Allied Nevada Significantly Increases Hycroft Mineral Reserves to 10.2 Million Ounces of Gold and 388.6 Million Ounces of Silver (17.0 Million Ounces AuEq(1))
RENO, NEVADA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/23/11 -- Allied Nevada Gold Corp. ('Allied Nevada', 'ANV' or the 'Company') (TSX: ANV)(NYSE Amex: ANV) is pleased to announce a summary of the updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for its wholly owned Hycroft Mine located near Winnemucca, Nevada.
-- Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves increase to 10.2 million ounces of
gold and 388.6 million ounces of silver or 17.0 million ounces AuEq
(854.0 million tons grading 0.012 ounces per ton ('opt') Au, 0.46 opt
Ag, or 0.02 opt AuEq) from 2.6 million ounces Au and 49.3 million ounces
Ag, as reported in March, 2011.
-- Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, excluding reserves, are 6.8
million ounces of gold and 205.1 million ounces of silver or 10.3
million ounces AuEq (724.0 million tons grading 0.009 opt Au, 0.28 opt
Ag, or 0.014 opt AuEq).
-- Allied Nevada intends to release the results of the Hycroft Mill
Feasibility Study, which forms the basis for the reserve conversion, in
the next few weeks.
-- The reserve and resource estimate is based on gold and silver prices of
$800 per ounce and $14 per ounce, respectively.
The significant reserve increase is due to the conversion of resources reflecting the Heap Leach and Mill Feasibility Study, the results of which are expected to be released in the next few weeks. Overall, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, inclusive of mineral reserves, increased to 16.9 million ounces of gold (from 16.1 million ounces) and silver decreased slightly to 593.7 million ounces (from 598.1 million ounces). Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, including reserves, increased to 1.6 billion tons (from 1.5 billion tons), while grades remained essentially the same.
'We believe this reserve estimate better reflects the potential magnitude of the Hycroft project,' comments Scott Caldwell, President & CEO. 'We will continue drilling at a reduced rate as management is confident that the current reserve will support a long mine life, allowing us to focus on regional step out targets and conversion of the known resources. The Mill Feasibility Study will be released shortly and we believe shareholders will be pleased with what will be presented.'
Inferred mineral resources total 307.1 million tons grading 0.012 opt gold and 0.33 opt silver (0.017 opt AuEq). Approximately 55.8 million tons grading 0.012 opt gold and 0.42 opt (0.019 opt AuEq) silver lies within the current reserve pit, but lacks the drill density to convert to higher confidence levels.
The cutoff grade ('COG') strategy applied to the current mineral reserve and resource estimates reflects the long-term operating assumptions for the oxide and transitional heap leach (COG - 0.005 opt AuEq), transitional mill (COG - 0.011 opt AuEq) and sulfide mill (COG - 0.014 opt AuEq) mineralization at Hycroft.
The June 30, 2011, mineral reserve was estimated using gold and silver selling prices of $800 per ounce and $14 per ounce, respectively, and is highlighted below. The Company completed a metal price sensitivity analysis estimating ounces mined using Whittle cones, hypothetical mining pits created using the block model and applying metallurgical recoveries and basic economics such as metal prices and costs. The results of this analysis are as follows:
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Ounces Mined (000s)
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Metal Total Waste Total Ounces
Prices Tons Tons Heap Leach Mill Mined (000s)
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Au Ag (000s) (000s) Au Ag Au Ag Au Ag
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$400 $7 129,409 41,644 589 6,825 805 48,706 1,394 55,531
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$600 $11 1,252,730 586,238 3,140 61,259 4,726 268,164 7,866 329,423
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$800 $14 2,030,148 1,176,169 3,161 91,979 7,030 296,646 10,191 388,625
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$1,000 $18 2,600,899 1,413,354 5,321 108,450 7,373 403,763 12,694 512,213
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$1,100 $19 3,021,135 1,711,599 5,819 121,041 7,890 424,353 13,709 545,394
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$1,200 $21 3,341,050 1,939,407 6,228 130,180 8,139 436,278 14,367 566,458
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$1,400 $25 4,175,451 2,601,451 6,966 147,438 8,660 456,505 15,626 603,943
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$1,600 $28 4,553,071 2,905,948 7,302 155,669 8,760 461,179 16,062 616,848
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$1,800 $32 4,879,673 3,188,257 7,510 160,364 8,810 463,642 16,320 624,006
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$2,000 $35 5,099,148 3,385,534 7,609 162,674 8,836 464,818 16,445 627,492
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This sensitivity analysis assumes a constant silver to gold price ratio of 57.14:1. The $800 per ounce of gold and $14 per ounce of silver line (bold and highlighted) reflects our current reserve estimate. The $1,100 per ounce gold price line (highlighted) hypothetically represents an in-pit reserve, assuming a trailing 3-year average gold price of $1,112 per ounce.
June 30, 2011 - Summary Mineral Reserve & Resource Estimate
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Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves
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Contained Ounces
Tons Grades (000s)
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(000s) Au Ag AuEq Au Ag AuEq
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Proven Heap Leach 312,273 0.008 0.24 0.012 2,581 74,945 3,893
Probable Heap Leach 77,934 0.007 0.22 0.011 580 17,034 878
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Total Proven &
Probable Heap
Leach 390,207 0.008 0.24 0.012 3,161 91,979 4,771
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Proven Mill 395,661 0.015 0.66 0.027 6,056 259,258 10,594
Probable Mill 68,111 0.014 0.55 0.024 974 37,388 1,628
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Total Proven &
Probable Mill 463,772 0.015 0.64 0.026 7,030 296,646 12,222
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Total Proven &
Probable Mineral
Reserves 853,979 0.012 0.46 0.020 10,191 388,625 16,993
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Waste 1,176,169
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Total Tons 2,030,148
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Strip Ratio 1.38
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Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources (exclusive of Mineral Reserves)
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Contained Ounces
Tons Grades (000s)
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(000s) Au Ag AuEq Au Ag AuEq
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Measured Heap Leach 242,554 0.006 0.16 0.009 1,523 38,184 2,191
Indicated Heap
Leach 172,807 0.006 0.14 0.009 1,102 24,799 1,536
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Total Measured &
Indicated Heap
Leach 415,361 0.006 0.15 0.009 2,625 62,983 3,727
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Measured Mill 161,737 0.013 0.52 0.022 2,140 83,864 3,608
Indicated Mill 146,855 0.014 0.40 0.020 1,992 58,205 3,010
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Total Measured &
Indicated Mill 308,592 0.013 0.46 0.021 4,132 142,069 6,618
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Total Measured &
Indicated Mineral
Resources 723,953 0.009 0.28 0.014 6,757 205,052 10,345
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Inferred Mineral Resources
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Tons Grades
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(000s) Au Ag AuEq
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Inferred Resource -
In Reserve Pit
- Heap Leach 24,174 0.008 0.24 0.012
- Mill 31,620 0.015 0.56 0.025
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Total inferred in
reserve pit 55,794 0.012 0.42 0.019
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Inferred Resource -
Outside Reserve
Pit
- Heap Leach 95,244 0.007 0.14 0.009
- Mill 156,051 0.015 0.42 0.022
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Total inferred
outside reserve
pit 251,295 0.012 0.31 0.017
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Total Inferred
Mineral Resources 307,089 0.012 0.33 0.017
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NOTES TO THE JUNE 30, 2011, MINERAL RESERVE AND RESOURCE ESTIMATE
1. Scott Wilson of Scott E. Wilson Consulting, Inc. is a Certified
Professional Geologist and member of the American Institute of
Professional Geologists in Denver, Colorado, and is a Qualified Person
as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Wilson is the independent resource estimate
consultant for Allied Nevada Gold Corp. and has supervised the
preparation of the technical information contained in this press
release.
2. Scott E. Wilson Consulting, Inc. has recommended an ordinary kriging
estimate as the preferred method of determining the Mineral Resource
estimate. Inferred Mineral Resource calculations are based on 25 foot
drill hole composites of 5 foot sample intervals. All estimates are
based on a block dimension of 50 feet long x 50 feet wide x 25 feet tall
with the estimation parameters determined by variography.
3. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may also be
materially affected by the inability to obtain required environmental
and other regulatory approval or operating permits. The estimate may
also be materially affected by global economic conditions such as the
price of gold and silver, the price of oil and other commodities
utilized in the production of gold and silver. Unknown geologic or
hydrologic conditions or other unknown factors may materially affect the
resource estimates.
4. A processing method and plant, different from that currently operating
at the Hycroft Mine, and all associated regulatory approvals, are
required to recover gold and silver from sulfide mineralization.
5. Gold equivalent cutoff grades were calculated using a gold price of $800
per ounce and a silver price of $14.00 per ounce for a gold to silver
ratio of 57.14:1.
6. Estimates of Mineral Reserves and Resources may be materially affected
by environmental permitting, legal and other relevant issues.
(1) Gold Equivalent ('AuEq') values are calculated using a silver ounce to gold ounce ratio of 57.14:1 ($800 Au/$14 Ag).
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and the equivalent under Canadian securities laws), that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expectation of the projected timing and outcome of engineering studies; the potential for confirming, upgrading and expanding gold and silver mineralized material at Hycroft; mineral reserve and resource estimates; estimates of gold and silver grades; and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements address activities, events or developments that Allied Nevada expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, and are based on current expectations and assumptions. Although Allied Nevada management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks relating to risks that Allied Nevada's acquisition, exploration and property advancement efforts will not be successful; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of gold and silver; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; uncertainties concerning reserve and resource estimates; availability of outside contractors in connection with Hycroft and other activities; uncertainties relating to obtaining approvals and permits from governmental regulatory authorities; and availability and timing of capital for financing the Company's exploration and development activities, including uncertainty of being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; as well as those factors discussed in Allied Nevada's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') including Allied Nevada's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings (and Canadian filings) including, without limitation, its latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company does not intend to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources
This press release uses the terms 'measured', 'indicated' and 'inferred' 'mineral resources.' We advise U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. 'Inferred mineral resources' have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an 'inferred mineral resource' will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of 'inferred mineral resources' may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute 'reserves' as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The term 'contained gold ounces' used in this press release is not permitted under the rules of the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of a measured, indicated or inferred resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.
Mr. Scott E. Wilson, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #10965, is Allied Nevada's Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has supervised the preparation of the technical information and has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Allied Nevada will file on www.sedar.com a National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report within the time required by 43-101 guidelines encompassing the mineral reserve and resource discussed herein, which will include further details with respect to the feasibility study, including risks and uncertainties associated therewith.
Contacts:
Allied Nevada Gold Corp.
Scott Caldwell
President & CEO
(775) 358-4455
Allied Nevada Gold Corp.
Tracey Thom
Vice President, Investor Relations
(775) 789-0119
www.alliednevada.com