were estimated using assay results from 37 reverse circulation drill holes, 215 diamond core drill holes and 2,714 channel samples. Mineralization was identified in 9,599 assays. Assays were composited to nominal 1.5-meter lengths totalling 2,213 composites which were used to estimate mineralization into the vein system at Tahuehueto. A block model was constructed around the Tahuehueto vein system. Mineralization was estimated using Inverse Distance Cubed (ID3) interpolation parameters. The selective mining unit for the project is 1.5-meters. Therefore, mineralization was estimated into blocks no smaller than 1.5-meters to determine mineralization that has the reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction Grade and Tonnage Sensitivity to Cut-off GradesMineral resources at Tahuehueto are sensitive to the selection of reporting cut-off grade. To illustrate this sensitivity, the block model quantities and grade estimates within the mineral deposit are presented in table 9 at linear increases in cut-off grades for measured, indicated, and inferred mineralization. The same results are presented graphically in Figure 1. Mineralization is constrained to material that meets the reasonable prospects test. The numbers presented in Table 9 should not be misconstrued with a mineral resource statement. The figures are only presented to show the sensitivity of block model estimates to the selection of a cut-off grade. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Table 9
 Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for mineability, selectivity, mining loss and dilution. These mineral resource estimates include inferred mineral resources that are normally considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that these inferred mineral resources will be converted to measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves once economic considerations are applied. Detailed ReportA NI 43-101 compliant technical report that summarizes the results of the PFS has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and is available on the Company's website www.altaleymining.com. Mr. Scott E. Wilson, CPG, President of Resource Development Associates Inc., is an independent consulting geologist specializing in Mineral Reserve and Resource calculation reporting, mining project analysis and due diligence evaluations. He is acting as the Qualified Person, as defined in NI 43-101, for the overall technical report, and the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Statement. Mr. Wilson has over 32 years' experience in the mining industry and is a Registered Member (#4025107RM) of Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. Mr. Wilson and Resource Development Associates Inc. are independent of the Company under NI 43-101. Mr. Wilson has reviewed and approved the technical information summarized in this news release. About Altaley Mining Corporation Altaley Mining Corporation is a Canadian based mining company with two 100% owned Mexican gold, silver, and base metal mining projects. Altaley's Tahuehueto mining project is in north-western Durango State, Mexico where construction has been advanced to near completion on its 1,000 tonne per day processing facility and related mine infrastructure to initiate production of gold, silver, lead, and zinc in concentrates at Tahuehueto. The Company is targeting initial pre-production in May 2022 and ramping up to full production capacity during Q2-Q3 2022. Campo Morado is an operating polymetallic base metal mine with mining and milling equipment currently producing at an average of 2,200 tonnes per day and is currently estimated to be Mexico's 6th largest zinc producer. Visit: www.altaleymining.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) 'Ralph Shearing'Ralph Shearing, P. Geol, CEO, President and Director Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decisions and Forward-Looking Statements Neither 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. It should be noted that Altaley declared commercial production at Campo Morado and elected to initiate construction to go into production at Tahuehueto prior to completing full feasibility studies demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Altaley's production decisions have been made without comprehensive feasibility studies of established reserves at Campo Morado and prefeasibility level reserves at Tahuehueto, such that there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Campo Morado mine and at Tahuehueto mine where reserves are established to the prefeasibility level of confidence and therefore a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if full feasibility studies were completed and relied upon to make production decisions. Altaley has completed a preliminary economic assessment ('PEA') mining study on the Campo Morado mine and a prefeasibility study ('PFS') at Tahuehueto mine that provides a conceptual life of mine plan and a preliminary economic analysis based on the previously identified mineral resources (see News Release dated November 8, 2017, April 4, 2018, and April 25, 2022). Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking Information includes but is not limited to conditions or financial performance that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, such as production rates and increases; success of exploration, development and bulk sample processing activities, and timing for processing at its own mineral processing facility on the Tahuehueto project site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans," "expects," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Campo Morado Mine and the Tahuehueto Project can be achieved: the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions, and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contact DetailsAltaley Mining Corporation Glen Sandwell +1 604-684-8071 ir@altaleymining.com Company Websitehttps://www.altaleymining.com/ News Source: News Direct 26.04.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language: | English |
| Company: | Altaley Mining Corp |
| United States | |
| ISIN: | CA02138F1071 |
| EQS News ID: | 1335617 |
| End of News | DGAP News Service |
1335617 26.04.2022
