Reserves Estimated at 38.8 Million Ounces
Gold, 10.2 Billion Pounds Copper and 183 Million Ounces
SilverBase Case Life of Mine Cash Operating Costs
Estimated at US$277 Per Ounce of Gold
ProducedTotal Cost (Including all Capital,
Operating and Closure Costs) Estimated at US$673 Per Ounce of Gold
ProducedLower Metal Prices Offset by Exchange Rate
Adjustments When Compared to 2012 Study
Seabridge Gold Inc. (TSX:SEA) (NYSE:SA) announced today the results
of an updated Preliminary Feasibility Study (the “2016 PFS”) for
its 100% owned KSM project located in northern British Columbia,
Canada. The 2016 PFS incorporates many design improvements over the
2012 PFS and the updated financial projections confirm that KSM is
an economic project at current metal prices.
The 2016 PFS was prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc.
(“Tetra Tech”), the firm that had also authored the 2012 PFS. The
NI 43-101 Technical Report will be filed at www.sedar.com. The 2016
PFS results released herein do not include material from recent
higher-grade discoveries at Deep Kerr and Iron Cap Lower Zone which
are expected to have a positive impact on project economics. An
analysis of the integration of these deposits into the proposed
project design will be included as a Preliminary Economic
Assessment (“PEA”) forming part of the NI 43-101 Technical Report.
Results of this PEA level analysis will be finalized and released
shortly.
As background, in 2012 Seabridge completed a
Preliminary Feasibility Study (the “2012 PFS”) that was used as the
basis for submitting its application for an Environmental
Assessment (“EA”). The KSM Project received its environmental
assessment approvals from the provincial and federal governments in
July and December 2014, respectively. The approvals were granted
after a rigorous joint harmonized federal-provincial EA review and
both decisions concluded that the KSM Project would not result in
significant adverse effects. Subsequent to the 2012 PFS, Seabridge
continued exploration activities at KSM which led to the discovery
of the higher-grade Deep Kerr and Lower Iron Cap deposits.
Seabridge Gold Chairman and CEO Rudi Fronk noted
that the 2016 PFS has answered a number of important questions
about KSM. “Projected capital costs are down despite substantial
enhancements to meet environmental improvements we committed to in
the EA process. Gold and copper reserves are up slightly despite
lower metal prices. Base Case estimated total cost, at US$673 per
ounce of gold produced, remains well below the industry average for
operating mines. The Base Case after tax payback period is
approximately 6.8 years, a remarkably low 13% of the 53 year mine
life and a key benefit to large producers. Overall, the 2016 PFS
confirms that KSM is an economic project with an unusually long
life in a low risk jurisdiction.”
The 2016 PFS was started in 2015, using most of
the 2012 PFS consulting team members. Notable changes in the 2016
PFS include:
- Capital and operating costs and metal prices have been updated
to the 2016 economic environment. Estimated Base Case initial
capital costs including pre-production mining costs are about 12%
lower despite major enhancements while estimated Base Case total
cost per ounce of gold produced is US$673, up 13% from the 2012
PFS. The increase in the Base Case total cost is due primarily to
lower base metal credits from price declines partially offset by a
reduction of approximately 9% in per unit life of mine (LOM)
operating costs;
- Improved mine sequencing decreases the early strip ratio while
increasing gold grade 4% and copper grade 1% through the payback
period;
- Increased operational flexibility is achieved by switching ore
transport between the mine and the process plant from conveying to
automated trains allowing a flexible ore delivery rate to the plant
while maintaining ore source scheduling functionality. Additional
benefits are more efficient movement of people, fuel and other
consumables;
- Designs and costs have been updated to reflect the commitments
made in the 2014 approved EA. This includes higher initial capital
for water management consisting of provision of increased water
retention capacity and capability for increased treatment rate for
improved environmental protection, during mining operations and
after closure.
The 2016 PFS envisages a combined
open-pit/underground block caving mining operation that is
scheduled to operate for 53 years. During the initial 33 years of
mine life, the majority of ore would be derived from open pit mines
with the tail end of this period supplemented by the initial
development of underground block cave mines. Ore delivery to the
mill during year 2 to year 35 is designed to be maintained at an
average of 130,000 metric tonnes per day (tpd). After depletion of
open pits, the mill processing rate would be reduced to 95,000 tpd
for 10 additional years before ramping down to just over 60,000 tpd
for the remaining few years of stockpile reclaim at the end of the
mine life. Over the entire 53-year mine life, ore would be fed to a
flotation and gold extraction mill. The flotation plant would
produce a gold/copper/silver concentrate for transport by truck to
a nearby sea port at Stewart, B.C. for shipment to Pacific Rim
smelters. Extensive metallurgical testing confirms that KSM can
produce a clean concentrate with an average copper grade of 25%
with a high gold and silver content, making it readily saleable. A
separate molybdenum concentrate and gold-silver doré would be
produced at the KSM processing facility.
Mineral ResourcesThe 2016 PFS
includes updated resource estimates that are based US$1,300 per
ounce gold, US$3.00 per pound copper, US$20.00 per ounce silver and
US$9.70 per pound molybdenum. In addition, the resources are
constrained by conceptual open pit shapes for material that could
potentially be mined from surface, and conceptual block cave shapes
for material that could potentially be mined from underground. The
methodology for establishing block cave resources and the material
definition of Net Smelter Return ("NSR") have been described in a
news release dated March 8, 2016 (see
http://seabridgegold.net/News/Article/580/).
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources at KSM
are estimated at 2.9 billion tonnes grading 0.54 grams per tonne
gold, 0.21% copper and 2.7 grams per tonne silver (49.8 million
ounces of gold, 13.6 billion pounds of copper and 253 million
ounces of silver). An additional 2.7 billion tonnes are estimated
in the inferred resource category grading 0.35 grams per tonne
gold, 0.32% copper and 2.0 grams per tonne silver (30.8 million
ounces of gold and 19.2 billion pounds of copper and 178 million
ounces of silver). A detailed table of KSM’s mineral resources can
be found at the end of this news release.
Mineral ReservesUpdated
reserves for the project are based on open pit mining and
underground block caving for the Mitchell deposit, open pit mining
for the Sulphurets and Kerr deposits and underground block caving
for the Iron Cap deposit. Approximately 70% of the stated proven
and probable reserves would come from open pit operations and 30%
from underground block caving. Waste to ore cut-offs were
determined using a NSR for each block in the model. NSR is
calculated using prices and process recoveries for each metal
accounting for all off-site losses, transportation, smelting and
refining charges. Metal prices of US$1,200 per ounce gold, US$2.70
per pound copper, US$17.50 per ounce silver and US$9.70 per pound
molybdenum were used in the NSR calculations.
Lerchs-Grossman (“LG”) pit shell optimizations
were used to define open pit mine plans in the 2012 PFS and the
same limits were confirmed by LG in the PFS. Ultimate open pits
have been modified slightly to implement design changes from the EA
review and updated geotechnical study. Reserves have been
calculated using the updated pit designs and the 2016 resource
models. These include mining loss and dilution that varies by pit
ranging from 2.2% to 5.3% for loss and 0.8% to 3.9% for dilution. A
dynamic cut-off grade strategy has been applied with a minimum NSR
of Cdn$9 per tonne.
The underground block caving mine designs for
both Mitchell and Iron Cap are based on modeling using GEOVIA’s
Footprint Finder (FF) and PCBC software. The ramp-up and maximum
yearly mine production rates were established based on the rate at
which the drawpoints are constructed, and the initial and maximum
production rates at which individual drawpoints can be mucked. The
values chosen for these inputs were based on industry averages
adjusted to suit the anticipated conditions. Mitchell is estimated
to have a production ramp-up period of 6 years, steady state
production at 20 million tonnes per year for 17 years, and
then ramp-down production for another 7 years. Iron Cap is
estimated to have a production ramp-up period of 4 years,
steady state production at 15 million tonnes for 10 years, and
then ramp-down production for another 9 years. The underground
pre-production period would be 6 years with first underground
ore production from Mitchell and Iron Cap in years 23 and 32,
respectively. The mining NSR shut-off is Cdn$15.00 per tonne for
the Mitchell underground mine and Cdn$16 per tonne for the Iron Cap
underground mine. Mitchell reserves include 59 million tonnes of
non-mineralized dilution at zero grade (13%) and 7 million tonnes
of mineralized dilution (2%). Iron Cap reserves include 20 million
tonnes of dilution at zero grade (9%) and 25 million tonnes of
mineralized dilution (11%). Mineral Reserves for the KSM project
are stated as follows.
|
KSM Proven and
Probable Mineral Reserves as of July 31, 2016 |
Zone |
Mining Method |
Reserve Category |
Tonnes (millions) |
Average Grades |
Contained Metal |
Gold (gpt) |
Copper (%) |
Silver (gpt) |
Moly (ppm) |
Gold(million ounces) |
Copper(million pounds) |
Silver(million ounces) |
Moly(million pounds) |
Mitchell |
Open Pit |
Proven |
460 |
0.68 |
0.17 |
3.1 |
59.2 |
10.1 |
1,767 |
45 |
60 |
Probable |
481 |
0.63 |
0.16 |
2.9 |
65.8 |
9.7 |
1,677 |
44 |
70 |
Block Cave |
Probable |
453 |
0.53 |
0.17 |
3.5 |
33.6 |
7.7 |
1,648 |
51 |
34 |
Iron Cap |
Block Cave |
Probable |
224 |
0.49 |
0.20 |
3.6 |
13.0 |
3.5 |
983 |
26 |
6 |
Sulphurets |
Open Pit |
Probable |
304 |
0.59 |
0.22 |
0.8 |
51.6 |
5.8 |
1,495 |
8 |
35 |
Kerr |
Open Pit |
Probable |
276 |
0.22 |
0.43 |
1.0 |
3.4 |
2.0 |
2,586 |
9 |
2 |
Totals |
Proven |
460 |
0.68 |
0.17 |
3.1 |
59.2 |
10.1 |
1,767 |
45 |
60 |
Probable |
1,738 |
0.51 |
0.22 |
2.5 |
38.2 |
28.7 |
8,388 |
138 |
147 |
Total |
2,198 |
0.55 |
0.21 |
2.6 |
42.6 |
38.8 |
10,155 |
183 |
207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: The Mineral Reserves tabulated above are
included in the tabulated Mineral Resources. All Mineral Reserves
stated above account for mining loss dilution.
Estimated Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves
of 38.8 million ounces of gold and 10.2 billion pounds of copper
(2.2 billion tonnes at an average grade of 0.55 grams of gold per
tonne and 0.21% copper per tonne) are slightly above 2012
estimates. Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves are derived from a
total undiluted Measured plus Indicated Mineral Resource of 49.8
million ounces of gold and 13.6 billion pounds of copper contained
in 2.9 billion tonnes at an average grade of 0.54 grams of gold per
tonne and 0.21% copper per tonne. Mineral Resources which are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Most
of the Deep Kerr and Lower Iron Cap Mineral Resources are
classified as Inferred Mineral Resources and are excluded from the
reserves.
ProductionThe mine production
plan starts in lower cost open pit areas using conventional large
scale equipment before transitioning into block cave underground
bulk mining later in the mine life. Starter pits have been selected
in higher grade areas and cutoff grade strategy optimizes revenues
to minimize the payback duration. Improvements since the 2012
PFS focus on reducing open pit pre-production requirements within
the project description approved by permitting authorities.
At an average of 130,000 tonnes per day, annual
throughput for the mill after ramp up during the initial 35 years
of mine life is estimated at 47.5 million tonnes. KSM’s mine life
is estimated at approximately 53 years. At Mitchell, open pit
production is scheduled from inception through year 24, followed by
underground block caving production through year 53. Open pit
production from Sulphurets will augment Mitchell open pit
production from start-up through year 17. Open pit production from
Kerr is designed for years 24 through 34. Iron Cap underground
block caving production begins in year 32 through year 53,
essentially replacing Sulphurets and Kerr production. Final
production years are dominated by stockpile reclaim and underground
production.
At Mitchell, a near-surface higher grade gold
zone outcrops allowing for gold production in the first seven years
that is substantially above the mine life average. The mine plan is
specifically designed for mining highest gold grade first to
facilitate a quick capital investment payback. The project’s
post-tax payback period is approximately 6.8 years for the Base
Case or less than 13% of mine life. A payback period representing
less than 20% of mine life is considered highly favorable. Metal
production for the first seven years, compared to life of mine
average production, is estimated as follows:
|
Average Annual
Metal Production |
|
Years 1-7 Average |
Life of Mine
Average |
Average Grades: |
|
|
Gold (grams per tonne) |
0.82 |
0.55 |
Copper (%) |
0.24 |
0.21 |
Silver (grams per tonne) |
2.8 |
2.6 |
Molybdenum (parts per million) |
48 |
43 |
Annual Production: |
|
|
Gold (ounces) |
933,000 |
540,000 |
Copper (pounds) |
205 million |
156 million |
Silver (ounces) |
2.6 million |
2.2 million |
Molybdenum (pounds) |
1.6 million |
1.2 million |
|
|
|
Capital CostsInitial capital
cost (including contingency of US$671 million and preproduction
mining costs) is estimated at US$5.0 billion, approximately 12%
lower than the initial capital estimate in the 2012 PFS. This
results from the 2016 estimate being 14% higher than the 2012
estimate on a Canadian dollar basis through scope additions that
are more than offset by the benefit of a lower foreign exchange
rate (0.80 US$ to Cdn$ vs 0.96 previously). Major scope
changes comprise: (i) initially building the Water Storage Facility
("WSF") to its final crest elevation; (ii) the addition of the
Mitchell Valley Diversion Tunnel for diverting contact water under
the Rock Storage Facility ("RSF") to the WSF; and (iii) changing
the Mitchell-Treaty tunnel ("MTT") ore conveyance to a train system
that has the advantages of scalable ore transfer rate, and ability
to effectively transport personnel and consumables. Scope
modifications that influence costs both positively and negatively
include improved water capture design at the inlet to Mitchell
Diversion Tunnel east of the Mitchell open pit (-57% tunnel
excavation volume), initially building the Water Treatment Plant
rate to 5.4 m3/s (4.3 m3/s in the 2012 PFS), replacement of the
Mitchell coarse ore stockpile with underground ore bins above the
MTT, improved process plant layout reducing footprint costs and
modifications to small tunnels at the WSF and Tailings Management
Facility. In addition to scope changes, notable cost changes
include a 12% lower fully burdened hourly cost for all construction
staff.
Sustaining capital over the 53 year mine life is
estimated at US$5.5 billion and is dominated by capitalizing the
underground mine expansions midway through the mine life for the
Mitchell and Iron Cap block caves. Notable additions to sustaining
capital are a water treatment plant for removing selenium, a
collection system in the RSF for capturing a specific portion of
the RSF seepage to direct to the selenium treatment plant and our
contribution to the Northwest Transmission Line overrun (Tariff
Supplement 37). In addition to sustaining capital, a further US$688
million has been charged against the project including US$528
million set aside in a sinking fund during the production
period to pay for estimated water treatment obligations which
continue after closure and US$160 million for physical
reclamation after mining operations have ceased.
Initial capital and sustaining capital estimates
are summarized as follows:
|
Capital Costs
(US$ million) |
Direct Costs: |
|
Mine Site |
1,218 |
Process |
1,336 |
Tailing Management Facility |
441 |
Environmental |
15 |
On-site Infrastructure |
23 |
Off-site Infrastructure |
120 |
Permanent Electrical Power Supply and Energy Recovery |
159 |
Total Direct Costs |
3,311 |
Indirect Costs: |
|
Construction Indirect Costs |
449 |
Spares |
34 |
Initial Fills |
20 |
Freight and Logistics |
99 |
Commissioning and Start-up |
6 |
Engineering Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM)
|
231 |
Vendor’s Assistance |
23 |
Total Indirect Costs |
862 |
Owner’s Cost |
160 |
Contingency |
671 |
TOTAL INITIAL CAPITAL |
5,005 |
TOTAL LIFE OF MINE SUSTAINING CAPITAL |
5,503 |
|
|
Operating CostsAverage mine,
process and G&A operating costs over the project’s life
(including waste mining and on-site power credits, excluding
off-site shipping and smelting costs) are estimated at US$12.36 per
tonne milled (before base metal credits). Estimated unit operating
costs decreased 9% from the 2012 PFS primarily due to foreign
exchange differences. A breakdown of estimated unit operating costs
is as follows:
|
LOM Average Unit
Operating Costs (US$ Per Tonne Milled) |
Mining |
|
4.59 |
(*) |
Process |
|
5.34 |
|
G&A |
|
1.03 |
|
Site Services |
|
0.44 |
|
Tailings
Storage/Handling |
|
0.13 |
|
Water
Management/Treatment |
|
0.80 |
|
Energy Recovery |
|
(0.12 |
) |
Provincial Sales Tax |
|
0.15 |
|
Total Operating Costs |
|
12.36 |
|
*excluding pre-production cost of both open pit and
underground mining |
|
Economic AnalysisA Base Case
economic evaluation was undertaken incorporating historical
three-year trailing averages for metal prices as of July 31, 2016.
This approach is consistent with the guidance of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, adheres to National Instrument
43-101 and is consistent with industry practice. Two alternate
cases were constructed: (i) a Recent Spot Case incorporating recent
spot prices for gold, copper, silver and the US$/Cdn$ exchange
rate; and (ii) an Alternate Case that incorporates higher metal
prices to demonstrate the project’s sensitivity to rising prices.
The pre-tax and post-tax estimated economic results in U.S. dollars
for all three cases are as follows:
Projected Economic Results (US$'s)
|
|
Base Case |
Recent Spot |
Alternate |
|
Metal Prices: |
|
|
|
|
Gold ($/ounce) |
|
1,230 |
|
|
1,350 |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
Copper ($/pound) |
|
2.75 |
|
|
2.20 |
|
|
3.00 |
|
|
Silver ($/ounce) |
|
17.75 |
|
|
20.00 |
|
|
25.00 |
|
|
Molybdenum ($/pound) |
|
8.49 |
|
|
7.00 |
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
US$/Cdn$ Exchange Rate: |
|
0.80 |
|
|
0.77 |
|
|
0.80 |
|
|
Cost Summary: |
|
|
|
|
Operating Costs Per Ounce of Gold Produced (years 1 to 7)
|
$ |
119 |
|
$ |
219 |
|
$ |
51 |
|
|
Operating Costs Per Ounce of Gold Produced (life of mine) |
$ |
277 |
|
$ |
404 |
|
$ |
183 |
|
|
Total Cost Per Ounce of Gold Produced |
$ |
673 |
|
$ |
787 |
|
$ |
580 |
|
|
Initial Capital (includes pre-production mining) |
$ |
5.0 billion |
$ |
4.8 billion |
$ |
5.0 billion |
|
Sustaining Capital |
$ |
5.5 billion |
$ |
5.3 billion |
$ |
5.5 billion |
|
Unit Operating Cost (US$/tonne) |
$ |
12.36 |
|
$ |
12.09 |
|
$ |
12.36 |
|
|
Pre-Tax Results: |
|
|
|
|
Net Cash Flow |
$ |
15.9 billion |
$ |
16.1 billion |
$ |
26.3 billion |
|
NPV @ 5% Discount Rate |
$ |
3.3 billion |
$ |
3.5 billion |
$ |
6.5 billion |
|
Internal Rate of Return |
|
10.4 |
% |
|
11.1 |
% |
|
14.6 |
% |
|
Payback Period (years) |
|
6.0 |
|
|
5.6 |
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
Post-Tax Results: |
|
|
|
|
Net Cash Flow |
$ |
10.0 billion |
$ |
10.1 billion |
$ |
16.7 billion |
|
NPV @ 5% Discount Rate |
$ |
1.5 billion |
$ |
1.7 billion |
$ |
3.7 billion |
|
Internal Rate of Return |
|
8.0 |
% |
|
8.5 |
% |
|
11.4 |
% |
|
Payback Period (years) |
|
6.8 |
|
|
6.4 |
|
|
4.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Operating and total cost
per ounce of gold are after copper, silver and molybdenum credits.
Total cost per ounce includes all start-up capital, sustaining
capital and reclamation/closure costs. The post-tax results include
the B.C. Mineral Tax and provincial and federal taxes.
The NI 43-101 Technical Report will include
sensitivity analyses illustrating the impact on project economics
from positive and negative changes to metal prices, capital costs
and operating costs.
National Instrument 43-101
Disclosure The updated KSM PFS was prepared by Tetra Tech,
and incorporates the work of a number of industry-leading
consulting firms. These firms and their Qualified Persons (as
defined under National Instrument 43-101) are independent of
Seabridge and have reviewed and approved this news release. The
principal consultants who contributed to the 2016 PFS, and their
Qualified Persons are listed below along with their areas of
responsibility:
- Tetra Tech, under the direction of Hassan Ghaffari (surface and
underground infrastructure, capital estimate and financial
analysis), John Huang (metallurgical testing review, permanent
water treatment, mineral process design and operating cost
estimation for process, G&A and site services, and overall
report preparation), Scott Martin (TMF costs, WSF costs and winter
access road)
- Moose Mountain Technical Services under the direction of Jim
Gray (open pit Mineral Reserves, open pit mining operations, mine
capital and mine operating costs, MTT and rail ore conveyance
design)
- W.N. Brazier Associates Inc. under the direction of W.N.
Brazier (power supply, energy recovery plants, underground
electrical systems and associated costs)
- ERM (Environmental Resources Management) under the direction of
Pierre Pelletier (environment and permitting)
- Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd. under the direction of Graham
Parkinson (design of surface water diversion, diversion tunnels and
seepage collection ponds, tailing dam, water treatment dam and RSF
and tunnel geotechnical)
- Resource Modeling Inc. under the direction of Michael Lechner
(Mineral Resources)
- Golder Associates Inc. under the direction of Ross Hammett
(underground Mineral Reserves; block caving assessments, mine
design and associated costs)
- BGC Engineering Inc. under the direction of Derek Kinakin (rock
mechanics and mining pit slopes)
- Fluor Canada Ltd., under the direction of Rick Hepp
(construction schedule)
- McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. under the direction of
Robert Parolin (permanent access roads and associated costs)
Seabridge Gold holds a 100% interest in several
North American gold resource projects. The Company’s principal
assets are the KSM property located near Stewart, British Columbia,
Canada and the Courageous Lake gold project located in Canada’s
Northwest Territories. For a breakdown of Seabridge Gold’s mineral
reserves and resources by project and category please visit the
Company’s website at
http://www.seabridgegold.net/resources.php.
All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource
estimates reported by the Corporation were estimated in accordance
with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Definition Standards. These
standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
This document contains "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation
and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This
information and these statements, referred to herein as
“forward-looking statements” are made as of the date of this
document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or
future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions,
expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but
are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the estimated
amount and grade of mineral reserves and mineral resources; (ii)
estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and
bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the
duration of financing payback periods; (iii) the estimated amount
of future production, both ore produced and metal recovered; and
(iv) estimates of operating costs, net cash flow and economic
returns from an operating mine; and (v) the expected positive
impact on project economics of the Deep Kerr and Iron Cap Lower
Zone and the release of a PEA level analysis of a project design
that includes them. Any statements that express or involve
discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs,
plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance
(often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”,
“anticipates”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “envisages”,
“assumes”, “intends”, “strategy”, “goals”, “objectives” or
variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or
results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur
or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar
expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be
forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements are based
on Seabridge's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as
various assumptions made by them and information currently
available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth
above, but generally these assumptions include: (i) the presence of
and continuity of metals at the Project at estimated grades; (ii)
the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock
conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water
and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated
during mining operations; (iii) the capacities and durability of
various machinery and equipment; (iv) the availability of
personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within
the estimated delivery times; (v) currency exchange rates; (vi)
metals sales prices; (vii) appropriate discount rates applied to
the cash flows in the economic analysis; (viii) tax rates and
royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation; (ix) the
availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and
costs; (ix) anticipated mining losses and dilution; (x)
metallurgical performance; (xi) reasonable contingency
requirements; (xii) success in realizing proposed operations;
(xiii) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on
acceptable terms; and (xiv) the negotiation of satisfactory terms
with impacted Treaty and First Nations groups. Although management
considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information
currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many
forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of
other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present
value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the
other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost
information is also prepared using current values, but the time for
incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs
will remain stable over the relevant period.
By their very nature, forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general
and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts,
projections and other forward-looking statements will not be
achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We
caution readers not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could
cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs,
plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates
assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking
statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk
that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as
forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: risks
relating to variations in the mineral content within the material
identified as mineral reserves or mineral resources from that
predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the
geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which
infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity
of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining
operations being different from what is expected to be encountered
during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of
the water being different; developments in world metals markets;
risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar relative to
the US dollar; increases in the estimated capital and operating
costs or unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary
work force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the
terms of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being
greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to
changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in
project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating
to receipt of regulatory approvals or settlement of an agreement
with impacted First Nations groups; changes in regulations applying
to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations
from what currently exists; the effects of competition in the
markets in which Seabridge operates; operational and infrastructure
risks and the additional risks described in Seabridge's
Annual Information Form filed
with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year
ended December 31, 2015 and in the Corporation’s Annual Report Form
40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
EDGAR (available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml).
Seabridge cautions that the foregoing list of factors that
may affect future results is not exhaustive.
When relying on our forward-looking
statements to make decisions with respect to Seabridge, investors
and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and
other uncertainties and potential events. Seabridge does not
undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written
or oral, that may be made from time to time by Seabridge or on our
behalf, except as required by law.
ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD"Rudi Fronk" President & C.E.O.
|
KSM Undiluted
Mineral Resources as of May 31, 2016 |
Zone |
Type of Constraint |
NSR Cut-off (Cdn$/t) |
Tonnes (000 t) |
Grades |
Contained Metal |
Au (g/t) |
Cu (%) |
Ag (g/t) |
Mo (ppm) |
Au (000 oz) |
Cu (Mlb) |
Ag (000 oz) |
Mo (Mlb) |
Measured Mineral Resources |
Mitchell |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
698,800 |
0.63 |
0.17 |
3.1 |
59 |
14,154 |
2,618 |
69,647 |
91 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
51,300 |
0.59 |
0.20 |
4.7 |
41 |
973 |
226 |
7,752 |
5 |
Total Mitchell Measured |
n/a |
750,100 |
0.63 |
0.17 |
3.2 |
58 |
15,127 |
2,844 |
77,399 |
96 |
Total Measured |
n/a |
n/a |
750,100 |
0.63 |
0.17 |
3.2 |
58 |
15,127 |
2,844 |
77,399 |
96 |
Indicated Mineral Resources |
Kerr |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
355,000 |
0.22 |
0.41 |
1.1 |
4 |
2,511 |
3,208 |
12,555 |
3 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
24,400 |
0.24 |
0.48 |
2.0 |
14 |
188 |
258 |
1,569 |
1 |
Total Kerr Indicated |
n/a |
379,400 |
0.22 |
0.41 |
1.2 |
5 |
2,699 |
3,466 |
14,124 |
4 |
Sulphurets |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
381,600 |
0.58 |
0.21 |
0.8 |
48 |
7,116 |
1,766 |
9,815 |
40 |
Mitchell |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
919,900 |
0.57 |
0.16 |
2.8 |
61 |
16,858 |
3,244 |
82,811 |
124 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
124,700 |
0.58 |
0.20 |
4.7 |
38 |
2,325 |
550 |
18,843 |
10 |
Total Mitchell Indicated |
n/a |
1,044,600 |
0.57 |
0.16 |
3.0 |
58 |
19,183 |
3,794 |
101,654 |
134 |
Iron Cap |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
346,800 |
0.51 |
0.23 |
4.5 |
14 |
5,686 |
1,758 |
50,174 |
11 |
Total Indicated |
n/a |
n/a |
2,152,400 |
0.50 |
0.23 |
2.5 |
40 |
34,684 |
10,784 |
175,767 |
189 |
Measured + Indicated Mineral
Resources |
Kerr |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
355,000 |
0.22 |
0.41 |
1.1 |
4 |
2,511 |
3,208 |
12,555 |
3 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
24,400 |
0.24 |
0.48 |
2.0 |
14 |
188 |
258 |
1,569 |
1 |
Total Kerr M+I |
n/a |
379,400 |
0.22 |
0.41 |
1.2 |
5 |
2,699 |
3,466 |
14,124 |
4 |
Sulphurets |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
381,600 |
0.58 |
0.21 |
0.8 |
48 |
7,116 |
1,766 |
9,815 |
40 |
Mitchell |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
1,618,700 |
0.60 |
0.16 |
2.9 |
60 |
31,012 |
5,862 |
152,458 |
215 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
176,000 |
0.58 |
0.20 |
4.7 |
39 |
3,298 |
776 |
26,595 |
15 |
Total Mitchell M+I |
n/a |
1,794,700 |
0.60 |
0.16 |
3.1 |
58 |
34,310 |
6,638 |
179,053 |
230 |
Iron Cap |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
346,800 |
0.51 |
0.23 |
4.5 |
14 |
5,686 |
1,758 |
50,174 |
11 |
Total M + I |
n/a |
n/a |
2,902,500 |
0.54 |
0.21 |
2.7 |
44 |
49,811 |
13,628 |
253,166 |
285 |
Inferred Mineral Resources |
Kerr |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
80,200 |
0.27 |
0.21 |
1.1 |
6 |
696 |
371 |
2,836 |
1 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
1,609,000 |
0.31 |
0.43 |
1.8 |
25 |
16,036 |
15,249 |
93,115 |
89 |
Total Kerr Inferred |
n/a |
1,689,200 |
0.31 |
0.42 |
1.8 |
24 |
16,732 |
15,620 |
95,951 |
90 |
Sulphurets |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
182,300 |
0.46 |
0.14 |
1.3 |
28 |
2,696 |
563 |
7,619 |
11 |
Mitchell |
Conceptual LG Pit |
9 |
317,900 |
0.37 |
0.09 |
3.0 |
56 |
3,782 |
631 |
30,662 |
39 |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
160,500 |
0.51 |
0.17 |
3.5 |
44 |
2,632 |
601 |
18,061 |
16 |
Total Mitchell Inferred |
n/a |
478,400 |
0.38 |
0.10 |
3.0 |
55 |
6,414 |
1,232 |
48,723 |
55 |
Iron Cap |
Conceptual Block Cave |
16 |
369,300 |
0.42 |
0.22 |
2.2 |
21 |
4,987 |
1,791 |
26,121 |
17 |
Total Inferred |
n/a |
n/a |
2,719,200 |
0.35 |
0.32 |
2.0 |
29 |
30,829 |
19,206 |
178,414 |
173 |
|
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Note: Mineral Resources are reported inclusive
of the Mineral Resources that were converted to Mineral Reserves.
Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability. It is reasonably expected that the
majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to
Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
For further information, please contact:
Rudi P. Fronk, President and C.E.O.
Tel: (416) 367-9292 • Fax: (416) 367-2711
Email: info@seabridgegold.net
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