Highlights:
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 3, 2023) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to report progress on re-scoping of the current Pre-Feasibility Study ( the "PFS") at the Company's Ana Paula Project in Mexico ("Ana Paula" or the "Ana Paula Project") to evaluate potential underground mining scenarios. The Company is evaluating three underground mining scenarios, with different cut-off grades and mining rates, that are being advanced for more detailed evaluation and comparison. All three demonstrate the potential to deliver high grades early and throughout the mine life.
Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk, commented, "We are quickly advancing the re-scoping of Ana Paula towards an underground mine. The High Grade Panel is shallow and wide with a favourable orientation for productive underground mining. The Company is refining three scenarios to choose the approach that maximises the profitability of mining and shortens the timeline to production. One of the keys to achieving this is mining high grades early in the mine life, as compared to the open pit scenario. We will choose the best outcome and work through the Feasibility Study in 2023. We expect further improvements to the mine economics as current analysis does not include the excellent results from Heliostar's 2023 drill program."
Gold Distribution within the Resource
Ana Paula's 2023 PFS measured and indicated resource contains an average of 5,350 ounces of gold per vertical metre between 725-950 metres of elevation (immediately below surface). The zone ranges between a maximum of 8,540 ounces per vertical metre at 775 metres of elevation and a minimum of 1,080 ounces per vertical metre at 925 metres of elevation. The ounce distribution in the open pit portion of the resource is constrained by the 2023 PFS open pit shell and in the underground portion by a 1.6 gram per tonne (g/t) gold cutoff resource shell.
Underground Mining Scenarios
Multiple potential mining scenarios are in review for Ana Paula. The project re-scoping is assessing the most applicable mining scenario with a focus on increasing project economics (NPV and IRR) while reducing initial CAPEX when compared to the open pit mining scenario proposed in the 2023 PFS.
The Company contracted JDS Energy & Mining Inc., who completed the existing decline on the property, to evaluate the options. Currently, the engineers are assessing three scenarios with different cutoff grades and throughput rates for the Ana Paula deposit using the 2023 pre-feasibility study resource model. The Company will refine the options upon receipt of an updated resource model and metallurgical program results, both of which rely on drilling completed in 2023. Metallurgical results will be reported in October and an updated resource model is expected in November 2023.
The best outcome will then be selected and taken through Feasibility Study in 2024.
Elevation breakdown from 2023 PFS Resource Estimate. Does not include Heliostar's 2023 drilling. |
| Open Pit >0.6 g/t | Underground >1.6 g/t | Above Cutoff Grade |
|
Elevation | Gold Ounces | Gold Grade (g/t) | Gold Ounces | Gold Grade (g/t) | Total Gold Ounces per 25m Elevation Step | Gold Ounces per Vertical Metre | Comment |
1075 | 100 | 0.70 | - | - | 100 | - |
|
1050 | 6,100 | 0.87 | - | - | 6,100 | 250 |
|
1025 | 13,500 | 0.96 | - | - | 13,500 | 540 |
|
1000 | 17,300 | 0.93 | - | - | 17,300 | 690 |
|
975 | 12,500 | 0.86 | - | - | 12,500 | 500 |
|
950 | 10,900 | 0.92 | - | - | 10,900 | 440 |
|
925 | 27,100 | 1.44 | - | - | 27,100 | 1,080 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
900 | 89,700 | 1.99 | - | - | 89,700 | 3,590 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
875 | 129,300 | 1.71 | - | - | 129,300 | 5,170 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
850 | 160,600 | 1.90 | - | - | 160,600 | 6,420 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
825 | 185,600 | 2.26 | - | - | 185,600 | 7,420 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
800 | 199,500 | 2.70 | - | - | 199,500 | 7,980 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
775 | 212,200 | 3.06 | 1,200 | 2.25 | 213,400 | 8,540 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
750 | 135,400 | 2.47 | 1,400 | 2.22 | 136,800 | 5,470 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
725 | 58,300 | 1.89 | 2,900 | 2.25 | 61,200 | 2,450 | Includes the High Grade Panel |
700 | 11,900 | 1.10 | 4,600 | 2.26 | 16,500 | 660 |
|
675 | 2,100 | 1.03 | 6,000 | 2.44 | 8,100 | 320 |
|
650 | - | - | 13,100 | 2.42 | 13,100 | 520 |
|
625 | - | - | 7,200 | 2.52 | 7,200 | 290 |
|
600 | - | - | 7,800 | 2.39 | 7,800 | 310 |
|
575 | - | - | 6,900 | 2.47 | 6,900 | 270 |
|
550 | - | - | 2,800 | 2.01 | 2,800 | 110 |
|
525 | - | - | 5,400 | 2.50 | 5,400 | 210 |
|
500 | - | - | 7,100 | 1.98 | 7,100 | 280 |
|
475 | - | - | 21,700 | 2.79 | 21,700 | 870 | Expansion Zone |
450 | - | - | 39,700 | 3.18 | 39,700 | 1,590 | Expansion Zone |
425 | - | - | 30,700 | 2.68 | 30,700 | 1,230 | Expansion Zone |
400 | - | - | 17,900 | 2.45 | 17,900 | 720 | Expansion Zone |
375 | - | - | 1,100 | 2.21 | 1,100 | 40 | Expansion Zone |
350 | - | - | 8,800 | 6.54 | 8,800 | 350 | Expansion Zone |
325 | - | - | 18,700 | 5.27 | 18,700 | 750 | Expansion Zone |
300 | - | - | 2,400 | 2.96 | 2,400 | 90 |
|
Table 1: Weighted Average measured and indicated gold grades and total ounces by elevation from 2023 PFS Resource1. Results may slightly vary from resource estimate due to rounding.
Statement of Qualified Person
Samuel Anderson, CPG., a Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein.
About Heliostar Metals Ltd.
Heliostar is a junior mining company with a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Mexico and Alaska.
The Company is focused on developing the 100% owned Ana Paula Project in Guerrero, Mexico. In addition, Heliostar is working with the Mexican federal and local government to permit the San Antonio Gold Project in Baja Sur, Mexico. The Company continues efforts to explore the Unga Gold Project in Alaska, United States of America.
The Ana Paula Project deposit contains proven and probable mineral reserves of 1,081,000 ounces of gold (630,000 proven and 451,000 probable ounces) at 2.38 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 2,547,000 ounces of silver (1,322,000 proven and 1,226,000 probable ounces) at 5.61 g/t silver. Ana Paula hosts measured and indicated resources of 1,468,800 ounces of gold (703,800 measured and 765,000 indicated ounces) at 2.16 g/t gold and 3,600,000 ounces of silver (1,637,000 measured and 1,963,000 indicated ounces) at 5.3 g/t silver. The asset is permitted for open-pit mining and contains significant existing infrastructure including a portal and a 412-metre-long decline.
References
An updated prefeasibility study titled "Ana Paula Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Feasibility Study Update" was filed on SEDAR on April 6, 2023, with an effective date of February 28, 2023, prepared for the Company by Daniel H. Neff, PE, Art S. Ibrado, PhD, PE, Richard K. Zimmerman, RG, SME-RM, Craig Gibson, PhD, CPG, Andrew Kelly, P.Eng., Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng., Paul Daigle, P.Geo., Gilberto Dominguez, PE and James A. Cremeens, PE, PG.
For additional information please contact:
Charles Funk
Chief Executive Officer
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com
Rob Grey
Investor Relations Manager
Heliostar Metals Limited
Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com
亮點:
不列顛哥倫比亞省溫哥華--(Newsfile Corp. ——2023 年 8 月 3 日)— Heliostar Metals Ltd.(多倫多證券交易所股票代碼:HSTR)(OTCQX:HSTX)(FSE:RGG1)(”Heliostar“或者”公司“) 很高興地報告當前預可行性研究範圍調整的進展情況(”PFS“) 在公司位於墨西哥的 Ana Paula 項目中 (”Ana Paul“或者”Ana Paula 項目“)評估潛在的地下采礦情景。該公司正在評估三種不同截止等級和採礦率的地下采礦情景,這些情景正在推進中,以進行更詳細的評估和比較。這三者都表明了在礦山生命週期的早期和整個礦山生命週期內提供高品位的潛力。
Heliostar 首席執行官查爾斯·芬克評論說: “我們正在迅速將安娜·保拉的範圍重新調整推向地下礦山。High Grade Panel 又淺又寬,有利於高效的地下采礦。該公司正在完善三種情景,以選擇能夠最大限度地提高採礦盈利能力並縮短生產時間的方法。與露天礦場景相比,實現這一目標的關鍵之一是在礦山生命的早期開採高品位。我們將選擇最佳結果,並在2023年完成可行性研究。我們預計礦山經濟將進一步改善,因爲目前的分析不包括Heliostar2023年鑽探計劃的出色結果。”
資源內的黃金分配
安娜·保拉(Ana Paula)的2023年PFS測量和指示的資源在海拔725-950米(就在地表以下)之間,平均每垂直米含有5,350盎司的黃金。該區域的範圍介於海拔775米處的每垂直米最大8,540盎司和海拔925米處每垂直米的最低1,080盎司之間。資源露天部分的盎司分佈受2023年PFS露天礦殼的限制,地下部分的盎司分佈受到每噸(g/t)1.6克黃金截止資源殼的限制。
地下采礦場景
安娜·保拉(Ana Paula)正在審查多種潛在的採礦情景。與2023年PFS中提出的露天採礦情景相比,項目範圍調整正在評估最適用的採礦情景,重點是提高項目經濟性(淨現值和內部收益率),同時降低初始資本支出。
該公司與完成該物業現有跌幅的JDS Energy & Mining Inc. 簽訂了評估期權的合同。目前,工程師們正在使用2023年預可行性研究資源模型評估Ana Paula礦牀具有不同截止等級和吞吐率的三種情景。公司將在收到更新的資源模型和冶金計劃結果後完善選項,這兩者都依賴於2023年完成的鑽探。冶金結果將於10月公佈,更新的資源模型預計將於2023年11月公佈。
然後,將在2024年通過可行性研究選擇並得出最佳結果。
2023 年 PFS 資源估算值中的海拔細分。不包括Heliostar在2023年的鑽探。 |
| 露天礦坑 >0.6 g/t | 地下 >1.6 g/t | 高於截止等級 |
|
海拔 | 金盎司 | 黃金等級 (g/t) | 金盎司 | 黃金等級 (g/t) | 每 25 米升高臺階的總金盎司數 | 每垂直米的金盎司 | 評論 |
1075 | 100 | 0.70 | - | - | 100 | - |
|
1050 | 6,100 | 0.87 | - | - | 6,100 | 250 |
|
1025 | 13,500 | 0.96 | - | - | 13,500 | 540 |
|
1000 | 17,300 | 0.93 | - | - | 17,300 | 690 |
|
975 | 12,500 | 0.86 | - | - | 12,500 | 500 |
|
950 | 10,900 | 0.92 | - | - | 10,900 | 440 |
|
925 | 27,100 | 1.44 | - | - | 27,100 | 1,080 | 包括高級面板 |
900 | 89,700 | 1.99 | - | - | 89,700 | 3,590 | 包括高級面板 |
875 | 129,300 | 1.71 | - | - | 129,300 | 5,170 | 包括高級面板 |
850 | 160,600 | 1.90 | - | - | 160,600 | 6,420 | 包括高級面板 |
825 | 185,600 | 2.26 | - | - | 185,600 | 7,420 | 包括高級面板 |
800 | 199,500 | 2.70 | - | - | 199,500 | 7,980 | 包括高級面板 |
775 | 212,200 | 3.06 | 1,200 | 2.25 | 213,400 | 8,540 | 包括高級面板 |
750 | 135,400 | 2.47 | 1,400 | 2.22 | 136,800 | 5,470 | 包括高級面板 |
725 | 58,300 | 1.89 | 2,900 | 2.25 | 61,200 | 2450 | 包括高級面板 |
700 | 11,900 | 1.10 | 4,600 | 2.26 | 16,500 | 660 |
|
675 | 2,100 | 1.03 | 6,0000 | 2.44 | 8,100 | 320 |
|
650 | - | - | 13,100 | 2.42 | 13,100 | 520 |
|
625 | - | - | 7,200 | 2.52 | 7,200 | 290 |
|
600 | - | - | 7,800 | 2.39 | 7,800 | 310 |
|
575 | - | - | 6,900 | 2.47 | 6,900 | 270 |
|
550 | - | - | 2,800 | 2.01 | 2,800 | 110 |
|
525 | - | - | 5,400 | 2.50 | 5,400 | 210 |
|
500 | - | - | 7,100 | 1.98 | 7,100 | 280 |
|
475 | - | - | 21,700 | 2.79 | 21,700 | 870 | 擴展區 |
450 | - | - | 39,700 | 3.18 | 39,700 | 1,590 | 擴展區 |
425 | - | - | 30,700 | 2.68 | 30,700 | 1,230 | 擴展區 |
400 | - | - | 17,900 | 2.45 | 17,900 | 720 | 擴展區 |
375 | - | - | 1,100 | 2.21 | 1,100 | 40 | 擴展區 |
350 | - | - | 8,800 | 6.54 | 8,800 | 350 | 擴展區 |
325 | - | - | 18,700 | 5.27 | 18,700 | 750 | 擴展區 |
300 | - | - | 2,400 | 2.96 | 2,400 | 90 |
|
表 1:從 2023 年 PFS Resource1 開始測量和顯示黃金等級和按海拔分列的總盎司的加權平均值。由於四捨五入,結果可能與資源估計略有不同。
合格人員聲明
塞繆爾·安德森,CPG.,合格人士,該術語由 National Instrument 43-101 定義- 礦產項目披露標準 (”在 43-101“),已審查了構成本新聞稿基礎的科學和技術信息,並批准了此處的披露。
關於 Heliostar Metals Ltd
Heliostar是一家初級礦業公司,在墨西哥和阿拉斯加擁有高品位黃金項目組合。
該公司專注於開發位於墨西哥格雷羅的100%持股的Ana Paula項目。此外,Heliostar正在與墨西哥聯邦和地方政府合作,批准墨西哥下南部的聖安東尼奧黃金項目。該公司繼續努力勘探位於美利堅合衆國阿拉斯加的Unga黃金項目。
Ana Paula Project礦牀包含探明和可能的礦產儲量爲1,081,000盎司黃金(探明63萬盎司和45.1萬盎司),每噸黃金2.38克(“g/t”),254.7萬盎司銀(探明132.2萬盎司,可能爲122.6萬盎司),白銀爲5.61克/噸。Ana Paula主持人測量並表示資源量爲1,468,800盎司黃金(測量703,800盎司,表示爲76.5萬盎司),黃金爲2.16克/噸,白銀爲360萬盎司(測量1,637,000盎司,表示爲1,96.3萬盎司),白銀爲5.3克/噸。該資產允許用於露天採礦,包含重要的現有基礎設施,包括門戶和長達412米的下坡。
參考文獻
一份名爲 “Ana Paula Project NI 43-101 技術報告初步可行性研究更新” 的最新預可行性研究於 2023 年 4 月 6 日在 SEDAR 上提交,生效日期爲 2023 年 2 月 28 日,由 Daniel H. Neff、Art S. Ibrado 博士、RG、SME-RM、Craig Gibson 博士、CPG、Andrew Kelly、P.Eng.、Gordon Zugibson 博士爲公司編寫 P.Eng.、P.Geo. Paul Daigle、P.Geo.、Gilberto Dominguez、PE 和 James A. Cremeens,PE,PG.
欲了解更多信息,請聯繫:
查爾斯·芬克
首席執行官
Heliostar 金屬有限公司
電子郵件:charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com
羅伯·格雷
投資者關係經理
Heliostar 金屬有限公司
電子郵件:rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com