North American Palladium Provides Update on Reserves and Resources and Life
posted on
Mar 21, 2014 06:55AM
Edit this title from the Fast Facts Section
of Mine Plan for Lac des Iles
.
.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 21, 2014) - North American Palladium Ltd. ("NAP" or the "Company") (TSX:PDL)(NYSE MKT:PAL) is pleased to provide an update on its mineral reserve and resource estimates and life of mine plan for its Lac des Iles mine property in northwestern Ontario. An update of current 2014 operations and production at LDI is also provided.
"We are pleased with the overall increase in contained palladium ounces in our reserves and resources and the improved economics of our updated life of mine plan for LDI," said Phil du Toit, President and CEO. "Our operations are performing well year to date and the fundamentals for the palladium market remain favorable. As we continue through 2014 we will focus on continued operational improvements, lowering unit costs and further diamond drilling to potentially convert our large mineral resource to reserves."
Due to the material increase in reserves and resources, the Company is required by regulatory legislation to file a revised NI 43-101 technical report and intends to do so on or before March 31, 2014.
Highlights:
"Mine operations continue to perform well with several large stopes in the production cycle and significant broken ore inventory underground. Tonnage mined is as per plan and grade has been above guidance year to date due partly to some strategic stope sequencing decisions made late last year," said Jim Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer. "Performance at the concentrator has been above guidance with recoveries in the first two months averaging 84.5%, reflecting positive results from the process improvements implemented in December 2013. We have also taken short-term measures to improve throughput of the ore handling system feeding the shaft and are on track to complete permanent solutions in the second half of 2014, which are expected to allow us to achieve higher production rates at lower unit costs."
Update to Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for the Lac des Iles Mine Property
The Company has completed an update to its LDI mineral reserves and resources. The effective date for the new reserve and resource estimates, shown in Table 1, is December 31, 2013. The new estimates exclude material mined up until the effective date. The resource estimates provided in Table 1 were prepared by NAP Qualified Persons in accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines. The reserve estimates provided in Table 1 were prepared by qualified persons from Tetra Tech, also in accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines. A detailed discussion of the resource and reserve estimates presented in Table 1 will be contained in a NI 43-101 technical report containing an updated pre-feasibility study for the Lac des Iles mine. This report is expected to be filed on SEDAR on or before March 31, 2014. The following discussion provides summary information for the new resource and reserve estimates for LDI with reference to Table 1. Table 2 provides a comparison of tonnage, Pd grade and contained Pd for selected zones and reserve/resource categories between the previous published reserve and resource estimates (see Technical Report entitled "Technical Report Lac des Iles Mine, Ontario, Incorporating Prefeasibility Study Offset Zone Phase I" dated January 31, 2013 and filed on SEDAR February 19, 2013) and the current, updated estimates.
Mineral Resources
The updated mineral resource estimates presented in Table 1 represent a change to the previous, published mineral resources for the LDI mine property (the "Property"). The known mineralized zones on the Property are shown in Figure 1. For the first time the Company is reporting separate hangingwall and footwall zones for the Offset and Roby zone deposits (Figure 2). This change in reporting structure was motivated by the need to better align resource estimates to the geology of these deposits, current and potential, future mining methods and observed Pd grade distribution patterns. The resources reported in Table 1 include the first estimates of footwall zone resources for both the Roby and Offset zone deposits. The former Cowboy and Outlaw zones are now included in the Offset footwall zone. The Offset and Roby hangingwall zones are characterized by higher average grades than their respective, underlying footwall zones. The hangingwall zones are typically hosted by a sheared melanorite unit (also referred to as the 'pyroxenite unit"). The footwall zones are typically hosted by a more massive varitextured gabbro unit (Figure 2).
In addition to the reporting of separate hangingwall and footwall zones, the LDI resources have been subdivided into three major categories: (i) near surface sources; (ii) underground hangingwall zone resources; and (iii) underground footwall zone resources.
The Company believes that separate listing of these three resource categories is a better representation of the distinctive geology, grade distributions and past, present and future mining methods than the previously published estimates for the Property.
The most significant differences between the currently reported resource estimates (Table 1) and the previously published resource estimates (see January 2013 NI 43-101 Technical Report) are highlighted in Table 2. In summary, the major differences between these two mineral resource estimates include:
The net change to the LDI resource inventory in terms of contained Pd is an increase of 858,000 ounces, bringing the total measured and indicated resource to 3.86 million ounces of contained Pd, comprising:
Although the overall mineral resource on the Property has increased, internal technical studies will be required to assess the potential for profitable mining of the large footwall zone resources shown in Table 1 by considering a range of bulk underground mining methods. Similarly, the Company intends to investigate incentive prices for the recently added near-surface mineral resources (Table 1) through future pit optimization studies and associated financial modeling.
Mineral Reserves
The updated mineral reserve estimates presented in Table 1 are also divided into the three main categories cited above for the LDI resources. Major changes in the Property reserves compared to the most recent, prior estimate (see NI 43-101 Technical report dated January 31, 2013) include:
Underground proven and probable reserves are currently restricted to the Roby and Offset hangingwall zones and total 9.16 million tonnes having an average diluted Pd grade of 3.89 g/t (1.15 million ounces of contained Pd). New reserves for the Roby hangingwall zone incorporate sill pillars and remnant mineralization located at both the northern end of the Roby underground mining developments (Roby 6 Block reserves) and beneath the lowermost development level.
Near surface proven and probable reserves total 5.89 million tonnes with an average grade of 1.03 g/t Pd (0.195 million ounces of contained Pd).
2014 Exploration and Conversion Drilling Plans
The Company plans to continue investing in surface and underground exploration and conversion drilling with the 2014 campaign scheduled to begin at the end of this month. Drilling will initially focus on converting inferred resources to indicated resources in the lower part of the Offset Zone and adding inferred resources in both the upper and lower parts of the Offset Zone to aid in defining the along strike and down dip extent of the deposit to depths ranging from within surface to approximately 1500 m below surface. The scope of the 2014 exploration and conversion drilling program will be determined pursuant to the results of ongoing financing activities.
Update to Life of Mine Plan
An updated Life of Mine Plan has been completed by Tetra Tech with significant contributions from NAP qualified persons. The updated Life of Mine Plan will be included in a technical report that the Company plans to file on SEDAR on or before March 31, 2014. Whereas the 43-101 report issued in January 2013 looked at the lower Offset zone project only, the updated plan looks at all mineable reserves from all sources to form a complete Life of Mine plan. It also includes an updated accounting of all resources at the Lac Des Iles site.
Changes to the Life of Mine Plan include:
This plan does not require significant capital expenditures other than ongoing capital development of the lower Offset zone and ongoing expansion of the tailings management facility.
The underground mine plan continues with large sublevel blast hole open stopes with waste fill as has been the practice to date at LDI. Ore is hauled to the 645 metre level ore handling system and is hoisted via the shaft. Some of the remnant ore from the upper Roby zone will continue to be trucked to surface due to the relatively short haulage distance. The average production rate from underground from all sources is expected to be 5000 tonnes per day. The underground ore will be blended on surface with the low grade stockpile with an expected rate of approximately 12,000 tonnes per day for the two week mill run each month. For this reason the portion of the low grade stockpile that will be mined has now been moved into the reserve category.
A final, low cost salvage of remaining open pit reserves will be taken at the end of mine life to avoid impacting active underground infrastructure.
Opportunities
During the course of the study several high potential opportunities were identified that require either higher metal prices than the base case (US$700/oz Pd), additional resource definition drilling or detailed engineering studies before they could be included in the LOM. These include:
Economic Analysis
As per 43-101 guidelines the LOM economics were based on the lesser of the three year average pricing or the current spot price. Standard sensitivities were run and will be contained in the report. Current pricing as of March 17, 2014 was also run and is reflected in the table below. Pd price and the exchange rate of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar both have a significant impact of the mines cash flow.
Lac Des Iles LOM Economics | Current Prices (US$770 Pd) |
Study Prices (US$700 Pd) |
||
Gross Revenue | $ | 1,387 M | $ | 1,220 M |
Operating Margin | $ | 476 M | $ | 336 M |
Post Tax Cash Flow | $ | 335 M | $ | 195 M |
NPV @ 5% | $ | 299 M | $ | 173 M |
Cash Cost US$/oz | $ | 450 | $ | 441 |
Foreign Exchange Rate | C$0.90 | C$0.95 |
Technical Information and Qualified Persons
The content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jim Gallagher, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer for North American Palladium Ltd. and an employee of the Company, and David C. Peck, P. Geo., Head of Exploration for North American Palladium Ltd. and a consultant to the Company, both of whom are Qualified Persons within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.
Additional information can be found in NAP's Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Conference Call & Webcast Details | |
Date: | Friday, March 17, 2014 |
Time: | 10:00 a.m. ET |
Webcast: | http://www.nap.com/ |
Live Call: | 1-866-229-4144 or 1-416-216-4169 (PIN: 5550208, followed by # sign) |
Replay: | 1-888-843-7419 or 1-630-652-3042 (PIN: 5550208, followed by # sign) |
The conference call replay will be available for 30 days after the live event. An archived audio webcast of the call will also be posted to NAP's website. | |
About North American Palladium
NAP is an established precious metals producer that has been operating its Lac des Iles mine ("LDI") located in Ontario, Canada since 1993. LDI is one of only two primary producers of palladium in the world, offering investors leverage to the rising price of palladium. The Company's shares trade on the NYSE MKT under the symbol PAL and on the TSX under the symbol PDL.
Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources
This press release uses the terms "Measured", "Indicated" and "Inferred" Resources. United States investors are advised that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources will ever be converted into Mineral Reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Certain information included in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. The words 'expect', 'believe', 'will', 'intend', 'estimate', 'forecast', and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, without limitation, any information as to our future exploration results, financial or operating performance, including: the Company's forward-looking guidance, projected production rates, projected exploration expenditures, timelines, the methods by which ore will be extracted, statements with respect to the exploration potential of the LDI or greenfields properties, projected grades, mill recoveriesand other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The factors and assumptions contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to: that metal prices will be consistent with the Company's expectations, that the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the United States dollar will be consistent with the Company's expectations, that the Company's interpretations of the ore body are accurate, that prices for key mining, exploration, and development supplies, including labour, will remain consistent with the Company's expectations, that the Company's current estimates of mineral reserves and resources are accurate, and that there are no material delays affecting operations or in the timing of ongoing projects.
The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions the reader that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the possibility that metal prices, foreign exchange rates or operating costs may differ from management's expectations, the possibility that new exploration targets may not meet management's expectations, uncertainty of mineral reserves and resources, inherent risks associated with mining, exploration and development, the risk that the Lac des Iles mine may not perform as planned and that the Offset Zone and other zones may not be successfully developed, and uncertainty of the ability of the Company to obtain financing. For more details on the factors, assumptions and risks see the Company's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
To view "FIGURE 1: Geological map of the Lac des Iles mine block intrusion showing the location of the currently defined mineralized zones on the Lac des Iles mine property," please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/eps1.jpg.
To view "FIGURE 2: Geological cross section referenced to Section line A-A' shown in Figure 1," please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/eps2.jpg. The Roby and Offset zone deposits have been subdivided into higher-grade hangingwall zones and lower-grade footwall zones. This subdivision is reflected in the updated reserve and resource estimates and is consistent with current mining methods, geology and Pd grade distributions.
TABLE 1: Mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for the Lac des Iles mine property effective December 31st, 2013.
NEAR SURFACE RESERVES | ||||||||
Category/Source | Pd Cut-Off |
Tonnes | Pd | Pt | Au | Ni | Cu | Pd Contained |
Proven | (g/t) | (000's) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (000's oz) |
Low-Grade Stockpile (RGO) | 0.95 | 4,876 | 0.97 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 152 |
Roby Zone Open Pit | 1.09 | 716 | 1.31 | 0.16 | 0.13 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 30 |
Total Proven | - | 5,592 | 1.01 | 0.13 | 0.09 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 182 |
Probable | ||||||||
Roby Zone Open Pit | 1.09 | 293 | 1.39 | 0.18 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 13 |
Total Reserve | - | 5,885 | 1.03 | 0.13 | 0.09 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 195 |
NEAR-SURFACE RESOURCES | ||||||||
Category/Source | Pd Cut-Off |
Tonnes | Pd | Pt | Au | Ni | Cu | Pd Contained |
Measured | (g/t) | (000's) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (000's oz) |
Low-Grade Stockpile (RGO) | 0.95 | 7,679 | 0.97 | 0.12 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 239 |
Roby Zone Pit Expansion | 1.00 | 10,476 | 1.60 | 0.21 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 539 |
Sheriff Zone | 1.50 | 1,725 | 2.06 | 0.21 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 114 |
North VT Rim | 1.00 | 437 | 2.03 | 0.12 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 28 |
Total Measured | - | 20,317 | 1.41 | 0.17 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 921 |
Indicated | ||||||||
Roby Zone Pit Expansion | 1.00 | 5,393 | 1.53 | 0.21 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 265 |
Sheriff Zone | 1.50 | 35 | 1.74 | 0.20 | 0.14 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 2 |
North VT Rim | 1.00 | 14 | 1.75 | 0.12 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 1 |
Total Indicated | 5,442 | 1.53 | 0.21 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 268 | |
Total Measured + Indicated | - | 25,759 | 1.44 | 0.18 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 1,189 |
UNDERGROUND RESERVES - HANGINGWALL ZONES | ||||||||
Category/Source | Pd Cut-Off |
Tonnes | Pd | Pt | Au | Ni | Cu | Pd Contained |
Proven | (g/t) | (000's) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (000's oz) |
Offset Hangingwall Zone | 2.60 | 4,499 | 4.06 | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 587 |
Roby Hangingwall Zone | 2.40 | 847 | 3.51 | 0.23 | 0.20 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 96 |
Total Proven | - | 5,346 | 3.97 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 683 |
Probable | ||||||||
Offset Hangingwall Zone | 2.60 | 3,564 | 3.82 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.10 | 0.09 | 438 |
Roby Hangingwall Zone | 2.40 | 251 | 3.17 | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 26 |
Total Probable | 3,815 | 3.78 | 0.27 | 0.26 | 0.10 | 0.09 | 463 | |
Total Reserve | - | 9,161 | 3.89 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.10 | 0.08 | 1,146 |
UNDERGROUND RESOURCES - HANGINGWALL ZONES | ||||||||
Category/Source | Pd Cut-Off |
Tonnes | Pd | Pt | Au | Ni | Cu | Pd Contained |
Measured | (g/t) | (000's) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (000's oz) |
Offset Hangingwall Zone | 2.50 | 2,418 | 4.34 | 0.31 | 0.28 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 337 |
Indicated | ||||||||
Offset Hangingwall Zone | 2.50 | 3,234 | 4.19 | 0.30 | 0.29 | 0.12 | 0.10 | 436 |
Total Measured + Indicated | 2.50 | 5,652 | 4.25 | 0.30 | 0.29 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 773 |
Inferred | ||||||||
Offset Hangingwall Zone | 2.50 | 5,942 | 3.75 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.10 | 0.09 | |
UNDERGROUND RESOURCES - FOOTWALL ZONES | ||||||||
Category/Source | Pd Cut-Off |
Tonnes | Pd | Pt | Au | Ni | Cu | Pd Contained |
Measured | (g/t) | (000's) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (000's oz) |
Offset Footwall Zone | 1.50 | 11,011 | 2.24 | 0.23 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 793 |
Roby Footwall Zone | 1.50 | 4,159 | 2.43 | 0.21 | 0.18 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 325 |
Total Measured | 1.50 | 15,170 | 2.29 | 0.22 | 0.17 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 1,118 |
Indicated | ||||||||
Offset Footwall Zone | 1.50 | 8,810 | 2.12 | 0.22 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 600 |
Roby Footwall Zone | 1.50 | 2,341 | 2.34 | 0.20 | 0.17 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 176 |
Total Indicated | 1.50 | 11,151 | 2.17 | 0.22 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 777 |
Total Measured + Indicated | 1.50 | 26,321 | 2.24 | 0.22 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 1,895 |
Inferred | ||||||||
Offset Footwall Zone | 1.50 | 9,530 | 2.16 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.06 | 0.05 | |
Roby Footwall Zone | 1.50 | 248 | 2.43 | 0.18 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 0.02 | |
Total Inferred | 1.50 | 9,778 | 2.17 | 0.15 | 0.12 | 0.06 | 0.06 | |
COMBINED RESERVES AND RESOURCES - ALL SOURCES | ||||||||
Category/Source | Tonnes | Pd | Pt | Au | Ni | Cu | Pd Contained |
|
Sub-Category | (000's) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (000's oz) |
|
Total Proven + Probable | 15,046 | 2.77 | 0.21 | 0.20 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 1,341 | |
Total Measured + Indicated | 57,732 | 2.08 | 0.21 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 3,857 | |
Total Inferred | 15,720 | 2.77 | 0.18 | 0.16 | 0.07 | 0.07 | ||
Notes
Table 2. Comparison Between 2012 and 2014 Near-Surface and Underground Reserve and Resource Estimates for the Lac des Iles Mine Property.
Near-Surface Reserves and Resources | 2012 | 2014 | Change - Contained Pd | ||||||||
Tonnes | Pd | Pd | Tonnes | Pd | Pd | Pd | Pd (oz) | ||||
Source/Zone | Category | (000's) | (g/t) | (000's oz) | (000's) | (g/t) | (000's oz) | (000's oz) | % difference | ||
Low-Grade Stockpile (RGO) | P&P Reserve | - | - | - | 4,876 | 0.97 | 152 | 152 | n/a | ||
Low-Grade Stockpile (RGO) | M&IND Resource | 13,188 | 0.97 | 411 | 7,679 | 0.97 | 239 | -172 | -42% | ||
Roby Zone Open Pit | P&P Reserve | 722 | 1.99 | 46 | 1,009 | 1.33 | 43 | -3 | -6% | ||
Roby Zone Open Pit | M&IND Resource | 4,536 | 2.11 | 308 | 15,869 | 1.58 | 804 | 496 | 161% | ||
Sheriff Zone | M&IND Resource | - | - | - | 1,760 | 2.05 | 116 | 116 | n/a | ||
North VT Rim | M&IND Resource | - | - | - | 451 | 2.02 | 29 | 29 | n/a | ||
Total Near-Surface Reserves | 2P Reserve | 722 | 1.99 | 46 | 5,885 | 1.03 | 195 | 149 | 325% | ||
Total Near-Surface Resources | M&IND Resource | 17,724 | 1.26 | 719 | 25,759 | 1.44 | 1,189 | 470 | 65% | ||
Underground Reserves and Resources | 2012 | 2014 | Change - Contained Pd | ||||||||
Tonnes | Pd | Pd | Tonnes | Pd | Pd | Pd | Pd (oz) | ||||
Source/Zone | Category | (000's) | (g/t) | (000's oz) | (000's) | (g/t) | (000's oz) | (000's oz) | % difference | ||
Roby Zone - Hangingwall | P&P Reserve | 420 | 6.38 | 86 | 1,098 | 3.43 | 121 | 35 | 41% | ||
Roby Zone - Hangingwall | M&IND Resource | 1,269 | 7.16 | 292 | - | - | - | -292 | -100% | ||
Roby Zone - Footwall | M&IND Resource | - | - | - | 6,500 | 2.40 | 501 | 501 | n/a | ||
Offset Zone - Hangingwall | P&P Reserve | 7,741 | 4.29 | 1,068 | 8,063 | 3.95 | 1,025 | -43 | -4% | ||
Offset Zone - Hangingwall | M&IND Resource | 14,499 | 4.26 | 1,987 | 5,652 | 4.25 | 773 | -1,214 | -61% | ||
Offset Zone - Footwall | M&IND Resource | - | - | - | 19,821 | 2.19 | 1,393 | 1,393 | n/a | ||
Total Underground Reserves | P&P | 8,161 | 4.40 | 1,154 | 9,161 | 3.89 | 1,146 | -8 | -1% | ||
Total U/ground Resources | M&IND | 15,768 | 4.50 | 2,280 | 31,973 | 2.60 | 2,668 | 388 | 17% | ||
Total Inferred Resources | Inferred | 13,669 | 3.59 | - | 15,720 | 2.77 | - | - | - |
North American Palladium Ltd.
John Vincic
Investor Relations Advisor
416-360-7374
jvincic@nap.com
www.nap.com