UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

  FORM 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of April 2018
 
Commission File Number: 001-31819

 

Gold Reserve Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

999 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 401
Spokane, Washington 99201
(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ¨ Form 40-F x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes
¨ No x

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

 

 

 


 

This Report on Form 6-K and the exhibit attached hereto are hereby incorporated by reference into Gold Reserve Inc.’s (the “Company”) current Registration Statements on Form F-3 on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

The following exhibits are furnished with this Form 6-K:

99.1

NI 43-101 Technical Report

99.2

Certificate of Qualified Person - Lambert

99.3

Certificate of Qualified Person - Texidor

99.4

Certificate of Qualified Person - Miranda

99.5

Certificate of Qualified Person - Altman

99.6

Certificate of Qualified Person - Malensek

99.7

Consent of Qualified Person - Lambert

99.8

Consent of Qualified Person - Texidor

99.9

Consent of Qualified Person - Miranda

99.10

Consent of Qualified Person - Altman

99.11

Consent of Qualified Person - Malensek

 

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and information

The information presented or incorporated by reference in this report contains both historical information and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) or "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") that may state our intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause our actual financial results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein and many of which are outside our control.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, including those set out herein, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  The words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "plan," "may," "could" and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements.  Any such forward-looking statements are not intended to provide any assurances as to future results.

Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

·         The risk that the conclusions of management and its qualified consultants contained in the most recent Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Siembra Minera Gold Copper Project (the "Project") in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects may not be realized in the future.

·         delay or failure by Venezuela to make payments or otherwise honor its commitments under the Settlement Agreement, including with respect to the sale of the Mining Data or the payment of the Award;

·         the risk that Venezuela may not transfer the funds deposited to the trust account for the benefit of the Company at Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela ("Bandes Bank") (the "Trust Account"), a Venezuelan state-owned development bank, to our U.S. or Canadian bank accounts;

·         the risk of the imposition of further sanctions by the U.S., Canada or other jurisdictions that may negatively impact our ability to freely transfer funds held in the Trust Account or our ability to do business in Venezuela;

·         the ability of the Company and Venezuela to (i) successfully overcome any legal, regulatory or technical obstacles to operate Siembra Minera and develop and later operate the Siembra Minera Project, (ii) obtain any remaining governmental approvals and (iii) obtain financing to fund the capital and initial operating costs of the Siembra Minera Project;


 

·         risks associated with exploration, delineation of adequate resources and reserves, regulatory and permitting obstacles and other risks incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties in Venezuela and generally for mining projects including our ability to achieve revenue producing operations in the future;

·         local risks associated with the concentration of our future operations and assets in Venezuela, including operational, security, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks;

·         our ability to resume our efforts to enforce and collect the Award, including the associated costs of such enforcement and collection effort and the timing and success of that effort, if Venezuela fails to make payments to the Trust Account under the Settlement Agreement, it is terminated and further efforts to meet the commitments in the Settlement Agreement are abandoned;

·         pending the receipt of payments to the Trust Account and transfer of such payments under the Settlement Agreement to our U.S. or Canadian bank accounts, our continued ability to service our obligations as they come due and access future additional funding, when required, for ongoing liquidity and capital resources, including as a result of payments of certain of those funds that must be made to our shareholders and holders of CVRs;

·         potential shareholder dilution resulting from future financings;

·         our prospects in general for the identification, exploration and development of additional mining projects;

·         risks associated with the abilities and continued participation of key employees; and

·         changes in U.S., Canadian and/or other tax laws to which we are subject. 

See “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Information Form and Annual Report on Form 40-F filed on www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively for additional risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this report that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with the SEC or other securities regulators or presented on the Company’s website.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.  We disclaim any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to our disclosure obligations under applicable U.S. and Canadian securities regulations.  Investors are urged to read the Company’s filings with U.S. and Canadian securities regulatory agencies, which can be viewed online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: April 6, 2018

 

 

GOLD RESERVE INC. (Registrant)

 

 

By: /s/ Robert A. McGuinness                                                    

        Robert A. McGuinness, its Vice President of Finance,

        Chief Financial Officer and its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer


rpagrisiembraminera43-101.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

Exhibit 99.1

 

GOLD RESERVE INC.

TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE SIEMBRA MINERA PROJECT, BOLIVAR STATE, VENEZUELA

NI 43-101 Report

Qualified Persons:

Richard J. Lambert, P.E., P.Eng. Hugo Miranda, C.P.

José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo. Kathleen A. Altman, Ph.D., P.E. Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng.

March 16, 2018

RPA Inc. 55 University Ave. Suite 501 I Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 2H7 I T + 1 (416) 947 0907 www.rpacan.com


 

    www.rpacan.com
 
Report Control Form      
 
Document Title Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar
  State, Venezuela    
 
Client Name & Address Gold Reserve Inc.    
  999 W. Riverside Ave, Suite 401  
Spokane, WA 99201.

 
 
Document Reference   Status & FINAL
  Project #2832 Issue No. Version
 
Issue Date March 16, 2018    
 
Lead Author Richard J. Lambert (Signed)  
  José Texidor Carlsson (Signed)  
  Hugo M. Miranda (Signed)  
  Kathleen A. Altman (Signed)  
  Grant A. Malensek (Signed)  
 
Peer Reviewer Richard J. Lambert (Signed)  
  Luke Evans (Signed)  
 
 
Project Manager Approval Richard J. Lambert (Signed)  
 
 
 
Project Director Approval Richard J. Lambert (Signed)  

 

Report Distribution

Name

No. of Copies

Client

RPA Filing

1 (project box)

Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.
55 University Avenue, Suite 501
Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Canada
Tel: +1 416 947 0907
Fax: +1 416 947 0395
mining@rpacan.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
  PAGE
 
1 SUMMARY 1-1
Executive Summary 1-1
Economic Analysis 1-8
2 INTRODUCTION 2-1
3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS 3-1
4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION 4-1
Land Tenure 4-1
5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND  
PHYSIOGRAPHY 5-1
6 HISTORY 6-1
7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION 7-1
Regional Geology 7-1
Mineralization at Brisas 7-12
Mineralization at Cristinas 7-14
8 DEPOSIT TYPES 8-1
Brisas 8-1
Cristinas 8-2
9 EXPLORATION 9-1
Exploration Potential 9-1
10 DRILLING 10-1
General 10-1
Brisas Concessions 10-5
Cristinas Concessions 10-8
11 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY 11-1
Brisas Concessions 11-1
Cristinas Concessions 11-5
Review of the QA/QC Results 11-10
12 DATA VERIFICATION 12-1
PAH Data Verification - Brisas Concessions 12-1
MDA Data Verification - Cristinas Concessions 12-3
RPA Audit of Drill Hole Database 12-5
13 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING 13-1
Brisas 13-3
Cristinas 13-5
Results and Conclusions 13-14
14 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE 14-1

 

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Summary 14-1
Drill Hole Database 14-4
Topography 14-4
Geological Interpretation 14-5
Statistical Analysis 14-11
Capping of High Grades 14-13
Compositing 14-19
Variography 14-22
Densities 14-25
Block Model Construction 14-28
Classification 14-31
Net Smelter Return 14-33
Cut-Off Grade 14-34
Treatment of ArtisAnal Miner Activity 14-34
Block Model Validation 14-39
Open Pit Optimization 14-43
Mineral Resource Estimate 14-43
Sensitivity Analysis 14-47
15 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE 15-1
16 MINING METHODS 16-1
Production Schedule 16-4
Mine Equipment 16-12
17 RECOVERY METHODS 17-1
Introduction 17-1
Oxide Cyanidation Plant 17-1
Flotation Concentrator 17-5
Plant Transitions and Reconfiguration 17-10
18 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE 18-1
Highway Access Roads 18-1
Oxide Plant 18-3
Flotation Plant 18-3
Tailings 18-4
19 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS 19-1
Markets 19-1
Contracts 19-2

 

20 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT

20-1

Environmental Studies 20-1
Permitting: Regulatory Approval Process 20-8
Closure and Reclamation Plan 20-12
Waste Management Plan 20-12
Environmental and Social Summary 20-13
21 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS 21-1

 

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Capital Costs 21-1
Operating Costs 21-7
22 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 22-1
Sensitivity Analysis 22-11
23 ADJACENT PROPERTIES 23-1
24 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION 24-1
25 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS 25-1
26 RECOMMENDATIONS 26-1
27 REFERENCES 27-1
28 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE 28-1
29 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON 29-1
30 APPENDIX 1 30-1
Cash Flow Projection 30-1
 
 
 
 
LIST OF TABLES  
 
    PAGE
Table 1-1 Proposed Program 1-8
Table 1-2 Royalties and Government Payments 1-10
Table 1-3 Income Taxes, Working Capital, and Other 1-11
Table 1-4 Indicative Project Economics 1-15
Table 1-5 All-in Sustaining Costs Composition 1-16
Table 1-6 Pre-tax Sensitivity Analysis 1-19
Table 1-7 Summary of Mineral Resources – December 31, 2017 1-25
Table 1-8 Capital Cost Summary 1-29
Table 1-9 Estimated LoM Operating Costs 1-30
Table 4-1 UTM Coordinates of Economic Zone 4-2
Table 7-1 Regional Stratigraphy and Broad Description 7-10
Table 10-1 Summary of GRI Drilling-Brisas Concessions 10-2
Table 10-2 Summary of Placer and Crystallex Drilling-Cristinas Concessions 10-2
Table 11-1 Material Densities and Moisture 11-5
Table 11-2 Summary of Placer’s Assaying Procedures, Cristinas Concessions 11-6
Table 11-3 Summary of Available QA/QC Data, Cristinas Concessions 11-11
Table 11-4 Summary of Available QA/QC Data, Brisas Concessions 11-13
Table 11-5 Summary of Blank Sample Analysis, Brisas Concessions 11-14
Table 11-6 Average Grade And Standard Deviation Of Available Standards Submitted At
Las Cristinas 11-16
Table 11-7 Expected Value and Accepted Range of Standard Material, Brisas Concessions
    11-17
Table 11-8 Comparative Statistics of Pulp Duplicate Samples at Brisas 11-21
Table 12-1 Summary of Twin Hole Gold Data, Brisas Concessions 12-3
Table 12-2 Comparison of Twin Hole Copper Data, Brisas Concessions 12-3
Table 13-1 Summary of Resources and Grades by Area 13-2
Table 13-2 Current Summary of Rock Types and Grades 13-2

 

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Table 13-3 Summary of Locked Cycle Test Data 13-5
Table 13-4 Placer Gold Recovery Estimate for Sulphide Saprolite 13-8
Table 13-5 Placer Gold Recovery Estimate for Hard Rock 13-9
Table 13-6 Placer Comminution Data 13-9
Table 13-7 Cristinas Comminution Data 13-12
Table 13-8 Cristinas Carbon Elution Assays 13-13
Table 13-9 Recovery Estimates for PEA 13-15
Table 14-1 Summary of Mineral Resources – December 31, 2017 14-1
Table 14-2 Summary of Mineral Resources by Material Type – December 31, 2017 14-2
Table 14-3 Summary of Mineral Resources by Zone – December 31, 2017 14-3
Table 14-4 Descriptive Statistics of Uncapped Gold Assay Values by Domain 14-12
Table 14-5 Descriptive Statistics of Uncapped Copper Assay Values by Domain 14-13
Table 14-6 Summary of Gold and Copper Capping Values 14-16
Table 14-7 Descriptive Statistics of Gold Capped Assay Values by Domain 14-18
Table 14-8 Descriptive Statistics of Copper Capped Assay Values by Domain 14-19
Table 14-9 Descriptive Statistics of Capped, Composited Copper Values 14-20
Table 14-10 Descriptive Statistics of Capped, Composited Gold Values by Domain 14-21
Table 14-11 Density Statistics for the Brisas Concessions, by Mineralized Domain and
Study   14-27
Table 14-12 Density Statistics for the Cristinas Concessions, by Mineralized Domain and
Study   14-27
Table 14-13 Density Statistics for the Mesones Area, Cristinas Concessions, by Mineralized
Domain and Study 14-27
Table 14-14 Block Model Setup 14-28
Table 14-15 Block Model Attribute Descriptions 14-28
Table 14-16 Gold Sample Selection Strategy 14-29
Table 14-17 Copper Sample Selection Strategy 14-31
Table 14-18 Key Assumptions for Calculation of NSR Factors 14-33
Table 14-19 Summary of NSR Factors 14-34
Table 14-20 Comparison Between OK and NN Grades 14-39
Table 14-21 Summary of Mineral Resources – December 31, 2017 14-43
Table 14-22 Summary of Mineral Resources by Material Type – December 31, 2017 14-44
Table 14-23 Summary of Mineral Resources by Zone – December 31, 2017 14-44
Table 14-24 M&I Sensitivity to Au Cut-off Grade by Concession 14-48
Table 14-25 M&I Sensitivity to Au Cut-off Grade 14-49
Table 16-1 PEA Open Pit Optimization Parameters 16-2
Table 16-2 Mine Plan Open Pit Optimization 16-5
Table 16-3 Mine Phases Summary 16-7
Table 16-4 Waste Dump Capacity 16-9
Table 16-5 Mine Production Schedule 16-10
Table 16-6 Process Production Schedule 16-11
Table 16-7 Major Mine Equipment Requirements 16-13
Table 18-1 Tailings Management Facility Capacity 18-4
Table 21-1 Development Capital Cost Summary 21-2
Table 21-2 Development Capital Direct Cost Details 21-3
Table 21-3 Development Capital Indirect Cost Details 21-4
Table 21-4 Development Capital Contingency Details 21-5
Table 21-5 Sustaining Capital Cost Summary 21-5
Table 21-6 Operating Cost Summary 21-7
Table 21-7 Year 5 Annual Headcount Detail 21-8
Table 21-8 Mine Unit Operating Costs ($/t) 21-9
Table 21-9 Reagent and Consumables Costs for Leaching Oxide Saprolite 21-9

 

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Table 21-10 Reagent and Consumables Costs for Leaching Sulphide Saprolite 21-10
Table 21-11 Reagent and Consumables Costs for Leaching 21-11
Table 21-12 Reagent and Consumables Costs for Flotation of Sulphide Saprolite and Hard
Rock   21-11
Table 21-13 Summary of Process Labour Costs 21-12
Table 21-14 Summary of Power Consumption Estimates 21-14
Table 21-15 Summary of Average Annual Power Costs 21-15
Table 21-16 Summary of Process Operating Costs ($/t) 21-15
Table 21-17 Summary of G&A Operating Costs ($/t) 21-16
Table 21-18 Summary of Other Infrastructure Operating Costs ($/t) 21-16
Table 22-1 Royalties and Government Payments 22-3
Table 22-2 Income Taxes, Working Capital, and Other 22-4
Table 22-3 Indicative Project Economics 22-8
Table 22-4 All-in Sustaining Costs Composition 22-9
Table 22-5 Pre-tax Sensitivity Analysis 22-12
Table 26-1 Proposed Program 26-4
 
 
 
 
LIST OF FIGURES  

 

           

  PAGE
Figure 1-1 Mine vs. Mill Production 1-13
Figure 1-2 Mill Production Profile by Plant 1-14
Figure 1-3 Project Pre-tax Metrics Summary 1-14
Figure 1-4 Annual AISC Curve Profile 1-17
Figure 1-5 Pre-tax NPV 10% Sensitivity Analysis 1-20
Figure 1-6 Pre-tax IRR Sensitivity Analysis 1-20
Figure 1-7 Pre-tax Discount Rate Sensitivity Analysis 1-21
Figure 1-8 After-tax Discount Rate Sensitivity Analysis 1-21
Figure 4-1 Project Location 4-3
Figure 4-2 Map of Economic Zone 4-4
Figure 7-1 Property Geology 7-4
Figure 7-2 Ternary Diagram for Classification of Tuffaceous Units 7-7
Figure 9-1 Exploration Target Areas 9-2
Figure 10-1 Drill Hole Location Map 10-4
Figure 11-1 Sample Preparation Flow Sheet, Brisas Concessions 11-3
Figure 11-2 Sample Preparation Flow Sheet, Cristinas Concessions 11-7
Figure 11-3 Control Chart of Blank Samples (Gold), Cristinas Concessions 11-14
Figure 11-4 Control Chart of Blank Samples (Gold), Brisas Concessions 11-15
Figure 11-5 Control Chart of Gold STD – 1Y 11-18
Figure 11-6 Control Chart of Copper STD – 1Y 11-19
Figure 11-7 Scatter Plot of Pulp Duplicate Samples, Cristinas Concessions 11-20
Figure 11-8 Scatter Plot of Pulp Duplicate Samples at Brisas 11-21
Figure 11-9 Quantile-Quantile Plot of Check Assay Samples at Brisas 11-23
Figure 13-1  Brisas Metallurgical Sample Locations 13-4
Figure 13-2 Cristinas Metallurgical Sample Locations 13-6
Figure 14-1 3D Isometric View of Geological Wireframes 14-7
Figure 14-2 Example Section of Mineralization, Section 682,800N 14-8
Figure 14-3 Example Section of Mineralization, Section 684,550N 14-9
Figure 14-4 Example Long Section of the Stratiform Mineralization 14-10

 

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Figure 14-5 Frequency Histogram of the Gold Values for Brisas Main Zone 14-14
Figure 14-6 Frequency Histogram of the Gold Values for Cristinas Main Zone 14-15
Figure 14-7 Probability Plots of the Gold Values for Brisas Main 14-16
Figure 14-8 Probability Plots of the Gold Values for Cristinas Main Zone 14-17
Figure 14-9 Histogram of Sample Lengths, All Domains Combined 14-20
Figure 14-10 Au Variograms for Brisas 14-23
Figure 14-11 Au Variograms for Cristinas 14-24
Figure 14-12 Brisas Density Statistics by Historic Oxidation Domain 14-26
Figure 14-13 Isometric View of Resource Classification 14-32
Figure 14-14 Overview of Artisanal Miner Excavations 14-36
Figure 14-15 Example of an Artisanal Miner Excavation 14-37
Figure 14-16 Satellite Image of the Ground Disturbance in the Siembra Minera Area 14-38
Figure 14-17 Validation of Local Bias for Au in Brisas 14-40
Figure 14-18 Validation of Local Bias for Au in Cristinas 14-41
Figure 14-19 Visual Inspection of Composite Grades vs. Block Grades for Au in Section
682250   14-42
Figure 16-1 Resource Pit Geometry 16-3
Figure 16-2 Pit by Pit Graph with NPV 16-6
Figure 16-3 Final Pit Design 16-8
Figure 17-1 Simplified Process Flowsheet for the Oxide Cyanidation Plant 17-2
Figure 17-2 Simplified Process Flowsheet for the Flotation Concentrator 17-6
Figure 18-1 General Site Layout 18-2
Figure 22-1 Mine vs. Mill Production 22-6
Figure 22-2 Mill Production Profile by Plant 22-7
Figure 22-3 Project Pre-tax Metrics Summary 22-7
Figure 22-4 Annual AISC Curve Profile 22-10
Figure 22-5 Pre-tax NPV 10% Sensitivity Analysis 22-13
Figure 22-6 Pre-tax IRR Sensitivity Analysis 22-13
Figure 22-7 Pre-tax Discount Rate Sensitivity Analysis 22-14
Figure 22-8 After-tax Discount Rate Sensitivity Analysis 22-14

 

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1 SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) was retained by Gold Reserve Inc.(GRI), and its wholly owned subsidiary GR Engineering Barbados, Inc. (GRE) to prepare an independent Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project (the Project), located in Bolivar State, Venezuela. The operating company Empresa Mixta Ecosocialista Siembra Minera, S.A. (Siembra Minera), which holds the rights to the Siembra Minera Project, is a mixed capital company with 55% being owned by a Venezuelan state entity [owned by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela through the Corporación Venezolana de Minería (CVM)] and 45% by GR Mining Barbados, Inc. (GRM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of GRI. GRE has been set up to perform engineering, procurement, construction, and operation of the Project.

The Project is a combination of the Brisas and Cristinas properties into a single project now called the Siembra Minera Project. The purpose of this report is to provide GRI and GRE with an initial assessment of the Siembra Minera Project including a resource estimate, conceptual mine plan, and a preliminary economic review. This Technical Report conforms to NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. RPA visited the Project on September 19, 2017.

The Siembra Minera Project is a gold-copper deposit located in the Kilometre 88 mining district of Bolivar State in southeast Venezuela. Local owners and illegal miners have worked the property for many years. Shallow pitting and hydraulic methods were used to mine the upper saprolite zone, and coarse gold was recovered by gravity concentration and amalgamation with mercury. Most of the large-scale exploration work at Cristinas was performed by Placer Dome Inc. (Placer), which worked on the property from 1991 to 2001. At Brisas, GRI carried out the exploration program on the concession from 1992 to 2005. The most recent Technical Report for Cristinas is dated November 7, 2007, which is based on a feasibility study and includes historic mineral reserves. The most recent Technical Report for Brisas is dated March 31, 2008, which is also based on a feasibility study and includes historic mineral reserves.

RPA has relied on data derived from work completed by previous owners on the Cristinas concessions and by GRI on the Brisas concessions. The current resources for Cristinas were estimated by RPA based on the drill hole data supplied by Corporación Venezolana de

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Guayana (CVG) to GRI in 2002. The database had 1,174 drill holes and 108 trenches which were included in the Cristinas database. Hard copies of the assay data sheets were not available, however, GEOLOG data files from Placer were provided including assay data, geological descriptions, structural data, geotechnical data, and check sample data. The current resources for Brisas were estimated by RPA based on drill hole data supplied by GRI in Geovia GEMS format which formed the basis of the last Technical Report by Pincock Allen & Holt (PAH) in 2008.

This report is considered by RPA to meet the requirements of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) as defined in Canadian NI 43-101 regulations. The mine plan and economic analysis contained in this Technical Report are based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources, and are preliminary in nature. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have mining and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized.

CONCLUSIONS

RPA offers the following conclusions by area.

GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

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MINING

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MINERAL PROCESSING

ENVIRONMENT

RECOMMENDATIONS

Given the positive economic results presented in this report, RPA recommends that the Project be advanced to the next stage of engineering study and permitting.

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RPA offers the following recommendations.

GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

  • Acquire new topographic data.
  • Drill approximately 150 to 200 drill holes totalling approximately 75 km to 100 km. This drilling would have a number of objectives including:
      o      Conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated with priority set on Inferred Mineral Resources situated in the 5 and 10-year pit shells.
      o      Drilling to determine the extent of mineralization at depth in the Main Zone as this will determine the limits of the largest possible pit and help with the location of features such as dumps and roads.
      o      Better definition of the copper mineralization in the Main Zone footwall.
      o      Improving preliminary artisanal mining sterilization assumptions.
      o      Condemnation drilling of proposed waste rock storage sites.
      o      Closer spaced drilling in the El Potaso area between Brisas and Cristinas concession areas.
      o      Drilling on the northwest extensions of the mineralization in the Morrocoy and Cordova areas.
      o      Drilling on the Cristinas Main Zone for density measurements.
  • Improve understanding of the geological and structural controls on the shapes and local trends of high grade lenses in the Main Zone. Northwest striking cross-faults need to be identified and modelled and structural sub-domains built to improve future variography studies and dynamic anisotropy trend surfaces. This will improve the local accuracy of future gold and copper grade models.
  • Carry out additional 3D mineralization trend analysis studies, domain modelling, and variography work for the gold and copper mineralization. This will also assist in evaluating if additional 5-spot drill holes are needed to support the Indicated classification in some areas with more complex geology.
  • Depending on the outcome of new variography work, build gold and copper models
      using      ordinary kriging.
  • Develop a new lithology model once new drill holes have been drilled so that an improved material densities model can be created.
  • Build a structural model.
  • For the proposed drilling, implement field and coarse duplicate sampling programs at Siembra Minera at a rate of approximately 1 in 50.
  • Acquire three or four matrix matched certified reference materials that approximate the cut-off grade, average grade, and high grades and insert them in all future drill programs at the Project at a rate of approximately 1 in 25.
  • Implement external laboratory check assays at a rate of approximately 1 in 20.
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    MINING

    MINERAL PROCESSING

  • Every effort should be made to acquire access to the detailed metallurgical and plant
      data      for Cristinas. In the absence of that data, detailed metallurgical sampling and
      testing are required to provide the information required to design the oxide leaching
      plant.     
  • Additional test work should be conducted for the flotation plant using variability samples
      taken      from throughout the deposits with particular emphasis on Cristinas where limited
      variability testing was done using the flotation flowsheet. Currently, industry standard emphasizes the use of variability samples as opposed to the composite samples that
      were      predominantly used in previous flotation testing.
  • RPA is of the opinion that there is considerable potential for optimization of the flowsheet of the Siembra Minera Project. Examples include:
      o      Increased efficiency if larger equipment sizes are utilized in the design. Due to cost savings and enhanced performance, the sizes for grinding mills and flotation cells have increased substantially. As examples, semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills that are now available are as large as 12.2 m diameter by 8.8 m long as opposed to the 11.6 m by 6.7 m that are in the current design and flotation cells now have capacities of 600 m3 instead of the 160 m3 that are in the current design. The larger pieces of equipment result in a reduced footprint and fewer pieces of equipment and, therefore, lower installed costs.
      o      The use of an adsorption desorption recovery (ADR) that is designed for the combined Project will probably result in less cost than merely doubling the size of the current design. In addition to this, consolidating the ADR from the oxide leach plant into a plant that can later be expanded to process the doré from the flotation plant has the potential to not only cut costs but also reduce security concerns and efforts.
  • RPA is of the opinion that the current conceptual design for the oxide leach plant does not include the best options for Siembra Minera. Areas that require detailed evaluations include:
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      o      Use of carbon-in-leach (CIL) instead of carbon-in-pulp (CIP) particularly since the plant designs for both Cristinas and Brisas were changed to CIL from CIP during previous studies.
      o      Investigate elimination of the copper circuits. Data from the Cristinas feasibility
       study      shows that copper is only soluble in the sulphide saprolite and that it is
       not soluble in material that has lower copper concentrations. Therefore, the copper circuit should not be needed as the sulphide saprolite that contains higher concentrations of copper will be processed in the flotation plant and not in the oxide leach plant.
      o      Changes to the gravity separation circuit. The use of continuous centrifugal concentrators instead of batch units to eliminate manual labour and reduce potential for theft. Use intensive cyanide leaching to process the gravity gold concentrate instead of shaking tables. Prior studies showed that intensive cyanide leaching was preferable for treatment of the gravity concentrate for both Brisas and Cristinas.
      o      Selection of designs that are appropriate for processing clay-like saprolitic material, including:
       §      Appropriate tank sizing using slurry densities that are consistent with the material that has a low specific gravity and is viscous in nature
       §      Proper agitator selection
       §      Selection of pumps and design of piping
  • Design of the TMF for the combined Project is preliminary. Further detailed geotechnical work is required to complete a design for the final tailings. Preliminary
      plans      are to use the feasibility level design from the SNC-Lavalin 2007 study as Stage
      1 of construction with the final tailings inundating the Stage 1 structure.

    ENVIRONMENT

    COSTS AND ECONOMICS

    PROPOSED PROGRAM AND BUDGET

    RPA’s proposed program for the next stage of study is summarized in Table 1-1.

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    TABLE 1-1 PROPOSED PROGRAM

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Description Cost
      (US$ M)
    Drilling to upgrade Inferred Mineral Resources – 150 to 200 holes 20
    Geotechnical Studies 2
    Hydrogeology Study 1
    Metallurgical Studies 2
    Pre-feasibility/Feasibility Study 5
    ESIA and Permitting 2
    Total 32

     

    ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

    The economic analysis contained in this report is based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources, and is preliminary in nature. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have mining and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized.

    A Cash Flow Projection has been generated from the LoM production schedule and capital and operating cost estimates, and is summarized in Table 1-4. All currency is in US dollars (US$ or $). A summary of the key criteria is provided below.

    ECONOMIC CRITERIA

    PRODUCTION

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    REVENUE

  • Doré payable factors at refinery are 99.9% Au and 98% Ag.
  • Copper concentrate average payable factors at smelter are 98% Au, 97% Ag, and 95.8% Cu.
  • Payable metal sales for the Project total 37.6 Moz Au, 16.6 Moz Ag, and 3.2 billion lb Cu split as follows:
      o      From Doré: 14.4 Moz Au and 4.1 Moz Ag.
      o      From Concentrate: 23.2 Moz Au, 12.5 Moz Ag, and 3.2 billion lb Cu.
  • Metal prices: US$1,300 per troy ounce Au; US$17 per troy ounce Ag and US$3.00 per pound Cu.
  • NSR for doré includes transport and refining costs of $0.50 per ounce doré and $6 per ounce gold/$0.40 per ounce silver, respectively.
  • NSR for copper concentrate includes:
      o      Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) charge of $103 per wet tonne concentrate
       (8%      moisture content) consisting of:
       §      Road Transport (350 km one way): $11/t
       §      Port Charges (Puerto Ordaz) : $17/t
       §      Ocean Transport (Europe): $75/t.
      o      Smelter treatment charge of $95 per dry tonne concentrate.
      o      Smelter refining charges of $0.095/lb Cu, $6/oz Au, and $0.40/oz Ag.
      o      Copper price participation is not included.
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    COSTS

    o Mine ($1.36/t mined):   2.89
    o Process:   4.93
    o G&A:   1.32
    o Other Infrastructure:   0.14
    o Direct Operating Costs   9.29
    o Concentrate Freight   0.36
    o Off-site Costs   0.54
    o Total $ 10.19

     

    ROYALTIES AND GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS

    Royalties and other government payments total $5.6 billion, or $2.77/t milled, over the LoM as shown in Table 1-2.

    TABLE 1-2 ROYALTIES AND GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item US$ M US$/t milled
    NSR Royalty 3,262.8 1.63
    Special Advantages Tax 1,710.0 0.85
    Science, Technology and Innovation Contributions 588.1 0.29
    Total 5,560.9 2.77

     

    The Project will pay an annual NSR royalty to Venezuela on the sale of gold, copper, and silver and any other strategic minerals of 5% for the first ten years of commercial production and 6% thereafter.

    The Project is subject to an additional 3% NSR annual royalty called Special Advantages Tax which is a national social welfare fund.

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    The Project is subject to a 1% gross revenue levy as part of the Science, Technology and Innovation Contributions fund (LOCTI).

    Customs duties and Value Added Taxes (VAT) are assumed to be waived for the Project.

    INCOME TAXES, WORKING CAPITAL, AND OTHER

    Income taxes/contributions, upfront working capital, and reclamation/closure costs total $8.3 billion as shown in Table 1-3. Withholding taxes on corporate dividends and interest payments are not incorporated into the Project economic analysis.

    TABLE 1-3 INCOME TAXES, WORKING CAPITAL, AND OTHER

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item US$ M
    Anti-Drug Contributions 283.9
    Sports Contributions 283.9
    Corp. Income Taxes Paid 7,373.8
    Upfront Working Capital (Yrs 1-4) 195.4
    Reclamation and Closure 150.0
    Salvage Value 0
    Total 8,286.9

     

    Anti-drug and Sport Contributions

    These profit-based taxes are assessed at 1% of current year and previous year operating income, respectively. The annual operating margin is calculated by taking annual gross revenues and deducting all operating costs and depreciation/amortization allowances.

    Corporate Income Tax

    The Project economic analysis incorporates a sliding scale of tax rates applicable on income based on Project phases starting in Year 1 of commercial production as follows:

    Year 1 is the first year of gold production, after commissioning of the 15,000 tpd oxide plant.

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    Deductions from income for the purpose of estimating income subject to tax include the following items:

  • Operating Expense
      Expensed operating costs are deducted 100% in year incurred.
  • Stockpile adjustments
      As a result of large stockpiles of mill feed being generated during the life of the mine, the Project economic analysis includes annual adjustments to EBITDA to match mining
      costs      with recognized revenue. The net effect of these adjustments over the life of the
      mine      is zero but the adjustments increase EBITDA in years where stockpiling exceeds
      processing and inversely decrease EBITDA when processing stockpile material exceeds stockpile placement amounts.
  • Depreciation/Amortization
      o      All prior expenditures before January 2018 are considered sunk with respect to this analysis.
      o      Depreciation commences once the facilities are placed into service and the mine and mill are operating.
      o      Heavy mine fleet equipment capital is depreciated using 8-year straight line (SL) method. Light vehicle capital is depreciated using 5-year SL method.
      o      All process and infrastructure capital are depreciated using the Units of Production (UoP) method.
      o      Capitalized pre-production activities such as pre-stripping and water management are amortized the UoP method.
      o      The Project economic analysis incorporates an accelerated depreciation methodology which combines the first 12 years of annual SL depreciation allowances with the standard UoP cost basis. The resulting combined UoP/SL basis is then re-calculated using the UoP method. After 12 years, the depreciation allowances come directly from each UoP or SL category.
      o      Reclamation costs are amortized during the LoM by an annual accrual of $0.035/t mined ($150 million cost divided by 4.33 billion tonnes mined). This allowance is adjusted annually by periodic reclamation capital expenditures during the LoM.
  • Other Deductions
      Other      deductions from income for the purposes of estimating taxable income include
      management fees which amount to 5% of annual operating and capital costs. The annual management fees derived from operating costs are within the G&A opex category and thus expensed 100% in the year incurred while the annual fees derived
      from      capital costs are amortized using the UoP method starting in the year they are
      incurred.
  • Loss Carryforwards
      Income tax losses may be carried forward indefinitely but may not be used for prior tax years.
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    Upfront Working Capital

    A total of $195 million has been allocated for upfront working capital in Years 1 to 4. This amount covers year over year changes in accounts receivable and payable plus consumable inventory.

    Reclamation/Closure Costs

    The Project economic analysis has a $150 million LoM closure cost estimate.

    Salvage

    No salvage value was estimated as part of the Project economic analysis.

    CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

    The Project as currently designed has significant variations in the mining schedule, processing methods, and head grades over its planned 45-year life. These variations are shown in Figures 1-1 and 1-2 and the resulting impact on the pre-tax free cash flow profile is shown in Figure 1-3.

    FIGURE 1-1

    MINE VS. MILL PRODUCTION


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    FIGURE 1-2 MILL PRODUCTION PROFILE BY PLANT


    FIGURE 1-3 PROJECT PRE-TAX METRICS SUMMARY


    Table 1-4 shows the LoM total metrics for the Project as currently designed. Due to the length of the 45-year mine life, the full annual cash flow model is presented in Appendix 1.

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    TABLE 1-4 INDICATIVE PROJECT ECONOMICS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item Unit Value  
    Realized Market Prices      
    Au US$/oz 1,300  
    Ag US$/oz 17.00  
    Cu US$/lb 3.00  
    Payable Metal      
    Au Moz 37.6  
    Ag Moz 16.6  
    Cu Mlb 3,197.6  
    Total Gross Revenue US$ M 58,806.2  
    Mining Cost US$ M (5,790.9 )
    Process Cost US$ M (9,881.0 )
    G & A Cost US$ M (2,653.6 )
    Other Infrastructure Cost US$ M (288.9 )
    Concentrate Freight Cost US$ M (728.0 )
    Off-site Costs US$ M (1,076.5 )
    NSR Royalty Cost US$ M (3,262.8 )
    Special Advantages Tax Cost US$ M (1,710.0 )
    Science (LOCTI) Contributions US$ M (588.1 )
    Total Operating Costs US$ M (25,979.7 )
    Operating Margin (EBITDA) US$ M 32,826.5  
    Anti-Drug Contributions US$ M (283.9 )
    Sport Contributions US$ M (283.9 )
    Effective Tax Rate % 22.5 %
    Income Tax US$ M (7,373.8 )
    Total Taxes US$ M (7,941.5 )
    Working Capital ($195 M in Years 1 to 4) US$ M 0  
    Operating Cash Flow US$ M 24,885.0  
    Development Capital US$ M (2,570.6 )
    Sustaining Capital US$ M (1,941.7 )
    Closure/Reclamation Capital US$ M (150.0 )
    Total Capital US$ M (4,662.3 )
     
    Pre-tax Free Cash Flow US$ M 28,164.2  
    Pre-tax NPV @ 5% US$ M 11,209.4  
    Pre-tax NPV @ 10% US$ M 5,534.5  
    Pre-tax IRR % 36.8 %
    After-tax Simple Payback Years 3.8  
     
    After-tax Free Cash Flow US$ M 20,222.7  
    After-tax NPV @ 5% US$ M 8,101.2  
    After-tax NPV @ 10% US$ M 3,930.1  
    After-tax IRR % 31.1 %
    After-tax Simple Payback Years 4.1  

     

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    On a pre-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $28,164 million over the mine life. The pre-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 36.8%, and simple payback from start of commercial production occurs in 3.8 years. The pre-tax Net Present Values (NPV) are:

    On an after-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $20,223 million over the mine life, the IRR is 31.1%, and simple payback from start of commercial production occurs in 4.1 years. The after-tax NPVs are:

    The average annual gold sales during the forty-five years of operation is 836 koz per year (37.6 Moz over the LoM) at an average all in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$483 per ounce. Table 1-5 shows the AISC build up which is net of a US$262/oz copper and silver by-product credit (nbp).

    TABLE 1-5 ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS COMPOSITION

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item US$M   US$/oz Au  
    Mining 5,790.9   154  
    Process 9,881.0   263  
    G & A 2,653.6   71  
    Other Infrastructure 288.9   8  
    Subtotal Site Costs 18,614.3   495  
    Transportation 728.0   19  
    Off-site Treatment 1,076.5   29  
    Subtotal Off-site Costs 1,804.5   48  
    Direct Cash Costs 20,418.8   542  
    Ag and Cu By-Product Credit (9,875.4 ) (262 )
    Total Direct Cash Costs (nbp) 10,543.4   280  
    NSR Royalty 3,262.8   87  
    Special Advantages Tax 1,710.0   45  
    STI Contributions 588.1   16  
    Total Indirect Cash Costs 5,560.9   148  
    Total Production Costs 16,104.3   428  
    Sustaining Capital Cost 1,941.7   52  

     

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    Item US$M US$/oz Au
    Closure/Reclamation Capital 150.0 4
    Corporate G&A 0.0 0
    Off-mine Exploration 0.0 0
    Total Sustaining Costs 2,091.7 56
    Total All-in Sustaining Costs 18,196.0 483

     

    Figure 1-4 shows the annual AISC trend during the mine operations against an overall average AISC of US$483/payable oz over the 45-year LoM at an annual production rate of 836 koz Au per year. The AISC variations are mainly driven changes in grades, mine schedule, and processing methods. The AISC metric can range from US$309/oz to US$992/oz Au in a given year (excluding final year spike in Year 45 of $1,956/oz) but can be subdivided into three distinct phases:

    FIGURE 1-4

    ANNUAL AISC CURVE PROFILE


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    SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    Project risks can be identified in both economic and non-economic terms. Key economic risks were examined by running cash flow sensitivities:

    Pre-tax NPV and IRR sensitivities over the base case has been calculated for -20% to +20% variations metal-related categories. For operating costs and capital costs, the sensitivities over the base case has been calculated at -15% to +35% variation. The sensitivities are shown in Table 1-6 and in Figures 1-5 and 1-6, respectively.

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    TABLE 1-6 PRE-TAX SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Factor Change   Head Grade (g/t Au) NPV at 10% IRR  
          (US$ M) (%)  
    0.8   0.56 3,477.3 28.3 %
    0.9   0.63 4,505.8 32.7 %
    1   0.70 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.1   0.78 6,563.2 40.6 %
    1.2   0.85 7,591.9 44.3 %
     
        Recovery NPV at 10% IRR  
    Factor Change   (% Au) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.8   67 3,477.3 28.3 %
    0.9   76 4,505.8 32.7 %
    1   84 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.1   92 6,563.2 40.6 %
    1.2   100 7,489.0 44.0 %
     
        Metal Price NPV at 10% IRR  
    Factor Change   (US$/oz Au) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.8   1,040 3,166.4 27.2 %
    0.9   1,170 4,350.4 32.2 %
    1   1,300 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.1   1,430 6,718.5 41.1 %
    1.2   1,560 7,902.5 45.1 %
     
    Factor Change   Operating Costs NPV at 10% IRR  
        (US$/t milled) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.85 $ 11.57 6,068.2 38.6 %
    0.93 $ 12.27 5,801.3 37.7 %
    1.00 $ 12.96 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.18 $ 14.59 4,911.7 34.6 %
    1.35 $ 16.21 4,289.0 32.3 %
     
        Capital Costs NPV at 10% IRR  
    Factor Change   (US$ M) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.85 $ 4,222 5,812.0 41.1 %
    0.93 $ 4,385 5,673.2 38.8 %
    1.00 $ 4,547 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.18 $ 4,927 5,210.7 32.7 %
    1.35 $ 5,306 4,886.9 29.3 %

     

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    FIGURE 1-5 PRE-TAX NPV 10% SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    FIGURE 1-6 PRE-TAX IRR SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    A sensitivity analysis of discount rates is presented in Figure 1-7 and 1-8 and shows that the Project as currently designed would be NPV positive through a 20% discount rate.

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    FIGURE 1-7 PRE-TAX DISCOUNT RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS


    FIGURE 1-8 AFTER-TAX DISCOUNT RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS


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    TECHNICAL SUMMARY

    PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

    The Siembra Minera Project is located in the Kilometre 88 mining district of Bolivar State, in southeast Venezuela at Latitude 6° 11’ North and Longitude 61° 28’ West. The property is approximately 3.5 km west of Highway 10. Las Claritas is the closest town to the property.

    The Project site is located in the Guyana region, which covers approximately one-third of Venezuela’s national territory. The closest nearby large city is Ciudad Guayana, with approximately 1,050,000 inhabitants (2001), situated on the Orinoco River near its confluence with the Caroní River. Ciudad Guayana consists of the old town of San Félix to the east and the new town of Puerto Ordaz to the west. Puerto Ordaz is home to most of the major industrial facilities such as aluminum smelters and port facilities. Puerto Ordaz has major port facilities accessible to ocean-going vessels from the Atlantic Ocean via the Orinoco River, a distance of approximately 200 km. There is regularly scheduled commercial airline service to Puerto Ordaz from Caracas.

    Highway 10 provides paved access from Ciudad Guayana, which is 373 km northwest of the property, to within 3.5 km of the Project site. Unpaved roads provide the remaining 3.5 km of access.

    The Project area encompasses approximately 18,951 ha and has been designated as an Economic Zone by the Venezuelan Government.

    HISTORY

    Gold in the Siembra Minera region was first discovered in 1920. Gold mining in the Project area was initiated in the 1930s and continued sporadically on a minor scale until the early 1980s when a gold rush occurred. Approximately 5,000 to 7,000 small miners worked alluvial and saprolite-hosted gold deposits using hydraulic mining techniques. The amount of gold recovered is unknown and much of the area of the concessions is now covered with tailings.

    Placer conducted essentially all of the modern exploration on Cristinas during its tenure on the property from 1991 to 2001. Placer completed line cutting, mapping, rock and soil sampling, geophysics, and drilling of 1,174 drill holes for a total of 158,738 m of drilling. In 2003, Crystallex undertook drilling of 12 holes totalling 2,199 m to confirm the tenor of mineralization

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    presented in the pre-existing database and also assayed check samples. Between 2003 and 2007, Crystallex released at least two feasibility studies and several resource and reserve estimates for Cristinas, all of which are historic in nature and should not be relied upon.

    The Brisas concession was acquired by GRI in August 1992 with the acquisition of Compañia Aurifera Brisas del Cuyuni C.A. A large stratabound gold-copper mineralization was discovered in both alluvial and hard rock material by a drilling program in 1993. A majority of the exploration and development drilling took place in 1996 and 1997, with additional drilling completed in 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2005. As of 2005, 802 exploration holes had been drilled including 186,094 m of core drilling and 189,985 m of exploration core and auger drilling. In 2005-2006, an additional 76 holes were drilled on the Brisas concessions for geotechnical and other studies. A number of resource estimates have been completed for the Brisas deposit, all of which are superseded by the current Mineral Resource estimate in this report. A pre-feasibility study was carried out in 1998 and a feasibility study in 2005, with a feasibility update in 2008, all including historic reserve estimates.

    GEOLOGY

    The Siembra Minera Project is within the Guyana Shield in northern South America. The shield covers easternmost Colombia, southeastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northeastern Brazil. The Venezuelan portion of the shield is subdivided into five geological provinces with different petrological, structural and metallogenic characteristics. The provinces are, from oldest to youngest, Imataca, Pastora, Cuchivero, Roraima, and Parguaza. Only the Imataca, Pastora and Roraima provinces are found in the vicinity of the Siembra Minera deposit.

    The Siembra Minera deposit lies within a portion of the lower Caballape Formation volcanic and volcanic-related sedimentary rocks. The units present are (1) andesitic to rhyolitic tuffaceous volcanic beds, (2) related sedimentary beds, and (3) a tonalitic intrusive body. All rocks have been tilted and subjected to lower greenschist facies metamorphism. It is thought, based on information from nearby properties, that the Siembra Minera Project occupies one limb of a large regional fold. Limited direction-indicating structures show the strata to be top-up. In the main mineralized trend, moderate to strong foliation is oriented N10°E and dipping 30° to 55° northwest. This foliation appears to be parallel to the original bedding and tends to

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    be strongest in the finer-grained rocks. A much weaker foliation orientation appears in outcrop exposures, striking north-northwest and dipping to the southwest.

    There are four distinct types of gold and copper mineralization present at Brisas, defined by geometry, associated minerals, and the gold-copper ratio. These zones are the Blue Whale body, disseminated gold+pyrite (± copper), disseminated high copper, and shear-hosted gold. Only the first three types are encountered within the proposed pit geometry.

    Two distinct styles of mineralization are present at Cristinas: hydrothermal breccia-hosted mineralization at Mesones-Sofia and stratiform mineralization at Conductora, Morrocoy, and Cordova. The vast majority (approximately 95%) of the gold at Cristinas is contained in the stratiform mineralized zone.

    EXPLORATION STATUS

    Drilling at Brisas was carried out by GRI from late 1992 to 2006 and consisted of 975 drill holes totalling approximately 207,000 m. In addition, four trenches were dug for a total of 60 m. At Cristinas, drilling was carried out by Placer from 1992 to 1997, consisting of 1,182 drill holes totalling approximately 155,000 m, and by Crystallex from 2003 to 2007, consisting of 90 holes totalling approximately 28,000 m. The Crystallex drill hole data was not available for RPA’s resource modelling work.

    The Siembra Minera mineralization is open down dip in all zones and along strike to the northwest in Morrocoy and Cordova because of insufficient drilling. Current plans for exploration are based on brownfield expansion of the existing deposit. As the Project advances, GRE proposes to carry out approximately 75,000 m to 100,000 m of new drilling.

    MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES

    A Mineral Resource estimate, dated December 31, 2017, was completed by RPA using the Surpac and Leapfrog Geo software packages. Wireframes for geology and mineralization were constructed in Leapfrog Geo based on geology sections, assay results, lithological information, and structural data. Assays were capped to various levels based on exploratory data analysis and then composited to three metre lengths. Wireframes were filled with blocks measuring 10 m by 10 m by 6 m (length, width, height). Block grades were estimated using dynamic anisotropy and inverse distance squared algorithms. Block estimates were validated

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    using industry standard validation techniques. Classification of blocks was based on drill hole spacing distances and other criteria.

    A summary of the Mineral Resources at the Project is provided in Table 1-7.

    TABLE 1-7 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES – DECEMBER 31, 2017
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
     
    Category Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Gold Contained Copper
      (Mt) (g/t Au) (% Cu) (koz Au) (kt Cu) (Mlb Cu)
    Measured     10 1.02 0.18     318 17 38
    Indicated 1,174 0.70 0.10 26,504 1,202 2,649
    Total Measured            
    + Indicated 1,184 0.70 0.10 26,823 1,219 2,687
    Inferred 1,291 0.61 0.08 25,389 1,044 2,300

     

    Notes:

    1.      CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
    2.      Mineral Resources are estimated at an NSR cut-off value of US$7.20 per tonne for oxide-saprolite material and US$5.00 per tonne for sulphide-saprolite and fresh rock material.
    3.      Mineral Resources are constrained by a preliminary pit shell created using the Whittle software package.
    4.      Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term gold price of US$1,300 per ounce, and a copper price of US$3.00 per pound.
    5.      Bulk density varies by material type.
    6.      Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
    7.      Numbers may not add due to rounding.

    RPA is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.

    MINING

    The Siembra Minera Project is an open pit gold-copper mining project that will utilize 30 m3 hydraulic shovels and 236-tonne trucks as the primary mining equipment.

    The resource pit optimization was developed by RPA based on the RPA Mineral Resource estimate (Table 1-7). Blocks classified as Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources were included in the resource pit optimization process for the Siembra Minera deposit. The resource pit is approximately 6,000 m long and 1,900 m wide with a maximum depth of approximately 700 m. The pit slope on the east wall follows the mineralization with slopes from 36° to 38°, while the west wall final pit has overall pit slopes ranging from 48° to 50°.

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    Mine production is scheduled to be carried out at a maximum mining rate ranging from 330 ktpd to 380 ktpd of total material. Stripping ratios are expected to average 1.16 over the LoM plan. The production schedule was produced using Whittle software to guide the mining sequence, Vulcan to design phases, waste dumps and the final pit, and XPAC to schedule the phases following the processing requirements.

    During the first ten years of the Project, 5.8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of oxide saprolite that does not require grinding will be processed in the oxide saprolite plant. The flotation plant starts two years after the oxide plant. Feed to the flotation mill is scheduled for 58.0 Mtpa for years 3 to10, while softer high copper sulphide saprolite material is available. In year 11, one quarter of the flotation grinding mill (12.25 Mtpa) is converted to oxide to accommodate the harder low-copper sulphide saprolite and low-copper hard rock materials. The other 36.75 Mtpa of capacity in the grinding mill are used for the harder higher-copper material in the flotation. The oxide plant will start processing with a combination of saprolite and low copper hard rock using the leach tanks from the oxide saprolite plant and additional leach tanks required for processing. The hard rock and sulphide saprolite was divided into high copper and low copper using a 0.02% Cu threshold.

    In order to supply the processing input required in the first 10 years of production, the total material mined must achieve up to 120 Mtpa from a combination of the mining phases. The mining rate will change depending on stockpile size, increasing total mining rate to 140 Mtpa in year 20.

    Total resources potentially mineable by open pit are estimated at approximately 2.0 billion tonnes of mineralized material at a gold grade of 0.705 g/t and a copper grade of 0.1% with 2.3 billion tonnes of waste for a stripping ratio of 1.16 tonnes of waste per tonne of mineralized material.

    All of the waste rock, except that used for TMF construction, will be disposed of in the WRD facilities located to the north, west, and south of the pit. It appears that a portion of the Siembra Minera pit could be backfilled with waste rock, however, further investigation into tailings disposal and pit backfill opportunities are recommended.

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    MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING

    The Siembra Minera Project consists of three rock types. Hard rock ore comprises approximately 87% of the material that will be processed. The remaining 13% of the mineralized material is saprolite with a split composed of approximately 43% oxide saprolite and 57% sulphide saprolite. Metallurgical test work was conducted on hard rock that contains higher and lower copper concentrations, and on blends that simulate the blends projected for the plant operation.

    Based on the results of metallurgical testing, the conceptual processes selected for the combined project include a cyanide leach plant to process oxide saprolite and sulphide saprolite that contains low concentrations of copper to recover gold as doré from gravity concentration and cyanide leaching plus a flotation concentrator to process sulphide saprolite and hard rock that contain higher concentrations of copper. The flotation concentrator will recover copper and gold into a copper flotation concentrate and gold as doré utilizing gravity concentration and cyanide leaching of cleaner scavenger tailings.

    The production schedule for this PEA is based on initially processing oxide saprolite through a 15,000 tpd cyanide leach plant. The crushing and screening plant feed is designed to process approximately 10% higher assuming that some of the material will be rejected due to oversize and/or rock material. Starting in year 7, the majority of the oxide saprolite is depleted and sulphide saprolite that contains low concentrations of copper will also be fed to the plant. In years 9 and 10, only low copper sulphide saprolite will be fed to the oxide plant.

    In year 4, the flotation concentrator will be commissioned. The feed to the plant includes sulphide saprolite that contains higher concentration of copper and a combination of high and low copper hard rock material at a nominal rate of 140,000 tpd although the actual feed rate is higher in the early years due to the presence of sulphide saprolite which is easier to grind.

    In year 11, the quantity of hard rock with suitable copper grades to produce acceptable concentrate grades in the flotation plant diminishes so the plant will be re-configured to process less material through the flotation plant and additional material through the oxide leach plant. The conceptual plan, at this early stage of the Project development, is to reduce the feed to the flotation concentrator to approximately 105,000 tpd and increase the tonnage to the oxide leach plant to 35,000 tpd. The low copper hard rock material will be ground in the existing milling circuit in the flotation plant and the leach plant will be expanded to accommodate the

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    higher tonnage of material. The ball mill in the oxide leach plant, which is only sized to process saprolite, can be decommissioned or used to grind saprolite that is pumped from the open pit mine to the oxide leach plant.

    ENVIRONMENT

    Two separate, but parallel ESIA are being prepared for the Project. One ESIA is intended to meet Venezuelan regulatory requirements and the second one, international standards and guidelines. The Venezuelan ESIA is expected to be completed and submitted to the Ministry of People’s Power for Ecosocialism and Water (MINEA) in 2018; and the International ESIA will be completed soon thereafter.

    Prior to submission of the ESIA, an Authorization to Occupy the Territory (AOT) must be obtained and a Term of Reference (TDR) approved. The AOT certifies that the proposed use of the land by the Project is compatible with the land use designation of the area and the TDR defines the scope and contents of the ESIA. Both AOT and TDR must be submitted to MINEA. GRE has submitted the application for an AOT, and the TDR for the Project will be submitted as soon as the AOT is approved. Upon the approval of the TDR, GRE will prepare and submit the ESIA to MINEA. An application for the Authorization to Affect Natural Resources (AANR), a permit for exploitation, will be submitted as soon as the Project ESIA is approved, which is expected to be in 2018.

    In addition to the ESIAs, GRE is in the process of developing a series of environmental and social management plans and programs. Thousands of small-scale miners are actively working in the Project area and adequate management of small-scale mining is critical to the success of the Project. A conceptual plan for small-scale mining management has been developed by GRE to relocate these miners to the Oro concession area.

    Based on the current Project design, reclamation activities will commence soon after construction begins, and will continue throughout the life of the Project. Closure activities will continue for three years after the end of the mine life in year 27. Some intermittent reclamation would also take place before year 23, when areas are no longer needed for mine operation activities. Total expenditures for reclamation and closure are currently estimated to be approximately US$150 million.

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    CAPITAL COST ESTIMATE

    A summary of capital costs is shown in Table 1-8.

    TABLE 1-8 CAPITAL COST SUMMARY      
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project      
     
    Description Development   Sustaining   LoM Total  
    Mineral Reserve Definition 0.0   100.0   100.0  
    Mining 436.6   1,212.6   1,649.2  
    Processing - CIP 97.0   0.0   97.0  
    Processing - Concentrator 696.8   11.0   707.8  
    Processing - Tailings Dam 54.9   322.5   377.4  
    Processing - Port/Diversion/Vehicles 74.8   34.2   109.0  
    Processing - CIP Plant Conversion to 35 ktpd 0.0   35.0   35.0  
    Engineering & Geology 15.9   30.1   46.0  
    ARD Plant 2.3   0.0   2.3  
    Site Infrastructure 111.8   9.5   121.3  
    Subtotal Direct Cost 1,490.1   1,754.9   3,245.0  
    Indirects - CIP 34.3   0.0   34.3  
    Indirects - Concentrator 278.1   0.0   278.1  
    Indirects - Owner's Cost 310.4   150.6   461.0  
    Total Cost Before Contingency 2,112.8   1,905.5   4,018.3  
    Contingency - Mining 30.0   0.0   30.0  
    Contingency - CIP 26.3   0.0   26.3  
    Contingency - Concentrator 238.6   0.0   238.6  
    Contingency - TMF 16.5   0.0   16.5  
    Contingency - Port/Diversion/Vehicles 18.2   0.0   18.2  
    Contingency - Infrastructure 35.2   0.0   35.2  
    Contingency - Owner's Cost 93.1   36.2   129.3  
    Total Contingency 457.8   36.2   494.0  
    % Contingency 21.7 % 1.9 % 12.3 %
    Total Capital Cost 2,570.6   1,941.7   4,512.3  
    Reclamation/Closure Cost 0.0   150.0   150.0  
    Total Capital Cost excl. Working Capital 2,570.6   2,091.7   4,662.3  
    Working Capital1 195.4   0.0   195.4  
    Total LoM Capital Cost 2,766.0   2,091.7   4,857.7  
     
    Notes:            
    1. Upfront working capital of $195 million during Yrs 1 to 4. Recaptured at end of mine life.    

     

    OPERATING COST ESTIMATE

    The Siembra Minera Project will process approximately 2,005 million tonnes of mineralized material over its planned 45-year mine life. The estimated average operating costs for the Project life are shown in Table 1-9.

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    TABLE 1-9 ESTIMATED LOM OPERATING COSTS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Area US$/t
      Milled
    Mining (US$1.36/t mined) 2.89
    Process 4.93
    G&A 1.32
    Other Infrastructure 0.14
    Transportation 0.36
    Off-site Treatment 0.54
    Subtotal Operating Costs Before Royalties 10.19
    Royalties/Production Taxes 2.77
    Total 12.96

     

    Operating costs for this Project appear to be low, however, the diesel fuel price of $0.02/L, the electricity cost of $0.038/kWh ($38/MWh), and the low labour costs have a significant impact on the unit operating costs.

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    2 INTRODUCTION

    Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) was retained by Gold Reserve Inc.(GRI), and its wholly owned subsidiary GR Engineering Barbados, Inc. (GRE) to prepare an independent Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project (the Project), located in Bolivar State, Venezuela. The operating company Empresa Mixta Ecosocialista Siembra Minera, S.A. (Siembra Minera), which holds the rights to the Siembra Minera Project, is a mixed capital company with 55% being owned by a Venezuelan state entity [owned by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela through the Corporación Venezolana de Minería (CVM)] and 45% by GR Mining Barbados, Inc. (GRM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of GRI. GRE has been set up to perform engineering, procurement, construction, and operation of the Project.

    The Project is a combination of the Brisas and Cristinas properties into a single project. The purpose of this report is to provide GRI and GRE with an initial assessment of the Siembra Minera Project including a resource estimate, conceptual mine plan, and a preliminary economic review. This Technical Report conforms to NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

    The Siembra Minera Project is a gold-copper deposit located in the Kilometer 88 mining district of Bolivar State in southeast Venezuela. Local owners and illegal miners have worked the property for many years. Shallow pitting and hydraulic methods were used to mine the upper saprolite zone, and coarse gold was recovered by gravity concentration and amalgamation with mercury. Most of the large-scale exploration work at Cristinas was performed by Placer Dome Inc. (Placer), which worked on the property from 1991 to 2001. At Brisas, GRI carried out the exploration program on the concession from 1992 to 2005. The most recent Technical Report for Cristinas is dated November 7, 2007, which is based on a feasibility study and includes historic mineral reserves. The most recent Technical Report for Brisas is dated March 31, 2008, which is also based on a feasibility study and includes historic mineral reserves.

    RPA has relied on data derived from work completed by previous owners on the Cristinas concessions and by GRI on the Brisas concessions. The current resources for Cristinas were estimated by RPA based on the drill hole data supplied by Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) to GRI in 2002. The database had 1,174 drill holes and 108 trenches which were included in the Cristinas database. Hard copies of the assay data sheets were not

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    available but GEOLOG data files from Placer were provided including assay data, geological descriptions, structural data, geotechnical data, and check sample data. The current resources for Brisas were estimated by RPA based on drill hole data supplied by GRI in Geovia GEMS format which formed the basis of the last Technical Report by Pincock Allen & Holt (PAH) in 2008.

    This report is considered by RPA to meet the requirements of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) as defined in Canadian NI 43-101 regulations. The mine plan and economic analysis contained in this Technical Report are based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources, and are preliminary in nature. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have mining and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized.

    SOURCES OF INFORMATION

    GRI provided access to their dataroom which included all the previous studies and mineral resource models. Discussions were held with personnel from GRI including:

    For this Technical Report, overall management was carried out by Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng., RPA Principal Mining Engineer. José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo., RPA Senior Geologist, developed the mineral resource model under the supervision of Luke Evans, M.Sc., P.Eng., Principal Geologist. Hugo M. Miranda, P.C., RPA Principal Mine Engineer developed the pit optimization and production schedule. Kathleen A. Altman, Ph.D., P.E., RPA Principal Metallurgist, reviewed the metallurgical test work and process design. Grant A. Malensek, P. Geo., P. Eng., RPA Principal Valuation Engineer, was responsible for the Project economics. The site was visited by Mr. Miranda on September 19, 2017 and was previously visited by Mr. Lambert in February 2008.

    Mr. Lambert is responsible for Sections 15, 16, 19 and 20 of this report and shares responsibility for Sections 1, 2, 3, 18, 21, 24, 25, and 26. Mr. Texidor is responsible for Sections 4 to 12, and 14 and shares responsibility for Sections 1, 2, and 23 to 26. Dr. Altman is responsible for Sections 13 and 17 and shares responsibility for Sections 1, 18, 20, 21, 24,

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    25, and 26. Mr. Miranda is co-author for Section 16 and shares responsibility for Sections 1, 2, 3, 24, 25, and 26. Mr. Malensek is responsible for Sections 21 and 22 and shares responsibility for Sections 1, 2, 3, 24, 25, and 26. The documentation reviewed, as well as any other sources of information, are listed at the end of this report in Section 27 (References).

    LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS      
    Units of measurement used in this report conform to the metric system. All currency in this
    report is US dollars (US$) unless otherwise noted.    
     
     

     

     

    a annum kWh kilowatt-hour
    A ampere L litre
    bbl barrels lb pound
    btu British thermal units L/s litres per second
    °C degree Celsius m metre
    C$ Canadian dollars M mega (million); molar
    cal calorie m2 square metre
    cfm cubic feet per minute m3 cubic metre
    cm centimetre µ micron
    cm2 square centimetre MASL metres above sea level
    d day µg microgram
    dia diameter m3/h cubic metres per hour
    dmt dry metric tonne mi mile
    dwt dead-weight ton min minute
    °F degree Fahrenheit µm micrometre
    ft foot mm millimetre
    ft2 square foot mph miles per hour
    ft3 cubic foot MVA megavolt-amperes
    ft/s foot per second MW megawatt
    g gram MWh megawatt-hour
    G giga (billion) oz Troy ounce (31.1035g)
    Gal Imperial gallon oz/st, opt ounce per short ton
    g/L gram per litre ppb part per billion
    Gpm Imperial gallons per minute ppm part per million
    g/t gram per tonne psia pound per square inch absolute
    gr/ft3 grain per cubic foot psig pound per square inch gauge
    gr/m3 grain per cubic metre RL relative elevation
    ha hectare s second
    hp horsepower st short ton
    hr hour stpa short ton per year
    Hz hertz stpd short ton per day
    in. inch t metric tonne
    in2 square inch tpa metric tonne per year
    J joule tpd metric tonne per day
    k kilo (thousand) US$ United States dollar
    kcal kilocalorie USg United States gallon
    kg kilogram USgpm US gallon per minute
    km kilometre V volt
    km2 square kilometre W watt
    km/h kilometre per hour wmt wet metric tonne
    kPa kilopascal wt% weight percent
    kVA kilovolt-amperes yd3 cubic yard
    kW kilowatt yr year
     
     
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    3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS

    This report has been prepared by RPA at the request of GR Engineering (Barbados).

    The information, conclusions, opinions, and estimates contained herein are based on:

    1.      information available to RPA at the time of preparation of this report,
    2.      assumptions, conditions, and qualifications as set forth in this report, and
    3.      data, reports, and opinions supplied by GRI and GRE and other third party sources.

    For the purpose of this report, RPA has relied on ownership information provided by GRI. RPA has not researched property title or mineral rights for the Project and expresses no opinion as to the ownership status of the property.

    RPA has relied on GRI for guidance on applicable taxes, royalties, and other government levies or interests, applicable to revenue or income.

    Except for the purposes legislated under provincial securities laws, any use of this report by any third party is at that party’s sole risk.

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    4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

    The Siembra Minera property is located in the Kilometre 88 mining district, Bolivar State, in southeast Venezuela at a Latitude of 6°10’ North and Longitude 61°28’ West. Highway 10, which is a major highway in Venezuela, is only 3.5 km from the property (Figure 4-1).

    The Project site is located in the Guyana region, which covers approximately one-third of Venezuela’s national territory. The closest nearby large city is Ciudad Guayana, with approximately 1,050,000 inhabitants (2001), situated on the Orinoco River near its confluence with the Caroní River. Ciudad Guayana consists of the old town of San Félix to the east and the new town of Puerto Ordaz to the west. Puerto Ordaz is home to most of the major industrial facilities such as aluminum smelters and port facilities. Puerto Ordaz has major port facilities accessible to ocean-going vessels from the Atlantic Ocean via the Orinoco River, a distance of approximately 200 km. There is regularly scheduled commercial airline service to Puerto Ordaz from Caracas.

    Ciudad Guayana is the centre of major industrial developments in the area, including iron and steel mills, aluminum smelters, iron and bauxite mining, and forestry. These industries are supported by major dams and hydroelectric generating plants on the Caroní River, providing 12,900 MW of electricity.

    LAND TENURE

    The Project survey control is based on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system. It is based on the Zone 20 North projection, using the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS’84) datum. Surco, S.A. (Surco), a local survey firm based in El Callao, Venezuela, established permanent survey reference points within the Project area. The base for all surveys was Global Positioning System (GPS) survey, defined and checked by the survey company with a traverse from a nearby GPS station (Cristinas) with satisfactory accuracy. Surco surveyed the drill holes for both Placer and GRI.

    The Siembra Minera Economic Zone (Project boundary) occupies a rectangular area of approximately 18,951 ha. The dimensions of the property are 20.5 km (north-south) by 11.2 km (east-west). The Economic Zone will contain the open pit mine, all Project infrastructure,

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    and waste rock dumps (WRD) and tailings management facilities (TMF). The land includes the prior concessions of Cristinas 4, Cristinas 5, Cristinas 6, Cristinas 7, Oro 1, Albino 1, Brisas del Cuyuni, Carabobo, Morauana, Barbara, Zuleima, El Pauji, Esperanza, and portions of Guarimba, Mireya, Virgen de Lourdes, Lucia, and a few smaller concessions. The Economic Zone is shown in Figure 4-2.

    The Economic Zone is designated by Presidential Decree No. 30 dated October 31, 2016 and authorized by Nicolás Maduro Moros. The decree delimits the geographic area in which Siembra Minera shall perform activities of exploration and exploitation of gold mines and deposits, including their production. The coordinates of the Economic Zone are presented In Table 4-1.

    TABLE 4-1 UTM COORDINATES OF ECONOMIC ZONE

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Point East North
    1 663.273,418 689.184,268
    2 668.271,235 689.198,703
    3 669.280,000 689.540,000
    4 673.340,000 689.540,000
    5 673.284,000 685.280,000
    6 673.284,000 680.000,000
    7 674.500,000 678.000,000
    8 674.500,000 668.972,500
    9 664.925,000 668.972,500
    10 664.925,000 685.186,866
    11 663.273,418 685.186,866

     

    RPA is not aware of any environmental liabilities on the property other than existing mercury levels from artisanal miners as discussed in Section 20. RPA is not aware of any other significant factors and risks that may affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform the proposed work program on the property.

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          72 °           68 °       64 °           60 °    
     
     
                                        Fort-de-France Martinique      
        N                                     (FRANCE)      
     
                    Caribbean Sea         Castries ST. LUCIA      
     
                                  ST. VINCENT AND          
     
                      Netherlands         THE GRENADINES Bridgetown      
     
              Aruba   Antilles               Kingstown BARBADOS      
              (NETH.)   (NETH.)                              
        Puerto   Oranjestad                                    
        Bolívar         Curaçao                                
                  Aruba   Bonaire   Islas                        
    12 °                     Los Roques   St. George's GRENADA     12 °
     
     
        Marta Santa Ríohacha     Golfo de Punto     Willemstad                              
              Fijo                                        
        Maicao     Venezuela                             Tobago        
        Cerrejón         Coro           Isla     Port -of-          
                              La Tortuga Isla de La Asuncíon              
        (coal mine)         Riecito                 Spain TRINIDAD      
     
        Valledupar           San CabelloPuerto CaracasLa Guaira Margarita Cumaná     Güiria     AND      
        Maracaibo Cabimas     Felipe Maracay Petare La Puerto Cruz       Gulf     TOBAGO      
                            Los Teques   Highway     of              
     
        Machiques Lago de Barquisimeto   Valencia   Turmero San Juan de Pan-American Barcelona     Maturín Paria     Trinidad NORTH      
          Maracaibo         San   los Morros               ATLANTIC      
                                  Anaco                    
              hw a y Trujillo   o Carlos   árico                   OCEAN      
     
              a nHi g   Guanare Coje d   o G u La Valle Pascua de       Tucupita          
     
          Ameri c Mérida Pico Bolívar Barinas     es   R í                          
     
        Ocaña Pa n -   (16,427 5,007 m ft)       FernandoSan VENEZUELARíoOrinoco Ciudad Guayana        
    8 °                                             8 °
     
        Cúcuta San Cristóbal R íoApur e         Apure Cabruta   Ciudad Bolivar     Bochinche Port      
              El Amparo           Caicara               Kaituma      
     
              de Apure Río Arauc a       de Orinoco Ciudad Piar     Embalse de Guri Tumeremo Matthews Ridge      
        Bucaramanga     Arauca                         El Dorado       Cuyuni      
                                  u a La Paragua              
                                  g                    
                        Puerto     a     P              
                                  a r     Angel Falls an GUYANA      
                        Carreño     P         -          
                                        R 979 m A   Peters      
                                R í o   í o (3,212 ft) m          
                                í R         e   Mine      
        Paz de                       o           r i          
                                C       a C   c a          
     
        Tunja Río     Meta             Puerto   aur a     ro n   n Hi   Issano      
              ío             Ayacucho         i   gh          
        Yopal   R                             w          
                              San Juan           ay          
                              de Manapiare                      
                                        Santa Elena          
        Bogota                               de Uairén          
     
              COLOMBIA     BRISAS-CRISTINAS PROJECT      
    4 ° Villavicencio                                     Normandia   4 °
     
              Guaviare     Inírida               a       Tacutu Lethem      
              í o                         Rio Uraricoe r     R i o      
              R                                 Bonfim      
     
                              iare         Boa Vista T      
     
     
        del San Guaviare Jose         RíoGua ia     oC a siqu Río Orinoco             akut u      
    í R
     
        Calamar                                              
     
     
                                            o          
              Mitu                             c Novo        
                            Cucuí               n Paraiso      
                                            a          
                                            r          

     


    4-3


     


              GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.
     
              Siembra Minera Project
              Bolivar State, Venezuela
      0 1 2 3 4  
              Economic Zone and
        Kilometres   Land Position
    March 2018   Source: Gold Reserve Inc., 2015.  
            4-4  

     


     


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    5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

    ACCESSIBILITY

    El Dorado (population est. 5,000, 2011), which is 88 km north of the Project site on Highway 10, is historically the nearest population centre of any size. Over the past ten years, the town of Las Claritas (population est. 6,000, in 2011, previous est. 2,500, in 2001) adjacent to the Project has surpassed El Dorado with the influx of artisanal miners. Las Claritas is a small town located on Highway 10.

    Highway 10 provides paved access from Ciudad Guayana and Puerto Ordaz, which is 373 km northwest of the property, to within 3.5 km of the Project site. Unpaved roads provide the remaining 3.5 km of access. Upgrading the unpaved roads is part of the infrastructure improvement plans for the Project area which will include three main Project access routes, one from the north, one from the east near Las Claritas, and a third to the south providing direct access to the process plant from Highway 10.

    CLIMATE

    The climate is tropical with January through March being drier months and June through July being wetter months. Humidity is high (monthly average 80-87%) and annual precipitation is over 3,000 mm. Temperatures are fairly uniform with average highs around 35°C and average lows around 23°C. Daily temperatures range from 21°C to 38°C. Prevailing winds are from the west – southwest, with a speed mostly from 0.5-2.1 m/sec. There are extensive plans for surface and ground water control so that mining can be conducted year-round.

    LOCAL RESOURCES

    Plans are to construct a dual use camp facility at a location adjacent to the process area. This camp will initially house construction workers and at the conclusion of construction will be converted to a permanent facility for a portion of the operating personnel. The construction camp configuration will have a nominal capacity of 2,400 men based on an occupancy rate of two men per room. This may be increased during peak periods if required.

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    When the construction has been completed the camp will be re-configured to provide a single room for each man and permanent recreation facilities for the operating staff. The permanent operations camp facility will have a capacity of 1,200 staff. It is assumed that the rest of the operating staff (~300 personnel) will come from the local communities.

    Busing will be considered if required from El Dorado and other communities.

    INFRASTRUCTURE

    To support the mining and milling operations at the Siembra Minera Project, a number of ancillary facilities will be required. These include a mine equipment maintenance shop, warehouse, reagent storage building, laboratory, and administration offices. A construction camp will be prepared and will be converted to an operation camp. The operational man camp size is based on the assumption that approximately half the work force is away on scheduled time off due to crew rotations. Previously, there was a small camp with several cinder block buildings that could house up to 100 people at Brisas and a larger camp at Cristinas that was constructed by Placer. The camp at Brisas was used to support the exploration programs and the camp at Cristinas was used to support the initial construction efforts. Both camps have been destroyed and a new larger camp will be constructed near the plant site.

    Three unpaved roads are used to access the Project from Highway 10. Plans are to improve these to provide access to the mining area and the process area. A network of service roads will be constructed to allow access to the camp facility, tailings dam, sedimentation ponds, explosives magazine, and other remote installations. Major deliveries will use either the north access road or the south access road and will avoid the Las Claritas village.

    A water supply and distribution system will be constructed, using the pit dewatering wells as a source of fresh water. The mill area, mining area, and the campsite will each be provided with a sewage collection and treatment system.

    The power authority, Corporación Eléctrica Nacional S.A. (Corpoelec) is the fully integrated state power corporation of Venezuela. It was created in 2007 by merging ten state-owned and six private-owned power companies. Corpoelec constructed a power line south from Ciudad Guayana into Brazil. The authority has also constructed a substation at Las Claritas located approximately 3.5 km from the Project, which has sufficient power to supply the Siembra Minera Project.

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    PHYSIOGRAPHY

    The Project area is located at the foot of the Sierra de Lema high plateau; and, the topography is moderately homogenous, dominated by plains with some rolling hills. Terrain in the mine area is relatively flat with elevations ranging from 120 MASL to 220 MASL with higher elevations near the east and southeast margins of the Project area. Near the plant site and tailings disposal areas, the terrain goes from being relatively flat to fairly steep. The tailings disposal site design has used this as an advantage by constructing the dam in the flat area and using the hillside as the back of the tailings disposal facility. Elevations in the plant and tailings disposal area range from 130 MASL to 200 MASL. The plant site will be at 190 m above sea level.

    Most of the area is covered by moderately dense sub-Amazon rainforest. Trees range from 25 m to 35 m in height. Low-lying areas tend to be wet and swampy. There are many pits left by artisanal miners that are filled with water. They will require pumping prior to mining.

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    6 HISTORY

    EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

    General Fernandez Amparan first discovered gold in the Siembra Minera region in 1920. Gold mining at the site was initiated in the 1930s and continued sporadically on a minor scale until the early 1980s when a gold rush occurred. Approximately 5,000 to 7,000 small miners worked alluvial and saprolite-hosted gold deposits using hydraulic mining techniques. Many square kilometres of jungle have been stripped of soil and saprolite. This material was processed in sluices and small hammer mills. The amount of gold recovered is unknown and much of the area of the concessions is now covered with tailings. The name Kilometre 88 for the district came from the area being located near kilometre 88 marker of the road linking El Dorado with the Brazilian border (Pan American Highway or Highway 10).

    Placer conducted essentially all of the modern exploration on Cristinas during their tenure on the property from 1991 to 2001. Placer completed line cutting, mapping, rock and soil sampling, geophysics, and drilling of 1,174 drill holes for a total of 158,738 m of drilling. After extensive exploration, Placer announced commencement of construction of the Las Cristinas mine on August 2, 1997. The inauguration took place at the site with officials of Placer, CVG, and representatives of the Venezuelan Government present. On January 20, 1998, Placer announced that its operating company in Venezuela, Minera Las Cristinas C.A., had decided to suspend construction. Construction resumed in May 1999 but was again suspended on July 15, 1999 due to uncertainty with respect to gold prices and title. Up until that time, Placer had reportedly spent US$168 million on the Project. CVG took possession of the Cristinas property in 2001 and in 2002 signed a mine operating agreement (MOA) with Crystallex International Corporation (Crystallex) whereby Crystallex was required to explore, mine, and produce gold at Las Cristinas.

    Crystallex undertook drilling to confirm results of the previous operator prior to their first resource estimate. Crystallex drilled 12 holes totalling 2,199 m in 2003 to confirm the tenor of mineralization presented in the pre-existing database and also assayed check samples. For additional confirmation, Crystallex re-assayed 262 pre-existing pulps, 200 pre-existing coarse rejects, and 342 pre-existing quarter-core samples. During the course of the drill data verification and the resource expansion drilling in 2005, it was noted (MDA 2005) that some biases existed between Crystallex and Placer data, the latter of which represent by far the bulk

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    of the exploration data. A heterogeneity study was undertaken to better understand the grade biases noted, to define more appropriate sub-sampling procedures and protocol, and to maximize the efficiency of the upcoming grade-control program during mining operations. A report by Francis Pitard (2005) suggested that the grade bias of Crystallex grades being lower than Placer grades was likely due to the difference in size of the core samples. Pitard further pointed out that the samples taken by Placer also could be understating the global grade of the Cristinas deposit. Crystallex completed a 46-hole drill program in February 2007. The audits concluded that Placer and Crystallex procedures met or exceeded industry standards at the time, and assay laboratories provided reliable and acceptable results.

    In February 2011, the MOA was terminated by CVG.

    The Brisas concession was acquired by GRI in August 1992 with the acquisition of Compañia Aurifera Brisas del Cuyuni C.A. Prior to 1992, no known drill holes existed on the Brisas site. Initial work by GRI included surface mapping, regional geophysical surveys, and geochemical sampling. Several anomalies were identified on the property and drilling and assaying began in 1993. A large deposit with stratabound gold-copper mineralization was discovered in both alluvial and hard rock material early in the drilling program. Additional work followed with petrology, mineral studies, density tests, metallurgical sample collection, and laboratory test work.

    Initial exploration drilling by GRI commenced in 1993 utilizing both auger and core drilling methods. Most of the exploration and development drilling took place in 1996 and 1997. From 1996 on, all exploration drilling has been completed utilizing diamond drill core rigs. Additional exploration drilling was completed in 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2005. As of 2005, 802 exploration holes had been drilled of which 731 are diamond core holes. This represents 186,094 m of core drilling, and 189,985 total m of exploration drilling, core and auger. All split core was stored on site until 2008, but has since been ransacked and displaced.

    Since 2005, an additional 76 holes have been drilled on the Brisas concessions for geotechnical and other studies. These holes have not been included in any resource modelling because they were not drilled for exploration purposes.

    Independent verification by Behre Dolbear & Company. Inc. (Behre Dolbear) of drilling, assaying, and data collection procedures was undertaken in 1997 and verification of the

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    computer database, mine modelling procedures, and reserve estimate was completed in 1998. The audits concluded that GRI procedures met or exceeded industry standards, and assay laboratories provided reliable and acceptable results.

    In August 2016, GRI signed a mixed company agreement with Venezuela for the formation of a jointly owned company and, in October 2016, established Siembra Minera, a mixed capital company with 55% owned by a Venezuelan state entity and 45% by GRM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GRI.

    HISTORIC RESOURCE ESTIMATES AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES

    CRISTINAS

    Resource and reserve estimates for the Cristinas deposit were completed by Mine Development Associates (MDA) on April 30, 2003. These results were filed on SEDAR as the Technical Report titled “Resources and Reserves, Las Cristinas Gold and Copper Deposits, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared by MDA. The measured and indicated resource was estimated at 439 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 1.09 g/t for a total of 15 million contained ounces based on a gold cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t. Proven and probable mineral reserves were estimated at 224 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 1.33 g/t containing 9.54 million ounces (MDA, 2003).

    Subsequent to the filing of the 2003 Technical Report by MDA, there have been other resource and reserve estimates released by Crystallex. A feasibility study for Las Cristinas was completed in 2004 and a Development Plan, in 2005 by SNC-Lavalin. An updated Technical Report was filed on SEDAR in August 2005 based on the new Development Plan. The 2005 Technical Report shows proven and probable reserves at Las Cristinas of 294 million tonnes grading 1.32 g/t Au for a total of 12.5 million contained ounces of gold (SNC-Lavalin, 2005).

    An updated resource and reserve estimate and a Technical Report were completed for the project by MDA in conjunction with SNC-Lavalin on November 7, 2007. These results were filed on SEDAR as the Technical Report titled “Technical Report Update on the Las Cristinas Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared by MDA. The measured and indicated resource was estimated at 629 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 1.03 g/t for a total of 21 million contained ounces based on a gold cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t. Proven and probable mineral reserves were estimated at 464 million tonnes with an average gold grade of 1.13 g/t containing 16.86 million ounces of gold (MDA, 2007).

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    The resource and reserve estimates quoted above are considered to be historic in nature and should not be relied upon, however, these are relevant as they indicate the presence of mineralization on the Project.

    BRISAS

    J.E. MinCorp, a division of Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. completed a pre-feasibility study on the Brisas Project in February 1998. In addition, a supplement to the pre-feasibility study was completed in August 1998, addressing the merits of the Cominco Engineering Services Ltd. (CESL) hydro-metallurgical process. The CESL process was a method of treating copper concentrates on site by pressure oxidation, acid leaching with solvent extraction/electrowinning recovery of copper in the form of copper cathode, and gold recovery by a cyanide leach of the solids. Work completed since 1998 and directed at project optimization includes updating the mine computer model and ultimate pit designs, mine planning and optimization of cut-off grades, and updated slope stability design criteria. In addition, work was completed on mill tailings characterization and analysis of physical properties, cyanide destruction test, and settling and thickening tests for plant design criteria.

    In 2003, Behre Dolbear completed Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates for the Brisas deposit and documented it in a Technical Report filed on SEDAR. The estimates were based on two scenarios for treating the copper concentrates, a conventional smelter and refining case and the use of CESL hydro-metallurgical process (Behre Dolbear, 2003). Using a gold price of $325 per ounce and a copper price of $0.85 per pound, proven and probable reserves were estimated to be 257 million tonnes grading 0.805 g/t Au and 0.135% Cu containing 6.64 million ounces of gold and 764 million pounds of copper for the smelter case and 328 million tonnes grading 0.708 g/t Au and 0.150% Cu containing 7.48 million ounces of gold and 1.08 billion pounds of copper for the CESL case.

    GRI commenced work for a bankable feasibility study in the last quarter of 2003. Several major engineering and consulting companies were selected to complete the work necessary for the feasibility study. They were Aker Kvaerner, an engineering and construction company specializing in mining and mineral processing; Vector Colorado, a tailings dam design, geotechnical and hydrology specialist; and PAH for the mineral resource and reserve estimate, pit design, mine planning, and mine cost estimation. This feasibility study was completed in January 2005. In addition, AATA International and Ingenieria Caura, S.A. was selected to complete an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study in compliance with

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    the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Standards for meeting Equator Principles criteria. The feasibility study operating plan assumes a large open pit mine containing proven and probable reserves of approximately 9.2 million ounces of gold and 1.2 billion pounds of copper in 414 million tonnes of ore grading 0.69 g/t Au and 0.13% Cu (PAH, 2005).

    The combination of the 2005 feasibility study and subsequent studies provided the basis of the 2008 Technical Report. Several optimization studies were conducted to determine the most economic process plant option and production rate. Total proven and probable mineral reserves for the Brisas Project in 2008 were estimated at 482.7 million tonnes grading 0.66 g/t Au and 0.13% Cu. A total of 1.08 billion tonnes of waste was estimated in the pit resulting in a stripping ratio (waste:ore) of 2.24:1.0 (PAH, 2008).

    All Mineral Reserve estimates quoted above are considered to be historic in nature and should not be relied upon, however, these are relevant as they indicate the presence of mineralization on the Project.

    All previous Mineral Resource estimates for the Brisas Project are superseded by the current Mineral Resource estimate in Section 14 of this report.

    PAST PRODUCTION

    There are no records of previous gold production from artisanal miners.

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    7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION

    REGIONAL GEOLOGY

    The Siembra Minera Project is located within the Guyana Shield in northern South America. The shield covers easternmost Colombia, southeastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northeastern Brazil. The Venezuelan portion of the shield is subdivided into five geological provinces with different petrological, structural, and metallogenic characteristics. The provinces are, from oldest to youngest, Imataca, Pastora, Cuchivero, Roraima, and Parguaza. Only the Imataca, Pastora, and Roraima provinces are found in the vicinity of the Siembra Minera deposit.

    Rocks of the Imataca Province constitute the oldest terrain in the Venezuelan Guyana Shield and include quartzo-feldspathic gneiss, felsic, and mafic granulites, and iron formation. This province is located along the Orinoco River in the northern portion of the Guyana Shield. Rocks in the terrain are tightly folded, highly metamorphosed, and have ages ranging from 3,700 Ma to 2,150 Ma. The oldest age represents the protolith, whereas the younger age represents the Trans-Amazonian orogeny of Lower Proterozoic age. The Imataca Province is known for iron deposits hosted by banded iron formations.

    The Pastora Province is separated from the Imataca terrain by the Guri fault on its northern edge and extends to the Kilometre 88 gold district in the south. This province is characterized by several penecontemporaneous tholeiitic and calc-alkaline volcano-sedimentary sequences. Rock types that have been described and are not necessarily present in all sequences include pillow basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyolite, tuffaceous and pyroclastic sediments, greywacke, pelite, tuff, and chemical sedimentary rocks. Rocks of the province were metamorphosed to greenschist facies and intruded at various levels by granitic rocks of the Supamo Complex (2,230 Ma to 2,050 Ma). This petrologic assemblage constitutes the granite-greenstone belts of Lower Proterozoic age, which extends into Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. The Trans-Amazonian orogeny (2,150 Ma to 1,960 Ma) was a period of deformation, metamorphism, magnetism, and enrichment of previously deposited gold-bearing volcano-sedimentary rocks in the Venezuelan part of the Guyana Shield as well and in the other mentioned countries. Rocks of this province have been intruded by Lower Proterozoic (1850

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    Ma to 1650 Ma) and Mesozoic (210 Ma to 200 Ma) diabase dikes, sills, and gabbroic bodies related to crustal extension.

    The Roraima Province of Middle Proterozoic age (1,600 Ma) is exposed to the south of the Kilometre 88 district. This province includes sedimentary rocks of continental origin that were laid unconformably on top of the granite-greenstone terrain. These rocks are not metamorphosed, have horizontal to low angle dips, and are intruded by Mesozoic diabase dikes and sills.

    LOCAL AND PROPERTY GEOLOGY

    The greenstone belt present in the Kilometre 88 district consists of four formations, listed below oldest to youngest:

    1) Lower Carichapo Group meta-lavas, meta-tuffs, amphibolites, and ferruginous quartzites.

    2) Lower Proterozoic greenstone basalts, andesites, tuffaceous rocks, pyroclastic breccias, and metagraywackes. These rocks are lithologically similar to the Caballape Formation defined in the Botanamo district to the north east, but geographically isolated. For convenience, they are referred to as Lower Caballape in this report.

    3)      Granites and granodiorites of the Supamo Complex.
    4)      Diabasic and gabbroic dikes and sills of Lower Proterozoic and Mesozoic ages.

    The position and coverage of the above units have been established, at least on a regional scale, through aerial photos. Ground reconnaissance by government missions and more recently by private entities has either confirmed or mapped modifications to the aerial interpretations. The present geologic map is a composite of the above work. Rocks of the Carichapo Formation surround the concessions to the southwest, southeast, east, and north. They generally correspond to areas of higher topographic expression and are not commonly host to significant gold deposits. Greenschist volcanic and volcano-sedimentary rocks of calc-alkaline composition (called Lower Caballape Formation in this report) constitute the major units present in the areas of gold deposits, including the Brisas and Cristinas properties. The older unit covering the concessions consists primarily of intermediate tuffaceous rocks, and the younger unit to the west consists of intermediate to felsic tuffs, lavas, and volcano-sedimentary rocks. This sequence of rock units corresponds to areas of low, flat topography, forming hills only where the rock mass is more silicified. Relatively unfoliated intrusions of Supamo Complex granites are restricted to the south, east, and northeast, where they are

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    topographically indistinct from the greenschist volcanics. All of the above units are intruded by Lower Proterozoic and Mesozoic diabases and gabbroic bodies, both as large mappable features, and as thin dikes and sills occurring in the volcanic units.

    The Siembra Minera deposit lies within a portion of the lower Caballape Formation volcanic and volcanic-related sedimentary rocks. The units present are (1) andesitic to rhyolitic tuffaceous volcanic beds, (2) related sedimentary beds, and (3) a tonalitic intrusive body (Figure 7-1). All rocks have been tilted and subjected to lower greenschist facies metamorphism. It is thought, based on information from nearby properties, that the Siembra Minera Project occupies one limb of a large regional fold. Limited direction-indicating structures show the strata to be top-up. In the main mineralized trend, moderate to strong foliation is oriented N10°E and dipping 30° to 55° northwest. This foliation appears to be parallel to the original bedding and tends to be strongest in the finer-grained rocks. A much weaker foliation orientation appears in outcrop exposures, striking north-northwest and dipping to the southwest.

    Dikes and quartz veins cut the lower Caballape Formation. The strata and intrusive rocks are cut by N30°W striking mafic dikes emplaced at regular intervals (200 m to 600 m), some of which have displacement in the order of tens of metres. These dikes are thought to be related to the Mesozoic diabase intrusions present throughout the district. Quartz veins populate the concession and have been noted both in outcrop and in drill intersection. The most common are sets of thick, boudinaged, and en echelon vein structures that follow foliation/bedding orientation. They are thought to relate in part to movement of quartz during metamorphism. Other quartz veins exist in various orientations that cannot be definitively linked to the structural elements described above.

    One of the largest and best-defined stock reaches surface, in the saprolite, in a northeast-trending zone in the Potaso area on the south edge of the Cristinas deposit. The diorite, located north of the Potaso area, is asymmetric in a north-south section: it has a sub-vertical northwest face while its roof is shallowly inclined, dipping south at an angle of approximately 30° beneath the northern edge of the Brisas de Cuyuni deposit. This diorite stock occupies the gap in economic mineralization between the Cristinas and Brisas de Cuyuni deposits. The second diorite stock is located in the northern part of the Cristinas concessions, where it occupies the gap in mineralization between the Mesones and Morrocoy areas.

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    ROCK UNITS

    There are two general categories of rock units: weathered and unweathered rock. Weathered rock is further defined by degree of oxidation and mineral replacement due to weathering processes. Unweathered rock is further defined by lithology into various subdivisions of volcanic extrusive or intrusive units.

    WEATHERED ROCK AND SAPROLITE

    Oxidized Saprolite. A red-brown to yellow saprolite occurs in almost all parts of the concession from the surface to an average depth of 24 m. It is absent in the few areas where hard rock material outcrops. It is composed of clays, quartz, and hard ferruginous material in which all sulphide minerals have been oxidized and most other rock-forming minerals have been broken down to clay minerals and quartz.

    Sulphide Saprolite. Sulphide saprolite, varying in thickness from less than one metre to 80 m, occurs immediately below oxidized saprolite. The water table constitutes the contact between the two and is generally sharp. It is noted on the geologic logs as “BOS” (base of oxidized saprolite). Sulphide saprolite is predominantly clay with both primary and secondary sulphides, the original rock having been broken down beyond recognition. Fragments of hard tuffaceous rock can occur. The initial occurrence of hard rock fragments in this unit (or in oxidized saprolite) is denoted on the geologic logs by the acronym “BAS” (base of 100% clay material). This boundary can exist in either sulphide or oxidized saprolite. The sulphide saprolite is well developed in the mineralized zone of the concession, but can be quite thin or absent in areas distal to mineralization.

    Weathered Rock. Weathered rock is a label for any hard rock existing in a state of intense weathering, but not sufficiently broken down into clay to qualify as a saprolite. In general it falls between two contacts noted on geologic logs as “BZM” (base of mixed clay/hard rock material) and ‘BDM’ (base of weathering). In practice it is logged as the original rock type or as schist in the event that the original texture cannot be distinguished. Below the BDM, rock exists in a state of weathering in which the only chemical change is the leaching of calcite. The base of this layer is denoted as “BDL” (base of leaching), and below the rock is considered completely fresh.

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    UNWEATHERED ROCK

    Schist Units. The classification of schist is used when the original tuffaceous texture of the rock units has been erased by metamorphic processes. Schistosity is developed parallel to bedding, so schist units generally, but not always, follow dip of the tuffaceous units. Two types of schist have been defined: chlorite-sericite-biotite schist and quartz-sericite-pyrite schist.

    Volcanic Units. The original unweathered rock types are calc-alkaline volcanic tuffs, generally of andesitic to dacitic composition. Occurrences of tuffaceous units reworked by sedimentary processes have been noted, but not to any great extent. Nomenclature of tuffaceous units has been established through observation of core, petrographic analysis, and geochemical data. Bedding and, to a lesser extent, graded bedding are commonly recognized. In general, feldspar crystal abundances are counted only with crystals exceeding one millimeter in diameter, and the field term of a “lapilli” is a pyroclast exceeding two millimeters in diameter. The ternary diagram provided in Figure 7-2 illustrates the composition of the various volcanic rock types recognized on the concessions.

    a)      Vitric Tuff. Vitric tuff (TV) is a fine-grained, crystal-poor tuffaceous volcanic rock usually black in colour where not highly sericitized. It consists predominantly of glassy material, now devitrified, from the fallout of ash-sized particles. By definition it contains less than 10% feldspar crystals and less than 10% lithic fragments. It varies from a finely-banded volcanic sediment, to more massive mud-flow type deposit, which may contain lapilli pyroclasts, to a fine-grained massive texture. It is fully gradational into TVC-M and TL units (defined later).
    b)      Crystal-Vitric Tuff. Crystal-vitric tuff (TVC-M) is defined as a tuffaceous unit having 10% to 40% feldspar crystals, and less than 10% lithic fragments. Locally the crystal content can drop as low as 10% but averaged over an entire depositional unit must exceed 10%. The upper boundary of 40% crystals is arbitrarily set, local fluctuations being ignored. When lapilli are observed and amount to more than a few percent of the rock mass, the unit is described as a lapilli-bearing TVC-M or TV.
    C)      Crowded-Crystal-Vitric Tuff. Crowded-crystal-vitric tuff (TVC-C) is defined as a tuffaceous unit having greater than 40% feldspar crystals and less than 10% lithic fragments. It commonly contains significant mafic minerals (e.g., amphibole altered to biotite). If more than a few percent lithic fragments are observed, the unit is described as a lapilli-bearing TVC-C. Crowded-crystal-vitric tuff commonly resembles andesite porphyry, but numerous small lithic lapilli and grain size variations refute this possibility.
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      Figure 7-2
     
      GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.
      Siembra Minera Project
      Bolivar State, Venezuela
      Ternary Diagram for
      Classification of Tuffaceous Units
    March 2018  

     

    7-7


     


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    d)      Lithic Tuff. Lithic tuff (TL) is defined as a tuffaceous unit containing greater than 10% lapilli-sized fragments. This definition is used without regard to presence or absence of feldspar crystals in the matrix, as field rock descriptions do not allow for further textural distinction. The fragments in some cases appear to be pieces of tuffaceous rock, presumably torn from its location by later volcanic activity. Pumice fragments have also been noted. It has been found to be important as a marker horizon, as it has an unmistakable texture and for the most part is observed in thin but easily definable units.

    Intrusive Units. There are three mineralogically and texturally distinct occurrences of intrusive units, which vary from basaltic to dioritic in composition, all of which, are younger than the tuffaceous units described above.

    a)      Mafic Dikes. This fine-grained, probably hypabyssal rock has a prominent ‘spinifex’ texture defined not by olivine, but rather by feldspar grains. They are unaltered, unfoliated, and magnetic. There are six such dikes on the concession, striking generally N40W, spaced 200- to 600-meters apart. They range from less than one metre to over five metres in width. Cross-cutting relationships indicate that they are the youngest rocks on the Concessions.
    b)      Intermediate Coarse-Grained Intrusive. A coarse-grained tonalitic intrusive has been identified in only one area in the eastern part of the Concessions. It appears to be amorphous in shape and drilling has not encountered a lower contact. It is a coarse- grained, equigranular rock in large part unfoliated, but cut by discrete zones of strong deformation, both with and without sulphides and alteration. Zones of fracture- controlled chalcopyrite are also present, though the body does not exhibit economic Au or Cu mineralization. The only contacts observed to date are with TVC-C and are difficult to pinpoint as the two units can appear similar in hand sample. In one drill hole, it is cut by a mafic dike. The equigranular texture, high quartz content, and grain size are diagnostic. TVC-C, with which, it is sometimes confused, tends to have much greater variation in crystal content.
    c)      Intermediate Aphanitic Sill/Dike. Intermediate hypabyssal intrusives occur as sill- like bodies less than one metre thick. These intrusives are usually aphanitic and are weakly foliated. They are useful as marker horizons within the volcaniclastic pile.
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    STRATIGRAPHY

    A stratigraphic column for the concession has been defined from the lithologic interpretation of the drill holes and is presented below in outline form (oldest to youngest):

    a)      The lowest grouping is a sequence of crystal and crowded-crystal tuffaceous units that have a uniform appearance with very gradual changes in crystal percentages. The base of this sequence has not been reached by drilling.
    b)      A thick crystal-vitric tuff and underlying vitric tuff that appears in the Cristinas concessions and the northern part of the Brisas concession (north of 682,500 N).
      South of this line the unit either pinches out, or drilling has been insufficient at depth to properly define it.
    c)      A 150 m to 200 m thick sequence consists of rapidly alternating TL, TV, and TVC-M units. A prominent band of TL defines the base. Within this group only the TL bands and one TV bed are found to be laterally continuous, though even they are highly variable in thickness and extent. The bulk of economic gold mineralization occurs within this sequence. A sill of intermediate composition exists near the base of this sequence and is traceable throughout the concessions. The entire sequence thins toward the south, narrowing to less than 100 m at 681,500 N.
    d)      A TV unit greater than 200 m thick appears throughout the concessions and contains minor TVC-M and TL bands. Much of this unit has a very even texture, and the contact with the underlying unit is readily apparent in most drill holes.
    e)      A poorly defined sequence of TL, TV, TVC-M, and TVC-C units overlies (D), but is well outside, the mineralized zone and only encountered in a few condemnation drill holes to the west. This area has a strongly developed foliation, to the point where many units have been lumped together as “schist.”
    f)      A diorite/tonalite intrusive feature exists on the eastern edge of the concessions that appears to postdate emplacement of the tuffaceous units, as it cross-cuts the stratigraphy, however, information about the contact between this body and the tuffaceous units is limited. No strong mineralization has been discovered in or at the margins of this body.

    Regional mapping by the Venezuelan Geological Survey shows the Cristinas Project lying within the Caballape Formation of the Botanamo Group. The Caballape Formation is described as consisting largely of graded wackes and other sedimentary facies with minor andesitic to rhyodacitic volcanic intercalations. This description contrasts with the dominantly mafic to intermediate composition volcanic nature of the sequence that hosts the mineralization at Cristinas. The host sequence at Cristinas is now considered to constitute part of the Carichapo Group of the Pastora Supergroup (Table 7-1).

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    TABLE 7-1 REGIONAL STRATIGRAPHY AND BROAD DESCRIPTION
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

        Unit Lithology Age
          Granite, tonalite,  
      Intrusive Supamo trondhjemite, granodiorite,  
        Complex quartz monzonite, gneiss, &  
          migmatite.  
          Intercalation of grey and  
          green phyllites that grade to  
        Los Caribes red phyllite that are  
        Formation intercalated with red  
          sandstones and polymictic  
          conglomerates with minor  
      Botanamo Group   felsic tuff.  
          Graded graywacke,  
          siltstones, & conglomerates  
        Caballape (80%) with minor tuffs,  
        Formation breccias and pyroclastic  
          flows of andesitic to  
          rhyodacitic composition.  
          Epiclastic rocks (phyllite, 2131 +/-10 (Day et al.
          schist. Slate and quartzite). 1995) U-Pb date on zircon
          Local tuff breccias and separates from the Yuruari
        Yuruari dacitic lavas. Regional Formation
        Formation metamorphism (greenschist  
    Pastora Province     facies) and local thermal  
          metamorphism (cordierite-  
          hornblende facies).  
          Low-K, high Fe basaltic to  
        El Callao andesitic lavas.  
        Formation Greenschist to amphibolite  
          facies metamorphism.  
          Submarine tuffs, graywacke  
          turbidites, and volcanic  
    Pastora Supergroup Carichapo   siltstones, lithic tuffs, tuff  
       Group Cicapra    
       Formation breccias, agglomerates,  
        and the upper part contain  
          green chert, and  
          porphyroblastic schist.  
        Florinda Pillow basalts of tholeiitic to  
        Formation komatiitic composition.  
     
     
    (from Day et al., 1995)      
    Note 1:Lithology for Greenstone Rocks of the Guyana Shield in Venezuela.  

     

    ALTERATION

    Alteration of the original rock-forming minerals, such as amphibole and feldspar, and addition of elements such as boron and sulphur, is a result of hydrothermal, metamorphic, and weathering processes. The overprinting of these three processes has created a number of gradational alteration assemblages, which include varying amounts of quartz, secondary biotite, chlorite, sericite, calcite, epidote, metallic sulphides, tourmaline, magnetite, and minor fuchsite and anhydrite.

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    Hydrothermal alteration is most intense within the Blue Whale body, and in other isolated pockets of similar appearance scattered throughout the main mineralized trend. The alteration type of the breccia approaches a greisen, with components of phyllic alteration in the schist. In many cases within the breccia pipe, fragments have been completely replaced by tourmaline, and associated zones of quartz may be a result of tourmalinitization of feldspars. Petrographic analysis shows two separate phases of growth in some tourmaline crystals. Massive occurrences of sulphides typically show an earlier phase of pyrite formation with subsequent fracturing and infilling of fractures by chalcopyrite.

    Weaker propylitic alteration is present in tuffaceous units surrounding the Blue Whale body as strong calcite+epidote+pyrite and calcite+chlorite+pyrite+epidote+chalcopyrite assemblages. Typically, in lenses of high Cu/low Au mineralization, the alteration package is more potassic (high secondary biotite+chlorite±sericite). Many veins with these alteration assemblages are highly deformed, indicating emplacement prior to metamorphism.

    Metamorphic alteration occurs throughout the concession and is thought to be the result of regional burial. Petrographic analysis identifies both biotite grade and chlorite grade metamorphic facies, occurring in the lower mesozone and upper epizone, respectively. This corresponds to a temperature range of 300°C to 500°C, and hydrostatic pressures. The gold+pyrite±Cu disseminated lenses appear to be associated with fluids present during this metamorphic event. The primary orientation of schistosity is thought to be parallel to bedding, with a weakly developed secondary schistosity at about 10° to bedding. Some chlorite and epidote formation may be attributed to subsequent retrograde metamorphism. Overprinting this initial metamorphism is an alteration assemblage possibly related to a tensional event that resulted in the development of barren calcite±quartz veins.

    Weathering has resulted in the breakdown of the above mineral assemblages according to their compositions, ultimately resulting in the formation of smectite, illite, and kaolinite. Pyrite is retained in the unoxidized material, though is typically very fine grained and sub- to euhedral, suggesting secondary formation. Chalcocite is present in areas of high copper. Above the water table iron oxides have formed after sulphide minerals, releasing free gold. The assemblage most resistant to this process is the Blue Whale breccia, due to the high silica and tourmaline content.

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    MINERALIZATION AT BRISAS

    There are four distinct types of gold and copper mineralization present at Brisas, defined by geometry, associated minerals, and the gold-copper ratio. These zones are the Blue Whale body, disseminated gold + pyrite ± copper, disseminated high copper, and shear-hosted gold. Only the first three types are encountered within the proposed pit geometry. A more detailed description of the mineralization follows.

    THE BLUE WHALE BODY

    The Blue Whale mineralized body is a discrete, sharply bounded, flattened, cigar-shaped feature that trends more or less parallel to the local schistosity and plunges approximately 35° southwest. It outcrops in the Pozo Azul pit in the northeast portion of the Brisas concessions, and is intersected by 45 drill holes. It is 20 m in diameter at its widest point, and tapers off at depth. It is volumetrically a small fraction of the economically mineralized ground at the Siembra Minera Project, but it possesses the highest gold and copper grades.

    Mineralogically, the Blue Whale is a sericite-tourmaline-pyrite-chalcopyrite-quartz schist, with a smaller volume of quartz-tourmaline-sulphide breccia. The schist is fine-grained and exhibits an almost complete alteration of the original rock. What appears to have been feldspar crystals and lapilli fragments are now replaced by tourmaline, and in some cases tourmaline bands occur in multiple deformed sheath fold structures. It is unclear whether the tourmaline itself has undergone this deformation, or if it has replaced minerals in a pre-existing structure. Thin quartz veins that cut the schist also show varying degrees of deformation, both brittle and ductile. Gold and copper grades are highly variable in the schist, normally increasing toward the contacts between the schist and the breccia. Pyrite/chalcopyrite is up to 25% of the rock mass, with abundant chalcopyrite and molybdenite.

    The quartz-tourmaline breccia portion of the Blue Whale exhibits the highest gold and copper grades of the Siembra Minera Project. Tourmaline has completely replaced blocks of the breccia, while quartz has flooded the matrix. This rock does not show the strong ductile deformation of the sericite-pyrite-quartz schist. Chalcopyrite is the dominant sulphide, with lesser pyrite, bornite, covellite, and molybdenite. Other alteration minerals present are sericite, rutile, calcite, albite, siderite, and minor anhydrite (the latter occurring in undeformed, crosscutting veinlets).

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    DISSEMINATED GOLD+PYRITE± COPPER

    The bulk of mineralization occurs in disseminated, coalescing, lensoid bodies, and high in gold and in most cases low in copper. These bodies lie almost exclusively in the lapilli-rich, rapidly alternating sequence of tuffaceous units and are clearly aligned along foliation. Together, these lenses form a generally well defined mineralized band, which mimics the dip of the foliation/bedding and remains open at depth. It remains at a similar thickness from the northern concession boundary for a distance of 1.4 km south, after which, it tapers rapidly. Alteration minerals characteristic of these lenses are epidote, chlorite, secondary biotite, and sericite.

    The gold in the stratiform lenses is highly disseminated but only roughly associated with high occurrences of pyrite. Fine-scale sub-sampling of three metre assay intervals indicates good correlation between gold and small (<1 cm) calcite/quartz veins. Correlation also exists with zones of high occurrence of epidote, and in lapilli-sized lithic fragments that have been partially to completely replaced by epidote and sulphides. Sub-sampling evidence also suggests that gold is more evenly distributed through the rock near the center of the large mineralized lenses than it is near the margins. In section, east-west contours of gold grades at 0.75 g/t or 1.0 g/t show a geometry that essentially mimics contours drawn at 0.40 g/t.

    DISSEMINATED HIGH COPPER/LOW GOLD

    Stratiform lenses of high copper with or without high gold underlie the gold+pyrite lenses described above. These lenses outcrop in the northern part of the deposit, and plunge to the south in a manner similar to the Blue Whale and high gold/low copper lenses but with variable dips. Deep drilling has intersected these lenses as far south as 681,900 N. Within the stratigraphic column, these lenses generally occupy the TV and TVC-M units. Rock in the mineralized zones is characterized by a high degree of lapilli and crystal replacement by chalcopyrite, and in some cases, by bornite and covellite. High chalcopyrite in the rock matrix is often accompanied by high chlorite, secondary biotite, and in some cases molybdenite.

    GOLD-BEARING SHEAR ZONES

    Shear-hosted gold occurrences exist in the southern part of the concession, running parallel to the foliation as with mineralization further north. Stratigraphically, they occur above the large disseminated lenses previously described. The gold and copper grades are erratic and discontinuous.

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    MINERALIZATION AT CRISTINAS

    The main two styles of mineralization present at Cristinas are:

    1.      Stratiform mineralization at Conductora, Morrocoy, and Cordova.
    2.      Hydrothermal breccia-hosted mineralization at Mesones-Sofia.

    STRATIFORM MINERALIZATION

    The Conductora (including Cuatro Muertos and Potaso), Morrocoy, and Cordova areas contain over 95% of the gold resource at Cristinas. Mineralization in these zones (here called Conductora-style mineralization) is stratiform in nature and is concentrated in volcaniclastic units within the mafic-to intermediate-composition volcaniclastic host sequence. The distribution of mineralization is controlled by the permeability of the host rocks; gold grade and alteration intensity typically decrease abruptly at the contact between permeable volcaniclastic units and impermeable lava layers, for example. Pre-mineralization, altered dioritic intrusive stocks are largely devoid of significant gold mineralization due to their low permeability.

    Mineralization occurs in a greater than three-kilometre long, north-trending zone that dips moderately (30° to 40°) to the west, sub-parallel to the volcanic stratigraphy and to the pervasive (S1) cleavage. Gold mineralization is associated with a sulphide assemblage that consists essentially of pyrite and chalcopyrite.

    Alteration mineral assemblages in Conductora are secondary biotite, minor potassium feldspar, calcite, chlorite and minor epidote and sericite. Calcite is ubiquitous, occurring mainly as disseminations, in addition; in carbonate-sulphide veinlets, carbonate-only veinlets, and quartz-carbonate veinlets. Silicification is minimal in Conductora-type mineralization. Minor tourmaline disseminations occur in some parts of Conductora, but in much lower concentrations than in the Mesones-Sofia area. The most consistent gold mineralization occurs in zones in which secondary biotite is most intensely developed. Many sulphide clots within these biotite-dominated alteration zones are rimmed by a green chlorite alteration that has overprinted the secondary biotite.

    Pyrite and chalcopyrite constitute the only sulphide species of significance in primary ore. The average pyrite/chalcopyrite ratio is greater than five. Sulphides occur principally as disseminations, but also in narrow veinlets 1 mm to 2 mm wide. These veinlets are variable

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    in composition ranging from sulphide-only to sulphide-calcite and sulphide-calcite-quartz.

    These veins have selvages of secondary biotite, chlorite, or chlorite-epidote.

    Quartz-sulphide veins are rare, but where they do occur, they are in zones of intense secondary biotite development against which they have indistinct margins and are associated with multi-ounce gold values. Higher than average gold grades (>2 g/t) are associated with areas in which pyrite occurs as coarse clots up to 2 cm in diameter in zones of intense secondary biotite alteration. Generally, however, the sulphides are fine-grained, and much more so than in Mesones-Sofia.

    Molybdenite is locally quite abundant, occurring in quartz-calcite-sulphide veinlets, and disseminated with pyrite and chalcopyrite. The Potaso area contains disseminated molybdenite that appears to have no spatial relationship with pyrite and chalcopyrite on a hand-specimen scale.

    QUARTZ-TOURMALINE-SULPHIDE-CALCITE VEIN BRECCIAS

    Mineralization in Mesones-Sofia is concentrated in the quartz-tourmaline-sulphide-calcite vein breccias and extends laterally into the adjacent country rocks. The breccias are sufficiently closely spaced that the country rock between them also constitutes ore in the central part of Mesones-Sofia. Grades in the country rock on the periphery of the system decrease as the distance between the breccias increase.

    Breccias consist of quartz, tourmaline, calcite, and sulphides, and the country rock alteration assemblage consists of fine-grained quartz, muscovite (sericite), calcite, tourmaline, and disseminated clots of sulphides. Silicification is variably developed, with pervasive silicification largely confined to the breccias where it encapsulates the sulphides. Muscovite gives way to secondary biotite in the deepest intercepts in Mesones-Sofia. The occurrence of relict laths of biotite within intensely sericitized zones, as well as relict biotite in the central parts of larger muscovite laths, provides evidence that muscovite replaced pre-existing secondary biotite in the upper parts of the Mesones-Sofia hydrothermal breccia system. Patchy potassium-feldspar alteration is evident in the central part of Mesones-Sofia.

    Sulphides commonly occur in aggregates up to 5 cm in diameter at Mesones-Sofia. Sulphides also occur as semi-massive replacements in the matrix of the quartz-tourmaline breccias and as disseminations both in the breccias (in the matrix and in breccia clasts) and in the enclosing

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    country rocks. Sulphide content in primary, hard-rock ore is 5% to10% with a pyrite/chalcopyrite ratio of less than 5. Pyrite and chalcopyrite are the only common sulphides in Mesones-Sofia; molybdenite is scarce, but where it does occur, it is associated with pyrite and chalcopyrite. There is evidence that chalcopyrite gives way to pyrite upwards in the breccia bodies. For example, breccia bodies at Morrocoy, located structurally 200 m above Mesones- Sofia, have similar overall sulphide contents but contain only a minor proportion of chalcopyrite. There is no appreciable difference in the nature and distribution of sulphides, sulphide species, or grade, between the muscovite- and biotite-dominated alteration assemblages. This implies that the majority of the mineralization was in place by the time that secondary biotite was overprinted by muscovite.

    OTHER MINERALIZATION

    Discrete auriferous quartz veins are located adjacent to the Cristinas deposit. Such veins include the Los Rojas and Albino veins that lie approximately one kilometre to the east of the Conductora area, and the Hofman vein, which lies about one kilometre to the west of the Cordova area. These veins consist of quartz with gold mineralization associated with pyrite (there is no appreciable chalcopyrite). The veins have chlorite selvages about 50 cm wide. Although gold mineralization in these veins does not constitute part of the Cristinas resource, they are considered to be genetically related, and peripheral, to the Cristinas deposit. This type of mineralization is not discussed further in this report.

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    8 DEPOSIT TYPES

    BRISAS

    The Blue Whale body has been interpreted to be structural feature, a dilational zone of weakness that has acted, at some point after deposition of the tuffaceous rocks, as a conduit for mineralizing fluids. Based on structures seen within the Blue Whale, this occurred before or during regional metamorphism. The initial pulse of mineralization probably occurred when the system was relatively young. Brecciation, on a limited scale, took place along a pre-existing fracture with fluids rich in B, Cu, Au, and lesser Mo. Alteration in and directly around this feature was intense, causing complete replacement of breccia fragments by tourmaline, massive quartz, and copper.

    A possible deposit analogy is of a copper porphyry forming over a magmatic source (yet to be discovered) that was very rich in boron. A peraluminous granite might fit the boron requirements and a sufficient volume of basaltic/andesitic rock could provide the copper. Thin lenses of high Cu and Mo extending away along bedding/foliation planes could be the result of periodic high confining pressures within the Blue Whale that forced mineralizing fluids outward along these planes. The fluids replaced crystals and lithic fragments, evidence of which can be viewed in drill core.

    The bulk of gold mineralization at the Brisas deposit appears to have been emplaced after formation of the Blue Whale mineralization. It occurs over a wide area and the highest gold grades do not occur in proximity to the Blue Whale. Although on a small scale gold appears to link with zones of higher schistosity and development of alteration minerals, on a larger scale it was deposited in favourable lithologic hosts, comprising mostly thin and variable tuffaceous rocks. Improved permeability related to bedding discontinuities and relatively porous lithic fragments may have been the overriding factor in mineralization deposition. The fluid pressures must have been high to disseminate them through an unfractured volcanic pile rather than along obvious shear planes or fractures. Mineralogically, this phase of deposition bears some similarity to the high temperature B, Cu, Au, and Mo fluid phase proposed for the Blue Whale, specifically in regards to the formation of disseminated lenses. Geometrically, this package of lenses plunges to the south, where it can still be detected by deep drilling. This pattern is similar to what is observed in the Blue Whale.

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    CRISTINAS

    In terms of classification, Cristinas has been assigned to shear zone-hosted systems by some geologists, and to a porphyry association by others; however, several key elements of the Cristinas deposit must be satisfied in any attempt to classify the deposit. These include:

    Despite these factors that are typical of porphyries, Cristinas clearly is not a classic porphyry system, since mineralization is not contained within, or closely associated with, any porphyritic intrusive stock. Furthermore, the abundant quartz veining associated with most porphyries is largely absent from the Cristinas deposit.

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    9 EXPLORATION

    The history of exploration work completed on the Project is described in Section 6 History.

    EXPLORATION POTENTIAL

    The Siembra Minera mineralization is open down dip in all zones and along strike to the northwest in Morrocoy and Cordova because of insufficient drilling. Current resource pit shells are limited by drilling instead of economics. Current plans for exploration are based on brownfield expansion of the existing deposit. RPA is of the opinion that there is excellent potential to increase the resources and to convert a significant portion of the Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated with more drilling. RPA recommends drilling approximately 150 to 200 drill holes totalling approximately 75 km to 100 km. This drilling would have a number of objectives including:

    Figure 9-1 illustrates some of the exploration targets. Most of the drill holes target down dip extensions of the Main Zone and the boundary area between the Brisas and Cristinas concessions known as Potaso. The average length of these holes has been estimated to be approximately 500 m. An approximate cost for this drilling ranges from approximately $15 million to $20 million.

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    10 DRILLING

    GENERAL

    GRI began exploration activity on the Brisas concessions in late 1992, and continued with various drilling programs through 2006. A total of 975 drill holes with a total drilled length of 207,442 m have been completed by GRI on the Brisas concessions as of September 2006 (Table 10-1). Of these holes, 802 representing 189,985 m of drilling were completed specifically for exploration. The remaining holes were drilled for hydrologic, geotechnical, and metallurgical testing, and in some cases, were assayed and used in modelling.

    Drill holes within and around the planned pit area are mostly spaced at approximately 50 m or 100 m apart. Drill hole spacing in the Blue Whale area is approximately 25 m. The majority of the exploration drilling was performed using standard diamond core-barrel recovery techniques although a small amount of auger drilling was carried out at the beginning of the exploration campaign. Auger holes (“A” holes) are generally very shallow, located throughout the Project area and in particular between later-drilled core holes; many auger holes are outside the pit area.

    Placer drilled 1,182 holes on the Cristinas concessions between 1994 and 1997 (Table 10-2). Once early exploration drilling determined the approximate location and strike direction of mineralization, further drilling was undertaken on section lines orientated perpendicular to that trend. The drilling completed in the southern two-thirds of the Cristinas concessions has shown that the mineralization occurs in a large tabular body that strikes approximately north-south, and dips moderately to the west. The drilling completed in the northern third of the Cristinas concessions has shown that the strike of the mineralization has changed in this area. In this northern portion of the Cristinas concessions, the mineralization can occur as pipe-shaped forms, and as thinner tabular forms with sub-vertical dips.

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    TABLE 10-1 SUMMARY OF GRI DRILLING-BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Year No. Total No.
        Holes Metres Assays
      1992 - - -
      1993 49 5,828 1,921
      1994 130 16,091 5,479
      1995 98 18,859 6,308
      1996 259 52,159 17,359
      1997 214 66,353 21,803
      1999 13 5,726 1,833
      2003 9 1,822 1,103
      2004 101 24,448 5,820
      2005 37 10,866 3,262
      2006 65 5,291  
      Drill Hole Total 975 207,442 64,888
     
      Trench 4 60 36
      Trench Total 4 60 36
      Grand Total 979 207,502 64,924
     
    TABLE 10-2 SUMMARY OF PLACER AND CRYSTALLEX DRILLING-
    CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS

     

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Year No. Holes Total No.
        Metres Assays
    Placer      
    1992 165 8,474 8,461
    1993 201 29,998 30,146
    1994 383 53,754 56,559
    1995 269 34,166 32,669
    1996 148 24,160 26,610
    1997 16 4,901 5,104
    Placer Total 1,182 155,454 159,549
     
    Crystallex (Data Unavailable)    
    2003 12 2,199 1,079
    2004 18 7,131 5,993
    2005 14 5,419 5,419
    2006-2007 46 13,574 12,178
    Crystallex Total 90 28,323 19,769

     

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    Crystallex drilled 90 holes on the Cristinas concessions from 2003 to 2007. The information from these drill holes were used by MDA in 2007 to prepare the update of the Mineral Resource estimate and were discussed in summary form in MDA's accompanying Technical Report (MDA, 2007). While the significant intersections from these drill holes were reported in news releases, insufficient details regarding the exact location and inclination of the Crystallex drill holes or the individual assay results were presented in these news releases to be useful. As the results from this drilling campaign were not available to RPA and the information could not be reconstituted from the news releases, none of the drill holes completed by Crystallex were used in preparing the current Mineral Resource estimate.

    The drill hole locations are shown in Figure 10-1.

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    Mesones W

    Cordova Morrocoy Mesones E

    Cristinas


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    BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    The following is taken from PAH (2005 and 2008).

    COLLAR AND DOWNHOLE SURVEYING

    For all auger and core holes at the Brisas Project, the field location of the drill hole collars before drilling and collar surveying after drilling have been performed by Surco, a local survey firm based in El Callao, Venezuela. This company was also responsible for establishing the concession boundaries and setting up permanent survey reference points within the concession. The base for all surveys was GPS defined and checked by the survey company with a traverse from a nearby GPS station (Las Cristinas) with satisfactory accuracy.

    The setting up of the bearing and inclination of the drill rig was made with compass and inclinometer. All core holes were surveyed with a Sperry Sun photographic instrument mounted inside a rod that can be inserted into the drill hole using the drill equipment, recording azimuth and dip at varying depths by technicians employed by GRI. The first photo was normally taken at a depth of approximately 20 m (without casing), a second photo at 6 m below the cased intervals (below the saprolitic zone), and subsequent photos every 100 m to 150 m thereafter. The reading on the developed film was checked by a geologist and the information entered into a field book.

    CORE LOGGING

    The logging format for the Brisas Project had several changes through the different drilling stages as adjustments to Rock Quality Designation (RQD) measurements and standardization of lithologic and alteration codes were made. The code standardization was implemented after drill hole D95, and many of the previous holes were re-logged to avoid differences in log codings. Two different log forms, geotechnical and geological, were completed when logging.

    The geotechnical log completed for each hole included depth, bit diameter, core recovery, rock hardness, sampling intervals, and RQD. Core recoveries were generally good averaging approximately 96%. An average recovery of 87% was obtained in saprolite, and 98% in hard rock. The core recovery for the Blue Whale was 91%. RQD, as measured by GRI, is the ratio between the cumulative length of naturally un-fragmented/un-fractured core longer than 0.1 m and the total core length within a 3.0 m standard measurement interval. RQD readings were obtained before sampling and/or destruction of the core and recorded in the logs. Drilling was

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    normally performed with HQ diameter (2.5 in. or 6.35 cm) to the saprolite-hard rock contact where bits were changed to NQ diameter (1-7/8 in. or 4.76 cm). Due to the characteristics of saprolite and other intensely weathered rock, RQD readings were not made above the hard rock-saprolite contact.

    Detailed geological logs were recorded on a form with the following information:

    A summary log was then completed from the detailed information, along with a graphical interpretation of the log, as well as gold and copper assay results. Logging procedures followed by GRI were well established and have been followed by all geologists, with minor changes, through the different exploration stages. Quality was assured through the use of an internal manual: “Procedures for geological logging at Brisas del Cuyuni”, which provides guidance in the use of geological terms, defines different lithological units, structure and visual evaluation of alteration and mineralization contents.

    TWIN DRILLING VERIFICATION

    Twin hole tests were run occasionally throughout the Brisas Project drilling program. A total of seven twin holes were drilled at different times and locations within the property. Both the initial and the twin were core holes. A more detailed discussion of twin hole data results is presented in Section 12 of this Technical Report.

    CONDEMNATION DRILLING

    Condemnation drilling has been performed extensively on the Brisas concessions. Both condemnation and geotechnical drilling has been performed on the proposed waste dump areas and plant site. Geotechnical drilling was conducted on the proposed tailings dam area for which some assay information was obtained. None of the drilling of these areas has yielded geological or geochemical information suggestive of the presence of significant mineralization, and therefore no additional condemnation drilling was recommended for Brisas by PAH (2008).

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    RPA recommends investigating if additional condemnation drilling will be required for the Siembra Minera Project.

    SAMPLING

    In auger drilling, each three-metre auger flight was lifted onto a table and the soft saprolite was peeled off, dried, and prepared for assaying. In core drilling the soft saprolite was cut longitudinally by machete and the hard rock core cut by a standard Clipper 12-inch diamond saw. Half of the core was placed back in the core box for storage while the other half was placed in metal trays for drying in a fuel oil boiler for sample preparation. Most core drilling was done with HQ core (63.5 mm diameter) but deeper holes were sometimes reduced to NQ (47.6 mm diameter) to accommodate the depth capacity of the drill rig.

    GRI maintained a full record of split core for the entire drill program. The sampling interval was generally three metres, with the exception of samples adjacent to the saprolite-hard rock contact, where in some cases adjustments were made to differentiate sample types, or in a few holes located in exploration areas outside the main mineralized zone (e.g., D722-D727), where a one-metre interval was used. The sample size was nominally eight kilograms in weight for the three-metre sample.

    The gold and copper mineralization at the Siembra Minera Project is broadly disseminated and amenable to bulk mining. The deposit is proposed to be mined on six-metre benches in ore zones and 12 m benches in waste zones. In RPA’s opinion, the three-metre sample length is adequate and generally provides sufficient resolution in defining the ore and waste zone boundaries for the mineralization except perhaps for the Blue Whale zone, which tends to be narrower and of higher grade than the rest of the deposit and hence, a shorter interval may have allowed for better boundary definition. On the other hand, the longer interval will tend to incorporate some dilution to the model.

    RPA is of the opinion that the drilling, sampling and logging procedures carried out on the Brisas concessions meet industry standards, and are suitable for use in the preparation of Mineral Resource estimates.

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    CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS

    The following is taken from MDA (2007).

    COLLAR AND DOWNHOLE SURVEYING

    According to historic Placer documentation of the drilling procedures, drill hole locations were established using a prismatic or Brunton compass, and adjusted into position with a Brunton compass. After completion, each hole was fitted with a collar pipe, and a cement collar block was inscribed with the drill hole number. Final drill hole collar locations were then surveyed in UTM coordinates by Surco, translated into local grid coordinates, and entered into a GEOLOG database (a proprietary drill hole database format). Examination of the drill hole deviation measurements shows that 907 of the 1,174 holes (77%) have at least one downhole survey. Downhole survey readings, generally taken approximately every 50 m, were completed using a Sperry Sun single-shot survey camera or a Pajari compass. The GEOLOG database contains detailed geological descriptions, geological codes, check assay data, specific gravity data, core recovery, RQD data, and some trace element geochemical data.

    CORE LOGGING

    Drill core was logged for rock type, alteration, mineralization, structure, and magnetic susceptibility. In addition, RQD, core recovery, rock strength, and joint roughness and coating were logged. If core recovery in the saprolite averaged less than 80%, the hole was re-drilled at the contractor’s expense; global average core recovery in saprolite was between 85% and 90%. Hard-rock core recovery was above 95%. Oriented core was drilled in selected areas using a downhole “crayon test” for determining the true orientation of foliation, bedding and lineation, as well as the orientation of veins and veinlets.

    SAMPLING

    Drilling in an intensely weathered tropical environment presented challenges and, consequently, several different drilling techniques were attempted by Placer before choosing triple tube diamond drilling. Other methods tested include Vibracore, auger, and reverse circulation rotary drilling, none of which produced acceptable results. Up to seven hydraulic diamond drill rigs were used simultaneously to complete the drilling. The best recovery was achieved with PQ tools (85 mm diameter) in saprolite, and with HQ tools (61 mm diameter) in bedrock. HQ was also used to drill some of the saprolite, as not all rigs were equipped to

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    handle PQ (85 mm diameter) core. NQ (47.6 mm diameter) was used systematically in bedrock during the infill drilling phase within the Stage I pit area and occasionally in difficult drilling situations. The saprolite interval was drilled uncased until casing could be set in bedrock. Sample lengths ranged from 0.1 m to 8.0 m, with most being approximately one metre.

    RPA is of the opinion that the drilling, sampling, and logging procedures carried out on the Cristinas concessions meet industry standards and are suitable for use in the preparation of Mineral Resource estimates.

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    11 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY

    BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    The following is taken from PAH (2005).

    SAMPLE PREPARATION

    Sample preparation, including drying, crushing and pulverizing, was performed on site at GRI’s own sample preparation facility using the sample preparation routine summarized in Figure 11-1. The sample pulps were shipped to assay laboratories in Puerto Ordaz, Monitor Geochemical Laboratory de Venezuela, C.A. (Monitor) and Triad Laboratory (Triad), during the earlier campaigns before 1999. The Triad laboratory located at Minera Hecla’s La Camorra mine site was used for the later round of drilling (2003-2004). After drying, all samples were crushed to 90% –8 mesh (2.36 mm). Half of the crushed sample was bagged and sorted for reference; and a split of approximately 500 g from each sample was pulverized to 90% –150 mesh (0.106 mm). Crushing was carried out with 6x4-inch Morse and 4x8-inch Marcy jaw crushers and a roller crusher. Pulverizing was accomplished with Bico puck and ring pulverizers, although Bico disk pulverizers were also available. Pulverizer cleaning with barren sand was performed after every ten samples. Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures included sending pulps to Acme Labs in Vancouver for checking one of every 20 samples and inserting standards prepared with the Brisas mineralized material by Hazen Labs at a rate of 1 in every 30 samples.

    Assay laboratories used during the early stages of the Brisas Project drilling were Barringer Research Labs (Barringer) and Bondar Clegg Labs (Bondar Clegg). Monitor was used as the primary assay laboratory and Triad was used as the check assay laboratory from 1994 to 1999 when checks established confidence for these two local laboratories based then in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. For the 2003-2004 drilling program, Triad located at Minera Hecla’s La Camorra mine site was used. During that time period, Triad worked with Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada, for check assaying purposes and also participated in international round robin assaying programs.

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    For the 2003-2004 drilling program, samples were prepared on site and pulps sent to Triad. The laboratory routinely ran samples for Hecla’s La Camorra mine where it was located, as well as for other companies operating in Venezuela. Assaying control procedures included log record and tag identification of samples, a control list, blank and rejects run on approximately 10% of samples, assay check runs on approximately one of every 15 samples. Both gold and copper assaying were performed using standard fire assay (FA) and atomic absorption (AA) techniques for the Brisas Project. RPA toured the Triad laboratory during a visit to La Camorra in May 2005 and found it to be reasonably well operated. Triad had begun the accreditation process and participated in bi-annual round robin assaying of Geostats reference standards. In 2005, Triad was registered in Arizona as a fire assay laboratory and had operated in Venezuela for twelve years, including the past five years at the La Camorra mine site.

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    11-3


     


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    ANALYTICAL METHODS

    Analytical methods used for the early stage of the drilling programs were metallic screen analysis for gold and geochemical analysis for copper. During 1994 to 1999, all pulp samples were analyzed for gold by FA with an AA finish. Samples with gold values over 1.5 g/t Au were re-assayed with 1.0 assay ton FA with a gravimetric finish. Copper assay was performed using standard AA with long iodide titration verification when values were obtained above 0.3% Cu.

    QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL

    The Siembra Minera Project generated a large amount of assay information consisting of original assays, checks, and standards that were routinely received. These data were kept both in original hardcopy and in digital format. Assays were checked for correct sample number, intervals, actual values from the laboratories, and finally for conflicts within the primary laboratory, and between the primary laboratory and the check laboratory. If samples had conflicts (i.e., [A-B]/[A+B] > 33% variance), they were reviewed and if necessary the laboratories were requested to re-assay. In some cases, there were up to five check assays for a given sample interval for several high-grade gold assays. For standards, the tolerance was a variance of 12% for both copper and gold. For drill holes with serious standards conflicts, the entire drill hole could be requested to be re-assayed. Once the conflicts were resolved, all assay data were kept in an “Accepted Assays” spreadsheet under the control of the project manager. The analysis of assays through the use of the spreadsheet as a control provided a reliable method of determining conflicts between primary and check laboratories. This method was designed by GRI in 1995 with subsequent audits and modifications by independent parties (Mark Springett 1995, Behre Dolbear 1997). The actual assay value included in the drill hole database and utilized in modelling is the average of all accepted assays for a given sample interval.

    DENSITY MEASUREMENTS

    From 1994 to 1997, there was an ongoing program totalling hundreds of field measurements of bulk densities and moisture contents. The following methods were used for bulk density measurements:

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    Moisture content was measured by weighing new core, drying it overnight, and re-weighing it. In-place, dry bulk densities and moisture content for different rock/alteration types were compiled by GRI for resource/reserve studies based on all valid information using a weighted average method (Table 11-1). The densities were used in the January 2005 feasibility study and subsequent studies and are grouped by rock type and degree of weathering. The main groups are oxide saprolite, sulphide saprolite, and un-weathered rock. An additional category was created for schist, because it consistently had a lower density for un-weathered rock than other rock types that are generally considered as “tuff.”

    TABLE 11-1 MATERIAL DENSITIES AND MOISTURE

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Oxide Sulphide Hard
    Description Saprolite Saprolite Rock
    Bank Wet Density (t/m3) 1.88 2.07 2.82
    Moisture Percentage (%) 23.0 16.0 1.0
    Bank Dry Density (t/m3) 1.45 1.74 2.79

     

    CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS

    The following is excerpted from MDA (2007).

    SAMPLE PREPARATION

    Although sample preparation and analytical procedures are well described in Placer’s reports, it is not clear what special security procedures were in place at that time. The Triad laboratory of Tumeremo, Venezuela, and Bondar Clegg, Vancouver, Canada assayed all samples taken at Las Cristinas in 1992. Beginning in January 1993, Placer Research Centre in Vancouver, Canada, assayed all core samples, while Monitor analyzed trench samples.

    All samples were prepared on-site. In 1993, staff from Placer Research Centre reviewed and amended laboratory procedures to conform to Placer standards. Figure 11-2 shows Placer’s sample preparation procedures.

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    ANALYTICAL METHODS

    All samples were fire assayed for gold and “geochemically” analyzed for silver, molybdenum, copper, and cyanide-soluble copper. Table 11-2 shows the assay techniques used on Las Cristinas samples by the Placer Research Centre. Note that the term “geochem” was not explained.

    TABLE 11-2 SUMMARY OF PLACER’S ASSAYING PROCEDURES,
    CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Laboratory Element Method
    Placer Research Centre Au Fire Assay, AA finish1, 25 g sample
    Placer Research Centre/ Ag Geochem, AA finish2
    Bondar Clegg/Triad    
    Placer Research Centre/ Cu Geochem, AA finish3
    Bondar Clegg/Triad    
    MINEN CNSCu4 Cyanide Leach
    Placer Research Centre/ Mo Geochem, AA finish5
    Bondar Clegg/Triad    

     

    Notes:

    1.      Au > 3 g/t were re-analyzed with a gravimetric finish.
    2.      Ag > 10 g/t were re-analyzed using same analytical procedures.
    3.      Cu > 4,000 ppm were re-analyzed using same analytical procedures.
    4.      CNSCu is cyanide soluble copper.
    5.      Mo > 1,000 ppm were re-analyzed using same analytical procedures.

    In addition to the above elements, core samples collected early in the program were analyzed for mercury, antimony, arsenic, zinc, and lead. Multi-element analysis was also performed on 3,700 surface samples. Additional multi-element analyses were completed on five metre downhole composites from ten holes drilled on cross section 9,600N in the Conductora deposit.

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    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.

    Siembra Minera Project
    Bolivar State, Venezuela

    Sample Preparation Flow Sheet,
    Cristinas Concessions

    March 2018

    Source:Mine Development Associates, 2007.

    11-7


     


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    QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL

    In July 1993, R. Mohan Srivastava conducted an inter-laboratory bias analysis to compare Triad, Bondar Clegg, and Placer Research Centre assay results. The study concluded that the Triad results tended to be biased on the low side, while some of the Bondar Clegg results tended to be biased on the high side. Consequently, it was decided to re-assay all Triad and Bondar Clegg samples for gold only at the Placer Research Centre and to use only Placer’s gold assays on drill core for the 1996 resource study.

    Standard, duplicates, and blanks were used for quality control of the on-site sample preparation laboratory. For every suite of 20 samples, there was one each of a duplicate, standard, and blank, which were submitted as blind samples to the assay laboratory.

    Thirteen standards were prepared by the Placer Research Centre representing a broad range of gold grades from Las Cristinas surface and core material. These were used to monitor accuracy of the assay laboratory as well as to detect potential contamination in sample preparation. Duplicates were taken from a split of the preceding sample and were used to test the precision of the assays and the homogeneity of nugget effect of the samples. Blanks were obtained from a nearby diorite quarry and were used to detect possible contamination during sample preparation as well as to verify sample order.

    Standards, replicate samples on the same sample pulp, and blanks were also used for the quality control program for gold assays at the Placer Research Centre. In each suite of 24 samples, one each was a replicate, standard, and a blank. According to Placer, quarterly statistical evaluations of the QA/QC data indicated that Placer’s laboratory produced accurate and precise gold assay results. Results from a geochemical quality control program also indicated that the Placer Research Centre’s geochemical analyses for copper, silver, and molybdenum were highly accurate and precise.

    In addition, 10% of the samples were sent to an outside laboratory for an independent check; the laboratory was the IPL laboratory (IPL) of Vancouver, Canada. Of the 5,866 samples analyzed from 1993 to 1995, the two data sets were quite similar with minor differences between the two laboratories especially for gold grades less than 1.0 g/t Au, according to Placer’s 1996 feasibility report. The average inter-laboratory bias appeared to be approximately 5% to 10%, with Placer’s laboratory results being higher than IPL’s. The Placer 1996 feasibility report noted that this grade range was important because the economic cut-

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    off for the project is between 0.6 g/t Au and 0.7 g/t Au. That report stated that “It appears that the PDI laboratory is providing more reliable assays of the less than 1.0 g/t Au gold grades than is the IPL laboratory. IPL appears to be understating the gold grade of the less than 1.0 g/t Au grades by about 5% to 10% …. From this analysis the PDI assay results can be considered appropriate for the resource estimation.” MDA (2007) was unable to definitively analyze and compare the samples and check samples to verify Placer’s above conclusion.

    QA/QC information was also gathered on assay samples from the trenching program; these samples were assayed by Monitor. The Placer Research Centre helped Monitor implement in-house standards and also completed a check assay program on samples sent to Monitor. A 1995 evaluation indicated that it appeared Monitor’s assays were on average 5% to 10% higher than the expected means of the standards’ values and that Monitor’s mean gold grades were approximately 7% higher than Placer’s mean gold grades on trench samples assayed by both laboratories. Placer’s 1996 feasibility study concluded that “The systematic bias in the Monitor assay results presented above is not thought to have a significant impact on the 1996 Conductora/Cuarto Muertos resource estimate because the trench data are only a small part of the data base used for resource estimation.” A similar check on Monitor’s results from the 1998 trenching program showed that Placer results were approximately 3% lower than the Monitor results.

    Monitor also assayed all the Mesones-Sofia drill core from the 1996 drilling, which represents approximately 55% of all the assays in the Mesones-Sofia area. Placer’s 1998 feasibility study reported that, as with the trench samples, Monitor’s drill core assays appeared to be approximately 5% to 10% higher than check assays by Placer Research Centre. This problem was to be studied further, but MDA (2007) was not aware of any further reported conclusions.

    Diamond drilling in the intensely weathered environment, i.e., saprolite, presented potential sample bias (Placer used the term “contamination” and considered it similar to that encountered in wet reverse circulation drilling; to be consistent with Placer’s terminology, the same wording will be used here). Crystallex and MDA noted that this was particularly apparent at Mesones-Sofia, where chunks of siliceous or tourmalinized hard rock were floating in the saprolitic clays. During drilling, water flowing around the core could wash out the clays, relatively increasing the amount of hard, possibly better-grade material.

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    Placer’s care for this aspect of sampling is reportedly excellent. While great effort was made to eliminate “contamination”, occasional contaminated intervals were unavoidable, according to Placer. Placer stated that “Suspected contaminated intervals greater than 20 cm were sampled and logged as discrete intervals. If the contaminated interval was less than 20 cm the interval was marked and photographed in place and then removed prior to sampling. All sampled intervals were assayed for gold, copper, and molybdenum in order to assess the potential for additional unrecorded downhole contamination on a case by case basis. A total of 831 samples deemed to potentially be contaminated were eliminated from use by coding. The mean grade of these “contaminated” samples is 3.13 g/t Au with a maximum of 29.73 g/t Au. In addition, 32 trench samples deemed to potentially be contaminated were also eliminated from use in estimation”.

    MDA evaluated the “contaminated” samples by selecting all samples lying within the area where “contaminated” samples exist. Descriptive statistics were calculated on all “contaminated” and “not-contaminated’ samples. The results showed that there is a large discrepancy in mean grades between the two sets of data for gold, silver, and copper. MDA capped the outlier samples to evaluate if the differences were caused by these few high-grade samples, but the results remained the same. Placer’s elimination of these “contaminated” samples was justified, and MDA (2007) continued with the practice of not using these samples.

    REVIEW OF THE QA/QC RESULTS

    QA/QC PROCEDURES

    QA/QC data for the Cristinas and Brisas deposits have been collected from various sources, however, full documentation for the portion of the deposit located on the Cristinas concessions generally is not available. The following sections outline the available information on the procedures and policies in place during the data collection at both sites, as well as summarizes and analyzes available results.

    CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS

    Placer geologists included a duplicate, standard and blank sample within every suite of 24 samples submitted for assay. In addition, 10% of the samples were sent to an outside laboratory for an independent check (IPL). MDA (2002) reports that comprehensive reports reviewing the results of the QA/QC data were prepared quarterly, however, these were not available to RPA.

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    RPA received a series of text files containing results of QA/QC data integrated during the drill hole programs from 1992 to 1997. Supporting documentation for the QA/QC data is limited, however, Table 11-3 outlines that from 1993 to 1997, Placer was diligent in including blanks, standards, and duplicates in its sample stream.

    TABLE 11-3 SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE QA/QC DATA, CRISTINAS

    CONCESSIONS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Year 1992 1993   1994   1995   1996   1997   Total  
    No. Holes 165 201   383   269   148   16   1,182  
    Total Metres 8,474 29,998   53,754   34,166   24,160   4,901   155,454  
    No. Assays 8,461 30,146   56,559   32,669   26,610   5,104   159,549  
    QA/QC Samples
    Blanks                          
    Count   1,710   3,037   1,571   837   360   7,515  
    % of Assays   6% 5% 5% 3% 7% 5%
    Standards1                          
    Count   1,357   3,028   1,250   825   275   6,735  
    % of Assays   5% 5% 4% 3% 5% 4%
    Duplicates2                          
    Count   1,909   3,079   1,650   878   276   7,792  
    % of Assays   6% 5% 5% 3% 5% 5%

     

    Notes:

    1.      Expected values and ranges of standards are not available.
    2.      The type of duplicate is not specified in the documentation (pulp, reject, coarse, field, check) but is thought to be a pulp duplicate.

    As drill hole information from the Crystallex campaigns (2001 to 2006) is not available to RPA and not included in the Mineral Resource database. Summary information from previous reports on the Cristinas Project (MDA, 2002, 2003, and 2007) which outline procedures and results of QA/QC data used to support the Crystallex drilling campaigns are not discussed in this report.

    BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    Beginning in 1994, one standard sample was inserted for every 20 samples and one check sample was sent to a secondary laboratory for every 10 samples throughout the drilling campaigns, except for 2003-2004 when one in 20 samples were checked and one in 30 samples was a standard. In addition, blank samples were inserted at random to check residual

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    contamination (normally one per drill hole and at the end of each sample run). Standards were included in some of the check assay runs.

    In 1995, GRI developed a method of identifying potential integrity issues with assay results from outside laboratories, which was audited and modified by independent parties in 1995 and 1997. The method involved routine monitoring of results at Brisas including checking results for:

    In cases where conflicts were identified, assay re-runs were requested and reviewed. Re-runs were extended to the surrounding samples under the discretion of the reviewer. Up to five check assays have been performed using this monitoring system, with the final accepted value represented as an average value of all of the results, following removal of outliers. Potential issues identified in waste material were not always resolved as they did not affect the integrity of the resource database. RPA did not uncover details or results of any coarse or field duplicate programs.

    According to PAH (2008), the reliability of assay results was tested throughout the drilling programs including several specific detailed studies by independent parties, including Mr. Mark Springett (1995 and 1996) and Behre Dolbear (1997), all of which indicated a satisfactory level of precision and accuracy.

    A summary of available QA/QC data from the Brisas concessions is presented in Table 11-4.

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    TABLE 11-4 SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE QA/QC DATA, BRISAS      
    CONCESSIONS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Year3 1993   1994   1995   1996   1997   1999   2003   2004   2005   Total  
    No. Holes 49   130   98   259   214   13   9   101   37   975  
    Total Metres 5,828   16,091   18,859   52,159   66,353   5,726   1,822   24,448   10,866   207,442  
    No. Assays 1,921   5,479   6,308   17,359   21,803   1,833   1,103   5,820   3,262   64,888  
    QA/QC Samples
    Blanks                                        
    Count         27   226   206   7               466  
    % of Assays         <1% 1% 1% <1%             1%
    Standards1                                        
    Count     4   34   532   1,209   101   45   199   69   2,193  
    % of Assays     <1% 1% 3% 6% 6% 4% 3% 2% 3%
    Pulp Replicates2                                      
    Count 1,341   878   1,376   5,854   7,369   632   115   816   308   18,689  
    % of Assays 70% 16% 22% 34% 34% 34% 10% 14% 9% 29%
    Check Assay                                        
    Count 1,054   651   803   2,538   2,237   189   57   275   114   7,918  
    % of Assays 55% 12% 13% 15% 10% 10% 5% 5% 3% 12%

     

    Notes:

    1.      Expected values and ranges of standards are not available.
    2.      The type of duplicate is not specified in the documentation (pulp, coarse, field) but it is thought by RPA to be a pulp replicate sample.
    3.      Despite drilling campaigns, RPA has no record of QA/QC samples taken in 1992 or 2006.

    BLANKS

    The regular submission of blank material is used to assess contamination during sample preparation and to identify sample numbering errors.

    LAS CRISTINAS

    A total of 7,515 blanks were included with samples assayed from 1993 to 1997. RPA analyzed the results using an assumed detection limit of 0.01 g/t Au and defined a sample to have failed if it returned a gold value more than ten times the detection limit (>0.1 g/t Au). RPA determined that a total of 249 samples (3%) failed the defined criteria, and observed that these failures were often clustered together temporally (Figure 11-3). RPA is of the opinion that the number of blank failures at Las Cristinas indicates a low degree of sample contamination or sample mix-ups.

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    FIGURE 11-3 CONTROL CHART OF BLANK SAMPLES (GOLD), CRISTINAS
    CONCESSIONS

     

    BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    A total of 466 blanks were included in the sample stream at Brisas from 1995 to 1999. RPA analyzed the results using an assumed detection limit of 0.01 g/t Au and defined a sample to have failed if it returned a gold value more than ten times the detection limit (>0.1 g/t Au). Individual laboratory performance is listed in Table 11-5 and shown graphically in Figure 11-4.

    TABLE 11-5 SUMMARY OF BLANK SAMPLE ANALYSIS, BRISAS

    CONCESSIONS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Laboratory   Monitor       Triad
      Failures   Total Submitted Failures   Total Submitted
    Year Submitted Count %     Count %    
    1995         1 4 % 27
    1996 7 4 % 190 1 3 % 36
    1997 1 1 % 195 2 18 % 11
    1999   0 % 7        
    Total 8 2 % 392 4 5 % 74

     

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    MN - Monitor Laboratory; TL - Triad Laboratory

    CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIAL

    Results of the regular submission of certified reference material (CRM) or reference material (standards) are used to identify problems with specific sample batches, and biases associated with the primary assay laboratory.

    LAS CRISTINAS

    RPA has compiled an incomplete set of QA/QC samples for the Cristinas deposit, however, the data is missing for several important components. With reference to the standard information, the expected values and ranges for the 17 individual standards reviewed by RPA were not available, limiting the ability to assess bias with the primary laboratory and identify issues with sample batches. It is also unclear whether the standard names (STD-1, etc.) could be referenced to the nomenclature employed in previous reports on the deposit. Table 11-6 summarizes the raw data available to RPA, including the approximate time frame of use of each standard, based on associated drill hole ID.

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    TABLE 11-6 AVERAGE GRADE AND STANDARD DEVIATION OF AVAILABLE
    STANDARDS SUBMITTED AT LAS CRISTINAS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Standard Time Frame No. Submitted Mean Grade (g/t Au) Std. Dev. (g/t Au)
    STD-1 1993 - 1994 404 0.39 0.28
    STD-2 1993 279 1.06 0.14
    STD-3 1993 - 1994 491 1.88 0.35
    STD-4 1993 122 0.76 0.09
    STD-5 1993 110 1.85 0.13
    STD-6 1993 56 3.32 0.60
    STD-7 1993 - 1994 217 1.26 0.33
    STD-8 1994 - 1995 1,688 2.99 0.38
    STD-9 1994 - 1995 1,290 1.05 0.18
    STD-10 1995 457 0.81 0.98
    STD-11 1995 416 1.73 0.31
    STD-12 1995 - 1996 567 1.82 0.18
    STD-13 1995 52 0.40 0.16
    STD-14 1996 - 1997 157 2.34 0.13
    STD-15 1996 - 1997 149 0.81 0.07
    STD-16 1996 - 1997 143 1.68 0.12
    STD-17 1996 - 1997 137 2.21 0.21
    Total 1993 - 1997 6,735    

     

    BRISAS

    For much of the exploration drill programs, outlying standard values were considered less important than differences between primary assays and duplicate/repeat/check assays. Any standard differing by over 12% of the original standard value was flagged for further evaluation of the sample batch through re-checking, except in cases where:

    1.      The standard was inserted within waste material; or
    2.      Surrounding check assays showed agreement with the primary assays.

    In total, 11% of standards fell outside acceptable limits, and one percent of these were followed up through re-assaying of the standard and shouldering samples.

    RPA reviewed graphs compiled internally by GRI for six gold standards and seven copper standards (of a total of 21 standards included). Results were assessed temporally and by laboratory for bias and trends. Table 11-7 lists the expected value and acceptable range of gold and copper values for the standards inserted within the sample stream at Brisas. Gold standards were prepared by Hazen and Cone Laboratories, but their certification and matrix

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    are unknown to RPA. The results from Monitor indicate a higher degree of precision at all grade ranges than Triad.

    A large scale mislabelling of standards caused STD. 1, STD. 2 and STD. 3 to have different reference values pre and post drill hole D627. A review of results by GRI also caused the accepted value to change in each of these standards. The post 1997 accepted value and label are maintained in the table.

    TABLE 11-7 EXPECTED VALUE AND ACCEPTED RANGE OF STANDARD

    MATERIAL, BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Element Standard Accepted Value + 12 % - 12 %
    Cu (%) STD. 1-Y 0.11 0.13   0.10  
    Cu (%) STD. 1-X 0.23 0.25   0.20  
    Cu (%) STD. 2-X 0.06 0.07   0.05  
    Cu (%) STD. 2-Y 0.03 0.04   0.03  
    Cu (%) STD. 3-Y 0.07 0.07   0.06  
    Cu (%) STD. 3-X 0.03 0.04   0.03  
    Cu (%) STD. 6 0.06 0.06   0.05  
    Au (g/t) STD. 1 0.56 0.63   0.49  
    Au (g/t) STD. 2 0.96 1.06   0.84  
    Au (g/t) STD. 3 1.49 1.57   1.23  
    Au (g/t) STD. A 0.60 0.67   0.53  
    Au (g/t) STD. B 1.00 1.12   0.88  
    Au (g/t) STD. 6 1.01 1.13   0.89  

     

    RPA plotted the results of gold standard STD 1 (pre and post 1997) with time for the Monitor and Triad laboratories (Figure 11-5). In many cases, the standard was assayed twice and the data provided and the plotted results shown represent averages of the two results. Both laboratories show a low bias compared to the accepted value, with Monitor showing good precision and Triad showing only poor precision, which improved in the second campaign of samples.

    RPA also plotted the results of copper standard STD 1Y with time for the Monitor and Triad laboratories (Figure 11-6). In some cases (approximately 15%), the standard was assayed twice and the plotted result represents an average of the two results. Both laboratories show a low bias compared to the accepted value, with Monitor showing good precision and Triad showing very poor precision with a potentially significant low bias.

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    RPA is of the opinion that results indicate good precision at Monitor, and recommends that future drill programs incorporate three or four matrix matched CRMs that approximate the gold cut-off grade, average grade, and high grades at the Project, and which include a relevant copper component.

    The precision and bias observed at both laboratories is consistent with the observations of all other standards and grade ranges reviewed. Without the results of a round robin analysis, it is difficult to assess whether the observed bias is a result of laboratory procedures or whether a revision of the accepted value is warranted.

    FIGURE 11-5 CONTROL CHART OF GOLD STD – 1Y

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    FIGURE 11-6 CONTROL CHART OF COPPER STD – 1Y

    FIELD DUPLICATE SAMPLES, COARSE REJECT DUPLICATES, AND PULP DUPLICATES

    LAS CRISTINAS

    RPA did not uncover details or results of any coarse or field duplicate programs, and has assumed the available duplicate results are based on a program of pulp duplicates. This assumption is based on a survey of internal Placer reports, and RPA’s understanding of the standard practice at the time the programs were undertaken. Duplicate data was not flagged with a laboratory identifier and therefore RPA’s analysis does not comment on the precision of any specific laboratory. The correlation coefficient of the 7,792 duplicate pairs collected at the Project is 0.95, indicating good correlation for pulp duplicate samples. A total of 30% of sample pairs which had an average grade greater than 0.1 g/t Au plotted outside the expected error margin of ±20%. This is considered by RPA to be a high proportion for a pulp duplicate program but not unusual for gold mineralization. A scatter plot of duplicate sample pairs for gold is shown in Figure 11-7.

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    FIGURE 11-7 SCATTER PLOT OF PULP DUPLICATE SAMPLES, CRISTINAS
    CONCESSIONS

     

    BRISAS

    RPA did not uncover details or results of any coarse or field duplicate programs, however, GRI conducted a very high number of repeat, duplicate and check assays, up to six per sample. The final value in the Mineral Resource database represents an average grade of the repeated samples, which may represent assays with AAS and/or gravimetric finish and/or assays from different laboratories, with outliers reviewed and removed on a case by case basis by GRI geological department. In order to assess the precision of the primary laboratories employed throughout the drilling campaigns, RPA compiled and reviewed the initial and first pulp duplicate assay (AAS finish only) using basic comparative statistics (Table 11-8), scatter plots (Figure 11-8), and quantile-quantile (QQ) plots. Subsequent duplicate results on any single assay were excluded from the analysis.

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    TABLE 11-8 COMPARATIVE STATISTICS OF PULP DUPLICATE SAMPLES AT

     

    BRISAS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
      Monitor     Triad   Bondar Clegg
      Original          Duplicate    Original   Duplicate     Original     Duplicate
    Number of Samples (N): 8,939 8,915   1,169 1,169   13   13
    Mean (g/t): 0.52 0.53   0.58 0.62   0.13   0.14
    Maximum Value (g/t): 133.30 145.00   167.06 172.29   0.60   0.53
    Minimum Value (g/t): 0.01 0.01   0.00 0.00   0.01   0.00
    Median (g/t): 0.34 0.34   0.20 0.21   0.10   0.11
    Variance: 4.20 4.62   24.80 28.60   0.02   0.02
    Std. Dev: 2.05 2.15   4.98 5.35   0.15   0.14
    Co-ef. Variation: 3.90 4.07   8.52 8.69   1.16   0.97
    Correlation Coefficient   0.995     0.985    0.955  
    % Diff. Between Means -0.7% -5.3% -5.0%  

     

    FIGURE 11-8 SCATTER PLOT OF PULP DUPLICATE SAMPLES AT BRISAS

    BC - Bondar Clegg: MN – Monitor; TL - Triad

    RPA is of the opinion that the pulp duplicate gold assay results indicate good precision at all three laboratories. There is significantly less scatter at Brisas compared to Cristinas suggesting that the gold mineralization at Cristinas is different with more coarser gold grains.

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    EXTERNAL LABORATORY CHECK ASSAYS

    LAS CRISTINAS

    Internal documentation of procedures during the Cristinas drilling campaigns document that 10% of the samples taken were sent to an outside laboratory (IPL) for an independent check. RPA has not received the results of the check assay program and is unable to comment on any observed bias of the primary laboratory as a result.

    BRISAS

    As part of GRI’s extensive check assay program, pulp samples from primary laboratories at various periods throughout the drilling campaigns from 1993 to 2005 (Bondar Clegg, Barringer, Monitor, and Triad) have been sent to other outside laboratories to assess bias at the primary laboratory. In addition to the laboratories mentioned above, pulp samples were sent to up to ten other external laboratories; sometimes the same pulp sample was sent to three or even four additional laboratories.

    In an effort to simplify the results, RPA has limited analysis to the most prolific primary laboratories, Monitor and Triad, and one external laboratory. Figure 11-9 presents a quantile-quantile plot of the check assay pairs from Monitor and Triad (5,512 pairs). The results indicate negligible bias below 2.0 g/t Au, and a positive bias in favour of Monitor at higher grades. The correlation coefficient between the sample pairs was 93% and this bias was also visible in the scatter plot (not shown). The result may be partially explained by Monitor’s more prolific use of gravimetric finish for higher grade results (2.3% of assays were repeated with a gravimetric finish at Monitor vs. 0.7% at Triad), but it also reinforces the findings of the standards analysis, where Triad results were consistently more scattered and overall lower grade than Monitor.

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    FIGURE 11-9 QUANTILE-QUANTILE PLOT OF CHECK ASSAY SAMPLES AT
    BRISAS

     

    ML – Monitor; TL - Triad

    RPA plotted 435 check assay pairs from Triad versus ActLabs in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada and found a similar correlation (94%), however, a moderately strong high grade bias of Triad compared to ActLabs was seen below 1 g/t Au. Insufficient sample pairs were available to compare ActLabs results with Monitor. Insufficient sample pairs were available to compare Monitor with any other known laboratory (almost all checks were sent to Triad from Monitor, and the checks that do exist have little supporting information to be able to draw meaningful conclusions).

    QA/QC CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    RPA makes the following conclusions with regard to the QA/QC monitoring programs in place at Brisas and Cristinas from 1994 to 2005:

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    RPA makes the following recommendations with regard to the QA/QC monitoring programs:

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    12 DATA VERIFICATION

    PAH DATA VERIFICATION - BRISAS CONCESSIONS

    The following is taken from PAH (2005).

    The reliability of assay results was tested throughout the drilling programs including several specific detailed studies by independent parties. Mr. Mark Springett carried out studies on the reliability of sampling and assaying in 1995 and 1996 and concluded that the results from the laboratories (250 samples) showed a satisfactory level of precision and were unbiased relative to each other. Behre Dolbear performed an independent check assay program of 36 samples from six holes in 1997 to check assays produced by Monitor or Triad against results from a third laboratory (Bondar Clegg). Samples were selected with values at different ranges of gold grades. Behre Dolbear’s check assay results showed high correlation coefficients for both gold (0.92) and copper (0.99) and mean values within approximately 5% of each other for both metals.

    In 1997, GRI and Behre Dolbear jointly drilled six core holes under Behre Dolbear’s direct supervision and conducted assays independently at different laboratories. Behre Dolbear concluded that procedures utilized to collect assay data met or exceeded industry standards and that the assay results from all laboratories (Bondar Clegg, Monitor, and Triad), were reliable.

    PAH conducted several data verifications and validations for the January 2005 feasibility study. PAH visited the Brisas Project facilities, toured the laboratory preparation and core shack areas, and inspected the core and several drill sites during the 2003-2004 drilling campaign in February 2004. PAH visited GRI’s offices in Spokane, Washington to review the original drill hole logs and assay sheets in April 2004.

    PAH verified the drill log data and assays against the drill hole database used for the Brisas Project feasibility study. Ten holes located in ten different vertical sections throughout the Brisas Project were checked for collar location, downhole survey, assaying and geological/geotechnical information. Minor discrepancies were found in survey and lithology information between the database and the logs; no errors or discrepancies were found on

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    assay information. It was found that several holes in the early stages of the drilling campaigns were not surveyed for downhole deviation (e.g., most AD-series holes and some D-series holes). All AD-series holes were apparently given an average of the deviation observed in the few (approximately 20%) that did have deviation measurements.

    The downhole deviation can be up to approximately 40 m on long holes (e.g., AD85 at a depth of 362 m), however, the average depth of the AD holes is 214 m and the average depth of the A holes is 27 m. The number of holes affected is less than 10% of the current database and the area covered has been drilled at closer spacing by later campaigns with deviation measurements. Therefore, the lack of downhole surveying in these holes does not appear to greatly influence the model. Also, auger holes were visually inspected in cross sections and showed generally good agreement with the much more abundant surrounding core hole data.

    TWIN DRILLING VERIFICATION

    Twin hole tests were run occasionally throughout the drilling program. A total of seven twin holes were drilled at different times and locations within the property. Both the initial and the twin were core holes. Visual inspection of twin drill hole intersects on cross section indicates overall a very good correspondence of mineralized areas in terms of location, length of the zones, and distribution of Au and Cu grades, although the comparison of individual samples shows some variability due to natural deposit local variations (nugget effect).

    Table 12-1 shows a summary of the twin hole data. The comparison shows good reproducibility of sampling data, but also suggests consistently lower grades mainly for Au, but also for Cu in the twin or A holes, relative to the original core holes. It should be noted that while this apparent bias may be due, at least partially, to the highly variable distribution of gold within the deposit, it is, in some cases, also the result of having a single very high grade assay skewing the overall average for the hole(s) as seen in Table 12-2, for example for holes D404/D404A and D498/D498A. Without these high assays the results compare much better.

    The A holes and a few other holes were drilled in 1999 by GRI under the direct supervision of Behre Dolbear as part of an independent verification of the drilling and assaying programs at the Brisas Project. In order to better understand the apparent bias on the A holes, PAH requested that GRI drill a hole (D754) as a twin hole to one of other Behre Dolbear holes drilled in 1999 (D614). As seen in Table 12-2, the PAH hole returned average grades slightly lower than the Behre Dolbear hole for Au and about the same grade for Cu, indicating that a bias

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    more likely does not exist on the sampling and assaying data and as such the twin hole data generally confirm the original assay results.

        TABLE 12-1 SUMMARY OF TWIN HOLE GOLD DATA, BRISAS CONCESSIONS  
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
            Interval Initial Hole       Twin Hole ("A" Hole)   Ratio (Au) Ratio (Cu)
    Drill Site #   Length Hole-ID Length Au (g/t) Cu (%)   Hole-ID   Length Au (g/t) Cu (%) Twin/Orig. Twin/Orig.
        1   350 D548 353 0.389 0.042   D548 A 350 0.369 0.038 0.949 0.905
        2   119 D328 155 0.499 0.251   D328 A 303 0.390 0.207 0.782 0.825
        3   210 D260 211 0.392 0.099   D260 A 369 0.376 0.097 0.959 0.980
        4   148 D404 148 0.850 0.391   D404 A 160 0.655 0.372 0.771 0.951
        5   341 D498 383 0.407 0.016   D498 A 341 0.372 0.016 0.914 1.000
        6 * 179 D476 179 0.183 0.015   D637   200 0.190 0.014 1.038 0.933
        7   251 D754 252 0.428 0.236   D614   251 0.450 0.229 1.051 0.970
    Overall Ave.   1,598 All Samples 1,681 0.427 0.119 All Samples   1,974 0.391 0.112 0.916 0.938
    Overall Ave.                            
    without high grade   1,598 All Samples 1,681 0.406 0.117 All Samples   1974 0.391 0.112 0.963 0.961
    outliers                            
        * DH Traces are 7 to 12 m apart                      
     
    TABLE 12-2 COMPARISON OF TWIN HOLE COPPER DATA, BRISAS
    CONCESSIONS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
        Interval       Initial Hole           Twin Hole ("A" Hole)  
    Drill Site # Length Hole-ID Au (Max) Au (Min) Cu (Max) Cu (Min) Hole-ID Au (Max) Au (Min) Cu (Max) Cu (Min)
    1   350   D548 2.924 0.011 0.680 0.003 D548 A 2.018 0.011 0.244 0.002
    2   118   D328 1.92 0.044 1.368 0.011 D328 A 1.369 0.054 1.304 0.011
    3   210   D260 1.615 0.040 0.847 0.004 D260 A 1.639 0.027 0.375 0.007
    4   148   D404 5.188 0.030 4.345 0.002 D404 A 4.067 0.005 4.404 0.003
    5   341   D498 4.376 0.018 0.234 0.001 D498 A 2.371 0.005 0.195 0.001
    6 * 179   D476 1.111 0.005 0.078 0.001 D637   0.995 0.005 0.056 0.001
    7   251   D754 2.93 0.020 1.432 0.005 D614   4.029 0.018 1.326 0.001
     
        * DH Traces are 7 m to 12 m apart                      

     

    MDA DATA VERIFICATION - CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS

    The following is taken from MDA (2007).

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    As most of the Las Cristinas database is derived from Placer’s work, it is important to note that based on Placer’s descriptions of their procedures, their data collection and exploration procedures conformed to or exceeded industry standards in effect at the time. If conducted as reported, Placer’s QA/QC program was of high quality. In general, MDA found that, based on reported methodology, Placer’s exploration data were collected in a technically sound manner. According to Placer documentation, quality assurance checks were in place for most of the project, and validation of data was ongoing. Nevertheless, it was clear that additional verification was necessary because one company had completed all development work, there were no independent checks or studies of the work, and most of the original hardcopy data were unavailable for detailed study or auditing.

    Under the terms of the September 2002 agreement between Crystallex and CVG, Crystallex obtained an electronic database from CVG, which included Placer’s drill, topographic, geological, and engineering data. At that time, data from 1,174 drill holes and 108 trenches were included in the Las Cristinas database. Although approximately 99% of the drill data were obtained, hard copies of the assay and geological data were not available, leaving a gap in the ability to validate the database.

    When MDA visited the Las Cristinas site in October 2002, it found drill pads, drill collars, drill core and samples, core photographs, and other supporting data demonstrating that exploration had been done in a manner not incompatible with what was described in the documentation of Placer’s work. To conduct independent verification, Crystallex drilled 2,198 m in 12 diamond drill holes, for a total of 1,079 core samples, to confirm the presence and tenor of mineralization. These 12 holes twinned previously drilled Placer holes. In addition, 275 QA/QC samples from this drill program were analyzed. The Crystallex drill results and check samples corroborate the general tenor of gold mineralization reported by the previous operator. For additional confirmation, Crystallex re-assayed 262 pre-existing pulps, 200 pre-existing coarse rejects, and 342 quarter-core samples of pre-existing core. Although mean grades are similar for both datasets, there is a large variance in grade between individual pairs of Placer’s core assays and Crystallex’s core check samples. The variance is lower in the pulp and coarse reject checks. As a result of some of these discrepancies, several additional studies were completed to aid in the understanding of grade variability.

    Natural grade variability (heterogeneity) is an issue at Las Cristinas. Although it has become better understood through the efforts of Crystallex, it is an issue that should continue to be

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    addressed prior to and during production, as it may result in massive misclassifications of ore and waste. The effect of material heterogeneity on the resource estimate will be dominated by local variance and may have instilled a minor low bias to the sample database. The issue is introduced by the distribution of metals originally in primary ore.

    For this reason, Pitard (2005) rhetorically questioned: “Can the existing gold grade database, created with diamond drilling and conventional 30-g fire assays, lead to an accurate block model?” To which he responded: “The answer is no. But, with good geology of the various quartz and sulphide events, it can make a world of a difference.” The problem he is referring to is the ability to estimate accurately locally and with precision. MDA believes that this is difficult to do, but the consequence is not so great that it would negatively impact a mine and deposit of this scale in an open-pit scenario; essentially higher grades will be generally where higher grades are estimated to be, and the same with the mid- and low grades. While the gold occurs in the free state, it is generally not coarse grained nor visible but does appear to occur in clots of sulphides. It is not possible to compensate for the issue of a potential low bias instilled in the sample assay results.

    RPA AUDIT OF DRILL HOLE DATABASE

    SOFTWARE VALIDATION

    RPA utilized Surpac’s validation features and Microsoft Excel to check for any errors or potential issues in the drill hole data including:

    RPA did not note any significant errors.

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    DRILL HOLE COLLAR VERSUS TOPOGRAPHY

    A total of 2,068 surveyed drill hole collars can be compared against the extents of topographic surface. None of the drill holes outside the extents of the topographic surface are part of the resource modelling. Approximately 90% of surveyed drill holes are within -4.0 m and +2.0 m of the topographic surface. A total of 40 (1.9%) of surveyed drill hole collars are more than 5.0 m below the topographic surface, with 16 (0.8%) of surveyed drill hole collars lower than 10.0 m below the topographic surface, and a total of 24 (1.2%) surveyed drill hole collars are more than 5.0 m above the surface, with just three (0.15%) being higher than 10.0 m above the topographic surface: DG792, D854 and DG796 at 21.4 m, 17.8 m and 11.3 m, respectively. None of the drill holes higher than 10.0 m above the topographic surface are located within the mineralization wireframes. Eight of the drill holes lower than 10.0 m below the topographic surface are located within the mineralization wireframes. All eight of the drill holes more than 10.0 m below the surface appear to be located within flooded areas.

    A total of 108 trenches can be compared against the extents of topographic surface. Almost all the trench collars (99%) are below the topographic surface and the mean elevation below surface topography is 4.0 m. The collar of four trenches (3.7%) is between 10.0 m and 12.0 m below the topographic surface.

    Widespread disturbance of the original surface at the Project has taken place and multiple collar and trench sites are now flooded and their present locations show as flat surfaces at the level of the water table. RPA is of the opinion that the vast majority of the elevation differences between surveyed drill holes and trenches with respect to the up to date topographic surface can be explained by extensive conventional small scale mining activity and disturbance of the original surface and by flooding of former works.

    ASSAYS

    RPA compared 4% of the sample database to the assay certificates from Triad on the Brisas portion of the Project. No major discrepancies were found.

    In RPA’s opinion, the drill hole data is adequate for use in the preparation of Mineral Resource estimates.

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    13 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING

    Due to the advanced level of design achieved for both Brisas and Cristinas previously, a number of metallurgical testing programs were completed on a large number of samples. The summary of metallurgical data is taken primarily from previous Technical Reports that have been filed publicly for the Brisas and Cristinas projects and sections of a feasibility study that was completed by a previous owner for the Cristinas Project (Placer 1996, PAH 2008, and MDA 2007).

    For Brisas, GRI completed a feasibility study (PAH, 2005) and basic engineering that were based on a processing flow sheet that included gravity concentration and a flotation concentrator with leaching of the cleaner scavenger tailings to produce doré and copper concentrate. For Cristinas, Crystallex completed a feasibility study that included gravity concentration and whole ore cyanide leaching in a carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit to produce only doré (MDA, 2007).

    These decisions were made because the northern side of the Brisas property contains higher concentrations of copper than the southern side of the Brisas property which has higher gold concentrations. Similarly, the northern side of the Cristinas property contains higher concentrations of copper (Mesones) and the southern side has higher gold concentrations. The data regarding rock type and grade distributions from the new RPA model are summarized in Table 13-1.

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    TABLE 13-1 SUMMARY OF RESOURCES AND GRADES BY AREA

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Contained
    Zone Name         Copper
      (Mt) (g/t Au) (%Cu) Gold (oz) (Mlb Cu)
    Measured & Indicated          
    Brisas 603 0.58 0.10 11,321 1,273
    Cristinas 451 0.88 0.10 12,802 1,036
    Mesones 76 0.65 0.22 1,582 361
    Morrocoy 1 0.86 - 30 -
    Cordova 53 0.63 0.01 1,087 17
    Sub-Total, M&I 1,184 0.70 0.10 26,823 2,687
     
    Inferred          
    Brisas 364 0.47 0.12 5,489 971
    Cristinas 761 0.70 0.07 17,065 1,140
    Mesones 51 0.35 0.17 579 186
    Morrocoy 92 0.60 - 1,770 -
    Cordova 23 0.67 0.01 486 3
    Total, Inferred 1,291 0.61 0.08 25,389 2,300

     

    The relative proportions of material from the historical data is summarized in Table 13-2.

    The current plan proposes to process the mined material in both a flotation concentrator and a cyanide leaching facility. The material that contains copper concentrations greater than 0.02% will be processed in the flotation plant and the material that contains lower concentrations of copper will be processed in the cyanide leach plant. For comparison purposes, a summary of the tonnes and grade by rock type from the current mine plan is presented in Table 13-2.

    TABLE 13-2 CURRENT SUMMARY OF ROCK TYPES AND GRADES

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Material Mined Mt Au, g/t Cu, %
    Oxide Saprolite 43 0.638 0.050
    Sulphide Saprolite Low Cu 30 0.533 0.007
    Sulphide Saprolite High Cu 133 0.778 0.118
    Total Sulphide Saprolite 206 0.733 0.098
    Fresh Hard Rock Low Cu 266 0.565 0.012
    Fresh Hard Rock High Cu 1,533 0.728 0.107
    Total Hard Rock 1,800 0.704 0.093
    Total 2,005 0.705 0.092

     

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    BRISAS

    Four types of material were identified for Brisas. They are:

    The two hard rock types (i.e., North and South) are defined based on the copper concentration. North is defined as gold-chalcopyrite-pyrite with a copper concentration greater than 0.05%. South is gold-pyrite with a copper concentration less than 0.05%.

    From 1992 to 2005, 20 metallurgical test programs and mineralogical investigations were completed for Brisas. Five pressure oxidation testing programs were completed using copper concentrate. Tailings analysis and characterization programs were also completed.

    Grinding test work was completed by MacPherson in 1997. The gross autogenous work index was 21.3 kWh/t and the Bond ball mill work index was 15.4 kWh/t.

    Test work conducted by Lakefield Research, Inc. (Lakefield) in 2005 was used as the basis of the feasibility study completed by Aker-Kvaerner and the subsequent detailed design completed by SNC-Lavalin. The testing was completed using all four rock types using the following six groups of samples:

    PAH reported that they considered the samples to be representative of the Brisas deposit. The sample locations are shown in Figure 13-1.

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    13-4


    4rs - Met. Samples
    4rn - Met. Samples
    5ox - Met. Samples
    5ss - Met. Samples
    5rn - Met. Samples
    5rs - Met. Samples

    March 2018

    Source: Gold Reserves Inc., 2017.


      Figure 13-1  
      GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.  
      Siembra Minera Project  
      Bolivar State, Venezuela  
      Brisas Metallurgical  
     
      Sample Locations www . rpacan . com

     


     


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    The test work conducted by Lakefield confirmed earlier work which showed that the North samples can produce a marketable copper/gold flotation concentrate but the South samples cannot. As a result, the plan was to blend the ores to produce marketable concentrates. Consequently, the Lakefield tests were conducted using blends of the North and South samples and included gravity separation, batch flotation tests to determine optimum conditions, and eight locked cycle flotation tests (LCTs) that were used as the basis of the process design since they are considered to be a better indication of mill performance than open circuit tests. A summary of the results from the LCTs are provided in Table 13-3.

    TABLE 13-3 SUMMARY OF LOCKED CYCLE TEST DATA
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Material Blend Ratio   Assays Recovery
    North:South:Sulphide Saprolite Products Cu, wt% Au, g/t Cu, % Au, %
    50:50:00 Gravity Concentrate   1,911   17.1
      Copper Concentrate 23.2 63 83.1 46.4
      1st Cleaner Scav Tails 0.30 2.38 14.4 23.1
      Rougher Tailings 0.004 0.10 2.57 13.4
      Head 0.147 0.713 100.0 100.0
    60:40:00 Gravity Concentrate   3,030   13.7
      Copper Concentrate 23.3 55 87.5 52.0
      1st Cleaner Scav Tails 0.21 1.785 10.5 22.3
      Rougher Tailings 0.004 0.08 2.05 12.0
      Head 0.160 0.635 100.0 100.0
    40:60:00 Gravity Concentrate   3,563   14.5
      Copper Concentrate 18.25 61.7 86.9 50.9
      1st Cleaner Scav Tails 0.16 1.81 10.9 21.6
      Rougher Tailings 0.003 0.105 2.2 13.1
      Head 0.125 0.715 100.00 100.0
    52:41:7 Gravity Concentrate   478   17.9
      Copper Concentrate 28.7 70.1 85.7 41.9
      1st Cleaner Scav Tails 0.23 2.3 10.8 21.4
      Rougher Tailings 0.006 0.15 3.5 18.8
      Head 0.15 0.760 100.0 100.0

     

    CRISTINAS

    Data available for the Cristinas deposit includes a Placer feasibility study completed in 1996 and information from the Cristinas Technical Report that was completed in 2007 (MDA, 2007) which is publicly available. The locations of the metallurgical samples that were used in the two studies are shown in Figure 13-2.

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    PLACER FEASIBILITY STUDY

    In 1996, Placer completed a feasibility study that considered processing by gravity concentration and cyanide leaching for oxide ores and flotation and cyanidation for sulphide ores to produce doré and copper concentrate. The study summarized the metallurgical results from 17 metallurgical test reports.

    The rock types identified for Cristinas were:

    OXIDE SAPROLITE

    Placer reported that gold extraction from oxide saprolite samples averaged 94% with a cyanide consumption of 0.30 kg/t and that there did not appear to be a correlation between gold head grade and gold extraction for gold concentrations above the cut-off grade.

    Placer also determined that the sulphide saprolite and bedrock ores had high concentrations of cyanide soluble copper and associated high cyanide consumptions. Therefore, the proposed flowsheet for those rock types included gravity concentration, flotation, and cyanide leaching of the scavenger concentrate and the cleaner flotation tailings. The test data indicated that there was no correlation between gold recovery and gold head grade although the recovery did vary by rock type. The test data also established relationships between copper head grade and recovery and copper head grade and flotation concentrate grade for sulphide saprolite and hard rock.

    SULPHIDE SAPROLITE

    Based on a correlation between copper recovery and the copper flotation feed head grade in g/t Cu, Placer estimated the copper recovery for sulphide saprolite as a function of the copper head grade using the equation:

    Cu Recovery = 4.2017 × (��u ��ead, g/t)0.3597

    Or:

    Cu Recovery = 4.2017 × (��u ��ead, % ∗ 10000)0.3597

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    The final copper concentrate grade was also estimated as a function of the copper head grade using the equation:

    Concentrate, % Cu = 7.854 + 137.08 × ��u ��ead,% − 248.8 × (��u ��ead)2

    Using the test data, Placer also estimated that the gold recovery from sulphide saprolite will be approximately 20% to the gravity concentrate, half of which will be recovered as a table concentrate and the remainder will be processed further. Based on the test data, it was estimated that the gold recovery in the flotation circuit is 46.7%. Placer estimated gold extraction by leaching the cleaner tailings and the second scavenger concentrate using the ratio between the sodium cyanide to copper since the cyanide addition is typically the limiting factor for gold extraction for ores that contain high concentrations of cyanide soluble copper. Placer estimated gold recovery for sulphide saprolite based on pilot plant data. The gold recovery estimates by product for sulphide saprolite are summarized in Table 13-4.

    TABLE 13-4 PLACER GOLD RECOVERY ESTIMATE FOR SULPHIDE
    SAPROLITE

     

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Product Au Recovery, %
    Gravity Concentrate 11.4
    Third Cleaner Concentrate 47.7
    Leach Extraction 21.3
    Total 80.4
    Recovery Factor 0.99
    Total Recovery 79.6
    Recovery to Copper Concentrate 47.3
    Recovery to Doré 32.4

     

    HARD ROCK

    Placer also estimated the copper recovery for carbonate leached and carbonate stable bedrock as a function of copper head grade using the equation:

    Cu Recovery = 54.504 + 155.96 × (��u ��ead, %) − 211.19 × (��u ��ead, %)2

    The copper concentrate grade is also estimated using the following equation:

    Concentrate, % Cu = 30.33 × (��u ��ead, %)0.109

    For the bedrock samples, the gold recovery by a Knelson concentrator was found to be an average of 20% of the gold. Placer estimated that half of the gold (i.e., 10%) would be

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    recovered as a gravity concentrate from a table concentrate and the other half from the table tailings would be leached with 95% extraction for an additional gold recovery of 9.5%. Gold distribution and recovery in the flotation circuit was estimated by correlating the flotation feed grade to the flotation scavenger tailing grade and assuming that 10% of the mass fed to the flotation circuit would be recovered in the rougher/scavenger flotation circuits. Using these correlations, the scavenger tailings would contain 16.3% of the gold fed to the plant resulting in an overall gold recovery of 83.7%. The gold recovery estimates for hard rock by product are summarized in Table 13-5.

    TABLE 13-5 PLACER GOLD RECOVERY ESTIMATE FOR HARD ROCK

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

         
    Product  Primary  Leach   Final, %
      Distribution, % Extraction, %    
    Table Concentrate 10.0     10.0
    Table Tailings 10.0 95 % 9.5
    Flotation Feed 80.0      
    Scavenger Tailings 16.3      
    Final Concentrate 47.8     47.8
    Leach of Flotation Product 15.9 85 % 13.5
    Unaccounted Losses       -0.70
    Total       80.1
    Recovery to Copper Concentrate       47.8
    Recovery to Doré       32.3

     

     

     

    COMMINUTION DATA
    Placer also completed SAG Mill Work Index (Wi), Ball Mill Wi, and Abrasion Index (Ai) data
    using samples from Cristinas. A summary of the data is provided in Table 13-6.
    TABLE 13-6 PLACER COMMINUTION DATA

     

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Rock Type SAG Wi, kWh/t Ball Wi, kWh/t   Ai
    Saprolite N/A 7.7 - ---
    Carbonate Leached 12.6 10.0   0.0909
    Carbonate Stable 17.5 14.8   0.2136

     

    CRISTINAS FEASIBILITY STUDY

    According to the Technical Report (MDA, 2007), “In early 2003, Crystallex, SNC-Lavalin, and Goode reviewed available metallurgical test data and performed various trade-off studies.

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    These analyses indicated that the production, transportation off-shore, and smelting of a copper-gold flotation concentrate, as proposed by Placer, was a less attractive alternative and that direct leaching of most or all of the mineralized material and on-site production of bullion would give better gold recovery. The trade-off studies also showed that the direct leach process, which is the flowsheet originally selected by Placer, would simplify the process, improve plant operability, and give lower capital and operating costs.”

    Crystallex maintained the same rock types as those used by Placer in the earlier work.

    Composite samples were composited from individual drill core intervals taken from within the limits of the planned Conductora pit and sent to SGS Lakefield for bench tests and pilot plant tests. A number of the samples were composites containing mixtures of saprolite and hard rock in order to simulate the planned operating conditions for the project.

    OXIDE SAPROLITE

    The as-received screen analysis for the oxide saprolite sample was 63 µm.

    The average gravity recovery for the samples tested at SGS Lakefield was 5.3% at a grind size of 80% passing (P80) 35 µm. Professor André LaPlante conducted his standard gravity-recoverable-gold (GRG) test at McGill University and determined that the oxide saprolite sample contained 39% GRG and concluded that approximately 25% of the gold would be recovered by gravity processing. Subsequently, Knelson used their circuit modelling system and projected a gravity gold recovery between 18% and 20% using the LaPlante data.

    Intensive cyanide leaching of gravity concentrates produced from combined oxide saprolite and carbonate stable bedrock samples and mine blend samples produced gold extractions ranging from 95.7% Au to 99.3% Au.

    Bottle roll tests (BRTs) were conducted on the tailings from the gravity concentration tests. Initial tests were conducted to investigate the effects of grind size. The results showed little difference between tests conducted at P80 50 µm and P80 75 µm so the 75 µm size was selected. The tests showed that 99% gold extraction (gravity plus leaching) was possible after 36 hours of leaching using the pure oxide saprolite sample. Other tests showed 98% gravity plus leach extraction was achieved across a range of leach times between 24 hours and 36 hours.

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    Preg-robbing tests showed values of less than 4%.

    Copper leaching from oxide saprolite samples was generally less than 5%. Cyanide consumption was related to the concentration of cyanide soluble copper in the samples, which is highest for the sulphide saprolite samples. The cyanide consumption for samples that were not sulphide saprolite, including oxide saprolite was reported to be between 0.25 kg/t and 0.7 kg/t.

    Lime consumption for the oxide saprolite samples was reported to be between 1.0 kg/t and 1.5 kg/t.

    SULPHIDE SAPROLITE

    The as-received screen analysis for two sulphide saprolite samples was 182 µm and 69 µm, respectively.

    The gravity recovery for the sulphide saprolite that was ground to P80 50 µm was 18.4% and the sample that was ground to P80 63 µm was 22.9%.

    Samples of pure sulphide saprolite material contained higher concentrations of cyanide soluble copper resulting in lower overall gold extraction and higher cyanide consumption. Combined gravity plus leaching gold extractions ranged between 85% and 94%. Cyanide consumption was found to be correlated with the cyanide soluble copper (CNSCu) concentration. For samples containing less than 370 ppm CNSCu, the total gravity plus leach gold extraction was between 85% and 89% with cyanide additions of 1.7 kg/t to 1.9 kg/t. Lime consumption ranged from approximately 0.4 kg/t to over 1.5 kg/t.

    The samples were found to be mildly preg-robbing with 9% and 16% of a 10 ppm spike adsorbed after 24 hours.

    HARD ROCK

    The gravity recovery of gold ranged from 17.2% to 23.8% for samples ground to P80 54 µm to P80 99 µm with no apparent relationships between grind size and gravity gold recovery or head grade and recovery. LaPlante estimated that the carbonate stable bedrock sample contained 46% GRG. Knelson projected gravity gold recovery between 24% and 27%.

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    BRTs resulted in a combined gravity plus leaching total gold extraction between 87.8% and 90.1% with an average of 88.7%, a cyanide consumption of 0.51 kg/t and lime consumptions averaging 0.62 kg/t. Goode reported that there were no apparent relationships between gold head grade and gold extraction or reagent consumptions.

    COMBINED SAMPLES

    Four samples from Mesones were tested. The combined gravity plus leaching gold extraction ranged from 84% to 88% for grind sizes ranging between P80 71 µm and P80 103 µm. The cyanide additions were between 0.9 kg/t and 1.6 kg/t with an average of 0.77 kg/t and lime consumption average 0.44 kg/t. Goode reported that gold recovery from Mesones would likely be improved with optimization of reagent consumption strategies.

    A CIL pilot plant was operated using two different blends of rock types. The first was a blend of 20% oxide saprolite and 80% carbonate stable bedrock, the second was a “mine blend” of oxide saprolite, sulphide saprolite, carbonate stable bedrock, and carbonate leached bedrock. The overall gravity plus leach extraction for the initial blend was 89.6% with a cyanide consumption of 0.7 kg/t and the mine blend sample resulted in 89.3% gold extraction with a cyanide consumption of 0.8 kg/t.

    COMMINUTION

    Bond Wi and Ai tests were conducted on a limited number of samples. They are reported in Table 13-7.

    TABLE 13-7 CRISTINAS COMMINUTION DATA  
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project  
     
     
    Sample Rod Wi Ball Wi Ai
      kWh/t kWh/t kg/kWh
    Carbonate Stable 17.1 15.0 0.27
    80% Carbonate Stable – 20% Oxide Saprolite - 14.2 -
    Mine Blend 15.9 14.4 0.24
    Carbonate Leached – Carbonate Stable - 14.7 -

     

    Ball mill Wi values were also estimated using the grinding data obtained when feed was being prepared for the metallurgical tests. The average Wi for tests conducted using blends of all four rock types averaged 13.1 kWh/t. The average Wi for tests conducted using only carbonate stable bedrock samples taken from various depths averaged 16.5 kWh/t. Although tests were

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    not conducted to determine the Wi for saprolite samples, the work index was estimated to be between 6.0 kWh/t and 8.5 kWh/t using data from combined samples.

    CARBON ELUTION

    Two samples of carbon taken from the pilot plant test were eluted using a simulated high-pressure Zadra elution process. The results are presented in Table 13-8.

      TABLE 13-8 CRISTINAS CARBON ELUTION ASSAYS  
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
     
      Units   Test 1     Test 2  
        Au Ag Cu Au Ag Cu
    Loaded carbon g/t 1552 185 334 1534 287 555
    Acid washed g/t 1598 306 366 1615 319 364
    Eluted carbon g/t 32 1.2 <20 38 40 20
    Recovery % 98.0 99.6 94.6 97.6 87.8 96.4

     

    VISCOSITY TESTS

    SGS Lakefield measured viscosity using a Haake rheometer. The data showed that 100% oxide saprolite has a critical density of approximately 40% solids at a Yield Stress greater than 8 Pa.

    DEWATERING TESTS

    Flocculant scoping tests and thickening tests were undertaken by SGS Lakefield and Outokumpu. In general, the best results were achieved with low charge anionic flocculants (e.g., Magnafloc 919). SGS conducted static thickening tests in cylinders without rakes. They determined that the hard rock samples achieved an underflow density of approximately 45% solids by weight with a flocculant dosage of 15 g/t. The unit area required for conventional thickener designs was 0.83 t/m2/h. For sulphide saprolite and a flocculant dosage of 33 g/t, the underflow density was 42% solids with a unit area of 1.04 t/m2/h. Oxide saprolite samples required 23 g/t of flocculant to achieve an underflow density of 42% solids with a unit area of 0.22 t/m2/h.

    Outokumpu operated a continuous pilot-scale thickener to conduct 58 tests on nine blends of rock types. For the oxide saprolite samples, the results are similar to the results achieved by SGS Lakefield. The hard rock samples achieved higher underflow densities at lower solids loading rates than the SGS Lakefield tests. The results of the Outokumpu tests show that with

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    the correct flocculant, thickener underflow densities of 50% or greater can be achieved at a loading rate of 0.47 t/m2/h with all rock types and blends as long as the oxide saprolite content of the feed is less than 50%.

    ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING

    Modified US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acid base accounting (ABA) tests were conducted on samples from Mesones and Conductora. The tests determined that oxide saprolite samples were classified as non-acid generating, the sulphide saprolite samples may be acid generating, and the acid generating potential (AGP) of other samples was uncertain.

    CYANIDE DESTRUCTION TESTS

    SGS Lakefield performed natural degradation tests on tailings from the pilot plant test. The sample taken from the test that utilized the oxide saprolite-carbonate stable bedrock blend showed that the weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide (CN) concentration dropped from approximately 60 ppm to less than 15 ppm in 55 days. The cyanide concentration in the mine blend samples dropped from less than 110 ppm WAD cyanide to approximately 20 ppm WAD cyanide in 100 days.

    Continuous cyanide destruction tests were conducted on the degraded tailing solutions using the sulphur dioxide (SO2) – air process. Acceptable WAD cyanide levels were achieved using SO2 to WAD cyanide ratios of six and three without copper additions.

    RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

    Based on the results of metallurgical testing using Brisas and Cristinas samples, the conceptual processes selected for the combined project include a cyanide leach plant to process oxide saprolite and sulphide saprolite that contains low concentrations of copper to recover gold as doré from gravity concentration and cyanide leaching plus a flotation concentrator to process sulphide saprolite and hard rock that contain higher concentrations of copper. The flotation concentrator will recover copper and gold into a copper flotation concentrate and gold as doré utilizing gravity concentration and cyanide leaching of cleaner scavenger tailings.

    RPA compared and combined data from the Brisas and Cristinas projects in order to determine appropriate design criteria for the combined plant. This data was then used to estimate

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    equipment sizing and the associated capital costs, estimate recoveries, and estimate operating costs. The Brisas design, equipment sizing, and cost estimates were taken directly from the SNC-Lavalin basic engineering design and cash flows. In general, the design for the oxide leach plant was taken from the Cristinas data.

    A summary of the recovery estimates is provided in Table 13-9.

    TABLE 13-9 RECOVERY ESTIMATES FOR PEA
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Material Type Au, % Cu, %
    Oxide Leach Plant:    
    Oxide Saprolite    
    Gravity 21.0  
    Leach 77.0  
    Total 98.0  
    Sulphide Saprolite Low Cu    
    Gravity 21.0  
    Leach 65.8  
    Total 86.8  
    Hard Rock Low Cu    
    Gravity 20.0  
    Leach 67.6  
    Total 87.6  
     
    Flotation Concentrator:   From formulas:
    Sulphide Saprolite High Cu   4.2017 x (Cu Head, % x 10,000)0.3597
    Gravity 5.0 54.504 + 155.96 x (Cu Head, %) – 211.19 x (Cu Head, %)2
    Flotation 25.2 87.0
    Leach 53.0  
    Total 83.2  
    Hard Rock Low Cu    
    Gravity 9.0  
    Flotation 63.0  
    Leach 11.2  
    Total 83.2  
    Hard Rock High Cu    
    Gravity 9.0  
    Flotation 63.0  
    Leach 11.2  
    Total 83.2  

     

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    14 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

    SUMMARY

    A Mineral Resource estimate, dated December 31, 2017, was completed by RPA using the Surpac and Leapfrog Geo software packages. Wireframes for geology and mineralization were constructed in Leapfrog Geo based on geology sections, assay results, lithological information, and structural data. Assays were capped to various levels based on exploratory data analysis and then composited to three metre lengths. Wireframes were filled with blocks measuring 10 m by 10 m by 6 m (length, width, height). Block grades were estimated using Inverse Distance (ID) and Nearest Neighbour (NN) interpolation algorithms. Gold and copper grades were estimated into blocks using inverse distance squared and dynamic anisotropy with the Surpac v.6.8 software package. The estimated gold and copper grades were used to calculate NSR values for each mineralized block. Block estimates were validated using industry standard validation techniques. Classification of blocks was based on distance and other criteria.

    A summary of the Mineral Resources is provided in Table 14-1. Summaries of the Mineral Resources by material type and mineralized zone are provided in Tables 14-2 and 14-3.

    TABLE 14-1 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES – DECEMBER 31, 2017
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
     
    Category Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Gold Contained Copper
      (Mt) (g/t Au) (% Cu) (koz Au) (kt Cu) (Mlb Cu)
    Measured 10 1.02 0.18 318 17 38
    Indicated 1,174 0.70 0.10 26,504 1,202 2,649
    Total Measured 1,184 0.70 0.10 26,823 1,219 2,687
    + Indicated            
    Inferred 1,291 0.61 0.08 25,389 1,044 2,300

     

    Notes:

    1.      CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
    2.      Mineral Resources are estimated at an NSR cut-off value of US$7.20 per tonne for oxide-saprolite material and US$5.00 per tonne for sulphide-saprolite and fresh rock material.
    3.      Mineral Resources are constrained by a preliminary pit shell created using the Whittle software package.
    4.      Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term gold price of US$1,300 per ounce, and a copper price of US$3.00 per pound.
    5.      Bulk density varies by material type.
    6.      Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
    7.      Numbers may not add due to rounding.
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    TABLE 14-2 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES BY MATERIAL TYPE –
    DECEMBER 31, 2017
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
      Tonnes Grade Contained Gold Grade Contained Copper
    Material (Mt) (g/t Au) (kg) (koz) (%Cu) (kt) (Mlb)
    Measured
    Oxide Saprolite 1 0.89 575 18 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 4 1.21 4,750 153 0.18 7 15
    Hard Rock 5 0.90 4,579 147 0.20 10 23
    Total, Measured 10 1.02 9,904 318 0.18 17 38
    Indicated
    Oxide Saprolite 20 0.75 14,857 478 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 110 0.83 90,782 2,919 0.11 124 273
    Hard Rock 1,045 0.69 718,736 23,108 0.10 1,078 2,376
    Total, Indicated 1,174 0.70 824,374 26,504 0.10 1,202 2,649
    Measured + Indicated
    Oxide Saprolite 20 0.75 15,432 496 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 114 0.84 95,531 3,071 0.12 131 289
    Hard Rock 1,050 0.69 723,315 23,255 0.10 1,088 2,399
    Sub-Total M&I 1,184 0.70 834,278 26,823 0.10 1,219 2,687
     
    Inferred
    Oxide Saprolite 24 0.53 12,528 403 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 65 0.48 30,942 995 0.07 45 98
    Hard Rock 1,201 0.62 746,201 23,991 0.08 999 2,202
    Total Inferred 1,291 0.61 789,671 25,389 0.08 1,044 2,300

     

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    TABLE 14-3 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES BY ZONE – DECEMBER 31, 2017
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

      Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Gold Contained Copper
    Zone Name (Mt) (g/t Au) (%Cu) (kg) (koz) (kt) (Mlb)
    Measured
    Brisas 9 0.93 0.17 8,187 263 15 32
    Cristinas 1 1.87 0.29 1,717 55 3 6
    Mesones - - -   - - -
    Morrocoy - - -   - - -
    Cordova - - -   - - -
    Total, Measured 10 1.02 0.18 9,904 318 17 38
    Indicated
    Brisas 594 0.58 0.09 343,943 11,058 563 1,241
    Cristinas 450 0.88 0.10 396,477 12,747 468 1,030
    Mesones 76 0.65 0.22 49,221 1,582 164 361
    Morrocoy 1 0.86 - 933 30 - -
    Cordova 53 0.63 0.01 33,800 1,087 8 17
    Total, Indicated 1,174 0.70 0.10 824,374 26,504 1,202 2,649
    Measured & Indicated
    Brisas 603 0.58 0.10 352,130 11,321 578 1,273
    Cristinas 451 0.88 0.10 398,194 12,802 470 1,036
    Mesones 76 0.65 0.22 49,221 1,582 164 361
    Morrocoy 1 0.86 - 933 30 - -
    Cordova 53 0.63 0.01 33,800 1,087 8 17
    Sub-Total, M&I 1,184 0.70 0.10 834,278 26,823 1,219 2,687
    Inferred
    Brisas 364 0.47 0.12 170,731 5,489 441 971
    Cristinas 761 0.70 0.07 530,775 17,065 517 1,140
    Mesones 51 0.35 0.17 18,006 579 85 186
    Morrocoy 92 0.60 - 55,046 1,770 - -
    Cordova 23 0.67 0.01 15,114 486 1 3
    Total, Inferred 1,291 0.61 0.08 789,671 25,389 1,044 2,300

     

    Definitions for resource categories used in this report are consistent with those defined by CIM (2014) and adopted by NI 43-101. In the CIM classification, a Mineral Resource is defined as “a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction”. Mineral Resources are classified into Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories. A Mineral Reserve is defined as the “economically mineable part of a Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource” demonstrated by studies at Pre-Feasibility or Feasibility level as appropriate. Mineral Reserves are classified into Proven and Probable categories.

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    Metal prices used for reserves are based on consensus, long term forecasts from banks, financial institutions, and other sources. For resources, metal prices used are slightly higher than those used for reserves.

    RPA is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.

    DRILL HOLE DATABASE

    The resource database contains drilling information and analytical results up 2006 for the Brisas concessions and up to 1997 for the Cristinas concessions. The database comprises 975 drill holes and four trenches for Brisas for a total of 207,442 m of drilling and 1,182 drill holes for Cristinas for a total of 155,454 m of drilling. These drill holes and channels were internally reviewed and were found to be acceptable to support Mineral Resource estimation.

    RPA received data from GRI in comma separated values (.csv) format, as well as GEMS files and Geolog files. Data were amalgamated and parsed as required and imported by RPA into Surpac 6.8 and Aranz’s Leapfrog Geo software.

    Section 12, Data Verification, describes the resource database verification steps made by RPA. RPA is of the opinion that the drill hole database is valid and suitable to estimate Mineral Resources for the Project. The locations of the combined drill holes for the Brisas and Cristinas concessions was presented in Section 10.

    TOPOGRAPHY

    The topography used for this study is based on the Behre Dolbear topography, which is compiled from two sources.

    GRI provided to Behre Dolbear digital topographic contours for the Brisas area in the UTM grid system. The contour interval is one metre for the central portion of the Brisas area and is five metres for the surrounding areas. The one metre contours are generated from ground surveys and are believed to be quite accurate. The five metre contours for the surrounding area are less accurate than the one metre contours.

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    Topographic data for the Cristinas area come from a Cristinas mine planning map provided by GRI to Behre Dolbear, in which topographic contours in 2.5 metre intervals are present. Behre Dolbear extracted these contours from the map and converted them from the local Cristinas mine grid system to the UTM grid system.

    In preparation for more detailed engineering studies and in light of the extensive artisanal mining, RPA recommends that a new Digital Terrain Model (DTM) model be generated for the Project.

    GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION

    Wireframes of the stratiform mineralization in Brisas and Cristinas and hydrothermal quartz-tourmaline breccias in Mesones were created by RPA in Aranz’s Leapfrog Geo software using approximately a 0.20 g/t Au cut-off grade for gold domains and a 0.04% Cu cut-off grade for copper domains, taking into consideration wireframes prepared by previous workers, and drill hole lithological and assay information. The earlier mineralization wireframes in Brisas were constructed by PAH considering geology and using a 0.25 g/t Au cut-off and a 0.08% Cu cutoff on vertical sections spaced 25 m apart in GEOVIA’s GEMS software then transferred to plan views spaced six metres apart and digitized on a bench-by-bench basis.

    The strataform mineralization in the Brisas and Cristinas (Potaso, Conductora, Cuatro Muertos) zones strikes at approximately 015° azimuth and extends along a strike length of over 5,000 m. This strataform mineralization dips approximately 35° to the west and has been modelled to the surface where appropriate. The strataform mineralization in the Cordova and Morrocoy zones strikes at approximately 310°, extends for over 800 m in strike length, and dips approximately 80° towards the southwest. The breccia mineralization in Mesones is present in two elliptical areas of approximately 600 m by 400 m and dips between 80° and 90°.

    The strataform mineralization in the Brisas and Cristinas zone consists of a main zone, five hanging wall zones and one foot wall zone. The Brisas-Cristinas main zone has a minimum thickness of 10 m at the south end and reaches a maximum thickness of 350 m. The average thickness of the main zone of strataform mineralization is approximately 200 m. The strataform hanging wall and footwall zones have a minimum thickness of 10 m and a maximum thickness of 100 m with an average thickness of approximately 50 m.

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    The Cordova and Morrocoy strataform mineralization zones have a minimum thickness of 10 m and a maximum thickness of 200 m, with an average thickness between 40 m and 60 m.

    Figure 14-1 shows a 3D perspective view of the wireframes and Figures 14-2 and 14-3 show example sections of the mineralization. A longitudinal view of the stratiform mineralization located on the Brisas and Cristinas concessions is presented in Figure 14-4.

    RPA reviewed the mineralized wireframes against previous geological interpretations and drill hole information.

    A geological model has been prepared over the deposit areas, delineating a series of faults, intrusives and weathering profiles. A total of 24 wireframes were constructed to represent the gold mineralization zones and six wireframes to represent the copper mineralization zones. A total of 16 wireframes were constructed to represent barren dioritic, mafic, and aplitic dykes. The existing oxidation contact surfaces between the fresh rock and the sulphide saprolite and between the oxide saprolite and the sulphide saprolite were adjusted by RPA based on drill hole data and the geological model and smoothed where required to produce a more gradual surface. The contact surface between the sulphide saprolite and the oxide saprolite was adjusted so that areas with copper (i.e., sulphide saprolite) are always below that contact.

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    STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

    Assay values located inside the wireframe models were tagged with domain identifiers and exported for statistical analysis. Results were used to help verify the modelling process. Basic statistics of the uncapped assays for gold and copper are summarized in Tables 14-4 and 14-5, respectively.

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        TABLE 14-4  DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF UNCAPPED GOLD ASSAY VALUES BY DOMAIN    
             GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project        
     
                 
      Statistic/Zone  Main A B & C D E F  Blue Cordova &  Mesones  Mesones   Mesones  Mesones
        Zone           Whale Morrocoy W LG W HG E LG E HG
      No. of cases 85,629 484 3,048 1,812 533 2,180 418 14,601 10,359 2,184 12,311 1,720
      Minimum (g/t) 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
      Maximum (g/t) 1,296.50 148.66 19.60 51.71 15.60 16.05 35.25 617.00 128.00 96.60 135.10 80.83
      Median (g/t) 0.42 0.27 0.26 0.26 0.19 0.27 1.64 0.24 0.51 1.37 0.37 1.53
      Arithmetic Mean (g/t) 0.91 1.18 0.50 0.37 0.29 0.53 2.79 0.78 0.64 2.15 0.75 2.73
      Weighted Mean (g/t) 0.80 1.35 0.51 0.36 0.28 0.54 2.77 0.71 0.70 2.09 0.75 2.75
    Standard Deviation (g/t) 4.29 9.52 1.02 1.15 0.74 0.99 3.71 6.70 2.04 3.29 2.74 4.55
      Coef. Of Var. 5.35 7.05 2.00 3.15 2.62 1.86 1.34 9.49 2.90 1.58 3.66 1.65

     

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    TABLE 14-5 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF UNCAPPED COPPER ASSAY
    VALUES BY DOMAIN
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Statistic/Zone Main Zone Cordova Mesones W Mesones E
    No. of cases 127,976 1,451 13,584 12,239
    Minimum (%) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    Maximum (%) 9.08 3.88 17.43 8.92
    Weighted Mean (%) 0.08 0.09 0.32 0.24
    Standard Deviation (%) 0.19 0.24 0.53 0.37
    Coef. Of Var. 2.48 2.54 1.68 1.56

     

    CAPPING OF HIGH GRADES

    RPA applied high grade capping in order to limit the influence of a small number of extremely high values located in the upper tail of the metal distributions (Figures 14-5 to 14-8 for examples at Brisas and Cristinas). Log probability plots were inspected for all of the gold and copper wireframes and some domains were combined to provide more statistically significant results. A summary of capping grades used for each of the mineralized wireframe models is provided in Table 14-6. Descriptive statistics of the capped gold and copper assays are presented in Tables 14-7 and 14-8, respectively.

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    FIGURE 14-5 FREQUENCY HISTOGRAM OF THE GOLD VALUES FOR BRISAS
    MAIN ZONE

     


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    FIGURE 14-6 FREQUENCY HISTOGRAM OF THE GOLD VALUES FOR
    CRISTINAS MAIN ZONE

     


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    TABLE 14-6 SUMMARY OF GOLD AND COPPER CAPPING VALUES
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

      Domain Au g/t Cu %
      Main-Brisas 10 2.40
      Main-Cristinas 18 2.40
      A 15 2.40
      B & C 3.5 2.40
      D 1.8 2.40
      E 1.8 2.40
      F 5.0 2.40
      Blue Whale 20.0 2.40
      Cordova and Morrocoy 15.0 0.30 to 1.80
      Mesones W, LG 10.0 2.00
      Mesones W, HG 20.0 2.00
      Mesones W, LG 10.0 2.20
      Mesones W, HG 20.0 2.20
     
    FIGURE 14-7 PROBABILITY PLOTS OF THE GOLD VALUES FOR BRISAS
    MAIN

     


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    FIGURE 14-8 PROBABILITY PLOTS OF THE GOLD VALUES FOR CRISTINAS
    MAIN ZONE

     


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        TABLE 14-7 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF GOLD CAPPED ASSAY VALUES BY DOMAIN    
            GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project        
     
                 
       Main Zone  Main Zone A B&C D E F  Blue  Cordova &   Mesones  Mesones  Mesones  Mesones
       Statistic/Zone Brisas Cristinas           Whale Morrocoy W LG W HG E LG E HG
      No. of cases 30,061 55,769 484 3,048 1,812 533 2,180 418 14,601 10,359 2,184 12,311 1,720
      Minimum (g/t) 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
      Maximum (g/t) 10.00 18.00 15.00 3.50 1.80 1.80 5.00 20.00 15.00 10.00 20.00 10.00 20.00
      Weighted Mean (g/t) 0.61 1.03 0.74 0.47 0.33 0.25 0.51 2.70 0.57 0.66 2.01 0.66 2.60
      Standard Deviation (g/t) 0.87 1.55 2.00 0.60 0.26 0.28 0.75 3.24 1.32 1.02 2.30 1.11 3.28
      Coef. Of Var. 1.43 1.51 2.70 1.29 0.78 1.12 1.48 1.20 2.31 1.55 1.15 1.68 1.26
    Number of Caps 82 98 5 44 12 5 22 4 57 40 10 75 20

     

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    TABLE 14-8 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF COPPER CAPPED ASSAY
    VALUES BY DOMAIN

     

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Statistic/Zone Main Zone Cordova Mesones W Mesones E
    No. of cases 127,976 1,451 13,584 12,239
    Minimum (%) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    Maximum (%) 2.50 1.40 2.00 2.20
    Weighted Mean (%) 0.07 0.09 0.31 0.24
    Standard Deviation (%) 0.17 0.17 0.47 0.35
    Coef. Of Var. 2.24 1.96 1.52 1.45
    Number of Caps 69 12 225 42

     

    COMPOSITING

    RPA composited assays to three metres, which corresponds to half the height of each bench (six metres). Assays were capped prior to compositing. Composites started at the top of each mineralized wireframe. The last composite in each wireframe must be at least 1.5 m to be used, otherwise it is discarded. Composites were weighted by length. Un-sampled core intervals were treated as null values when samples were isolated and clearly unrelated to a barren structure (e.g. mafic dykes) and allocated a value of zero when deemed to be part of a barren structure. Figure 14-9 shows a histogram of sample lengths for all domains combined.

    The statistics for the capped, composited copper and gold grades are provided in Tables 14-9 and 14-10, respectively.

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    FIGURE 14-9 HISTOGRAM OF SAMPLE LENGTHS, ALL DOMAINS COMBINED


    TABLE 14-9 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF CAPPED, COMPOSITED COPPER
    VALUES
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. - Siembra Minera Project

     

    Statistic/Zone Main Zone Cordova Mesones W Mesones E
    No. of cases 74,695 455 4,223 3,789
    Minimum (%) 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
    Maximum (%) 2.40 0.91 2.40 2.30
    Weighted Mean (%) 0.08 0.09 0.30 0.23
    Standard Deviation (%) 0.15 0.10 0.41 0.28
    Coef. Of Var. 1.83 1.16 1.38 1.22

     

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      TABLE 14-10 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS OF CAPPED, COMPOSITED GOLD VALUES BY DOMAIN    
          GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project        
     
                 
       Main Zone  Main Zone A B&C D E F  Blue  Cordova &  Mesones  Mesones  Mesones  Mesones
       Statistic Brisas Cristinas           Whale Morrocoy W LG W HG E LG E HG
      No.of cases 28,916 17,172 383 539 1,715 1,001 786 418 4,534 3,149 674 3,810 541
      Minimum (g/t) 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.006 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
      Maximum (g/t) 10.00 16.50 15.00 1.80 1.80 3.50 3.97 20.00 12.00 6.74 15.94 8.23 13.19
      Weighted Mean (g/t) 0.59 1.08 0.74 0.25 0.33 0.43 0.44 2.70 1.676 0.64 1.87 0.64 2.41
      Standard Deviation (g/t) 0.78 1.19 1.96 0.27 0.25 0.44 0.54 3.20 0.889 0.70 1.62 0.78 2.21
     
    Coef. Of Var. 1.31 1.10 2.64 1.07 0.76 1.02 1.21 1.19 1.57 1.10 0.87 1.21 0.92

     

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    VARIOGRAPHY

    Experimental traditional variograms were generated for the main mineralization envelopes at Brisas and Cristinas and fit with two spherical models in three orthogonal directions for gold. Variograms were standardized and in general, there is a good agreement between the experimental sill and the variance of the distribution. The variograms for gold in Brisas and Cristinas are shown in Figures 14-10 and 14-11.

    RPA has interpreted moderate nugget effect values ranging from 0.2 to 0.5. The variogram models exhibit steep first structures with a large proportion of the variance accounted for over short distances. The variograms were used as a guide for selecting search ellipse ranges and anisotropy ratios.

    It is recommended that additional detailed variography work be carried out for gold and copper in the future.

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        0.50              
     
     
    14 - 24   0.40              
     
     
        0.30              
     
     
        0.20              
     
     
        0.10              
     
     
        0.00              
        25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300  
                    Figure 14-11  
              Lag Distance (h)      
     
        Second Structure - - Spherical     GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.  
     
      Azim. Dip LH Rotation about the Z axis ==> 12     Siembra Minera Project  
        RH Rotation about the Y’ axis ==> -40 Azimuth ==> 282 Dip ==> 50    
      282.0 50.0 LH Rotation about the Z’ axis ==> -8 Azimuth ==> 6 Dip ==> -5 Bolivar State, Venezuela  
      91.0 40.0 Range along the Z’ axis ==> 90.9 Azimuth ==> 91 Dip ==> 40    
        Range along the Y’ axis ==> 481.2     Gold Variograms for Cristinas  
      6.0 -5.0                
        Range along the X’ axis ==> 516.1        
      March 2018         Source: RPA, 2018.   www . rpacan . com

     


     


    www.rpacan.com

    DENSITIES

    RPA modified where required the oxidation surfaces of fresh rock and sulphide saprolite and used these to reallocate the database density samples to the new oxide saprolite, sulphide saprolite, and un-weathered (fresh) rock domains.

    A total of 2,456 dry weight measurements and 3,464 wet weight measurements from the Brisas concessions collected between 1996 and 1998 exist in the database. The Brisas samples are divided into 27 rock types, from which the main weathering domains for oxide saprolite, sulphide saprolite, and un-weathered (fresh) rock can be extracted (Figure 14-12). RPA verified the same mean density values for sulphide saprolite as were reported previously by PAH 2008 and very similar density values for oxide saprolite and fresh rock (Table 14-11).

    No density data was present in the database for the historical Cristinas property (Table 14-12) outside of the Mesones area (Table 14-13), where a total of 875 dry weight measurements and 876 wet weight measurements from the Mesones area of the Cristinas Project exist in the database. It is not known when the Mesones samples were collected and no details regarding the density sample collection or weight measurement procedures are available. It was not possible to extract the historical oxidation domains for the Mesones density samples. The densities obtained in this manner for Brisas were very close to historical values but lower in Mesones, especially in the case of the fresh rock. The slight difference in sulphide saprolite density between historical and RPA values in Mesones is attributed to the Mesones density database being an incomplete dataset.

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-25

     


     


    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.

    Siembra Minera Project
    Bolivar State, Venezuela
    BDrisas ensity Statistics by
    Historic Oxidation Domain

    March 2018

    Source: RPA, 2018.

    14-26


     

      www.rpacan.com
    TABLE 14-11 DENSITY STATISTICS FOR THE BRISAS CONCESSIONS, BY

     

    MINERALIZED DOMAIN AND STUDY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Density t/m3 Density t/m3 Density t/m3
    Estimate   RPA 2017, Historic RPA 2017, New Oxidation
      PAH 2008 Oxidation Domain Surfaces
    No. of Samples N/A 2,456 2,456
    Oxide Saprolite 1.43 1.46 1.45
    Sulphide Saprolite 1.72 1.72 1.72
    Hard Rock (Fresh) 2.83 2.81 2.85

     

    TABLE 14-12 DENSITY STATISTICS FOR THE CRISTINAS CONCESSIONS, BY
    MINERALIZED DOMAIN AND STUDY
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

      Density t/m3 Density t/m3 Density t/m3
    Estimate   RPA 2017, Historic RPA 2017, New Oxidation
      MDA 2007 Oxidation Domain Surfaces
    No. of Samples N/A N/A N/A
    Oxide Saprolite 1.56 N/A N/A
    Sulphide Saprolite 1.69 N/A N/A
    Hard Rock (Fresh) 2.79 N/A N/A
     
    TABLE 14-13 DENSITY STATISTICS FOR THE MESONES AREA, CRISTINAS

     

    CONCESSIONS, BY MINERALIZED DOMAIN AND STUDY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Density t/m3 Density t/m3 Density t/m3
    Estimate   RPA 2017, Historic RPA 2017, New Oxidation
      MDA 2007 Oxidation Domain Surfaces
    No. of Samples N/A 875 875
    Oxide Saprolite 1.68 N/A 1.64
    Sulphide Saprolite 1.89 N/A 1.89
    Hard Rock (Fresh) 2.79 N/A 2.66

     

    RPA chose to use for Brisas and Cristinas (except Mesones) the same density values as those reported by PAH in 2008 for the oxide saprolite (1.43 t/m3) and sulphide saprolite (1.72 t/m3) materials as these values were verified from the database and no verification could be performed on Cristinas density data. The Brisas and Cristinas (including Mesones) density values for fresh rock was chosen to be 2.80 t/m3 as a compromise between the validated Brisas density of 2.83 (t/m3) and the larger Cristinas area historical density of 2.79 t/m3. The Mesones density values for the oxide saprolite and sulphide saprolite used are the same as those reported by MDA in 2007 as the values obtained from the density database were very close in oxide saprolite (1.68 t/m3) or the same in sulphide saprolite (1.89 t/m3) as the historical values.

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-27

     


     


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    BLOCK MODEL CONSTRUCTION

    The block model cells measure 10 m by 10 m by 6 m. The block model setup is given in Table 14-14, while a description of the block model attributes is given in Table 14-15.

    In RPA’s view, the block model size is appropriate for the drill spacing and proposed mining method and is suitable to support the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Comparisons between wireframe and block model volumes are reasonable.

    TABLE 14-14 BLOCK MODEL SETUP
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Parameter X Y Z
    Origin (m) 668,000 680,000 162
    Block Size (m) 10 10 6
    Number of Blocks 370 740 142
    Rotation 0 0 0

     

    TABLE 14-15 BLOCK MODEL ATTRIBUTE DESCRIPTIONS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

     

    Attribute Name

     

      

          

     

    Description

     au_final  Au, estimated by ID2
     au_pass  Au search pass by ID2
     au_pass_id1  Au search pass by ID1
     au_rpa_id1  Au, estimated by ID1
     class3  Final classification 1 = measured, 2 = indicated, 3 = inferred
     cu_final  Cu, estimated by ID2
     density  Density in t/m3
     dip  Dip for dynamic anisotropy method in Au estimation
     dip_cu  Dip for dynamic anisotropy method in Cu estimation
     dip_direction  Dip direction for dynamic anisotropy method in Au estimation
     dip_direction_cu  Dip direction for dynamic anisotropy method in Cu estimation
     disturbed  Areas deemed to be disturbed by mining activity 1 = 10 m deep, 2 = 30 m deep
     domain  Au wireframe domain, see table 14-12
     domain_cu  Cu wireframe domain, see table 14-13
     nn_au  Au, estimated by nearest neighbour
     nn_cu  Cu, estimated by nearest neighbour
     nsr_au  NSR for Au only, from ID2 estimate
     nsr_copper  NSR for Cu only, from ID2 estimate
     nsr_total  Sum of NSR for Au and NSR for Cu
     oxide  Oxidation 1 = fresh, 2 = sulphide saprolite, 3 = oxide saprolite
     pit_december  1 = inside MII pit shell

     

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-28

     


     


    www.      rpacan.com

    Gold and copper grades were estimated into blocks using the ID2, ID1, and NN interpolation algorithms using the Surpac v.6.8 software package. The ID1 and NN interpolation estimates were prepared for the Main Zone only for comparative purposes. Search ellipsoids were oriented based on dynamic anisotropy (DA) angles extracted for the mineralization wireframes for the main gold and copper trends and on general mineralization trends for all other wireframes. For the DA method, the orientations of the search ellipses are varied in response to changes in the azimuth and dips of the mineralization at the local scale so as to improve the accuracy of the local estimate. The search ranges were determined based on drill hole spacing, variogram ranges, and data density and continuity. Minimum and maximum number of composite parameters were adjusted where needed to minimize smoothing of the grades. The sample selection strategy and search ranges are given in Tables 14-16 and 14-17.

      TABLE 14-16 GOLD SAMPLE SELECTION STRATEGY  
     
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
              Search        
              Distance        
      Domain   Dip         Min Max Max Comps
    Domain   Pass   Dip X Y Z      
      Code   Direction         Comps Comps per DDH
        1 D.A. D.A. 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main 101 2 D.A. D.A. 120 120 40 4 12 3
        3 D.A. D.A. 200 200 66 3 12 6
        1 270 -35 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main_A 102 2 270 -35 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 270 -35 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 270 -35 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main_B 103 2 270 -35 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 270 -35 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 270 -35 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main_C 104 2 270 -35 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 270 -35 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 270 -35 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main_D 105 2 270 -35 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 270 -35 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 270 -35 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main_E 106 2 270 -35 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 270 -35 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 300 -25 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Main_F 107 2 300 -25 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 300 -25 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_01 108 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_02 109 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3

     

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-29

     


     


    www.      rpacan.com
              Search        
              Distance        
               
     Domain Pass  Dip  Min  Max  Max Comps
     Domain Code   Direction  Dip  X  Y Z  Comps Comps per DDH
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_03 110 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_04 111 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_Main 112 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 315 -35 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Blue Whale 121 2 315 -35 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 315 -35 120 120 40 1 8 3
    Mesones_E_LG 170 1 0 -90 180 60 60 6 12 5
        2 0 -90 240 80 80 1 8 3
        1 0 -90 180 60 60 6 12 5
    Mesones_E_HG 171 2 0 -90 240 80 80 1 8 3
     
    Mesones_W_LG 172 1 0 -90 180 60 60 6 12 5
        2 0 -90 240 80 80 1 8 3
    Mesones_W_HG 173 1 0 -90 180 60 60 6 12 5
        2 0 -90 240 80 80 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_1 181 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_2 182 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_3 183 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_4 184 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_5 185 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_6 186 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_7 187 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Morrocoy_8 188 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3

     

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-30

     


     

                    www.rpacan.com
     
     
      TABLE 14-17 COPPER SAMPLE SELECTION STRATEGY  
     
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
              Search Distance      
               
     Domain Pass  Dip  Min  Max  Max Comps
     Domain Code   Direction  Dip  X  Y  Z Comps Comps per DDH
     
    Main 201 1 D.A. D.A. 80 80 13 4 12 3
        2 D.A. D.A. 120 120 10 4 12 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_Main 230 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_01 231 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_02 232 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
        1 220 -80 60 60 20 4 12 3
    Cordova_03 233 2 220 -80 90 90 30 4 12 3
        3 220 -80 120 120 40 1 8 3
    Mesones W 272 1 0 -90 120 120 40 5 6 12
        2 0 -90 240 240 80 1 8 3
    Mesones E 270 1 0 -90 180 180 60 4 12 2
        2 0 -90 240 240 80 4 12 2
        1 D.A. D.A. 80 80 13 4 12 3
    Main 201 2 D.A. D.A. 120 120 10 4 12 3

     

    CLASSIFICATION

    Definitions for resource categories used in this report are consistent with those defined by CIM (2014) and adopted by NI 43-101. In the CIM classification, a Mineral Resource is defined as “a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction”. Mineral Resources are classified into Measured, Indicated, and Inferred categories.

    Blocks were classified as Measured, Indicated, and Inferred based on drill hole spacing and variograms. Flagging of the blocks by drill hole spacing was done initially by using cylinders centred on the drill holes traces of 25 m radius for Measured and 50 m radius for Indicated Mineral Resources. A clean-up process was subsequently carried out in cross section and plan view to create polylines that would comprise continuous areas of Measured or Indicated categories. Those portions of the mineralized wireframes that were not classified into either the Measured or Indicated categories were classified into the Inferred category. An isometric view showing the final classification is provided in Figure 14-13.

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-31

     


     



     


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    NET SMELTER RETURN

    Due to the fact that both gold and copper grades contribute to the value of the mineralization found at the Siembra Minera Project, RPA elected to adopt the Net Smelter Value (NSR) approach for reporting of the Mineral Resources. In this method, the dollar value that each metal contributes towards the overall total is calculated by applying an appropriate factor for each of the individual metals. At the end of the process, the sum of all of the two metal values is calculated and presented as one value referred to as the NSR value. The NSR value is the estimated dollar value per tonne of mineralized material after allowance for metallurgical recovery and consideration of smelter terms, including revenue from payable metals, treatment charges, refining charges, price participation, penalties, smelter losses, transportation, and sales charges. This NSR value is then used in preparation of the Mineral Resource statements. RPA proceeded to calculate the NSR value using the estimated gold and copper grades for each mineralized block within the block model. The key assumptions used to prepare the NSR factors are listed in Table 14-18, and the resulting NSR factors are presented in Table 14-19.

    TABLE 14-18 KEY ASSUMPTIONS FOR CALCULATION OF NSR FACTORS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Category Input
      US$1,300/oz Au
    Metal Prices US$3.00/lb Cu
      Au in Oxide Saprolite: 98%

    Metal Recovery

    Au in Sulphide Saprolite and Hard Rock: 83% Cu in Oxide Saprolite: 0.0% Cu in Sulphide Saprolite and Hard Rock: 87% Au from Sulphide Sap: 133.82 g/t

    Concentrate Grade

    Au from Hard Rock: 113.53 g/t Cu from Sulphide Sap and Hard Rock: 24.0% Au from Gold Gravity: Maximum 100%

    Payable Metal

    Au in Cu Conc: Maximum 97.5% Cu in Cu Conc: Maximum 96.5% Au Doré: C$2.15/oz Au

    Transportation

    Cu Conc.:C$60.00/wmt Conc. Au Doré: US$1.00/oz

    Treatment

    Cu Concentrate: US$90.00/t conc. Au Doré: US$5.00/oz

    Refining

    Au in Concentrate: US$5.00/oz Cu in Concentrate: US$0.09/lb Cu

    Royalties

    6.0% NSR royalty

     

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-33

     


     


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    TABLE 14-19

    SUMMARY OF NSR FACTORS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

        NSR Factors  
    Metal Oxide Saprolite Sulphide Saprolite Hard Rock
    Gold 38.26 x Au (g/t) 31.75 x Au (g/t) 31.75 x Au (g/t)
    Copper n/a 45.50 x Cu (%) 45.50 x Cu (%)

     

    CUT-OFF GRADE

    To report Mineral Resources, a NSR cut-off value was estimated. To estimate the NSR cutoff value, the Project was envisaged as a 70,000 tpd mine. To estimate the COG, the following cost estimates were used:

  • Mining: US$1.40/t moved
  • Processing:
      o      US$6.40/t milled for oxide saprolite,
      o      US$4.20/t milled for sulphide saprolite,
      o      US$4.20/t milled for hard rock,
  • General and Administration (G&A): US$0.80/t milled

    For the purpose of Mineral Resource reporting, operating costs were estimated at US$7.20/t for the oxide saprolite and US$5.00/t for the sulphide saprolite and fresh rock. This was the basis for the internal NSR cut-off grade using process and administrative costs.

    TREATMENT OF ARTISANAL MINER ACTIVITY

    The extent of historical workings and ground disturbance due to activity by artisanal miners in the Siembra Minera area is considerable, which has been an on-going activity for approximately 15 years (Figure 14-14). For the most part, the artisanal miners excavate material from the oxide saprolite and sulphide saprolite weathered layers using man-portable equipment and extract the gold by means of sluice boxes and the mercury amalgam process (Figure 14-15). Recent satellite imagery collected in 2017 shows that the cumulative extent of the impact of the artisanal miners is an area measuring greater than seven kilometres (north-south) by four kilometers (east-west).

    It is important to note that creating an accurate representation of the volume of material excavated by the artisanal miners is currently impossible due to the presence of water-filled

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-34

     


     


    www.rpacan.com

    pits, and previously excavated pits that have since been back-filled with tailings from more recently completed excavations. However, the cumulative impact of these activities cannot be overlooked and must be considered when preparing an estimate of the Mineral Resources.

    To achieve this, RPA used satellite photography and observations gained during the most recent field visit to create two polygons of disturbed ground (Figure 14-16). The larger polygon was created to represent an area of relatively shallower disturbance and the smaller polygon was created to represent the approximate area of deeper disturbance. Blocks within the shallower disturbance polygon were deemed to be void of mineralization within 10 m of the topographic surface, and blocks within the deeper disturbance polygon were deemed to be void of mineralization within 30 m of the topographic surface.

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-35

     


     


    14-36



     



     



     


    www.rpacan.com

    BLOCK MODEL VALIDATION

    A number of validation steps were performed by RPA including:

    In RPA’s opinion the results presented look reasonable.

    RPA recommends that some check estimates be carried out. Overall, the block grades are in reasonable agreement with the underlying composite grades on sections and plans.

    TABLE 14-20 COMPARISON BETWEEN OK AND NN GRADES

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Tonnes AUID2 Tonnes AUID1 Tonnes AUNN
    Category (Mt) g/t (Mt) g/t (Mt) g/t
    Measured 9 0.78 9 0.78 8 0.86
    Indicated 1,018 0.73 1,029 0.73 930 0.79
    Meas+Ind 1,026 0.72 1,037 0.72 937 0.78
    Inferred 879 0.62 883 0.62 778 0.69

     

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-39

     


     


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    FIGURE 14-17 VALIDATION OF LOCAL BIAS FOR AU IN BRISAS

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-40

     


     


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    FIGURE 14-18 VALIDATION OF LOCAL BIAS FOR AU IN CRISTINAS

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-41

     


     


    Figure 14-19


    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.
    Siembra Minera Project
    Bolivar State, Venezuela
    Visual Inspection of Composite
    Site GradesVs. Block Grades for
    Au in Section 682250


     


    www.rpacan.com

    OPEN PIT OPTIMIZATION

    A preliminary open pit shell was created using the Whittle software package to determine those portions of the modelled mineralization that demonstrate the potential of extraction by means of open pit mining methods. The resulting open pit shell was used as a constraint in the preparation of the Mineral Resource statements. Details regarding the input parameters and results are discussed and presented in Section 16.

    MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

    The estimated Mineral Resources using the capped, composited samples are presented in Tables 14-21, 14-22, and 14-23. At a cut-off grade of US$7.20 per tonne for oxide saprolite material and US$5.00 per tonne for sulphide saprolite and fresh rock within the mineral resource pit shell, the Mineral Resources are estimated at 10 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.02 g/t Au and 0.18% Cu containing 318,000 ounces of gold and 17,000 tonnes of copper in the Measured category, 1,174 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.70 g/t Au and 0.10% Cu containing 26,504,000 ounces of gold and 1,202,000 tonnes of copper in the Indicated category. Mineral Resources in the Inferred category are estimated at 1,291 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.61 g/t Au and 0.08% Cu containing 25,388,000 ounces of gold and 1,044,000 tonnes of copper.

    TABLE 14-21 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES – DECEMBER 31, 2017
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
     
    Category Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Gold Contained Copper
      (Mt) (g/t Au) (% Cu) (koz Au) (kt Cu) (Mlb Cu)
    Measured 10 1.02 0.18 318 17 38
    Indicated 1,174 0.70 0.10 26,504 1,202 2,649
    Total Measured + 1,184 0.70 0.10 26,823 1,219 2,687
    Indicated            
    Inferred 1,291 0.61 0.08 25,389 1,044 2,300

     

    Notes:

    1.      CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
    2.      Mineral Resources are estimated at an NSR cut-off value of US$7.20 per tonne for oxide-saprolite material and US$5.00 per tonne for sulphide-saprolite and fresh rock material.
    3.      Mineral Resources are constrained by a preliminary pit shell created using the Whittle software package.
    4.      Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term gold price of US$1,300 per ounce, and a copper price of US$3.00 per pound.
    5.      Bulk density varies by material type.
    6.      Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
    7.      Numbers may not add due to rounding.
    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 14-43

     


     

                www.rpacan.com
     
    TABLE 14-22 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES BY MATERIAL TYPE –
          DECEMBER 31, 2017      
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project  
     
    Tonnes Grade Contained Gold Grade Contained Copper
    Material (Mt) (g/t Au) (kg) (koz) (%Cu) (kt) (Mlb)
          Measured        
    Oxide Saprolite 1 0.89 575 18 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 4 1.21 4,750 153 0.18 7 15
    Hard Rock 5 0.90 4,579 147 0.20 10 23
    Total, Measured 10 1.02 9,904 318 0.18 17 38
          Indicated        
    Oxide Saprolite 20 0.75 14,857 478 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 110 0.83 90,782 2,919 0.11 124 273
    Hard Rock 1,045 0.69 718,736 23,108 0.10 1,078 2,376
    Total, Indicated 1,174 0.70 824,374 26,504 0.10 1,202 2,649
          Measured + Indicated      
    Oxide Saprolite 20 0.75 15,432 496 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 114 0.84 95,531 3,071 0.12 131 289
    Hard Rock 1,050 0.69 723,315 23,255 0.10 1,088 2,399
    Sub-Total M&I 1,184 0.70 834,278 26,823 0.10 1,219 2,687
     
          Inferred        
    Oxide Saprolite 24 0.53 12,528 403 - - -
    Sulphide Saprolite 65 0.48 30,942 995 0.07 45 98
    Hard Rock 1,202 0.62 746,201 23,991 0.08 999 2,202
    Total Inferred 1,291 0.61 789,671 25,389 0.08 1,044 2,300

     

    TABLE 14-23 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES BY ZONE – DECEMBER 31, 2017
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Zone Name Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Gold Contained Copper
      (Mt) (g/t Au) (%Cu) (kg) (koz) (kt) (Mlb)
    Measured
    Brisas 9 0.93 0.17 8,187 263 15 32
    Cristinas 1 1.87 0.29 1,717 55 3 6
    Mesones - - -   - - -
    Morrocoy - - -   - - -
    Cordova - - -   - - -
    Total, Measured 10 1.02 0.18 9,904 318 17 38
    Indicated
    Brisas 594 0.58 0.09 343,943 11,058 563 1,241
    Cristinas 450 0.88 0.10 396,477 12,747 468 1,030
    Mesones 76 0.65 0.22 49,221 1,582 164 361
    Morrocoy 1 0.86 - 933 30 - -

     

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      Tonnes Grade Grade Contained Gold Contained Copper
    Zone Name (Mt) (g/t Au) (%Cu) (kg) (koz) (kt) (Mlb)
    Cordova 53 0.63 0.01 33,800 1,087 8 17
    Total, Indicated 1,174 0.70 0.10 824,374 26,504 1,202 2,649
    Measured & Indicated
    Brisas 603 0.58 0.10 352,130 11,321 578 1,273
    Cristinas 451 0.88 0.10 398,194 12,802 470 1,036
    Mesones 76 0.65 0.22 49,221 1,582 164 361
    Morrocoy 1 0.86 - 933 30 - -
    Cordova 53 0.63 0.01 33,800 1,087 8 17
    Sub-Total, M&I 1,184 0.70 0.10 834,278 26,823 1,219 2,687
    Inferred
    Brisas 364 0.47 0.12 170,731 5,489 441 971
    Cristinas 761 0.70 0.07 530,775 17,065 517 1,140
    Mesones 51 0.35 0.17 18,006 579 85 186
    Morrocoy 92 0.60 - 55,046 1,770 - -
    Cordova 23 0.67 0.01 15,114 486 1 3
    Total, Inferred 1,291 0.61 0.08 789,671 25,389 1,044 2,300

     

    Categories of Inferred, Indicated, and Measured Mineral Resources are recognized in order of increasing geological confidence. However, Mineral Resources are not equivalent to Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There can be no assurance that Mineral Resources in a lower category may be converted to a higher category, or that Mineral Resources may be converted to Mineral Reserves. Inferred Mineral Resources cannot be converted into Mineral Reserves as the ability to assess geological continuity is not sufficient to demonstrate economic viability. Due to the uncertainty which may attach to Inferred Mineral Resources, there is no assurance that Inferred Mineral Resources will be upgraded to Indicated or Measured Mineral Resources with sufficient geological continuity to constitute Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves as a result of continued exploration.

    There is a degree of uncertainty to the estimation of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and corresponding grades being mined or dedicated to future production. The estimating of mineralization is a subjective process and the accuracy of estimates is a function of the accuracy, quantity, and quality of available data, the accuracy of statistical computations, and the assumptions used and judgments made in interpreting engineering and geological information. There is significant uncertainty in any Mineral Resource/Mineral Reserve estimate, and the actual deposits encountered and the economic viability of mining a deposit may differ significantly from these estimates. Until Mineral Reserves or Mineral Resources are actually mined and processed, the quantity of Mineral Resources/Mineral Reserves and their

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    respective grades must be considered as estimates only. In addition, the quantity of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources may vary depending on, among other things, metal prices. Any material change in quantity of Mineral Reserves, Mineral Resources, grade, or stripping ratio may affect the economic viability of a property. In addition, there can be no assurance that recoveries in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production. Fluctuation in metal or commodity prices, results of additional drilling, metallurgical testing, receipt of new information, and production and the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimate may require revision of such estimate. The volume and grade of reserves mined and processed and recovery rates may not be the same as currently anticipated. Estimates may have to be re-estimated based on changes in mineral prices or further exploration or development activity. This could materially and adversely affect estimates of the volume or grade of mineralization, estimated recovery rates, or other important factors that influence estimates. Any material reductions in estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, or the ability to extract these mineral reserves, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and future cash flows.

    RPA has considered the impact of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socioeconomic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate. RPA agrees with Gold Reserve’s view that a number of risk items could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate. These items include:

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    SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    RPA notes that the Mineral Resources are sensitive to cut-off grade and there is a uniform reduction in tonnes as the cut-off grade is increased (Tables 14-24 and 14-25).

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    TABLE 14-24 M&I SENSITIVITY TO AU CUT-OFF GRADE BY CONCESSION
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Brisas
    Cut-off      
    Grade Tonnes Au Au
    (g/t Au) (Mt) (g/t) (koz)
    0.0 609 0.57 11,240
    0.1 607 0.58 11,228
    0.2 572 0.60 11,043
    0.3 471 0.68 10,213
    0.4 361 0.78 8,983
    0.5 273 0.88 7,711
    0.6 207 0.99 6,553
    0.7 157 1.09 5,531
    0.8 120 1.20 4,631
    0.9 92 1.31 3,860
    1.0 70 1.42 3,184
    Cristinas
    Cut-off Tonnes Au Au
    Grade (Mt) (g/t) (koz)
    (g/t Au)      
    0.0 460 0.89 13,126
    0.1 460 0.89 13,126
    0.2 454 0.90 13,083
    0.3 427 0.94 12,862
    0.4 379 1.01 12,327
    0.5 326 1.10 11,558
    0.6 276 1.20 10,678
    0.7 234 1.30 9,790
    0.8 199 1.40 8,957
    0.9 170 1.50 8,156
    1.0 144 1.59 7,370

     

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    TABLE 14-25 M&I SENSITIVITY TO AU CUT-OFF GRADE

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Measured and Indicated
    Cut-off      
    Grade Tonnes Au Au
    (g/t Au) (Mt) (g/t) (koz)
    0.0 1,211 0.70 27,367
    0.1 1,204 0.71 27,360
    0.2 1,155 0.73 27,096
    0.3 1,005 0.80 25,869
    0.4 825 0.90 23,844
    0.5 666 1.01 21,554
    0.6 537 1.12 19,275
    0.7 435 1.23 17,150
    0.8 354 1.34 15,207
    0.9 290 1.45 13,458
    1.0 237 1.56 11,851

     

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    15 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE

    There are no current Mineral Reserves estimated for the Project at the current time.

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    16 MINING METHODS

    The Siembra Minera Project is an open-pit gold-copper mining project. The mine will be a conventional truck and shovel open pit mining operation, which will utilize hydraulic shovels and 236-tonne trucks as the primary mining equipment. Ancillary activities will include, however not be limited to, road maintenance, road dust control, site dewatering, dump and stockpile maintenance, and grade control.

    RESOURCE OPEN PIT OPTIMIZATION

    Open pit optimization was conducted on the Mineral Resources using US$1,300/oz Au and US$3.00/lb Cu for the resource pit. Whittle software version 4.5.5 was used for open pit optimization.

    The optimization parameters used for the PEA are listed in Table 16-1. These parameters were used in the generation of the Whittle pit shell for resources and may differ from the final economic parameters used in the economic model.

    The Resource Pit Optimization was developed by RPA based on RPA’s 2017 Mineral Resource estimate. Blocks classified as Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources were included in the resource pit optimization process for the Siembra Minera deposit.

    Figure 16-1 presents the resource pit geometry connecting the two deposits in one pit.

    GEOTECHNICAL ASSESSMENTS

    A geotechnical assessment was carried out on the Brisas Project in July 2007 by Sergio Brito Consultoria Ltda (SBC) in conjunction with Vector Colorado, LLC (Vector) completing a geotechnical slope stability study for the open pit.

    The Cristinas pit slope analysis was part of the SNC-Lavalin (2005) study, including plant site foundations, TMF site foundation, open pit slopes, waste dump and stockpiles, open pit hydrogeology and dewatering, infrastructure foundations, haulage and service roads, diversion channel, water management ponds, landfill and airstrip.

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    Brisas inter-ramp pit slopes based on Vector (2007) range from 22° to 30° in saprolite, 36.2° to 46.6° in the east wall, and 46.6° to 52° in the west wall. Cristinas pit slopes based on SNC-Lavalin (2005) are 31° for saprolite, 45° for east wall, and 50° to 55° for hard rock on the west and south wall.

    The pit slopes used for RPA’s pit optimization were 36° for oxide saprolite, 46° for sulphide saprolite, and 48° for hard rock for the entire deposit.

    TABLE 16-1 PEA OPEN PIT OPTIMIZATION PARAMETERS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Pit Optimization Parameter Units Values  
    Vulcan Block Size m 10x10x6
    Whittle Block Size m 10x10x12  
    Oxide ° 36  
    Sulphide ° 46  
    Hard Rock ° 48  
    Gold Price US$/oz 1,300  
    Oxide (CIP)      
    Payable Gold % 100.0  
    Au Doré Transport (Selling Cost) US$/oz 2.15  
    Au Doré Treatment (Selling Cost) US$/oz 1.00  
    Au Doré Refining (Selling Cost) US$/oz 5.00  
    Gold Gravity Recovery % 98.0  
    Flotation      
    Payable Gold / Payable Copper % 97.5 / 96.5  
    Copper Concentrate Transport (Selling Cost) US$/wmt conc. 60.0  
    Copper Concentrate Treatment (Selling Cost) US$/t conc. 90.0  
    Copper Concentrate Refining (Selling Cost) US$/oz Au 5.00  
    Copper Concentrate Refining (Selling Cost) US$/lb Cu 0.09  
    Gold Recovery % 83.0  
    Copper Recovery % 87.0  
    Royalty % 6.0  
    Costs      
    Reference Mining Cost US$/t mined 1.10  
    Mining Cost - Incremental US$/t/12m bench 0.008  
    Process Oxide US$/t processed 6.4  
    Process Sulphide and Hard Rock US$/t processed 4.2  
    G&A Cost US$/t processed 0.80  

     

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    The resource pit is approximately 6,000 m long and 1,900 m wide with a maximum depth of approximately 700 m. The total material including waste is 5,910 million tonnes. The pit slope on the east wall follows the mineralization with slopes from 36° to 38°; the west wall final pit has overall pit slopes ranging from 48° to 50°.

    PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

    A mine design and production schedule was developed to support the cash flow at US$1,300 oz Au and US$3.0 lb Cu.

    MINE PLAN PIT OPTIMIZATION

    The pit optimization analyses for the mine plan were run on the Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources to determine the economics of extraction by open pit methods using US$1,300/oz Au and US$3.00/lb Cu prices for the Revenue Factor (RF) of 1.0. The parameters used in the pit optimization runs, using Whittle software, are presented above in Table 16-1. This optimization includes Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources in the Whittle analysis, and the potential mine plan.

    The Net Present Values (NPV) were analyzed in Whittle using a discount rate of 10%. Whittle produces a best, specified, and worst case scenario for mining. The best case assumes that mining can be carried out in thin pushbacks allowing earlier access to the mineralized material while the worst case assumes mining the entire bench from the top down, where more waste is mined in the early years, negatively impacting the NPV. The specified case combines groups of pit shells to work more closely to pushbacks, identifying steps on pit waste increments analyzing the NPV.

    Pit 19 was selected as a guideline to design the smooth pit at an RF of 0.48 on gold and copper price. Analyzing the specified case, the NPV does not increase significantly after pit 19 as presented in Table 16-2.

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    TABLE 16-2 MINE PLAN OPEN PIT OPTIMIZATION
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
            Cash Flow                
            Specified   Worst   Total Waste Process Au Cu
    Pit   Best NPV   NPV   NPV   Mined Mined Input Grade Grade
    # RF (10%) (10%) (10%) (Mt) (Mt) (Mt) (g/t) (%)
    1 0.30 4,751   4,751   4,751   1,997 781 1,216 0.822 0.089
    2 0.31 4,829   4,829   4,635   2,151 868 1,283 0.814 0.089
    3 0.32 4,876   4,874   4,545   2,252 918 1,334 0.805 0.089
    4 0.33 4,941   4,936   4,415   2,396 977 1,419 0.785 0.095
    5 0.34 4,973   4,963   4,283   2,512 1,039 1,473 0.777 0.095
    6 0.35 4,992   4,979   4,193   2,587 1,076 1,511 0.771 0.095
    7 0.36 5,025   5,002   4,030   2,757 1,171 1,586 0.760 0.096
    8 0.37 5,063   5,040   3,631   3,087 1,386 1,702 0.747 0.096
    9 0.38 5,075   5,049   3,472   3,195 1,446 1,750 0.741 0.096
    10 0.39 5,082   5,055   3,367   3,279 1,494 1,785 0.736 0.096
    11 0.40 5,089   5,061   3,262   3,363 1,544 1,819 0.732 0.096
    12 0.41 5,095   5,065   3,143   3,451 1,594 1,857 0.726 0.096
    13 0.42 5,103   5,072   2,909   3,609 1,695 1,914 0.721 0.095
    14 0.43 5,106   5,076   2,813   3,694 1,752 1,942 0.717 0.095
    15 0.44 5,110   5,079   2,702   3,793 1,817 1,976 0.713 0.095
    16 0.45 5,116   5,083   2,455   4,022 1,986 2,036 0.709 0.094
    17 0.46 5,119   5,084   2,362   4,108 2,044 2,064 0.706 0.094
    18 0.47 5,121   5,085   2,261   4,210 2,112 2,098 0.702 0.094
    19 0.48 5,122   5,086   2,201   4,277 2,158 2,119 0.700 0.094
    20 0.49 5,123   5,086   2,139   4,344 2,206 2,138 0.697 0.094
    30 0.59 5,129   5,085   1,694   4,837 2,554 2,283 0.680 0.093
    40 0.69 5,132   5,086   1,306   5,346 2,958 2,389 0.667 0.093
    50 0.79 5,132   5,086   1,132   5,599 3,166 2,433 0.662 0.093
    60 0.89 5,132   5,086   1,017   5,733 3,276 2,457 0.659 0.093
    70 0.99 5,132   5,086   947   5,836 3,365 2,471 0.657 0.092
    71 1.00 5,132   5,086   943   5,842 3,370 2,471 0.657 0.092

     

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    Pit shells after pit 19 will continue increasing the process input along with the total waste as presented in Figure 16-2, however, pit 19 (RF 0.48) was selected in order to maximize the NPV as shown in Table 16-2, processing material that adds economic value to the Project under current assumptions.

    PHASE DESIGN

    Phases are commonly designed by targeting the highest grade first, limiting the stripping ratio and following minimum mining width constraints. Maximizing the metal content in early years provides the best sequence for the discounted cash flow. The phase sequence was derived using Whittle pit shells as a guideline, starting from lower revenue factors, maintaining minimum mining width, and ensuring continuity in the bench progression.

    The projected processing plant construction schedule will require that saprolite material be mined in early years to feed the oxide plant. Three phases following the oxide material were

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    designed in order to provide this material to the oxide plant while the flotation plant is under construction. Table 16-3 summarizes the process material, gold and copper grades, and stripping ratio.

    TABLE 16-3

    MINE PHASES SUMMARY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Process         Ratio
    Phase Input (kt) Au (g/t) Cu (%) Waste (kt) Total (kt) W:O
    1 38,696 0.721 0.060 40,318 79,014 1.04
    2 28,016 0.686 0.063 33,661 61,677 1.20
    3 15,124 0.565 0.030 10,753 25,877 0.71
    4 103,101 1.153 0.085 11,089 114,190 0.11
    5 275,616 0.895 0.081 93,199 368,815 0.34
    6 209,691 0.886 0.070 269,424 479,115 1.28
    7 156,667 0.630 0.095 86,527 243,194 0.55
    8 295,418 0.584 0.116 395,484 690,902 1.34
    9 155,139 0.592 0.103 372,702 527,841 2.40
    10 389,032 0.630 0.099 351,324 740,356 0.90
    11 49,165 0.458 0.118 298,028 347,193 6.06
    12 123,264 0.745 0.066 196,656 319,920 1.60
    13 165,811 0.501 0.106 161,186 326,997 0.97
    Total 2,004,741 0.705 0.092 2,320,350 4,325,091 1.16

     

    Phase design was developed using Vulcan’s Automated Pit Designer tool to smooth and connect isolated blocks. The phase design does not include access ramps, however, the final pit design accounts for access ramps as presented in Figure 16-3.

    The final pit design includes 35 m ramps width at a 10% grade. The west wall was designed to include 20 m step out berms every 120 m in elevation with inter-ramp slopes of 54°, resulting in overall slopes of 50°. Overall slopes on the east wall were defined by the mineralization and access ramps resulting in an angle of approximately 34°.

    Figure 16-3 also shows the proposed waste dump location. The waste dumps were designed to verify if the economic boundary was able to accommodate the waste required by the mine production schedule.

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    Table 16-4 presents the waste dump capacity based on 1.8 t/m3 loose density. Waste dump designs are based on 20 m berms for every 50 m lift and face angles of 35°. Dumps are located within the economic zone boundary and at a distance of more than 100 m from the final pit design.

    TABLE 16-4

    WASTE DUMP CAPACITY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Volume Capacity
    Dump (Mm3) (Mt)
    North-West 668 1,202
    North 536 965
    East 1,240 2,233
    South 1,038 1,868
    Total 3,482 6,268

     

    PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

    Mine production was scheduled to be carried out at a maximum mining rate ranging from 330 ktpd to 380 ktpd of total material. Stripping ratios are expected to average 1.16 over the Life of Mine (LoM) plan. The production schedule was produced using Whittle software to guide the mining sequence; Vulcan to design phases, waste dumps and the final pit; and XPAC to schedule the phases following the processing requirements.

    During the first ten years of the Project, 5.8 Mtpa of oxide saprolite that does not require grinding will be processed in the oxide saprolite plant. The flotation plant starts two years after the oxide plant. Feed to the flotation mill is scheduled to be 58.0 Mtpa tonnes for years 3 to 10, while softer high copper sulphide saprolite material is available. In year 11, one quarter of the flotation mill (12.25 Mtpa) is converted to oxide to accommodate the harder grinding low copper hard rock materials. The other 36.75 Mtpa of capacity in the mill will be used for the harder grinding higher copper material in the flotation. The oxide plant will start processing with a combination of saprolite and low copper hard rock using the leach tanks from the oxide saprolite plant and additional leach tanks required for processing. The hard rock and sulphide saprolite was divided into high copper and low copper using a 0.02% Cu threshold.

    In order to supply the processing input required in the first 10 years of production, the total material mined must achieve up to 120 Mtpa from a combination of the mining phases. The

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    mining rate will change depending on stockpile size, increasing total mining rate to 140 Mtpa in year 20.

    The periods after year 25 were scheduled using 5-year periods as presented in the mine production schedule summarized in Table 16-5.

    Table 16-6 presents the processing plant production schedule including the oxide processing material and the flotation processing material. The processing schedule also has 5-year periods at the end of the Project life. The processing rate starts at 5.8 Mtpa for the oxide saprolite plant only, increasing to 63.8 Mtpa from year 4 to 10 when flotation and oxide plants are working, and decreasing to 49 Mtpa after year 11 when the processing circuit modification is required to accommodate the low copper hard rock material that bypasses the flotation plant and goes directly to leaching.

    TABLE 16-5

    MINE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Process Grade Grade Contained Contained      
      Material Au Cu Au Cu Waste Total Ratio
    Period (kt) (g/t) (%) (Moz) (Mlb) (kt) (kt) W:O
    -1           25,000 25,000  
    1 15,718 0.824 0.059 0.42 20 8,282 24,000 0.53
    2 30,223 1.048 0.100 1.02 67 9,777 40,000 0.32
    3 62,406 0.844 0.067 1.69 92 45,607 108,014 0.73
    4 75,083 0.867 0.069 2.09 114 44,917 120,000 0.60
    5 73,267 0.873 0.086 2.06 139 46,733 120,000 0.64
    6 50,218 0.835 0.092 1.35 102 69,782 120,000 1.39
    7 49,950 0.693 0.091 1.11 101 70,050 120,000 1.40
    8 45,994 0.701 0.074 1.04 75 74,006 120,000 1.61
    9 73,610 0.659 0.076 1.56 123 46,390 120,000 0.63
    10 68,275 0.614 0.083 1.35 125 51,725 120,000 0.76
    11 62,233 0.774 0.074 1.55 102 47,767 110,000 0.77
    12 58,966 0.938 0.087 1.78 114 31,034 90,000 0.53
    13 52,540 1.155 0.090 1.95 104 37,460 90,000 0.71
    14 29,456 0.722 0.083 0.68 54 60,544 90,000 2.06
    15 39,655 0.804 0.079 1.03 69 70,345 110,000 1.77
    16 54,261 0.875 0.082 1.53 98 65,739 120,000 1.21
    17 45,395 0.909 0.084 1.33 84 74,605 120,000 1.64
    18 26,792 0.519 0.089 0.45 52 93,208 120,000 3.48
    19 37,715 0.542 0.108 0.66 90 82,285 120,000 2.18
    20 48,739 0.572 0.096 0.90 103 91,261 140,000 1.87

     

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      Process Grade Grade Contained Contained      
      Material Au Cu Au Cu Waste Total Ratio
    Period (kt) (g/t) (%) (Moz) (Mlb) (kt) (kt) W:O
    21 55,939 0.581 0.107 1.04 132 84,061 140,000 1.50
    22 52,627 0.614 0.111 1.04 129 87,373 140,000 1.66
    23 60,390 0.583 0.110 1.13 147 79,610 140,000 1.32
    24 55,088 0.694 0.135 1.23 164 44,912 100,000 0.82
    25 41,849 0.593 0.087 0.80 80 58,151 100,000 1.39
    26-30 224,778 0.645 0.100 4.66 498 175,222 400,000 0.78
    31-35 190,929 0.623 0.105 3.82 443 209,071 400,000 1.10
    36-40 168,035 0.681 0.081 3.68 300 301,965 470,000 1.80
    41 154,610 0.500 0.107 2.49 365 133,467 288,077 0.86
    TOTAL 2,004,741 0.705 0.092 45.42 4,085 2,320,350 4,325,091 1.16

     

        TABLE 16-6 PROCESS PRODUCTION SCHEDULE    
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
      Oxide     Flotation     Total    
      Process Grade Grade Process Grade Grade Process Grade Grade
      Material Au Cu Material Au Cu Material Au Cu
    Period (kt (g/t) (%) (kt) (g/t) (%) (kt) (g/t) (%)
    -1 -     -   - -    
    1 5,162 0.628 0.034 - 0.000 0.000 5,162 0.63 0.03
    2 5,800 0.894 0.075 - 0.000 0.000 5,800 0.89 0.08
    3 5,800 0.671 0.069 40,890 1.113 0.092 46,690 1.06 0.09
    4 5,800 0.643 0.066 58,000 1.052 0.082 63,800 1.01 0.08
    5 5,800 0.609 0.020 58,000 0.937 0.102 63,800 0.91 0.09
    6 5,800 0.622 0.024 58,000 0.829 0.096 63,800 0.81 0.09
    7 5,800 0.565 0.042 58,000 0.757 0.093 63,800 0.74 0.09
    8 5,800 0.507 0.015 58,000 0.683 0.078 63,800 0.67 0.07
    9 5,800 0.630 0.002 58,000 0.692 0.092 63,800 0.69 0.08
    10 5,800 0.573 0.011 58,000 0.618 0.094 63,800 0.61 0.09
    11 12,250 0.504 0.016 36,750 0.826 0.088 49,000 0.75 0.07
    12 12,250 0.530 0.016 36,750 0.934 0.094 49,000 0.83 0.07
    13 12,250 0.549 0.015 36,750 1.050 0.097 49,000 0.92 0.08
    14 12,250 0.550 0.015 36,750 1.145 0.098 49,000 1.00 0.08
    15 12,250 0.492 0.015 36,750 0.911 0.096 49,000 0.81 0.08
    16 12,250 0.531 0.015 36,750 0.920 0.099 49,000 0.82 0.08
    17 12,250 0.585 0.015 36,750 0.977 0.100 49,000 0.88 0.08
    18 12,250 0.495 0.016 36,750 0.870 0.104 49,000 0.78 0.08
    19 12,250 0.622 0.015 36,750 0.507 0.131 49,000 0.54 0.10
    20 12,250 0.593 0.016 36,750 0.561 0.128 49,000 0.57 0.10
    21 12,250 0.499 0.022 36,750 0.598 0.128 49,000 0.57 0.10
    22 11,954 0.518 0.012 36,750 0.633 0.131 48,704 0.60 0.10
    23 9,915 0.560 0.008 36,750 0.609 0.132 46,665 0.60 0.11
    24 2,355 0.630 0.017 36,750 0.647 0.136 39,105 0.65 0.13

     

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      Oxide     Flotation     Total    
      Process Grade Grade Process Grade Grade Process Grade Grade
      Material Au Cu Material Au Cu Material Au Cu
    Period (kt (g/t) (%) (kt) (g/t) (%) (kt) (g/t) (%)
    25 9,887 0.577 0.008 36,750 0.690 0.139 46,637 0.67 0.11
    26-30 39,290 0.600 0.002 183,750 0.643 0.120 223,040 0.64 0.10
    31-35 21,278 0.620 0.005 183,750 0.631 0.119 205,028 0.63 0.11
    36-40 11,931 0.676 0.019 183,750 0.666 0.090 195,681 0.67 0.09
    41- 3,475 0.698 0.016 153,155 0.496 0.109 156,630 0.50 0.11
    TOTAL 302,195 0.581 0.017 1,702,545 0.727 0.106 2,004,741 0.705 0.092

     

    Plans are for the mine to operate two 12-hour shifts per day, 7 days per week for a total of 14 shifts per week. The mine operation schedule allows for 26 shifts per year being lost due to weather delays in the mine. It is envisioned that mining would occur during both shifts to minimize stockpiling and rehandling. Scheduled work time is 10.5 hours per shift, allowing 30 minutes for meals, 30 minutes of delays, and 30 minutes lost during shift change.

    MINE EQUIPMENT

    Mine equipment requirements were developed from the annual mine production schedule, based on the mine operation schedule, equipment availability, and equipment productivities. The mine equipment fleet will include 30 m3 hydraulic shovels, 18 m3 wheel loaders, 236-tonne class haul trucks, and 251 mm diameter track-mounted rotary drills.

    Equipment productivities were determined for drills, shovels, and loaders. Haul truck productivity was dependent on annual cycle times. Production hours were calculated for the trucks, loaders, and support equipment. Annual operating requirements, such as fleet size, fleet utilization, and labour requirements, were then output from the production hours. Annual operating requirements for auxiliary equipment were based on haul truck hours for graders and water trucks and the operating shifts and loader hours for dozer support. A summary of the total fleet requirements for the major mine equipment is presented in given in Table 16-7.

    A separate equipment fleet of smaller excavators and articulated dump trucks is include in the mining capital for saprolite mining in the first 10 years. Typically, undisturbed saprolite material can be difficult to mine as the moisture creates operation problems. As the Project area has essentially been disturbed (see Figure 14-16), RPA has assumed most saprolite is handled by the larger equipment fleet. Further review of saprolite mining is recommended.

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                TABLE 16-7   MAJOR MINE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS              
                GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project              
     
     
     
                                                          -
      QUANTITIES Y-1 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12 Y13 Y14 Y15 Y16 Y17 Y18 Y19 Y20 Y21 Y22 Y23 Y24 Y25-Y29  Y30-Y34    Y35-Yr39   Y40-Y45 
      Major Mining Equipment                                                        
      Blast Hole Drill Cat MD6250 2 2  3 5 6  6 6 6  5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 6 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 4 
      Hydraulic Shovel Cat 6050 3 3  3 7 7  7 7 7  8 8 8 8 8 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 8 8 5 5 5 
      Front End Loader Cat 994K 2 2  2 6 6  6 6 6  4 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 3 
      Haulage Truck Cat 793F 12 12  15  43 45  50 57 57  59 59 59 59 59 59 59 64 67 70 75 72 81 82 81 81 81 79 79 74 56 
     
      Support Mining Equipment                                                        
      Pit In-Fill Drill Cat MD6250 0 1  1 1 1  1 1 1  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
      Dozer Cat D11T 2 4  4 4 6  6 6 6  6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 
    Dozer Cat D10T 2 4  4 4 4  4 4 4  4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
      Wheel Dozer Cat 834K 1 4  4 4 4  4 4 4  4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
      Motor Grader Cat 18M 1 1  1 4 4  4 5 5  5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 5 
      Motor Grader Cat 16M 1 1  1 1 1  1 1 1  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
      Water Truck Cat 777G 1 1  1 4 4  4 5 5  5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 

     

     Gold Reserve Inc. - Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832

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    UNIT OPERATIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY

    DRILLING AND BLASTING

    The blast hole drills consist of a fleet of crawler-mounted diesel-powered units in the 334kN (75,000 lb) pulldown class (e.g., Sandvik D75KS, Caterpillar MD6310, or Atlas Copco Pit Viper 271) equipped with high pressure compressors (2,400 Mpa). Each unit has the ability to drill a single pass of 13 m. Drilling will be achieved with a 251 mm bit.

    A 7.5 m by 7.5 m drill pattern will be used for all areas. All areas will be sampled, but only harder saprolite and hard rock areas will be blasted. Drill penetration rate is 34m per hour. Production rates vary with density and are estimated to be 2,700 tonnes per hour for oxide saprolites, 3,270 tonnes per hour for sulphide saprolites, and 4,650 tonnes per hour for hard rock. Other assumptions used to develop drill requirements are:

    The drill productivity and production tonnage was used to calculate the number of hours required in a given time period. Drill utilization was not allowed to exceed 80% to reflect lost time during a shift for blast moves.

    LOADING

    The mine loading fleet consists of 30 m3 capacity hydraulic shovels and 18 m3 wheel loaders. The loading fleet requirements diminish over the mine life based on lower overall tonnage in the later years.

    Hydraulic Shovel (30 m3)

    Diesel-powered hydraulic shovels equipped with standard 30 m3 rock buckets, such as the Hitachi EX5600 and the Caterpillar 6050, will be used to load material into rear dump haul trucks. The shovels will be particularly important for digging areas of boulders in the lower saprolite unit, sorting small blocks of mineralized material, initiating drop-cuts, and digging in areas with bad ground conditions.

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    Four passes are used to load the 236-tonne trucks. Hourly production is 2,700 tonnes per hour in the oxide saprolite, 3,000 tonnes per hour in the sulphide saprolite, and 3,400 tonnes per hour in the hard rock.

    Wheel Loader (18 m3)

    Rubber-tired front-end loaders equipped with a standard 18 m3 rock bucket are used to load the fleet of 236-tonne capacity haul trucks. Twenty percent of the total material was allocated to the wheel loaders. Caterpillar 994's and Komatsu WA-1200's are examples of this type of machine. Hourly production is 1,400 tonnes per hour in the oxide saprolite, 1,600 tonnes per hour in the sulphide saprolite, and 1,800 tonnes per hour in the hard rock. Six passes are used to load the 236-tonne trucks. Wheel loaders provide flexibility and mobility for mining and will provide pit wall clean when required.

    HAULING

    A single haulage fleet consisting of mechanical drive rear-dump haul trucks in the 236-tonne payload class was selected to minimize mining costs while still providing selectivity. Caterpillar 793F's and Komatsu 830E's are examples of this type of machine. The trucks match up with the 30 m3 class hydraulic shovels with a nominal four passes per truck and with the18 m3 class wheel loaders with a nominal six passes per truck. The rated payload capacity used was 150.6 dry tonnes for oxide saprolite, 177.0 dry tonnes for sulphide saprolites, and 233.4 dry tonnes for hard rock.

    Haulage requirements were calculated based on an average annual truck cycle time. Cycle times were calculated based the annual production requirement. Haulage profiles were calculated for each bench based on the reserves for the bench and the destination of the material. Separate profiles were measured for each material type and destination. Truck cycle times provided the input to determine the number of truck hours required.

    The fixed time for trucks going to the crusher or waste dump area is broken out into the following components:

    Spot and load 4.0 minutes
    Turn and dump 1.5 minutes
    Miscellaneous delays 2.0 minutes
    Total 7.5 minutes

     

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    Miscellaneous delays are any delays less than five minutes in length, including shovels cleaning the face, rest stops, bunching delays, and blasting delays.

    Haul road widths are presently designed at 35 m. A left-hand traffic pattern is proposed for safety and operational considerations.

    MAINTENANCE SHOP

    A mechanical maintenance shop will be constructed. This shop is envisaged to handle all maintenance requirements, and will include a welding area, tire bay, wash bay, lubricants area, tool storage, and training area. Major equipment rebuilds would be sent off-site.

    POWDER MAGAZINE

    Two storage areas are designed with one for explosives and the second for accessories. Both facilities will meet all local and federal requirements. The powder magazine will be operated by the mine owner.

    STOCKPILES

    Stockpiles are required for blending the process feed to achieve sufficient copper grades in flotation to produce a copper concentrate above 20%. Stockpiles fluctuate year to year, but achieve maximum capacity of just over 70 million tonnes (see Figure 18-1).

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    17 RECOVERY METHODS

    INTRODUCTION

    The conceptual plant design includes a 15,000 tpd oxide cyanidation plant that is designed to recover gold from oxide saprolite and sulphide saprolite that contains low concentrations of copper and a flotation concentrator that is designed to process 140,000 tpd of hard rock material. The oxide leach plant recovers the gold as doré from gravity concentrate and leaching of the gravity tailings. The flotation plant recovers gold as doré from a gravity concentrate and leaching of the cleaner scavenger tailings. Gold and copper are recovered in a copper concentrate.

    OXIDE CYANIDATION PLANT

    A conceptual 15,000 tpd cyanidation plant design was completed by Samuel Engineering to support this PEA. A simplified process flow diagram is provided in Figure 17-1.

    Saprolite will be excavated and loaded onto trucks. The material will be transported to a stockpile located adjacent to a saprolite crushing plant that is located adjacent to the mine.

    A front-end loader will remove material from the stockpile and feed it into the crusher feed bin. The feed bin will be equipped with a static grizzly to remove any large debris or rocks that may cause problems in the double roll crusher. Oversize material will be rejected and placed in a stockpile. The oversize material will be periodically removed from the stockpile and placed in a waste dump if the gold grade is low or moved to a stockpile if it is rock that can be economically processed in the future.

    Mineralized material from the feed bin is fed to the crusher using an apron feeder. The discharge from the crusher is then transferred by conveyor to a vibrating screen where any debris that can plug a pump is removed. The screen undersize discharges into a mix tank where it is mixed with water to prepare a slurry that can be pumped through a high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline to a surge tank that is located in the grinding circuit at the plant site which is approximately five kilometres to six kilometres away.

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          SAPROLITE      
          CRUSHER      
          ORE STOCKPILES        
      BRISAS CRISTINAS SURFACE MINE (PIT)          
     
          PIPE LINE        
            SLURRY    
            TRANSFER TANK    
        CYCLONES PRE-LEACH        
          THICKENER        
     
          PROCESS WATER        
        GRINDING RECYCLE TANK        
        GRAVITY COLD        
        CIRCUIT STRIP (Cu)        
          CARBON STRIP   REFINERY  
      MILL SURGE TANK ELECTROWWINNING    
              SLUDGE FILTER  
     
          COPPER     RETORT FURNACE  
          PRECIPITATE        
    17 - 2              
     
              SMELTING VAULT  
              FURNACE    
     
     
          LOADED CARBON FRESH CARBON TAILINGS    
              THICKENER    
          AGITATED LEACH        
          C.I.P.     CN WATER  
              RECYCLE TANK  
     
            CYANIDE DESTRUCTION Figure 17-1  
     
      RECLAIM WATER TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY   GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.  
     
              Siembra Minera Project  
              Bolivar State, Venezuela  
            Simplified Process Flowsheet  
            for the Oxide Cyanidation Plant  
     
      March 2018   Source: Gold Reserves Inc., 2017.       www . rpacan . com

     


     


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    At the oxide plant, the slurry is pumped to a ball mill for a nominal reduction in size. The ball mill discharge is pumped to a cyclone cluster where material with a particle size P80 of 50 ¼m reports to the overflow of the cyclone and discharges into a pre-leach thickener. Coarser material reports to the cyclone underflow and is returned by gravity to the ball mill feed chute for further size reduction.

    A fraction of the cyclone underflow will be fed to the gravity concentration circuit. Batch centrifugal concentrators were selected for the conceptual design. They can handle coarser sized material but they also require cleaning between batches. The concentrators will alternate operation to simulate a continuous processing circuit.

    Tailings from the gravity concentrators are returned to the grinding circuit. The concentrate from the centrifugal concentrators is fed to a storage tank located in the gold room. The concentrate is transferred to a feed tank and the primary gravity concentration table to further separate the gold from the gangue material and increase the grade of the gravity concentrate.

    Concentrate from the primary gravity table will be collected and stored before being fed to the secondary gravity table for final cleaning and upgrading. The secondary gravity table concentrate is collected and stored in a decant tank where free water is removed. Tailings from the gravity tables are returned to the grinding circuit.

    A pre-leach thickener is provided to separate the solids in the slurry from the liquid to produce an optimum slurry density for the leach circuit. Overflow from the pre-leach thickener is collected and pumped to the process water tank. Underflow from the pre-leach thickener is pumped to the cyanide leach circuit.

    The leach circuit consists of six tanks operated in series to provide a retention time of 18 hours. Lime slurry is added to the tanks to maintain the proper pH (i.e., 10.0 to 11.0). Slurry that discharges from the leach circuit will be fed to a carbon-in-pulp (CIP) circuit consisting of six tanks operated in series to provide a retention time of eight hours. Activated carbon is advanced in the CIP circuit in a counter-current direction to the slurry flow to recover dissolved gold from the slurry by adsorption. Slurry handling and carbon advancement will be accomplished using Kemix pump cell technology. Loaded carbon is removed from the circuit and transferred to the elution circuit.

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    Loaded carbon will be treated using the Anglo-American Research Laboratory (AARL) method recover the gold. Samuel Engineering has included an industry standard cold strip method to remove copper from the activated carbon, however, RPA is of the opinion that optimization work completed by Crystallex indicates that copper adsorption can be mitigated by management of cyanide in the leach circuit including maintaining proper cyanide concentrations and staged additions of cyanide.

    Loaded carbon will be transferred from the CIP circuit to the acid wash vessel where it will be soaked in three percent hydrochloric acid solution to condition the carbon for subsequent metal elution. The acid-treated carbon will be rinsed with fresh water and transferred to the elution column where it can undergo a cold strip with caustic-cyanide solution to remove copper, if needed. The cold strip solution that contains copper will be bled to the cyanide detoxification circuit. The carbon is then soaked in a circulating hot solution of two percent sodium hydroxide and two to three percent sodium cyanide solution to remove gold and silver from the carbon. After elution, the carbon will be rinsed with hot fresh water to recover the metals.

    To achieve the hot solution temperatures, the caustic cyanide solution will be pumped through two heat exchangers that are heated by a diesel fired boiler. The concentrated pregnant solution will be cooled in the pregnant solution tank.

    Pregnant solution will be pumped from the pregnant solution tank to a single electrowinning cell equipped with stainless steel cathodes. Gold is removed from solution and forms a sludge on the cathodes and in the bottom of the electrowinning cell. After the electrowinning cycle, the cathodes will be washed to remove the metal bearing sludge. The sludge will be pumped from the electrowinning cells to a receiving tank. From the tank, the sludge will be filtered and dried. Dewatered sludge and gravity concentrates are transferred to pans that will be placed in a mercury retort to remove mercury and dry the materials prior to smelting. Any mercury will be recovered in a flask and will be disposed of per Venezuelan environmental regulation.

    The dried concentrate is mixed with flux and transferred to an induction furnace to separate the precious metal from the slag and produce doré. The doré will be weighed and stored in a vault for shipment off-site for further processing.

    Stripped carbon will be removed from the elution vessel and transferred to a dewatering screen and fed to a carbon regeneration kiln to be thermally regenerated to remove organic

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    contaminants. Undersize from the dewatering screen will flow by gravity to the carbon fines clarifier.

    Particulates from the carbon regeneration kiln will be collected in a wet scrubber that uses process water. Carbon will discharge from the kiln to the carbon quench tank where the carbon will be cooled and the thermal processes will be stopped. The quenched activated carbon will be pumped to the carbon sizing screen where undersize from the screen will flow by gravity to the carbon fines clarifier. Oversize carbon from the sizing screen will flow by gravity to the regenerated carbon tank. Fresh carbon will also be added as needed to maintain an adequate concentration of activated carbon in the CIP circuit.

    A single tailings thickener is included in the circuit to increase the solids density of the slurry and to recover solution that will be recycled to the leach plant in order to reduce the cyanide consumption. The thickened underflow is processed in a sulphur dioxide (SO2) - air cyanide detoxification circuit before being discharged (by gravity) to the TMF via an 11 km HDPE pipeline.

    FLOTATION CONCENTRATOR

    Aker Kvaerner completed a plant design to support a feasibility study in 2005. Subsequently, SNC-Lavalin completed some minor modifications to the plant design during detailed design during 2006 and 2007. The changes included:

    A simplified process flowsheet is provided in Figure 17-2.

    Hard rock will be crushed in two gyratory crushers (1,473 mm by 1,905 mm) that operate in parallel at locations near the open pit mine. Discharge from the crushers falls into hoppers. Variable speed apron feeders transfer the crushed material from the hoppers to primary crusher discharge conveyors which, in turn, transfer to an overland stockpile feed conveyor.

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    Oxide saprolite and sulphide saprolite that contains low concentrations of copper is processed in the oxide cyanidation plant.

    The stockpile feed conveyor transports crushed hard rock and sulphide saprolite that contains greater than 0.07% Cu to the crushed material stockpile. The stockpile is an elongated stockpile that is fed by a tripper conveyor. Apron feeders reclaim crushed material from the stockpile and transfer it to the semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill feed conveyors.

    As a base case, the numbers of the pieces of equipment used in the SNC-Lavalin basic engineering design for the flotation concentrator was doubled in most cases. The exception is that an optimized plant layout for the stockpiles and feeders was developed by Samuel Engineering.

    Four parallel grinding lines are included in the plant design. Each line consists of one SAG mill and two ball mills. Crushed material is conveyed to the SAG mill feed hoppers by the stockpile reclaim conveyors. Water is also added to the feed hoppers to create a slurry density of approximately 70% solids by weight. Slurry discharges from the SAG mills through trommel screens. Oversize from the trommel screens is directed to the pebble collection conveyor. Undersize from the trommel screens discharges to the cyclone feed sumps. Each sump receives the discharge from one SAG mill and two ball mills. The slurry is pumped from the sump to hydrocyclones. Overflow from the cyclones is the product from the grinding circuit. The grinding circuit is designed to produce a particle size that is P80 100 µm. Underflow from the cyclones discharges to the ball mill feed chutes. A portion of the cyclone underflow is fed to the gravity gold recovery circuit.

    Each of the four grinding lines includes a gravity gold recovery circuit. The gravity gold recovery circuits include two gravity scalping screens and two centrifugal concentrators. The gravity concentrators are batch concentrators that are shut down every four hours to flush the gravity concentrate from the concentrators. Tailings from the gravity gold recovery circuit are returned to the ball mill feed chutes. Concentrate from the centrifugal concentrators is processed in an intensive cyanide leach reactor.

    Overflow from the cyclones flows by gravity into the rougher flotation conditioning tanks. Four rougher flotation lines, each of which contain two banks of flotation cells that provide 960 m3 of capacity to provide 20 minutes of retention time. Rougher flotation is performed at a neutral

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    pH. Tailings from the rougher flotation circuit are collected in a pump box and pumped to the tailings thickener feed tank.

    Rougher flotation concentrate will be pumped to the regrind cyclone pump boxes. The slurry is pumped to the regrind cyclones for classification. Overflow from the cyclones is the product from the regrind circuit with a particle size of P80 37 µm. Underflow from the cyclones flows to the vertical regrind mills for grinding. Four parallel regrind circuits are provided in the design. Four stages of cleaner flotation are provided to improve the grade of the flotation concentrate. The circuits are operated at a pH between 11.5 and 12.0 to reject pyrite from the sulphide flotation concentrate.

    The first cleaner flotation circuit includes two circuits that operate in parallel to provide 390 m3 of capacity to provide 10 minutes of retention time. The first cleaner concentrate progresses through the second and third cleaner flotation circuits. Tailings from the first cleaner flotation circuit flow by gravity to the cleaner scavenger circuit which consists of two parallel circuits that provide 260 m3 of capacity. Concentrate from the cleaner scavenger circuit is returned to the regrind cyclone pump box where it combines with the rougher flotation concentrate. Tailings from the cleaner scavenger circuit are pumped to the cyanide leach circuit.

    Second stage cleaner flotation circuit consists of two parallel circuits that provide approximately 102 m3 of capacity. The third stage of cleaner flotation consists of two circuits that operate in parallel to provide approximately 51 m3 of capacity. The fourth stage of cleaner flotation is conducted in four pairs of column flotation cells that operate in parallel. Tailings from each cleaner flotation stage are returned to the feed of the previous cleaner flotation stage.

    The final flotation concentrate from the two parallel flotation circuits is pumped to two 9 m diameter concentrate thickeners that also operate in parallel. Overflow from the thickeners is pumped to the process water pond. Underflow from the thickeners will be transferred to concentrate holding tanks. From the holding tanks the concentrate will be filtered in automated horizontal plate filter presses to produce a target moisture concentration of 8% solids by weight. The final concentrate will be stored in a stockpile and trucked to a port facility for overseas transport.

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    The first cleaner scavenger tailings will be leached in a CIL circuit. A trash screen is provided to remove trash from the slurry. Underflow from the screen will flow into one of two 30 m diameter pre-leach thickeners that operate in parallel. Two parallel CIL circuits that each have six agitated, 13.6 m diameter by 14.0 m high tanks are provided for leaching. Slurry will flow by gravity sequentially from tank one to tank two to tank three and to tank four. Lime slurry will be added to increase the pH to between 10.0 and 10.5. Sodium cyanide will also be added to the beginning of the circuit. New or re-activated carbon will be added to the sixth tanks of the parallel CIL circuits. The carbon will be advance counter-currently to the slurry flow. That is from tank six to tank five to tank three and so on. Loaded carbon will be removed from tank one and sent to adsorption desorption recovery (ADR) circuit to produce gold doré.

    Slurry discharging from the CIL circuit will flow to the cyanide destruction circuit where the SO2 – air process will be used to reduce the WAD cyanide concentration to less than 0.6 mg/L.

    Discharge from the cyanide destruction circuit will be pumped to the TMF.

    The current design assumes that two parallel circuits are provided in the ADR. Loaded carbon that is removed from tank one of each of the CIL circuits will flow across the loaded carbon screen to the loaded carbon surge bin. Carbon will discharge from the surge bin to the acid wash tank where it will be washed with hydrochloric acid to remove inorganic contaminants. After acid washing, the carbon will be washed with fresh water and neutralized with dilute sodium hydroxide solution. After neutralization, the loaded carbon will be transferred to the elution columns which have a capacity of 6,500 kg of carbon. The batch AARL elution process is utilized in the ADR circuit. The carbon will be pre-soaked in hot solution containing cyanide and sodium hydroxide. Following the pre-soak cycle, carbon elution will begin. The elution cycle will continue until four bed volumes of solution is collected in the pregnant solution storage tank. Pregnant solution will be pumped from the pregnant solution tank to two electrowinning cells with stainless steel mesh cathodes that operate in series. Gold is removed from the pregnant solution as sludge on the cathodes and in the bottom of the electrowinning cells. Sludge will be removed from the cells and washed from the cathodes on a daily basis. It will be pumped to the sludge filter for dewatering. After filtration, the gold-bearing sludge will be dried in a drying oven. After drying, it will be mixed with fluxes and smelted in a furnace to produce doré that will be shipped off site for further processing. The refinery includes a slag handling circuit.

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    After elution, the carbon will be reactivated in a regeneration kiln that is provided to remove organic contaminants. Hot carbon will discharge from the kiln into a quench tank. From the quench tank, the carbon will be transferred to carbon attrition tanks where the carbon fines will be removed. The carbon will advance from the carbon attrition tanks to carbon sizing screens for final removal of carbon fines before being returned to the four tanks of the CIL circuits.

    Rougher flotation tailings will be dewatered in the tailings thickeners to produce an underflow slurry density of 55% solids by weight. From the thickener underflow the tailings will be pumped to the TMF. Overflow from the tailings thickeners will report to the process water pond.

    The plant design includes all reagent handling facilities, utilities, and auxiliary facilities required to operate the facility.

    At the times of the feasibility study and the detailed design, a number of trade-off studies were completed to select the optimum circuit configurations and designs, however, the conditions and assumptions made over twenty years ago were much different than current conditions so RPA recommends that some of these studies be re-evaluated using current metal prices, equipment sizes, and costs.

    PLANT TRANSITIONS AND RECONFIGURATION

    The production schedule is based on initially processing oxide saprolite through a 15,000 tpd cyanide leach plant. The crushing and screening plant feed is approximately 10% higher assuming that some of the material will be rejected due to oversize and/or rock material. Starting in year 7, the majority of the oxide saprolite is depleted and sulphide saprolite that contains low concentrations of copper will also be fed to the plant. In years 9 and 10, only low copper sulphide saprolite will be fed to the plant.

    In year 4, the flotation concentrator will be commissioned. The feed to the plant includes sulphide saprolite that contains higher concentration of copper and a combination of high and low copper hard rock material at a nominal rate of 140,000 tpd although the actual feed rate is somewhat higher due to the presence of sulphide saprolite.

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    In year 11, the quantity of hard rock with suitable copper grades to produce acceptable concentrates in the flotation plant diminishes so the plant will be re-configured to process less material through the flotation plant and additional material through the oxide leach plant. The conceptual plan is to reduce the feed to the flotation concentrator to approximately 105,000 tpd and increase the tonnage to the oxide leach plant to 35,000 tpd. The low copper hard rock material will be ground in the existing milling circuit in the flotation plant and the leach plant will be expanded to accommodate the higher tonnage of material. The ball mill in the oxide leach plant, which is only sized to process saprolite, can be decommissioned or used to grind saprolite that is pumped from the open pit mine to the oxide leach plant.

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    18 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE

    The information in this section is taken from the Aker Kvaerner FS, the Samuel Engineering Oxide Saprolite Order of Magnitude Capital Cost Basis of Estimate, and from the PEA TMF design that was completed by Tierra Group International, Ltd.

    There are two distinct areas of activity, as shown on Figure 18-1, the general site plan. The first is the Mine and the Crushing Plants and the second is the area surrounding the Processing Facilities and the TMF. Other facilities and infrastructure will be located in both areas and at an intermediate location where the camp will be located.

    HIGHWAY ACCESS ROADS

    There is a main paved road, Highway 10 that connects Puerto Ordaz to El Dorado. Highway 10 passes through the small town of Las Claritas near the Siembra Minera Property. There is an existing access road, approximately 2.5 km long, from Highway 10 to the Project site, which requires improvements. A second access road is planned to connect from Highway 10 north of Las Claritas substation and around the substation to the south to intersect with the main access road. The road will follow the existing road east to the mine area, continue over the conveyor and haul road, around the waste dump area, and to the Cuyuni River to provide local access to the river.

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    OXIDE PLANT

    The conceptual design completed by Samuel Engineering and the PEA-level capital cost estimate includes:

    In addition to the costs estimated by Samuel Engineering, RPA allocated a portion of the infrastructure costs associated with the larger plant to the early years of the Project development.

    FLOTATION PLANT

    Infrastructure costs estimated by SNC-Lavalin include:

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    TAILINGS

    Tierra Group plans two TMFs for the Project designated as Stage 1 and Stage 2. Stage 1 has a capacity of 138 Mt as designed by SNC-Lavalin during basic engineering that uses the Centerline raise methodology. The larger Stage 2 TMF footprint is approximately 7 km by 5 km that will inundate the Stage 1 design. Table 18-1 shows the anticipated capacity for the two stages. The second stage has three years more capacity that the potential mine plan.

    TABLE 18-1 TAILINGS MANAGEMENT FACILITY CAPACITY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Parameter

    Stage 1 Crest Elevation

    Stage 1 Dam Capacity

    Stage 1 Dam Life

    Stage 1 and 2 Dam Capacity

    Stage 2 Crest Elevation

    Stage 1 and 2 Dam Life

    Value

    159 m

    135 Mt (minimum)

    3 to 4 years

    2,100 Mt

    197 m

    48 years

     

    The conceptual design and cost estimate includes diversion dams and ditches and other items needed for water management.

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    19 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS

    MARKETS

    The principal commodities at the Project are freely traded, at prices that are widely known, so that prospects for sale of any production are virtually assured. For the Base Case, RPA used a gold price of $1,300 per ounce; a silver price of $17.00 per ounce; and a copper price of $3.00 per pound. These price points are in line with standard metal pricing metrics as shown in Table 19-1.

    TABLE 19-1 METAL PRICE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Brisas-Las Cristinas Gold Project

      Units   This Study   Dec 31 2017   3 Yr Trailing Avg
    Commodity         Spot    
    Gold US$/oz $ 1,300 $ 1,291 $ 1,222
    Silver US$/oz $ 17.00 $ 16.87 $ 16.62
    Copper US$/lb $ 3.00 $ 3.25 $ 2.49

     

    Per Table 19-2, the Project is expected to sell an annual average of 330,000 troy ounces gold and 95,000 troy ounces silver over the LoM in the form of doré per year. In addition, based on a total of 6.4 million tonnes of concentrate with average grades of 115 g/t Au, 65 g/t Ag, and 23.6% Cu, the Project is expected to sell an annual average of 149,000 dry tonnes per year of concentrate during the LoM containing 540,000 troy ounces of gold, 291,000 troy ounces of silver, and 33.7 million tonnes of copper.

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    TABLE 19-2 METAL SALES

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Brisas-Las Cristinas Gold Project

                  LoM Total
    Process Facility Commodity Units Yrs 1 & 2 Yrs 3 to 18 Yrs 19 to 45 LoM Avg (koz)
    Leach Plant - Doré              
    Direct Feed Gold koz/y 132.8 144.0 91.2 111.8 5,026.0
    From Concentrator1 Gold koz/y - 334.5 150.0 218.6 9,392.4
    Subtotal Gold koz/y 132.8 478.5 241.2 330.4 14,418.4
     
    Direct Feed Silver koz/y 26.4 43.5 26.2 32.4 1,428.2
    From Concentrator1 Silver koz/y - 73.0 56.1 62.4 2,682.2
    Subtotal Silver koz/y 26.4 116.5 82.3 94.8 4,110.4
     
    Concentrator              
      Concentrate kt/y (dry) - 151.7 147.9 149.2 6,419.8
      Gold koz/y - 735.3 424.3 540.0 23,220.7
      Silver koz/y - 340.1 261.6 290.8 12,504.3
      Copper kt/y - 33.5 33.9 33.7 1,450.4
     
    Grand Total              
      Gold koz/y 132.8 1,213.3 665.2 836.0 37,639.1
      Silver koz/y 26.4 455.7 343.4 369.2 16,614.7
      Copper kt/y - 33.5 33.9 33.7 1,450.4

     

    Note: 1Gold and silver recovered by gravity and from cyanidation of concentrator tailings are added into the final doré product.

    During years 3 to 18, which coincides with mining in areas with the highest gold grades, the Siembra Minera Project is also expected to sell an annual average of 152,000 dry tonnes per year of copper concentrate containing 735,000 ounces of gold and 33.5 million tonnes (74 million pounds) of copper. A further 479,000 ounces of gold per year will be produced during the first fifteen years in the form of doré for a grand total of 1.2 million ounces of gold a year during that 15-year period.

    CONTRACTS

    RPA is not aware of any forward sales or hedging contracts for the Project’s metal production as of the date of this report. Cost assumptions are discussed in Section 22.

    DORÉ HANDLING AND TRANSPORT

    Doré will be shipped to the United States, Canada or Europe for refining by one of the internationally-established refiners.

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    CONCENTRATE HANDLING AND TRANSPORT

    Concentrate will be trucked from site to Puerto Ordaz. A 40,000 metric tonne concentrate storage and ship loading facility will be constructed in Puerto Ordaz. The concentrate will be loaded for ocean shipment to a smelter, most likely in Europe.

    For this Technical Report, charges for road freight and concentrate storage are a nominal $28/t and ocean freight has been assumed at $75/t. Concentrate treatment charges of $95/t and refining charges of $0.095/lb for copper, $3.00/oz for gold and $0.20/oz for silver have been used based on current smelter contracts for similar projects.

    DORÉ AND CONCENTRATE MARKETING

    Siembra Minera will be authorized to export and sell its doré and concentrate containing gold, copper, silver, and other strategic minerals outside of Venezuela and maintain proceeds from such sales in an offshore US dollar account.

    SITE OPERATIONS

    All cost estimates for operating costs are based on factoring and budgetary supplier quotes. RPA is not aware of contractual arrangements with any suppliers at this time. RPA notes that operating and capital cost estimates are impacted favourably by Venezuela’s diesel costs of US$0.02/L and power costs of US$0.038/kWh which are well below industry norms, particularly diesel fuel pricing.

    RPA is not aware of any operational contracts for the Project as of the date of this report. Cost assumptions are discussed in Section 21.

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    20 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT

    This section summarizes the current Project’s environmental setting and the corporate, regulatory, and international framework within which the Project is being developed. GRI has prepared, or is in the process of preparing, environmental reports and programs to meet municipal, provincial, and national regulatory requirements, as well as generally-accepted international standards.

    The description of the Project’s current status on permitting, environmental, and social considerations is based on:

    ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

    PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

    The Project area is located at the foot of the Sierra de Lema high plateau; and the topography is moderately homogenous, dominated by plains with some rolling hills. Elevations range from 127 MASL to 218 MASL, with higher elevations near the east and southeast margins of the Project area. The Project site layout is presented in Figure 18-1.

    The climate is tropical with January through March being drier months and June through July being wetter months. Humidity is high (monthly average from 80% to 87%) and annual precipitation is over 3,000 mm. Daily temperatures range from 21ºC to 38ºC. Prevailing winds are from the west – southwest, with a speed mostly from 0.5 m/sec to 2.1 m/sec. Particulate matter (PM10) in the air based upon sampling in 2005 to 2006, is in the range of 10 µg/m3 to 25 µg/m3, with no significant seasonal changes.

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    Detailed studies on geology, mineralization, and geotechnical characteristics of the Project area have been conducted and the results are presented in previous sections of this report.

    The soils of the Project area are dominated by udic ultisols (udults), with clay or cambic horizons and well-drained inceptisols (dystrudepts). The parent oxide saprolite material extends to a typical depth of 10 m to 30 m. Top soils (0 cm to 30 cm depth) of the Project area are characterized by sandy loams with variable organic matter content (from very low at 0.6% to very high at 7.2%).

    Sediments in the Project area are predominantly made up of sands (>90%) and significantly coarser than the soils (sands ≤70% mostly). As a result, organic matter content is relatively low compared with other soils.

    Due to the high rainfall in the region, a relatively large number of streams and smaller tributaries have formed in the gently sloping watershed that drains towards the west into the Cuyuni River, which functions as the mainstream river in the region. The Cuyuni River flows south to north through the western portion of the Project area, with flows normally at 20 m3/sec to 35 m3/sec, and a maximum rate of 64.3 m3/sec measured during the 2004 to 2005 baseline surveys. Tributaries of the Cuyuni River in the Project area include (from south to north): the Uey River (normal flows in the range of 10 m3/sec to 20 m3/sec), the Aymara Creek (0.5 m3/sec to 3 m3/sec), and the Amarilla Creek (5 m3/sec to 15 m3/sec).

    Considering groundwater resources, four hydrologic units have been identified: saprolite, transitional rock, fractured rock and fresh hard rock. While the saprolite unit (average thickness 55 m) contributes water to the underlying aquifer through leakage, horizontal water movement is extremely limited due to high clay content. The transition rock unit and the fractured rock unit (with average thickness of 15 m and 125 m respectively) are both characterized by the highest hydraulic conductivity values and thus are considered the best aquifers in the Project area. The groundwater table is typically very high in the Project area (0 m to 3 m below ground surface in most places) and most of the pits from previous artisanal mining activities by others are filled with water. Significant efforts will be required to dewater the mine pit for the Siembra Minera Project.

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    CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT

    Project regional air quality is representative of global background concentrations in a reasonably undeveloped rainforest setting. There are no large industrial facilities in the immediate area that contribute large-scale emissions to the Project air-shed. The local service industry is mainly geared towards the needs of small-scale gold mining and agricultural activities and is, therefore, mostly free of large air contaminant discharges to the air-shed. Therefore, background levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and hydrocarbons are estimated to be insignificant. Local vehicular traffic, burning of trash and deforestation refuse, and cooking contribute typical air pollutants. There are known releases of gaseous mercury to the local environment due to the refining of amalgamated gold ore in make-shift devices and heated furnaces by small-scale miners.

    Soils in undisturbed areas are acidic, with pH values in the range of 3.5 to 6.0. Based upon previous site-specific soils studies, the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values were less than 0.03, indicating that the soils are not sodic. Nutrients were mostly low for agricultural production purposes. Metals are mostly in normal ranges, though contents of copper and a few other trace metals were high in some locations since this is a mineralized area.

    Sediments from locations in the Cuyuni and Uey Rivers upstream of Aymara Creek had low concentrations of metals, while samples from Aymara Creek, Amarilla Creek and the Cuyuni River downstream from Amarilla Creek showed relatively high baseline concentrations of mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum, chromium, and copper. These results are indicative of existing impacts from small-scale mining activities in the Project area.

    Surface water quality in non-impacted waters (i.e., upstream of disturbed areas) are generally good, with pH values in the range of 6.6 to 6.9, total suspended solids (TSS) less than 15 mg/L, and trace metal contents mostly in normal ranges. Samples from drainages within or downstream of the disturbed areas (specifically the Amarilla Creek watershed, Cuyuni River downstream of Amarilla Creek, and certain portions of the Aymara Creek watershed) showed lower pH values, higher TSS, and higher concentrations of trace metals (noticeably, Al, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Hg), which clearly indicate impacts from small scale mining activities by others in the Project area,

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    Historical monitoring data from the Project area indicated good groundwater quality in the Project area, with pH values ranging from 6.5 to 7.9, mostly low in dissolved metals (and Hg was below or at detection limit of 0.0002 mg/L), and low in nutrients. Surveys of current groundwater quality, especially within the disturbed areas, are being planned and results will be presented in the Project ESIA report.

    BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

    FLORA

    A large part of the total surface area of the Project area is covered by tropical evergreen forests (>80%) with distinct ranges of height and density, depending primarily upon geomorphology, soil characteristics, and the degree of anthropogenic disturbance. This forest has a dense canopy and a height of approximately 30 m to 40 m. There are two predominant vegetation types:

    1.      An ombrophilous, macrothermic forest or tropical, evergreen forest associated with a peneplain landscape. The forests developed on this landscape exhibit a medium- density physiognomy associated with high-density forest types. This association develops in areas of low relief, meadows, colluvial slopes, and small groups of hills.
    2.      An ombrophilous, sub-mesothermic forest, premontane or submontane, evergreen forest associated with the piedmont landscape. These forests are generally less than 25 m in height and with medium to dense crown cover. Epiphytes, mosses, lichens, and vines are abundant in these forests.

    In general, woody species are of relatively low commercial value with tall stems and small diameters. A significant amount of deforestation has occurred throughout the Project area, which totals more than 100 km2. Deforestation continues in many areas inside and outside of the Project boundary.

    FAUNA

    Despite diverse anthropogenic activity and disturbances over the past few decades in the Km 88 region, including historic mineral exploration, localized small-scale and artisanal mining, localized deforestation, traffic, and several settlements, the Project area continues to support a diverse faunal population.

    The number of registered species (collected or observed) to date in the southern sector of the Upper Cuyuni River Basin (where the Project is located) includes: 118 mammals, 338 birds, 61 reptiles, and 40 amphibians. Collections and surveys in the Project area have reported 95

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    species of mammals, 177 species of birds, 27 species of reptiles, and 12 species of amphibians.

    The Cuyuni River supports a diverse fish fauna with at least 187 taxa reported.

    Two species that were considered endemic to the region were identified in the Project area: the Escalera Tree Frog (Hyla sibleszi) and a small characid fish, the Redtailed Bryconops (Bryconops colaroja). The Escalera tree frog in the Project area is included in the Least Concern category by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (i.e., widespread and not threatened). This frog is stable in its native range and is not considered to be threatened by the Siembra Minera Project. Bryconops colaroja was found in Las Claritas Creek, Aymara Creek, and is likely to be found in many areas of the upper Cuyuni River. It appears to be fairly abundant based on previous surveys. Impacts to Bryconops colaroja are possible due to its occurrence in Aymara Creek. Measures may be taken to identify nearby refugia and protect portions of habitat within the Project area for this small tropical fish.

    THREATENED, ENDANGERED AND SENSITIVE SPECIES

    No species of plants from the IUCN Red List of species were found in the Project area. Seven mammals and one reptile with Special International Conservation Status have been identified in the Project area.

    Two mammals, whose range includes the Project area, are listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List (1994, 2001). These are the giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus) and the giant river otter (Pteronura braziliensis). Based on the lack of presence in the Project area and the overall size of the range of these two endangered species, the Project will have no significant negative impacts on their conservation status.

    Five species of mammals are listed by IUCN as Vulnerable, whose ranges include the Project area, of which only the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is known from the Project area, and its status is common in Venezuela. There is a small potential for negative impacts to tapirs in the Project area due to opening of areas where they may be hunted.

    One reptile is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN whose range includes the Project area: the Brazilian tortoise (Geochelone denticulata). This tortoise is very common in Venezuela.

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    There were no threatened or endangered species of fish known to occur or reported from waters within the Project site or area. A detailed Rapid Assessment Program was conducted by Conservation International and results published in 2008 (Evaluación Rápida de la Biodiversidad de los Ecosistemas Acuáticos de la Cuenca Alta del Río Cuyuní, Guayana Venezolana). The findings complemented the ecological baseline information generated by GRI. Planning for ecological education, ecotours, and scientific cooperation had been considered previously as part of stakeholder engagement and public outreach.

    SOCIAL CONDITIONS

    The Km 88 Mining District, where the Project is located, has seen several decades of planned and unplanned natural resource extraction activities (particularly mining and logging); in-migration and settlements; government-led regional development activities (including transmission lines and road construction to Brazil, housing programs); with associated environmental and social impacts.

    Geopolitically, the Project area belongs to the San Isidro Parish, with major population centers just east of the Project boundary. Total population of the San Isidro Parish has been estimated to be 16,000 to 20,000 persons, more than half of whom live in five population centers immediately east of the Project area: Las Claritas, Santo Domingo, Ciudad Dorada, St. Lucia Inaway and Km 88 (TECMIN, 2017).

    Approximately 80% of the local population in the San Isidro Parish is described as criollo, which are ethnically mixed communities originating from Venezuela and neighboring countries, and are primarily associated with the informal artisanal mining sector. There are currently several thousand indigent miners, over 100 small processing facilities (mills), and more than 300 gold-trading offices that are actively operating at the Project site and in the surrounding area (TECMIN, 2017).

    Many of the criollo communities were created as a result of periodic in- and out-migration driven by “gold-rush” events. Thus, the social baseline conditions of the area are dominated by artisanal small mining related issues. These include unplanned urbanization; community health concerns (access to safe water, endemic malaria, and high levels of gastrointestinal and sexually transmitted diseases); limited or ineffective social infrastructure and services; and land-use conflicts. Other issues of concerns are associated with limited or overstretched

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    educational facilities and high levels of local unemployment. Lack of educational opportunity, access to information, and general public services are key social factors.

    Indigenous communities represent approximately 20% of the local population. The vast majority of indigenous communities in the Project region are settled within larger, planned village structures ranging in size from several hundred to over 1,000 inhabitants. The indigenous communities follow their traditional political and decision-making structures, and mainly consist of Pemón, and to a lesser extent Kariña and Arawak-speaking communities. Many members of these communities are multilingual (indigenous language(s), Spanish and – those with Guyanese descent – also English). The indigenous communities enjoy special privileges under the Venezuelan constitution, and those in the Project vicinity are not isolated or disconnected from the overall, larger, socioeconomic structure of the area. Compared with their criollo counterparts, indigenous communities are more permanent and enjoy a notably better quality of life.

    As of 2013, there were five pre-school plus primary schools, two high schools (one with pre-school + primary) and one technical school in the San Isidro Parish, with a total enrollment of near 1,700. The technical school in San Miguel de Betania, ETA Integral Pemón Samarayi, enrolled 75 students as of 2013 (TECMIN, 2017). There are seven clinics in the San Isidro Parish. Although trained medical professionals are working at the clinics, shortages of adequate equipment and other medical supplies are apparent. Nearly 80% of the patients who visited the clinics were diagnosed with malaria, an endemic characteristic of the Project area (TECMIN, 2017).

    The needs of and opportunities for criollo and indigenous communities are all being considered as part of the ESIA, Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP), the Community Development Plan (CDP) and the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Project, which are all currently in preparation. A conceptual management plan for small-scale mining has been prepared, and a summary of this plan is presented in the Environmental and Social section of this chapter.

    No archaeological sites or other cultural resources were identified in the Project area. Should any archaeological and cultural resources be identified during construction and operation of the Project, prompt measures will be taken to protect the resource and minimize impact, if any. A Cultural Heritage Plan will be prepared for the I-ESIA. The Piedra de Virgen (Rock of the

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    Virgin) is a popular tourist attraction located at Km 98 on the main Highway 10 south of Las Claritas, but is not within the Project boundary.

    PERMITTING: REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS

    An ESIA is required by the Venezuelan Constitution for the Project. Procedures for the preparation and approval of the ESIA, as well as additional permits that must be obtained, are defined by Decree 1257 of March 13, 1996 (Normas Sobre Evaluación Ambiental de Actividades Susceptibles de Degradar el Ambiente) which establishes the regulations for developing ESIAs.

    The Ministry of People’s Power for Ecosocialism and Water (Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ecosocialismo y Aguas - known as MINEA) is responsible for the approval and monitoring of ESIAs for mining projects. It is important to note that the ESIA provides the umbrella permission for virtually all other environmental impacts created as a result of mining activities, including air emissions, effluent discharges, and the storage, control, and management of hazardous wastes.

    In addition to an ESIA, an Authorization to Occupy the Territory (AOT - Autorización de Ocupación del Territorio) and an Authorization to Affect Natural Resources (AANR -

    Autorización de Afectación de Recursos Naturales) must also be obtained. Both permits (AOT and AANR) are issued by MINEA.

    The AOT certifies that the proposed use of the land by the Project is compatible with the land use provisions designated for the area. To complete the ESIA for the Project, a Term of Reference (TDR) that defines the scope and contents of the ESIA must be submitted to MINEA. Upon the approval of the TDR, the proponent will prepare and submit the ESIA to MINEA. Once the ESIA is approved, and the performance bond is paid, MINEA will then issue an AANR for the Project. Finally, an environmental supervision (monitoring) plan must be submitted and approved by MINEA before starting any onsite exploitation activities. The implementation of this plan will be supervised by MINEA.

    There are a number of international standards and guidelines that will also be considered by GRI in the design, construction, operation, and closure of the Project. These international guidelines and standards will be reviewed by the combined company’s technical and

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    administrative staff, to determine applicability and extent to which they will be applied. International standards to be reviewed include the following: the Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability (IFC, 2012a) of the International Finance Corporation, a unit of the World Bank Group, including IFC PS Guidance Notes (IFC, 2012b); IFC’s General Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (2007a); IFC’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Mining (2007b); IFC’s Policy on Disclosure of Information (2006); the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Strategy (2007 and 2012); the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (2000); and the Equator Principles III (2013) .

    These international guidelines and standards provide a project owner with: guidelines for conducting an International ESIA (I-ESIA); a set of specific environmental quality standards, including both “end of pipe” discharge limits and acceptable ambient levels for various parameters; extensive operating management practices (known as “good international industry practices” or GIIP); standards of performance for the design, construction, operation, and closure of a mine project; and, a system for formal documentation of social and environmental studies, programs and practices. GRI is committed to voluntary consideration of these international guidelines and standards for the Project as may be applicable.

    GRE has submitted the application for an AOT, and the TDR for the Project will be submitted as soon as the AOT is approved. The Project ESIA is in the process of being prepared. Application of the AANR for exploitation will be submitted as soon as the Project ESIA is approved, which is expected to be in 2018.

    ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA)

    Two separate but parallel ESIAs are being prepared for the Project. The ESIAs are intended to meet Venezuelan regulatory requirements and international standards and guidelines. The Venezuelan ESIA (VZ-ESIA) is expected to be completed and submitted to the MINEA in 2018; and, the International ESIA (I-ESIA) will be completed soon thereafter.

    ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT

    In addition to the ESIAs, GRE is in the process of developing a series of environmental and social management plans and programs. Thousands of small-scale miners are actively

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    working in the Project area and adequate management of small-scale mining is critical to the success of the Project. A conceptual plan for small-scale mining management has been developed and is summarized below. Summaries of the Closure and Reclamation Plan and Waste Management Plan that are currently in preparation are also presented below. Other environmental and social management plans and programs being developed, including among others: Indigenous Peoples Plan, Cultural Heritage Plan, Community Development Plan, Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan, Resettlement Action Plan, Environmental Management Plan, Small-Scale & Artisanal Miners Plan, Occupational Health and Safety Plan, Environmental Protection Plan, Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, Environmental Monitoring Plan, Emergency Response Plan, Hazardous Materials Management Plan, Hazardous Waste Management Program, Cyanide Management Plan, Site Water Management Plan, and, Biodiversity Management Plan.

    It is impractical and politically untenable to forcibly remove the artisanal miners from the Project area. GRE has developed a conceptual plan to relocate these miners to the Oro concession area north of Diversion Channel #4. The conceptual plan includes an oxide saprolite processing and stockpile area with concrete tailings ponds that collect and transport tailings from the artisanal mining operations to the Project tailings storage facility.

    The fundamental goals of this proposed plan are as follows:

    The proposed approach to the small-scale miner program is to develop an area to the northeast of the planned pit area where oxide saprolite can be mined with conventional open pit methods and stockpiled for future use by the small-scale miner community. The current group of small-scale miners who are actively mining would be given areas around this low

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    profile stockpile where they could continue their placer mining operations. Oxide saprolite would be delivered and stockpiled to a plant that is collocated adjacent to the main plant, in relatively low, stable stockpiles for processing.

    The tailings launder would deliver tailings and sediments to the main tailings pond, followed by a sediment impoundment constructed above the Cuyuni River. This impoundment would also collect tailings and sediment from upstream miners who are not actively mining in the Project area, effectively cleaning up the river. The sediment may require flocculant to meet discharge requirements for suspended solids.

    Each small-scale miner and their family would have a small area to process material (6 m by 30 m) plus an area for constructing temporary living quarters. Water for the mining operations and potable water would be provided from the water supply pipeline, which would be supplied either by the pit dewatering operations or an upstream river. Drinking water will be treated, if required, to meet applicable standards. Sewage would likely be discharged into the tailings pond, which is physically separated from the public, limiting contact and cross-contamination. In addition, significant dilution of sewage would be provided by the tailings and processing water.

    GRE would also construct a mercury retort at the processing location in order to return gold to each small-scale miner while removing mercury from the environment in a safe and controlled manner. The goal is to turn operation of the retort over to either a small-scale miner cooperative or to the government. Benefits include:

    Significant positive cumulative impacts would also be expected, which may help improve the existing adverse baseline conditions over time. These include an increase of wages and incomes; skill and capacity building; demand for and improved quality of goods and services; company and local government driven investments in social infrastructure and services; and,

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    additional sources of tax and royalty incomes. Coordination between the Project, local government agencies, local communities and other stakeholders can help to further mitigate any adverse cumulative impacts, as well as, leverage and accelerate positive impacts.

    Much of the Project area has been deforested and hydraulically mined by the artisanal miners. As a result, there are numerous water-filled pits and large areas of tailings material. Some areas of poorly consolidated tailings are unstable and cannot support the weight of a vehicle, making access to some areas extremely difficult or impossible.

    GRE is committed to providing technical assistance to small-scale miners including the identification of suitable areas where small-scale mining can continue to mine up to 365,000 tpa of oxide saprolite.

    CLOSURE AND RECLAMATION PLAN

    Based on the current Project design, reclamation activities will commence soon after construction begins, and will continue throughout the life of the Project. Closure activities will continue for three years after the end of the mine life in year 45. Some intermittent reclamation would also take place during the mine operations, when areas are no longer needed. Total expenditures for reclamation and closure are currently estimated to be US$150 million.

    The objectives, criteria, and conceptual plans proposed in the Reclamation and Closure Plan for the Project will be the subject of future mine management and planning and, as such, subject to continuing refinement. GRM is committed to continuous reclamation of disturbed areas throughout the life of the Project and will implement an advanced, modern environmental management and monitoring program to include reclamation and closure activities. The mine, all equipment, and all facilities will revert to the Government of Venezuela at the end of the Project.

    WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

    Wherever possible, re-use of recoverable material in all operations will be considered. Domestic and industrial liquid wastes generated at Project site will be collected, properly treated prior to disposal. There exists a large amount of uncontrolled waste disposal throughout the site and environs which will require cleanup.

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    A large proportion of typical domestic solid wastes (about 60-70%) will be combustible and could be disposed of by incineration. Domestic solid wastes are largely inert materials and therefore may be landfilled. Landfillable materials will be disposed of by burial in the mine waste rock deposition area.

    Mine waste rock and tailings are the most significant solid wastes to be generated from the Project. Specific maintenance and monitoring programs for the operations of mine waste rock and tailings deposition areas are being developed and will be implemented to minimize environmental impacts. The management of other solid industrial wastes includes minimization, recycling, and source separation between non-hazardous solid wastes and hazardous chemical wastes. Scrap metal and packing materials will be collected and stored for recycling, where practical. A handling procedure for used drums and oil filters will be established to prevent spillage, loss, or damage. All used containers, construction materials, and equipment will be returned to the suppliers. Other non-hazardous solid wastes will be separated and disposed of by incineration and/or landfill.

    Hazardous wastes will be treated and handled according to applicable Venezuelan regulations, as well as generally-accepted international standards. Hazardous wastes associated with the Project will include used equipment lubrication oils, automobile batteries, paints, solvents, caustic or acid cleaners, pesticide wastes, used oil filters, hydraulic fluids (coolant), and miscellaneous chemicals and solid wastes. Hazardous wastes will be collected and temporarily stored in closed containers as soon as they are generated. The containers will then be transported periodically to approved recycle/disposal facilities, which may need to be constructed at or near the Project site. All containers with hazardous waste will be clearly marked and posted with warning signs. A more detailed Hazardous Waste Management Plan will be developed for the Project during the I-ESIA process.

    ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SUMMARY

    Modern mining techniques and practices, including advanced environmental and social management, will result in great improvements in the lives of the local people, and will yield major benefits to the environment. Health and safety improvements notwithstanding (e.g., malaria and disease control, health services, modern safety procedures and practices, support of clinics, etc.), the capture and control of mercury, elimination of mercury use, sediment control, and modern operations, reclamation, and restoration will have significantly positive

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    effects on the entire area, and downstream on the Cuyuni River. The dramatic environmental impacts of small miner activities will be reversed with application of highly managed modern mining techniques, practices, and procedures.

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    21 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

    All capital and operating costs are in Q4 2017 US dollars (US$). Due to inflationary conditions in Venezuela, all costs are estimated in US dollars.

    CAPITAL COSTS

    The mine capital costs are estimated by RPA with updated quotes received from Venequip in November 2017 for most of the Caterpillar mine equipment.

    The process and infrastructure capital costs for the CIP plant are taken from the PEA Oxide Saprolite Basis of Estimate that was completed by Samuel Engineering in 2017.

    The process and infrastructure capital costs for the flotation concentrator are estimated using the SNC-Lavalin definitive detailed capital costs estimate for the 70,000 tpd plant dated March 31, 2008. The cost was factored to increase the tonnage to 140,000 tpd and the costs were escalated from 2008 to 2017. The plant layout was optimized to provide a plant feed of 140,000 tpd and the mechanical equipment costs and labour costs were also escalated to 2017 values using price escalations and fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

    The tailings dam capital costs are estimated by the Tierra Group in 2017. The Owner’s Cost estimate is estimated jointly by GRE and RPA.

    Based on the available information used in the study, under Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) guidelines, the capital estimate is considered a Class 4 estimate (scoping study). RPA considers the accuracy of the overall estimate to be +35% to -15%.

    DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL

    Initial capital estimates for both the CIP and concentrator processing plants plus related activities are combined into a single development capital estimate. The leach plant construction is planned to commence in Q1 of Year -2 and is scheduled to begin commercial production in Q1 of Year 1. The concentrator plant construction is planned to commence in

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    Q1 Year 1 and is scheduled to begin commercial production in Q1 of Year 3. Table 21-1 presents a summary breakdown of the $2,571 million development capital costs.

    TABLE 21-1 DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL COST SUMMARY  
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Description Total US$ M Yr -2 Yr -1 Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3
    Direct Costs            
    Mining 436.6 0.0 174.1 41.7 15.1 205.7
    Processing 923.5 60.5 221.2 187.9 452.2 1.8
    Engineering & Geology 15.9 2.7 8.1 3.5 1.6 0.0
    ARD Plant 2.3 0.0 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Site Infrastructure 111.8 16.1 52.3 21.1 22.3 0.0
    Subtotal Direct Costs 1,490.1 79.3 457.9 254.2 491.3 207.5
    Indirect Costs            
    Construction Indirects 312.3 10.7 70.8 64.0 166.8 0.0
    Owner's Cost 310.4 45.0 88.1 66.2 85.0 26.1
    Subtotal Indirect Costs 622.7 55.7 158.9 130.1 251.9 26.1
    Contingency 457.8 37.1 128.7 90.7 182.8 18.5
    Total 2,570.6 172.1 745.5 475.0 925.9 252.1

     

    Contingency has been applied to the estimate as a deterministic assessment of the level of confidence in each of the defining inputs to the item cost being engineering, estimate basis and vendor or contractor information. Contingency values applied ranged from 5% to 30%, for an overall Project contingency of approximately 22%.

    Tables 21-2 through 21-4 show the details behind the development capital cost estimate.

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    TABLE 21-2 DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL DIRECT COST DETAILS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Description Total US$ M Yr -2 Yr -1 Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3
    Pre-Stripping 40.6 0.0 40.6 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Mining Equipment 396.0 0.0 133.4 41.7 15.1 205.7
    Subtotal Mining 436.6 0.0 174.1 41.7 15.1 205.7
    Processing - CIP 97.0 14.6 82.5 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Processing - Concentrator 696.8 13.9 104.5 160.3 418.1 0.0
    Processing - Tailings Dam 54.9 19.8 19.8 7.5 7.7 0.0
    Processing - Port 19.7 0.0 0.0 4.0 13.9 1.8
    Processing - Cristinas Diversion 32.8 11.7 10.5 10.6 0.0 0.0
    Processing - Other 22.3 0.4 3.9 5.5 12.5 0.0
    Subtotal Processing 923.5 60.5 221.2 187.9 452.2 1.8
    Engineering & Geology 15.9 2.7 8.1 3.5 1.6 0.0
    ARD Plant 2.3 0.0 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Infra: Buildings/Roads/Utilities 52.5 7.8 26.4 9.2 9.2 0.0
    Infra: Earthworks - TMF 13.1 2.1 8.8 1.7 0.5 0.0
    Infra: Earthworks - Other 26.1 5.9 14.1 5.6 0.6 0.0
    Infra: Electrical/Power 20.2 0.4 3.0 4.6 12.1 0.0
    Subtotal Site Infrastructure 111.8 16.1 52.3 21.1 22.3 0.0
    Total 1,490.1 79.3 457.9 254.2 491.3 207.5

     

    Construction indirect cost estimates for the CIP plant and concentrator are estimated by Samuel Engineering. The Owner’s Cost estimate is composed of Owner’s construction and CIP plant start-up team as well as allowances for feasibility study costs and pre-production reserve conversion drilling. Light vehicles and the GRE management fee (5% of annual direct plus indirect capital) are also added.

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    TABLE 21-3 DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL INDIRECT COST DETAILS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Description Total US$ M Yr -2 Yr -1 Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3
    CIP Plant            
    Temporary Facilities 3.2 0.5 2.7 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Temporary Services 6.5 1.0 5.5 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Camp Facility and Catering 1.3 0.2 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0
    First Fills/Critical Spares 1.8 0.3 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Freight 5.3 0.8 4.5 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Taxes 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Vendor Reps 0.7 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0
    EPCM 15.5 2.3 13.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Subtotal CIP Plant Indirects 34.3 5.1 29.1 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Concentrator            
    Temporary Facilities 7.1 0.1 1.1 1.6 4.3 0.0
    Temporary Services 17.9 0.4 2.7 4.1 10.8 0.0
    Camp Facility and Catering 44.9 0.9 6.7 10.3 26.9 0.0
    First Fills/Critical Spares 12.2 0.2 1.8 2.8 7.3 0.0
    Freight 54.7 1.1 8.2 12.6 32.8 0.0
    Taxes 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
    Vendor Reps 8.2 0.2 1.2 1.9 4.9 0.0
    EPCM 133.0 2.7 20.0 30.6 79.8 0.0
    Subtotal Concentrator Indirects 278.1 5.6 41.7 64.0 166.8 0.0
    Total Construction Indirects 312.3 10.7 70.8 64.0 166.8 0.0
    Owner’s Cost            
    Feasibility Studies 30.0 6.0 15.0 4.5 4.5 0.0
    Annual Reserve Conversion Drilling 27.5 15.0 7.5 2.5 2.5 0.0
    Owner's Construction Team 39.7 15.9 12.9 3.0 1.7 6.2
    Owner's Operations Team - CIP 78.6 0.0 15.8 30.8 32.1 0.0
    Lt Vehicles 13.8 0.0 1.9 3.1 0.8 8.1
    GRM Management Fee 120.7 8.1 35.0 22.3 43.5 11.8
    Total Owner's Cost 310.4 45.0 88.1 66.2 85.0 26.1
    Total 622.7 55.7 158.9 130.1 251.9 26.1

     

    The buildup of development capital contingency of 22% is shown in Table 21-4. Approximately 58% of the overall contingency for development capital is related to the process plant construction. In addition to the quoted 20% and 24.4% contingency from Samuel Engineering for the CIP and concentrator plants, RPA included additional contingency in various line items as it deemed appropriate for a PEA study.

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    TABLE 21-4 DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL CONTINGENCY DETAILS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Description Factor   % of Total   US$ M
    Pre-Stripping 25 % 2 % 10.2
    Mining Equipment 5 % 4 % 19.8
    CIP (D+I) 20 % 6 % 26.3
    Concentrator (D+I) 24 % 52 % 238.6
    Tailings Dam 30 % 4 % 16.5
    Port 20 % 1 % 3.9
    Cristinas Diversion 30 % 2 % 9.8
    Processing Other (Vehicles) 20 % 1 % 4.5
    Eng and Geo 20 % 1 % 3.2
    ARD Plant 20 % 0 % 0.5
    Infra - Buildings/Roads/Utilities 30 % 3 % 15.7
    Infra - All Earthworks 30 % 3 % 11.8
    Infra - Electrical 20 % 1 % 4.0
    Owner's Cost 30 % 20 % 93.1
    Total 21.7 % 100.0 % 457.8

     

    SUSTAINING CAPITAL

    Sustaining capital totals approximately $1.941.7 million over the LoM, starting in Year 3. Sustaining capital costs account for equipment that needs to be replaced over the LoM, TMF expansions, leach plant conversion to 35 ktpd, and new infrastructure construction. Table 21-5 summarizes the sustaining capital costs.

    TABLE 21-5 SUSTAINING CAPITAL COST SUMMARY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Description US$ M
    Annual Reserve Conversion Drilling 100.0
    Mining Equipment 1,212.6
    Processing - Plant Sustaining 11.0
    Processing - TMF Raises 322.5
    Processing - Concentrate Trucks 34.2
    Processing - Leach Plant Conversion to 35ktpd 35.0
    Engineering & Geology 30.1
    Earthworks - TMF 9.5
    Lt Vehicles (pickups/vans/buses) 156.8
    GRM Management Fee (5% of Annual non-Mining Capital Cost) 30.0
    Total 1,941.7

     

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    The annual reserve conversion drilling category is the $2.5 million per year cost to upgrade the current Inferred Mineral Resources in the mine schedule to Measured and Indicated status which then can be converted to Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves. Mining infrastructure and equipment is largely composed of replacement mine equipment, specifically haul trucks, as detailed in Section 16. Details behind the sustaining capital estimate for the TMF raises and processing plant are presented in Sections 17 and 18.

    CLOSURE COSTS

    The Project economic analysis has a $150 million LoM closure cost estimate. The origin of this estimate is from the 2006 SNC-Lavalin estimate for Brisas of $52 million, which has been escalated and factored based on the area of disturbance and the cost is spread over the LoM as concurrent reclamation as well as final closure activities. Due to the long life of the Project, a final end of mine (EoM) closure cost expenditure has negligible effect on Project economics, however, a closure plan with a revised cost estimate should be included in the next stage of study.

    SALVAGE VALUE

    No salvage value was estimated as part of the Project economic analysis.

    WORKING CAPITAL

    RPA developed a $195 million working capital estimate during the first four years of commercial operations. This estimate includes the following assumptions:

    All working capital expenditures are recaptured by the end of the mine life and thus net to zero. Note that this estimate does not include first fills/critical spares which are included in Samuel Engineering’s CIP plant and concentrator indirect capital costs ($1.8 million and $12.2 million, respectively). Those costs are capitalized and thus depreciable whereas working capital represents annual adjustments to operating revenue and expense and is not depreciable.

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    EXCLUSIONS

    The following items were excluded from the capital cost estimate:

    OPERATING COSTS

    A summary of the LoM operating costs is presented in Table 21-6.

    TABLE 21-6

    OPERATING COST SUMMARY

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc.– Siembra Minera Project

    Description LoM Cost US$/t milled
    Mining (1.36/t mined) 2.89
    Process 4.93
    G&A 1.32
    Other Infrastructure 0.14
    Direct Operating Costs 9.29
    Concentrate Freight 0.36
    Off-site Costs 0.54
    Total 10.19

     

    Operating costs for the Project have been estimated from first principles. Labour costs were estimated using Project specific staffing, salary, wage, and benefit requirements. Unit consumption of materials, supplies, power, water, and delivered supply costs were also estimated.

    The operating costs presented are based upon ownership of all Project production equipment and site facilities, as well as the Owner employing and directing all operating, maintenance, and support personnel.

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    Consumable Pricing

    The consumable costs were estimated from supplier quotes, inputs from GRE, and in-house references. The Project’s major consumable pricing and basis is as follows:

    Consumption levels of the major consumables are presented in Sections 16, 17, and 18, for mining, processing, and infrastructure respectively.

    Manpower

    Table 21-7 shows the total Project headcount of 1,549 for Year 5 by area.

    TABLE 21-7 YEAR 5 ANNUAL HEADCOUNT DETAIL

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Area Headcount
    Mine 975
    Process 305
    On-Site G&A 177
    Off-Site G&A 31
    Port 61
    Total 1,549

     

    Staffing assumptions are presented in Sections 16, 17, and 18 for mining, processing, and infrastructure.

    MINE OPERATING COSTS

    Mine operating costs are based on the equipment requirements as discussed in Section 16 and the operating cost per hour. Equipment hourly operating costs were updated to current prices using InfoMine’s 2016 Mine Cost Service. Mine unit operating costs are presented in Table 21-8.

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         TABLE 21-8 MINE UNIT OPERATING COSTS ($/T)

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      US$/tonne
    Mining mined
    Labour  
    Supervision Labour 0.082
    Operating Labour 0.148
    Maintenance Labour 0.060
    Blasting Supplies 0.157
    Equipment  
    Diesel Fuel 0.020
    Tires 0.160
    Oil & Grease 0.182
    Supplies & Parts 0.138
    Shop Supplies 0.170
    Major Repairs 0.197
    Ground Engaging Tools & Wear Plates 0.043
    Light Vehicles 0.004
    Mining Total 1.358

     

    PROCESS OPERATING COSTS

    Process operating costs for the flotation concentrator are estimated using the same reagent and consumables consumptions that were used for the Aker-Kvaerner feasibility study and SNC-Lavalin’s basic engineering. The consumptions for the oxide leach plant are estimated using data from the Cristinas Technical Report (MDA, 2007). RPA updated costs for reagents and consumables using data from similar projects.

    OXIDE LEACH PLANT

    Table 21-9 summarizes the costs to leach the oxide ore.

    TABLE 21-9 REAGENT AND CONSUMABLES COSTS FOR LEACHING OXIDE

    SAPROLITE
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Item Consumption, kg/t Cost US$ Units US$/t
    Saprolite Crusher Wear Parts 0.009 1.80 kg 0.016
    Ball Mill Liners 0.010 1.90 kg 0.019
    Ball Mill Balls 0.131 1.09 kg 0.143
    NaCN 0.520 2.68 kg 1.396
    Lime 1.640 0.26 kg 0.420
    HCl 0.050 0.55 kg 0.028

     

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    Item Consumption, kg/t   Cost US$ Units US$/t
    NaOH 0.040   1.05 kg 0.042
    Carbon 0.010   3.35 kg 0.034
    Sodium Metabisulfite 0.700   0.96 kg 0.675
    Flocculent 0.050   3.53 kg 0.177
    Diesel for Refinery (L/t) 0.140   0.03 L 0.004
    Refinery Fluxes and Supplies 150,000   annual allowance   0.029
    Maintenance Supplies 5 % equipment cost   0.434
    Operating Supplies 15 % maintenance supplies   0.065
    Analytical Supplies 500,000   annual allowance   0.095
    Total         3.575

     

    Table 21-10 summarizes the costs to leach sulphide saprolite.
    TABLE 21-10 REAGENT AND CONSUMABLES COSTS FOR LEACHING

     

      SULPHIDE SAPROLITE    
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project  
     
    Item Consumption, kg/t   Cost US$ Units US$/t
    Saprolite Crusher Wear Parts 0.009   1.80 kg 0.016
    Ball Mill Liners 0.010   1.90 kg 0.019
    Ball Mill Balls 0.131   1.09 kg 0.143
    NaCN 0.700   2.68 kg 1.879
    Lime 2.180   0.26 kg 0.230
    HCl 0.392   0.55 kg 0.216
    NaOH 0.383   1.05 kg 0.400
    Carbon 0.038   3.35 kg 0.126
    Sodium Metabisulfite 0.700   0.96 kg 0.675
    Flocculent 0.050   3.53 kg 0.177
    Diesel for Refinery (L/t) 0.140   0.02 L 0.003
    Refinery Fluxes and Supplies 150,000   annual allowance   0.029
    Maintenance Supplies 5 % equipment cost   0.465
    Operating Supplies 15 % maintenance supplies   0.070
    Analytical Supplies 500,000   annual allowance   0.095
    Total         4.542
     
    Table 21-11 summarizes the costs to leach hard rock.    

     

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    TABLE 21-11 REAGENT AND CONSUMABLES COSTS FOR LEACHING

      HARD ROCK    
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project  
     
    Item Consumption, kg/t   Cost US$ Units US$/t
    SAG Mill Liners 0.052   1.90 kg 0.098
    Ball Mill Liners 0.020   1.90 kg 0.038
    Crusher Liners 0.008   1.80 kg 0.014
    SAG Mill Balls 0.323   1.16 kg 0.374
    Ball Mill Balls 0.295   1.09 kg 0.322
    NaCN 0.520   2.68 kg 1.396
    Lime 1.640   0.26 kg 0.420
    HCl 0.050   0.55 kg 0.028
    NaOH 0.040   1.05 kg 0.042
    Carbon 0.010   3.35 kg 0.034
    Sodium Metabisulfite 0.700   0.96 kg 0.675
    Flocculent 0.050   3.53 kg 0.177
    Diesel for Refinery (L/t) 0.140   0.02 L 0.003
    Refinery Fluxes and Supplies     annual allowance   0.029
    Maintenance Supplies 5 % equipment cost   0.434
    Operating Supplies 15 % maintenance supplies   0.065
    Analytical Supplies 500,000   annual allowance   0.095
    Total         4.242

     

    FLOTATION CONCENTRATOR

    Table 21-12 summarizes the costs to process sulphide saprolite or hard rock in the flotation concentrator.

    TABLE 21-12 REAGENT AND CONSUMABLES COSTS FOR FLOTATION OF

    SULPHIDE SAPROLITE AND HARD ROCK
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Item Consumption, kg/t Cost US$ Units US$/t
    SAG Mill Liners 0.052 1.90 kg 0.098
    Ball Mill Liners 0.020 1.90 kg 0.038
    Crusher Liners 0.008 1.80 kg 0.014
    SAG Mill Balls 0.323 1.16 kg 0.374
    Ball Mill Balls 0.295 1.09 kg 0.322
    Regrind Mill Balls 0.015 1.09 kg 0.016
    Lime 0.900 0.26 kg 0.230
    NaCN (leach feed) 1.270 2.68 kg 3.409
    Flocculant 0.089 3.53 kg 0.315
    AP3477 0.022 2.90 kg 0.062
    PAX 0.019 3.52 kg 0.066
    Frother 0.032 2.55 kg 0.082

     

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    Item Consumption, kg/t   Cost US$ Units US$/t
    Sodium Metabisulfite 0.707   0.96 kg 0.682
    Water / Boiler Treatment 20,000   annual allowance   0.0004
    Maintenance Supplies 5 % equipment cost   0.400
    Operating Supplies 15 % maintenance supplies   0.060
    Analytical Supplies 2,000,000   annual allowance   0.041
    Total         6.210

     

    PROCESS LABOUR COSTS

    The process labour costs were estimated by developing a conceptual organizational chart for the operation and estimating the number of personnel who are required for each position. The cost estimates take into account the number of personnel required to operate the oxide leach plant in the first two years and the transition to operating both the leach plant and the flotation plant in the later years of the operation. The positions, number of people, and salary estimates are summarized in Table 21-13.

    TABLE 21-13 SUMMARY OF PROCESS LABOUR COSTS
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
    Item Salary Years 1 - 2 Annual Years 3 - 41 Annual
      US$ Number Cost US$ Number Cost US$
    Leach Plant          
    Plant Manager (expat) 504,000   -   -
    Metallurgy & Laboratory Manager (expat) 360,000 2 720,000   -
    Metallurgy & Laboratory Professionals 62,288 2 124,577   -
    Metallurgy & Laboratory Staff 24,539 4 98,156   -
    Sample Preparation 6,435 12 77,217   -
    Analytical Clerks 10,168 2 20,336   -
    Production Superintendent (expat) 432,000 1 432,000    
    Mill General Foremen (expats) 288,000 - -   -
    Shift Foreman 24,539 4 98,156 4 98,156
    Plant Operators 10,227 32 327,275 32 327,275
    Operation Helpers 6,435 32 205,913 32 205,913
    Tailings Dam Foreman1 50,233 - -   -
    Tailings Dam Technicians1 6,434 - -   -
    Maintenance Superintendent (expat) 331,200 1 321,600   -
    Maintenance General Foremen (expats) 321,600 - -   -
    Shift Foreman 24,539 2 20,455   -
    Mechanics & Electricians 10,227 14 436,199 8 249,256
    Maintenance Planners & Other 31,157 2 12,870   -
    Maintenance Helpers 6,435 14 90,087 8 -
    Total Oxide Plant   124 2,984,840 84 880,601

     

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    Item Salary Years 1 - 2 Annual Years 3 - 41 Annual
      US$ Number Cost US$ Number Cost US$
    Flotation Plant          
    Plant Manager 504,000   - 1 504,000
    Metallurgy & Laboratory Manager (expat) 360,000   - 1 360,000
    Metallurgy & Laboratory Professionals 62,288   - 2 124,577
    Metallurgy & Laboratory Staff 24,539   - 25 613,474
    Sample Preparation 6,435   - 27 173,739
    Analytical Clerks 10,168   - 3 30,504
    Production Superintendent (expat) 432,000   - 1 432,000
    Mill General Foremen (expats) 288,000   - 2 576,000
    Shift Foreman 24,539   - 8 196,312
    Plant Operators 10,227   - 28 286,366
    Operation Helpers 6,435   - 48 308,870
    Tailings Dam Foreman2 50,233   - 2 100,465
    Tailings Dam Technicians2 6,434   - 8 51,475
    Maintenance Superintendent (expat) 331,200   - 1 331,200
    Maintenance General Foremen (expats) 321,600   - 2 643,200
    Shift Foreman 24,539   - 8 196,312
    Mechanics & Electricians 10,227   - 24 245,456
    Maintenance Planners & Other 31,157   - 6 186,942
    Maintenance Helpers 6,435   - 24 154,435
    Total Concentrator   0 - 221 5,515,327
     
    Total Both Plants   124 2,984,840 305 6,395,928

     

    Notes:

    1RPA and SE determined that additional tailings dam foreman and operator positions were not needed in Years 1 and 2 as their duties could be handled by the shift foreman and other operators/helpers, respectively.

    2For simplicity, RPA and SE placed tailings dam foreman and technician positions within the larger flotation plant headcount in Years 3 to 41.

    POWER COSTS

    Power costs were estimated by using the electrical load lists from the Samuel Engineering conceptual design that serves as the basis for the PEA and the SNC-Lavalin basic engineering design for the flotation concentrator. The electrical loads and power consumption for the flotation concentrator are doubled to support this PEA with the exception of the items listed as the “Other Facilities”. They are multiplied by 1.3. The power cost in Venezuela is estimated to be $38 per MW. The power consumption estimates are provided in Table 21-14.

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    TABLE 21-14 SUMMARY OF POWER CONSUMPTION ESTIMATES
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

    Area Average kW       Annual MW  
    Leach Plant:            
    Mine Area Material Handling 250 MCC 100 445       5,251  
    Slurry Transfer 250 MVMCC 100 352       5,865  
    Grinding and Gravity 400 MCC 100 526       6,847  
    CIP 450 MCC 101 555       8,437  
    Refinery 650 MCC 102 534       6,248  
    General Site 100 SWGR 100 236       3,932  
    Tailings 500 MCC 200 559       6,246  
    Cyanide Destruction 700 MCC 201 458       4,580  
    Reagents 750 MCC 202 200       2,978  
    General Site 100 MVMCC 100 4,369       72,711  
    550 MVMCC 100 338       4,553  
    Total Leach Plant 8,571       127,648  
     
      Average kW   Annual MW   Annual MW  
    Flotation Plant: 70,000 tpd 70,000 tpd 140,000 tpd
    Process Areas Services 800   6,912   13,824  
    Pebble Crushers & Stockpile Reclaim 720   5,700   11,400  
    Grinding Mills 56,000   443,520   887,040  
    Grinding Area Process 4,800   38,016   76,032  
    Flotation 4,700   37,224   74,448  
    Regrinding 1,580   12,516   25,032  
    Tailings 2,240   17,736   35,472  
    Leach & CIL 1,328   10,512   21,024  
    Refinery 1,160   9,192   18,384  
    Reagents 128   1,008   2,016  
    Water Ponds 160   696   1,392  
    Reclaim Barge 360   2,856   5,712  
    Metallurgical Laboratory 400   1,728   3,456  
    Primary Crusher 640   4,608   9,216  
    Overland Conveyor 1,760   12,672   25,344  
    Power Loss 2,100   18,147   36,294  
    Total 78,876   623,043   1,246,086  
    Other Facilities:            
    Truck Shop/ Wash/ Fuel 480   4,152   5,398  
    Administration Building 140   600   780  
    Warehouse & Maintenance Shop 200   1,728   2,246  
    Camp 400   3,456   4,493  
    Power Loss 35   298   388  
    Total Other Facilities     10,234   13,304  
     
    Port Site Power (from March 2006 est.) 500   4,320   8,640  

     

    The average annual power costs, based on $38 per MW, are provided in Table 21-15.

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    TABLE 21-15 SUMMARY OF AVERAGE ANNUAL POWER COSTS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      Annual Costs
    Area US$
    Leach Plant 2,425,308
    Flotation Plant 23,675,629
    Other Facilities 388,895
    Port Site 164,160

     

    The cost estimates were not changed in year 10 when more hard rock will go to the leach plant and less hard rock will be processed in the flotation plant since grinding the hard rock is planned in the existing flotation plant and none of the site facilities are expected to change.

    Also, in years 1 and 2, when only the leach plant will be operating and powered only by the genset farm, RPA estimates that the power cost unit rate would equal the grid power rate of $38/MWh, also expressed as $0.46 per tonne.

    The total process operating costs are summarized in Table 21-16.

    TABLE 21-16 SUMMARY OF PROCESS OPERATING COSTS ($/t)
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project
     
      Leach Leach Flotation Flotation
    Item Oxide Saprolite Sulphide Saprolite Saprolite Hard Rock
    Steel 0.18 0.18 0.85 0.86
    Reagents & Supplies 3.40 4.36 3.72 5.35
    Power 0.46 0.46 0.97 0.97
    Labour 0.57 0.57 0.57 0.13
    Total 4.61 5.57 6.10 7.31

     

    Additional work is required in future studies in order to improve the accuracy of the operating costs. For example, the cost to treat sulphide saprolite in the flotation plant is expected to be lower than the costs listed due to lower power costs for grinding the softer material.

    G&A OPERATING COSTS

    General and administrative costs run a nominal $38 million to $42 million per year. Unit operating costs are presented in Table 21-17.

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    TABLE 21-17 SUMMARY OF G&A OPERATING COSTS ($/t) GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

      US$/tonne  
    Description processed  
    Site Administration Labour Costs 0.271  
    G&A Off-Site Labour Costs 0.023  
    Total G&A Labour & Supervision 0.294  
    G&A Expenses 0.692  
    Maintenance Consumables 0.052  
    Electricity 0.013  
    Light Vehicles 0.014  
    Management Fee 0.522  
    Total G&A Costs 1.586  
    Capitalized Pre-production Costs & Adjustments. (0.262 )
    G & A Operating Costs Total 1.324  

     

    OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATING COSTS

    Other Infrastructure costs run a nominal $6.5 million per year and include Engineering and Geology (pit dewatering costs plus engineering/geology team labour and systems support) and acid rock drainage (ARD) treatment costs. Unit operating costs are presented in Table 21-18.

    TABLE 21-18 SUMMARY OF OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATING COSTS
    ($/t)
    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

     

      US$/tonne
    Description processed
    Engineering & Geology Labour 0.049
    Pit Dewatering Operating Costs 0.072
    Pit Dewatering Labour 0.014
    Total Systems Support 0.003
    Total Engineering and Geology Costs 0.138
     
    Total ARD Treatment Costs 0.007
    Total 0.145

     

    OFF-SITE OPERATING COSTS

    Doré/concentrate freight costs and smelter/refining charges are described elsewhere in the report.

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    22 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

    The economic analysis contained in this report is based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources, and is preliminary in nature. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have mining and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized.

    A Cash Flow Projection has been generated from the LoM production schedule and capital and operating cost estimates, and is summarized in Table 22-3. A summary of the key criteria is provided below.

    ECONOMIC CRITERIA

    PRODUCTION

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    REVENUE

  • Doré payable factors at refinery are 99.9% Au and 98% Ag.
  • Copper concentrate average payable factors at smelter are 98% Au, 97% Ag, and 95.8% Cu.
  • Payable metal sales for the Project total 37.6 Moz Au, 16.6 Moz Ag, and 3.2 billion lb Cu split as follows:
      o      From Doré: 14.4 Moz Au and 4.1 Moz Ag.
      o      From Concentrate: 23.2 Moz Au, 12.5 Moz Ag, and 3.2 billion lb Cu.
  • Metal prices: US$1,300 per troy ounce Au; US$17 per troy ounce Ag and US$3.00 per pound Cu.
  • NSR for doré includes transport and refining costs of $0.50 per ounce doré and $6 per ounce gold/$0.40 per ounce silver, respectively.
  • NSR for copper concentrate includes:
      o      Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) charge of $103 per wet tonne concentrate
       (8%      moisture content) consisting of:
       §      Road Transport (350 km one way): $11/t
       §      Port Charges (Puerto Ordaz) : $17/t
       §      Ocean Transport (Europe): $75/t.
      o      Smelter treatment charge of $95 per dry tonne concentrate.
      o      Smelter refining charges of $0.095/lb Cu, $6/oz Au, and $0.40/oz Ag.
      o      Copper price participation is not included.

    COSTS

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    o Mine (US$1.36/t mined):   2.89
    o Process:   4.93
    o G&A:   1.32
    o Other Infrastructure:   0.14
    o Direct Operating Costs   9.29
    o Concentrate Freight   0.36
    o Off-site Costs   0.54
    o Total $ 10.19

     

    ROYALTIES AND GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS

    Royalties and other government payments total $5.6 billion or $2.77/t milled over the LoM as shown in Table 22-1.

    TABLE 22-1 ROYALTIES AND GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item US$ M US$/t milled
    NSR Royalty 3,262.8 1.63
    Special Advantages Tax 1,710.0 0.85
    Science, Technology and Innovation Contributions 588.1 0.29
    Total 5,560.9 2.77

     

    The Project will pay an annual NSR royalty to Venezuela on the sale of gold, copper, and silver and any other strategic minerals of 5% for the first ten years of commercial production and 6% thereafter.

    The Project is subject to an additional 3% NSR annual royalty called Special Advantages Tax which is a national social welfare fund.

    The Project is subject to a 1% gross revenue levy as part of the Science, Technology and Innovation Contributions fund (LOCTI).

    Customs duties and Value Added Taxes (VAT) are assumed to be waived for the Project.

    INCOME TAXES, WORKING CAPITAL, AND OTHER

    Income taxes/contributions, upfront working capital, and reclamation/closure costs total $8.3 billion as shown in Table 22-2. Withholding taxes on corporate dividends and interest payments are not incorporated into the Project economic analysis.

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    TABLE 22-2 INCOME TAXES, WORKING CAPITAL, AND OTHER

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item US$ M
    Anti-Drug Contributions 283.9
    Sports Contributions 283.9
    Corp. Income Taxes Paid 7,373.8
    Upfront Working Capital (Yrs 1 to 4) 195.4
    Reclamation and Closure 150.0
    Salvage Value 0
    Total 8,286.9

     

    Anti-drug and Sport Contributions

    These profit-based taxes are assessed at 1% of current year and previous year operating income, respectively. The annual operating margin is calculated by taking annual gross revenues and deducting all operating costs and depreciation/amortization allowances.

    Corporate Income Tax

    The Project economic analysis incorporates a sliding scale of tax rates applicable on income based on Project phases starting in Year 1 of commercial production as follows:

    Year 1 is the first year of gold production, after commissioning of the 15,000 tpd oxide plant.

    Deductions from income for the purpose of estimating income subject to tax include the following items:

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  • Depreciation/Amortization
      o      All prior expenditures before January 2018 are considered sunk with respect to this analysis.
      o      Depreciation commences once the facilities are placed into service and the mine and mill are operating.
      o      Heavy mine fleet equipment capital is depreciated using 8-year straight line (SL) method. Light vehicle capital is depreciated using 5-year SL method.
      o      All process and infrastructure capital are depreciated using the Units of Production (UoP) method.
      o      Capitalized pre-production activities such as pre-stripping and water management are amortized the UoP method.
      o      The Project economic analysis incorporates an accelerated depreciation methodology which combines the first 12 years of annual SL depreciation allowances with the standard UoP cost basis. The resulting combined UoP/SL basis is then re-calculated using the UoP method. After 12 years, the depreciation allowances come directly from each UoP or SL category.
      o      Reclamation costs are amortized during the LoM by an annual accrual of $0.035/t mined ($150 million cost divided by 4.33 billion tonnes mined). This allowance is adjusted annually by periodic reclamation capital expenditures during the LoM.
  • Other Deductions
      Other      deductions from income for the purposes of estimating taxable income include
      management fees which amount to 5% of annual operating and capital costs. The annual management fees derived from operating costs are within the G&A opex category and thus expensed 100% in the year incurred while the annual fees derived
      from      capital costs are amortized using the UoP method starting in the year they are
      incurred.
  • Loss Carry Forwards
      Income tax losses may be carried forward indefinitely but may not be used for prior tax years.

    Upfront Working Capital

    A total of $195 million has been allocated for upfront working capital in Years 1 to 4. This amount covers year over year changes in accounts receivable and payable plus consumable inventory.

    Reclamation/Closure Costs

    The Project economic analysis has a $150 million LoM closure cost estimate.

    Salvage

    No salvage value was estimated as part of the Project economic analysis.

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    CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

    The Project as currently designed has significant variations in the mining schedule, processing methods, and head grades over its planned 45-year life. These variations are shown in Figures 22-1 and 22-2 and the resulting impact on the pre-tax free cash flow profile is shown in Figure 22-3.

    FIGURE 22-1

    MINE VS. MILL PRODUCTION


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    FIGURE 22-2 MILL PRODUCTION PROFILE BY PLANT


    FIGURE 22-3 PROJECT PRE-TAX METRICS SUMMARY


    Table 22-3 shows the LoM total metrics for the Project as currently designed. Due to the length of the 45-year mine life, the full annual cash flow model is presented in Appendix 1.

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    TABLE 22-3 INDICATIVE PROJECT ECONOMICS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item Unit Value  
    Realized Market Prices      
    Au US$/oz 1,300  
    Ag US$/oz 17.00  
    Cu US$/lb 3.00  
    Payable Metal      
    Au Moz 37.6  
    Ag Moz 16.6  
    Cu Mlb 3,197.6  
    Total Gross Revenue US$ M 58,806.2  
    Mining Cost US$ M (5,790.9 )
    Process Cost US$ M (9,881.0 )
    G & A Cost US$ M (2,653.6 )
    Other Infrastructure Cost US$ M (288.9 )
    Concentrate Freight Cost US$ M (728.0 )
    Off-site Costs US$ M (1,076.5 )
    NSR Royalty Cost US$ M (3,262.8 )
    Special Advantages Tax Cost US$ M (1,710.0 )
    Science (LOCTI) Contributions US$ M (588.1 )
    Total Operating Costs US$ M (25,979.7 )
    Operating Margin (EBITDA) US$ M 32,826.5  
    Anti-Drug Contributions US$ M (283.9 )
    Sport Contributions US$ M (283.9 )
    Effective Tax Rate % 22.5 %
    Income Tax US$ M (7,373.8 )
    Total Taxes US$ M (7,941.5 )
    Working Capital ($195 M in Years 1 to 4) US$ M 0  
    Operating Cash Flow US$ M 24,885.0  
    Development Capital US$ M (2,570.6 )
    Sustaining Capital US$ M (1,941.7 )
    Closure/Reclamation Capital US$ M (150.0 )
    Total Capital US$ M (4,662.3 )
     
    Pre-tax Free Cash Flow US$ M 28,164.2  
    Pre-tax NPV @ 5% US$ M 11,209.4  
    Pre-tax NPV @ 10% US$ M 5,534.5  
    Pre-tax IRR % 36.8 %
    After-tax Simple Payback Years 3.8  
     
    After-tax Free Cash Flow US$ M 20,222.7  
    After-tax NPV @ 5% US$ M 8,101.2  
    After-tax NPV @ 10% US$ M 3,930.1  
    After-tax IRR % 31.1 %
    After-tax Simple Payback Years 4.1  

     

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    On a pre-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $28,164 million over the mine life. The pre-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 36.8%, and simple payback from start of commercial production occurs in 3.8 years. The pre-tax Net Present Values (NPV) are:

    On an after-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $20,223 million over the mine life, the IRR is 31.1%, and simple payback from start of commercial production occurs in 4.1 years. The after-tax NPVs are:

    The average annual gold sales during the forty-five years of operation is 836 koz per year (37.6 Moz over the LoM) at an average all in sustaining cost (AISC) of $483 per ounce. Table 22-4 shows the AISC build up which is net of a $262/oz copper and silver by-product credit (nbp).

    TABLE 22-4 ALL-IN SUSTAINING COSTS COMPOSITION

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Item US$M   US$/oz Au  
    Mining 5,790.9   154  
    Process 9,881.0   263  
    G & A 2,653.6   71  
    Other Infrastructure 288.9   8  
    Subtotal Site Costs 18,614.3   495  
    Transportation 728.0   19  
    Off-site Treatment 1,076.5   29  
    Subtotal Off-site Costs 1,804.5   48  
    Direct Cash Costs 20,418.8   542  
    Ag and Cu By-Product Credit (9,875.4 ) (262 )
    Total Direct Cash Costs (nbp) 10,543.4   280  
    NSR Royalty 3,262.8   87  
    Special Advantages Tax 1,710.0   45  
    STI Contributions 588.1   16  
    Total Indirect Cash Costs 5,560.9   148  
    Total Production Costs 16,104.3   428  
    Sustaining Capital Cost 1,941.7   52  
    Closure/Reclamation Capital 150.0   4  

     

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    Item US$M US$/oz Au
    Corporate G&A 0.0 0
    Off-mine Exploration 0.0 0
    Total Sustaining Costs 2,091.7 56
    Total All-in Sustaining Costs 18,196.0 483

     

    Figure 22-4 shows the annual AISC trend during the mine operations against an overall average AISC of $483/payable oz over the 45-year LoM at an annual production rate of 836 koz Au per year. The AISC variations are mainly driven changes in grades, mine schedule, and processing methods. The AISC metric can range from $309/oz to $992/oz Au in a given year (excluding final year spike in Year 45 of $1,956/oz) but can be subdivided into three distinct phases:

    FIGURE 22-4

    ANNUAL AISC CURVE PROFILE


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    SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    Project risks can be identified in both economic and non-economic terms. Key economic risks were examined by running cash flow sensitivities:

    Pre-tax NPV and IRR sensitivities over the base case has been calculated for -20% to +20% variations metal-related categories. For operating costs and capital costs, the sensitivities over the base case has been calculated at -15% to +35% variation. The sensitivities are shown in Table 22-5 and in Figures 22-5 and 22-6, respectively.

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    TABLE 22-5 PRE-TAX SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Factor Change   Head Grade (g/t Au) NPV at 10% IRR  
          (US$ M) (%)  
    0.8   0.56 3,477.3 28.3 %
    0.9   0.63 4,505.8 32.7 %
    1   0.70 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.1   0.78 6,563.2 40.6 %
    1.2   0.85 7,591.9 44.3 %
     
        Recovery NPV at 10% IRR  
    Factor Change   (% Au) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.8   67 3,477.3 28.3 %
    0.9   76 4,505.8 32.7 %
    1   84 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.1   92 6,563.2 40.6 %
    1.2   100 7,489.0 44.0 %
     
        Metal Price NPV at 10% IRR  
    Factor Change   (US$/oz Au) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.8   1,040 3,166.4 27.2 %
    0.9   1,170 4,350.4 32.2 %
    1   1,300 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.1   1,430 6,718.5 41.1 %
    1.2   1,560 7,902.5 45.1 %
     
    Factor Change   Operating Costs NPV at 10% IRR  
        (US$/t milled) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.85 $ 11.57 6,068.2 38.6 %
    0.93 $ 12.27 5,801.3 37.7 %
    1.00 $ 12.96 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.18 $ 14.59 4,911.7 34.6 %
    1.35 $ 16.21 4,289.0 32.3 %
     
        Capital Costs NPV at 10% IRR  
    Factor Change   (US$ M) (US$ M) (%)  
    0.85 $ 4,222 5,812.0 41.1 %
    0.93 $ 4,385 5,673.2 38.8 %
    1.00 $ 4,547 5,534.5 36.8 %
    1.18 $ 4,927 5,210.7 32.7 %
    1.35 $ 5,306 4,886.9 29.3 %

     

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    FIGURE 22-5 PRE-TAX NPV 10% SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    FIGURE 22-6 PRE-TAX IRR SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

    A sensitivity analysis of discount rates is presented in Figure 22-7 and 22-8 and shows that the Project as currently designed would be NPV positive through a 20% discount rate.

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    FIGURE 22-7 PRE-TAX DISCOUNT RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS


    FIGURE 22-8 AFTER-TAX DISCOUNT RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS


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    23 ADJACENT PROPERTIES

    There are no adjacent properties to report in this section.

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    24 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION

    No additional information or explanation is necessary to make this Technical Report understandable and not misleading.

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    25 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

    RPA offers the following conclusions by area.

    GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

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    MINING

    MINERAL PROCESSING

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    ENVIRONMENT

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    26 RECOMMENDATIONS

    Given the positive economic results presented in this report, RPA recommends that the Project be advanced to the next stage of engineering study and permitting.

    RPA offers the following recommendations.

    GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

  • Acquire new topographic data.
  • Drill approximately 150 to 200 drill holes totaling approximately 75 km to 100 km. This drilling would have a number of objectives including:
      o      Conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated with priority set on Inferred Mineral Resources situated in the 5 and 10 year pit shells.
      o      Drilling to determine the extent of mineralization at depth in the Main Zone as this will determine the limits of the largest possible pit and help with the location of features such as dumps and roads.
      o      Better definition of the copper mineralization in the Main Zone footwall.
      o      Improving preliminary artisanal mining sterilization assumptions.
      o      Condemnation drilling of proposed waste rock storage sites.
      o      Closer spaced drilling in the El Potaso area between Brisas and Cristinas.
      o      Drilling on the northwest extensions of the mineralization in the Morrocoy and Cordova areas.
      o      Drilling on the Cristinas Main Zone for density measurements.
  • Improve understanding of the geological and structural controls on the shapes and local trends of high grade lenses in the Main Zone. Northwest striking cross-faults need to be identified and modelled and structural sub-domains built to improve future variography studies and dynamic anisotropy trend surfaces. This will improve the local accuracy of future gold and copper grade models.
  • Carry out additional 3D mineralization trend analysis studies, domain modelling, and variography work should be carried out for the gold and copper mineralization. This will also assist in evaluating if additional 5-spot drill holes are needed to support the Indicated classification in some areas with more complex geology.
  • Depending on the outcome of new variography work, build gold and copper models
      using      ordinary kriging.
  • Develop a new lithology model once new drill holes have been drilled so that an improved material densities model can be created.
  • Build a structural model.
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    MINING

    MINERAL PROCESSING

  • Every effort should be made to acquire access to the detailed metallurgical and plant
      data      for Cristinas. In the absence of that data, detailed metallurgical sampling and
      testing are required to provide the information required to design the oxide leaching
      plant.     
  • Additional test work should be conducted for the flotation plant using variability samples
      taken      from throughout the deposits with particular emphasis on Cristinas where limited
      variability testing was done using the flotation flowsheet. Currently, industry standard emphasizes the use of variability samples as opposed to the composite samples that
      were      predominantly used in previous flotation testing.
  • RPA is of the opinion that there is considerable potential for optimization of the flowsheet of the Siembra Minera Project. Examples include:
      o      Increased efficiency if larger equipment sizes are utilized in the design. Due to cost savings and enhanced performance, the sizes for grinding mills and flotation cells have increased substantially. As examples, semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills that are now available are as large as 12.2 m diameter by 8.8 m long as opposed to the 11.6 m by 6.7 m that are in the current design and flotation cells now have capacities of 600 m3 instead of the 160 m3 that are in the current design. The larger pieces of equipment result in a reduced footprint and fewer pieces of equipment and, therefore, lower installed costs.
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      o      The use of an adsorption desorption recovery (ADR) that is designed for the combined Project will probably result in less cost than merely doubling the size of the current design. In addition to this, consolidating the ADR from the oxide
       leach      plant into a plant that can later be expanded to process the doré from the
       flotation plant has the potential to not only cut costs but also reduce security concerns and efforts.
  • RPA is of the opinion that the current conceptual design for the oxide leach plant does not include the best options for Siembra Minera. Areas that require detailed evaluations include:
      o      Use of CIL instead of CIP particularly since the plant designs for both Cristinas and Brisas were changed to CIL from CIP during previous studies.
      o      Investigate elimination of the copper circuits. Data from the Cristinas feasibility
       study      shows that copper is only soluble in the sulphide saprolite and that it is
       not soluble in material that has lower copper concentrations. Therefore, the copper circuit should not be needed as the sulphide saprolite that contains higher concentrations of copper will be processed in the flotation plant and not in the oxide leach plant.
      o      Changes to the gravity separation circuit. The use of continuous centrifugal concentrators instead of batch units to eliminate manual labour and reduce potential for theft. Use intensive cyanide leaching to process the gravity gold concentrate instead of shaking tables. Prior studies showed that intensive cyanide leaching was preferable for treatment of the gravity concentrate for both Brisas and Cristinas.
      o      Selection of designs that are appropriate for processing clay-like saprolitic material, including:
       §      Appropriate tank sizing using slurry densities that are consistent with the material that has a low specific gravity and is viscous in nature
       §      Proper agitator selection
       §      Selection of pumps and design of piping
  • Design of the TMF for the combined Project is preliminary. Further detailed geotechnical work is required to complete a design for the final tailings. Preliminary
      plans      are to use the feasibility level design from the SNC-Lavalin 2007 study as Stage
      1 of construction with the final tailings inundating the Stage 1 structure.

    ENVIRONMENT

    COSTS AND ECONOMICS

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    PROPOSED PROGRAM AND BUDGET

    RPA’s proposed program for the next stage of study is summarized in Table 26-1.

    TABLE 26-1 PROPOSED PROGRAM

    GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc. – Siembra Minera Project

    Description Cost
      (US$ M)
    Drilling to upgrade Inferred Mineral Resources – 150 to 200 holes 20
    Geotechnical Studies 2
    Hydrogeology Study 1
    Metallurgical Studies 2
    Pre-feasibility/Feasibility Study 5
    ESIA and Permitting 2
    Total 32

     

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    27 REFERENCES

    AATA International, December 2005, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Final Draft Version 1.03.

    Aker Kvaerner, 2005, Las Brisas Project Feasibility Study, Prepared for Gold Reserve Inc., January 2005.

    Behre Dolbear & Company, Inc., 2003, Technical Report, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves of the Las Brisas del Cuyuni Gold-Copper Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela, prepared for Gold Reserve Inc., August 25, 2003.

    Engler, A., 2009: The Geology of South America. GEOLOGY Vol. IV, pp. 374-405.

    Mine Development Associates, 2003, Technical Report Update on the Las Cristinas Gold and Copper Deposits, Bolivar State, Venezuela, Prepared for Crystallex International Corporation, April 20, 2003.

    Mine Development Associates, 2007, Technical Report Update on the Las Cristinas Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela, Prepared for Crystallex International Corporation, November 7, 2007.

    Pincock, Allen & Holt, 2005, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Gold and Copper Project, Brisas Project, Prepared for Gold Reserve Inc., February 24, 2005.

    Pincock, Allen & Holt, 2008, Technical Report Update, Brisas Project, Venezuela, Prepared for Gold Reserve, Inc., filed on SEDAR March 31, 2008, 153 p.

    Placer Dome Technical Services Limited, 1996, Las Cristinas Project Feasibility Study, Volumes 3 and 6, March 1996.

    SBC and Vector, July 2007, Brisas Pit Stability.

    SGS Lakefield Research Limited, February 1, 2005, An Investigation of Copper and Gold Recovery from Las Brisas Samples.

    SNC-Lavalin, 2005, Las Cristinas Project, Development Plan (Update to the Feasibility Study Issued September 2003), prepared for Crystallex International Corporation, August 2005.

    SNC-Lavalin, 2006, Brisas Process Design Criteria, Prepared for Compañia Aurifera Brisas del Cuyuni, C.A., September 6, 2006.

    SNC Lavalin, April 2006, Project Scope & Definition Document. TetraTech, March 2007, Waste Rock Dump Geochemical Analysis.

    Vector Colorado, LLC, December 2005, Hydrology and Pit Dewatering Addendum 1

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    28 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE

    This report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” and dated March 16, 2018 was prepared and signed by the following authors:

     

    (Signed and Sealed) “Richard J. Lambert

     
     

    Dated at Lakewood, CO

    March 16, 2018

    Richard J. Lambert, P.E., P.Eng. Principal Mining Engineer

    (Signed and Sealed) “José Texidor Carlsson

     
     

    Dated at Toronto, ON

    March 16, 2018

    José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo. Senior Geologist

    (Signed and Sealed) “Hugo Miranda

     
     

    Dated at Lakewood, CO

    March 16, 2018

    Hugo Miranda, ChCM (RM) Principal Mining Engineer

    (Signed and Sealed) “Kathleen Ann Altman

     
     

    Dated at Lakewood, CO

    March 16, 2018

    Kathleen Ann Altman, P.E., Ph.D. Principal Metallurgist

    (Signed and Sealed) “Grant Malensek

     
     

    Dated at Lakewood, CO

    March 16, 2018

    Grant Malensek, P.Geo., P.Eng. Principal Valuation Engineer

     

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    29 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON

    RICHARD J. LAMBERT

    I, Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng., as an author of this report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

    1.      I am Principal Mining Consultant with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 505, 143
     
  • Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA 80227.
    2.      I am a graduate of Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, U.S.A., with
     
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering in 1980, and Boise State
     
  • with a Masters of Business Administration degree in 1995.
    3.      I am a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Wyoming (#4857) and the state
     
  • Montana (#11475). I am licensed as a Professional Engineer in the Province of
     
  • (Reg. #100139998). I have been a member of the Society for Mining,
     
  • and Exploration (SME) since 1975, and a Registered Member
     
  • since May 2006. I have worked as a mining engineer for a total of 37
     
  • since my graduation. My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical
     
  • is:
     
  • Review and report as a consultant on numerous mining projects for due diligence and regulatory requirements
     
  • Mine engineering, mine management, mine operations and mine financial analyses, involving copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, uranium, oil shale, phosphates, coal and base metals located in the United States, Canada, Zambia, Madagascar, Turkey, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Serbia, Australia, Russia and Venezuela.
    4.      I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI
     
  • and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional
     
  • (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the
     
  • to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
    5.      I visited the Brisas Project site in February 2008. During the visit I observed the
     
  • pit, process plant, mine shop, tailings facility and waste dump areas. I
     
  • the drill core.
    6.      I am responsible for the preparation of Sections 15, 16, 19 and 20 and collaborated
     
  • my co-authors on Sections 1, 2, 3, 18, 21, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the Technical
     
  • 7.      I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
    8.      I prepared a previous Technical Report on the Brisas Project dated March 31, 2008.
    9.      I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with
     
  • 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.
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    10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

    (Signed and Sealed) “Richard J. Lambert

    Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng.

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    JOSÉ TEXIDOR CARLSSON

    I, José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo., as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc., and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

    1.      I am a Senior Geologist with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 501, 55 University Ave
     
  • ON, M5J 2H7.
    2.      I am a graduate of University of Surrey, United Kingdom, in 1998 with a Master of
     
  • Electronic and Electrical degree and Acadia University, Nova Scotia, in 2007
     
  • an M.Sc. degree in Geology.
    3.      I am registered as a Professional Geologist in the Province of Ontario (Reg. #2143). I have
     
  • as a geologist for a total of 10 years since my graduation. My relevant experience
     
  • the purpose of the Technical Report is:
     
  • Mineral Resource estimation and NI 43-101 reporting
     
  • Supervision of exploration properties and active mines in Canada, Mexico, and South America
     
  • Experienced user of geological and resource modelling software
    4.      I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-
     
  • and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association
     
  • defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be
     
  • "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
    5.      I did not visit the Siembra Minera Project.
    6.      I am responsible for Sections 4 to 12 and 14 and share responsibility for Sections 1, 2, 23,
     
  • 25, 26, and 27 of the Technical Report.
    7.      I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
    8.      I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
    9.      I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI
     
  • and Form 43-101F1.
    10.      At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and
     
  • the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required
     
  • be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

    (Signed and Sealed) “José Texidor Carlsson

    José Texidor Carlsson, M.Sc., P.Geo.

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    HUGO M. MIRANDA

    I, Hugo M. Miranda, ChCM (RM), as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc., and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

    1.      I am a Principal Mining Engineer with RPA (USA) Ltd. of 143 Union Boulevard, Suite 505,
     
  • Colorado, USA 80228.
    2.      I am a graduate of the Santiago University of Chile, with a B.Sc. degree in Mining
     
  • in 1993, and a Masters of Business Administration degree in 2004. I’m also a
     
  • of the Colorado School of Mines with a Master of Engineering (Engineer of Mines)
     
  • in 2015.
    3.      I am registered as a Competent Person of the Chilean Mining Commission (Registered
     
  • #0031). I am a Registered Member (#4149165) with the Society for Mining,
     
  • and Exploration (SME). I have worked as a mining engineer for a total of 23
     
  • since my graduation. My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report
     
  •  
  • Principal Mining Engineer - RPA in Colorado. Review and report as a consultant on mining operations and mining projects. Mine engineering including mine plan and pit optimization, pit design and economic evaluation.
     
  • Principal Mining Consultant – Pincock, Allen and Holt in Colorado, USA. Review and report as a consultant on numerous development and production mining projects.
     
  • Mine Planning Chief, El Tesoro Open Pit Mine - Antofagasta Minerals in Chile.
     
  • Open Pit Planning Engineer, Radomiro Tomic Mine, CODELCO – Chile.
     
  • Open Pit Planning Engineer, Andina Mine, CODELCO - Chile.
    4.      I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-
     
  • and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association
     
  • defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be
     
  • "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
    5.      I visited the Project on September 19, 2017.
    6.      I am responsible for parts of Section 16 and share responsibility with my co-authors for
     
  • 1, 2, 3, 24, 25, and 26 of the Technical Report.
    7.      I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
    8.      I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
    9.      I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI
     
  • and Form 43-101F1.
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    10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the technical report not misleading.

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

    (Signed and Sealed) “Hugo Miranda

    Hugo M. Miranda, C.P.

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    KATHLEEN ANN ALTMAN

    I, Kathleen Ann Altman, P.E., as an author of this report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc., and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

    1.      I am Principal Metallurgist with RPA (USA) Ltd. of Suite 505, 143 Union Boulevard,
     
  • Co., USA 80228.
    2.      I am a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines in 1980 with a B.S. in Metallurgical
     
  • I am a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno Mackay School of Mines
     
  • an M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering
     
  • 1999.
    3.      I am registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado (Reg. #37556) and a
     
  • Professional Member of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America
     
  • #01321QP). I have worked as a metallurgical engineer for a total of 37 years
     
  • my graduation. My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:
     
  • Review and report as a metallurgical consultant on numerous mining operations and projects around the world for due diligence and regulatory requirements.
     
  • I have worked for operating companies, including the Climax Molybdenum Company, Barrick Goldstrike, and FMC Gold in a series of positions of increasing responsibility.
     
  • I have worked as a consulting engineer on mining projects for approximately 15 years in roles such a process engineer, process manager, project engineer, area manager, study manager, and project manager. Projects have included scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, basic engineering, detailed engineering and start-up and commissioning of new projects.
     
  • I was the Newmont Professor for Extractive Mineral Process Engineering in the Mining Engineering Department of the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno from 2005 to 2009.
    4.      I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-
     
  • and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association
     
  • defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be
     
  • "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
    5.      I did not visit the Siembra Minera Project.
    6.      I am responsible for Sections 13 and 17 and share responsibility for Sections 1, 18, 20, 21,
     
  • 25, 26, and 27 of the Technical Report.
    7.      I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
    8.      I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
    9.      I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI
     
  • and Form 43-101F1.
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    10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

    (Signed and Sealed) “Kathleen Ann Altman

    Kathleen Ann Altman, P.E.

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    GRANT A. MALENSEK

    I, Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng., P.Geo., as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

    1.      I am Principal Engineer - Valuations with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 505, 143
     
  • Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA 80227.
    2.      I am a graduate of University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada in 1987 with a
     
  • degree in Geological Sciences. In addition, I have obtained a Master of
     
  • in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1997 and a
     
  • Business Certificate in Finance from the University of Denver – Daniels College
     
  • Business in 2011.
    3.      I am registered as a Professional Engineer/Geologist in the Province of British Columbia
     
  • 23905). I have worked as a mining engineer/geologist for a total of 22 years
     
  • my graduation. My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:
     
  • Numerous mining project technical-economic modeling assignments.
     
  • Review and report as a consultant on numerous mining projects for due diligence and regulatory requirements
     
  • I have worked for operating entities, including Rio Tinto Group, Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., and Newmont Mining Company on a variety of exploration and advanced development projects as well as operations in a number of countries.
    4.      I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-
     
  • and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association
     
  • defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be
     
  • "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
    5.      I did not visit the Siembra Minera Project.
    6.      I am responsible for Sections 19 and 22 and collaborated with my co-authors on Sections
     
  • and 21 of the Technical Report.
    7.      I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
    8.      I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
    9.      I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI
     
  • and Form 43-101F1.
    10.      At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and
     
  • the Technical Report sections for which I am responsible contains all scientific and
     
  • information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not
     
  • Dated 16th day of March, 2018

    (Signed and Sealed) “Grant Malensek

    Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng., P.Geo.

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 29-8

     


     


    www.rpacan.com

    30 APPENDIX 1

    CASH FLOW PROJECTION

    Gold Reserve Inc. – Siembra Minera Project, Project #2832  
    Technical Report NI 43-101 – March 16, 2018 Page 30-1

     


     

                                  YEARS -2-9                                    
     
    Economic Model Annual Summary                                                                  
      Company     GR Engineering (Barbados)                                                      
      Project Name     Brisas/Cristinas                                                            
      Scenario Name                    15CIP_140Flot_V303 BM52                           <==Grid Power                          
      Analysis Type     PEA                       <== 15kt/d CIP Plant         <== 140kt/d Flot Plant                          
    Project Timeline in Years                   1     2     3     4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11  
    Commercial Production Timeline in Years                   -2     -1     1     2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  
    Time Until Closure In Years       US$ & Metric Units LoM Avg / Total     47     46     45     44   43   42   41   40   39   38   37  
    Market Prices                                                                    
    Gold       US$/oz   $ 1,300     1,300     1,300     1,300     1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300  
    Silver       US$/oz   $ 17.00     17.00     17.00     17.00     17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00  
    Copper       US$/lb   $ 3.00     3.00     3.00     3.00     3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00  
    Physicals                                                                    
    Total Mill Feed Mined       kt     2,004,741     -     -     15,718     30,223   62,406   75,083   73,267   50,218   49,950   45,994   73,610  
    Total Waste Mined       kt     2,320,350     -     25,000     8,282     9,777   45,607   44,917   46,733   69,782   70,050   74,006   46,390  
    Total Material Mined       kt     4,325,091     -     25,000     24,000     40,000   108,014   120,000   120,000   120,000   120,000   120,000   120,000  
    Strip Ratio       W:O     1.16     -     -     0.53     0.32   0.73   0.60   0.64   1.39   1.40   1.61   0.63  
    CIP Plant Feed Processed       kt     302,195     -     -     5,162     5,800   5,800   5,800   5,800   5,800   5,800   5,800   5,800  
    Flotation Plant Feed Processed       kt     1,702,545     -     -     -     -   40,890   58,000   58,000   58,000   58,000   58,000   58,000  
    Total Mill Feed Processed       kt     2,004,741     -     -     5,162     5,800   46,690   63,800   63,800   63,800   63,800   63,800   63,800  
    Gold Grade, Processed       g/t     0.70     -     -     0.63     0.89   1.06   1.01   0.91   0.81   0.74   0.67   0.69  
    Silver Grade, Processed       g/t     0.50     -     -     0.50     0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50  
    Copper Grade, Processed       %     0.090     -     -     -     -   0.081   0.075   0.093   0.087   0.085   0.071   0.083  
    Contained Gold, Processed       koz     45,420     -     -     104     167   1,588   2,081   1,861   1,662   1,516   1,367   1,409  
    Contained Silver, Processed       koz     32,227     -     -     83     93   751   1,026   1,026   1,026   1,026   1,026   1,026  
    Contained Copper, Processed       klb     3,974,514     -     -     -     -   83,328   105,031   130,431   122,530   118,862   100,330   117,105  
    Average Recovery, Gold       %     83.9 % - -   - -     98.0 %   98.0 % 84.4 % 84.1 % 84.1 % 84.2 % 84.0 % 83.5 % 83.5 %
    Average Recovery, Silver       %     53.0 % - -   - -     30.0 %   30.0 % 53.7 % 54.6 % 54.6 % 54.6 % 54.6 % 54.6 % 54.6 %
    Average Recovery, Copper       %     84.0 % - -   - -   - -   - -   67.0 % 71.4 % 77.9 % 77.8 % 70.9 % 76.2 % 86.1 %
    Recovered Gold       koz     38,127     -     -     102     163   1,340   1,749   1,565   1,400   1,275   1,141   1,176  
    Recovered Silver       koz     17,085     -     -     25     28   403   560   560   560   560   560   560  
    Recovered Copper       klb     3,339,179     -     -     -     -   55,801   75,013   101,636   95,375   84,304   76,410   100,883  
    Payable Gold       koz     37,639     -     -     102.0     163.2   1,326.0   1,728.2   1,545.1   1,382.9   1,259.9   1,126.5   1,159.7  
    Payable Silver       koz     16,615     -     -     24.4     27.4   392.1   544.8   544.8   544.8   544.8   544.8   544.8  
    Payable Copper 1,450.44     klb     3,197,647     -     -     -     -   53,194.6   71,600.3   97,237.1   91,140.6   80,561.5   73,094.3   96,573.1  
    Cash Flow                                                                    
    Gold Gross Revenue 83 % $ 000 s   48,930,808     -     -     132,632     212,184   1,723,844   2,246,631   2,008,655   1,797,816   1,637,806   1,464,455   1,507,610  
    Silver Gross Revenue 0.5 % $ 000 s   282,450     -     -     415     466   6,666   9,261   9,261   9,261   9,261   9,261   9,261  
    Copper Gross Revenue 16 % $ 000 s   9,592,942     -     -     -     -   159,584   214,801   291,711   273,422   241,684   219,283   289,719  
    Gross Revenue Before By-Product Credits 100.0 % $ 000 s   58,806,200     -     -     133,047     212,650   1,890,095   2,470,693   2,309,628   2,080,499   1,888,751   1,692,999   1,806,590  
    Gold Gross Revenue     $ 000 s   48,930,808     -     -     132,632     212,184   1,723,844   2,246,631   2,008,655   1,797,816   1,637,806   1,464,455   1,507,610  
    Silver Gross Revenue     $ 000 s   -     -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Copper Gross Revenue     $ 000 s   -     -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Gross Revenue After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s   48,930,808     -     -     132,632     212,184   1,723,844   2,246,631   2,008,655   1,797,816   1,637,806   1,464,455   1,507,610  
    Mining Cost     $ 000 s   (5,790,854 )   -     -     (48,750 )   (62,176 ) (123,127 ) (128,247 ) (135,569 ) (148,550 ) (148,461 ) (152,813 ) (147,992 )
    Process Cost     $ 000 s   (9,880,955 )   -     -     (27,395 )   (28,807 ) (214,379 ) (263,401 ) (267,770 ) (265,501 ) (270,122 ) (297,197 ) (304,788 )
    G&A Cost     $ 000 s   (2,653,575 )   -     -     (7,695 )   (8,021 ) (61,596 ) (64,549 ) (65,272 ) (65,919 ) (66,145 ) (67,704 ) (67,755 )
    Engineering & Geology Cost     $ 000 s   (276,752 )   -     -     (4,999 )   (6,117 ) (6,117 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 )
    ARD Plant Cost     $ 000 s   (12,130 )   -     -     (215 )   (245 ) (245 ) (368 ) (368 ) (353 ) (338 ) (323 ) (323 )
    Transportation Cost     $ 000 s   (728,023 )   -     -     (64 )   (96 ) (13,624 ) (17,762 ) (22,705 ) (21,851 ) (19,350 ) (17,108 ) (22,130 )
    Offsite Treatment Cost     $ 000 s   (1,076,520 )   -     -     (623 )   (991 ) (22,483 ) (29,140 ) (34,874 ) (33,008 ) (29,486 ) (26,087 ) (32,552 )
    NSR Royalty     $ 000 s   (3,262,770 )   -     -     (6,618 )   (10,578 ) (92,699 ) (121,190 ) (112,602 ) (101,282 ) (91,996 ) (82,490 ) (87,595 )
    Special Advantages Tax     $ 000 s   (1,710,050 )   -     -     (3,971 )   (6,347 ) (55,620 ) (72,714 ) (67,561 ) (60,769 ) (55,197 ) (49,494 ) (52,557 )
    LOCTI (Science) Contributions     $ 000 s   (588,062 )   -     -     (1,330 )   (2,127 ) (18,901 ) (24,707 ) (23,096 ) (20,805 ) (18,888 ) (16,930 ) (18,066 )
    Subtotal Cash Costs Before By-Product Credits     $ 000 s   (25,979,692 )   -     -     (101,659 )   (125,506 ) (608,791 ) (728,256 ) (735,996 ) (724,216 ) (706,161 ) (716,324 ) (739,937 )
    By-Product Credits     $ 000 s   9,875,392     -     -     415     466   166,250   224,062   300,972   282,683   250,945   228,544   298,980  
    Total Cash Costs After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s   (16,104,300 )   -     -     (101,244 )   (125,040 ) (442,541 ) (504,194 ) (435,024 ) (441,534 ) (455,215 ) (487,780 ) (440,957 )
    Operating Margin 56 % $ 000 s   32,826,508     -     -     31,388     87,144   1,281,303   1,742,436   1,573,631   1,356,283   1,182,590   976,674   1,066,653  
     
    EBITDA     $ 000 s   32,826,508     -     -     31,388     87,144   1,281,303   1,742,436   1,573,631   1,356,283   1,182,590   976,674   1,066,653  
    Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s   0     -     -     36,550     49,806   6,736   (8,726 ) 12,990   3,954   (17,847 ) (26,892 ) 3,131  
    Capital Depreciation Allowance     $ 000 s   (4,212,377 )   -     -     (2,852 )   (8,371 ) (71,071 ) (96,113 ) (89,297 ) (83,277 ) (79,089 ) (73,141 ) (77,884 )
    Amortization Allowance     $ 000 s   (266,315 )   -     -     -     -   -   (750 ) (1,256 ) (10,638 ) (13,889 ) (12,225 ) (10,784 )
    Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s   (150,000 )   -     (867 )   (832 )   (1,387 ) (3,746 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 )
    Loss Carry Forward Credit     $ 000 s   (867 )   -     -     (867 )   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Earnings Before Taxes     $ 000 s   28,196,950     -     (867 )   63,386     127,192   1,213,223   1,632,685   1,491,905   1,262,161   1,067,604   860,255   976,955  
    Anti-Drug Contributions     $ 000 s   (283,851 )   -     -     (277 )   (774 ) (12,065 ) (16,414 ) (14,789 ) (12,582 ) (10,855 ) (8,871 ) (9,738 )
    Sport Contributions     $ 000 s   (283,851 )   -     -     -     (277 ) (774 ) (12,065 ) (16,414 ) (14,789 ) (12,582 ) (10,855 ) (8,871 )
    Corp. Income Tax @ Effective Rate of: 22.5 % $ 000 s   (7,373,821 )   -     -     (8,874 )   (17,807 ) (169,851 ) (228,576 ) (208,867 ) (239,811 ) (202,845 ) (163,448 ) (185,621 )
    Net Income     $ 000 s   20,255,427     -     (867 )   54,235     108,334   1,030,533   1,375,630   1,251,835   994,979   841,322   677,080   772,723  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s   (0 )   -     -     (36,550 )   (49,806 ) (6,736 ) 8,726   (12,990 ) (3,954 ) 17,847   26,892   (3,131 )
    Non-Cash Add Back - Depreciation     $ 000 s   4,212,377     -     -     2,852     8,371   71,071   96,113   89,297   83,277   79,089   73,141   77,884  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Amortization     $ 000 s   266,315     -     -     -     -   -   750   1,256   10,638   13,889   12,225   10,784  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s   150,000     -     867     832     1,387   3,746   4,162   4,162   4,162   4,162   4,162   4,162  
    Non-Cash Add Back - LCF Credit     $ 000 s   867     -     -     867     -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Working Capital     $ 000 s   0     -     -     2,260     (517 ) (128,870 ) (68,277 ) 2,610   27,520   24,907   3,979   (22,254 )
    Operating Cash Flow     $ 000 s   24,884,985     -     -     24,496     67,769   969,743   1,417,105   1,336,171   1,116,621   981,216   797,479   840,168  
     
    Development Capital     $ 000 s   (2,570,611 )   (172,074 )   (745,476 )   (475,015 )   (925,938 ) (252,107 ) -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Sustaining Capital     $ 000 s   (1,941,696 )   -     -     -     -   (18,567 ) (30,278 ) (43,987 ) (50,357 ) (26,443 ) (43,391 ) (40,934 )
    Closure/Reclamation Capital     $ 000 s   (150,000 )   -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Total Capital     $ 000 s   (4,662,307 )   (172,074 )   (745,476 )   (475,015 )   (925,938 ) (270,674 ) (30,278 ) (43,987 ) (50,357 ) (26,443 ) (43,391 ) (40,934 )
     
    Cash Flow Adj./Reimbursements     $ 000 s   -     -     -     -     -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
     
    LoM Metrics                                                                    
    Economic Metrics                                                                    
     
    Discount Factors     EOP @ 10 %         1.0000     0.9091     0.8264     0.7513   0.6830   0.6209   0.5645   0.5132   0.4665   0.4241   0.3855  
     
    a) Pre-Tax                                                                    
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s   28,164,202     (172,074 )   (745,476 )   (441,368 )   (839,311 ) 881,759   1,643,882   1,532,255   1,333,446   1,181,055   937,263   1,003,465  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s         (172,074 )   (917,551 )   (1,358,918 )   (2,198,229 ) (1,316,470 ) 327,412   1,859,667   3,193,112   4,374,167   5,311,430   6,314,895  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s   5,534,458     (172,074 )   (677,706 )   (364,767 )   (630,587 ) 602,253   1,020,721   864,918   684,268   550,971   397,491   386,879  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s         (172,074 )   (849,780 )   (1,214,547 )   (1,845,133 ) (1,242,880 ) (222,159 ) 642,759   1,327,028   1,877,998   2,275,489   2,662,369  
    IRR       %     36.8 %                                                    
    Undiscounted Payback From Start of Comm. Prod.       Years     3.8     -     -     -     -   -   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)     2.26     172,074     677,706     392,574     695,671   184,874   18,800   24,829   25,841   12,336   18,402   15,782  
     
    b) After-Tax                                                                    
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s   20,222,678     (172,074 )   (745,476 )   (450,519 )   (858,169 ) 699,069   1,386,827   1,292,185   1,066,264   954,774   754,088   799,234  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s         (172,074 )   (917,551 )   (1,368,069 )   (2,226,238 ) (1,527,169 ) (140,342 ) 1,151,843   2,218,107   3,172,880   3,926,969   4,726,203  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s   3,930,067     (172,074 )   (677,706 )   (372,330 )   (644,755 ) 477,474   861,110   729,405   547,162   445,409   319,807   308,139  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s         (172,074 )   (849,780 )   (1,222,110 )   (1,866,864 ) (1,389,391 ) (528,280 ) 201,124   748,286   1,193,695   1,513,502   1,821,642  
    IRR       %     31.1 %                                                    
    Undiscounted Payback from Start of Comm. Prod.       Years     4.1     -     -     -     -   -   -   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)     1.61     172,074     677,706     392,574     695,671   184,874   18,800   24,829   25,841   12,336   18,402   15,782  
    Operating Metrics                                                                    
    Mine Life       Years     45                                                      
    Maximum Daily Mining Rate       t/d mined     400,000     -     71,429     68,571     114,286   308,611   342,857   342,857   342,857   342,857   342,857.14   342,857  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - CIP       t/d milled     35,000     -     -     14,749     16,571   16,571   16,571   16,571   16,571   16,571   16,571   16,571  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Concentrator       t/d milled     166,000     -     -     -     -   116,829   165,714   165,714   165,714   165,714   165,714   165,714  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Combined       t/d milled     182,000     -     -     14,749     16,571   133,400   182,286   182,286   182,286   182,286   182,286   182,286  
    Mining Cost       $ / t mined   $ 1.35     -     -     2.03     1.55   1.14   1.07   1.13   1.24   1.24   1.27   1.23  
    Mining Cost       $ / t milled   $ 2.89     -     -     3.10     2.06   1.97   1.71   1.85   2.96   2.97   3.32   2.01  
    Processing Cost       $ / t milled   $ 4.93     -     -     5.31     4.97   4.59   4.13   4.20   4.16   4.23   4.66   4.78  
    G&A Cost 17 %   $ / t milled   $ 1.32     -     -     1.49     1.38   1.32   1.01   1.02   1.03   1.04   1.06   1.06  
    Other Infrastructure Cost       $ / t milled   $ 0.14     -     -     1.01     1.10   0.14   0.10   0.10   0.10   0.10   0.10   0.10  
    Transportation Cost       $ / t milled   $ 0.36     -     -     0.01     0.02   0.29   0.28   0.36   0.34   0.30   0.27   0.35  
    Offsite Costs       $ / t milled   $ 0.54     -     -     0.12     0.17   0.48   0.46   0.55   0.52   0.46   0.41   0.51  
    NSR Royalty       $ / t milled   $ 1.63     -     -     1.28     1.82   1.99   1.90   1.76   1.59   1.44   1.29   1.37  
    Special Advantages Tax Cost       $ / t milled   $ 0.85     -     -     0.77     1.09   1.19   1.14   1.06   0.95   0.87   0.78   0.82  
    Science Contributions (ITC)       $ / t milled   $ 0.29     -     -     0.26     0.37   0.40   0.39   0.36   0.33   0.30   0.27   0.28  
    Total Cost       $ / t milled   $ 12.96     -     -     13.35     12.98   12.37   11.11   11.26   11.98   11.71   12.15   11.29  
    Sales Metrics                                                                    
    Au Sales       koz     37,639     -     -     102     163.22   1,326   1,728   1,545   1,383   1,260   1,127   1,160  
    Total AISC     $ 000 s   28,071,387     -     -     101,659     125,506   627,358   758,534   779,983   774,573   732,603   759,715   780,871  
    Less Ag and Cu By-Product Credits     $ 000 s   (9,875,392 )   -     -     (415 )   (466 ) (166,250 ) (224,062 ) (300,972 ) (282,683 ) (250,945 ) (228,544 ) (298,980 )
    AISC After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s   18,195,996     -     -     101,244     125,040   461,108   534,472   479,011   491,890   481,658   531,171   481,891  
    AISC / oz Au (net of Ag and Cu byproduct credit)       $ / oz Au   $ 483     -     -     992     766   348   309   310   356   382   472   416  
     
    AuEq Sales       koz     45,236     -     -     102     164   1,454   1,901   1,777   1,600   1,453   1,302   1,390  
    AISC / oz AuEq       $ / oz AuEq   $ 621     -     -     993     767   431   399   439   484   504   583   562  

     


     

                            YEARS 10-21                                  
     
    Economic Model Annual Summary                                                        
     
     
     
                    <== 105kt/d Flot Plant + 35kt/d CIP                                      
    Project Timeline in Years           12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23  
    Commercial Production Timeline in Years           10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21  
    Time Until Closure In Years       US$ & Metric Units   36   35   34   33   32   31   30   29   28   27   26   25  
    Market Prices                                                          
    Gold       US$/oz   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300  
    Silver       US$/oz   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00  
    Copper       US$/lb   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00  
    Physicals                                                          
    Total Mill Feed Mined       kt   68,275   62,233   58,966   52,540   29,456   39,655   54,261   45,395   26,792   37,715   48,739   55,939  
    Total Waste Mined       kt   51,725   47,767   31,034   37,460   60,544   70,345   65,739   74,605   93,208   82,285   91,261   84,061  
    Total Material Mined       kt   120,000   110,000   90,000   90,000   90,000   110,000   120,000   120,000   120,000   120,000   140,000   140,000  
    Strip Ratio       W:O   0.76   0.77   0.53   0.71   2.06   1.77   1.21   1.64   3.48   2.18   1.87   1.50  
    CIP Plant Feed Processed       kt   5,800   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250   12,250  
    Flotation Plant Feed Processed       kt   58,000   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750  
    Total Mill Feed Processed       kt   63,800   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000   49,000  
    Gold Grade, Processed       g/t   0.61   0.75   0.83   0.92   1.00   0.81   0.82   0.88   0.78   0.54   0.57   0.57  
    Silver Grade, Processed       g/t   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50  
    Copper Grade, Processed       %   0.085   0.066   0.071   0.073   0.074   0.072   0.074   0.075   0.078   0.098   0.096   0.096  
    Contained Gold, Processed       koz   1,259   1,174   1,313   1,457   1,569   1,270   1,296   1,385   1,223   844   897   903  
    Contained Silver, Processed       koz   1,026   788   788   788   788   788   788   788   788   788   788   788  
    Contained Copper, Processed       klb   120,160   71,623   76,419   78,446   79,452   77,868   80,101   81,147   84,281   106,181   103,457   103,687  
    Average Recovery, Gold       %   83.5 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.8 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 84.5 % 84.3 % 84.4 %
    Average Recovery, Silver       %   54.6 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 % 50.3 %
    Average Recovery, Copper       %   83.8 % 87.0 % 86.5 % 87.0 % 84.0 % 87.0 % 87.0 % 87.0 % 87.0 % 87.0 % 80.5 % 87.0 %
    Recovered Gold       koz   1,051   985   1,101   1,221   1,315   1,065   1,087   1,162   1,026   713   756   762  
    Recovered Silver       koz   560   396   396   396   396   396   396   396   396   396   396   396  
    Recovered Copper       klb   100,695   62,312   66,095   68,248   66,747   67,745   69,688   70,598   73,325   92,378   83,317   90,208  
    Payable Gold       koz   1,036.6   972.7   1,087.0   1,205.3   1,298.3   1,050.9   1,073.1   1,147.4   1,013.1   705.2   748.6   752.7  
    Payable Silver       koz   544.8   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7   385.7  
    Payable Copper 1,450.44     klb   96,391.0   59,635.4   63,271.4   65,345.8   63,891.2   64,861.9   66,731.4   67,607.1   70,230.7   88,576.8   79,806.0   86,486.6  
    Cash Flow                                                          
    Gold Gross Revenue 83 % $ 000 s 1,347,632   1,264,510   1,413,155   1,566,839   1,687,748   1,366,154   1,395,043   1,491,623   1,316,970   916,779   973,217   978,515  
    Silver Gross Revenue 0.5 % $ 000 s 9,261   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557   6,557  
    Copper Gross Revenue 16 % $ 000 s 289,173   178,906   189,814   196,037   191,674   194,586   200,194   202,821   210,692   265,731   239,418   259,460  
    Gross Revenue Before By-Product Credits 100.0 % $ 000 s 1,646,066   1,449,973   1,609,526   1,769,433   1,885,978   1,567,297   1,601,794   1,701,001   1,534,219   1,189,066   1,219,192   1,244,531  
    Gold Gross Revenue     $ 000 s 1,347,632   1,264,510   1,413,155   1,566,839   1,687,748   1,366,154   1,395,043   1,491,623   1,316,970   916,779   973,217   978,515  
    Silver Gross Revenue     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Copper Gross Revenue     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Gross Revenue After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 1,347,632   1,264,510   1,413,155   1,566,839   1,687,748   1,366,154   1,395,043   1,491,623   1,316,970   916,779   973,217   978,515  
    Mining Cost     $ 000 s (147,059 ) (139,344 ) (125,476 ) (123,151 ) (130,511 ) (151,423 ) (158,394 ) (163,443 ) (172,031 ) (164,832 ) (183,629 ) (184,191 )
    Process Cost     $ 000 s (302,620 ) (239,285 ) (237,485 ) (238,303 ) (236,239 ) (240,232 ) (238,148 ) (238,357 ) (237,931 ) (240,895 ) (232,499 ) (248,773 )
    G&A Cost     $ 000 s (65,404 ) (61,710 ) (60,873 ) (61,106 ) (61,408 ) (62,842 ) (63,219 ) (63,565 ) (64,148 ) (63,932 ) (64,829 ) (65,736 )
    Engineering & Geology Cost     $ 000 s (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 )
    ARD Plant Cost     $ 000 s (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 ) (323 )
    Transportation Cost     $ 000 s (22,092 ) (13,835 ) (14,602 ) (15,017 ) (14,808 ) (14,894 ) (15,275 ) (15,466 ) (15,960 ) (19,529 ) (18,086 ) (19,115 )
    Offsite Treatment Cost     $ 000 s (32,090 ) (21,383 ) (22,826 ) (23,805 ) (23,919 ) (23,054 ) (23,663 ) (24,215 ) (24,334 ) (28,071 ) (26,287 ) (27,615 )
    NSR Royalty     $ 000 s (79,594 ) (84,885 ) (94,326 ) (103,837 ) (110,835 ) (91,761 ) (93,771 ) (99,679 ) (89,636 ) (68,488 ) (70,489 ) (71,868 )
    Special Advantages Tax     $ 000 s (47,756 ) (42,443 ) (47,163 ) (51,918 ) (55,418 ) (45,880 ) (46,886 ) (49,840 ) (44,818 ) (34,244 ) (35,245 ) (35,934 )
    LOCTI (Science) Contributions     $ 000 s (16,461 ) (14,500 ) (16,095 ) (17,694 ) (18,860 ) (15,673 ) (16,018 ) (17,010 ) (15,342 ) (11,891 ) (12,192 ) (12,445 )
    Subtotal Cash Costs Before By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (719,578 ) (623,887 ) (625,347 ) (641,333 ) (658,500 ) (652,262 ) (661,875 ) (678,076 ) (670,700 ) (638,383 ) (649,757 ) (672,178 )
    By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 298,434   185,463   196,371   202,594   198,230   201,143   206,751   209,378   217,249   272,287   245,975   266,017  
    Total Cash Costs After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (421,144 ) (438,424 ) (428,976 ) (438,739 ) (460,270 ) (451,119 ) (455,124 ) (468,697 ) (453,452 ) (366,096 ) (403,782 ) (406,161 )
    Operating Margin 56 % $ 000 s 926,488   826,087   984,179   1,128,100   1,227,478   915,035   939,919   1,022,926   863,518   550,683   569,435   572,353  
    EBITDA     $ 000 s 926,488   826,087   984,179   1,128,100   1,227,478   915,035   939,919   1,022,926   863,518   550,683   569,435   572,353  
    Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s 12,106   27,595   20,927   20,728   (27,929 ) (5,124 ) 14,742   596   (69,571 ) (33,834 ) (2,308 ) 22,748  
    Capital Depreciation Allowance     $ 000 s (71,969 ) (69,058 ) (78,652 ) (111,482 ) (114,765 ) (109,706 ) (109,704 ) (125,734 ) (116,902 ) (97,835 ) (125,235 ) (127,764 )
    Amortization Allowance     $ 000 s (9,745 ) (8,641 ) (8,843 ) (7,881 ) (7,448 ) (8,445 ) (9,348 ) (10,003 ) (8,033 ) (8,185 ) (8,565 ) (7,380 )
    Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s (4,162 ) (3,815 ) (3,121 ) (3,121 ) (3,121 ) (3,815 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,162 ) (4,855 ) (4,855 )
    Loss Carry Forward Credit     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Earnings Before Taxes     $ 000 s 852,718   772,167   914,490   1,026,344   1,074,215   787,945   831,447   883,622   664,850   406,666   428,471   455,102  
    Anti-Drug Contributions     $ 000 s (8,406 ) (7,446 ) (8,936 ) (10,056 ) (11,021 ) (7,931 ) (8,167 ) (8,830 ) (7,344 ) (4,405 ) (4,308 ) (4,324 )
    Sport Contributions     $ 000 s (9,738 ) (8,406 ) (7,446 ) (8,936 ) (10,056 ) (11,021 ) (7,931 ) (8,167 ) (8,830 ) (7,344 ) (4,405 ) (4,308 )
    Corp. Income Tax @ Effective Rate of: 22.5 % $ 000 s (162,017 ) (185,320 ) (219,478 ) (246,323 ) (257,812 ) (189,107 ) (241,120 ) (256,250 ) (192,807 ) (117,933 ) (124,257 ) (154,735 )
    Net Income     $ 000 s 672,558   570,995   678,631   761,030   795,326   579,886   574,229   610,375   455,869   276,984   295,502   291,736  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s (12,106 ) (27,595 ) (20,927 ) (20,728 ) 27,929   5,124   (14,742 ) (596 ) 69,571   33,834   2,308   (22,748 )
    Non-Cash Add Back - Depreciation     $ 000 s 71,969   69,058   78,652   111,482   114,765   109,706   109,704   125,734   116,902   97,835   125,235   127,764  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Amortization     $ 000 s 9,745   8,641   8,843   7,881   7,448   8,445   9,348   10,003   8,033   8,185   8,565   7,380  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s 4,162   3,815   3,121   3,121   3,121   3,815   4,162   4,162   4,162   4,162   4,855   4,855  
    Non-Cash Add Back - LCF Credit     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Working Capital     $ 000 s 19,529   23,836   (16,248 ) (17,648 ) (6,759 ) 27,615   (2,037 ) (8,383 ) 14,673   42,695   4,635   (14,518 )
    Operating Cash Flow     $ 000 s 765,856   648,751   732,072   845,138   941,830   734,591   680,664   741,294   669,210   463,696   441,100   394,469  
    Development Capital     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Sustaining Capital     $ 000 s (35,301 ) (72,713 ) (22,522 ) (35,269 ) (22,989 ) (114,194 ) (48,088 ) (107,355 ) (45,940 ) (45,000 ) (227,328 ) (40,219 )
    Closure/Reclamation Capital     $ 000 s (4,000 ) -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   (4,000 ) -  
    Total Capital     $ 000 s (39,301 ) (72,713 ) (22,522 ) (35,269 ) (22,989 ) (114,194 ) (48,088 ) (107,355 ) (45,940 ) (45,000 ) (231,328 ) (40,219 )
     
    Cash Flow Adj./Reimbursements     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
     
    LoM Metrics                                                          
    Economic Metrics                                                          
     
    Discount Factors     EOP @ 10 % 0.3505   0.3186   0.2897   0.2633   0.2394   0.2176   0.1978   0.1799   0.1635   0.1486   0.1351   0.1228  
    a) Pre-Tax                                                          
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 906,716   777,211   945,410   1,075,183   1,197,730   828,455   889,793   907,187   832,251   548,378   342,741   517,616  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 7,221,611   7,998,822   8,944,231   10,019,414   11,217,144   12,045,600   12,935,393   13,842,580   14,674,831   15,223,209   15,565,950   16,083,566  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s 317,798   247,643   273,852   283,129   286,727   180,296   176,041   163,166   136,080   81,513   46,315   63,587  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s 2,980,167   3,227,810   3,501,662   3,784,791   4,071,518   4,251,814   4,427,855   4,591,021   4,727,100   4,808,613   4,854,928   4,918,515  
    IRR       %                                                  
    Undiscounted Payback From Start of Comm. Prod.       Years   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)   13,775   23,168   6,524   9,287   5,503   24,852   9,514   19,309   7,512   6,689   31,260   4,941  
     
    b) After-Tax                                                          
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 726,555   576,039   709,551   809,869   918,840   620,397   632,576   633,940   623,270   418,695   209,772   354,250  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 5,452,758   6,028,797   6,738,348   7,548,216   8,467,057   9,087,453   9,720,029   10,353,969   10,977,238   11,395,934   11,605,706   11,959,956  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s 254,653   183,544   205,532   213,264   219,963   135,016   125,152   114,020   101,910   62,236   28,347   43,518  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s 2,076,295   2,259,838   2,465,370   2,678,634   2,898,597   3,033,613   3,158,765   3,272,785   3,374,694   3,436,931   3,465,277   3,508,795  
    IRR       %                                                  
    Undiscounted Payback from Start of Comm. Prod.       Years   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)   13,775   23,168   6,524   9,287   5,503   24,852   9,514   19,309   7,512   6,689   31,260   4,941  
    Operating Metrics                                                          
    Mine Life       Years                                                  
    Maximum Daily Mining Rate       t/d mined   342,857   314,286   257,143   257,143   257,143   314,286   342,857   342,857   342,857   342,857   400,000   400,000  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - CIP       t/d milled   16,571   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000   35,000  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Concentrator       t/d milled   165,714   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Combined       t/d milled   182,286   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000   140,000  
    Mining Cost       $ / t mined   1.23   1.27   1.39   1.37   1.45   1.38   1.32   1.36   1.43   1.37   1.31   1.32  
    Mining Cost       $ / t milled   2.15   2.24   2.13   2.34   4.43   3.82   2.92   3.60   6.42   4.37   3.77   3.29  
    Processing Cost       $ / t milled   4.74   4.88   4.85   4.86   4.82   4.90   4.86   4.86   4.86   4.92   4.74   5.08  
    G&A Cost 17 %   $ / t milled   1.03   1.26   1.24   1.25   1.25   1.28   1.29   1.30   1.31   1.30   1.32   1.34  
    Other Infrastructure Cost       $ / t milled   0.10   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13   0.13  
    Transportation Cost       $ / t milled   0.35   0.28   0.30   0.31   0.30   0.30   0.31   0.32   0.33   0.40   0.37   0.39  
    Offsite Costs       $ / t milled   0.50   0.44   0.47   0.49   0.49   0.47   0.48   0.49   0.50   0.57   0.54   0.56  
    NSR Royalty       $ / t milled   1.25   1.73   1.93   2.12   2.26   1.87   1.91   2.03   1.83   1.40   1.44   1.47  
    Special Advantages Tax Cost       $ / t milled   0.75   0.87   0.96   1.06   1.13   0.94   0.96   1.02   0.91   0.70   0.72   0.73  
    Science Contributions (ITC)       $ / t milled   0.26   0.30   0.33   0.36   0.38   0.32   0.33   0.35   0.31   0.24   0.25   0.25  
    Total Cost       $ / t milled   11.13   12.13   12.33   12.92   15.21   14.04   13.19   14.10   16.60   14.03   13.28   13.25  
    Sales Metrics                                                          
    Au Sales       koz   1,037   973   1,087   1,205   1,298   1,051   1,073   1,147   1,013   705   749   753  
    Total AISC     $ 000 s 758,879   696,599   647,868   676,602   681,489   766,456   709,964   785,430   716,641   683,384   881,086   712,397  
    Less Ag and Cu By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (298,434 ) (185,463 ) (196,371 ) (202,594 ) (198,230 ) (201,143 ) (206,751 ) (209,378 ) (217,249 ) (272,287 ) (245,975 ) (266,017 )
    AISC After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 460,445   511,136   451,497   474,008   483,259   565,313   503,213   576,052   499,392   411,096   635,111   446,381  
    AISC / oz Au (net of Ag and Cu byproduct credit)       $ / oz Au   444   525   415   393   372   538   469   502   493   583   848   593  
     
    AuEq Sales       koz   1,266   1,115   1,238   1,361   1,451   1,206   1,232   1,308   1,180   915   938   957  
    AISC / oz AuEq       $ / oz AuEq   599   625   523   497   470   636   576   600   607   747   939   744  

     


     

                            YEARS 22-33                                  
     
    Economic Model Annual Summary                                                        
     
     
     
     
    Project Timeline in Years           24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35  
    Commercial Production Timeline in Years           22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33  
    Time Until Closure In Years       US$ & Metric Units   24   23   22   21   20   19   18   17   16   15   14   13  
    Market Prices                                                          
    Gold       US$/oz   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300  
    Silver       US$/oz   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00  
    Copper       US$/lb   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00  
    Physicals                                                          
    Total Mill Feed Mined       kt   52,627   60,390   55,088   41,849   44,956   44,956   44,956   44,956   44,956   38,186   38,186   38,186  
    Total Waste Mined       kt   87,373   79,610   44,912   58,151   35,044   35,044   35,044   35,044   35,044   41,814   41,814   41,814  
    Total Material Mined       kt   140,000   140,000   100,000   100,000   80,000   80,000   80,000   80,000   80,000   80,000   80,000   80,000  
    Strip Ratio       W:O   1.66   1.32   0.82   1.39   0.78   0.78   0.78   0.78   0.78   1.10   1.10   1.10  
    CIP Plant Feed Processed       kt   11,954   9,915   2,355   9,887   7,858   7,858   7,858   7,858   7,858   4,256   4,256   4,256  
    Flotation Plant Feed Processed       kt   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750  
    Total Mill Feed Processed       kt   48,704   46,665   39,105   46,637   44,608   44,608   44,608   44,608   44,608   41,006   41,006   41,006  
    Gold Grade, Processed       g/t   0.60   0.60   0.65   0.67   0.64   0.64   0.64   0.64   0.64   0.63   0.63   0.63  
    Silver Grade, Processed       g/t   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50  
    Copper Grade, Processed       %   0.099   0.104   0.128   0.110   0.099   0.099   0.099   0.099   0.099   0.106   0.106   0.106  
    Contained Gold, Processed       koz   946   898   812   998   911   911   911   911   911   830   830   830  
    Contained Silver, Processed       koz   783   750   629   750   717   717   717   717   717   659   659   659  
    Contained Copper, Processed       klb   105,791   107,038   110,305   112,907   97,048   97,048   97,048   97,048   97,048   96,182   96,182   96,182  
    Average Recovery, Gold       %   84.3 % 84.1 % 83.5 % 84.0 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.9 % 83.6 % 83.6 % 83.6 %
    Average Recovery, Silver       %   50.4 % 51.3 % 55.5 % 51.4 % 52.3 % 52.3 % 52.3 % 52.3 % 52.3 % 54.3 % 54.3 % 54.3 %
    Average Recovery, Copper       %   87.0 % 87.0 % 87.0 % 85.8 % 85.8 % 85.8 % 85.8 % 85.8 % 85.8 % 87.0 % 87.0 % 87.0 %
    Recovered Gold       koz   798   755   677   839   765   765   765   765   765   694   694   694  
    Recovered Silver       koz   395   385   349   385   375   375   375   375   375   358   358   358  
    Recovered Copper       klb   92,038   93,123   95,966   96,890   83,224   83,224   83,224   83,224   83,224   83,679   83,679   83,679  
    Payable Gold       koz   788.4   745.7   667.5   828.3   755.3   755.3   755.3   755.3   755.3   684.6   684.6   684.6  
    Payable Silver       koz   384.3   374.7   338.9   374.5   364.9   364.9   364.9   364.9   364.9   347.9   347.9   347.9  
    Payable Copper 1,450.44     klb   88,249.7   89,294.5   92,033.4   92,916.2   79,752.6   79,752.6   79,752.6   79,752.6   79,752.6   80,198.2   80,198.2   80,198.2  
    Cash Flow                                                          
    Gold Gross Revenue 83 % $ 000 s 1,024,977   969,440   867,812   1,076,739   981,936   981,936   981,936   981,936   981,936   889,992   889,992   889,992  
    Silver Gross Revenue 0.5 % $ 000 s 6,533   6,369   5,762   6,367   6,204   6,204   6,204   6,204   6,204   5,915   5,915   5,915  
    Copper Gross Revenue 16 % $ 000 s 264,749   267,883   276,100   278,749   239,258   239,258   239,258   239,258   239,258   240,595   240,595   240,595  
    Gross Revenue Before By-Product Credits 100.0 % $ 000 s 1,296,259   1,243,693   1,149,674   1,361,854   1,227,398   1,227,398   1,227,398   1,227,398   1,227,398   1,136,502   1,136,502   1,136,502  
    Gold Gross Revenue     $ 000 s 1,024,977   969,440   867,812   1,076,739   981,936   981,936   981,936   981,936   981,936   889,992   889,992   889,992  
    Silver Gross Revenue     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Copper Gross Revenue     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Gross Revenue After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 1,024,977   969,440   867,812   1,076,739   981,936   981,936   981,936   981,936   981,936   889,992   889,992   889,992  
    Mining Cost     $ 000 s (182,617 ) (184,361 ) (144,211 ) (145,168 ) (122,336 ) (123,705 ) (101,016 ) (115,784 ) (115,784 ) (116,111 ) (116,032 ) (115,963 )
    Process Cost     $ 000 s (259,522 ) (241,538 ) (205,759 ) (233,408 ) (222,755 ) (224,414 ) (222,952 ) (223,269 ) (222,952 ) (213,225 ) (212,284 ) (212,493 )
    G&A Cost     $ 000 s (66,167 ) (65,301 ) (61,437 ) (62,758 ) (60,966 ) (61,056 ) (59,571 ) (60,441 ) (60,426 ) (59,918 ) (59,789 ) (59,796 )
    Engineering & Geology Cost     $ 000 s (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 )
    ARD Plant Cost     $ 000 s (323 ) (323 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 )
    Transportation Cost     $ 000 s (19,461 ) (19,645 ) (20,102 ) (20,400 ) (17,824 ) (17,824 ) (17,824 ) (17,824 ) (17,824 ) (17,826 ) (17,826 ) (17,826 )
    Offsite Treatment Cost     $ 000 s (28,210 ) (28,272 ) (28,414 ) (29,598 ) (25,838 ) (25,838 ) (25,838 ) (25,838 ) (25,838 ) (25,484 ) (25,484 ) (25,484 )
    NSR Royalty     $ 000 s (74,915 ) (71,747 ) (66,069 ) (78,711 ) (71,024 ) (71,024 ) (71,024 ) (71,024 ) (71,024 ) (65,592 ) (65,592 ) (65,592 )
    Special Advantages Tax     $ 000 s (37,458 ) (35,873 ) (33,035 ) (39,356 ) (35,512 ) (35,512 ) (35,512 ) (35,512 ) (35,512 ) (32,796 ) (32,796 ) (32,796 )
    LOCTI (Science) Contributions     $ 000 s (12,963 ) (12,437 ) (11,497 ) (13,619 ) (12,274 ) (12,274 ) (12,274 ) (12,274 ) (12,274 ) (11,365 ) (11,365 ) (11,365 )
    Subtotal Cash Costs Before By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (687,814 ) (665,675 ) (576,923 ) (629,417 ) (574,928 ) (578,046 ) (552,409 ) (568,365 ) (568,032 ) (548,716 ) (547,566 ) (547,713 )
    By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 271,282   274,253   281,862   285,116   245,462   245,462   245,462   245,462   245,462   246,509   246,509   246,509  
    Total Cash Costs After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (416,531 ) (391,422 ) (295,061 ) (344,301 ) (329,466 ) (332,584 ) (306,947 ) (322,903 ) (322,570 ) (302,206 ) (301,057 ) (301,203 )
    Operating Margin 56 % $ 000 s 608,446   578,018   572,750   732,438   652,470   649,352   674,988   659,032   659,365   587,786   588,936   588,789  
     
    EBITDA     $ 000 s 608,446   578,018   572,750   732,438   652,470   649,352   674,988   659,032   659,365   587,786   588,936   588,789  
    Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s 15,847   35,479   36,828   (9,238 ) (6,928 ) (1,052 ) (9,848 ) 3,696   3,125   2,602   (3,512 ) (6,783 )
    Capital Depreciation Allowance     $ 000 s (132,610 ) (126,030 ) (114,455 ) (118,043 ) (109,259 ) (111,173 ) (86,073 ) (88,900 ) (87,095 ) (80,253 ) (80,946 ) (85,719 )
    Amortization Allowance     $ 000 s (5,052 ) (5,393 ) (5,421 ) (5,643 ) (5,354 ) (4,797 ) (5,998 ) (5,432 ) (5,432 ) (5,432 ) (5,385 ) (5,335 )
    Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s (4,855 ) (4,855 ) (3,468 ) (3,468 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (2,775 )
    Loss Carry Forward Credit     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Earnings Before Taxes     $ 000 s 481,775   477,218   486,234   596,045   528,154   529,556   570,295   565,621   567,189   501,929   496,318   488,177  
    Anti-Drug Contributions     $ 000 s (4,659 ) (4,417 ) (4,494 ) (6,053 ) (5,351 ) (5,306 ) (5,801 ) (5,619 ) (5,641 ) (4,993 ) (4,998 ) (4,950 )
    Sport Contributions     $ 000 s (4,324 ) (4,659 ) (4,417 ) (4,494 ) (6,053 ) (5,351 ) (5,306 ) (5,801 ) (5,619 ) (5,641 ) (4,993 ) (4,998 )
    Corp. Income Tax @ Effective Rate of: 22.5 % $ 000 s (163,804 ) (162,254 ) (165,320 ) (202,655 ) (179,572 ) (180,049 ) (193,900 ) (192,311 ) (192,844 ) (170,656 ) (168,748 ) (165,980 )
    Net Income     $ 000 s 308,989   305,887   312,003   382,843   337,178   338,850   365,287   361,889   363,085   320,639   317,578   312,249  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s (15,847 ) (35,479 ) (36,828 ) 9,238   6,928   1,052   9,848   (3,696 ) (3,125 ) (2,602 ) 3,512   6,783  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Depreciation     $ 000 s 132,610   126,030   114,455   118,043   109,259   111,173   86,073   88,900   87,095   80,253   80,946   85,719  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Amortization     $ 000 s 5,052   5,393   5,421   5,643   5,354   4,797   5,998   5,432   5,432   5,432   5,385   5,335  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s 4,855   4,855   3,468   3,468   2,775   2,775   2,775   2,775   2,775   2,775   2,775   2,775  
    Non-Cash Add Back - LCF Credit     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Working Capital     $ 000 s (4,850 ) 2,200   (7,582 ) (4,740 ) 9,949   142   (896 ) 539   (19 ) 331   (66 ) 10  
    Operating Cash Flow     $ 000 s 430,810   408,888   390,938   514,495   471,443   458,788   469,085   455,839   455,242   406,828   410,130   412,871  
    Development Capital     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Sustaining Capital     $ 000 s (42,443 ) (62,739 ) (19,228 ) (24,507 ) (27,534 ) (31,447 ) (39,531 ) (46,500 ) (26,067 ) (25,257 ) (37,345 ) (45,003 )
    Closure/Reclamation Capital     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   (3,000 ) -   -   (6,000 )
    Total Capital     $ 000 s (42,443 ) (62,739 ) (19,228 ) (24,507 ) (27,534 ) (31,447 ) (39,531 ) (46,500 ) (29,067 ) (25,257 ) (37,345 ) (51,003 )
     
    Cash Flow Adj./Reimbursements     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
     
    LoM Metrics                                                          
    Economic Metrics                                                          
     
    Discount Factors     EOP @ 10 % 0.1117   0.1015   0.0923   0.0839   0.0763   0.0693   0.0630   0.0573   0.0521   0.0474   0.0431   0.0391  
     
    a) Pre-Tax                                                          
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 561,153   517,479   545,940   703,190   634,884   618,046   634,562   613,072   630,280   562,860   551,524   537,796  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 16,644,719   17,162,198   17,708,138   18,411,328   19,046,213   19,664,259   20,298,820   20,911,892   21,542,171   22,105,031   22,656,556   23,194,352  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s 62,668   52,537   50,388   59,001   48,428   42,857   40,002   35,134   32,837   26,658   23,747   21,051  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s 4,981,183   5,033,721   5,084,109   5,143,110   5,191,538   5,234,395   5,274,398   5,309,532   5,342,369   5,369,027   5,392,774   5,413,825  
    IRR       %                                                  
    Undiscounted Payback From Start of Comm. Prod.       Years   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)   4,740   6,370   1,775   2,056   2,100   2,181   2,492   2,665   1,514   1,196   1,608   1,996  
     
    b) After-Tax                                                          
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 388,366   346,149   371,709   489,988   443,908   427,340   429,554   409,340   426,176   381,570   372,785   361,868  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 12,348,322   12,694,470   13,066,180   13,556,168   14,000,076   14,427,416   14,856,970   15,266,309   15,692,485   16,074,055   16,446,840   16,808,708  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s 43,372   35,143   34,307   41,113   33,860   29,633   27,079   23,459   22,203   18,072   16,051   14,164  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s 3,552,167   3,587,310   3,621,618   3,662,730   3,696,591   3,726,224   3,753,303   3,776,761   3,798,964   3,817,037   3,833,087   3,847,252  
    IRR       %                                                  
    Undiscounted Payback from Start of Comm. Prod.       Years   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)   4,740   6,370   1,775   2,056   2,100   2,181   2,492   2,665   1,514   1,196   1,608   1,996  
    Operating Metrics                                                          
    Mine Life       Years                                                  
    Maximum Daily Mining Rate       t/d mined   400,000   400,000   285,714   285,714   228,571   228,571   228,571   228,571   228,571   228,571   228,571   228,571  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - CIP       t/d milled   34,154   28,327   6,727   28,248   22,451   22,451   22,451   22,451   22,451   12,159   12,159   12,159  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Concentrator       t/d milled   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Combined       t/d milled   139,154   133,327   111,727   133,248   127,451   127,451   127,451   127,451   127,451   117,159   117,159   117,159  
    Mining Cost       $ / t mined   1.30   1.32   1.44   1.45   1.53   1.55   1.26   1.45   1.45   1.45   1.45   1.45  
    Mining Cost       $ / t milled   3.47   3.05   2.62   3.47   2.72   2.75   2.25   2.58   2.58   3.04   3.04   3.04  
    Processing Cost       $ / t milled   5.33   5.18   5.26   5.00   4.99   5.03   5.00   5.01   5.00   5.20   5.18   5.18  
    G&A Cost 17 %   $ / t milled   1.36   1.40   1.57   1.35   1.37   1.37   1.34   1.35   1.35   1.46   1.46   1.46  
    Other Infrastructure Cost       $ / t milled   0.13   0.14   0.16   0.14   0.14   0.14   0.14   0.14   0.14   0.16   0.16   0.16  
    Transportation Cost       $ / t milled   0.40   0.42   0.51   0.44   0.40   0.40   0.40   0.40   0.40   0.43   0.43   0.43  
    Offsite Costs       $ / t milled   0.58   0.61   0.73   0.63   0.58   0.58   0.58   0.58   0.58   0.62   0.62   0.62  
    NSR Royalty       $ / t milled   1.54   1.54   1.69   1.69   1.59   1.59   1.59   1.59   1.59   1.60   1.60   1.60  
    Special Advantages Tax Cost       $ / t milled   0.77   0.77   0.84   0.84   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80  
    Science Contributions (ITC)       $ / t milled   0.27   0.27   0.29   0.29   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28  
    Total Cost       $ / t milled   13.84   13.37   13.68   13.85   12.87   12.94   12.37   12.72   12.71   13.59   13.56   13.57  
    Sales Metrics                                                          
    Au Sales       koz   788   746   668   828   755   755   755   755   755   685   685   685  
    Total AISC     $ 000 s 730,257   728,414   596,152   653,924   602,462   609,493   591,940   614,865   597,099   573,973   584,911   598,716  
    Less Ag and Cu By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (271,282 ) (274,253 ) (281,862 ) (285,116 ) (245,462 ) (245,462 ) (245,462 ) (245,462 ) (245,462 ) (246,509 ) (246,509 ) (246,509 )
    AISC After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 458,975   454,161   314,289   368,808   357,000   364,031   346,478   369,403   351,637   327,463   338,401   352,206  
    AISC / oz Au (net of Ag and Cu byproduct credit)       $ / oz Au   582   609   471   445   473   482   459   489   466   478   494   514  
     
    AuEq Sales       koz   997   957   884   1,048   944   944   944   944   944   874   874   874  
    AISC / oz AuEq       $ / oz AuEq   732   761   674   624   638   646   627   651   632   657   669   685  

     


     

                            YEARS 34-45                                  
     
    Economic Model Annual Summary                                                        
      Company     GR Engineering (Ba                                                  
      Project Name     Brisas/Cristinas                                                  
      Scenario Name 15CIP_140Flot_V30                                                  
      Analysis Type     PEA                                                  
    Project Timeline in Years           36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47  
    Commercial Production Timeline in Years           34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45  
    Time Until Closure In Years       US$ & Metric Units   12   11   10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1  
    Market Prices                                                          
    Gold       US$/oz   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300   1,300  
    Silver       US$/oz   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00   17.00  
    Copper       US$/lb   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00   3.00  
    Physicals                                                          
    Total Mill Feed Mined       kt   38,186   38,186   33,607   33,607   33,607   33,607   33,607   37,099   37,099   37,099   37,099   6,214  
    Total Waste Mined       kt   41,814   41,814   60,393   60,393   60,393   60,393   60,393   32,026   32,026   32,026   32,026   5,364  
    Total Material Mined       kt   80,000   80,000   94,000   94,000   94,000   94,000   94,000   69,125   69,125   69,125   69,125   11,578  
    Strip Ratio       W:O   1.10   1.10   1.80   1.80   1.80   1.80   1.80   0.86   0.86   0.86   0.86   0.86  
    CIP Plant Feed Processed       kt   4,256   4,256   2,386   2,386   2,386   2,386   2,386   834   834   834   834   140  
    Flotation Plant Feed Processed       kt   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   36,750   6,155  
    Total Mill Feed Processed       kt   41,006   41,006   39,136   39,136   39,136   39,136   39,136   37,584   37,584   37,584   37,584   6,295  
    Gold Grade, Processed       g/t   0.63   0.63   0.67   0.67   0.67   0.67   0.67   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50  
    Silver Grade, Processed       g/t   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50   0.50  
    Copper Grade, Processed       %   0.106   0.106   0.084   0.084   0.084   0.084   0.084   0.106   0.106   0.106   0.106   0.106  
    Contained Gold, Processed       koz   830   830   839   839   839   839   839   605   605   605   605   101  
    Contained Silver, Processed       koz   659   659   629   629   629   629   629   604   604   604   604   101  
    Contained Copper, Processed       klb   96,182   96,182   72,863   72,863   72,863   72,863   72,863   88,200   88,200   88,200   88,200   14,773  
    Average Recovery, Gold       %   83.6 % 83.6 % 83.5 % 83.5 % 83.5 % 83.5 % 83.5 % 83.3 % 83.3 % 83.3 % 83.3 % 83.3 %
    Average Recovery, Silver       %   54.3 % 54.3 % 55.4 % 55.4 % 55.4 % 55.4 % 55.4 % 56.5 % 56.5 % 56.5 % 56.5 % 56.5 %
    Average Recovery, Copper       %   87.0 % 87.0 % 84.4 % 84.4 % 84.4 % 84.4 % 84.4 % 86.6 % 86.6 % 86.6 % 86.6 % 86.6 %
    Recovered Gold       koz   694   694   701   701   701   701   701   504   504   504   504   84  
    Recovered Silver       koz   358   358   349   349   349   349   349   341   341   341   341   57  
    Recovered Copper       klb   83,679   83,679   61,531   61,531   61,531   61,531   61,531   76,357   76,357   76,357   76,357   12,789  
    Payable Gold       koz   684.6   684.6   691.1   691.1   691.1   691.1   691.1   496.5   496.5   496.5   496.5   83.2  
    Payable Silver       koz   347.9   347.9   339.1   339.1   339.1   339.1   339.1   331.7   331.7   331.7   331.7   55.6  
    Payable Copper 1,450.44     klb   80,198.2   80,198.2   58,865.4   58,865.4   58,865.4   58,865.4   58,865.4   73,146.0   73,146.0   73,146.0   73,146.0   12,251.3  
    Cash Flow                                                          
    Gold Gross Revenue 83 % $ 000 s 889,992   889,992   898,478   898,478   898,478   898,478   898,478   645,470   645,470   645,470   645,470   108,110  
    Silver Gross Revenue 0.5 % $ 000 s 5,915   5,915   5,764   5,764   5,764   5,764   5,764   5,640   5,640   5,640   5,640   945  
    Copper Gross Revenue 16 % $ 000 s 240,595   240,595   176,596   176,596   176,596   176,596   176,596   219,438   219,438   219,438   219,438   36,754  
    Gross Revenue Before By-Product Credits 100.0 % $ 000 s 1,136,502   1,136,502   1,080,839   1,080,839   1,080,839   1,080,839   1,080,839   870,548   870,548   870,548   870,548   145,809  
    Gold Gross Revenue     $ 000 s 889,992   889,992   898,478   898,478   898,478   898,478   898,478   645,470   645,470   645,470   645,470   108,110  
    Silver Gross Revenue     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Copper Gross Revenue     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Gross Revenue After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 889,992   889,992   898,478   898,478   898,478   898,478   898,478   645,470   645,470   645,470   645,470   108,110  
    Mining Cost     $ 000 s (116,253 ) (114,648 ) (127,383 ) (127,201 ) (119,432 ) (119,530 ) (119,533 ) (95,759 ) (95,759 ) (95,857 ) (95,564 ) (41,677 )
    Process Cost     $ 000 s (211,925 ) (213,368 ) (204,268 ) (204,802 ) (204,268 ) (205,372 ) (204,214 ) (200,909 ) (200,341 ) (200,731 ) (200,537 ) (65,521 )
    G&A Cost     $ 000 s (59,782 ) (59,591 ) (59,864 ) (59,780 ) (57,697 ) (57,757 ) (57,699 ) (56,006 ) (55,978 ) (56,002 ) (55,905 ) (46,459 )
    Engineering & Geology Cost     $ 000 s (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 ) (6,179 )
    ARD Plant Cost     $ 000 s (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 ) (220 )
    Transportation Cost     $ 000 s (17,826 ) (17,826 ) (13,684 ) (13,684 ) (13,684 ) (13,684 ) (13,684 ) (16,407 ) (16,407 ) (16,407 ) (16,407 ) (2,748 )
    Offsite Treatment Cost     $ 000 s (25,484 ) (25,484 ) (19,961 ) (19,961 ) (19,961 ) (19,961 ) (19,961 ) (22,822 ) (22,822 ) (22,822 ) (22,822 ) (3,822 )
    NSR Royalty     $ 000 s (65,592 ) (65,592 ) (62,832 ) (62,832 ) (62,832 ) (62,832 ) (62,832 ) (49,879 ) (49,879 ) (49,879 ) (49,879 ) (8,354 )
    Special Advantages Tax     $ 000 s (32,796 ) (32,796 ) (31,416 ) (31,416 ) (31,416 ) (31,416 ) (31,416 ) (24,940 ) (24,940 ) (24,940 ) (24,940 ) (4,177 )
    LOCTI (Science) Contributions     $ 000 s (11,365 ) (11,365 ) (10,808 ) (10,808 ) (10,808 ) (10,808 ) (10,808 ) (8,705 ) (8,705 ) (8,705 ) (8,705 ) (1,458 )
    Subtotal Cash Costs Before By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (547,421 ) (547,068 ) (536,616 ) (536,883 ) (526,497 ) (527,759 ) (526,546 ) (481,827 ) (481,230 ) (481,743 ) (481,158 ) (180,617 )
    By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 246,509   246,509   182,361   182,361   182,361   182,361   182,361   225,078   225,078   225,078   225,078   37,698  
    Total Cash Costs After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (300,912 ) (300,559 ) (354,255 ) (354,522 ) (344,137 ) (345,398 ) (344,186 ) (256,749 ) (256,153 ) (256,665 ) (256,081 ) (142,918 )
    Operating Margin 56 % $ 000 s 589,081   589,434   544,224   543,957   554,342   553,080   554,293   388,722   389,318   388,806   389,390   (34,808 )
    EBITDA     $ 000 s 589,081   589,434   544,224   543,957   554,342   553,080   554,293   388,722   389,318   388,806   389,390   (34,808 )
    Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s (8,312 ) (9,848 ) (9,569 ) (14,771 ) (18,577 ) (17,169 ) (16,809 ) (1,377 ) (1,316 ) (1,311 ) (1,315 ) (219 )
    Capital Depreciation Allowance     $ 000 s (85,266 ) (90,882 ) (89,209 ) (89,995 ) (89,211 ) (98,138 ) (96,726 ) (88,041 ) (90,327 ) (91,724 ) (92,833 ) (149,568 )
    Amortization Allowance     $ 000 s (4,786 ) (4,786 ) (4,786 ) (4,792 ) (4,800 ) (4,855 ) (4,855 ) (4,855 ) (4,254 ) (3,485 ) (1,663 ) (1,663 )
    Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s (2,775 ) (2,775 ) (3,260 ) (3,260 ) (3,260 ) (3,260 ) (3,260 ) (2,397 ) (2,397 ) (2,397 ) (2,397 ) (402 )
    Loss Carry Forward Credit     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Earnings Before Taxes     $ 000 s 487,942   481,144   437,400   431,138   438,494   429,658   432,643   292,051   291,024   289,888   291,182   (186,660 )
    Anti-Drug Contributions     $ 000 s (4,963 ) (4,910 ) (4,470 ) (4,459 ) (4,571 ) (4,468 ) (4,495 ) (2,934 ) (2,923 ) (2,912 ) (2,925 ) -  
    Sport Contributions     $ 000 s (4,950 ) (4,963 ) (4,910 ) (4,470 ) (4,459 ) (4,571 ) (4,468 ) (4,495 ) (2,934 ) (2,923 ) (2,912 ) (2,925 )
    Corp. Income Tax @ Effective Rate of: 22.5 % $ 000 s (165,900 ) (163,589 ) (148,716 ) (146,587 ) (149,088 ) (146,084 ) (147,099 ) (99,297 ) (98,948 ) (98,562 ) (99,002 ) -  
    Net Income     $ 000 s 312,129   307,682   279,304   275,622   280,376   274,535   276,582   185,325   186,218   185,490   186,343   (189,585 )
    Non-Cash Add Back - Stockpile Adjustments     $ 000 s 8,312   9,848   9,569   14,771   18,577   17,169   16,809   1,377   1,316   1,311   1,315   219  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Depreciation     $ 000 s 85,266   90,882   89,209   89,995   89,211   98,138   96,726   88,041   90,327   91,724   92,833   149,568  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Amortization     $ 000 s 4,786   4,786   4,786   4,792   4,800   4,855   4,855   4,855   4,254   3,485   1,663   1,663  
    Non-Cash Add Back - Reclamation Amortization     $ 000 s 2,775   2,775   3,260   3,260   3,260   3,260   3,260   2,397   2,397   2,397   2,397   402  
    Non-Cash Add Back - LCF Credit     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Working Capital     $ 000 s (24 ) 15   6,298   17   (450 ) 70   (70 ) 15,236   (34 ) 27   (28 ) 68,953  
    Operating Cash Flow     $ 000 s 413,244   415,988   392,426   388,457   395,774   398,027   398,162   297,232   284,478   284,435   284,523   31,221  
    Development Capital     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
    Sustaining Capital     $ 000 s (25,994 ) (42,572 ) (25,210 ) (31,857 ) (13,761 ) (58,290 ) (30,217 ) (119,841 ) (36,437 ) (21,385 ) (28,414 ) (9,242 )
    Closure/Reclamation Capital     $ 000 s (7,500 ) (7,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 ) (10,500 )
    Total Capital     $ 000 s (33,494 ) (50,072 ) (35,710 ) (42,357 ) (24,261 ) (68,790 ) (40,717 ) (130,341 ) (46,937 ) (31,885 ) (38,914 ) (19,742 )
     
    Cash Flow Adj./Reimbursements     $ 000 s -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
     
    LoM Metrics                                                          
    Economic Metrics                                                          
     
    Discount Factors     EOP @ 10 % 0.0356   0.0323   0.0294   0.0267   0.0243   0.0221   0.0201   0.0183   0.0166   0.0151   0.0137   0.0125  
    a) Pre-Tax                                                          
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 555,562   539,376   514,812   501,617   529,630   484,360   513,506   273,617   342,347   356,948   350,448   14,404  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 23,749,914   24,289,290   24,804,102   25,305,719   25,835,349   26,319,708   26,833,215   27,106,831   27,449,178   27,806,126   28,156,574   28,170,977  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s 19,769   17,448   15,140   13,411   12,872   10,702   10,314   4,996   5,683   5,387   4,808   180  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s 5,433,594   5,451,042   5,466,182   5,479,593   5,492,465   5,503,167   5,513,481   5,518,478   5,524,161   5,529,547   5,534,355   5,534,535  
    IRR       %                                                  
    Undiscounted Payback From Start of Comm. Prod.       Years   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8   3.8  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)   1,192   1,620   1,050   1,132   590   1,520   818   2,380   779   481   534   246  
     
    b) After-Tax                                                          
    Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 379,750   365,915   356,716   346,101   371,512   329,237   357,445   166,891   237,541   252,551   245,609   11,479  
    Cumulative Free Cash Flow     $ 000 s 17,188,458   17,554,373   17,911,089   18,257,190   18,628,702   18,957,939   19,315,384   19,482,275   19,719,816   19,972,366   20,217,975   20,229,454  
    NPV @ 10%     $ 000 s 13,513   11,837   10,490   9,253   9,029   7,274   7,180   3,047   3,943   3,811   3,370   143  
    Cumulative NPV     $ 000 s 3,860,765   3,872,602   3,883,092   3,892,345   3,901,375   3,908,649   3,915,829   3,918,876   3,922,820   3,926,631   3,930,001   3,930,144  
    IRR       %                                                  
    Undiscounted Payback from Start of Comm. Prod.       Years   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1  
    PI @ 10%       NPV / (PW of TC)   1,192   1,620   1,050   1,132   590   1,520   818   2,380   779   481   534   246  
    Operating Metrics                                                          
    Mine Life       Years                                                  
    Maximum Daily Mining Rate       t/d mined   228,571   228,571   268,571   268,571   268,571   268,571   268,571   197,499   197,499   197,499   197,499   33,079  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - CIP       t/d milled   12,159   12,159   6,818   6,818   6,818   6,818   6,818   2,382   2,382   2,382   2,382   399  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Concentrator       t/d milled   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   105,000   17,587  
    Maximum Daily Processing Rate - Combined       t/d milled   117,159   117,159   111,818   111,818   111,818   111,818   111,818   107,382   107,382   107,382   107,382   17,986  
    Mining Cost       $ / t mined   1.45   1.43   1.36   1.35   1.27   1.27   1.27   1.39   1.39   1.39   1.38   3.60  
    Mining Cost       $ / t milled   3.04   3.00   3.79   3.78   3.55   3.56   3.56   2.58   2.58   2.58   2.58   6.71  
    Processing Cost       $ / t milled   5.17   5.20   5.22   5.23   5.22   5.25   5.22   5.35   5.33   5.34   5.34   10.41  
    G&A Cost 17 %   $ / t milled   1.46   1.45   1.53   1.53   1.47   1.48   1.47   1.49   1.49   1.49   1.49   7.38  
    Other Infrastructure Cost       $ / t milled   0.16   0.16   0.16   0.16   0.16   0.16   0.16   0.17   0.17   0.17   0.17   1.02  
    Transportation Cost       $ / t milled   0.43   0.43   0.35   0.35   0.35   0.35   0.35   0.44   0.44   0.44   0.44   0.44  
    Offsite Costs       $ / t milled   0.62   0.62   0.51   0.51   0.51   0.51   0.51   0.61   0.61   0.61   0.61   0.61  
    NSR Royalty       $ / t milled   1.60   1.60   1.61   1.61   1.61   1.61   1.61   1.33   1.33   1.33   1.33   1.33  
    Special Advantages Tax Cost       $ / t milled   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.80   0.66   0.66   0.66   0.66   0.66  
    Science Contributions (ITC)       $ / t milled   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.28   0.23   0.23   0.23   0.23   0.23  
    Total Cost       $ / t milled   13.56   13.55   14.25   14.25   13.96   13.99   13.96   12.85   12.84   12.85   12.84   28.78  
    Sales Metrics                                                          
    Au Sales       koz   685   685   691   691   691   691   691   497   497   497   497   83  
    Total AISC     $ 000 s 580,915   597,140   572,326   579,239   550,759   596,549   567,263   612,168   528,167   513,627   520,072   200,359  
    Less Ag and Cu By-Product Credits     $ 000 s (246,509 ) (246,509 ) (182,361 ) (182,361 ) (182,361 ) (182,361 ) (182,361 ) (225,078 ) (225,078 ) (225,078 ) (225,078 ) (37,698 )
    AISC After By-Product Credits     $ 000 s 334,406   350,631   389,965   396,878   368,398   414,189   384,903   387,090   303,089   288,550   294,994   162,660  
    AISC / oz Au (net of Ag and Cu byproduct credit)       $ / oz Au   488   512   564   574   533   599   557   780   610   581   594   1,956  
     
    AuEq Sales       koz   874   874   831   831   831   831   831   670   670   670   670   112  
    AISC / oz AuEq       $ / oz AuEq   664   683   688   697   662   718   682   914   789   767   777   1,786  

     


    lambertcqp.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.2

     

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

    Richard J. Lambert

    I, Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng., as an author of this report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

     

     

    1.    I am Principal Mining Consultant with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 505, 143 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA 80227.

     

    2.    I am a graduate of Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, U.S.A., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering in 1980, and Boise State University, with a Masters of Business Administration degree in 1995.

     

    3.    I am a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Wyoming (#4857) and the state of Montana (#11475).  I am licensed as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario (Reg. #100139998). I have been a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) since 1975, and a Registered Member (RM#1825610) since May 2006.  I have worked as a mining engineer for a total of 37 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

    ·         Review and report as a consultant on numerous mining projects for due diligence and regulatory requirements

    ·         Mine engineering, mine management, mine operations and mine financial analyses, involving copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, uranium, oil shale, phosphates, coal and base metals located in the United States, Canada, Zambia, Madagascar, Turkey, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Serbia, Australia, Russia and Venezuela.

     

    4.    I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

     

    5.    I visited the Brisas Project site in February 2008.  During the visit I observed the planned pit, process plant, mine shop, tailings facility and waste dump areas.  I reviewed the drill core.

     

    6.    I am responsible for the preparation of Sections 15, 16, 19 and 20 and collaborated with my co-authors on Sections 1, 2, 3, 18, 21, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the Technical Report.

     

    7.    I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

     

    8.    I prepared a previous Technical Report on the Brisas Project dated March 31, 2008.

     

    9.    I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

     

    10.  At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

     


     

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

     

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

     

     

    (Signed and Sealed) “Richard J. Lambert

     

     

    Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng.

     


    texidorcqp1.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.3

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

     

    José Texidor Carlsson

    I, José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo., as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc., and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

     

    1.    I am a Senior Geologist with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 501, 55 University Ave Toronto, ON, M5J 2H7.

     

    2.    I am a graduate of University of Surrey, United Kingdom, in 1998 with a Master of Engineering, Electronic and Electrical degree and Acadia University, Nova Scotia, in 2007 with an M.Sc. degree in Geology.

     

    3.    I am registered as a Professional Geologist in the Province of Ontario (Reg. #2143).  I have worked as a geologist for a total of 10 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

    ·         Mineral Resource estimation and NI 43-101 reporting

    ·         Supervision of exploration properties and active mines in Canada, Mexico, and South America

    ·         Experienced user of geological and resource modelling software

     

    4.    I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

     

    5.    I did not visit the Siembra Minera Project.

     

    6.    I am responsible for Sections 4 to 12 and 14 and share responsibility for Sections 1, 2, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the Technical Report.

     

    7.    I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

     

    8.    I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

     

    9.    I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

     

    10.  At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

     

     

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

     

     

    (Signed and Sealed) “José Texidor Carlsson

     

     

    José Texidor Carlsson, M.Sc., P.Geo.

     

     


    mirandacqp.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.4

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

    Hugo M. Miranda

    I, Hugo M. Miranda, ChCM (RM), as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc., and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

     

    1.    I am a Principal Mining Engineer with RPA (USA) Ltd. of 143 Union Boulevard, Suite 505, Lakewood, Colorado, USA  80228.

     

    2.    I am a graduate of the Santiago University of Chile, with a B.Sc. degree in Mining Engineering in 1993, and a Masters of Business Administration degree in 2004. I’m also a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines with a Master of Engineering (Engineer of Mines) degree in 2015.

     

    3.    I am registered as a Competent Person of the Chilean Mining Commission (Registered Member #0031).  I am a Registered Member (#4149165) with the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME).  I have worked as a mining engineer for a total of 23 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

    ·         Principal Mining Engineer - RPA in Colorado. Review and report as a consultant on mining operations and mining projects. Mine engineering including mine plan and pit optimization, pit design and economic evaluation.

    ·         Principal Mining Consultant – Pincock, Allen and Holt in Colorado, USA. Review and report as a consultant on numerous development and production mining projects.

    ·         Mine Planning Chief, El Tesoro Open Pit Mine - Antofagasta Minerals in Chile.

    ·         Open Pit Planning Engineer, Radomiro Tomic Mine, CODELCO – Chile.

    ·         Open Pit Planning Engineer, Andina Mine, CODELCO - Chile.

     

    4.    I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

     

    5.    I visited the Project on September 19, 2017.

     

    6.    I am responsible for parts of Section 16 and share responsibility with my co-authors for Sections 1, 2, 3, 24, 25, and 26 of the Technical Report.

     

    7.    I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

     

    8.    I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

     

    9.    I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

     

     


     

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

    10.  At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the technical report not misleading.

     

     

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

     

     

    (Signed and Sealed) “Hugo Miranda

     

     

    Hugo M. Miranda, C.P.

     


    altmancqp.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.5

    For all pages.jpg

     www.rpacan.com

     

    Kathleen Ann Altman

    I, Kathleen Ann Altman, P.E., as an author of this report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), Inc., and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

     

    1.    I am Principal Metallurgist with RPA (USA) Ltd. of Suite 505, 143 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Co., USA  80228.

     

    2.    I am a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines in 1980 with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering.  I am a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno Mackay School of Mines with an M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering in 1999.

     

    3.    I am registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado (Reg. #37556) and a Qualified Professional Member of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (Member #01321QP).  I have worked as a metallurgical engineer for a total of 37 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

    ·         Review and report as a metallurgical consultant on numerous mining operations and projects around the world for due diligence and regulatory requirements.

    ·         I have worked for operating companies, including the Climax Molybdenum Company, Barrick Goldstrike, and FMC Gold in a series of positions of increasing responsibility.

    ·         I have worked as a consulting engineer on mining projects for approximately 15 years in roles such a process engineer, process manager, project engineer, area manager, study manager, and project manager. Projects have included scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, basic engineering, detailed engineering and start-up and commissioning of new projects.

    ·         I was the Newmont Professor for Extractive Mineral Process Engineering in the Mining Engineering Department of the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno from 2005 to 2009.

     

    4.    I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

     

    5.    I did not visit the Siembra Minera Project.

     

    6.    I am responsible for Sections 13 and 17 and share responsibility for Sections 1, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the Technical Report.

     

    7.    I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

     

    8.    I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

     

    9.    I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

     

     

     

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

    10.  At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

     

     

    Dated this 16th day of March, 2018

     

     

    (Signed and Sealed) “Kathleen Ann Altman

     

     

    Kathleen Ann Altman, P.E.

     


    malensekcqp.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.6

    For all pages.jpg www.rpacan.com

     

    Grant A. Malensek

    I, Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng., P.Geo., as an author of this report entitled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” prepared for GR Engineering (Barbados), and dated March 16, 2018, do hereby certify that:

     

    1.    I am Principal Engineer - Valuations with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. of Suite 505, 143 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA 80227.

     

    2.    I am a graduate of University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada in 1987 with a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences.  In addition, I have obtained a Master of Engineering in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1997 and a Graduate Business Certificate in Finance from the University of Denver – Daniels College of Business in 2011.

     

    3.    I am registered as a Professional Engineer/Geologist in the Province of British Columbia (Licence# 23905).  I have worked as a mining engineer/geologist for a total of 22 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

    ·         Numerous mining project technical-economic modeling assignments.

    ·         Review and report as a consultant on numerous mining projects for due diligence and regulatory requirements

    ·         I have worked for operating entities, including Rio Tinto Group, Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., and Newmont Mining Company on a variety of exploration and advanced development projects as well as operations in a number of countries.

     

    4.    I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

     

    5.       I did not visit the Siembra Minera Project.

     

    6.    I am responsible for Sections 19 and 22 and collaborated with my co-authors on Sections 1 and 21 of the Technical Report.

     

    7.    I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

     

    8.    I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

     

    9.    I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

     

    10.  At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report sections for which I am responsible contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

     

    Dated 16th day of March, 2018

     

    (Signed and Sealed) “Grant Malensek

    Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng., P.Geo

     


    rlambertconsent.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing


    Exhibit 99.7

     


    CONSENT OF QUALIFIED PERSON

    April 5, 2018

    I, Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng., do hereby consent to the public filing of the report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” (the Technical Report), prepared for Gold Reserve Inc. and dated March 16, 2018, and to the use of extracts from, or the summary of, the Technical Report in the press release of Gold Reserve Inc. dated March 19, 2018 (the Press Release).

    I also certify that I have read the Press Release and that it fairly and accurately represents the information in the Technical Report that supports the Press Release.

    (Signed) “Richard J. Lambert

    Richard J. Lambert, P.Eng.
    Principal Mining Engineer

    RPA 143 Union Boulevard Suite 505 | Lakewood, CO, USA 80228 | T +1 (303) 330 0950 www.rpacan.com

     


    jtexidorconsent.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing


    Exhibit 99.8


    CONSENT OF QUALIFIED PERSON

    April 5, 2018

    I, José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo. do hereby consent to the public filing of the report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” (the Technical Report), prepared for Gold Reserve Inc. and dated March 16, 2018, and to the use of extracts from, or the summary of, the Technical Report in the press release of Gold Reserve Inc. dated March 19, 2018 (the Press Release).

    I also certify that I have read the Press Release and that it fairly and accurately represents the information in the Technical Report that supports the Press Release.

    (Signed) “José Texidor Carlsson

    José Texidor Carlsson, P.Geo.
    Senior Geologist

    RPA 55 University Ave. Suite 501 | Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 2H7 | T +1 (416) 947 0907 www.rpacan.com

     


    hmirandaconsent.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.9



    CONSENT OF QUALIFIED PERSON

    April 5, 2018

    I, Hugo Miranda, ChMC(RM), do hereby consent to the public filing of the report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” (the Technical Report), prepared for Gold Reserve Inc. and dated March 16, 2018, and to the use of extracts from, or the summary of, the Technical Report in the press release of Gold Reserve Inc. dated March 19, 2018 (the Press Release).

    I also certify that I have read the Press Release and that it fairly and accurately represents the information in the Technical Report that supports the Press Release.

    (Signed) “Hugo Miranda”

    Hugo Miranda, ChMC(RM)
    Principal Mining Engineer

    RPA 143 Union Boulevard Suite 505 | Lakewood, CO, USA 80228 | T +1 (303) 330 0950 www.rpacan.com

     


    kaltmanconsent.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.10



    CONSENT OF QUALIFIED PERSON

    April 5, 2018

    I, Kathleen A. Altman, Ph.D., P.E., do hereby consent to the public filing of the report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” (the Technical Report), prepared for Gold Reserve Inc. and dated March 16, 2018, and to the use of extracts from, or the summary of, the Technical Report in the press release of Gold Reserve Inc. dated March 19, 2018 (the Press Release).

    I also certify that I have read the Press Release and that it fairly and accurately represents the information in the Technical Report that supports the Press Release.

    (Signed) “Kathleen A. Altman

    Kathleen A. Altman, Ph.D., P.E.
    Principal Metallurgist

    RPA 143 Union Boulevard Suite 505 | Lakewood, CO, USA 80228 | T +1 (303) 330 0950 www.rpacan.com

     


    gmalensekconsent.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

    Exhibit 99.11



    CONSENT OF QUALIFIED PERSON

    April 5, 2018

    I, Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng. do hereby consent to the public filing of the report titled “Technical Report on the Siembra Minera Project, Bolivar State, Venezuela” (the Technical Report), prepared for Gold Reserve Inc. and dated March 16, 2018, and to the use of extracts from, or the summary of, the Technical Report in the press release of Gold Reserve Inc. dated March 19, 2018 (the Press Release).

    I also certify that I have read the Press Release and that it fairly and accurately represents the information in the Technical Report that supports the Press Release.

    (Signed) “Grant A. Malensek

    Grant A. Malensek, P.Eng.
    Principal Engineer - Valuations

    RPA 143 Union Boulevard Suite 505 | Lakewood, CO, USA 80228 | T +1 (303) 330 0950 www.rpacan.com