Novo Resources Corp. (
“Novo” or
the
“Company”) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A)
(OTCQX: NSRPF) provides a Q1 2022 operational update from Beatons
Creek, located in Nullagine, Western Australia.
“This quarter has seen a positive increase in
production, revenue and more importantly, consistent gold delivery
from the Oxide mine areas,” commented Mr. Mike Spreadborough,
Executive Co-Chairman of Novo. “We expect this performance to
continue in the second quarter of 2022, thus confirming the
influence of closely-spaced grade control drilling on ongoing grade
estimation and mine planning. Also of equal importance, is the
demonstrated high-grade from the Grant’s Hill Fresh material that
has been mined to further confirm resource and metallurgical
properties. We look forward to releasing the results of our updated
Oxide mine plan and progress on the Fresh resource drilling and
feasibility study in May 2022.”
BEATONS CREEK PROJECT
Safety and COVID-19 Update
Safety remains a core value of Novo.
During Q1 2022, Novo did not record any lost
time injuries.
The Company is experiencing impacts from
COVID-19, particularly with respect to its workforce. Turnover
rates are high and mandatory isolation for positive personnel and
close contacts is temporarily impacting staffing levels for the
Company and its contractors. Supply chain issues are resulting in
moderately elevated production costs, particularly with respect to
fuel and other consumables, however best efforts have been made to
mitigate the impacts of the pandemic through the adoption of sound
risk management processes. It is not possible at this time to
predict the impact, if any, that current and future government
policies and mandates may have on the Company’s operations.
Operations
Forecast Q1 2022 mining rates at Beatons Creek
were achieved, with 396 kt of mineralized material mined from the
Edwards, Gold Crown, and Grant’s Hill areas of Beatons Creek (refer
to Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3 below).
Figure 1: Gold Crown and Edwards mining
areas (looking
North)https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cfa15cec-d172-4645-b6fe-66a04a3ee4f6
Figure 2: Grant’s Hill mining area
(looking
South-West)https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aaed577d-3011-432e-aa61-8bb356b46d83
Figure 3: Edwards ROM
padhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5a71216-594f-45dc-b7b3-5defb2c79c9a
Grade control drilling of Oxide material at
Beatons Creek has continued, with 5,640 m on either a 10 x 10 m or
20 x 20 m pattern as appropriate to support the current forecast
mining plan. The balance of the Oxide mining plan is now covered
with 20 x 20 m drilling as a minimum, with ongoing drilling planned
to tighten the drill spacing to 10 x 10 m and resource confidence
ahead of mining operations. Samples generated from this drilling
are delivered to Intertek’s on-site laboratory for sample
preparation ahead of despatch to Intertek’s Perth facility4. Novo
has secured priority access to two Chrysos PhotonAssay units4,
enabling accurate and non-destructive gold assay results with very
rapid turnaround time, furnishing operations with gold assay data
in a timely manner to support mining operations.
The Company’s Golden Eagle processing facility
(“Golden Eagle Plant”) processed 394 kt in Q1
2022, with an average head grade of 1.15 g/t Au.
Gold production totalled 13,378 ounces and
recovery rates of approximately 91.4% were achieved in Q1 2022.
Data from ongoing grade control drilling efforts
is being used to update and expand Oxide mining schedules at
Beatons Creek. Learnings from mining and grade reconciliation over
the past year are being incorporated into all mine planning
activities and are expected to result in more predictable future
mine planning and scheduling models. The Company anticipates that
results from this work will be released in May 2022.
Encouragingly, head grade in March lifted to
1.31 g/t Au, supported by treating a 60 kt parcel of Fresh material
from the Grant’s Hill pit, which reconciled at 1.75 g/t Au.
Throughput rates, reagent consumption and recoveries for this Fresh
material performed to expectations and were not materially
different to that experienced to date when processing Oxide
material.
The Company’s production forecast for the first
half of 2022 has been revised to 27 koz – 30 koz Au, assuming
receipt of requisite approvals1 and ability to manage impact to
operations from COVID-19.
Novo Financial Position
Novo maintains a strong a financial position,
with a cash balance of C$22.0 million2 and investment portfolio
with a fair value of approximately C$135 million3.
Q1 2022 gold sales totalled 13,364 ounces of
gold and 1,780 ounces of silver for gross revenue of C$31.9 million
(A$34.7 million)2. Novo sells its gold in Australian dollars to ABC
Refinery of Sydney, Australia and continues to enjoy strong gold
price performance in Australian dollar terms.
In addition to its cash reserves, the Company’s
strategic portfolio of investments held a fair value of
approximately C$135 million3 as at March 31, 2022, including its
9.1% investment in New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV: NFG) which was worth
approximately C$114 million3 (approximately C$110 million as at the
date of this news release).
QP STATEMENT
Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified
person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having
reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this
news release. Dr. Hennigh is the non-executive co-chairman and a
director of Novo.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The decision by the Company to produce at
Beatons Creek was not based on a feasibility study of mineral
reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and, as a
result, there is an increased uncertainty of achieving any
particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such
recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a
commercially mineable deposit. Production has not achieved forecast
to date. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of
economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that
anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to achieve
the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse
impact on the Company’s cash flow and future profitability.
The Company cautions that its declaration of
commercial production effective October 1, 20215 only indicates
that Beatons Creek was operating at anticipated and sustainable
levels and it does not indicate that economic results will be
realized.
ABOUT NOVO
Novo operates its flagship Beatons Creek Project
while exploring and developing its prospective land package
covering approximately 12,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara
region of Western Australia. In addition to the Company’s primary
focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to
deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders. For more
information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or
e-mail leo@novoresources.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Novo Resources Corp.
“Michael Spreadborough”
Michael Spreadborough
Executive Co-Chairman
Forward-looking information
Some statements in this news release contain
forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian
securities legislation) including, without limitation, (1) that the
Company expects to produce 27 koz – 30 koz Au in the first half of
2022, (2) the impact, if any, that current and future government
policies and mandates may have on the Company’s operations, that
ongoing drilling may tighten the drill spacing and resource
confidence ahead of mining operations, (3) that learnings from
mining and grade reconciliation over the past year are expected to
result in more predictable future mine planning and scheduling
models, (4) that results from modelling and scheduling work are
expected to be released in May 2022, and (5) an update on the Oxide
material mining schedule and progress on the Fresh material
resource drilling, feasibility study and external status of
approvals will be issued in May 2022. These statements address
future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include,
without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and
the risk factors identified in Novo’s management’s discussion and
analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021, which is available
under Novo’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date those statements are made.
Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to
update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any
forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference
herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments,
changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the
forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking
statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will
make additional updates with respect to those or other
forward-looking statements.
_________________________
1 Refer to the Company’s news releases dated
December 13, 2021 and January 14, 2022.2 Financial
figures may differ immaterially from final results due to foreign
exchange and rounding differences.3 This value
excludes the fair value of warrants held in GBM Resources Ltd.
Novo’s ability to dispose of its investments is subject to certain
thresholds pursuant to its senior secured credit facility with
Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector), LP. Please refer to
the Company’s management discussion and analysis for the financial
year ended December 31, 2021, which is available under Novo’s
profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Novo’s investment in New Found
Gold Corp. is subject to escrow requirements pursuant to National
Instrument 46-201 Escrow for Initial Public Offerings. The value of
Novo’s holdings in Elementum 3D, Inc. (“E3D”) is
based on E3D’s most recent financing price of US$8.00 per unit.
Except for its investment in E3D, the fair value of Novo’s
investments is based on closing prices of its investments and
relevant foreign exchanges rate as at March 31,
2022.4 Refer to the Company’s news release dated
May 18, 2021.5 Refer to the Company’s news release
dated October 12, 2021.
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