TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Oct. 30, 2011) –Teranga Gold Corporation (TSX:TGZ)(ASX:TGZ) –
SABODALA GOLD OPERATION
KEY POINTS
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
Sabodala Gold Operation
Production Statistics | ||||
September 2011 Quarter |
June 2011 Quarter |
March 2011 Quarter |
||
Ore mined | (‘000t) | 1,008 | 759 | 491 |
Waste mined | (‘000t) | 5,085 | 5,538 | 6,460 |
Total mined | (‘000t) | 6,093 | 6,297 | 6,951 |
Strip ratio | waste/ore | 5.0 | 7.3 | 13.2 |
Ore processed | (‘000t) | 582 | 650 | 608 |
Head grade | (g/t) | 1.64 | 1.81 | 1.93 |
Gold recovery | (%) | 88.3 | 89.2 | 89.8 |
Gold produced (1) | (oz) | 27,082 | 33,388 | 34,296 |
Gold sold | (oz) | 27,574 | 35,407 | 39,490 |
Average price received | US$/oz | 1,174 | 1,083 | 1,199 |
Total cash costs per ounce sold | US$/oz | 1,156 | 879 | 655 |
Notes: | |
(1) | Gold produced is change in gold circuit inventory plus gold recovered during the period |
Mine License (“ML”) Exploration
Highlights of drilling during the September quarter on the Sabodala ML include the intersection of significant widths of high grade mineralization outside the Sabodala ultimate pit limit as part of the Main Flat Extension drill program which is expected to lead to an expansion of the final pit design and increased reserves, as well as the successful intersection and extension of the Masato deposit down dip 200 metres onto the ML.
During the September quarter Reverse Circulation (“RC”) and Diamond drilling (“DD”) on the ML totalled 13,000 metres from 5 drills. There are 7 drills operating on the ML at the present time (6 DD and 1 RC) and pending rig availability this number may increase to expedite resource expansion and reserve definition drilling through the December quarter and into 2012.
For full drill results from our ML exploration program please see the Company’s website at http://www.terangagold.com/English/Investors/NewsReleases/NewsReleaseDetails/2011/SupplementalInformation-DrillResultsSeptember302011/default.aspx.
Main Flat Extension (“MFE”)
Drilling targeting the MFE immediately adjacent to the current ultimate pit, at a depth of 300 metres (about 50 metres below the current design pit bottom and accessible to open pit mining), confirms the continuation of the mineralized zone with further drilling planned. The MFE remains open down plunge and to the northwest.
In the September quarter a total of 5,400 metres of drilling was completed on the MFE. Recent results include drill hole SBDH141D which appears to have cut a structural intersection in part of the hole resulting in long intervals of high grades totalling 131 metres at 3.45 gpt. Hole SBDH143D establishes continuity of mineralization cut by SBDH141D with a strong intercept of 87 metres at 3.11 gpt located just north of the current ultimate pit limit. In total all six holes drilled to date have intersected these high grade zones.
The goal of the MFE program is to add 250,000 ounces to the open pit mineable reserves, as well as potentially a similar amount to underground reserves, in 2012.
Corridor and Ayoub’s Target Area
Limited drilling of 1,700 metres was completed in the September quarter within the Corridor along the Ayoub’s portion of the target area. The system, although low grade, is continuous and is showing Sabodala style albitic alteration to the north where the target remains open down dip and along strike. The position of the Ayoub’s mineralization in the Corridor lends itself to sharing stripping for including deeper MFE mineralization into the ultimate pit. Recent results include drill hole SBDH084D with 15 metres at 1.34 gpt as well as drill hole SBDH091D with 20 metres at 2.1 gpt.
Underground Mining Desktop Analysis
Teranga commissioned an engineering firm to undertake a desktop study to identify potentially suitable underground mining methods and provide stoping cost estimates for the resources outside the 2010 Sabodala ultimate pit. Results of the study are positive with approximately 200,000 ounces of material currently classified as Inferred outside of the 2010 ultimate pit now identified as potentially mineable underground. The study was based on the 2009 Sabodala resource model.
Since the study was commissioned, Teranga has completed drilling identifying Sabodala mineralization extending more than 300 metres below the deepest zones included in the 2009 model and this desktop study. Presently, 260,000 ounces at 3.1 gpt grade has been classified as Measured and Indicated outside the ultimate pit in 2.6 million tonnes. Another 240,000 ounces of Inferred material grading 3.4 gpt has been classified as Inferred outside the ultimate pit in 2.2 million tonnes.
Management plans to continue advancing the level of engineering on underground mining with a goal of adding 250,000 to 500,000 ounces of underground reserves at a grade of 3 – 4 gpt to the Sabodala project in 2012. While management has confidence in its projections based on exploration work done to date, the potential quantity and grade disclosed above is conceptual in nature, and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, therefore it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the underground targets being delineated as a mineral resource.
Masato
In the September quarter a total of 6,100 metres of drilling was completed at Masato. This drilling has confirmed a mineralized strike length of 500 metres and a dip extent of 200 metres on the ML. Recent results include drill hole SMRC051D with 37 metres at 4.5 gpt as well as drill hole SMRC089D with 44 metres at 2.0 gpt. The Masato deposit remains open to depth and along strike and is currently being tested in both directions by three drills.
Management is confident that continued positive drilling results will translate to definition of mineable reserves at Masato on the ML in 2012.
Regional Exploration
There are currently 27 targets that have been identified on the Company’s 1,455km2 Regional Land Package, all within trucking distance of the mill. In total 9 of the 27 targets have been drilled, the balance are expected to be drill tested through the end of 2011 and 2012.
By the end of the September quarter the Company completed approximately 140,000 metres of Rotary Air Blast (RAB) drilling, 56,000 metres of RC and 22,000 metres of DD drilling. There are currently 11 drill rigs on the Regional Land Package. The 11 drill rigs are expected to remain throughout the December quarter at a total estimated drilling cost of approximately $25 million for the year.
For full drill results from our regional exploration program please see the Company’s website athttp://www.terangagold.com/English/Investors/NewsReleases/NewsReleaseDetails/2011/SupplementalInformation-DrillResultsSeptember302011/default.aspx.
Gora
High-grade drill intersections continue to expand the potential footprint of the deposit, while a completed Induced Polarization (“IP”) survey has revealed additional anomalies along strike of the current resource which are targeted for follow-up drilling. The Company is running a number of processes in parallel to efficiently develop Gora as quickly as possible, including the ongoing exploration program, permitting and feasibility level economic analysis with the objective of having production as early as late 2012.
Toumboumba
Toumboumba, located 10km from the Sabodala mill, is the Company’s latest discovery with potential to become the second regional deposit processed through the Sabodala Mill.
The new discovery, located on the Sabodala North West permit, is largely covered by a laterite plateau with little to no outcrop. The RAB program, which began in April, and was expanded to encompass the entire structural domain that may host similar styles of mineralization to the Gora deposit, has been completed with 1,150 RAB holes for 49,000 metres drilled.
Results to date have identified a series of north-south trending targets that are related to quartz veining and alteration hosted within a granitic intrusive body. As results are received additional target trends are being identified, expanding the exploration potential at Toumboumba.
Majiva
The Makana permit hosts the Majiva target, one of several prospects located along a twelve kilometre strike length between Majiva and Niakafiri on the ML. To date, a 5 kilometre strike length of gold-mineralized structure has been identified at Majiva.
Rainy season access to the eastern parts of Makana was prepared during September. One combination DD/RC rig will be re-located shortly to continue the Majiva drill testing program. An additional RC rig has been mobilized and will also be deployed to Makana.
Interpretation of an IP survey indicates several zones of coincident resistivity highs and chargeability highs. A similar survey completed on the Sabodala ML in 2007 mapped the important silica-carbonate-pyrite alteration zones, along the major shear structures. The Sabodala deposit itself sits immediately to the north of such a trend. Similarly the best mineralisation at Majiva sits at the termination of such a trend. Review of the Majiva IP interpretation highlighted analogous targets and the drill testing of these will be integrated into the continuation of the RC drilling program.
CORPORATE
Teranga Gold Corporation (“Teranga or the Company”) is a Canadian-based gold company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:TGZ) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TGZ). Teranga is principally engaged in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities such as exploration and mine development.
Finance
At September 30, 2011:
1 All debt owing under the Macquarie Project Facility was fully repaid as of September 30, 2010, however, the Company remains under covenant restrictions pursuant to the gold hedging commitments.
Corporate Directory |
Directors |
Alan Hill, Chairman and CEO |
Richard Young, President and CFO |
Christopher Lattanzi, Non-Executive Director |
Oliver Lennox-King, Non-Executive Director |
Alan Thomas, Non-Executive Director |
Frank Wheatley, Non-Executive Director |
Senior Management |
Alan Hill, Chairman and CEO |
Richard Young, President and CFO |
Yani Roditis, Vice President, Operations |
Kathy Sipos, Vice President, Investor Relations |
David Savarie, Vice President, Legal & Corporate Secretary |
Mark English, General Manager, SGO |
Martin Pawlitschek, Regional Exploration Manager, SGO |
Bruce Van Brunt, Business Development Manager, SGO |
Macoumba Diop, Government Relations, SGO |
Registered Office |
121 King Street West, Suite 2600 |
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3T9, Canada |
T: +1 416-594-0000 |
F: +1 416-594-0088 |
E: [email protected] |
W: http://www.terangagold.com/ |
Senegal Office |
2K Plaza |
Allees Meridient President |
Almadies |
BP 38385 |
Dakar Yoff Senegal |
T: +221 338 693 181 F: +221 338 603 683 |
Auditor |
Deloitte &Touche LLP |
Share Registries |
Canada: Computershare Trust Company of Canada |
T: +1 800 564 6253 |
Australia: Computershare Investor Services Pty Ltd |
T: 1300 850 505 |
Stock Exchange Listings |
Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX code: TGZ |
Australian Securities Exchange, ASX code: TGZ |
Issued Capital | |
Issued shares | 245,618,000 |
Stock options | 15,405,556 |
Stock Options – Exercise Profile | |
Exercise Price (C$) | Options |
$3.00 | 15,405,556 |
About TERANGA
Teranga Gold Corporation is a Canadian-based gold company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:TGZ) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TGZ). Teranga is principally engaged in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities such as exploration and mine development.
Teranga was created to acquire the Sabodala gold mine and a large regional exploration land package, located in Senegal, West Africa, from Mineral Deposits Limited. Management believes the mine operation, together with the Company’s prospective 1,488 km2 land package, provides the basis for growth in reserves, production, earnings and cash flow as new discoveries are made and processed through the Company’s existing mill.
The Sabodala Gold Operation, which came into operation in 2009, is located 650 kilometres east of the capital Dakar within the West African Birimian geological belt in Senegal, and about 90 kilometres from major gold mines and discoveries in Mali.