USGS releases first study to assess global earthquake risk to mineral supplies
Earthquakes have the potential to substantially affect mining operations, leading to supply chain disruptions that adversely affect the global economy.
Vancouver-based Northern Dynasty Minerals, sole owner of the Pebble project 300 km from Anchorage, has arranged a US$5 million bought deal financing that will allow it to continue the 2019 field program and complete the environmental impact statement for the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposit.
The lead underwriter is Cantor Fitzgerald Canada. That company and a syndicate of underwriters has agreed to purchase 12.2 million common shares of Northern Dynasty at a price of US$0.41 each, for gross proceeds of US$5.0 million. The underwriters have been given an over-allotment of an additional 1.83 million shares worth another US$750,000. The underwriters will also receive a 6.0% commission on the gross proceeds. The deal is expected to close on June 24, 2019.
Northern Dynasty says it continues to explore long term product financing options. Additional funding for the project is required by the end of 2019.
When the preliminary economic assessment was delivered in 2011, the cost of the Pebble project was estimated at US$5.76 billion. That is likely to change as the project goes forward and is de-risked.
Using a copper equivalent cut off of 0.3% for an open pit mine, the Pebble deposit has measured and indicated resources of 6.46 billion tonnes grading 0.40% copper, 0.34 g/t gold, and 240 ppm molybdenum. The inferred resource is 4.45 billion tonnes averaging 0.25% copper, 0.25 g/t gold, and 226 ppm molybdenum.
This story first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal
