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CATALYST METALS LIMITED Capital/Financing Update 2022

Nov 7, 2022

64743_rns_2022-11-07_a87f4fad-dc3b-49cd-8bfe-2de6767bb3d9.pdf

Capital/Financing Update

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ASX Announcement
8 November 2022
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HENTY GOLD MINE, TASMANIA

Maiden Reserve advances strategy to grow mine life and production rate

Catalyst continues to build foundations of a more sophisticated operation at Henty with the reporting of a maiden Reserve

Key Points

  • Over last 18 months, Catalyst has been progressively building Henty’s foundations into that of a more stable operation

  • Reporting of this maiden Reserve is a further step in that direction

  • Henty’s maiden Ore Reserve is 983,000t @ 3.6g/t for 115,000oz Au

  • Reserves support a life of mine plan beyond 5 years

  • This base provides Catalyst with a stable platform from which to continue executing its strategy of extending mine life and increasing the production rate

Catalyst Metals Limited (Catalyst) ( ASX: CYL ) is pleased to announce an initial JORC 2012 compliant Ore Reserve Estimate of 983,000t at 3.6g/t for 115,000oz at its Henty Gold Mine in Tasmania.

Catalyst Managing Director & CEO, James Champion de Crespigny said: “This Reserve is key strategic milestone for Henty because it underpins our growth plan and highlights the project’s increasingly strong future.

“This is shown by the fact that we have been able to convert 55% of the Indicated Resource to Ore Reserve. Importantly, the anticipated Henty mine life now extends beyond five years using a mine plan which incorporates the increased production rates being targeted in coming years”.

This maiden Reserve follows the recently released Mineral Resource Estimate (Refer ASX release dated 27 September 2022) which showed that after accounting for the Financial Year 2022 production, there was an increase of 10% in the operation’s Mineral Resource and a 20% increase in Resources since Catalyst acquired Henty in January 2021.

The 2022 Reserve has been derived from the Mineral Resource models using ore classified in the Indicated category. Individual stopes may contain up to 20% Inferred ore, and in total these comprise less than 1% of the ORE. Stopes designed within the Life of Mine plan that contain insufficient Indicated Resource will be targeted for upgrade drilling.

This is important because these represent areas where Catalyst can target relatively low cost conversion from Inferred to Indicated Resource, and provide additional material to be assessed in future Reserve estimates.

E [email protected] W catalystmetals.com.au

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T +61 8 6107 5878

Table 1 below summarises the Henty 2022 Ore Reserve Estimate (ORE).

Table 1 Henty Ore Reserve Es�mate as at 30 June 2022

JORC Classification Tonnage (Mt) Au(g/t) Ounces(koz)
Proved
Probable
-
983
-
3.6
-
115
Total 983 3.6 115

Note: The ORE utilises a 2.7g/t breakeven cut-off, and 1.9g/t incremental cut-off grade respectively i.e. the variable cost for mining, administration and processing. The ORE is based on the same $2,600/oz gold price as the MRE. Tonnage estimates have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 tonnes

The ORE has been developed from the Life of Mine Plan. The ORE is the subsection of the Life of Mine plan being in the Indicated Resource category. The Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on which the ORE is based was prepared by consultants CSA Global based on drill hole data as of 30 June 2022.

HENTY GOLD MINE

The Henty Gold Mine is located 23 kilometres from the town of Queenstown in north western Tasmania, consisting of an underground mine and a nameplate capacity 300,000tpa conventional CIL processing plant.

Catalyst acquired 100% of the Henty Gold Mine and regional exploration tenements, in January 2021. Since acquisition, Catalyst has been pursuing a strategy to increase mining inventory to support higher gold production and lower costs. Catalyst has invested heavily in exploration and recent updates to its Reserve and Resource estimates will inform a life of mine plan to support this strategy.

In the FY22 June quarter production at Henty was 6,397oz at an AISC of A$2,100oz. Production for FY22 was 25,199oz and Catalyst is targeting an annualised gold production rate of 35,000oz by the end of FY23.

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ORE RESERVE ESTIMATION

The Ore Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource. It includes diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined or extracted and is defined by studies at Pre-Feasibility or Feasibility level that include application of Modifying Factors. The studies demonstrate that, at the time of reporting, extraction could reasonably be justified.

A ‘Probable Ore Reserve’ is the economically mineable part of an Indicated Mineral Resource. The confidence in the Modifying Factors applying to a Probable Ore Reserve is lower than that applying to a Proved Ore Reserve.

A Proved Ore Reserve represents the highest confidence category of reserve estimate and implies a high degree of confidence in geological and grade continuity, and the consideration of the Modifying Factors. All Reserves in the 2022 ORE are classified as Probable.

Table 2 below details the Mineral Resource es�mate which was reported on 27 September 2022.

Table 2 Mineral Resource es�mate by JORC Classification – Henty Deposit

JORC Classification Tonnage (Mt) Au(g/t) Ounces(koz)
Indicated
Inferred
1.8
0.9
4.5
4.0
257
111
Total 2.6 4.3 368

Note: The MRE utilises a 1.7g/t cut-off, the variable cost for mining and processing. The MRE is based on $2600/oz gold price. Tonnage estimates have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 million tonnes

MINING METHODS

The Henty Mine uses bench mining and flatback mining as the principle means of ore extraction. In selected places where development allows, a modified Avoca method has been used with success. Mining method selection is based on:

  • Width and grade of the ore

  • Regularity along strike and up dip

  • Proximity to the Henty Fault zone

  • General ground conditions

Each orebody has unique characteristics. Where conditions permit, benching provides the most costeffective method of extraction. Where the ore value is high, but ground conditions are critical to minimising dilution flatback mining is preferred.

In bench stoping, heights are limited to 12-15m. Where it is economic to do so, development is completed top and bottom. The choice of uphole or downhole drilling is based on geometry of the ore. Extraction is bottom up.

As a generality, the mining areas in the lower section of the mine have wider widths, more modest grades and are away from the Henty Fault. Conversely the upper areas of the mine tend to be higher grade, narrow and occasionally interact with the Henty Fault.

Production drilling is carried out using a long hole drill rig equipped with a Minnovare Production Optimiser system for drillhole accuracy. Blasting is carried out using ANFO and electronic detonators.

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MINING INVENTORY

A three-dimensional (3D) block model representing the mineralisation was created using Datamine software. Diamond core and underground face samples were used to interpolate Au grades into blocks using Ordinary Kriging. Several methods validated the block model, including visual review and comparison of sampling and block model grades. The stopes were created by applying the Shape Optimiser (SO) software in Deswik CAD to the various Mineral Resource models which were completed in Datamine by CSA Global Pty Ltd (CSA).

The parameters used to create the initial stope shapes were:

  • All Mineral Resource categories included;

  • 16m level intervals, split into 4m vertical slices. The 4m slices were also reviewed for flat backing;

  • 4m strike length;

  • Minimum mining width (MMW) of 1.5m;

  • Minimum dip of 50 degrees;

  • Minimum waste pillar between parallel stopes of 5m;

  • Initially a 2.7g/t Au breakeven cut-off was applied to create the 4m shapes. A head grade of 3.2g/t for each shape was applied to allow for stope recovery and dilution; and

  • An additional 1.9g/t Au incremental cut-off applied to create additional 4m shapes. A head grade of 2.3g/t for each incremental shape was applied to allow for stope recovery and dilution.

In order to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to higher classification categories, further infill drilling is required in parts of the deposit. CSA Global have recommended infill drilling to a spacing of 10–15 m(E) x 10–15 m(RL) along the main mineralised structures to support the delineation of Indicated material.

Table 3. Henty 2022 Probable Ore Reserve Estimate by Orebody

Category Mine Area Tonnes (kt) Au (g/t) Au (koz)
Proved Total 0 0.0 0
Probable Darwin Central 33 2.9 3
Darwin North 60 3.9 8
Darwin South 186 4.1 24
Intermediate Zone 73 3.3 8
Mount Julia 171 3.3 18
Newton 92 3.5 10
Sill Zone 86 3.8 10
Tear Away 16 4.4 2
Zone 15 91 3.0 9
Zone 96 174 4.0 22
Probable Total 983 3.6 115
Henty Mine Ore Reserves (P+P) 983 3.6 115

A schematic of the Henty 2022 ORE and Production target can be seen in Figure 4 below.

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Figure 4: Longitudinal projection of Henty Gold Mine showing 2022 Reserve zones.

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This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Directors of Catalyst Metals Limited.

Investors and Media:

James Champion de Crespigny John McKinstry Managing Director and CEO Chief Operating Officer T: +61 (8) 6107 5878 [email protected]

Competent person’s statement for JORC 2012 Ore Reserves

The information in this report that relates to Ore Reserve Estimate is based on, and fairly reflects, information compiled by Mr John McKinstry, a Competent Person, who is a full-time employee of Catalyst Metals Limited. Mr McKinstry has sufficient experience relevant to estimation, assessment, evaluation and economic extraction of Ore Reserves and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources, and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Mr McKinstry consents to the disclosure of information in this report in the form and context in which it appears.

Mr McKinstry verifies that the Ore Reserve section of this report is based on and fairly and accurately reflects in the form and context in which it appears, the information in his supporting documentation relating to the Ore Reserves.

JORC 2012 Mineral Resource

Catalyst confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcements continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.

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JORC Table 1, Section 1 – Key Classification Criteria

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Mineral
Resource
estimate for
conversion to
Ore Reserves
Description of the Mineral Resource
estimate used as a basis for the
conversion to an Ore Reserve.
Clear statement as to whether the
Mineral Resources are reported
additional to, or inclusive of, the Ore
Reserves.
• The 2022 ORE is based on the following Mineral Resource
block models:
• Darwin Central (dc_12_210720wd.m.dm)
• Darwin North (dn_32.1_220808wd.m.dm)
• Darwin South (ds_36.4_220721wd.m.dm)
• Intermediate Zone (iz_16.4_220815wd.m.dm)
• Mount Julia (mj_10.1_220812wd.m.dm)
• Newton Zone (nmj_32_210805wd.m.dm)
• Sill Zone (sz_21.1_220805wd.m.dm)
• Tear Away Zone (ta_19_210730wd.m.dm)
• Zone 15 (z15_2.2_220729wd.m.dm)
• Zone 96 (z96_29.4_220725wd.m.dm)
• The MRE includes the ORE.
Site visits Comment
on
any
site
visits
undertaken by the Competent Person
and the outcome of those visits.
If no site visits have been undertaken
indicate why this is the case.
• The Henty ORE was produced by John McKinstry, who is a
fulltime employee of Catalyst Metals and has good
knowledge of the project, with assistance from Anthony
Allman, director of ANTCIA Consulting Pty Ltd.
Study status The
type
and
level
of
study
undertaken
to
enable
Mineral
Resources to be converted to Ore
Reserves.
The Code requires that a study to at
least Pre-Feasibility Study level has
been undertaken to convert Mineral
Resources to Ore Reserves. Such
studies will have been carried out and
will have determined a mine plan that
is
technically
achievable
and
economically
viable,
and
that
material Modifying Factors have
been considered.
• The ORE is based on current operating parameters of the
Henty Mine.
• The study considered all material modifying factors and
concluded that the proposed mine plan was technically
feasible and economically viable.
Cut-off
parameters
The basis of the cut-off grade(s) or
quality parameters applied.
• The cut-off value of 2.7g/t for stoping and 1.9g/t for
incremental stoping was used based on current operating
costs at Henty. Ore development used a 1.0g/t cut-off.
• Cut-off values incorporated all operating costs including
development,
stoping,
haulage,
processing
and
administration. (Table 6)
Mining factors or
assumptions
The method and assumptions used as
reported in the Pre-Feasibility or
Feasibility Study to convert the
Mineral Resource to an Ore Reserve
(i.e.
either
by
application
of
appropriate factors by optimisation
or by preliminary or detailed design).
The
choice,
nature
and
appropriateness of the selected
• Only stopes containing no more than 20% Inferred
Mineral Resource were considered for the ORE. The
amount of Inferred ore in the ORE is less than 1% of the
total
• The mining method used for the LOM is a combination of
Longhole Benching and Flatbacking

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mining method(s) and other mining
parameters
including
associated
design issues such as pre-strip,
access, etc.
The assumptions made regarding
geotechnical parameters (e.g. pit
slopes, stope sizes, etc.), grade
control and pre- production drilling.
The major assumptions made and
Mineral Resource model used for pit
and
stope
optimisation
(if
appropriate).
The mining dilution factors used.
The mining recovery factors used.
Any minimum mining widths used.
The manner in which Inferred Mineral
Resources are utilised in mining
studies and the sensitivity of the
outcome to their inclusion.
The infrastructure requirements of
the selected mining methods.
• The ORE include an average of 11% of unplanned
dilution.
• The ORE also includes an average of 23% of planned
dilution due to minimum mining width and practical
stope shapes.
• Sub level intervals vary from 12-15m for the benching.
This is based on appropriate method for control of
dilution, reduction of pillars and ore loss, ground control,
safety and regional stability.
• A minimum stoping width of 1.5m has been used.
• Stable stope dimensions using a maximum HR=4m have
been based on geotechnical assessment.
• Practical designs have been included for ventilation,
power, pumping and drainage as well as second means
of egress.
• Majority of the stopes will be filled using unconsolidated
rock fill trucked from surface or underground
development waste. This will improve stope stability and
increase ore recovery while minimising the backfill costs.
Stopes will be filled with waste rock from development
where possible to minimise the trucking requirements.
Metallurgical
factors or
assumptions
The metallurgical process proposed
and the appropriateness of that
process to the style of mineralisation.
Whether the metallurgical process is
well-tested technology or novel in
nature.
The
nature,
amount
and
representativeness of metallurgical
test work undertaken, the nature of
the metallurgical domaining applied
and the corresponding metallurgical
recovery factors applied.
Any assumptions or allowances made
for deleterious elements.
The existence of any bulk sample or
pilot scale test work and the degree
to which such samples are considered
representative of the orebody as a
whole.
For minerals that are defined by a
specification, has the Ore Reserve
estimation been based on the
appropriate mineralogy to meet the
specifications
• The ORE is based on current performance of the Henty CIL
circuit
Environmental The status of studies of potential
environmental impacts of the mining
and processing operation. Details of
waste rock characterisation and the
consideration of potential sites,
• Mine waste rock characterisation and process tailings
characterisation remain unchanged.
• The Henty Mine has been in operation since 1996.

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status of design options considered
and, where applicable, the status of
approvals for process residue storage
and waste dumps should be reported.
Infrastructure The
existence
of
appropriate
infrastructure: availability of land for
plant development, power, water,
transportation (particularly for bulk
commodities),
labour,
accommodation; or the ease with
which the infrastructure can be
provided, or accessed.
• All Henty Mine infrastructure is in place
• The Henty TSF is approved for a further 6m height lift
which will allow production through to 2030.
Costs The derivation of, or assumptions
made, regarding projected capital
costs in the study.
The methodology used to estimate
operating costs.
Allowances made for the content of
deleterious elements.
The derivation of assumptions made
of metal or commodity price(s), for
the principal minerals and co-
products.
The source of exchange rates used in
the study.
Derivation of transportation charges.
The basis for forecasting or source of
treatment and refining charges,
penalties
for
failure
to
meet
specification, etc.
The allowances made for royalties
payable, both
Government and
private.
• Capital costs for decline development and accesses were
included in the financial evaluation. Other capital such as
surface and underground infrastructure have been
included in the financial evaluation.
• Operating costs for mining were based on FY22 costs
• Tasmania operates under a two-tiered system where
royalty is paid as a percentage of net sales and of profit.
The formula for the payment of royalty is specified in
Regulation 7 of the MRR. Royalty is payable at the rate of
1.9% of Net Sales, plus profit. A rebate of up to 20% is
available for the production of a metal within the State.
Maximum royalty payable is 5.35% of net sales.
• There is a royalty payable to royalty company Black Flag of
3% NSR (excluding transport and refining)
• There is a royalty payable to royalty company Franco-
Nevada of 1% of gold metal
Revenue
factors
The derivation of, or assumptions
made regarding revenue factors
including head grade, metal or
commodity price(s) exchange rates,
transportation
and
treatment
charges,
penalties,
net
smelter
returns, etc.
The derivation of assumptions made
of metal or commodity price(s), for
the principal metals, minerals and co-
products.
• An AUD gold price of AUD2600/oz was used for both MRE
and ORE
• Average realised gold price in FY22 was AUD2529/oz
Market
assessment
The demand, supply and stock
situation
for
the
particular
commodity, consumption trends and
factors likely to affect supply and
demand into the future.
• The outlook for the gold market remains positive

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A customer and competitor analysis
along with the identification of likely
market windows for the product.
Price and volume forecasts and the
basis for these forecasts.
For industrial minerals the customer
specification, testing and acceptance
requirements prior to a supply
contract
Economic The inputs to the economic analysis
to produce the net present value
(NPV) in the study, the source and
confidence of these economic inputs
including
estimated
inflation,
discount rate, etc.
NPV
ranges and sensitivity
to
variations
in
the
significant
assumptions and inputs.
• A financial LOM model of the Henty has been completed
by suitably qualified and experienced accounting and
financial staff employed by Catalyst Metals The financial
model demonstrates a positive NPV.
• The confidence in the inputs is consistent with the
assigned Probable classification of the ORE. Confidence in
the economic inputs is appropriate to the level of study
given that the mining cost inputs are current costs from
the Henty operation.
• Sensitivity analysis work has been undertaken on variables
such as mining costs, processing costs, foreign exchange
rate and metal price, with the NPV proving most sensitive
to changes in the AUD gold price.
Social The status of agreements with key
stakeholders and matters leading to
social licence to operate.
• All mining permits are current
Other To the extent relevant, the impact of
the following on the project and/or
on the estimation and classification
of the Ore Reserves:
Any identified material naturally
occurring risks.
The
status
of
material
legal
agreements
and
marketing
arrangements.
The
status
of
governmental
agreements and approvals critical to
the viability of the project, such as
mineral
tenement
status,
and
government and statutory approvals.
There must be reasonable grounds to
expect that all necessary Government
approvals will be received within the
timeframes anticipated in the Pre-
Feasibility
or
Feasibility
study.
Highlight and discuss the materiality
of any unresolved matter that is
dependent on a third party on which
extraction of the Ore Reserve is
contingent.
• There are no foreseeable risks associated with the Henty
Mine which are expected to impact on the ORE.

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Classification The basis for the classification of the
Ore Reserves into varying confidence
categories.
Whether the result appropriately
reflects the Competent Person’s view
of the deposit.
The proportion of Probable Ore
Reserves that have been derived from
Measured Mineral Resources (if any).
• The ORE is based on the MRE. Indicated Mineral
Resources within stopes have been converted to Probable
ORE.
• To ensure practical stope shapes certain areas included
unclassified waste material at zero grade. This was
included as planned dilution.
• It is the competent person’s view that the classifications
used for the ORE are appropriate.
Audits or
reviews
The results of any audits or reviews of
Ore Reserve estimates.
• No external audit of this ORE has been completed, but the
process has been internally reviewed by Henty Mine
Management
Discussion of
relative accuracy/
confidence
• The ORE is mostly determined by the order of accuracy
associated with the MRE model, the metallurgical inputs
and the cost adjustment factors used.
• The ORE is based on design and financial model inputs
which are well understood and as such has a
corresponding level of confidence.
• Considerations in favour of a high confidence in the ORE
include;
• Catalyst is investing heavily on underground drilling to
improve confidence, expand the known Resource and find
new potential orebodies.
• Considerations in favour of a lower confidence in ORE
include;
• Future gold price and exchange rate forecasts carry an
inherent level of risk
• There is a degree of uncertainty associated with geological
estimates. The Ore Reserve classifications reflect the
levels of geological confidence in the estimates.

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