Resource
|
At 3.0g/t Cut-off
|
Indicated Resources
|
Inferred Resources
|
Total Resources
|
|||||||
|
Zone
|
Sub-Zone
|
Mass
|
Gold Grade
|
Gold Content
|
Mass
|
Grade
|
Content
|
Mass
|
Grade
|
Content
|
|
kt
|
g/t
|
koz
|
kt
|
g/t
|
koz
|
kt
|
g/t
|
koz
|
||
|
Main Zone
|
M2400
|
1,857
|
4.45
|
266
|
1,059
|
4.24
|
144
|
2,916
|
4.37
|
410
|
|
M3000
|
3,293
|
4.37
|
463
|
782
|
4.64
|
117
|
4,075
|
4.43
|
580
|
|
|
M3400
|
|
|
|
986
|
4.19
|
133
|
986
|
4.19
|
133
|
|
|
M3900
|
1,182
|
3.74
|
142
|
946
|
3.73
|
113
|
2,128
|
3.74
|
256
|
|
|
M4400
|
|
|
|
321
|
3.88
|
40
|
321
|
3.88
|
40
|
|
|
M5000
|
66
|
6.05
|
13
|
332
|
4.92
|
52
|
397
|
5.11
|
65
|
|
|
M6000
|
133
|
4.61
|
20
|
566
|
5.19
|
94
|
699
|
5.08
|
114
|
|
|
Main Zone Totals /Averages
|
6,531
|
4.30
|
903
|
4,990
|
4.33
|
694
|
11,522
|
4.31
|
1,597
|
|
|
Contact Zone
|
C4000
|
122
|
3.60
|
14
|
538
|
3.61
|
62
|
660
|
3.61
|
77
|
|
C4600
|
480
|
3.91
|
60
|
2,002
|
4.28
|
275
|
2,482
|
4.21
|
336
|
|
|
C5300
|
3,071
|
4.24
|
419
|
4,291
|
4.29
|
591
|
7,362
|
4.27
|
1,010
|
|
|
Contact Zone Totals /Averages
|
3,673
|
4.18
|
493
|
6,831
|
4.23
|
929
|
10,504
|
4.21
|
1,422
|
|
|
Tulkubash*
|
T0700
|
1,642
|
4.70
|
248
|
473
|
4.67
|
71
|
2,115
|
4.69
|
319
|
|
Grand Totals/Averages
|
11,846
|
4.32
|
1,645
|
12,295
|
4.29
|
1,694
|
24,141
|
4.30
|
3,339
|
|
*The Tulkubash Resource has not been changed from 2008 and was quoted at a 2g/t cut.
The 2009 SRK Resource is quoted at a 3g/t cut.
Significant metallurgical test work was conducted on the Chaarat ore since 2005 by both Mintek in South Africa and Resource Development Inc (RDI) in the USA.
Metallurgy
The Chaarat ore is what is commonly referred to as refractory ore and the recovery of gold requires pre-treatment of the ore to oxidize the gold containing minerals and ease the leaching out of the gold. A comprehensive suite of flotation tests was conducted culminating in a relatively large sample. It was shown repeatedly that a flotation concentrate can be produced into which approximately 87% of the gold and over 90% of the silver and antimony are reporting. This type of concentrate is fairly common in Asia and a number of smelters in both the CIS and China are accustomed to treating such concentrate.
The company has further looked into different technologies of oxidation and gold recovery in order to maximise the extractable value of the concentrate. Whilst the work is still ongoing the company is confident, based on results from the work, that 95% of the gold and silver can be recovered by conventional cyanidation followed by CIL extraction.
Work is currently underway to understand the best rate of recovery of Antimony, the indications are rather positive as well. The company is also looking at methods used by Russian plants involving oxidation by acid which has significant additional benefits. Such methods are being employed by other producers with similar ores.
The decision on which metallurgical process to select will be based on careful economic risk assessment taking into account all relevant facets of the process besides its cost/recovery parameters such as the environmental and transport risk weighted cost and impact.