West Africa Mining Exploration (SMF-T), also known as Semafo, has received encouragement from a scoping study prepared by consultants Kvaerner Metals on the Jean-Gobele gold project in Guinea, West Africa.
A base case considers developing an open-pit mine with carbon-in-leach processing for the two main mineralized zones, Jean and Gobele, which hold combined resources of 640,000 tonnes grading 7 grams gold per tonne, using a 1.78-gram cutoff.
The stripping ratio would be 9.5-to-1, with metallurgical recoveries assumed to be 95% for oxide material and 81% for sulphide material. A mine life of four years is assumed for a selected annual production rate of 35,000 oz.
gold.
The cash costs would total US$205 per oz. gold, and assuming a gold price of US$300, the internal rate of return would be 9.35%.
Based on the exploration potential of the Jean A and Gobele A deposits and the possibility of supplying ore from other sources, Kvaerner has also produced a scenario whereby the mine life would be boosted to seven years.
Semafo is currently undertaking a drill program to increase its resources and is considering more metallurgical testing to improve recoveries.
Not included in the scoping study was recent work by Semafo that confirmed the extension by 600 metres of the Jean A and Gobele A veins. In addition, a 2.6-km structure (named “Gobele C”) has been discovered 400 metres east of Gobele A.
The most recent drilling on Gobele B, which is 150 metres west of Gobele A, has produced the following highlights: 19 metres (from 148 metres) grading 3.08 grams gold per tonne in hole G95; and 11 metres (from 52 metres) of 4.59 grams gold in hole G97. As well, drilling on the Gobele B vein has traced its extension another 300 metres to the northeast. The structure remains open to the northeast and at depth.
The project is an equal joint venture between operator Semafo and troubled Emerging Africa Gold (EAGI-C).
Be the first to comment on "Semafo completes scoping study"