McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) is
pleased to provide results of the updated Preliminary Economic
Assessment (the “
2023 PEA”) on the Los Azules
Copper Project in San Juan Argentina (the
“
Project”). Los Azules is 100% owned by McEwen
Copper Inc., which is 52% owned by McEwen Mining.
The 2023 PEA Technical Report is prepared in
accordance with the requirements set forth by Canadian National
Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) for the disclosure
of material information and is intended to meet the requirements of
a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) level of study and
disclosure as defined in the regulations and supporting reference
documents. The effective date of the report is May 9, 2023. All
currency shown in this report is expressed in Q1 2023 United States
Dollars unless otherwise noted.
This study is preliminary in nature and includes
26% inferred mineral resources in the conceptual
mine plan. Inferred mineral resources are considered too
speculative geologically and in other technical aspects to enable
them to be categorized as mineral reserves under the standards set
forth in NI 43-101. There is no certainty that the estimates in
this PEA will be realized.
Study Contributors
The 2023 PEA technical report was prepared by
Samuel Engineering Inc., with contributions from
Knight Piésold Consulting, Stantec
Consulting International Ltd, McLennan
Design, Whittle Consulting Pty Ltd, and
SRK Consulting UK Limited under the supervision of
David Tyler, McEwen Copper Project Director. The 2023 PEA technical
report has been filed on SEDAR and on the Company’s website:
https://www.mcewenmining.com/investor-relations/reports-and-filings/default.aspx
2023 PEA vs 2017 PEA
The base case development strategy selected in
the 2023 PEA is distinctly different from that
presented in the prior PEA published in 2017. In 2017, the strategy
was to construct a mine with a conventional mill and flotation
concentrator producing a concentrate for export to international
smelters. The 2023 PEA proposes a heap leach (leach) project using
solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX/EW) to produce copper
cathodes (LME Grade A) for sale in Argentina or international
markets. There are three principal reasons why the implementation
strategy was changed to leach in the 2023 PEA:
-
Environmental Footprint: Fresh water consumption
is reduced by approximately 75% (150 vs. 600 L/s).
Electricity consumption is reduced by approximately
75% (57 vs. 230 MW). GHG emissions are reduced by
approximately 57% (670 vs. 1,560 CO2-e/t Cu Scope
1&2), with paths to further reductions by implementing new
technologies, with the goal of reaching net-zero carbon by 2038
with some offsets. Los Azules copper cathodes will thus be
attractive to end-users seeking to measurably reduce their upstream
environmental impacts.
-
Reduced Permitting Risk: When proposing any
mega-project development, it is vital to understand the local
standards and sensitivities around permitting. The Project uses
technology (heap leach) that is in operation in San Juan today. It
also eliminates tailings and tailings dams, conserves scarce water
resources, and reduces the overall complexity of the mine,
optimizing the permitting process.
-
Producing Cathodes: The leach process produces LME
Grade A copper cathodes, which can be directly used in industry,
including within Argentina reducing export taxes. This eliminates
reliance on 3rd party foreign smelters for the processing of
concentrates into refined copper products. It also eliminates
significant GHG emissions associated with transportation, and
pollution associated with smelting. Counterparty and pricing risks
are also reduced.
McEwen views the progress made with the 2023 PEA
towards reducing our environmental footprint and greater
environmental and social stewardship sets the Project apart from
other potential mine developments, which appropriately justifies
certain economic trade-offs. The primary trade-offs to achieve
these environmental benefits is lower overall copper recovery,
slightly higher unit costs, and less immediate cashflow due to
extended leach cycles. Nevertheless, the leach project remains very
robust. Furthermore, McEwen believes that some of these drawbacks
can be mitigated by implementing developing technologies such as
Nuton™, discussed below.
Property Description
The Los Azules deposit is a classic Andean-style
porphyry copper deposit. The large hydrothermal alteration system
is at least 5 kilometers (km) long and 4 km wide and is elongated
in a north-northwest direction along a major structural corridor.
The Los Azules deposit area is approximately 4 km long by 2.2 km
wide and lies within the alteration zone. The limits of the
mineralization along strike to the North and at depth have not yet
been defined. Primary or hypogene copper mineralization extends to
at least 1,000 meters (m) below the surface. Near surface, leached
primary sulfides (mainly pyrite and chalcopyrite) were redeposited
below the water table in a sub-horizontal zone of supergene
enrichment as secondary chalcocite and covellite. Hypogene bornite
appears at deeper levels together with chalcopyrite. Gold, silver,
and molybdenum are present in small amounts, but copper is the
economic driver at Los Azules.
A New Vision and Approach
We developed regenerative guiding principles to
reframe the approach to sustainable innovation and set forth
high-reaching goals that explore all facets of the mining processes
considered for Los Azules. The project development seeks to
significantly reduce the environmental footprint of mining
operations and their associated GHG emissions by integrating the
latest renewable and environmentally responsible technologies and
processes. The Project aims to obtain 100% of its energy from
renewable sources (wind, hydro, and solar) in a combination of
offsite and onsite installations. The Project is also seeking to
have long-term net positive impacts on the greater Andean
ecosystem, local flora and fauna, the lives of miners, and of the
other citizens of nearby communities, while contributing positively
to the local and national economy of Argentina. Refer to
the full 2023 PEA Technical Report for more information about our
regenerative approach.
Metal Price Assumption
The copper price use in the 2023 PEA was $3.75
per pound (except for the mineral resource estimate), in line with
analysts’ consensus projections for long-term copper prices that
range between $3.25 and $4.25 per pound, with a mean price of $3.75
per pound.
Study Highlights
This 2023 PEA development strategy begins with
processing of resources associated with the oxide and supergene
copper mineralization in the near surface portion of the deposit
using heap leaching methods. This approach results in low average
C1 costs of $1.07 per lb. Cu ($0.88 per
lb. in the first 8 years) and an attractive
3.2-year payback period. Copper cathode production
during the first 5 years of operation averages 401 million
lbs. per year (182 ktpa), and average
over the 27-year LOM is 322 million lbs. per year
(146 ktpa).
A nominal copper cathode production capacity of
385 million lbs. per year (175 ktpa) is met or
exceeded during the first 11 years of mining and was selected as
the Base Case, with a smaller Alternative
Case presented at 275 million lbs. per year (125
ktpa) of copper cathodes. The 2023 PEA financial model
does not include potential future development phases focused on
primary copper mineralization found beneath the supergene copper
layer but some of these opportunities are discussed in the report,
including the potential of deploying Nuton™ technologies.
The processing facility will function through to
the completion of mining in Year 23 with stockpile reprocessing and
residual leaching operations to Year 27. Mining operations ramp up
over the proposed mine life from approximately 80 million total
tonnes per year to 150 million tonnes per year through the life of
the project as copper grades decrease, and material movements
increase.
Summary results for the Base Case and
Alternative Case are provided in Table 1.
Table 1: Summary Results |
Project Metric |
Units |
Base Case175 ktpa |
Alternative Case125 ktpa |
Mine Life |
Years |
|
27 |
|
|
32 |
|
Tonnes Processed |
Billion tonnes |
|
1.182 |
|
|
1.182 |
|
Tonnes Waste Mined |
Billion tonnes |
|
1.366 |
|
|
1.366 |
|
Strip Ratio |
|
|
1.16 |
|
|
1.16 |
|
Total Copper Grade |
% Cu |
|
0.457% |
|
|
0.457% |
|
Soluble Copper Grade (CuSOL) |
% CuSOL |
|
0.311% |
|
|
0.311% |
|
Copper Recovery (Total Copper) |
% |
|
72.8% |
|
|
72.8% |
|
Soluble Copper Recovery(8) |
% |
|
107% |
|
|
107% |
|
Copper Production (LOM avg.) |
tonnes/yr |
|
145,820 |
|
|
123,060 |
|
Copper Production (Yr 1-5) |
tonnes/yr |
|
182,100 |
|
|
136,100 |
|
Copper Production – cathode Cu |
ktonnes |
|
3,938 |
|
|
3,938 |
|
Initial Capital Cost |
USD Millions |
$2,462 |
|
$2,153 |
|
Sustaining Capital Cost |
USD Millions |
$2,243 |
|
$2,351 |
|
Closure Costs |
USD Millions |
$180 |
|
$180 |
|
C1 Cost (Life of Mine) |
USD/lb Cu |
$1.07 |
|
$1.11 |
|
All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) |
USD/lb Cu |
$1.64 |
|
$1.67 |
|
Before Taxes |
|
|
|
Net Cumulative Cashflow |
USD Millions |
$15,820 |
|
$15,679 |
|
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) |
% |
|
26.5% |
|
|
22.9% |
|
Net Present Value (NPV) @ 8% |
USD Millions |
$4,436 |
|
$3,278 |
|
After Taxes |
|
|
|
Net Cumulative Cashflow |
USD Millions |
$10,240 |
|
$10,159 |
|
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) |
% |
|
21.2% |
|
|
18.4% |
|
Net Present Value (NPV) @ 8% |
USD Millions |
$2,659 |
|
$1,929 |
|
Pay Back Period |
Years |
|
3.2 |
|
|
3.4 |
|
Sensitivity Analysis
The Base Case project economics are reasonably
robust (>15% post-tax IRR) at a copper price above $3.00 per
pound and are similarly resistant to an increase in LOM capital
expenditure of up to 30% and an increase in operating expenses of
up to 60%. Table 2 below shows the sensitivity of the Base Case
project economics to the Copper Price (+/- 20%) on a post-tax
basis. The project NPV8% is breakeven at a copper price of $2.34
per pound.
Tables 2: Base Case (175 ktpa) Copper Price
Sensitivity |
Sensitivity (%) |
Metal Pricing |
Post-Tax |
Copper Price |
NPV |
IRR |
Payback |
$ Cu/lb |
$M |
% |
Years |
-20%% |
|
$3.00 |
$1,277 |
15% |
5.48 |
-15% |
|
$3.19 |
$1,624 |
17% |
4.84 |
-10% |
|
$3.38 |
$1,969 |
18% |
4.24 |
-5% |
|
$3.56 |
$2,314 |
20% |
3.68 |
0% |
|
$3.75 |
$2,659 |
21% |
3.18 |
5% |
|
$3.94 |
$3,003 |
23% |
2.90 |
10% |
|
$4.13 |
$3,346 |
24% |
2.75 |
15% |
|
$4.31 |
$3,689 |
25% |
2.61 |
20% |
|
$4.50 |
$4,032 |
27% |
2.49 |
Table 3 below show the sensitivity of the Base
Case project economics to initial and sustaining capital
expenditure escalation on a post-tax basis.
Table 3: Base Case (175 ktpa) Initial & Sustaining
CAPEX Sensitivity |
Sensitivity (%) |
Post-Tax |
NPV |
IRR |
Payback |
$M |
% |
Years |
0 |
|
$2,597 |
21% |
|
3.18 |
5% |
|
$2,484 |
20% |
|
3.54 |
10% |
|
$2,372 |
19% |
|
3.94 |
15% |
|
$2,260 |
18% |
|
4.25 |
20% |
|
$2,148 |
17% |
|
4.56 |
25% |
|
$2,036 |
17% |
|
4.88 |
Table 4 below show the sensitivity of the Base
Case project economics to operating expenditure escalation on a
post-tax basis.
Table 4: Base Case (175 ktpa) OPEX
Sensitivity |
Sensitivity (%) |
Post-Tax |
NPV |
IRR |
Payback |
$M |
% |
Years |
0 |
|
$2,597 |
21% |
|
3.18 |
5% |
|
$2,496 |
21% |
|
3.28 |
10% |
|
$2,396 |
20% |
|
3.38 |
15% |
|
$2,295 |
20% |
|
3.49 |
20% |
|
$2,195 |
19% |
|
3.62 |
25% |
|
$2,095 |
19% |
|
3.75 |
Capital Costs Estimates
The Project includes the development of an open
pit mine with muti-stage crushing and screening, a heap leach pad,
and a copper solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX/EW) facility
with a nominal production capacity of 175 ktpa copper cathodes.
There is also a sulfuric acid plant and other associated
infrastructure to support the operations. Initial capital
infrastructure for the Base Case includes the following
facilities:
- Mine
development and associated infrastructure
- Coarse rock
storage and handling (crushing, conveying, agglomeration)
- Heap leach pads
and conveyor stacking systems
- SX/EW
facility
- Sulfuric acid
plant
- On-site
utilities and ancillary facilities including a construction
camp
- Off-site
infrastructure: power transmission line (outsourced), access roads,
and permanent camp
The project initial capital costs are based on
budgetary quotes for major equipment, recent in-house cost
information and installation factors, and regional contractor
inputs and facilities obtained between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023. The
capital costs for the project are summarized in Table 5 and should
be viewed with the level of accuracy expected for a preliminary
analysis.
The approximate construction cost of the 132 kV
power supply line to site is $155 million and has not been included
in the capital estimate because it is assumed that YPF Luz, a large
Argentinean power utility company, will be constructing the line at
their expenses pursuant to a long-term renewable power purchase
agreement.
Table 5: Initial Capital Costs by Case |
Capital Cost |
Base Case |
Alternative Case |
175k tpa Cu ($) |
125k tpa Cu ($) |
Mining |
$65,600,000 |
$65,600,000 |
Ore Storage & Handling |
$234,500,000 |
$192,500,000 |
Heap Leaching |
$158,500,000 |
$142,100,000 |
SX/EW Facilities |
$250,400,000 |
$167,700,000 |
Acid Plant |
$94,900,000 |
$79,900,000 |
Ancillary Facilities |
$23,300,000 |
$23,300,000 |
Site Development & Yard Utilities |
$126,300,000 |
$112,200,000 |
Off-Sites |
$167,400,000 |
$167,400,000 |
Total Direct Costs |
$1,120,900,000 |
$950,700,000 |
Common Indirect Costs |
$379,200,000 |
$323,800,000 |
Owners Costs |
$466,700,000 |
$455,900,000 |
Subtotal |
$1,966,800,000 |
$1,730,400,000 |
Contingency |
$495,000,000 |
$423,100,000 |
Total Capital Cost |
$2,461,800,000 |
$2,153,500,000 |
Operating Costs Estimates
Table 6 summarizes the LOM project operating
costs per tonne of material processed and per pound of copper
produced.
Table 6: LOM Cash Costs |
|
Base Case175 ktpa |
Alternative Case125 ktpa |
Description |
LOM Cost/tonne ($) |
LOMCost/lb. ($) |
LOM Cost/tonne ($) |
LOMCost/lb. ($) |
Mining |
4.14 |
0.56 |
4.27 |
0.57 |
Processing |
2.73 |
0.37 |
2.74 |
0.37 |
General & Administrative |
0.94 |
0.13 |
1.11 |
0.15 |
Selling Expenses |
0.15 |
0.02 |
0.15 |
0.02 |
LOM C1 Costs |
7.96 |
1.07 |
8.27 |
1.11 |
Royalties and Taxes
The 2023 PEA includes all government and private
royalties on production, export taxes, as well as income taxes and
banking taxes. Royalty calculations vary, however royalties and
retentions based on net smelter return (NSR) total approximately
9.2%. In the financial model it was assumed that 10,000 tonnes per
year of copper cathodes are sold within Argentina and consequently
they are not subject to export taxes. 95% of VAT is assumed to be
recoverable after two years. A 0.2% portion of the bank tax is
recoverable in the following year.
Table 7: Royalties and Taxes (All Cases) |
Income Tax |
Argentine Corporate Income |
% Profit |
35% |
|
VAT Taxes |
Argentine Value Added Tax |
% on Capital |
10.5% |
|
% on Operating |
21% |
|
Royalties |
San Juan Province |
% “Mine Mouth” |
3% |
|
TNR Royalty |
% NSR |
0.4% |
|
McEwen Mining Royalty |
% NSR |
1.25% |
|
Export Retentions |
Argentine Export Retention |
% NSR |
4.5% |
|
Bank Tax |
Debit and Credit Bank Tax |
% on Operating |
1.2% |
|
Nuton Opportunity
Nuton LLC is a copper heap leaching technology
venture of Rio Tinto that became a strategic partner in 2022. Its
Nuton™ suite of proprietary technologies provide opportunities to
leach both primary and secondary copper sulfides, providing
significant opportunity to optimize the mine plan and the overall
mining and processing operations. In addition, Nuton™ provides
significant other benefits, such as lower overall energy
consumption, allowing earlier conversion to renewable energy
sources, and lower water consumption than conventional sulfide
mineralization treatment processes.
Based on preliminary scoping testing, Nuton™
technologies offer the potential for copper recoveries of more than
80% from predominantly chalcopyrite, depending on the specific
mineralogy make-up of the mineral resource. At Los Azules, Nuton™
has the potential to economically process the large primary sulfide
copper resource as an alternative to a concentrator, with low
incremental capital following the oxide and supergene leach, no
tailings requirement, and a smaller environmental footprint.
Producing copper cathode with Nuton™ on-site also has the advantage
of simplifying outbound logistics for copper concentrates and
offers a finished product to the domestic and international
market.
The outcomes modelled using the Nuton
proprietary computational fluid dynamics model, are very
encouraging and indicate that unoptimized copper recovery to
cathode from primary material should range from 73% to 79%.
Furthermore, Nuton recovery from secondary material is high,
ranging from 80% to 86%. This could provide a significant
opportunity to optimize the mine plan and the need for selective
mining, as simultaneous stacking of both secondary and primary
mineralization will not impact on the copper recovery from either
material type. Based on the current resource estimate, this could
have a significant positive impact on the expected life of the
mine, without significantly increasing the initial capital
investment required.
Nuton is currently validating modelled data with
column leach tests. Column leaching of the composite samples at
their facilities is underway and expected to be completed in Q1
2024. Validation of the modelled results could be obtained much
sooner, depending on the trends provided by the actual column leach
results.
McEwen Copper does not currently have a
commercial arrangement with Nuton that enables it to deploy their
technologies at Los Azules, and there is no guarantee that such an
agreement will come to fruition, however McEwen Copper and Nuton
intend to work in good faith toward such an arrangement. The
results in Table 8 below assume that Nuton™ technologies are
implemented without including costs associated with technology
licensing or some other commercial cost structure.
Table 8: Nuton™ Opportunity Economic
Summaries |
Project Metric |
Units |
Base Case-Nuton175 ktpa |
Mine Life |
Yr |
39 |
Strip Ratio |
|
1.43 |
Tonnes Processed |
Billion tonnes |
1.737 |
Copper Grade (Total) |
% Cu |
0.409 |
Copper Production – cathode Cu |
ktonnes |
6,411 |
Initial Capital Cost |
USD Millions |
$2,444 |
Sustaining Capital Cost |
USD Millions |
$2,793 |
C1 Cost (Life of Mine) |
USD/lb Cu |
$1.04 |
All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) |
USD/lb Cu |
$1.54 |
After Taxes |
|
|
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) |
% |
23.9% |
Net Present Value (NPV) @ 8% |
USD Millions |
$3,701 |
Pay Back Period |
Yr |
2.7 |
Project Development
Schedule
The Gantt chart below presents a conceptual
project development timeline based on regional contractor inputs
and long-lead equipment and materials delivery assumptions provided
by vendors. The schedule assumes that the feasibility study work is
completed by the end of 2024, finalization of the environmental
permitting process (IIA/DIA) and other necessary permits to begin
work are completed during the proposed feasibility study and
preliminary timeframe and financing are in place to achieve the
scheduled milestones. Following this conceptual schedule, the SX/EW
plant start-up could occur in Q1 2029.
McEwen Copper Capital
Structure
McEwen Copper is a Canadian-based private
company with 28,885,000 common shares issued and outstanding. Its
current shareholders are McEwen Mining Inc. 51.9%, Stellantis
14.2%, Nuton 14.2%, Rob McEwen 13.9%, Victor Smorgon Group 3.5%,
other management and shareholders 2.3%.
Updated Mineral Resource Estimate
The database for resource estimation has
a cutoff date December 31st,
2022. An additional 22,252 m of drilling (mostly infill) from 49
holes, completed in 2023 to date, were not included in the resource
estimate.
The mineral resources have been classified
according to guidelines and logic summarized within the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM 2019)
Definitions referred to in NI 43-101. Resources were classified as
Indicated or Inferred by considering geology, sampling, and grade
estimation aspects of the model. For geology, consideration was
given to the confidence in the interpretation of the lithologic
domain boundaries and geometry. For sampling, consideration was
given to the number and spacing of composites, the orientation of
drilling and the reliability of sampling. For the estimation
results, consideration was given to the confidence with which
grades were estimated as measured by the quality of the match
between the grades of the data and the model.
Mineral resources are determined using an NSR
cut-off value to cover the processing cost for each recovery
methodology. For supergene and primary material using sulfuric acid
leaching and SX/EW recovery the cutoff was
$2.74/t. The supergene and primary material can be
treated in a float mill with NSR cutoffs of
$5.46/t and $5.43/t,
respectively. NSR values are based on a copper price of
$4.00/lb, gold at $1,700/oz, and
silver at $20/oz, where applicable. Variable pit
slopes between 30° and 42° were
applied depending on depth.
The current database is adequate for the
preparation of a long-range model that serves as the basis for the
2023 PEA. The extent of mineralization along strike exceeds 4
kilometers and the distance across strike is approximately 2.2
kilometers. The deposit is open at depth and to the North. Over the
approximately 2.5 km strike length where mineralization is
strongest, the average drill spacing is approximately 150 m to 200
m but there are localized areas where drilling is on 100-m spacing.
The assay database includes 56,528 m of assay interval data from
162 drillholes. Resource estimation work was performed using
Datamine Studio modeling software.
Resources disclosed in Table 9 are reported in
two categories related to processing amenability:
1) materials that are suited for processing in a
commercially proven conventional, ambient conditions, copper
bio-leaching scheme (Leach); and
2) materials that are better suited to
processing either in a more advanced bio-leaching scheme such as
Nuton™ technologies or traditional milling/concentrator approach
(Mill or Leach+).
Table 9: Mineral Resource Estimate |
|
|
|
Milliontonnes (MT) |
Average Grade |
Contained Metal |
|
|
|
Cu% -tot |
Cu% -sol |
Au(g/t) |
Ag(g/t) |
Cu(Blbs) |
Au(Moz) |
Ag(Moz) |
Indicated |
Supergene |
Leach |
944.2 |
0.46 |
0.30 |
- |
- |
9.54 |
- |
- |
Mill or Leach+ |
73.0 |
0.13 |
- |
0.09 |
1.10 |
0.21 |
0.20 |
2.58 |
Primary |
Mill or Leach+ |
218.1 |
0.25 |
- |
0.036 |
1.06 |
1.19 |
0.25 |
7.43 |
Total |
Mill or Leach+ |
291.1 |
0.22 |
- |
0.049 |
1.07 |
1.40 |
0.46 |
10.01 |
Total Indicated |
|
Leach & Mill or Leach+ |
1,235.3 |
0.40 |
|
|
|
10.94 |
0.46 |
10.01 |
Inferred |
Supergene |
Leach |
695.7 |
0.32 |
0.19 |
- |
- |
4.91 |
- |
- |
Mill or Leach+ |
525.6 |
0.30 |
- |
0.05 |
1.44 |
3.45 |
0.87 |
24.40 |
Primary |
Mill or Leach+ |
3,288.0 |
0.25 |
- |
0.03 |
1.18 |
18.35 |
3.37 |
124.67 |
Total |
Mill or Leach+ |
3,813.6 |
0.26 |
- |
0.035 |
1.22 |
21.79 |
4.24 |
149.07 |
Total Inferred |
|
Leach & Mill or Leach+ |
4,509.3 |
0.31 |
|
|
|
26.70 |
4.24 |
149.07 |
Table 9 Notes:
- Mineral resources, which are not
mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The
estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by
environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political,
marketing, or other relevant factors.
- The quantity and grade of reported
inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in
nature and there is insufficient exploration to define these
inferred mineral resources as an indicated or measured mineral
resource; it is expected that further infill drilling will result
in upgrading some of this material to an indicated or measured
classification.
- Reasonable prospects of eventual
economic extraction are demonstrated by using a calculated NSR
value in each block to evaluate an open pit shell using both
Indicated and Inferred blocks in Geovia Whittle™ pit optimization
software.
- NSR was calculated using the
following: metal prices of $4.00/lb for copper, $1,700/oz. for gold
and $20/oz. for silver, processing costs of $4.17/t, total freight
costs of $150/t, selling costs of $0.02/lb for copper and a
constant recovery of 95% applied.
- An NSR cut-off of $2.74/t was used
based on extraction of the resource from the enriched zone using
sulfuric acid leaching and SX/EW recovery; 100% of the soluble
copper and 15% of the non-soluble copper grade is recovered in the
heap-leach method.
- The supergene and primary material
can potentially be treated in a mill/concentrator with NSR cut-offs
of $5.46/t and $5.43/t respectively. This has the added benefit of
also recovering the gold and silver present in the resource.
Additional parameters are used for the NSR calculation for this
scenario.
- Depending on the potential depth of
the pit, total pit slope angles ranged from 42° near surface to 32°
below 1000m depth. Overburden slopes were set at 30°.
- Composites of 2 m length were
capped where needed; the capping strategy is based on the
distribution of grade which varies by location (i.e. domain or
proximity to controlling structures) and the associated potential
metal removal. The resource estimate is based on uncapped
copper grades; local capped grades are used for gold and
silver.
- Block grades were estimated using a
combination of ordinary Kriging and inverse distance squared
weighting depending on domain size.
- Model blocks are 20m x 20m x 15m in
size.
End Notes:(1) All dollar amounts are United
States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated.(2) Project capital
intensity is defined as Initial Capex ($) / LOM Avg. Annual Copper
Production (lbs. or tonnes). C1 cash costs per pound produced is
defined as the cash cost incurred at each processing stage, from
mining through to recoverable copper delivered to the market, net
of any by-product credits. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) per pound
of copper produced adds production royalties, non-recoverable VAT
and sustaining capital costs to C1. AISC margin is the ratio of
AISC to gross revenue. Capital intensity, C1 cash costs per pound
of copper produced, AISC per pound of copper produced, and AISC
margin are all non-GAAP financial metrics.(3) Annual earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure.(4) Kilograms of Carbon
Dioxide Equivalent per tonne of Copper Equivalent produced. Carbon
Dioxide Equivalent means having the same global warming potential
as any another greenhouse gas.(5) Wood Mackenzie Limited average
Scope 1&2 emissions intensity for 394 assets during the period
between 2022 and 2040.(6) 2017 NI 43-101 Technical Report on Los
Azules Project, Hatch Engineering (Throughput of 120,000 tpd of
mineralized material).(7) The sequential assay method used at Los
Azules for both the resource assay and metallurgical programs
provides an indication of the copper mineralization present in the
form of acid soluble copper and cyanide soluble copper, both assays
combined provide an approximation for ‘soluble’ copper.(8) Soluble
copper recovery exceeding 100% implies partial leaching of material
which was not categorized as “soluble” based on the sequential
assaying method and data available.
Qualified Persons
Technical aspects of this news release,
excluding mineral resource disclosure, have been reviewed and
verified by James L. Sorensen – FAusIMM Reg. No. 221286 with Samuel
Engineering, who is a qualified person as defined by National
Instrument 43-101– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects.
Disclosure related to the updated Los Azules
mineral resource estimate has been reviewed and approved by Allan
Schappert, CPG #11758, SME-RM, with Stantec Consulting, who is
Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43- 101”).
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain
forward-looking statements and information, including
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking
statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news
release, McEwen Mining Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts,
projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and
results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily
based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to
significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks
and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such
statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore,
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and
uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ
materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements and information include, but are not
limited to, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuations in the
market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political,
economic, social and security risks associated with foreign
operations, the ability of the Company to receive or receive in a
timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection
with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining
operations and commencement of production and the projected costs
thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital
markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to
calculation of mineral resources and reserves, foreign exchange
volatility, foreign exchange controls, foreign currency risk, and
other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or information included herein, which
speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no
obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or
information as a result of new information or events after the date
hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022,
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31,
2023, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional
information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to
the forward-looking statements and information regarding the
Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in
this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.
The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not
accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents
of this news release, which has been prepared by management of
McEwen Mining Inc.
ABOUT MCEWEN MINING
McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with
operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it
owns approximately 52% of McEwen Copper which owns the large,
advanced stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The
Company’s goal is to improve the productivity and life of its
assets with the objective of increasing its share price and
providing a yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has
personal investment in the company of US$220 million. His annual
salary is US$1.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11da1d4f-c360-4f1a-bcbc-735be326d58d
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