Tunkillia Gold Project - Positive Initial Scoping Study

In This Article:

Potential large-scale operation; multiple optimisation opportunities

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • Initial Scoping Study completed for Barton's South Australian Tunkillia Gold Project (100%), for potential 5Mtpa bulk open pit mining and processing model targeting capital economies of scale

  • Initial 6.4 year life-of-mine (LoM) and total ~8 year project life (including construction), with a total of 30.7Mt processed materials grading an avg 0.93 g/t gold (Au) and 2.52 g/t silver (Ag)

  • Initial LoM estimates include:

    • total payable metal of ~833koz Au and ~1,993koz Ag

    • avg annual production of ~130koz Au and ~311koz Ag

    • avg operating cashflow of ~A$1,626 / oz Au (net of by-product Ag credits), and

    • avg All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) ~A$1,917 / oz Au (net of by-product Ag credits), would currently rank Tunkillia #17 of 47 Australian gold operations reporting AISC / oz Au produced.

  • Higher-grade ‘Starter' pit during first ~18 months of mining and processing:

    • 4.9Mt mill feed averaging 1.26 g/t Au and 3.32 g/t Ag

    • total production of ~181koz Au and ~420koz Ag, and

    • avg operating cashflow of ~A$2,265 / oz Au (~A$396m total) (net of Ag credits).

  • ~A$374m initial capital cost (incl. ~A$70m EPC), before owner costs, pre-strip and contingencies

  • Initial Net Present Value (NPV)7.5% ~A$512m, 40% IRR and 1.9 year payback (unlevered, pre-tax)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / July 15, 2024 / Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD)(FRA:BGD3)(OTCQB:BGDFF) (Barton or Company) is pleased to announce the results of an initial scoping study for its Tunkillia Gold Project (Tunkillia) (Scoping Study).

Commenting on the initial Scoping Study results, Barton Managing Director Alex Scanlon said:

"We are pleased to announce these preliminary results which validate our strategy to target economies of scale and outline a project that, were it in operation today, would rank favourably among Australian gold producers.

"Even based upon initial processing cost assumptions that Barton considers to be fairly conservative, and only a 6 year initial mine life, Tunkillia delivers strong returns, competitive AISC performance and a 1.9 year payback.

"This is only a preliminary study and we have already identified multiple areas for potential optimisation in terms of process design, capital costs, operating costs and growth in the life of mine and materials schedule.

"In only 3 years' time we have grown Tunkillia to a 1.5Moz Au JORC Resource and demonstrated a viable, large-scale standalone operation. We believe this is just the start for Tunkillia and its neighbouring assets, and with over A$10m cash we are very well positioned to continue systematically building up their combined potential."