Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the “Company”) (TSX: TXG) announces an
updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Media Luna project, which
now consists of a gold equivalent1 (“AuEq”) Indicated Resource of
3.54 million ounces (“Moz”) at an average grade of 5.27 grams per
tonne (“g/t”), reflecting a 58% increase in contained AuEq metal in
the Indicated Resource category compared to the previously reported
estimate. Of the Indicated Resource, 61% of the contained value is
attributable to gold (“Au”), 31% to copper (“Cu”), and the
remainder to silver (“Ag”).
The updated Inferred Resource (exclusive of
Indicated) is estimated at 2.48 Moz AuEq at an average grade of
4.08 g/t AuEq.
Jody Kuzenko, President and CEO of Torex Gold,
stated:
“Infill drilling at Media Luna since the start
of 2020 and into the first few months of 2021 was successful in
upgrading 8.3 million tonnes of Inferred Resource to the Indicated
Resource category. The 2021 infill drilling program is targeting to
upgrade additional resources to the Indicated category for
inclusion in the upcoming Feasibility Study, which remains on track
for completion in Q1 2022 and will form part of an updated
Technical Report for the entire Morelos property.
“With the existing drill program covering only
30% of the area of the host magnetic anomaly, we see significant
potential to grow and upgrade the resource base at Media Luna over
the coming years. We are currently developing a multi-year
exploration program, which will likely see us expand and extend the
current infill drilling program at Media Luna through the end of
2021, restart step-out drilling at Media Luna in 2022, target
further resource growth from the ELG Underground, and test other
high priority targets on the Morelos property.”
The updated Mineral Resource estimate for Media
Luna effective as of April 30, 2021, prepared in accordance with
National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101, is reported at a AuEq cut-off
grade of 2.0 g/t.
1) Gold equivalent ounces
defined as AuEq (Moz) = Au (Moz) + Cu (Mlb) * ($3.50 per lb Cu /
$1,550 per oz Au) + Ag (Moz) * ($20 per oz Ag / $1,550 per oz
Au).COMPARISON TO THE DECEMBER 2019 MINERAL RESOURCE
ESTIMATE
The April 30, 2021 Mineral Resource estimate
includes 568 core drill holes (approximately 241,800 metres), of
which 137 drill holes (approximately 36,000 metres) were completed
under the 2020 program and 38 drill holes (approximately 11,800
metres) from the 2021 infill campaign completed prior to the
effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate. The remaining
drill holes planned under the 44,000-metre infill program for 2021
(Figure 1) will be included in a subsequent resource update, which
will form the basis of the Media Luna Feasibility Study.
TABLE 1: COMPARISON OF UPDATED MEDIA LUNA RESOURCE
ESTIMATE WITH PRIOR ESTIMATE
|
April 30, 2021 |
December 31, 2019 |
Variance (%) |
|
Tonnes |
AuEq |
AuEq |
Tonnes |
AuEq |
AuEq |
Tonnes |
AuEq |
AuEq |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
Indicated Resources |
20.9 |
5.27 |
3.54 |
12.6 |
5.55 |
2.24 |
66% |
(5%) |
58% |
Inferred Resources |
18.9 |
4.08 |
2.48 |
33.5 |
4.23 |
4.56 |
(44%) |
(4%) |
(46%) |
Notes to Mineral Resource comparison
table:1) The reader is cautioned not to
misconstrue this table as a Mineral Resource estimate. Listed AuEq
grades and tonnes are shown for comparison purposes
only.2) Mineral Resources are reported above a 2.0
g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) cut-off grade; AuEq = Au (g/t) + Cu % *
(77.16/49.83) + Ag (g/t) * (0.64/49.83).3) The gold
($1,550/oz), silver ($20/oz), and copper ($3.50/lb) price
assumptions used in the April 30, 2021 Mineral Resource estimate
are consistent with the metal price assumptions employed within the
December 31, 2019 Mineral Resource estimate. Additional information
on the December 31, 2019 Mineral Resource estimate, is set out in
the Company’s most recent annual information form available under
the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the
Company’s website (www.torexgold.com).4) Mineral
Resource statement including a breakdown of contained metal and
grades by gold, silver, and copper can be found in Table 2 of this
press release.5) Mineral Resources subject to
rounding.6) Of the total metal inventory,
comprising the April 30, 2021 Mineral Resource estimate, in the
Indicated Resource category 61% of the contained value is
attributable to Au, 31% to Cu, and the remainder to Ag; within the
Inferred Resource category, 52% of the contained value is
attributable to Au, 39% to Cu, and the remainder to Ag.
The updated Mineral Resource, with an effective
date of April 30, 2021, is outlined in Table 2 of this press
release. Table 3 illustrates the sensitivity of the Indicated and
Inferred Resources to changes in AuEq cut-off grade.
The updated Indicated Mineral Resource for Media
Luna is estimated at 3.54 Moz AuEq (20.9 million tonnes at an
average grade of 5.27 g/t AuEq), a 58% increase over the December
31, 2019 Indicated Resource estimate of 2.24 Moz AuEq (12.6 million
tonnes at a grade of 5.55 g/t AuEq).
The updated Inferred Resource is estimated at
2.48 Moz AuEq (18.9 million tonnes at a grade of 4.08 g/t AuEq)
versus the prior estimate of 4.56 Moz AuEq (33.5 million tonnes at
a grade of 4.23 g/t AuEq). The 14.6 million tonne decline reflects
the 8.3 million tonnes upgraded to the Indicated category as well
as the impact of a refreshed geologic model using information
gathered from the tighter-spaced drilling (30 metre spacing versus
100 metre spacing) in the Media Luna Upper zone. The updated
geological model indicates that the thickness of the skarn hosted
mineralization is more variable within the Media Luna Upper zone
than was found in the Media Luna Lower zone.
The Inferred Resource estimated for Media Luna
includes 1.01 Moz AuEq (8.0 million tonnes at a grade of 3.93 g/t
AuEq) from EPO, which is unchanged from the prior resource
estimate. EPO is a zone of mineralization located north of the main
Media Luna deposit and south of the Balsas River that contributed
to the economics contained in the September 2018 Preliminary
Economic Assessment. As mineralization from EPO is only in the
Inferred Resource category, the zone will not form part of the mine
plan within the upcoming Media Luna Feasibility Study. Based on the
location to the Guajes Tunnel, EPO remains a high priority for
future infill drilling.
The gold ($1,550/oz), silver ($20/oz), and
copper ($3.50/lb) price assumptions used in the April 30, 2021
Mineral Resource estimate are consistent with the metal price
assumptions employed within the December 31, 2019 Mineral Resource
estimate for Media Luna.
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE METHODOLOGY
The Mineral Resource estimate prepared by Torex
is based on data from 568 core drill holes (approximately 241,800
metres) drilled since 2012 within the Media Luna resource area.
Lithological logging information as well as geochemical analyses
were used to define lithological grade domains. Grades were
estimated within lithological domains using hard boundaries.
Block grades within the exoskarn domain were
estimated using one-metre capped composites in a three-pass
interpolation plan using inverse distance cubed (ID3) weighting. A
variable anisotropy was applied to ensure that searches were
following the local geology. Results were evaluated onto blocks of
5.0 metres by 5.0 metres by 5.0 metres (sub-blocked to 2.5 metres
by 2.5 metres by 2.5 metres) and classified as Indicated or
Inferred based on drill hole spacings of 30 metres or 100 metres,
respectively. Results were validated using standard validation
techniques and reported above a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t AuEq;
mineral resources are generally continuous above this cut-off
grade.
MEDIA LUNA GEOLOGY
The Media Luna deposit is hosted within the
Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform, which has been intruded
by Paleocene stocks, sills, and dykes of granodioritic to tonalitic
composition. Skarn-hosted gold-silver-copper mineralization is
developed within the sedimentary rocks along the contacts of
intrusive rocks as well as within altered dykes of the skarn
envelope. The main portion of this mineralized package dips to the
southwest at approximately 30°; in the lowest part of the known
mineralization, the dip steepens to approximately 60°, while the
northernmost portion of the deposit dips to the north, resulting in
a broad antiformal geometry of the deposit.
Mineralization at Media Luna is hosted in skarn
that developed at the contact of the intrusive granodiorite and
overlying sedimentary rocks; the skarn is characterized by a
mineral assemblage of pyroxene, garnet, and magnetite. Metal
deposition and sulfidation occurred during retrograde alteration
and is associated with a mineral assemblage comprising amphibole,
phlogopite, chlorite, and calcite ± quartz ± epidote as well as
variable amounts of magnetite and sulfides, primarily pyrrhotite.
Additional mineralization is associated with skarn developed within
and along dykes and sills above the main granodiorite intrusion.
Endoskarn from the granodiorite intrusive also shows localized
mineralization in MLU related to quartz vein systems.
Additional information on the Media Luna
deposit, the updated Media Luna Preliminary Economic Assessment
(PEA) and analytical and sampling process is available in the
Company’s technical report (2018 Technical Report) entitled the
“Morelos Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report, ELG Mine Complex,
Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Preliminary Economic Assessment,
Guerrero State, Mexico”, dated effective March 31, 2018 filed on
September 4, 2018 on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company’s
website at www.torexgold.com.
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
At the Company’s Morelos Gold Property, all the
Media Luna project drill core is logged and sampled at the core
facility within the project camp under the supervision of Nicolas
Landon, Chief Exploration Geologist for the Media Luna project. A
geologist marks the individual samples for analysis and sample
intervals, and sample numbers, standards and blanks are entered
into the database. The core is cut in half lengthwise using an
electric core saw equipped with a diamond tipped blade. One half of
the core is placed into a plastic sample bag and sealed with zip
ties in preparation for shipment. The other half of the core is
returned to the core box and retained for future reference in the
Company core shack with the assay pulps and coarse rejects. The
core samples are picked up at the project camp and delivered to
Bureau Veritas (“BV”) to conduct all the analytical work. BV is
independent of the Company.
Sample preparation is carried out by BV at its
facilities in Durango, Mexico and consists of crushing a 1 kg
sample to >70% passing 2 mm followed by pulverization of 500 g
to >85% passing 75 μm. Gold is analyzed at the BV facilities in
Hermosillo, Mexico following internal analytical protocols (FA430)
and comprises a 30 g fire assay with an atomic absorption finish.
Samples yielding results >10 g/t Au are re-assayed by fire assay
with gravimetric finish (FA530-Au). Copper and silver analyses are
completed at the BV facilities in Vancouver, Canada as part of a
multi-element geochemical analysis by an aqua regia digestion with
detection by ICP-ES/MS using BV internal analytical protocol AQ270.
Overlimits for the multi-element package are analyzed by internal
protocol AQ374.
Torex has a sampling and analytical Quality
Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”) program in place that has been
audited by BV and is overseen by Nicolas Landon, Chief Exploration
Geologist for the Media Luna Project. The program includes 5% each
of Certified Reference Materials and Blanks; blind duplicates are
not included, however, Torex evaluates the results of internal BV
laboratory duplicates. Torex uses an independent laboratory to
check selected assay samples and reference materials and has
retained a consultant to audit the QA/QC data for every drill
campaign at Media Luna. The QA/QC procedure is described in more
detail in the 2018 Technical Report filed on SEDAR on September 4,
2018.
QUALIFIED PERSONS
Lars Weiershäuser is the qualified person under
NI 43-101, and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and
technical information contained in this news release including
Tables 1 to 3. Dr. Weiershäuser is a member of the Professional
Geoscientists Ontario (formerly the Association of Professional
Geoscientist of Ontario) (APGO#1504), has experience relevant to
the style of mineralization under consideration and is a former
employee of and currently a consultant to Torex. Dr. Weiershäuser
has verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical,
and test data underlying the drill results, and he consents to the
inclusion in this release of said data in the form and context in
which they appear.
ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES
INC.Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in
Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of
its 100% owned Morelos Gold Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in
the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres
southwest of Mexico City. The Company’s principal assets are the El
Limón Guajes mining complex (“ELG” or the “ELG Mine Complex”),
comprising the El Limón, Guajes and El Limón Sur open pits, the El
Limón Guajes underground mine including zones referred to as
Sub-Sill and ELD, and the processing plant and related
infrastructure, which commenced commercial production as of April
1, 2016, and the Media Luna deposit, which is an advanced stage
development project, and for which the Company issued the updated
PEA in September 2018 (see the 2018 Technical Report). The property
remains 75% unexplored.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT:
TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC.
Jody
KuzenkoPresident and CEODirect: (647)
725-9982jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com |
|
Dan
RollinsVice President, Corporate Development &
Investor RelationsDirect: (647)
260-1503dan.rollins@torexgold.com |
CAUTIONARY NOTESForward
Looking InformationThis press release contains
"forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
While pending the results of the Feasibility Study, the Company
intends to advance the Media Luna project to production in the
first quarter of 2024 and has taken the decision to commence the
early works program to maintain the schedule to first production.
However, the Company has not taken a production decision in advance
of completing the Feasibility Study for Media Luna. Forward-looking
information also includes, but is not limited to, statements that:
the 2021 infill drilling program is targeting to upgrade additional
Inferred Resources to the Indicated category for inclusion in the
upcoming Feasibility Study, which remains on track for completion
in Q1 2022 and will form part of an updated Technical Report for
the entire Morelos property; with the existing drill program
covering only 30% of the area of the host magnetic anomaly, we see
significant potential to grow and upgrade the resource base at
Media Luna over the coming years; we are currently developing a
multi-year exploration program, which will likely see us expand and
extend the current infill program at Media Luna through the end of
2021, restart step-out drilling at Media Luna in 2022, target
further resource growth from the ELG Underground, and test other
high priority targets on the Morelos property; the remaining drill
holes planned under the 2021 infill drilling program will be
included in a subsequent resource update which will form the basis
of the Media Luna Feasibility Study; the updated geological model
indicates that the thickness of the skarn hosted mineralization is
more variable within the Media Luna Upper zone than was found in
the Media Luna Lower zone; and based on the location to the Guajes
Tunnel, EPO remains a high priority for future infill drilling.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as "expects",” targeting”,
“planned”, “indicates” or variations of such words and phrases or
statements that certain actions, events or results “will”, “remains
on track”, or “is expected to" occur. Forward-looking information
is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties
associated with: the ability to upgrade Mineral Resources,
including upgrading Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves; risks
associated with Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimation
including metal price and costs per tonne assumptions; uncertainty
involving skarns deposits; the ability of the Company to obtain
permits for the Media Luna Project; the ability of the Company to
conclude a feasibility study of the Media Luna Project that
demonstrates within a reasonable confidence that the Media Luna
Project can be successfully constructed and operated in an
economically viable manner; the ability of the Company to fully
fund the Media Luna Project to production; the ability of the
Company’s mining and exploration operations to operate as intended
due to shortage of skilled employees or shortages in supply chains;
government or regulatory actions or inactions; and those risk
factors identified in the 2018 Technical Report and the Company’s
annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis or
other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Notwithstanding
the Company's efforts, there can be no guarantee that the Company’s
mitigation measures to protect employees and surrounding
communities from COVID-19 will be effective. Forward-looking
information is based on the assumptions discussed in the 2018
Technical Report and such other reasonable assumptions, estimates,
analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience
and perception of trends, current conditions and expected
developments, and other factors that management believes are
relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such
statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking information,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will
prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such information.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to
update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information or future events or otherwise, except as may be
required by applicable securities laws.
TABLE 2: MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE – MEDIA LUNA (APRIL
30, 2021)
As of April 30, 2021 |
Tonnes |
Au |
Ag |
Cu |
Au |
Ag |
Cu |
AuEq |
AuEq |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(g/t) |
(%) |
(Moz) |
(Moz) |
(Mlb) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
Resources - Media Luna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Media Luna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indicated |
20.9 |
3.21 |
31.7 |
1.07 |
2.15 |
21.3 |
492 |
5.27 |
3.54 |
Inferred |
10.8 |
2.55 |
23.6 |
0.87 |
0.89 |
8.2 |
207 |
4.20 |
1.46 |
EPO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inferred |
8.0 |
1.52 |
34.6 |
1.27 |
0.39 |
8.9 |
225 |
3.93 |
1.01 |
Total Media Luna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indicated |
20.9 |
3.21 |
31.7 |
1.07 |
2.15 |
21.3 |
492 |
5.27 |
3.54 |
Inferred |
18.9 |
2.11 |
28.2 |
1.04 |
1.28 |
17.1 |
431 |
4.08 |
2.48 |
Notes to Mineral Resource Estimate
Table:1) The effective date of the estimate is
April 30, 2021.2) Mineral Resources are reported
above a 2.0 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) cut-off grade; AuEq = Au
(g/t) + Cu % * (77.16/49.83) + Ag (g/t) *
(0.64/49.83).3) The assumed mining method is from
underground.4) Mineral Resources are reported
using a long-term gold price of US$1,550/oz, silver price of
US$20/oz, and copper price of US$3.50/lb.5) Costs
per tonne of mineralized material (including mining, milling, and
general and administrative) used is US$75/t.
6) Metallurgical recoveries average 85% for gold,
75% for silver, and 89% for copper.7) Mineral
Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability.8) Mineral Resources are
classified in accordance with applicable Canadian Institute of
Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Standards.9) Rounding as required by reporting
guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between
tonnes, grade, and contained metal
content.10) Mineral Resources are reported as
undiluted; grades are contained grades.11) The
estimate was prepared by Dr. Lars Weiershäuser, P.Geo., a former
employee of and currently a consultant to the Company, who is a
“Qualified Person” under NI 43-101.TABLE 3: SENSITIVITY OF
MEDIA LUNA MINERAL RESOURCE TO AUEQ CUT-OFF GRADE
As of April 30, 2021 |
Tonnes |
Au |
Ag |
Cu |
Au |
Ag |
Cu |
AuEq |
AuEq |
|
(Mt) |
(g/t) |
(g/t) |
(%) |
(Moz) |
(Moz) |
(Mlb) |
(g/t) |
(Moz) |
Indicated Resources - Media Luna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AuEq Cut-Off Grade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.0 g/t |
31.0 |
2.39 |
25.1 |
0.85 |
2.38 |
25.0 |
582 |
4.03 |
4.02 |
1.5 g/t |
25.5 |
2.78 |
28.5 |
0.96 |
2.28 |
23.3 |
540 |
4.64 |
3.80 |
2.0 g/t |
20.9 |
3.21 |
31.7 |
1.07 |
2.15 |
21.3 |
492 |
5.27 |
3.54 |
2.5 g/t |
17.2 |
3.67 |
34.8 |
1.17 |
2.02 |
19.2 |
443 |
5.93 |
3.27 |
3.0 g/t |
14.3 |
4.14 |
37.4 |
1.26 |
1.90 |
17.2 |
396 |
6.57 |
3.02 |
3.5 g/t |
12.0 |
4.63 |
39.8 |
1.34 |
1.78 |
15.3 |
353 |
7.21 |
2.78 |
Inferred Resources - Media Luna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AuEq Cut-Off Grade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.0 g/t |
33.1 |
1.50 |
21.1 |
0.76 |
1.60 |
22.5 |
557 |
2.95 |
3.14 |
1.5 g/t |
25.1 |
1.79 |
24.6 |
0.90 |
1.45 |
19.8 |
497 |
3.50 |
2.83 |
2.0 g/t |
18.9 |
2.11 |
28.2 |
1.04 |
1.28 |
17.1 |
431 |
4.08 |
2.48 |
2.5 g/t |
14.3 |
2.45 |
31.6 |
1.17 |
1.13 |
14.6 |
370 |
4.66 |
2.15 |
3.0 g/t |
10.9 |
2.81 |
34.5 |
1.30 |
0.99 |
12.2 |
313 |
5.26 |
1.85 |
3.5 g/t |
8.6 |
3.17 |
36.9 |
1.41 |
0.87 |
10.2 |
266 |
5.82 |
1.61 |
Notes to Mineral Resource Estimate Sensitivity
Table:1) The reader is cautioned that the figures
presented in this table must not be misconstrued as a Mineral
Resource estimate. 2) The table includes all
mineralized material within the solid used to identify material for
Indicated and Inferred Resources. 3) Inferred
Resources are inclusive of EPO.4) Global tonnage
and grades are reported at a AuEq cut-off grade calculated using
metal prices of US$1,550/oz gold, US$20/oz silver, and $3.50/lb
copper and applying metallurgical recoveries of 85% for gold, 75%
for silver, and 89% for copper.5) See Notes to
Table 2 for further disclosure on the April 30, 2021 Mineral
Resource estimate.
FIGURE 1: PLAN VIEW OF MEDIA LUNA RESOURCE AREA AND
INFILL DRILL AREAS
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab868b04-a341-4934-affd-96ac8514c83a
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