The resource at Asacha occurs in two zones: the Main zone (currently being mined) and East zone (not yet mined). The Main zone comprises six defined veins, with the bulk of the resource contained in two of these, QV1 and QV2, while the East zone is comprised of three narrow vein structures.
JORC
The updated Mineral Resource estimate was conducted by Seequent (formerly AGL) and classified according to the guidelines of the JORC Code (2012).
The Mineral Resource estimate for Asacha as of 31 December 2017 is shown in the following table:
| Classification | Zone | '000 tonnes | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) | Au ('000oz) | Ag ('000oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measured | Main | 172 | 15 | 29 | 57 | 162 |
| Indicated | Main | 435 | 21 | 67 | 299 | 933 |
| Indicated | East | 3 | 56 | 30 | 6 | 3 |
| Total M&I | 611 | 20 | 56 | 391 | 1,098 | |
| Inferred | Main | 78 | 14 | 33 | 35 | 82 |
| Inferred | East | 269 | 26 | 53 | 224 | 458 |
| Total Inferred | 345 | 23 | 48 | 260 | 540 |
Notes:
1. Resources are reported above 4g/t cut-off grade
2. Resources are reported after mining depletion, having allowed for mining dilution to 31 Dec 2017
3. Tonnage and grades have been rounded
4. The updated Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Ms. Carrie Nicholls (Senior Evaluation Geologist, Seequent). Ms. Nicholls has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that is being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Ms. Nicholls is a full time employee of Seequent and has consented to the inclusion of the matters in the Mineral Resource report in the form and context in which it appears.
Download Ascacha JORC Resource Report 31 December 2017 PDF (5.2Mb)
GKZ classification
In March 2017 the reserves and resources of the Asacha deposit were re-approved by the State Commission of Reserves ("GKZ"), which are set out below.
|
Mineral Resources - Russian State Commission for Reserves (GKZ) as at 31 December 2016 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au | Ag | Cut-off g/t | |||
| C1 & C2 oz | Grade g/t | C1 & C2 oz | Grade g/t | ||
Asacha |
623 943 | 19.8 | 1 476 612 | 46.8 | 2 |
All mineral resources and reserves in Russia are formally classified according to a system developed and administered by the Russian State Commission for Reserves (Gosudarstvennaya Komissia po Zapasam), referred to as the GKZ, and recorded on the national inventory and balance of mineral resources and reserves.
The GKZ provides a prescribed protocol for the calculation of mineral reserves, which utilizes a sectional method of reserve estimation. Preliminary mineral reserve estimates are calculated by the license holder and are submitted for approval by the GKZ with a justification of the cut-off grade criteria. The approved cut-off criteria are used to generate the mineral reserves that are submitted to the GKZ for approval.
Using the GKZ system, mineral resources and reserves are recognized as either prognosticated resources, which include those resources that are of an inferred, potential or speculative nature, or mineral reserves, which can be effectively subdivided into those that demonstrate economic significance (balance mineral reserves) and those with only potential economic significance (off-balance mineral reserves).
Balance mineral reserves comprise that part of the mineralization that has been demonstrated to a sufficient level of confidence to contain a metal or commodity whose economic viability has been approved by the GKZ. They may not, however, include adjustment for technical and economic matters, such as mining dilution and losses.