14.02.2007 22:34:00
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Golden Star Updates Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at December 31, 2006
Golden Star Resources Ltd. (AMEX: GSS) (TSX: GSC) today announced its
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves, referred to as Mineral Reserves,
and its Mineral Resources as at December 31, 2006.
Mineral Reserves in 2006 increased by 380,000 ounces, or 9% before
mining depletion. Mineral Reserves, after mining depletion, increased by
100,000 ounces, or 2%, during 2006 to 55.2 million tonnes grading 2.34
grams per tonne (g/t) for contained Gold of 4.15 million ounces at year
end. The increase was a result of an increased gold price assumption and
a focused drill program around our operating mines to convert and better
define our Mineral Resources (as defined below). These gains were offset
by increasing cost factors, design changes and a review of the Wassa
resource model.
Peter Bradford, President and CEO, said: "Although
year-on-year Mineral Reserves increased marginally in 2006, there is a
significant increase in Mineral Reserves at Bogoso/Prestea and a
reduction in Mineral Reserves at Wassa. This reduction at Wassa follows
a previously disclosed review of the resource model and the adoption of
a new model which we expect to improve our mine planning and gold
production forecasts. In addition we have reviewed and updated
engineering assumptions and costs and incorporated these into our
models. Optimized pit shells using the same parameters as the Mineral
Reserves but including Inferred Mineral Resources in the optimization
have an additional 3.9 million tonnes at 1.16 g/t of Inferred Mineral
Resources and an additional 1.5 million tonnes at 0.83 g/t of Indicated
Mineral Resources reporting to them. We expect to drill this Inferred
Mineral Resource in 2007 with the aim of bringing it into the Indicated
Mineral Resource category.” "The Mineral Reserves,”
continued Mr. Bradford, "do not include any
contribution from the Hwini-Butre and Benso project or the Prestea
Underground. We are currently finalizing a feasibility study for the
mining and haulage of high grade ore at Hwini-Butre and Benso for
processing at our Wassa processing plant. This feasibility study is
expected to be completed by, and presented to our Board for a decision
to mine, in the second quarter.”
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources increased to 41.0 million
tonnes grading 2.40 g/t of gold while Inferred Mineral Resources
decreased to 28.7 million tonnes grading 3.05 g/t of gold.
The Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates have been estimated
by our technical personnel in accordance with definitions and guidelines
set out in the Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves published by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and
Petroleum and as required by Canada’s National
Instrument 43-101.
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating proven and
probable mineral reserves and measured, indicated and inferred mineral
resources, including many factors beyond our control. The estimation of
reserves and resources is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any
reserve or resource estimate is a function of the quality of available
data and of engineering and geological interpretation and individual
judgment. Results from drilling, testing and production, as well as
material changes in metal prices subsequent to the date of an estimate,
may justify revision of such estimates.
We expect to complete and file our Form 10-K, which will include
additional information on Mineral Reserves and Non-Reserve Mineral
Resources, on or about March 13, 2006.
MINERAL RESERVES Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves as at December 31, 2006 Property Proven Probable Total Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t) Con-tained Ounces (millions) Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t) Con-tained Ounces (millions) Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t) Con-tained Ounces (millions)
Bogoso/Prestea
Non-refrac- tory
0.9
2.30
0.07
6.9
2.59
0.57
7.8
2.56
0.64
Refrac- tory
14.5
2.95
1.38
19.3
2.65
1.64
33.8
2.78
3.02
Total 15.5
2.91
1.45
26.2
2.64
2.22
41.6
2.74
3.67
Wassa
Non-refrac- tory
0.5
1.08
0.02
13.0
1.11
0.46
13.6
1.11
0.48
Total 0.5
1.08
0.02
13.0
1.11
0.46
13.6
1.11
0.48
Totals
Non-refrac- tory
1.5
1.85
0.09
19.9
1.62
1.04
21.4
1.64
1.13
Refrac- tory
14.5
2.95
1.38
19.3
2.65
1.64
33.8
2.78
3.02
Total 2006 16.0
2.85
1.47
39.2
2.13
2.68
55.2
2.34
4.15
Total 2005
14.9
3.11
1.48
41.9
1.90
2.57
56.8
2.22
4.05
Notes to the 2006 Mineral Reserve Statement:
(1) The stated Mineral Reserve for Bogoso/Prestea incorporates Pampe and
Mampon.
(2) The stated Mineral Reserves have been prepared in accordance with
Canada’s National Instrument 43-101 Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mineral Reserves are equivalent to
Proven and Probable Reserves as defined by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7.
(3) The Mineral Reserves have been prepared under the supervision of Mr.
Peter Bourke, P.Eng., Vice President Technical Services for the Company.
Mr. Bourke is a "Qualified Person”
as defined by Canada’s National Instrument
43-101.
(4) The Mineral Reserves were estimated using a gold price of $480 per
ounce, which is approximately equal to the three year average price, and
are based on a mine plan derived from an optimized pit shell.
(5) The terms "non-refractory”
and "refractory”
refer to the metallurgical characteristics of the ore. We plan to
process the refractory ore in our BIOX®
bio-oxidation plant that is currently being constructed at Bogoso and to
process the non-refractory ore using our more traditional gravity,
flotation and/or cyanidation techniques.
(6) Optimized pit parameters are based on historical and projected
operating costs at Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa and estimated costs for
processing refractory ores in the under construction BIOX® plant. Metallurgical recoveries are based on historical
performance or estimated from testwork and typically range between 80 to
92% for non-refractory ores and estimated from 70 to 90% for refractory
ores. Pit designs are based on geotechnical criteria established by
external consultants. Mining dilution and mining recovery varies by
deposit and has been applied in estimating the Mineral Reserves. A
royalty of 3% is allowed.
(7) Mineral Reserves are expressed on a 100% basis. Golden Star’s
share of the Mineral Reserves is subject to the Government of Ghana’s
10% carried interest which entitles them to a 10% dividend once our
capital costs have been recovered.
(8) Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Reconciliation of Mineral Reserves
The following table sets out the primary factors that impacted our
Mineral Reserves during 2006.
Reconciliation Tonnes(millions) Contained Ounces(millions) Tonnes(% of Opening) Ounces(% of Opening)
Opening Mineral Reserves
56.8
4.05
100
100
Gold Price Increase(1)
28.6
1.37
50
34
Exploration Changes(2)
(2.1)
(0.04)
(4)
(1)
Mining Depletion(3)
(4.9)
(0.28)
(9)
(7)
Engineering(4)
(23.2)
(0.95)
(41)
(23)
Closing Mineral Reserves
55.2
4.15
97
102
Notes to the reconciliation of Mineral Reserves:
(1) Gold Price Increase represents changes resulting from an increase in
gold price used in the Mineral Reserve estimates from $400 per ounce in
2005 to $480 per ounce in 2006.
(2) Exploration Changes include changes due to geological modeling, data
interpretation and resource block modeling methodology as well as due to
exploration discovery of new mineralization.
(3) Mining Depletion represents 2005 Mineral Reserve mined and processed
in 2006 before considering recovery losses and therefore does not
correspond with 2006 actual gold production.
(4) Engineering includes changes as a result of engineering facts such
as changes in operating costs, mining dilution and recovery assumptions,
metallurgical recoveries, pit slope angles and other mine design
considerations.
NON-RESERVE MINERAL RESOURCES Cautionary Note to US Investors concerning estimates of Measured
and Indicated Mineral Resources
This section uses the terms "measured mineral
resources” and "indicated
mineral resources.” We advise US investors
that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian
regulations, the US Securities and Exchange Commission does not
recognize them. US investors are cautioned not to assume that any
part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be
converted into mineral reserves. Cautionary Note to US Investors concerning estimates of Inferred
Mineral Resources
This section uses the term "inferred mineral
resources.” We advise US investors that while
this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the US
Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize it. "Inferred
mineral resources” have a great amount of
uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their
economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any
part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred
mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic
studies. US investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of
the inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally
mineable.
The following table sets out the Mineral Resources, which either (i)
fall within a Whittle 4-D optimized shell at a gold price of $560 per
ounce using the same modifying factors and assumptions as used for the
estimation of the Mineral Reserves, or (ii) report to an underground
resource model after applying a cut-off grade commensurate with
underground mining. In 2005, as reported in our press release of
February 1, 2006, we used a $480 per ounce optimized pit shell to report
our constrained Mineral Resources.
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and Inferred Mineral Resources as at December 31, 2006
Measured Indicated Measured & Indicated Inferred Property Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t) Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t) Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t) Tonnes (millions) Gold Grade (g/t)
Bogoso/Prestea
6.1
2.05
14.0
2.32
20.2
2.23
4.2
2.70
Prestea Underground
-
-
1.1
16.30
1.1
16.30
5.0
8.68
Wassa
0.2
1.05
11.7
0.75
11.9
0.76
7.2
1.18
Hwini-Butre & Benso
-
-
5.2
4.30
5.2
4.30
1.6
4.02
Goulagou
-
-
2.7
1.75
2.7
1.75
0.5
1.02
Paul Isnard
-
-
-
-
-
-
10.2
1.70
Total 2006 6.4
2.02
34.7
2.48
41.0
2.40
28.7
3.05
Total 2005
3.5
2.20
33.9
2.09
37.4
2.10
34.0
2.86
(1) The Mineral Resources for Bogoso/Prestea incorporate Pampe and
Mampon.
(2) The Mineral Resources were estimated in accordance with the
definitions and requirements of Canada’s
National Instrument 43-101. The Mineral Resources are equivalent to
Mineralized Material as defined by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7.
(3) The Mineral Resources, other than for the Prestea Underground, were
estimated using an optimized pit shell at a gold price of $560 per ounce
from which the Mineral Reserves have been subtracted. Other than gold
price, the same optimized pit shell parameters and modifying factors
used to determine the Mineral Reserves were used to determine the
Mineral Resources. The Prestea Underground Mineral Resources were
estimated using a cut off grade based on a $560 per ounce gold price and
are commensurate with estimated underground mining costs. In 2005, we
used a gold price of $480 per ounce for the optimized shell and the
underground cutoff grade, as reported in our press release of February
1, 2006.
(4) The Mineral Resources are in addition
to the Mineral Reserves described above.
(5) The Qualified Person for the estimation of the Mineral Resources is
S. Mitchel Wasel, our Exploration Manager.
(6) Tables may not add to the total due to rounding.
(7) Mineral Resources are shown on a 100% basis. Golden Star’s
share of the Mineral Resources is subject to the Government of Ghana’s
10% carried interest which entitles them to a 10% dividend once our
capital costs have been recovered, in the case of Bogoso/Prestea and
Wassa, and are subject to the Government of Ghana’s
19% minority interest in the Prestea Underground where Golden Star
currently has an 81% beneficial interest.
(8) Pit optimization parameters for the Goulagou Mineral Resources were
estimated based on feasibility studies on other similar gold deposits in
Burkina Faso, Golden Star’s experience in
West Africa, and from limited metallurgical testwork on the Goulagou
ores. Heap leach processing was the assumed processing option for this
deposit.
(9) The Paul Isnard property is owned by EURO Ressources S.A. and Golden
Star has a joint venture with EURO to earn a 100% interest in the
property.
COMPANY PROFILE
Golden Star holds a 90% equity interest in the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa
open-pit gold mines in Ghana. In addition, Golden Star has an 81%
interest in the currently inactive Prestea Underground mine and various
other property interests in Ghana as well as gold exploration interests
elsewhere in West Africa and in the Guiana Shield of South America.
Golden Star expects to produce 390,000 ounces of gold in 2007,
increasing to 500,000 ounces in 2008. Golden Star has approximately 208
million common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2006.
Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Some
statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are
inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include
comments regarding the establishment and estimates of mineral reserves
and non-reserve mineral resources, the recovery of any mineral reserves,
recoveries, and operating cost factors. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially include variations in ore grade; variations
in relative amounts of refractory and non-refractory ores; failure to
receive government approvals; technical, permitting, mining or
processing issues, and fluctuations in gold price and costs. There
can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will
be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of
these and other factors in our Form 10-K for 2005. The forecasts
contained in this press release constitute management’s
current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to
the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will
change as new information is received and that actual results will vary
from these estimates, possibly by material amounts. While we may
elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to
update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any
particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any
forecasts in this press release represent management’s
estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.
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