Salares Norte project - Key developments and material issues
- Material improvements in Resource model resolution and confidence based on additional resource definition drilling
- Year-on-year update shows -9% tonnes, +6% gold grade and -3% gold ounces with an increase in the Indicated Resource contribution from 52% to 95% for metal, reflecting overall robustness in the geology and resource modelling
- The gold Mineral Resource decreased slightly from 3.8Moz to 3.7Moz and comprises 98% oxide material
- The silver Mineral Resource increased from 43.8Moz to 49.5Moz due to additional drilling and enhanced silver grade domaining
- All geological domains have been updated with improved geological definition and a better understanding of mineralisation controls. Sensitivity to domain boundary assumptions has decreased with the current average drill spacing approximating 22m for Indicated
- Ongoing infill drilling at Agua Amarga directed to further derisk the deposit
- A close spaced drilling campaign will be undertaken in 2018 H1, to confirm the short scale behaviour of geological boundaries and grade trends at Brecha Principal
- Completed an airborne magnetic/radiometric survey over the district exploration areas and district mapping was continued to further define targets
- Environmental baseline study completed in 2017. The EIA submission is planned for Q1, 2018
- A Mineral Resource estimate update is scheduled for mid-2018 in conjunction with the feasibility study