This news release constitutes a "designated
news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus
supplement dated August 12, 2024, to
its short form base shelf prospectus dated June 21, 2024.
RENO,
Nevada, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ - i-80 GOLD
CORP. (TSX:IAU) (NYSE:IAUX) ("i-80 Gold", or the
"Company") is pleased to announce the results of the
preliminary economic assessment (the "PEA") for the Granite Creek
Open Pit Project ("Granite Creek Open Pit" or the "Project").
Granite Creek Open Pit is located within the Getchell Trend
in northern Nevada, United States,
immediately south of the Turquoise Ridge Complex of Nevada Gold Mines.
"This Granite Creek Open Pit has all the markings of a top tier
project; it is an open pit oxide project in Nevada with very good grades and recoveries
leading to robust economics. This project on its own could be a
company maker and it's only one of five projects within the i-80
Gold portfolio. It's a key component to growing our production
profile towards mid-tier status, and our team is working vigorously
to permit and move this project forward," stated Richard Young, Chief Executive Officer.
Granite Creek Open Pit PEA Highlights
Mineral Estimates, Production and Mine Life
- Large open pit carbon-in-leach ("CIL") gold mine with a life of
mine ("LOM") of approximately 10 years.
- Annual gold production of approximately 130,000 ounces
following ramp up.
- Estimated LOM cash costs(1) of $1,185 per ounce and all-in-sustaining
costs(1) of $1,225 per
ounce.
- Updated mineral resource estimate resulting in an indicated
gold mineral resource of 1.44 million ounces at 1.18 grams per
tonne ("g/t").
- Updated mineral resource estimate resulting in an inferred gold
mineral resource 0.08 million ounces at 1.09 g/t.
Project Economics
- Based on a $2,175/oz gold price,
the Project's undiscounted after-tax cash flows(2) total
$661 million with an after-tax net
present value(2)("NPV") of $421
million, assuming a 5% discount rate, generating an 30%
internal rate of return ("IRR").
- Based on spot gold of $2,900/oz,
the Project's undiscounted after-tax cash flows total $1,267 million with an after-tax
NPV(2) of $866 million,
assuming a 5% discount rate, generating an IRR of 50%.
- Mine construction capital, including all pre-production
facilities and infrastructure is estimated at approximately
$200 million. No capital is included
in mine construction capital for mobile equipment as the plan
incorporates contract mining. Unit mining costs have been increased
accordingly.
- Additionally, 12.9 million tonnes of stripping is required
pre-production and 4.7 million tonnes in the first production year,
costing $33.9 million.
- LOM sustaining capital is estimated at $30.3 million, primarily for tailings dam
expansion and general sustaining costs.
- Total capital includes a contingency of 25%, or $49.1 million.
Mining and Processing
- The primary mining method will be a conventional open pit truck
(10 to 12 trucks) and loader (4 loaders) operation, moving
approximately 40 million tonnes per year during a steady state of
production.
- The LOM strip ratio is 8.2:1, excluding capitalized
pre-stripping.
- Material mined will be treated in a CIL process plant on site
at a rate of approximately 3.5 million tonnes per year during
steady state.
- Overall average gold grade processed of 1.25 g/t with an
expected average gold recovery of 86.6%.
All amounts are in United
States dollars, unless otherwise stated.
A summary of key valuation, cost, and operating metrics is
presented in Table 1 below. For more detailed metrics presented on
an annual basis, see Granite Creek Open Pit Detailed Cash Flow
Model in Appendix.
Table 1: Summary of PEA Key Operating and Financial
Metrics
Project Economics
|
Unit
|
|
Gold Price
|
$/oz
|
$2,175
|
Pre-Tax
NPV(5%)(2)
|
$M
|
$581.3
|
After-Tax
NPV(5%)(2)
|
$M
|
$421.2
|
After-Tax
IRR
|
%
|
30 %
|
After-Tax Cash
Flow
|
$M
|
$660.9
|
Production
Profile
|
|
|
Mine Life
|
years
|
~10
|
Mineralized Material
Mined
|
000s
tonnes
|
34,854.5
|
Gold Grade of
Mineralized Material Mined
|
g/t Au
|
1.25
|
Waste Tonnes Mined
(excluding Capitalized Stripping)
|
000s
tonnes
|
287,352.9
|
Capitalized Stripping
Tonnes Mined
|
000s
tonnes
|
21,969.9
|
Total Tonnes Moved
(Incl. Capitalized Stripping)
|
000s
tonnes
|
339,845.0
|
Total Mineralized
Material Processed
|
000s
tonnes
|
34,854.5
|
Gold Grade
Processed
|
g/t Au
|
1.25
|
Strip Ratio (excluding
capitalized stripping)
|
(waste:mineralized
material)
|
8.2:1
|
Average Gold
Recovery
|
%
|
86.6 %
|
Total Gold
Recovered
|
000s oz
|
1,120
|
Average Annual Gold
Equivalent
Production(1) (LOM)
|
000s oz
|
110.0
|
Average Annual Gold
Production
(following production ramp up)
|
000s oz
|
128.6
|
Unit Operating
Costs
|
|
|
Mineralized Material
Mined
|
$/t mined
|
$2.37
|
Processed
(CIL)
|
$/t
processed
|
$11.83
|
G&A
|
$/t
processed
|
$1.83
|
LOM Total Cash
Costs(1) (net of by-product credit)
|
$/oz
|
$1,185
|
LOM All-in Sustaining
Costs(1) (net of by-product credit)
|
$/oz
|
$1,225
|
Total Capital
Costs
|
|
|
Permitting
|
$M
|
$10.0
|
Construction
Capital
|
$M
|
$200.2
|
Capitalized
Stripping
|
$M
|
$33.9
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
$M
|
$30.3
|
Reclamation &
Surety
|
$M
|
$18.0
|
Total Capital &
Closure Costs
|
$M
|
$292.4
|
"The steady increase in the gold price has provided the
opportunity to reassess the optimal processing stream for the
Granite Creek Open Pit Project. The PEA confirms that anchoring
entirely on a CIL processing facility adds significant value,
primarily through higher gold recoveries, compared to conventional
heap leach processing and reduces recovery risk. Additionally, the
Project benefits from existing underground infrastructure, such as
the dewatering systems, which improve efficiency and reduce capital
requirements. Further, with this being a restart of a previously
mined open pit, we anticipate an efficient permitting process,"
added Matthew Gili, President and
Chief Operating Officer.
Mineral Resource Update
The Project's open pit mineral resource was estimated in four
main zones from west to east: B, A, CX, and Mag pits. In each zone,
the geology was modeled using structural domains and grade
indicator shells to define the concentrated high-grade and
surrounding low-grade zones. The global estimation was then
constrained by an optimized pit shell for resource reporting.
Whittle shell optimization model has been utilized to create
resource pit shells in Table 2.
Table 2: Granite Creek Open Pit Mineral Resource
Estimate Statement as of May 4,
2021
Measured and
Indicated Mineral Resources
|
|
Class
|
Deposit
|
Tonnes
|
Au
|
Au
|
|
(Mt)
|
(g/t)
|
(Moz
)
|
|
Measured
|
Pit B
|
2.91
|
1.32
|
0.123
|
|
Pit A
|
0.56
|
1.07
|
0.019
|
|
CX
|
10.89
|
1.30
|
0.455
|
|
Mag
|
12.00
|
1.21
|
0.468
|
|
Total
Measured
|
26.36
|
1.26
|
1.066
|
|
Indicated
|
Pit B
|
0.36
|
1.10
|
0.013
|
|
Pit A
|
0.69
|
0.80
|
0.018
|
|
CX
|
2.97
|
1.25
|
0.120
|
|
Mag
|
7.32
|
0.93
|
0.219
|
|
Total
Indicated
|
11.34
|
1.01
|
0.369
|
|
Measured
and
Indicated
|
Pit B
|
3.27
|
1.29
|
0.136
|
|
Pit A
|
1.25
|
0.92
|
0.037
|
|
CX
|
13.86
|
1.29
|
0.575
|
|
Mag
|
19.32
|
1.11
|
0.687
|
|
Total Measured &
Indicated
|
37.70
|
1.18
|
1.435
|
|
Inferred Mineral
Resources
|
|
Class
|
Deposit
|
Tonnes
|
Au
|
Au
|
|
(000s)
|
(g/t)
|
(000s
oz)
|
|
Inferred
|
Pit B
|
0.03
|
0.64
|
0.001
|
|
Pit A
|
0.21
|
0.59
|
0.004
|
|
CX
|
1.35
|
1.16
|
0.050
|
|
Mag
|
0.56
|
1.11
|
0.020
|
|
|
Total
Inferred
|
2.15
|
1.09
|
0.075
|
|
Notes to table
above:
I. The effective date of the mineral resources
estimate is May 4, 2021.
II. The qualified persons for
the estimate are Terre Lane QP-MMSA and Hamid Samari QP-MMSA of
GRE, Inc.
III.
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.
Mineral resources are not ore reserves and are not demonstrably
economically recoverable.
IV.
Mineral resources are reported at a 0.30 g/t cutoff, an assumed
gold price of 2,040 $/tr. oz, using variable recovery, a slope
angle of 41 degrees, 6% royalty, heap leach processing cost $9.04
per tonne (includes admin costs), CIL processing cost of $17.22 per
tonne (includes admin costs).
V. An inferred mineral
resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and
grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological
evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply
but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An
inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that
applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted
to a mineral reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority
of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated
mineral resources with continued exploration.
VI.
The reference point for mineral resources is in situ.
|


Economic Analysis
The project economics shown in the PEA are favorable, providing
positive NPV values at varying gold prices, capital costs, and
operating costs. The Project's NPV and IRR in relation to
fluctuations in the gold price are outlined in Table 3.
Table 3: Granite Creek Open Pit Gold Price Sensitivity
After-tax Analysis
|
Gold Price
($/oz)
|
|
$1,850
|
$2,000
|
$2,175
|
$2,500
|
$2,750
|
$2,900
|
$3,000
|
NPV5%
($M)(2)
|
$260
|
$361
|
$421
|
$624
|
$776
|
$866
|
$926
|
IRR (%)
|
21 %
|
26 %
|
30 %
|
39 %
|
46 %
|
50 %
|
52 %
|
Project Overview
Granite Creek Open Pit is a large open pit CIL gold development
project. The Granite Creek property (the "Property") also includes
the Granite Creek Underground Project, a fully permitted,
constructed and operating mine currently in the production ramp up
phase. The Property is located at the intersection of the highly
prolific Battle
Mountain-Eureka and
Getchell gold trends, near Nevada Gold Mines' Turquoise Ridge
Complex (see Figure 2). Situated in the Potosi mining district, the Project lies
approximately 27 miles northeast of Winnemucca, within Humboldt County, Nevada.
Access to the Property is provided by a combination of paved
interstate and state highways and well-maintained, unpaved private
roads. The towns of Winnemucca and
Battle Mountain are located 35
miles by road to the southwest and 60 miles to the southeast of the
Property, respectively.
Between 1980 and 1999, approximately 987,000 ounces of gold was
produced from various open pit mining operations on the site. The
Granite Creek Open Pit is an expansion of the previously mined
areas.
Geology and Mineralization
Mineralization at Granite Creek is Carlin-type, with gold hosted in fine-grained
arsenian pyrite similar to nearby deposits at Nevada Gold Mines'
Turquoise Ridge Complex which hosts approximately 20 million
measured and indicated ounces of gold(3). The primary
host rocks at Granite Creek are interbedded shale, siltstone, and
limestone of the Ordovician Comus Formation. Open-pit
mineralization at Granite Creek is hosted in Upper Comus siltstone
and shale in the Mag pit.
Conversely, mineralization is hosted in the Lower Comus marble,
limestone, and siltstone in the CX and B pits. In the CX and B
pits, mineralization is strongly structurally controlled, typically
by inverted thrust faults and normal faults trending north to
northeast. In the Mag pit, mineralization has a stronger
stratigraphic control with mineralization along bedding in the
footwall of the northwest trending Mag fault.
Mining and Processing
The PEA demonstrates an initial mine life of approximately 10
years with an annual gold production of approximately 130,000
ounces following production ramp up. The PEA represents a
preliminary point-in-time estimate of the mine plan. The previous
preliminary economic assessment released on Granite Creek in 2021,
envisioned a predominately heap leach operation with a small-scale
CIL plant for Granite Creek open pit. Further work and higher gold
prices have demonstrated better economics by migrating to a full
CIL scenario.
The Project's above ground mine plan will be accomplished using
conventional open pit mining techniques with 10 to 12 haul trucks
(133 tonne) and four loaders (nine cubic yard bucket). Mineralized
material will be mined at a rate of 10,000 tonnes per day, assuming
350 days of mining a year, for a total of 3.5 million tonnes
annually.
Waste rock would be placed in waste rock storage facilities and
as pit backfill as the mining sequence allows. Pits were
designed with overall 41-degree side wall slopes and 90-foot haul
roads with a maximum of 10% grade.
The study envisions the construction of 10,000 tonne per day CIL
plant on-site. The process plant for Granite Creek was selected
based on the material characteristics, in particular the presence
of organic carbon ("TOC") and the associated cyanide leach
performance. The variable organic carbon concentrations in the
material make the use of conventional cyanide heap leaching less
robust and require more strict ore control measures to divert high
TOC materials to an alternative leach process. Given this, a CIL
process was selected, CIL also showed a significant gold recovery
advantage over heap leaching.
The Project's process design includes primary crushing via a
large jaw crusher with an intermediate stockpile. The crushed
material is fed to a sag and ball mill circuit consisting of a
semi-autogenous ("SAG") mill in closed circuit with a ball
mill. Pebble crushing has not been included at this stage.
The target throughput is 10,000 tonnes per day at a 90%
availability. The ground material is directed to a thickener and
the thickener underflow to the CIL tanks.
The CIL circuit employs simultaneous cyanide gold leaching and
activated carbon gold adsorption with the carbon advancing
countercurrent to the leach slurry. The presence of active
carbon during the leaching mitigates the impact of gold adsorption
by the organic carbon present in the material.
The loaded carbon is stripped of the gold in a modified Zadra
elution circuit. Hot cyanide and sodium hydroxide solutions
remove the gold from the carbon into a concentrated stream that
reports to an electrowinning circuit. The electrowon gold is
further thermally refined into doré bars prior to shipment.
A conventional tailings storage facility would be constructed
near the CIL plant.
Capital Cost Summary
Mine construction capital and sustaining capital over LOM is
estimated to total approximately $292.4
million. This includes $33.9 million in capitalized stripping cost,
$200.2 million in construction
capital, $30.3 million in sustaining
capital, $18 million in reclamation
costs, and $10 million for
permitting. There is a 25% or $49.1
million contingency included in the capital figures.
Approximately 12.9 million tonnes of stripping is required in
the year prior to production and 4.7 million tonnes in the first
year of production to gain access to the body or mineralized
material costing $37.7 million.
The Project is a former producing mine with a large portion of the
necessary infrastructure in place.
Granite Creek Open Pit is expected to generate an estimated
$660.9 million in after-tax cash flow
over the current mine life (see Figure 5).
Table 4: Granite Creek Open Pit Capital Cost Estimates
(excludes permitting and reclamation costs)
|
Mine
Construction
|
Sustaining
|
($M)
|
($M)
|
Capitalized
Waste
|
$30.1
|
|
Construction
Capital
|
$160.8
|
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
|
$24.2
|
Contingency
(25% on capital and 20% on capitalized waste)
|
$43.1
|
$6.1
|
Total Capital
Cost
|
$234.0
|
$30.3
|
Operating Cost Summary
The PEA estimates cash costs(1) of $1,185 per ounce of gold and all-in sustaining
costs(1) of $1,225 per
ounce of gold for the LOM (see Table 5). Figure 6 illustrates these
operating costs over the Project's estimated production
profile.
Table 5: Granite Creek Open Pit Total and Unit Operating
Costs
|
Total
Costs
|
Unit
Cost
|
Cost per
Ounce
|
($M)
|
($/t
)
|
($/oz
Au)
|
Mining
|
$764.4
|
$21.93
|
$632
|
Processing
|
$412.3
|
$11.83
|
$341
|
G&A
|
$63.9
|
$1.83
|
$53
|
Refining, Royalties
& Net Proceeds Tax
|
$193.3
|
$5.55
|
$160
|
Total Operating
Cost/Cash Costs(1)
|
$2,511.0
|
$40.8
|
$1,185
|
Closure &
Reclamation
|
$18.00
|
$0.5
|
$15
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
$30.3
|
$0.9
|
$25
|
All-in Sustaining
Costs(1)
|
$1,482.3
|
$42.5
|
$1,225
|
Permitting
The Project has the necessary permits for the ongoing
small-scale underground mining operation.
In order to execute the project plan, additional state and
federal permits are required. The Project will extend to
non-patented mining claims and will require a permit under the
National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") which is the regulation
that requires an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS"). The EIS
requires significant effort to acquire; however, i-80 Gold
currently expects to successfully permit the Project in a
reasonable time frame of three years.
State permits are required for air quality protection,
groundwater protection, surface water protection, and water rights.
The current PEA includes a timeline for acquiring these permits,
and the costs associated with the permitting effort.
Water Management
The underground mine will abstract up to 3,000 gpm of dewatering
water coming from the underground mine sumps and the dewatering
wells required to dewater the mine. The MAG pit is currently
flooded and must be dewatered. Many of the types of dewatering
water contain elevated arsenic concentrations above Nevada
Reference Values, as does much of Nevada's natural groundwater. As
a result, the site has a plan for the management and treatment of
any Mine Influenced Water ("MIW") that does not meet discharge
standards. This plan includes preferentially consuming MIW for
operations, treating water in a metal-precipitator treatment plant,
and the entrainment of MIW in the tailings pond, followed by forced
evaporation over the tailings pond. The majority of pumped
groundwater will be reinfiltrated in several already-permitted
Rapid Infiltration Basins ("RIBs") which return the water to the
Humboldt basin aquifers.
Closure
The site closure costs are estimated at $18.0 million. The closure plan involves covering
the tailings facility and mine waste with industry-standard
engineered covers which will prevent groundwater and surface water
quality impacts. Upon closure, no long-term liabilities are
currently predicted to exist which may complicate bond release and
a walk-away post-closure condition.
Next Steps to Feasibility Study
A feasibility study in accordance with National Instrument
43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI
43-101") and Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K ("S-K 1300") with
an updated mineral resource estimate is expected to be completed in
Q4 2025. Below is a summary of additional work to be
conducted.
Metallurgical
- Improved geo-metallurgical analysis by increasing the range of
materials tested to include grade (gold, silver, carbon and
sulfur), spatial (elevation and strike), and geologic domains.
- Additional CIL testing to improve the gold extraction
relationships.
- Comminution testing examining the SAG and ball mill work
index.
- Infill the drill hole database with TOC and sulfur assays.
- Conduct arsenic and mercury assays on all samples employed for
metallurgical testing.
Technical Disclosure and Qualified Persons
The PEA was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The PEA will
be filed within 45 days of the date of this press release under the
Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. An Initial
Assessment for the Granite Creek Open Pit Project ("S-K 1300
Report") was also prepared in accordance with S-K 1300 and Item 601
of the Regulation S-K and the S-K 1300 Report will be filed on
EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Both reports will be available on the
Company's website at www.i80gold.com. The mineral estimates and
project economics are the same under the PEA and the S-K 1300
Report.
The technical information contained in this press release has
been prepared under the supervision of, and has been reviewed and
approved by Terre Lane (SME No.
4053005 / MMSA No. 01407QP) of Global Resource Engineering
("GRE"), and Tyler Hill CPG., Vice President Geology for the
Company, who are all qualified persons within the meaning of NI
43-101 and S-K 1300.
For a description of the data verification, assay procedures and
the quality assurance program and quality control measures applied
by the Company, please see the Company's Annual Information Form
dated March 12, 2024 filed under the
Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and filed with the
Company's Form 40-F under the Company's profile on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov. Further information about the PEA referenced in this
news release, including information in respect of data
verification, key assumptions, parameters, risks and other factors,
will be contained in the PEA.
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes an economic
analysis that is based, in part, on inferred mineral resources.
Inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative
geologically to have for the application of economic considerations
applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral
reserves, and there is no certainty that the results of the PEA
will be realized. Mineral resources do not have demonstrated
economic viability and are not mineral reserves.
Endnotes
- This is a non-IFRS/non-GAAP measure. Please see the
section titled "Non-IFRS Performance Measures/Non-GAAP Financial
Performance Measures" below.
- Cash flow and NPV are calculated as of the start of
construction, which is anticipated to commence in early 2028,
subject to obtaining the necessary permits by December 31, 2027, as anticipated.
- Turquoise Ridge Complex gold mineral resource estimate of
approximately 20 million ounces (110 Mt at 5.42 g/t Au) as at
December 31, 2023 based on publicly
filed technical reports of Barrick Gold Corporation available on
SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and www.barrick.com. No qualified
person of the Company has independently verified any mineral
resource information in respect of the Turquoise Ridge Complex
contained in this news release and such information is not
necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property
subject to such technical reports.
About i-80 Gold Corp.
i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused mining company committed to
building a mid-tier gold producer through a new development plan to
advance its high-quality asset portfolio. The Company is the fourth
largest gold mineral resource holder in the state with a pipeline
of high-grade development and production-stage projects
strategically located in Nevada's most prolific gold-producing
trends. Leveraging its fully permitted central processing facility,
i-80 Gold is executing a hub-and-spoke regional mining and
processing strategy to maximize efficiency and growth. i-80 Gold's
shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: IAU) and the
NYSE American (NYSE: IAUX). For more information, visit
www.i80gold.com.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking
statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable securities laws, including but not limited to,
statements regarding the updated results of the PEA on the Project,
such as future estimates of internal rates of return, net present
value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining
plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal
recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs, timing for
permitting and environmental assessments, timing, completion and
results of feasibility studies, and the size and timing of phased
development of the Project. Furthermore, forward-looking statements
are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions
that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of
such statements, are inherently subject to significant business,
economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. With
respect to this specific forward-looking information concerning the
development of the Project, the Company has based its assumptions
and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain.
Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii)
geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of
the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing
capacity; (v) the price of gold, silver and other commodities; (vi)
the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete
development; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and
processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and
engineering problems; (ix) natural disasters and/or accidents; *
currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the
compliance by and/or key suppliers with terms of agreements; (xiii)
the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiv) the
regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies,
including permitting and environmental assessments; (xv) the
ability to raise sufficient capital to develop such projects; (xiv)
changes in project scope or design; and (xv) political factors.
Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as
"may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe",
"plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast",
"predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or
"will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the
Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance
and results and speak only as of the date of this release and are
expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume
any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after
the date of this release.
This release also contains references to estimates of mineral
resources. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently
uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant
factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not
have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such
estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available
data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering
and geological interpretation (including estimated future
production from the Project, the anticipated tonnages and grades
that will be mined and the estimated level of recovery that will be
realized), which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a
certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and
statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate.
Mineral resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on:
(i) fluctuations in commodities prices; (ii) results of drilling,
(iii) metallurgical testing and other studies; (iv) proposed mining
operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans
subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible
failure to receive required permits, approvals and licenses or
changes to existing mining licenses.
Forward-looking statements and information involve significant
known and unknown risks and uncertainties, should not be read as
guarantees of future performance or results and will not
necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results
will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to
differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements or information, including, but not
limited to: the Company's ability to finance the development of its
mineral properties; assumptions and discount rates being
appropriately applied to the PEA and S-K 1300 Report, uncertainty
as to whether there will ever be production at the Company's
mineral exploration and development properties; risks related to
the Company's ability to commence production at the Project and
generate material revenues or obtain adequate financing for its
planned exploration and development activities; uncertainties
relating to the assumptions underlying resource and reserve
estimates; mining and development risks, including risks related to
infrastructure, accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes,
bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit
requirements or other unanticipated difficulties with or
interruptions in development, construction or production; the
geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits;
the uncertainties involving success of exploration, development and
mining activities; permitting timelines; government regulation of
mining operations; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation
expenses; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and
services; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling
results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and
resources; unexpected cost increases in estimated capital and
operating costs; the need to obtain permits and government
approvals; material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws,
rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable
authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company
to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity
prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to
deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and
support continued exploration, studies, development or
operations. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and
other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements,
refer to i-80 Gold's filings with Canadian securities regulators,
including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on
SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Non-IFRS/Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures
The Company has included certain terms or performance measures
in this news release that commonly used in the gold mining industry
that are not defined under International Financial Reporting
Standards ("IFRS") or United States Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles ("US GAAP"). This includes: all-in sustaining costs per
ounce and cash cost per ounce. Non-IFRS/Non-GAAP financial
performance measures do not have any standardized meaning
prescribed under IFRS or US GAAP, and therefore, they may not be
comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The
data presented is intended to provide additional information and
should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
measures prepared in accordance with IFRS US GAAP and should be
read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements.
Because the Company has provided these measures on a
forward-looking basis, it is unable to present a quantitative
reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure
calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP without
unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of
forecasting the timing or amount of various reconciling items that
would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking IFRS or
US GAAP measure that have not yet occurred, are outside of the
Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted.
Definitions
"All-in sustaining costs" is a non-IFRS or US GAAP financial
measure calculated based on guidance published by the World Gold
Council ("WGC"). The WGC is a market development organization for
the gold industry and is an association whose membership comprises
leading gold mining companies. Although the WGC is not a mining
industry regulatory organization, it worked closely with its member
companies to develop these metrics. Adoption of the all-in
sustaining cost metric is voluntary and not necessarily standard,
and therefore, this measure presented by the Company may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The
Company believes that the all-in sustaining cost measure
complements existing measures and ratios reported by the Company.
All-in sustaining cost includes both operating and capital costs
required to sustain gold production on an ongoing basis. Sustaining
operating costs represent expenditures expected to be incurred at
the Project that are considered necessary to maintain production.
Sustaining capital represents expected capital expenditures
comprising mine development costs, including capitalized waste, and
ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities,
and does not include expected capital expenditures for major growth
projects or enhancement capital for significant infrastructure
improvements.
"Cash cost per gold ounce" is a common financial performance
measure in the gold mining industry but has no standard meaning
under IFRS or US GAAP. The Company believes that, in addition to
conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP,
certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's
performance and ability to generate cash flow. Cash cost figures
are calculated in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold
Institute. The Gold Institute ceased operations in 2002, but the
standard is considered the accepted standard of reporting cash cost
of production in North America. Adoption of the standard is
voluntary, and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to
other similarly titled measures of other companies.
For a more detailed breakdown on how these measures were
calculated, please see the table below:
|
Total
Costs
|
Unit
Cost
|
Cost per
Ounce
|
($M)
|
($/t
)
|
($/oz
Au)
|
Mining
|
$764.4
|
$21.93
|
$632
|
Processing
|
$412.3
|
$11.83
|
$341
|
G&A
|
$63.9
|
$1.83
|
$53
|
Refining, Royalties
& Net Proceeds Tax
|
$193.3
|
$5.55
|
$160
|
Total Operating
Cost/Cash Costs(1)
|
$2,511.0
|
$40.8
|
$1,185
|
Closure &
Reclamation
|
$18.00
|
$0.5
|
$15
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
$30.3
|
$0.9
|
$25
|
All-in Sustaining
Costs(1)
|
$1,482.3
|
$42.5
|
$1,225
|
APPENDIX
Granite Creek Open Pit Project Detailed Cash Flow
Model
Granite Creek Open
Pit
|
UNITS
|
TOTAL /
LOM
|
2028E
|
2029E
|
2030E
|
2031E
|
2032E
|
2033E
|
2034E
|
2035E
|
2036E
|
2037E
|
2038E
|
2039E
|
2040E
|
2041E
|
MINING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mine
Life
|
Years
|
~10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineralized Material Mined
|
k tonnes
|
34,854.5
|
|
291
|
4,511
|
4,110
|
4,091
|
3,739
|
1,531
|
4,954
|
4,333
|
5,483
|
1,812
|
-
|
-
|
|
Expensed
Waste Moved
|
k tonnes
|
287,352.9
|
|
-
|
25,936
|
47,957
|
36,314
|
35,287
|
31,497
|
50,415
|
33,147
|
24,739
|
2,061
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
k tonnes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Moved
|
k tonnes
|
322,207
|
-
|
291
|
30,447
|
52,066
|
40,405
|
39,026
|
33,028
|
55,369
|
37,480
|
30,222
|
3,873
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strip
Ratio
(Excluding Capitalized Strip.)
|
(waste:mineralized
material)
|
8.2:1
|
|
0
|
5.7:1
|
11.7:1
|
8.9:1
|
9.4:1
|
20.6:1
|
10.2:1
|
7.6:1
|
4.5:1
|
1.1:1
|
|
|
|
Strip
Ratio
(Including Capitalized Strip.)
|
(waste:mineralized
material)
|
8.9:1
|
|
44.4:1
|
7.8:1
|
11.7:1
|
8.9:1
|
9.4:1
|
20.6:1
|
10.2:1
|
7.6:1
|
4.5:1
|
1.1:1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daily
Mining Rate
(Mineralized Material)
|
tpd
|
10,291.7
|
-
|
798
|
12,360
|
11,259
|
11,207
|
10,244
|
4,195
|
13,572
|
11,871
|
15,022
|
4,963
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized Mining
|
k tonnes
|
17,637.7
|
|
12,937
|
4,701
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROCESSING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Material for Processing
|
k tonnes
|
34,854
|
-
|
-
|
2,188
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
1,167
|
|
Au
Average Grade
|
g/t Au
|
1.25
|
-
|
-
|
1.87
|
1.28
|
1.27
|
1.03
|
0.88
|
1.48
|
1.75
|
1.64
|
1.21
|
0.53
|
0.53
|
|
Contained
Gold
|
'000 oz Au
|
1,397
|
-
|
-
|
131.7
|
144.5
|
142.8
|
115.6
|
99.0
|
166.6
|
196.9
|
184.3
|
136.2
|
59.8
|
19.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIL
Processing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Tonnes Processed
|
k tonnes
|
34,854
|
|
|
2,188
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
3,500
|
1,167
|
|
Gold
Grade
|
g/t Au
|
1.25
|
-
|
-
|
1.87
|
1.28
|
1.27
|
1.03
|
0.88
|
1.48
|
1.75
|
1.64
|
1.21
|
0.53
|
0.53
|
|
Silver
Grade
|
g/t Au
|
0.00
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Contained
Gold
|
'000 oz Au
|
1,397
|
|
|
131.7
|
144.5
|
142.8
|
115.6
|
99.0
|
166.6
|
196.9
|
184.3
|
136.2
|
59.8
|
19.9
|
|
Recovered Gold
|
'000 oz Au
|
1,210
|
|
|
113.8
|
125.8
|
123.8
|
100.2
|
85.6
|
145.4
|
170.7
|
159.5
|
117.6
|
51.0
|
17.0
|
|
Recovered Silver
|
'000 oz Ag
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Tonnes
Processed
|
k tonnes
|
34,854
|
-
|
-
|
2,187.5
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
3,500.0
|
1,167.0
|
|
Total Gold
Production
|
'000 oz Au
|
1,210
|
-
|
-
|
113.8
|
125.8
|
123.8
|
100.2
|
85.6
|
145.4
|
170.7
|
159.5
|
117.6
|
51.0
|
17.0
|
|
REVENUE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold
Price
|
US$/oz Au
|
$2,175
|
|
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
$2,175
|
Silver
Price
|
US$/oz Ag
|
$27.25
|
|
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
$27.25
|
Gold
Revenues
|
US$M
|
$2,632.7
|
-
|
-
|
$248
|
$274
|
$269
|
$218
|
$186
|
$316
|
$371
|
$347
|
$256
|
$111
|
$37
|
|
Silver
Revenue
|
|
$0.0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
Revenue
|
|
$2,632.7
|
-
|
-
|
$248
|
$274
|
$269
|
$218
|
$186
|
$316
|
$371
|
$347
|
$256
|
$111
|
$37
|
|
OPERATING
COSTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mining
Costs (all)
|
US$M
|
$764.4
|
|
|
$69.0
|
$103.9
|
$94.2
|
$91.3
|
$95.1
|
$117.5
|
$90.0
|
$85.0
|
$18.5
|
-
|
-
|
|
CIL
Processing
|
US$M
|
$412.3
|
|
-
|
$25.0
|
$41.5
|
$41.2
|
$42.0
|
$42.4
|
$41.3
|
$39.9
|
$39.8
|
$41.5
|
$43.2
|
$14.4
|
|
G&A
|
US$M
|
$63.9
|
|
|
$7.1
|
$7.1
|
$7.1
|
$7.1
|
$6.9
|
$7.1
|
$7.1
|
$7.1
|
$4.6
|
$1.6
|
$1.1
|
|
Total
Operating Cost
|
US$M
|
$1,240.7
|
-
|
-
|
$101.2
|
$152.5
|
$142.5
|
$140.4
|
$144.4
|
$165.9
|
$137.0
|
$131.9
|
$64.6
|
$44.8
|
$15.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Refining
& Sales
|
US$M
|
$6.1
|
|
-
|
$0.6
|
$0.6
|
$0.6
|
$0.5
|
$0.4
|
$0.7
|
$0.9
|
$0.8
|
$0.6
|
$0.3
|
$0.1
|
|
Royalties
& State Taxes
|
US$M
|
$187.3
|
|
|
$20.8
|
$21.9
|
$20.0
|
$15.1
|
$12.2
|
$21.7
|
$24.9
|
$22.3
|
$18.3
|
$7.5
|
$2.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mining costs
(Mineralized Material)
|
US$/t mined
|
$21.93
|
-
|
-
|
$15.30
|
$25.28
|
$23.02
|
$24.41
|
$62.11
|
$23.72
|
$20.76
|
$15.51
|
$10.21
|
-
|
-
|
|
Mining Costs
(Mineralized Mat'l & Waste)
|
US$/t mined
|
$2.37
|
-
|
-
|
$2.27
|
$2.00
|
$2.33
|
$2.34
|
$2.88
|
$2.12
|
$2.40
|
$2.81
|
$4.78
|
-
|
-
|
|
Mining costs
(ore & waste )
|
US$/t mined
|
$2.37
|
-
|
-
|
$2.27
|
$2.00
|
$2.33
|
$2.34
|
$2.88
|
$2.12
|
$2.40
|
$2.81
|
$4.78
|
-
|
-
|
|
Processing
|
US$/t
process.
|
$11.83
|
-
|
-
|
$11.45
|
$11.85
|
$11.78
|
$12.01
|
$12.11
|
$11.81
|
$11.40
|
$11.37
|
$11.86
|
$12.36
|
$12.36
|
|
G&A
|
US$/t
process.
|
$1.83
|
-
|
-
|
$3.25
|
$2.03
|
$2.03
|
$2.03
|
$1.97
|
$2.03
|
$2.03
|
$2.03
|
$1.31
|
$0.45
|
$0.97
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
US$/t
process.
|
$35.6
|
-
|
-
|
$46.25
|
$43.56
|
$40.72
|
$40.11
|
$41.25
|
$47.41
|
$39.13
|
$37.69
|
$18.45
|
$12.80
|
$13.32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITAL
EXPENDITURES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent. Payments
|
US$M
|
$0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Permitting
|
US$M
|
$10.0
|
$5.0
|
$5.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized Stripping
|
US$M
|
$33.9
|
-
|
$25.4
|
$8.5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Initial
& Construction Capital
|
US$M
|
$200.2
|
$97.5
|
$102.7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Sustaining Capital
|
US$M
|
$30.3
|
-
|
$0.1
|
$0.0
|
$0.0
|
$1.2
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$0.1
|
$0.0
|
$0.0
|
-
|
Total
Capital
|
US$M
|
$274.4
|
$102.5
|
$133.1
|
$8.5
|
$0.0
|
$1.2
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$5.8
|
$0.1
|
$0.0
|
$0.0
|
-
|
Reclamation & Surety
|
US$M
|
$18.0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$9.0
|
$9.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH COSTS &
AISC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Cash Costs (Inc. Royalty)
|
US$/oz
|
$1,185
|
-
|
-
|
$1,077
|
$1,392
|
$1,317
|
$1,557
|
$1,834
|
$1,296
|
$953
|
$972
|
$710
|
$1,031
|
$1,059
|
-
|
All-in
Sustaining Costs(1)
|
US$/oz
|
$1,225
|
-
|
-
|
$1,077
|
$1,392
|
$1,327
|
$1,614
|
$1,901
|
$1,336
|
$987
|
$1,008
|
$710
|
$1,031
|
$1,590
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOW
ANALYSIS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
US$M
|
$2,632.7
|
-
|
-
|
$248
|
$274
|
$269
|
$218
|
$186
|
$316
|
$371
|
$347
|
$256
|
$111
|
$37
|
-
|
Operating
Costs Gold & Royalties
|
US$M
|
($1,434.0)
|
-
|
-
|
($123)
|
($175)
|
($163)
|
($156)
|
($157)
|
($188)
|
($163)
|
($155)
|
($83)
|
($53)
|
($18)
|
-
|
Depreciation
|
US$M
|
($255.8)
|
-
|
-
|
($20.4)
|
($23.5)
|
($23.2)
|
($18.9)
|
($16.8)
|
($29.8)
|
($36.9)
|
($37.1)
|
($31.0)
|
($13.5)
|
($4.5)
|
-
|
Net
Operating Income (Pre-Tax)
|
US$M
|
$943.0
|
-
|
-
|
$105
|
$75
|
$83
|
$43
|
$12
|
$98
|
$172
|
$155
|
$141
|
$45
|
$14
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
Taxes & 10% NPI (2)
|
US$M
|
($245.5)
|
-
|
-
|
($16)
|
($12)
|
($23)
|
($12)
|
($6)
|
($28)
|
($49)
|
($43)
|
($41)
|
($12)
|
($3)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
US$M
|
$697.5
|
-
|
-
|
$89
|
$63
|
$60
|
$31
|
$7
|
$70
|
$122
|
$111
|
$101
|
$33
|
$11
|
-
|
Depreciation & Depletion
|
US$M
|
$255.8
|
|
|
$20.4
|
$23.5
|
$23.2
|
$18.9
|
$16.8
|
$29.8
|
$36.9
|
$37.1
|
$31.0
|
$13.5
|
$4.5
|
-
|
Reclamation
|
US$M
|
($18.0)
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
($9.0)
|
($9.0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Cash Flow
|
US$M
|
$1,035.3
|
-
|
-
|
$109
|
$87
|
$95
|
$57
|
$27
|
$113
|
$180
|
$167
|
$149
|
$53
|
$8
|
($9)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
Expenditures
|
US$M
|
($274.4)
|
($103)
|
($133)
|
($9)
|
($0)
|
($1)
|
($6)
|
($6)
|
($6)
|
($6)
|
($6)
|
($0)
|
($0)
|
($0)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
CASH FLOW
|
US$M
|
$660.9
|
($102.5)
|
($133.1)
|
$100.6
|
$86.1
|
$82.2
|
$44.2
|
$17.7
|
$93.8
|
$153.4
|
$142.7
|
$131.5
|
$46.7
|
$6.5
|
($9.0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROJECT ECONOMICS
(as of Jan. 1 2028)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After-tax NPV 5%
discounting
|
US$M
|
$421.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 %
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes to table
above:
|
(1) AISC annual
calculations are on a cash basis rather than on an accrual basis.
As such, the weighted average of the annual AISC amounts will not
agree to the life of mine AISC.
|
(2) Includes a 10% net
profits interest to Gold Royalty Corp.
|

View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-80-gold-announces-positive-preliminary-economic-assessment-on-the-granite-creek-open-pit-project-nevada-after-tax-npv5-of-421-million-with-an-after-tax-irr-of-30-at-us2-175oz-au-302394446.html
SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp