First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX: FF) (OTCQX: FFMGF) (FRANKFURT: FMG) is pleased to announce the positive results of a Pre-Feasibility Study completed for its 100%-owned Springpole Gold Project located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The PFS results support a 30,000 tonnes-per-day open pit mining operation over an 11.3 year mine life.
PFS Highlights
Note: Base case parameters assume a gold price of US$1,600/oz and a silver price of US$20, and an exchange rate (C$ to US$) of 0.75. All currencies are reported in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified. NPV calculated as of the commencement of construction and excludes all pre-construction costs. |
(1) Total cash costs consist of mining costs, processing costs, mine-level general and administrative (“G&A”) costs, treatment and refining charges and royalties. |
(2) AISC consists of total cash costs plus sustaining and closure costs. |
“This PFS is an important milestone for the Company as we continue to advance and de-risk the Springpole Gold Project,” stated Dan Wilton, CEO of First Mining. “First Mining is declaring mineral reserves for the first time ever on the Springpole Gold Project, reflecting the culmination of a year of detailed data collection, trade-off studies, and engineering and technical de-risking work done by First Mining and our partners on our project team. The results of the PFS confirm that Springpole has the potential to become a strategically significant, highly profitable gold mine in one of the most attractive mining jurisdictions in North America. The work we have undertaken to date to reduce the potential environmental impact from the project demonstrates the potential for Springpole to be developed in a responsible manner and to mitigate long-term impacts. We look forward to the Project’s continual improvement through collaboration with our local and Indigenous communities of interest as we advance Springpole through the federal and provincial Environmental Assessment processes. We are very excited to have added Steve Lines and his team to lead this effort for First Mining. The team’s recent and significant experience successfully permitting the Hardrock project in Ontario and other similar open pit mining projects in Canada requiring in-lake cofferdams and associated dewatering will serve us well as we continue to advance Springpole.”
This PFS for the Springpole Gold Project was prepared by AGP Mining Consultants Inc. (“AGP”) of Toronto, Canada, and a technical report summarizing the PFS will be filed by the Company on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.
PFS Overview
The Springpole Gold Project, located in northwestern Ontario, Canada, is one of the largest undeveloped open pit gold projects in North America. The Project is located approximately 110 kilometres northeast of Red Lake. Springpole currently hosts 4.6 million ounces of gold in the Indicated Mineral Resource category and 0.3 Moz of gold in the Inferred Mineral Resource category, as set out in the table below.
The PFS evaluates recovery of gold and silver from a 30,000 tonne-per-day open pit operation, with a process plant that will include crushing, grinding, and flotation, with fine grinding of the flotation concentrate and agitated leaching of both the flotation concentrate and the flotation tails followed by a carbon-in-pulp recovery process to produce doré bars.
Important parameters of the PFS are presented in the following table:
Key Assumptions | LOM | Years 1 to 9 |
Base Case Commodity Prices | US$1,600/oz Au, US$20/oz Ag | |
Exchange Rate (C$ to US$) | 0.75 | |
Production Profile | LOM | Years 1 to 9 |
Total Tonnes Processed (Mt) | 121.6 | 97.4 |
Total Tonnes Waste (Mt) | 287.5 | 259.6 |
Mill Grade – Gold, Silver | 0.97 g/t Au, 5.2 g/t Ag | 1.12 g/t Au, 5.7 g/t Ag |
Mine Life | 11.3 years | 9 years |
Throughput (tonnes per day) | 30,000 | 30,000 |
Strip Ratio (waste:ore) | 2.36 : 1 | 2.66 : 1 (inc. PP period) |
Overall Recovery – Gold, Silver | 85.7% Au, 89.5% Ag | 87.0% Au, 89.8% Ag |
LOM Metal Recovered – Gold, Silver | 3.2 Moz Au, 18.1 Moz Ag | 3.0 Moz Au, 16.1 Moz Ag |
Average Annual Production – Gold, Silver | 287 koz Au, 1.6 Moz Ag | 335 koz Au, 1.8 Moz Ag |
Unit Operating Costs (1) | LOM | Years 1 to 9 |
Total Cash Cost (2) | US$618/oz Au (net)
US$673/oz AuEq (co-product) |
US$558/oz Au (net)
US$612/oz AuEq (co-product) |
All-In Sustaining Cost AISC (3) | US$645/oz Au (net)
US$698/oz AuEq (co-product) |
US$577/oz Au (net)
US$631/oz AuEq (co-product) |
Project Economics -US$1600/oz Gold Price | ||
NPV5% – Pre-Tax, After-Tax | US$1.5 billion, US$995 million | |
IRR – Pre-Tax, After-Tax | 36.4%, 29.4% | |
Payback Period – Pre-Tax, After-Tax | 2.2 years, 2.4 years | |
LOM Cash Flow – Pre-Tax, After-Tax | US$2.3 billion, US$1.6 billion | |
(1) All unit operating costs are shown on both equivalent as well as net of silver by-product credits | ||
(2) Cash costs consist of mining costs, processing costs, mine-level G&A, treatment and refining charges and royalties | ||
(3) AISC includes cash costs plus sustaining capital and closure costs |
Economic Sensitivities
The Project economics and cash flows are highly sensitive to changes to the gold price.
Springpole Economic Sensitivity to Gold Price (base case in bold)
Gold Price (US$/oz) | $1,400 | $1,600 | $1,800 | $2,000 |
Pre-Tax NPV5% | US$1.04 billion | US$1.48 billion | US$1.92 billion | US$2.36 billion |
Pre-Tax IRR | 28.9% | 36.4% | 43.2% | 49.5% |
After-Tax NPV5% | US$690 million | US$995 million | $1.30 billion | $1.60 billion |
After-Tax IRR | 23.3% | 29.4% | 35.0% | 40.1% |
Springpole Economic Sensitivity to Initial Capital Costs (base case in bold)
Initial Capital Costs | +10% | US$718 million | -10% |
Pre-Tax NPV5% | US$1.34 billion | US$1.48 billion | US$1.61 billion |
Pre-Tax IRR | 30.1% | 36.4% | 44.1% |
After-Tax NPV5% | US$875 million | US$995 million | US$1,102 million |
After-Tax IRR | 23.8% | 29.4% | 36.3% |
Springpole Economic Sensitivity to Operating Costs (base case in bold)
Operating Costs | +10% | US$2.21 billion | -10% |
Pre-Tax NPV5% | US$1.33 billion | US$1.48 billion | US$1.63 billion |
Pre-Tax IRR | 34.1% | 36.4% | 38.6% |
After-Tax NPV5% | US$890 million | US$995 million | US$1,098 million |
After-Tax IRR | 27.6% | 29.4% | 31.3% |
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
The PFS reflects recoveries for both gold and silver that resulted from updated metallurgical test work completed in 2020. The test work focused on understanding the variability in gold and silver recoveries as well as optimizing the process flowsheet.
Based on the test work carried out, a flowsheet that includes flotation followed by leaching of reground concentrate and flotation tails presents as the most beneficial processing route for the Project. The processing plant also features a filtered tailings plant. This flowsheet is based on a primary grind size of P80 150 micrometres (“µm”) ahead of flotation, with a cleaner flotation concentrate being reground to approximately 17 µm ahead of agitated leaching. The overall recoveries expected and used for the economics presented in the PFS are 85.7% for gold and 89.5% for silver. The reduction in recoveries in the PFS stems primarily from a better understanding of the lower recoveries associated with processing lower grade ores. First Mining plans to undertake follow-up metallurgical test work to investigate additional opportunities to further increase recoveries and believes that this remains an important focus area for further improving the economics of the Project.
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates
The mineral resource model prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. is based on 662 core boreholes drilled by previous property owners during the period 2003 to 2013, and seven core holes drilled by First Mining in 2016 and 2020. The Mineral Resources at the Springpole Gold Project are shown below:
Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral Reserves
Category | Tonnes (Mt) |
Grade
Au (g/t) |
Grade
Ag (g/t) |
Contained Metal
Au (Moz) |
Contained Metal
Ag (Moz) |
Indicated | 151 | 0.94 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 24.3 |
Inferred | 16 | 0.54 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 1.4 |
Notes:
The Mineral Reserves for the Springpole Gold Project are based on the conversion of Indicated Mineral Resources within the current pit design. The Springpole Gold Project Mineral Reserves are shown below:
Springpole Proven and Probable Reserves
Category | Tonnes (Mt) |
Grade
Au (g/t) |
Grade
Ag (g/t) |
Contained Metal
Au (Moz) |
Contained Metal
Ag (Moz) |
Proven | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Probable | 121.6 | 0.97 | 5.23 | 3.8 | 20.5 |
Total | 121.6 | 0.97 | 5.23 | 3.8 | 20.5 |
Notes:
The mineral resources defined in the PFS do not reflect the significant opportunities that are available for resource expansion or discovery of additional ore bodies in the Springpole district. First Mining believes that Springpole has several avenues for resource expansion, both within the existing property footprint and regionally in the under-explored Birch Uchi Greenstone belt. In 2021, First Mining is planning to undertake a further 10,000 m of diamond drilling at the Springpole Gold Project for metallurgy, exploration, condemnation, and geotechnical purposes, and continues to review other exploration opportunities in the area.
Capital Costs
The capital cost estimate for the proposed open pit operation in the PFS is based on the scheduled plant throughput rates, as well as a review of similar sized open pit gold operations.
The following table provides a summary of the capital cost estimate:
Capital Cost Estimate Details
Mining | 144 |
Coffer Dams | 9 |
Bulk Earthworks | 12 |
Tailings Filtration | 82 |
Process Plant | 214 |
On-Site Infrastructure | 38 |
Off-Site Infrastructure | 35 |
Total Direct Costs | 536 |
Indirects | 48 |
EPCM | 38 |
Owner’s Cost | 16 |
Provisions | 81 |
Initial Capital | 718 |
Sustaining Capital | 55 |
Closure Costs | 29 |
Total Capital | 803 |
Note: EPCM = engineering, procurement and construction management. |
Mining Capital Costs
The open pit mining activities for the Project were assumed to be undertaken by a leased fleet. Mining capital costs were estimated based on a detailed equipment schedule matched to the mining production schedule. Total initial mining capital was estimated at US$144 million, inclusive of capitalized stripping, Waste Management Facility (“WMF”) construction and equipment.
Processing Capital Costs
The process plant was designed using conventional processing unit operations. It will treat 30,000 tpd or 1,250 tonnes/hour based on an availability of 8,059 hours per annum or 92%. The crusher plant section design is set at 75% availability and the gold room availability is set at 52 weeks per year including two operating days and one smelting day per week. The plant will operate with two shifts per day, 365 days per year, and will produce doré bars.
Initial capital costs for the processing facility were estimated to be US$415 million, inclusive of a US$54 million contingency allocation. No major plant re-build or expansion was considered during the LOM, with sustaining capital set to maintain the equipment in operating condition. No allowance for salvage value was made.
Operating Costs
Overall operating costs for the LOM, and the unit costs, are summarized below:
Mining | 793 | 6.52 | 246 |
Processing (1) | 1,323 | 10.87 | 410 |
On-Site G&A | 96 | 0.79 | 30 |
Total Operating Cost | 2,212 | 18.18 | 686 |
Treatment & Refining Charges | 10 | 0.09 | 3 |
Royalty | 74 | 0.61 | 23 |
Silver Credits | (302) | (2.48) | (94) |
Cash Costs | 1,994 | 16.40 | 618 |
Sustaining Capital (2) | 85 | 0.70 | 26 |
All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) | 2,079 | 17.09 | 645 |
(1) Includes processing, WMF operating costs and water management costs
(2) Includes closure capital |
Operating Cost Estimate Details
Mining Costs
The PFS contemplates open pit mining undertaken by a leased fleet. An average unit mining cost of CAD$1.96/t of material mined was used in the economics. The cost estimate was built from first principles with detailed haulage profiles, vendor quotations for equipment and consumables, and is based on experience of similar sized open pit operations and local conditions. The open pit mining costs consider variations in haulage profiles by month and by year and variable equipment requirements necessary to meet the plant production.
Processing Costs
An average cost of US$10.87/t of processed material was used in the PFS, based on the updated process flowsheet. This includes tailings handling, labour, consumables, maintenance, and supplies. A power cost of CAD$0.08/kWh was assumed.
Production Schedule and Mine Plan
Mining would occur as a series of phases within the ultimate pit with a maximum depth of approximately 350 metres. The deposit is planned to produce a total of 121.6 Mt of plant process feed and 287.5 Mt of waste (2.36:1 overall strip ratio) over an 11.3 year mine operating life. The current LOM plan focuses on achieving consistent processing feed production rates, mining of higher-grade material early in the schedule, and balancing grade and strip ratios.
Site Infrastructure
Springpole Lake Dewatering
The deposit sits underneath a small portion of the northern bay of Springpole Lake. Two dewatering dikes (coffer dams), with a total length of approximately 940 metres, will need to be constructed to allow this small portion of the bay to be dewatered. The coffer dams will have a maximum height of 17 metres. The area proposed to be dammed and dewatered totals approximately 150 hectares and represents approximately 6% of the entire surface area of Springpole Lake (and approximately 3% of the volume).
Waste Management Facility
The WMF was re-envisioned in the PFS as a comingled waste rock and filtered tailings facility to reduce the overall footprint and to spread the required costs over the LOM. The WMF will be located immediately west of the pit, and in the initial stages it will occupy a smaller footprint to reduce the construction period and to minimize the initial capital requirement. The surface of the filtered tailings and waste rock within the WMF will be graded to minimize infiltration and encourage water flow to defined sumps/pumping points. A synthetic liner has been included in the PFS design to limit exfiltration of contact water, and will be further considered through on-going environmental assessment work including additional geochemical testing and WMF design optimizations. The collected surface water will be directed to a Contact Water Management Pond (“CWMP”) that will be located southeast of the WMF. The water stored in the CWMP will be used to supplement mineral processing and/or will be treated and released to Springpole Lake.
Access Roads
The Company believes that the Project can play a meaningful role in encouraging the development of the road network in the area, with potential to connect the communities to the north with an all-season road that will provide access to the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, a major services hub for Northern Ontario. The PFS considers that the access road may be completed prior to commencement of construction and is not part of the study.
Power Infrastructure
Approximately 55MW of electrical demand will be supplied via a new 230 kV overhead transmission line, built to connect to the provincial grid’s 230 kV line approximately 75 km to the southeast.
Project Enhancement Opportunities
The PFS identified several opportunities to enhance the economics of the Springpole Gold Project, and they will be investigated as First Mining continues to advance the Project. These opportunities include:
Permitting and Environmental Baseline Data
First Mining has made key strategic additions to our Environment and Community Relations team over the past couple of months to ensure that we have properly resourced the permitting and community relations work at Springpole. Steve Lines joined First Mining as Vice President, Environment and Community Relations on December 1, 2020, and has already built an expert team with extensive experience in Ontario’s Environmental Assessment process. The team brings across significant experience from Greenstone Gold Mines’ Hardrock project which was subject to the same Environmental Assessment process that Springpole requires, and bring further permitting and regulatory experience from similar in-lake open pit mines in Canada including the Meadowbank Gold Mine and Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine. Steve’s and his team’s experience, expertise and relationships will contribute significantly to the ongoing de-risking of Springpole.
First Mining has been actively collecting environmental baseline data necessary to support an Environmental Assessment for the Springpole Gold Project since 2010. The studies, both completed and ongoing, are focused on characterizing all relevant biological and physical components of the aquatic and terrestrial environments that may be impacted by, and may interact with, the Project.
First Mining continues to advance the Springpole Gold Project through the provincial and federal EA processes. The Company’s goal is to prepare a coordinated EA document that meets the federal and provincial requirements. Community consultation and engagement with local Indigenous communities and other stakeholders is important to First Mining and will remain on-going through the EA process.
First Mining plans to advance the development of the coordinated EA document in 2021 in accordance with the federal Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) Guidelines and the provincial EA Terms of Reference.
Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Technical Report
The updated PFS for the Springpole Gold Project summarized in this news release was completed by AGP and will be incorporated in a NI 43-101 technical report that will be available under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and on the Company’s website, within 45 days of this news release. The affiliation and areas of responsibility for each of the independent Qualified Persons (as defined under NI 43-101) involved in preparing the PFS, upon which the technical report will be based, are as follows: Dr. Gilles Arseneau, Ph.D., P.Geo. – Qualified Person for Mineral Resource Evaluation (SRK); Mr. Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng. – Qualified Person for Open Pit Mine Engineering and Costing, Infrastructure and Financial Modelling (AGP); Mr. Roland Tosney, P.Eng. – Qualified Person for Open Pit Geotechnical Aspects (AGP); Mr. Cameron McCarthy, P.Eng., P.Geo. – Qualified Person for Environmental and Social Aspects (Swiftwater Consulting); Mr. Duke Reimer, P.Eng. – Qualified Person for Tailings and Coffer Dams (Knight Piésold Ltd.); and Dr. Adrian Dance, Ph.D., P.Eng. – Qualified Person for Mineral Processing and Recovery Methods (SRK).
Data Verification
The Qualified Persons responsible for the preparation of the PFS and the technical report in respect thereof have verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information contained in this news release. Geological, mine engineering and metallurgical reviews included, among other things, reviewing drill data and core logs, review of geotechnical and hydrological studies, environmental and community factors, the development of the life of mine plan, capital and operating costs, transportation, taxation and royalties, and review of existing metallurgical test work. In the opinion of the Qualified Persons, the data, assumptions, and parameters used to estimate Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the metallurgical model, the economic analysis, and the PFS are sufficiently reliable for those purposes. The technical report in respect of the PFS, when filed, will contain more detailed information concerning individual responsibilities, associated quality assurance and quality control, and other data verification matters, and the key assumptions, parameters and methods used by the Company.
First Mining Review
Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release on behalf of First Mining.
About First Mining Gold Corp.
First Mining is a Canadian gold developer focused on the development and permitting of the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario. Springpole is one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada. A Pre-Feasibility Study was recently completed on the Project and permitting is on-going with submission of the EIS targeted for 2021. The Company also holds a large equity position in Treasury Metals Inc. who are advancing the Goliath-Goldlund gold projects towards construction. First Mining’s portfolio of gold projects in eastern Canada also includes the Pickle Crow (being advanced in partnership with Auteco Minerals Ltd.), Cameron, Hope Brook, Duparquet, Duquesne, and Pitt gold projects.
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