TIDMSRB
For immediate release
17 January 2019
Serabi Gold plc
("Serabi" or the "Company")
Record quarterly gold production for the fourth quarter of 2018 and
significant potential highlighted by exploration activity.
Serabi Gold plc (AIM: SRB, TSX: SBI), the Brazilian focused gold mining
and development company, is pleased to provide the results and a review
of its fourth quarter operational and exploration activities in the
Tapajos region of Para State, Northern Brazil.
A PDF version of this new release can be accessed using the following
link -
https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=zp9_kywvAZm3Rdw4WY7UO1HxQotvOnXJ35bv2bwUaFikCrWyAiTpnLVXlXPRSmCXMpM3CnNEyW0cNOA6dquNpQCQvTVAtD6VwB570_H1rSA=
https://bit.ly/2Fw96Ss
OPERATIONAL and EXPLORATION HIGHLIGHTS
-- Fourth quarter gold production of 10,256 ounces of gold represents record
quarterly production for Serabi.
-- Annual gold production totalling 37,108 ounces is an improvement on 2017
production.
-- Highest level of mined tonnage for 2018 achieved in fourth quarter with a
total of 44,257 tonnes at 7.45 grams per tonne ("g/t") of gold.
-- 45,548 tonnes of run of mine ("ROM") ore processed through the plant from
the combined Palito and Sao Chico orebodies, with an average grade of
7.39 g/t of gold, represents the highest quarterly throughput for the
year.
-- 2,460 metres of horizontal development completed during the quarter,
giving a total of 10,371m for the year.
-- A series of discrete "apparent conductivity" anomalies have been
delineated by the analysis of the airborne magnetic and electromagnetic
("VTEM") survey flown during the third quarter of 2018. These anomalies
are indicative of probable sulphide bodies which the Company hopes will
be gold bearing.
-- Identification of the "Cinderella" anomaly, a chargeability and
conductive high extending over seven kilometres, which is coincident with
a strong magnetic anomaly defined by the airborne VTEM survey --
Cinderella is the most significant of a number of anomalies around Sao
Chico identified by an Induced Polarisation (IP) terrestrial geophysics
programme completed at Sao Chico in the fourth quarter.
-- Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") for the Coringa project approved
by State Environmental Agency ("SEMAS") and public hearings now being
planned.
-- Management expects an increase in gold production in 2019, with
production forecast to be in the range of 40,000-44,000 ounces.
Key Operational Information
SUMMARY PRODUCTION STATISTICS FOR 2018 AND 2017
Full
Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Year Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Total
------------ -------
2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2017 2017 2017 2017 2017
------------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ -------
Horizontal
development
-- Total Metres 2,353 2,744 2,814 2,460 10,371 2,251 1,855 2,996 2,762 9,864
Mined ore --
Total Tonnes 39,669 36,071 42,725 44,257 162,722 36,918 41,684 41,263 49,011 168,876
Gold grade (g/t) 7.49 8.12 6.23 7.45 7.29 10.12 7.80 9.80 8.25 8.92
Milled ore Tonnes 43,145 38,155 41,405 45,548 168,253 41,722 43,294 44,205 43,345 172,565
Gold grade (g/t) 7.04 7.71 6.11 7.39 7.06 7.62 6.29 7.28 7.27 7.11
Gold
production
(1) (2) Ounces 9,188 9,563 8,101 10,256 37,108 9,861 8,148 9,657 9,337 37,004
1. Gold production figures are subject to amendment pending final agreed
assays of the gold content of the copper/gold concentrate and gold
doré that is delivered to the refineries.
2. Gold production totals for 2018 include treatment of 16,466 tonnes of
flotation tails at a grade of 3.71 g/t (2017 full year: 4,568 tonnes)
3. The table may not sum due to rounding.
Mike Hodgson, CEO, said:
"It has been superb fourth quarter all around, with excellent production
results and very exciting exploration results which we will be following
up on during 2019. In terms of production, a number of records were
achieved. For the first time since operations began in 2014, the
Company produced over 10,000 ounces of gold in a quarter, which also
means that for the 2018 calendar year, with total production of 37,108
ounces of gold, we exceeded last year's total gold production of 37,004
ounces.
"We also achieved the highest recorded quarterly rate of mine production
for 2018, whilst the average mined grades for the fourth quarter showing
a 20% increase compared with the third quarter.
"The plant continued to perform extremely well, and with over 45,000
tonnes of hard rock ore processed, the Company has also achieved its
best quarterly throughput levels of the year. This throughput was
complemented by the processing of an additional 3,107 tonnes of
historical flotation tails.
"Development and production of the Palito orebody remains focussed on
the Pipocas, Senna, Zonta and Mogno veins, whilst lateral ore
development of the Sao Chico orebody is now being advanced on the -3mRL
and -19mRL levels.
"In the review of the third quarter (news release 30 October 2018), the
Company indicated that full year production was expected to be between
36,000 to 37,000 ounces of gold. The response from our staff in
exceeding this guidance has been excellent and a very good way to end
the year. I am pleased to say that this momentum has been continued
into the first weeks of January.
"Project work to improve production has also continued well and, during
the fourth quarter, the Company took delivery of a 'scrubber', an item
of equipment that will allow us to feed and process more easily the
substantial volume of stockpiled historic flotation tailings. This
material will be added to the plant after milling and therefore provide
additional feed to the cyanidation plant instead of displacing feed,
which has been the alternative for much of 2018. This equipment is
currently being commissioned and will, we hope, be fully operational by
the end of January 2019.
"Whilst the operational performance of the quarter has been noteworthy,
the Company has enjoyed considerable exploration success as well. We
undertook during the second half of 2018 significant airborne and ground
geophysics programmes. During the fourth quarter the analysis and
interpretation of the data generated from a much anticipated 20,000
hectare airborne VTEM survey was completed. The results show numerous
pronounced magnetic anomalies, most notably a major east-west lineament
crossing the entire tenement. This feature is extremely interesting and
we see a significant number of electromagnetic anomalies lying on the
flanks of this magnetic high.
To view the image please use the following link
https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=zp9_kywvAZm3Rdw4WY7UO86ONKQJkOABU4ad7A91Bv9RVZCwqgz7AAZajPxD_0lwD0q2p2NZlYvWqtmP2fP9L75wlZ2Uin3Gc_Ntci6NFbc=
https://bit.ly/2KfvNKa
Figure 1 : VRMI magnetic image showing coincident mid (100-175m depth --
orange colour) and late-time (175-250m depth --red) EM conductivity
anomalies. The above figure includes magnetic images generated by
previous surveys conducted by the Company in 2008 and 2011.
"We also completed a ground geophysics programme around the Sao Chico
deposit during the fourth quarter. Most notably we concluded the
terrestrial Induced Polarisation (IP) survey over the 'Cinderella' zone
that lies to the south east of Sao Chico, further extending the strike
length of this anomaly from four kilometres to seven kilometres. This
has developed into a very compelling exploration target, and our
exploration team has worked quickly to develop, and are now finalising,
geochemical survey programmes that will allow us to evaluate further the
potential of this zone.
"We have continued the development and advancement of the Coringa
project during the quarter with surface drilling resources being
switched to Coringa during the quarter. We are completing a modest
drill programme around the project with a view to publishing a new
mineral resource update before the end of the first quarter of 2019.
"In parallel, we have also made excellent progress with the permitting
of this project. Following the award of the trial mining licence for
the project during the second quarter of 2018, we have now received
approval from SEMAS for the "EIA submitted late in 2017. We are now
working with SEMAS to arrange the necessary public hearings, the next
key step in obtaining the Preliminary Licence ("Licencia Previa"). We
hope these hearings will be completed in the next two to three months,
and a positive outcome coupled with a new resource estimate and
subsequent economic study on the project, will put us in a good position
to commence plant construction during 2019.
"With an excellent final quarter for 2018, both orebodies in good order
and the increased processing of surface stockpile material commencing
imminently, we anticipate continued production success and a good start
to 2019. We will conclude the new resource drilling at Coringa by the
end of January 2019, with the new resource estimation planned for
publication by the end of the first quarter and hopefully coinciding
with further positive progress on licencing and permitting. I therefore
anticipate 2019 being an excellent year for the Company and I look
forward to providing further updates in the coming months".
Production Results
Total production for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 10,256 ounces of
gold, generated from the processing of 45,548 tonnes of ore at overall
average grades of 7.39 g/t of gold. This processed ore was sourced from
hard rock mined ore from the Palito and Sao Chico orebodies,
supplemented by the processing of 3,107 tonnes of surface stockpiled
flotation tailings grading approximately 3.75 g/t gold. Mined tonnage
for the quarter totalled 44,257 tonnes with a grade of 7.45 g/t of gold.
On 31 December 2018, there were coarse ore stocks of approximately 7,661
tonnes of ore with an average grade of 4.1 g/t of gold, and
approximately 30,000 tonnes of flotation tails with an average grade of
3.00 g/t of gold. These stockpiles are being consumed, albeit not as
quickly as forecast, and for now the operation remains plant
constrained.
A total of 2,460 metres of horizontal development has been completed
during the quarter, of which approximately 1,321 metres was ore
development. The balance is the ramp, cross cuts and stope preparation
development.
2019 Production Guidance
Management does not anticipate a major shift in mine performance and
therefore hard rock gold production for 2019. However, with production
efficiencies from new initiatives such as the scrubber to improve
throughput of stockpiled flotation tails and the planned commissioning
of the ore-sorter in the second half of 2019, management expects to see
an increase in gold production in 2019, with production forecast to be
in the range of 40,000-44,000 ounces.
This announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
Regulation 596/2014.
The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf
of the Company was Clive Line, Director.
Enquiries:
Serabi Gold plc
Michael Hodgson Tel: +44 (0)20 7246 6830
Chief Executive Mobile: +44 (0)7799 473621
Clive Line Tel: +44 (0)20 7246 6830
Finance Director Mobile: +44 (0)7710 151692
Email: mailto:contact@serabigold.com
contact@serabigold.com
--------------------------------------------------
Website: http://www.serabigold.com
www.serabigold.com
--------------------------------------------------
Beaumont Cornish Limited
Nominated Adviser and Financial Adviser
Roland Cornish Tel: +44 (0)20 7628 3396
Michael Cornish Tel: +44 (0)20 7628 3396
Peel Hunt LLP
UK Broker
Ross Allister Tel: +44 (0)20 7418 8900
James Bavister Tel: +44 (0)20 7418 8900
Copies of this announcement are available from the Company's website at
www.serabigold.com.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, nor any other securities regulatory
authority, has approved or disapproved of the contents of this
announcement.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following is a glossary of technical terms:
"Au" means gold.
"assay" in economic geology, means to analyse the proportions of metal
in a rock or overburden sample; to test an ore or mineral for
composition, purity, weight or other properties of commercial interest.
"development" - excavations used to establish access to the mineralised
rock and other workings
"DNPM" is the Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral.
"grade" is the concentration of mineral within the host rock typically
quoted as grammes per tonne (g/t), parts per million (ppm) or parts per
billion (ppb).
"g/t" means grams per tonne.
"granodiorite" is an igneous intrusive rock similar to granite.
"igneous" is a rock that has solidified from molten material or magma.
"Intrusive" is a body of igneous rock that invades older rocks.
"on-lode development" - Development that is undertaken in and following
the direction of the Vein
"mRL" -- depth in metres measured relative to a fixed point -- in the
case of Palito and Sao Chico this is sea-level. The mine entrance at
Palito is at 250mRL.
"saprolite" is a weathered or decomposed clay--rich rock.
"scrubber" -- a machine for cleaning ore and removing impurities such as
clays, coatings or other deleterious materials.
"stoping blocks" -- a discrete area of mineralised rock established for
planning and scheduling purposes that will be mined using one of the
various stoping methods.
"vein" is a generic term to describe an occurrence of mineralised rock
within an area of non-mineralised rock.
Qualified Persons Statement
The scientific and technical information contained within this
announcement has been reviewed and approved by Michael Hodgson, a
Director of the Company. Mr Hodgson is an Economic Geologist by training
with over 26 years' experience in the mining industry. He holds a BSc
(Hons) Geology, University of London, a MSc Mining Geology, University
of Leicester and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and
Mining and a Chartered Engineer of the Engineering Council of UK,
recognising him as both a Qualified Person for the purposes of Canadian
National Instrument 43-101 and by the AIM Guidance Note on Mining and
Oil & Gas Companies dated June 2009.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are, or may be deemed to be,
forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identi ed by
their use of terms and phrases such as "believe", "could", "should"
"envisage", "estimate", "intend", "may", "plan", "will" or
the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including
references to assumptions. These forward looking statements are not
based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current
expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth,
results of operations, performance, future capital and other
expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding
thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities.
Such forward looking statements re ect the Directors' current beliefs
and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the
Directors. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from the results discussed in the forward looking statements
including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and
business conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory
changes, actions by governmental authorities, the availability of
capital markets, reliance on key personnel, uninsured and underinsured
losses and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the
Company. Although any forward looking statements contained in this
announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable
assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results
will be consistent with such forward looking statements.
ENDS
Attachment
-- Serabi Q4 2018 Operational and Exploration Review
https://ml-eu.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/2542bc0d-8c2d-4e79-8be6-44ccda6bc0c3
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 17, 2019 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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