MONTREAL, June 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the “Company” or “Osisko Metals”) (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF; FRANKFURT: 0B51) is pleased to announce the 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate Update (“2024 MRE”) for the Pine Point Project (“Pine Point” or “the Project”), located near Hay River, in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The 2024 MRE was prepared by BBA Inc. (“BBA”) and PLR Resources Inc. and will form the resource base for a Feasibility Study (“FS”) that is planned to officially start in Q3 2024. Cut-off grades are based on estimated long-term metal prices, mining costs, metal recoveries, concentrate transport, and smelter costs. The definition drill program supporting the 2024 MRE was executed between 2018 and 2024.
Highlights:
- Indicated Mineral Resources of 49.5Mt grading 4.22% zinc and 1.49% lead (5.52% Zinc Equivalent (“ZnEq”)) containing approximately 4.6 billion pounds of zinc and 1.6 billion pounds of lead in situ (undiluted).
- Inferred Mineral Resources of 8.3Mt grading 4.18% zinc and 1.69% lead (5.64% Zinc Equivalent (“ZnEq”)) containing approximately 0.7 billion pounds of zinc and 0.3 billion pounds of lead in situ (undiluted).
- Compared to the previous MRE, the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources (see press release dated July 13, 2022) increased the tonnage of the current Indicated Mineral Resources by 214% with an associated decrease in the quantity of Inferred Mineral Resources.
- Mineral Resources reported for the 2024 MRE used variable cut-off grades between 1.41% and 1.51% ZnEq for open pit resources and between 4.10% and 4.40% ZnEq for underground resources.
- The project's East Mill, Central, and North Zones now contain approximately 36.2Mt of Indicated Mineral Resources grading 5.22% ZnEq, or 3.2 billion pounds of zinc and 1.1 billion pounds of lead in situ.
- New metallurgical test work is in progress. Previous metallurgical test work described in the 2022 PEA (see press release August 29, 2022) highlighted Pine Point as a potential producer of among the cleanest, high-grade zinc and lead concentrates globally. This adds value to the project as any and probably most smelter clients would want some Pine Point concentrate for blending purposes.
A Technical Report supporting this 2024 MRE will be filed within 45 days.
Robert Wares, CEO and Chairman of the Board, commented, “We are very happy to have met a critical milestone with this MRE that successfully converted the majority of the mineral resources to the Indicated category. With our partner Appian Capital Advisory LLP, we can now rapidly advance Pine Point to the Feasibility Stage following finalization of trade-off studies.”
Jeff Hussey, CEO of Pine Point Mining Limited, stated, “This represents the culmination of a multi-year definition drill program that raised the confidence level in the mineral resource base for the Feasibility Study. We will also continue exploring for new deposits and should significant discoveries be made this summer; they will be rapidly incorporated into the final inventory.”
The project has significant supporting infrastructure, including access by paved roads, a railhead in Hay River, and an on-site hydroelectric substation. Additionally, the project benefits from one hundred kilometres of pre-existing mine haul roads from the original mining operations. These provide access to most of the deposits in the 2024 MRE. The future concentrator and camp location will be adjacent to the original concentrator area.
The 2024 MRE is divided into five geographic zones, each composed of one or more individual deposits (see Map 1 and Table 1).
Table 1: 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate for Pine Point
| Indicated | Inferred | |||||||||||||
| Method | Zone | Cut-off Grade | Tonnage | ZnEq | Pb | Zn | Tonnage | ZnEq | Pb | Zn | ||||
| (ZnEq %) | (kt) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (kt) | (%) | (%) | (%) | ||||||
| Pit Constrained Mineral Resources | Central | 1.41 | 7,400 | 6.21 | 1.50 | 4.91 | 498 | 4.50 | 0.75 | 3.84 | ||||
| East Mill | 1.41 | 10,047 | 4.69 | 1.11 | 3.72 | 1,051 | 3.54 | 0.73 | 2.90 | |||||
| North | 1.41 - 1.44 | 18,763 | 5.10 | 1.47 | 3.82 | 680 | 4.08 | 0.65 | 3.52 | |||||
| N204 | 1.51 | 8,923 | 4.05 | 0.90 | 3.27 | 3,027 | 4.20 | 0.92 | 3.40 | |||||
| Underground Mineral Resources | Central | 4.40 | 121 | 6.66 | 0.81 | 5.95 | 63 | 5.62 | 1.44 | 4.37 | ||||
| West | 4.10 - 4.40 | 4,215 | 11.21 | 3.69 | 8.00 | 2,934 | 8.44 | 3.55 | 5.35 | |||||
| Total Pit Constrained | 1.41 - 1.51 | 45,133 | 4.99 | 1.28 | 3.87 | 5,256 | 4.08 | 0.65 | 3.52 | |||||
| Total Underground | 4.10 - 4.40 | 4,336 | 11.08 | 3.61 | 7.94 | 2,997 | 8.38 | 3.51 | 5.33 | |||||
| Total Combined | 49,469 | 5.52 | 1.49 | 4.22 | 8,253 | 5.64 | 1.69 | 4.18 | ||||||
| Notes: | ||
| 1) | All tonnages are rounded to the nearest thousand tonnes. | |
| 2) | ZnEq percentages are calculated using metal prices, forecasted metal recoveries, concentrate grades, transport costs, smelter payable metals and charges. | |
| 3) | Pit-constrained cut-off grades vary primarily due to variable transportation distances to the presumed concentrator location. | |
| The weighted average strip ratio for all modelled pit-constrained mineralization is 5.8:1. | ||
Compared to the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate, there is a decrease in overall tonnage, however grades remain similar. The key factors include:
- Tighter parameters guiding reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction driven by increased knowledge on project OPEX and mining parameters.
- Open Pit: Whittle optimization parameters as well as the increased cutoff grade (+13%) and an increase in tonnage [+0.4%], due to the conversion of the Underground Central zone that is now being declared as Open Pit resources.
- Underground (West): Tighter stope optimization parameters; decrease in tonnage [-29%]
- Underground (Central): Tighter stope optimization parameters and most of the 2022 underground material that is now tonnage declared inside pit shells [-93%]
The in-pit MRE is constrained within pit shells that were developed from a pit optimization analysis that was done with Geovia Whittle 2022 software using the economic and operating parameters presented below:
Table 2: Pit Optimization Parameters
| Parameter | Unit | Input | |
| Mine Site Costs | |||
| Mining Cost – Overburden1 | C$/t mined | 2.63 | |
| Mining Cost - Mineralized Material1 | C$/t mined | 3.85 | |
| Mining Cost – Waste1 | C$/t mined | 3.85 | |
| Transport Mineralized Material to Mill | C$/t mined | 0.13 | |
| Processing Cost | C$/t milled | 11.00 | |
| Power Cost2 | C$/t milled | 5.00 | |
| Waste and Water Management Cost | C$/t milled | 2.00 | |
| G&A Cost | C$/t mined | 8.50 | |
| Recoveries | |||
| Average Zinc | % | 87 | % |
| Average Lead | % | 93 | % |
| Zinc Concentrate Grade | % | 60 | % |
| Lead Concentrate Grade | % | 65 | % |
| Zinc Concentrate Costs | |||
| Transport from mine to Smelter | C$/wmt | 215.80 | |
| Smelter Cost | C$/dmt | 266.50 | |
| Lead Concentrate Costs | |||
| Transport from mine to Smelter | C$/wmt | 261.30 | |
| Smelter Cost | C$/dmt | 152.10 | |
| Metal Prices | |||
| Zinc | US$/lb | 1.30 | |
| Lead | US$/lb | 1.00 | |
| Exchange Rate | 1.30 | ||
1 – Includes dewatering costs
2 - Process plant power cost is included in Power Cost
Table 3: Underground Parameters
| Parameter | Unit | Input | |
| Mine Site Costs | |||
| Mining Cost – LHS1 | C$/t mined | 54.22 | |
| Mining Cost - R&P1 | C$/t mined | 59.99 | |
| Processing Cost | C$/t milled | 11.00 | |
| Power Cost2 | C$/t milled | 5.00 | |
| Waste and Water Management Cost | C$/t milled | 2.00 | |
| G&A Cost | C$/t mined | 8.50 | |
| Recoveries | |||
| Average Zinc | % | 87 | % |
| Average Lead | % | 93 | % |
| Zinc Concentrate Grade | % | 60 | % |
| Lead Concentrate Grade | % | 65 | % |
| Zinc Concentrate Costs | |||
| Transport from mine to Smelter | C$/wmt | 215.80 | |
| Smelter Cost | C$/dmt | 266.50 | |
| Lead Concentrate Costs | |||
| Transport from mine to Smelter | C$/wmt | 261.30 | |
| Smelter Cost | C$/dmt | 152.10 | |
| Metal Prices | |||
| Zinc | US$/lb | 1.30 | |
| Lead | US$/lb | 1.00 | |
| Exchange Rate | 1.30 | ||
1 – Includes dewatering costs.
2 - Process plant power cost is included in Power Cost
Open Pit and Underground Mineralization
Prismatic-style deposits are defined by greater than 10 metres of greater than 10% zinc + lead, with a distinct vertical aspect of the deposit outline that crosscuts stratigraphy. Vertical thicknesses of mineralization can exceed 70 metres, and they have horizontal cross-sections of less than 200 by 200 metres.
Tabular-style deposits comprise sub-horizontal, stratabound mineralization extending over a significant strike length at varying lateral widths from 50 to 200 metres wide. The strike extent can be in the order of kilometres. Mineralization thickness averages about 3 metres and can range from 1 metre to, very locally, greater than 10 metres.
The open pit portion of the 2024 MRE includes mostly shallow tabular-style deposits, with the remainder being shallow prismatic-style deposits. The underground portion of the 2024 MRE includes deeper prismatic-style mineralization and easily accessible tabular-style mineralization found adjacent to the pit wall boundaries of certain deposits.
Metallurgy
Metallurgical test work is in progress and will provide data to support the flow-sheet design for the process plant, including comminution tests, pre-concentration tests (Ore Sorting and Dense Media Separation (DMS)), flotation tests and dewatering tests. The Company is also investigating concentrations of the critical metals Indium (In), Germanium (Ge), and Gallium (Ga) in the Zinc concentrate produced from flotation tests and in sphalerite mineralization within the various Zones.
2024 Drill Program
A brownfield exploration campaign is underway. The program is focused on discovering high-grade prismatic-style deposits. One drill was active in March and tested three high-potential target areas. Results are pending. Additional targets are ready for drilling, and new targets are continually being developed. The plan is to diligently test these exploration targets this summer.
Induced polarization and magnetic surveys are best suited for geophysical targeting of these types of deposits. Surveys over in situ prismatic-style deposits were used for calibration purposes for these geophysical methods. Targets are generated by using a combination of airborne gravity gradiometry data, LiDAR, AeroTEM survey, structural lineament interpretation, and trend analysis. The search has been expanded to adjacent carbonate formations that the Company believes are fertile for discovery.
Notes Regarding This Mineral Resource Estimate
Mineral Resource Estimate
- The independent qualified person for the 2024 MRE, as defined by National Instrument (“NI”) 43-101 guidelines, is Pierre-Luc Richard, P.Geo., of PLR Resources Inc and subcontracted by BBA Inc. The effective date of the 2024 MRE is May 31, 2024. Mr. Richard has also approved the technical contents of this press release.
- These mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they have not demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in this MRE are uncertain in nature, and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as Indicated or Measured. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
- Resources are presented as undiluted and in situ for an open-pit and underground scenario and are considered to have reasonable prospects for economic extraction.
- The 2024 MRE was prepared using Leapfrog Edge v.2023.2.1 and is based on 20,682 surface drill holes and 181,313 samples, of which 17,428 drill holes and a total of 92,652 assays were included in the modelled mineralization. The drill hole database includes recent drilling of 148,026 metres in 2,258 drill holes since 2017 and also incorporates Cominco Ltd.’s historical drill holes, the use of which was partially validated by a drill hole collar survey, twinning programs and a partial core resampling program. The cut-off date for the drill hole database was April 30, 2024.
- The 2024 MRE encompasses 103 zinc-lead-bearing zones, each defined by a series of individual wireframes with a minimum true thickness of 2.5 metres.
- High-grade capping was done on the composited assay data and established on a per-zone basis for zinc and lead. Capping grades vary from 15% to 45% Zn and 5% to 40% Pb.
- Density values were calculated based on the formula established and used by Cominco Ltd. during their operational period between 1964 and 1987. Density values were calculated from the density of dolomite, adjusted by the amount of sphalerite, galena, and marcasite/pyrite as determined by metal assays. A porosity of 5% was assumed. Waste material was assigned the density of porous dolomite.
- Grade model resource estimation was calculated from drill hole data using an Ordinary Kriging interpolation method in a sub-blocked block model using blocks measuring 5 m x 5 m x 2.5 m in size and sub-blocks down to 1.25 metres x 1.25 metres x 0.625 metres.
- Zinc equivalency percentages are calculated using long-term metal prices indicated below in (10), forecasted metal recoveries, concentrate grades, transport costs, smelter payable metals and charges.
- The estimate is reported using a ZnEq cut-off varying from 1.41% to 1.51% for open-pit resources and 4.10% to 4.40% for underground resources. Variations consider trucking distances from the pit-constrained mineralization to the mill and metallurgical parameters for each area. The cut-off grade was calculated using the following parameters (amongst others): zinc price = USD1.30/lb; lead price = USD1.00/lb; CAD:USD exchange rate = 1.30. The cut-off grade will be re-evaluated considering future prevailing market conditions and costs.
- The Inferred Mineral Resource category is constrained to areas where drill spacing is less than 100 metres, and where reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown. The Indicated Mineral Resource category is constrained to areas where modern drilling has been completed, where drill spacing is less than 30 metres, and where reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown. When needed, a series of clipping boundaries were created manually in plan views to either upgrade or downgrade classification. The maximum drill spacing judged acceptable when creating these clipping boundaries was 50m for the indicated category.
- The pit optimization used to develop the Mineral Resource-constraining pit shells was done using Geovia Whittle 2022. The constraining pit shells were developed using overall pit slopes per area and by individual pits based on a preliminary geotechnical report. The rock slopes range from 38° to 52° with an average of 49°, and the overburden slopes range from 33° to 45° with an average of 38°.
- Calculations used metric units (metre, tonne). Metal contents are presented in percentages or pounds. Metric tonnages were rounded, and any discrepancies in total amounts are due to rounding errors.
- CIM definitions and guidelines for Mineral Resource Estimates have been followed.
- The QP is unaware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political or marketing issues or any other relevant issues that could materially affect this MRE.
Other Inputs to the 2024 MRE
- The independent qualified person providing the pit shells, and cut-off grades for the 2024 MRE is Alexandre Dorval, ing., of G Mining Services. Mr. Dorval has approved the technical contents of this press release.
- The independent qualified person providing the underground mining shapes and cut-off grades for the 2024 MRE is Carl Michaud, ing., of G Mining Services. Mr. Michaud has approved the technical contents of this press release.
- The independent qualified person providing the metallurgical components relating to the 2024 MRE is Colin Hardie, P. Eng., of BBA Inc. Mr. Hardie has approved the technical contents of this press release.
About Osisko Metals
Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals space, more specifically copper and zinc. The Company is in a joint venture with Appian Capital Advisory LLP for the advancement of one of Canada's premier past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point Project, located in the Northwest Territories, for which current mineral resources have been calculated for the 2024 MRE (as defined herein). The Project is held under the joint venture company Pine Point Mining Limited. The current mineral resource estimate consists of 49.5Mt grading 5.52% ZnEq of Indicated Mineral Resources and 8.3Mt grading 5.64% ZnEq of Inferred Mineral Resources (in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). A technical report will follow this press release within 45 days. The Pine Point Project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, near infrastructure, with paved highway access, an electrical substation, and 100 kilometres of viable haulage roads.
In addition, and outside of the Pine Point JV, the Company acquired in July 2023, from Glencore Canada Corporation, a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspé Copper Mine, located near Murdochville in the Gaspé peninsula of Québec. The Company is currently focused on resource evaluation of the Copper Mountain Expansion Project that hosts a current mineral resource consisting of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 495Mt grading 0.37% CuEq and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 6.3Mt grading 0.37% CuEq (in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects); see May 6, 2024 news release of Osisko Metals entitled “Osisko Metals announces updated mineral resource estimate at Gaspé Copper – indicated resource of 495 mt grading 0.37% copper equivalent". Gaspé Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Québec.
About Appian Capital Advisory
Appian Capital Advisory LLP is a London-headquartered investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies.
Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Europe, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing nearly 6,300 employees. Appian has a global team of 65 experienced professionals with presences in London, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, New York, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Perth, Mexico City and Dubai. The Appian team, through its private capital funds, has a long history of successfully bringing mines through development and into production, having completed 9 mine builds in the last 6 years.
For more information, please visit www.appiancapitaladvisory.com.
For further information on this news release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact:
Robert Wares, Chairman & CEO of Osisko Metals Incorporated
Email: IR@osiskometals.com
Phone: 514-861-4441
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking information. This news release may contain forward-looking information pertaining to the Pine Point and Gaspé Copper Projects, including, among other things, the results of the 2022 PEA on Pine Point and the IRR, NPV and estimated costs, production, production rate and mine life; the ability to identify additional resources and reserves (if any) and exploit such resources and reserves on an economic basis; the expected high quality of the metal concentrates; the potential economic impact of the projects on local communities, including but not limited to the potential generation of tax revenues and contribution of jobs; the timing and ability for Projects to reach construction decision (if at all); the estimated costs to take the Projects to construction decision (if at all) and the impact to the Company of the disposition of ownership interest and control in the Pine Point Project, which is a material property of the Company; Gaspé Copper hosting the largest undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America and Glencore becoming a Control Person of the Company.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability and timing for the Pine Point joint-venture parties to fund cash calls to advance the development of the Pine Point Project and pursue planned exploration and development; future spot prices of copper, zinc, lead and molybdenum; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company’s public disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Metals’ issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Map 1: Pine Point Project
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5baec6c5-cf0b-4929-ae56-d25c5b53c0cd
