SHALLOW HIGH GRADE COPPER INTERSECTED IN MCB-036
HIGHLIGHTS
- New section of shallow high grade copper intersected from diamond drill hole MCB-036
- Total intersection of 670.7m @ 0.43% copper and 0.12g/t gold from 19m down hole.
- Including internal shallow higher grade intervals of:
- 122.2m @ 0.92% copper and 0.24g/t gold from 26.5m and,
- 13m @ 3.69% copper and 0.39g/t gold from 89m
- Copper mineralization starts at surface and is now confirmed to extend to depths of over 700m below surface.
- New shallow higher grade sections of copper-gold mineralization to be followed up in a modified extension to the drilling program at MCB.
Celsius Resources Limited (“Celsius” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce its Philippine subsidiary Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (“MMCI”) has received high-grade copper-gold assay results from the Company’s third drill hole, which was recently completed at the MCB Copper-Gold Project, located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.
Hole MCB-036 has identified a previously unrecognized shallow high grade zone within the MCB deposit. The drill hole was targeted to test the depth extent of the deposit and confirmed the presence of copper mineralization to over 700m below the surface, highlighting further the scale of the porphyry copper mineralization at MCB.
“We have had to persevere with this drill hole due to both COVID related and technical difficulties on site. However, the resulting discovery of previously unrecognized shallow high grade copper has delivered an opportunity to further enhance the future studies at MCB. ”
“We have now modified the next set of drill holes to focus effort around this additional shallow high grade copper-gold mineralization as it will clearly have a positive impact on potential future production options as we move from the Scoping Study into the next phase of Trade-Off Studies”, said Celsius’ Chairman Martin Buckingham.
MCB COPPER-GOLD PROJECT
The MCB Copper-Gold Project (MCB) is located in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines, approximately 320 kilometers north of Manila (Figure 1). It is the flagship project within the Makilala portfolio which also contains other key prospects in the pipeline for permit renewal/extension.
A maiden JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate was declared for the MCB Project in January 2021, comprising 313.8 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15 g/t gold, for 1.5 million tonnes of contained copper and 1.47 million ounces of gold, of which 290.3 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15 g/t gold is classified as Indicated and 23.5 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.10 g/t gold is classified as Inferred.
A Scoping Study for the MCB Project was announced by CLA on 1 December 2021, which identified the potential for the development of a copper-gold operation with a 25 year mine life. The scoping study was based on an underground mining operation and processing facility to produce a saleable copper-gold concentrate.
Highlights from the Scoping study include a Post tax NPV (8%) of US$464m and IRR of 35%, assuming a copper price of US$4.00/lb and gold price of US$1,695/oz. Initial capital expenditure is estimated to be US$253m with a payback period of approximately 2.7 years. The mine production is matched to a 2.28Mtpa processing plant which will treat ore with an estimated average grade of 1.14% copper and 0.54g/t gold for the first 10 years of operation with a C1 cash costs at just US$0.73/lb copper, net of gold credits
Results From MCB-036
Results from the third drill hole, MCB-036 (subject of this announcement) identified copper mineralisation as shallow as 19m down hole, extending down to 691m. The interpreted envelope of the copper mineralisation is broadly in line with the surrounding historical drilling information and typically defined by a lower cut-off grade of approximately 0.2% Cu.
There are a number of higher-grade intervals, including a well-defined high-grade core, which is above a cut off grade of approximately 0.5% copper. The significant intersections based on the assay results received from MCB-036 are detailed in Table 1.
Updated Drilling Work Program
The recent results from the MCB Scoping Study identified stronger returns associated with the higher grade sections of the Mineral Resource at shallow levels, which could be accessed early in the proposed mining schedule. The drilling results from MCB-036 has highlighted the potential for further sections of higher grade copper mineralisation which could enhance the value of the MCB project as the Company moves to advance trade off Studies for MCB moving towards the submission of a Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility (“DMPF”).
As a result, the drilling program has been modified to focus on the possible extensions to the shallow high grade copper positions. A total of five drill holes have been planned from a central drill collar position to test these potential drilling positions with the first of these drill holes commencing in January 2022.
Additional Geotechnical and Hydrogeology drilling works will also commence next year to support the application of the DMPF and future studies as the project proceeds through the various development and approval phases.
Stakeholders Engagement
Outcomes of the Scoping Study were initially presented during the regular meetings with the Balatoc Council of Elders, the Barangay Council including the provincial National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the regional Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). Further presentations will be carried out with the Provincial and Local Government Units of Kalinga and Pasil, respectively.
The meetings provided an avenue for the Company to address or respond to relevant concerns, issues, and/or fears that stakeholders have in relation to the MCB project moving forward. Support was also solicited regarding how to help relative to helping the project accelerate the Company’s future work programs. Feedback was positive and appreciative of the company’s commitment to transparency and openness. The community is happy that aside from the economic opportunities the project will bring about, the Company has ensured that environmental considerations are factored into the preliminary mine design and that environmental protection and enhancement programs will continue alongside mine development and operations.
The MGB-CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) Region recognized the company’s efforts to make significant progress with the MCB Project at such a short period of time despite the challenges amidst the COVID19 pandemic. In recognizing the significant delays that were incurred to the drilling program due to restrictions, the MGB-CAR Regional Director announced during the meeting, that the exploration permit for MCB Project has been granted a further 6 months extension. A formal advice regarding the permit extension was received thereafter.
Community Development Program
The MCB community development program continues to deliver positive outcomes with the recent completion and turn-over of 1 Unit Multipurpose Room to the Batong Buhay National Highschool. This will serve as the new office for the local highschool teachers and thus, pave the way for the previous office to serve as classroom for the first batch of Grade 12 students from Brgy. Balatoc in time for the anticipated opening of the face-to-face learning next year. Prior to this project, local residents attend Grade 12 classes in the nearby town which is more than an hour away from Brgy. Balatoc. Local residents, teachers and parents have expressed their gratitude as this reduces travel time and cost for the students.
Computer desktops (3 units) and projector (1 unit) equipment were also provided to the Municipal Council of Pasil to assist with their legislative functions and their aim to continuously improve productivity and efficiency in the delivery of their mandate.
Building supplies, furniture and fixtures were also distributed to a number of local religious groups in the community by providing supplies and materials for the improvement of church facilities which includes tiles, cement, chairs, fans, roofing materials and others. This is in response to their request to assist in improving their church facilities in order to improve church attendance and promote lasting peace and harmony in the community.
Environmental Management Program
Rehabilitation of drill sites at MCB 033 and MCB 034 have been completed while MCB-036 is currently ongoing. Environmental Baseline Studies are in their final stage for completion. Outcomes of the studies will inform both the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) permitting process the DMPF permitting process.
Tree planting activities in support of the National Greening Program were also carried out to support the government’s aim of promoting reforestation, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Directors of Celsius Resources Limited.
Celsius Resources Contact Information
Level 2, 22 Mount Street
Perth WA 6000
PO Box 7054
Cloisters Square Perth WA 6850
P: +61 8 6188 8181
F: +61 8 6188 8182
E: info@celsiusresources.com.au
www.celsiusresources.com.au
Media contact
David Tasker / Colin Jacoby
Chapter One Advisors
M: +61 433 112 936 / +61 439 980 359
E: dtasker@chapteroneadvisors.com.au / cjacoby@chapteroneadvisors.com.au
Competent Persons Statement
Information in this report relating to Exploration Results is based on information compiled, reviewed and assessed by Mr. Steven Olsen, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr. Olsen is a consultant to Celsius Resources and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr. Olsen consents to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.
Listing Rule 5.23 Disclosure
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that relates to Exploration Results and Mineral Resources at the MCB Project and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource continue to apply. The Company notes that, as disclosed in this announcement and in previous announcements, a drilling programme is currently underway at the MCB Project the results of which will be incorporated into an updated Mineral Resource in the future and that the current Scoping Study may provide new assumptions and parameters for use in that Mineral Resource.
Appendix 1: The following tables are provided to ensure compliance with the JORC Code (2012) requirements for the reporting of Exploration Results for the MCB Project
Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data
Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
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Sampling techniques |
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Drilling techniques |
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Drill sample recovery |
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Logging |
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Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation |
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Quality of assay data and laboratory tests |
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Verification of sampling and assaying |
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Location of data points |
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Data spacing and distribution |
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Orientation of data in relation to geological structure |
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Sample security |
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Audits or reviews |
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Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results
(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
Criteria | JORC Code explanation | Commentary |
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Mineral tenement and land tenure status |
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Exploration done by other parties |
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Geology |
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Drill hole Information |
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Data aggregation methods |
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Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths |
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Diagrams |
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Balanced Reporting |
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Other substantive exploration data |
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Further work |
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