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EMERALD RESOURCES NL Capital/Financing Update 2017

Apr 30, 2017

64849_rns_2017-04-30_bd97c71e-2b73-4c98-b3cf-e854893f7424.pdf

Capital/Financing Update

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ASX Announcement & Media Release

1 May 2017

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Fast Facts

ASX Code: EMR Shares on issue: 2,108 million Market Cap: ~$100 million Cash: A$10.7 million (31 Mar 2017)

Board & Management

Simon Lee AO, Non-Exec Chairman Morgan Hart, Managing Director Justin Tremain, Executive Director Ross Stanley, Non-Exec Director Ross Williams, Non-Exec Director Mick Evans, Chief Operating Officer Mark Clements, Co. Secretary

Company Highlights

  • First mover in an emerging gold province in Cambodia

  • Okvau Deposit (100% owned): Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.14Moz at

  • 2.0g/t Au (refer Table Three)

  • DFS completed and demonstrates high grade, low cost, compelling development economics:

  • Ore Reserve of 14.3Mt & 2.0g/t Au for 0.9Mozs in a single open pit with waste:ore ratio of 5.8:1

  • LOM average annual production of 106,000ozs pa

  • AISC US$731/oz over LOM

  • Using US$1.250/oz Au gold price:

    • NPV(5%) US$223M pre-tax and US$160M post-tax

    • IRR 48% pa pre-tax and 40% post-tax

    • Payback ~2.2 years pre-tax and 2.5 years post-tax

  • Highly credentialed gold project development team

  • Significant resource growth potential.

Okvau DFS Delivers Ore Reserve of 907,000oz Emerald to Become +100,000ozpa Gold Producer

  • Definitive Feasibility Study (‘DFS’) confirms the 100% owned Okvau Gold Project in Cambodia as a robust and compelling project

  • DFS delivers an initial Ore Reserve of 14.3Mt @ 2.0g/t Au for 907,000oz at an average AISC of US$731/oz over an initial 7 year Life-of-Mine (‘LOM’) operating period

  • The DFS is based on a 2.0Mtpa plant to produce approximately 106,000oz pa on average over the initial operating LOM of over 7 years

  • Updated Mineral Resource estimate of 17.7Mt at 2.0g/t gold for 1.14Moz (at 0.7g/t cut-off) with 1.01Moz as Indicated and 0.13Moz as Inferred (refer Table Three)

  • Key operating and financial results of the DFS (US$1,250/oz gold) include[1] :

Development Capital Costs2 US$91M
Mining Contractor Capital & Pre-Production Mining US$7M
US$98M
LOM C1 Cash Costs3
US$650/oz
LOM AISC4
US$731/oz
Operating Cash Flow(pre-tax)
US$419M (A$558M)
Project Cash Flow After Capital(pre-tax)
US$298M (A$397M)
NPV(5%) (pre-tax)
US$223M (A$298M)
NPV(5%) (post-tax)
US$160M (A$213M)
Payback(pre-tax)
26 months
Payback(post-tax)
30 months
IRR(pre-tax)
48% pa
IRR (post-tax)
40% pa

1 All economics are 100% attributable to Emerald. Exchange rate of US$0.75. Refer Table One for further details 2 Includes US$4.4M of capital spares and first fills

  • 3 C1 Cash Costs include site based mining, processing and admin operating costs plus transport and refining costs

4 Includes C1 Cash Costs plus royalties, sustaining capital costs and rehabilitation & closure costs

  • 90% of Indicated Resources converted to Ore Reserves

  • Low development capital intensity of US$122/oz of LOM production

  • NPV(5%) to Pre-Production Capital Costs ratio of 2.3x

  • Operating margin of 46% at US$1,250/oz gold price

  • Targeting commencement of project development in late 4Q 2017 with gold production in early 2019

  • Financing plans underway, targeting conventional debt and equity funding

Registered Office 1110 Hay Street West Perth WA 6005

  • Emerald has cash reserves in excess of A$10M. Well placed to progress predevelopment activities and exploration before project funding

T: +61 8 9286 6300 F: +61 8 9286 6333

W: www.emeraldresources.com.au

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Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR) (‘Emerald’) is pleased to announce the completion of the DFS on the development of a 2.0Mtpa operation at its 100% owned Okvau Gold Project located in the Mondulkiri province of eastern Cambodia (‘Project’). The DFS has been completed to[+/-] 15% level of accuracy. The Board of Emerald has approved the Project to proceed to construction subject to financing arrangement and permitting, including a Mineral Investment Agreement with the Royal Government of Cambodia to support an Industrial Mining Licence.

The DFS confirms the robust nature of the Project with an initial operating LOM of over 7 years, producing approximately 106,000 ounces of gold per annum on average from a single open pit, with ore processed through a plant utilising a single stage crushing circuit and SAG mill, sulphide flotation, regrind mill followed by conventional cyanide leaching.

Key operating and financial outcomes of the DFS, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code (2012 Edition), are presented below in Table One.

Table One | Study Results[1]

Ore Reserve 14.3Mt @ 2.0g/t gold for 907koz 14.3Mt @ 2.0g/t gold for 907koz contained
LOM Strip Ratio (waste t : ore t) 5.8:1
Throughput 2.0Mtpa
Life of Mine 7.2 years
Processing Recovery 84%
Recovered Ounces 762koz
Average Annual Production 106koz
Pre-production Capital Costs2 US$98M
Sustaining Capital Costs3 US$23M
Gold Price US$1,100/oz US$1,250/oz US$1,400/oz
Gross Revenue US$838M US$952M US$1,066M
LOM Net Revenue (net of royalties4and refining) US$801M US$911M US$1,020M
Operating Cash Flow pre-tax US$309M US$419M US$528M
Project Cash Flow pre-tax US$188M US$298M US$407M
NPV(5%)pre-tax US$133M US$223M US$313M
NPV(5%)post-tax5 US$95M US$160M US$224M
Payback pre-tax 3.0 years 2.2 years 1.6 years
Payback post-tax 3.3 years 2.5 years 1.8 years
IRR pre-tax 32% 48% pa 63%
IRR post-tax5 27% 40% pa 54%
LOM C1 Cash Costs6 US$650/oz US$650/oz US$650/oz
LOM All-In SustainingCosts(‘AISC’)7 US$725/oz US$731/oz US$737/oz

1 All economics are 100% attributable to Emerald

2 Includes US$4.4M of capital spares and first fills and US$7.0M of mining capital and pre-production mining costs

3 Includes US$14.4M of rehabilitation and closure costs

4 Royalties include Government royalty of 2.5% gross and a third party royalty of 1.5% gross (capped to A$22.5M)

5 Taxation is based on current and draft Cambodian tax law and does not allow for any incentives or tax relief

6 C1 Cash Costs include site based mining, processing and admin operating costs plus transport and refining costs

7 Includes C1 Cash Costs plus royalties, sustaining capital costs, contributions to environmental & community funds and rehabilitation & closure costs

Emerald Managing Director, Morgan Hart said: “Today the Emerald team has delivered a maiden Ore Reserve of just under 1

million ounces of gold along with a DFS demonstrating the exceptional economics of the Okvau Gold Project, all of which has been

achieved within 12 months of Emerald becoming formally involved in the Project. The results of the DFS, including a pre-tax NPV(5%)

of approximately A$300M with an IRR of 48% pa, vindicates Emerald’s decision to acquire 100% ownership of this project. Importantly, given the reserve grade of 2.0g/t and moderate strip ratio, the Project has low AISC of US$731/oz over the LOM.

This will be the first large scale gold project to be developed in Cambodia. Emerald is confident this first mover status will result in a number of growth opportunities and it is very easy to envisage this Project increasing in scale and mine life.”

Page 2 of 38

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Project Implementation

Emerald will manage the construction and development of the Project with its own internal construction team. Key senior members of this team have been actively involved in the DFS and have many years’ experience working together on the development of other successful gold projects, within Australia and Overseas. Certain works will be outsourced to independent consultants and contractors as required.

Cambodia is well located for the cost effective procurement of key equipment and materials. An important objective will be to maximise the extent of procurement from within Cambodia.

Table Two shown below outlines the key Project milestones being targeted by the Emerald development team.

Table Two | Okvau Gold Project Schedule

2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019
Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
Regulatory Approvals Granted assessment
Project Funding ongoing discussions
Commence Plant Construction process plant & infrastructure construction
Processing Plant Commissioned
Commence Okvau pit mine dev't open pit mining
First Gold Production

Next Steps

Given the completion of the DFS and the targeted development commencement late in the 4[th] Quarter of 2017, Emerald is focussed on:

  • Procuring project approvals and permitting including environmental approval of the completed Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (‘ESIA’) and an Industrial Mining Licence which is to be supplemented with a Mineral Investment Agreement with the Royal Government of Cambodia

  • Securing requisite project funding

  • Identifying additional cost-saving measures from the forecast capital and operating expenditure

  • Optimising open pit staging and scheduling

  • Pursuing an active exploration program aimed at discovering nearby additional gold deposits that can deliver additional mill feed to the Okvau Gold Project. This will include a dedicated effort to expand Emerald’s already substantial 400km[2] ground position. Significant progress is being made in this area.

Page 3 of 38

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Growth Potential

Substantial opportunities exist for new gold discoveries across the broader Okvau and adjoining O’Chhung project areas covering approximately 400km[2] (refer Figure One). Further drilling around the Okvau Deposit and exploration targets within close proximity to the Okvau Deposit offer an opportunity to expand the existing resource inventory and add to the current production target, both in terms of annual production and mine life.

The Okvau Deposit remains open to the north and north-east where anomalous gold-in-soils and geophysics indicate the potential for additional mineralisation.

This DFS has only considered an open pit mining operation. The Okvau Deposit remains ‘open’ at depth with high grade shoots providing longer term underground potential. High grade resources have been defined immediately below the floor of the final pit design (refer Figure Two).

Historical drilling results beneath the DFS pit design include (refer Renaissance Minerals Ltd ASX announcement 17 September 2012):

  • 17m @ 4.5g/t gold from 320m (DD11OKV091)

  • 11m @ 8.4g/t gold from 399m (DD11OKV091)

  • 10m @ 9.7g/t gold from 411m (DD12OKV108)

Emerald recently drilled two deep diamond core holes to test for strike and down dip continuity of high grade gold zones intersected with previous deeper drilling. Results included (refer Figure Two):

  • 3m @ 14.3g/t gold from 432m (DD16OKV372)

  • 6m @ 9.7g/t gold from 520m (DD16OKV373)

Figure One | Emerald Licence Position with Surface Geochemistry

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Figure Two | Depth Potential at the Okvau Gold Deposit

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This announcement lifts the trading halt that Emerald requested on Friday 28 April 2017. Emerald is not aware of any reason why the ASX would not allow trading to recommence immediately.

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Okvau Definitive Feasibility Study Introduction

The Okvau Deposit is located approximately 275 kilometres north-east of Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh in the province of Mondulkiri (refer Figures Three and Four). The town of Kratie is located on the Mekong River approximately 90 kilometres to the west of the Project. The capital of Mondulkiri is Saen Monorom located approximately 60 kilometres to the south-east of the Project.

Emerald, through its 100% owned Cambodian subsidiary company, Renaissance Minerals (Cambodia) Limited, holds a 100% interest in the Okvau Exploration Licence (and the adjoining O’Chhung Exploration Licence). The licences cover approximately 400km[2] of project area and are located within the core of a prospective Intrusive Related Gold (‘IRG’) province in the eastern plains of Cambodia.

Figure Three| Project Location

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Figure Four| Okvau and O’Chhung Licence Area
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There is no requirement for the Royal Government of Cambodia to hold a participating interest in the Project.

An updated independent JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Okvau Deposit of 17.7Mt grading 2.01g/t gold containing 1.141Moz (at 0.70g/t gold cut-off) has been updated by independent resource consultant EGRM Consulting Pty Ltd as part of this DFS (refer Table Three).

Table Three | Okvau Mineral Resource Estimate - April 2017

Okvau April 2017 Mineral Resource Estimate Okvau April 2017 Mineral Resource Estimate Okvau April 2017 Mineral Resource Estimate
Cut-off
(Au g/t)
Indicated Resource
Tonnage
(Mt)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained
Au (Koz)
Inferred Resource Total Resource
Contained
Au (Koz)
Tonnage
(Mt)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained
Au (Koz)
Tonnage
(Mt)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained
Au (Koz)
0.70
15.11
2.08
1,008 2.57
1.61
133
17.68 2.01
1,141

The updated Mineral Resource estimate was determined using Multiple Indicator Kriging and takes into account additional dilution when compared to the previous Mineral Resource estimate.

The DFS has delivered a maiden Ore Reserve (Probable) estimate of 14.26Mt @ 1.98g/t Au for 907,000 ounces gold (refer Table Four).

Table Four | Okvau Ore Reserve Estimate - April 2017

Okvau April 2017 Ore Reserve Estimate Okvau April 2017 Ore Reserve Estimate Okvau April 2017 Ore Reserve Estimate
Tonnage Grade Contained
(Mt) (g/t Au) Au (Koz)
Probable Ore Reserve 14.26Mt 1.98g/t Au 907koz

Page 5 of 38

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The Okvau Deposit will be mined by conventional open pit mining methods from a single pit at a relatively constant mining rate. Mining will be undertaken by drilling and blasting ore and waste with load and haul using a mining contractor.

The proposed plant has a throughput of 2Mtpa will utilise a single stage crushing circuit and SAG milling circuit, sulphide flotation, regrind mill followed by conventional cyanide leaching. The Project has an initial operating mine life of 7.2 years. The DFS is based entirely on Probable Reserves. Inferred Resources which total approximately 7,000 ounces within the final pit design, have not been included in the DFS. The site layout is shown in Figure Five.

The estimated operating costs demonstrate the financial robustness of the Project with an average LOM AISC of US$731/oz. The estimated Project development costs are US$91M with a further US$7M in mining contractor establishment costs and preproduction mining costs. The development costs include an US$4.4M allowance for spare parts and first fills.

At a gold price of US$1,250/oz, the Project generates a NPV(5%) of US$223M (A$298M) pre-tax and US$160M (A$213M) post-tax with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 48% pa pre-tax and 40% post-tax. The payback of the total capital funding requirement is expected to be 26 months pre-tax and 30 months post-tax, from first gold pour.

Figure Five | Okvau Gold Project Site Layout Plan

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DFS Study Consultants

The DFS has been managed by Emerald with a number of experienced and highly qualified specialist consultants engaged to cover each of the key disciplines (refer Table Five).

Table Five | DFS Consultants

Consultant Input
Mintrex Plant Design, Infrastructure, Capital and Processing Costs
EGRM Consulting Pty Ltd, B Gossage Mineral Resource Estimate
ACG (Australian Centre for Geomechanics), PM Dight Geotechnical
Earth Systems Environmental Environmental
Philip Luckett Metallurgical Test Work
ATC Williams, R Holding Tailings Storage Facility, Waste Rock and Water Treatment
EGC Engineering Power and Electrical
KH Morgan and Associates, KH Morgan Hydrology and Hydrogeology
Mining Resources Pty Ltd, G Williamson Ore Reserves, Mining Costs, Optimisations, Mine Design and Scheduling

Page 6 of 38

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Geology and Mineralisation

Regional Geology

A large section of Indo-China, western Laos, Cambodia and southern Vietnam is underlain by Permo-Carboniferous metamorphosed shallow marine to upper arc volcanic rocks referred to as the Kontum Metamorphic Complex or Kontum Massif. This metamorphic complex was formed in rifting conditions following the Indo-Sinean collision in the Carboniferous.

The Indo-China Block is separated from the South China Block by the Jinshajiang Aillaoshan Suture Zone.

The Kontum Massif is bounded to the north by the Troung Son Fold Belt and to the south by the Loel Fold Belt. These fold belts contain volcano-sedimentary sequences with andesite and minor limestone.

The Kontum Massif, now a tectonic stable plate, was intruded in Cretaceous by small to medium sized dioritic to granitic bodies. The rhyo-dacitic intrusives are often associated with copper and gold mineralisation such as at Sepon in Laos.

The various lithologies in these intrusives are considered to result from fractionation from a common magna source. Some of these intrusives such as at the Okvau Deposit have significant hornfelsic haloes.

A major part of the region is overlain by Jurassic-Cretaceous sediment deposited in the Khorat sag basin. These sediments, in places, are overlain by Neogene-Quaternary basalt flows.

Okvau Local Geology and Mineralisation

The Okvau Deposit is largely hosted in a Cretaceous diorite intrusion emplaced within an upper Triassic metasedimentary host rock package. Gold mineralisation is contained in a north-east trending fracture set in a narrow off-shoot or apophyses from a larger diorite intrusion however extends beyond the diorite contact into the metasediments as shown in Figure Six.

Gold mineralisation is concentrated along a network of brittle/ductile shears and arsenopyrite-rich sulphide veins. The mineralized shears typically comprise 10 to 50 metre wide core of strongly altered, fractured, and/or sheared rock locally with a weak planar fabric, surrounded by 0.5 to 2 metre wide less intensely altered halos which retain relict diorite texture. Variably deformed pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and/or pyrite-rich layers up to 10 metres wide also commonly occur in the core of the shears.

The greater width of the alteration haloes around the shears, and textural evidence of movement along the shears implies they, rather than the narrow veins, were the principal fluid conduits within the Okvau Deposit. Gold-bearing fluids presumably accessed the fracture mesh which hosts the auriferous sulphide veins via the more strongly altered shears.

Figure Six| Okvau Deposit Geology

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The principal controls on the mineralisation are interpreted to be parallel to the western diorite contact with the metasediments however the low angle dipping planar shears (metasediment bedding parallel) also exert influence on the 3D distribution of the mineralisation. Gold grade continuity is therefore best defined as parallel to low dipping shears within the diorite which have an orientation in a shallow to moderate dipping plane to the south-east.

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Mineral Resource Estimate

The Okvau Mineral Resource estimate used for the DFS was prepared by independent resource consultants EGRM Consulting Pty Ltd (Principal Geologist, Brett Gossage) of Perth, Australia in April 2017 and is reported in accordance with the guidelines defined in the 2012 Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code, 2012 Edition). Mr Gossage is a geologist and resource estimation specialist with over 27 years of experience including substantial experience working on applicable deposit types. A site visit was completed by Mr Gossage in December 2016. A more detailed description of the methodology used to estimate the Mineral Resources is contained in Appendix One.

The Mineral Resource estimate for the Okvau Deposit, reported above selected cut-offs is summarised in Table Six. A preferred lower cut-off grade 0.70g/t gold is selected to reflect the final economic cut-off determined based on the DFS parameters.

Table Six | Okvau Mineral Resource Estimate - April 2017

Okvau April 2017
Mineral Resource Estimate
Cut-off
(Au g/t)
Indicated Resource
Tonnage
(Mt)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained
Au (Koz)
Inferred Resource Total Resource
Contained
Au (Koz)
Tonnage
(Mt)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained
Au (Koz)
Tonnage
(Mt)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained
Au (Koz)
0.50
19.58
1.74
1,093 3.47
1.35
151
23.05 1.68
1,244
0.70
15.11
2.08
1,008 2.57
1.61
133
17.68 2.01
1,141
1.00
11.01
2.54
898 1.67
2.04
109
12.68 2.47
1,007

Drilling

The Okvau Deposit has been drill tested with a combination of Diamond (‘DD’) and Reverse Circulation (‘RC’) drilling. Figure Seven presents a drill hole plan with the gold mineralisation envelope. The Okvau resource estimate covers approximately 500 metres of strike and 400 metres width of the mineralised vein system.

Figure Seven | Okvau Drill Hole Plan (DD red and RC green) and Mineralisation Outline

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The Okvau Mineral Resource estimate is based on a database of 217 drill holes, for a total of 42,257 metres. The database is comprised of 112 DD holes for 31,447 metres and 105 RC drill holes for 10,810 metres. Drilling at Okvau is typically spaced at 25 metres by 25 metres centres in the top 100 metres of the deposit. Below 100m vertical the drill spacing widens to 25 metres drill sections and 50 metres on or along section

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Sampling Techniques and Analysis Methods

DD core was sampled using half-core where the core is cut in half down the longitudinal axis and sample intervals were determined by the geologist based on lithological contacts, with 80% of the sample intervals being 1 metre in length and an additional 15% of the sample intervals being 2 metres in length. RC samples were split through either a two or three tier riffle splitter at the drill rig and sampled on 1 metre intervals.

Estimation Methodology

The lithological constraints and oxidation surfaces were generated by Emerald technical staff and were applied to the grade estimation. The modelled lithology includes diorite and metasedimentary (hornfels) host rocks. An oxidation surface representing the top of fresh rock was also modelled.

The grade estimate is based on a mineralisation constraint (estimation domain) generated with indicator kriging using drill holes coded with a mineralisation interpretation generated by Emerald technical staff. The mineralisation interpretation was completed using a 0.5g/t gold lower cut-off grade and includes a maximum 5 metres of internal dilution plus 2 metres of external dilution, and was generated using the known geological controls on gold mineralisation. Figure Eight shows a typical section.

Figure Eight | Okvau Deposit Oblique Section

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The Mineral Resource gold estimate was determined using Multiple Indicator Kriging (‘MIK’) within the mineralisation zone constraints. MIK is a non-linear or ‘recovered resource’ grade estimation method which estimates grades and tonnages for a targeted selective mining unit (‘SMU’) block size, inclusive of dilution and ore loss. Secondary variables (sulphur, arsenic, bismuth, antimony, copper, and tellurium) have been estimated using Ordinary Kriging (OK).

A ‘parent’ block size of 20 metres x 25 metres x 10 metres was used followed by a change of support estimate to a 5 metre x 5 metre x 5 metre SMU. The model was constrained by a topographic survey and the geological model.

The MIK estimate was generated using a multi-pass estimation approach, with the high confidence sample search parameters (estimation pass 1 with a sample search of 50 metres x 50 metres x 20 metres) expanded by 100% for each subsequent pass to estimate blocks not originally estimated in prior high confidence estimation passes. The majority of categorised blocks were estimated searching to a maximum distance of 100 metres from data with the sample searches optimised based on geostatistical investigations and variography generated for both gold and indicator variables.

The grade estimates are based on 2 metre down-the-hole composites of the RC and DD drilling. High grade cuts were variously applied to the composite data to limit the influence of high grade outliers. High grade cuts have been determined via outlier analysis studies with a high grade cut of 20g/t gold and 40g/t gold applied to the fresh hornfels and diorite domains respectively. A 10 g/t gold high grade cut was applied to the oxide diorite domain composites and no high-grade cut applied to the hornfels oxide composites. To further limit extrapolation of high grade, additional high grade cuts of 6.98g/t gold and 8.88g/t gold were applied to the hornfels and diorite domains composites respectively for estimation passes 2 and 3.

A bulk density data set of 9,371 determinations were collected throughout the deposit via the immersion method of core billets. Based on the average bulk density grouped into fresh and oxidised samples and subdivided by lithology, bulk density was assigned to the block model for tonnage reporting. Bulk densities have been assigned to four domains as shown in Table Seven.

Page 9 of 38

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Table Seven | Okvau Bulk Densities

Lithology t/m3
Diorite Oxidised 2.82
Diorite Fresh 2.87
Hornfels Oxidised 2.76
Hornfels Fresh 2.78

Classification

The Okvau Deposit grade estimates have been classified in accordance with the guidelines set out in the JORC Code, 2012 Edition. The assessment of confidence levels of the key categorisation criteria, including the confidence of the resource development data, the geological interpretation, the drilling density and gold grade estimation is summarised in Appendix One. The resource classification is based solely on the gold estimate.

In summary, high confidence estimates that are within approximately 30 metres of drilling or better were considered as Indicated Mineral Resources. Inferred Mineral Resources were blocks that were not considered Indicated Resources but still within the interpreted mineralisation zone and within 75 metres of drilling (when estimated with pass 1 or 2) or within 40 metres of drilling for estimation pass 3. A cross sectional interpretation was completed using criteria listed above and a wireframe solid produced to capture those blocks that could be considered as Indicated and Inferred Resources. Figure Nine shows a long section displaying the classification.

Figure Nine | Mineral Resource Classification (Red is Indicated Resources and Green is Inferred Resources)

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Geotechnical and Hydrology

Geotechnical

The Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) was engaged to complete a geotechnical study for the DFS. The assessment undertaken was an update to previous works undertaken by Renaissance Minerals Limited.

The geotechnical analysis process comprised structural analysis, kinematic assessment on bench and batter scale, probabilistic analysis of wall stability and limit equilibrium numerical modelling on overall slope geometry. Based on the analysis conducted, the following pit design parameters were chosen:

  • Berm interval: 20 metres -30 metres

  • Berm width: 7.6 metres -10 metres

  • Batter angle: 78°

  • Inter-ramp angle: 59.3°- 61.3[0]

  • Overall slope angle: 52°

The geotechnical study shows that the likelihood of a seismic event is extremely low.

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Hydrogeological

KH Morgan & Associates was engaged to undertake hydrogeological studies for the DFS. Total water supply requirement for mining and processing of gold ore at Okvau is estimated to be 2.261Mm[3] per annum. Water supply will be obtained from a combination of rainwater catchment tailings decant and pit dewatering with dry season supplement from the adjacent Prek Te River. Supply from the Prek Te has been assessed as being available at all flow conditions.

Water balance indicates that mill water supply can be drawn entirely from the TSF pond from May to end of October each year without call for abstraction from the Prek Te.

Except for rain runoff, groundwater input from the mining area is very low resulting from the very low hydraulic conductivity of the saprolitic regolith and extremely low conductivity of the underlying crystalline rocks.

The total water balance for the Project is shown below in Table Eight.

Table Eight | Project Water Balance

Month Uses Uses Uses Uses Uses Uses Sources Sources Sources Sources Sources Sources
Processing Dust
suppression
Potable elution Total Decant from
TSF
Pit dewatering Pit rain
catchment
TSF rain
catchment
balance
Total Site water
generation
River sourcing
requirement
January 285.39 60 8.3 353.69 85.62 30 2.37 - 117.99 - 235.7
February 285.39 60 8.3 353.69 85.62 30 5.89 - 121.51 - 232.18
March 285.39 60 8.3 353.69 85.62 30 8.19 - 123.81 - 229.88
April 285.39 60 8.3 353.69 85.62 30 43.8 - 159.42 - 194.27
May 285.39 50 8.3 343.69 85.62 30 103.1 108.7 327.42 - 16.27
June 285.39 40 8.3 333.69 85.62 30 117.7 406.2 639.52 305.83 -
July 285.39 40 8.3 333.69 85.62 30 146.9 340.9 603.42 269.73 -
August 285.39 40 8.3 333.69 85.62 30 155.3 376.7 647.62 307.93 -
September 285.39 40 8.3 333.69 85.62 30 160.9 463.4 739.92 406.23 -
October 285.39 50 8.3 343.69 85.62 30 85.3 120.8 321.72 - 21.97
November 285.39 60 8.3 353.69 85.62 30 28.8 - 144.42 - 209.27
December 285.39 60 8.3 353.69 85.62 30 6.8 - 122.42 - 231.27

*Mill water replacement requirement. All numbers expressed as m[3] h[-1]

A significant conclusion from the water balance study is that the Project processing facility will not generate water excess that will require discharge to the environment.

Mining and Ore Reserves

Mining Resources Pty Ltd completed all mining aspects of the DFS and compiled the Ore Reserve for the Project.

The Okvau Deposit will be mined via conventional open pit mining methods from a single pit which will be mined in stages to maintain a relatively constant mining rate whilst providing adequate ore for processing at consistent ore grades. Mining will be undertaken by drilling and blasting ore and waste with load and haul using mining contractors. The proposed core mining fleet is made up of 120 tonne class excavators and 91 tonne class mine haul trucks.

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Pit Optimisation & Design

A number of Whittle optimisations were completed on the April 2017 Mineral Resource model and included all Resource categories including Inferred resources. The results from the optimisations were considered in context of sensitivities, risks, contained ounces, mine life and total project size. The pit shell selected as a basis for the mine design was optimal in terms of maximisation of profitability based on the input parameters. It was chosen on the basis of stripping ratio, grade and contained gold and limitation of the operating cost risk in high strip ratio waste removal.

The results of the selected pit shell are listed in Table Nine.

Table Nine | Selected Optimised Pit Shell

Selected Pit Shell
Mineralisation 14.49Mt
Grade 1.95g/t Au
Contained Gold 911koz
Waste 79.44Mt
Total Material 93.94Mt
Strip Ratio (t:t) 5.5:1

The final pit design was prepared to enable practical and efficient access to each bench and took into consideration the geotechnical design criteria. The final pit design has approximate dimensions of 650 metres by 600 metres to a maximum depth of 350 metres.

Table Ten provides a comparison of the final pit design with the optimized pit shell.

Table Ten | Comparison of Final Pit Design to Optimised Pit Shell

Selected Pit Shell Final Mine Design
Difference
Mineralisation 14.49Mt 14.42Mt
-0.5%
Grade 1.95g/t Au 1.97g/t Au
+1.0%
Contained Gold 911koz 914koz
+0.3%
Waste 79.44Mt 82.31Mt
+3.6%
Total Material 93.94Mt 96.73Mt
+3.0%
Strip Ratio (t:t) 5.5:1 5.7:1
+4.1%

Inferred material accounted for only 7,000 ounces of gold or less than 1% of the total contained gold ounces and was excluded for the purposes of the DFS.

The final pit design based on Probable Ore Reserves (Indicated Resources) only at a cut-off of 0.625g/t gold is shown in Table Eleven.

Table Eleven | Final Pit Design Based on Indicated Mineral Resources at a Cut-Off of 0.625g/t Gold

Final Mine Design
(Indicated Resources Only)
Mineralisation 14.26Mt
Grade 1.98g/t Au
Contained Gold 907koz
Waste 82.47Mt
Total Material 96.73Mt
Strip Ratio (t:t) 5.8:1

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Figure Ten | Open Pit Design

Ore Reserve

The Ore Reserve for the Project has been completed in accordance with the JORC Code, 2012 Edition. The Ore Reserve is based on Indicated Mineral Resources and as such is stated as Probable Ore Reserves. A more detailed description is contained in Appendix One.

Table Twelve provides the Ore Reserve estimate.

Table Twelve | Ore Reserve Estimate

Tonnes Gold Grade
Contained Gold
Probable Ore Reserve 14.26Mt 1.98g/t Au
907koz

The cut-off grade used in the estimation of the Ore Reserve is the non-mining, break-even gold grade taking into account modifying factors of mining recovery and dilution, metallurgical recovery, site operating costs, royalties and revenues. All these factors have been estimated to a DFS level. For reporting of Ore Reserves the calculated cut-off grade is 0.625g/t gold. The Ore Reserve estimate is reported within the open pit mine design prepared as part of the DFS.

Mining Costs

Mining activities will be undertaken by an experienced mining contractor. Emerald sought indicative costs for load & haul and drill & blast from a highly reputable Australian mining contractor for use in the DFS. Allowance has been made for an owner’s team retaining responsibility for technical services including mine planning, scheduling, grade control, surveying and management of the mining contract. Estimated mining costs are shown in Table Thirteen.

Table Thirteen | Mining Cost Estimate

Description US$/bcm US$/tonne
Variable Load & Haul US$3.74/bcm US$1.33/t
Drill & Blast US$1.40/bcm US$0.50/t
Grade Control US$0.48/bcm US$0.17/t
Fixed & Ancillary Costs US$1.56/bcm US$0.55/t
Mining Supervision US$0.25/bcm US$0.09/t
Environmental Management US$0.08/bcm US$0.03/t
Total Mining Costs US$7.50/bcm **US$2.67/t **

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Processing & Metallurgical Test Work

The Okvau process development and plant design is a result of knowledge gained from testwork undertaken by Emerald and previous work undertaken by Renaissance Minerals Limited. Extensive metallurgical test work has been performed on the Okvau primary ore. Gold extraction has proven to be predictable with the key determinants being grind size, gold grade, sulphur grade, arsenic grade, antimony grade and tellurium grade. The testwork undertaken demonstrates that an average gold recovery of approximately 84% is achievable based on LOM gold and sulphide grades.

This gold recovery will be achieved by coarse grinding and flotation, fine grinding of a low mass (8% mass pull) concentrate and conventional cyanide leaching of concentrate and flotation tails. The test work results confirm the Okvau primary gold mineralisation may be extracted through a conventional cyanide leach process circuit without any requirement for intensive oxidation.

Results of test work undertaken on a series of composite and variability samples has allowed an assessment of the metallurgical performance of the Okvau ore associated with grind size, leach time, reagent regimes and comminution characteristics.

Gold Extraction & Recovery

Three phases of test work have now been undertaken on the Okvau ore. The initial two phases of test work were undertaken by Renaissance Minerals Limited. Phase one included testing on a Master Composite and 12 variability composites (represented by 12 different diamond drill cores). These 12 samples represented three major ore domains forming the Mineral Resource (northern diorite domain, southern diorite domain and western hornfels domain), and were represented by ore from down hole depths varying between 62 metres and 313 metres.

Phase two test work was undertaken on a further two Master Composites and 8 variability composites (represented by 8 different diamond core holes), ranging in down-hole depth from 11 metres to 253 metres and providing representative core across separate drill hole sections. The drill core was also selected to provide a reasonable spread of multi element head grades (Au, As, S, Te and Bi).

Phase three test work, conducted by Emerald, was undertaken on 1 bulk Master Composite, 6 Variability Composites and a further 3 New Composites assembled from selected intersections from 5 different diamond core holes. The intersections were selected to provide varying multi element head grades (Au, As, S, Te and Bi). The bulk Master Composite testwork undertaken targeted production of a bulk flotation concentrate for vendor thickener testwork and establishment of fine grinding power requirements.

A leach recovery algorithm (including allowance for soluble losses) has been generated based on the relevant test work results which takes into consideration; gold, sulphur, arsenic, bismuth, tellurium and antimony grades. The average gold recovery over the LOM is estimated to be 84%.

Total consumption of sodium cyanide is estimated to be 1.23kg/t of ore.

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Comminution Testwork

Comminution test work has been completed utilising diamond core across various lithologies of the Okvau Deposit. Comminution testwork has been carried out on ten composite samples and included SAG Mill Comminution (‘SMC’), Unconfined Compressive Strength (‘UCS’), Crushing Work Index (‘CWi’), Ball Mill Work Index (‘BWi’) and Abrasion Index (‘Ai’) testing.

The test work indicated a reasonably hard ore in terms of SAG milling with an average A x b value of 29.0. The BWi at a closing screen size of 150 micron (reflecting the proposed primary grind size 80% passing 106 micron) was an average value of 17.5 kWh/t. The maximum BWi value from testing was 18.6 kWh/t. The average Ai was moderate with a value of 0.286g which is considered a low to moderate abrasion value.

The comminution test work was characterised by low variability between composites, indicating a relatively homogeneous ore.

Figure Eleven shows the simplified process flow sheet design.

Figure Eleven | Process Flow Sheet

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Process Plant

The Okvau process plant will have a nameplate throughput of 2.0Mtpa, with an availability of 8,000 hours per annum (91.3%) and a nominal capacity of 250 tonnes per hour (‘tph’). The process plant will be located to the east of the open pit and adjacent to the TSF.

The process flow sheet and process design was prepared by Mintrex. The process design broadly comprises of the following:

  • Primary Jaw Crushing

  • Crushed Ore Stockpile and Reclaim System

  • SAG Milling and Classification with Pebble Crushing

  • Sulphide Flotation

  • Flotation Concentrate Thickening

  • Fine Grinding of Concentrate Through a Regrind Mill

  • Pre-Leach Oxygenation of Concentrate

  • Pre-Leach Thickening

  • Leaching and Absorption of both Concentrate and Flotation Tailings

  • Elution and Electrowinning

  • Cyanide Detoxification of Tails

Ore will be placed in various stockpiles on the ROM pad adjacent to the process plant and will be fed by front end loader with a blending strategy to maximise predicted gold recoveries based on the gold recovery algorithm established through the metallurgical test work.

The process plant will comprise the following circuits:

  • Crushing circuit with a designed throughput of 350tph and availability of 70% on a 24 hour per day operation with a design crushing size of 80% passing 125mm;

  • Crushed product will report to a surge bin with overflow reporting to an open stockpile;

  • An apron feeder installed under the surge bin will directly feed the milling circuit via the mill feed conveyor. An emergency reclaim feeder will also be installed to provide feed to the mill when reclaiming ore from the stockpile via a front end loader;

  • The SAG milling circuit is designed for a throughput of 250tph, operating with an availability of 8,000 hours per annum (91.3%) to provide a design grind of 80% passing 106 microns;

  • A flotation circuit consisting of one conditioning tank and a bank of six rougher flotation cells designed to achieve a high sulphide recovery concentrate with a mass pull of approximately 8%;

  • Regrind circuit utilising a regrind mill designed for a throughput of 21tph, operating with an availability of 8,000 hours per annum (91.3%) to provide a design concentrate regrind of 80% passing 10 micron;

  • Pre-oxygenation circuit consisting of one tank with a nominal residence time of 40 hours;

  • A CIL circuit will consist of one agitated adsorption tank to provide intensive cyanide leaching of the concentrate with a nominal residence time of 40 hours which will then be combined with the flotation tails and report to a further six agitated adsorption tanks in series with an additional nominal residence time of 30 hours;

  • Gold recovery and refining will consist of an elution circuit, electrowinning cells and smelting;

  • A cyanide detoxification circuit designed to reduce the cyanide in tails to below 50ppm;

  • A TSF will be located immediately adjacent and to the south of the process plant for deposition of the process plant tailings.

Figures Twelve and Thirteen provide the general arrangement of the plant site.

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Figure Twelve | Okvau Plant Site General Arrangement

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Figure Thirteen | Okvau Plant Site Layout

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Processing Costs

Processing costs have been estimated on the basis of 2.0Mtpa throughput on the process route described above and assuming grid power at 11.8 cents per kilowatt hour. A summary of processing costs is shown in Table Fourteen.

Table Fourteen| Processing Cost Estimate

Description US$/tonne
Crusher Feed1 US$0.25/t
Labour US$1.51/t
Reagents US$4.94/t
Consumables & Maintenance US$1.77/t
Power US$5.67/t
Total Processing Costs **US$14.13/t **

1 Crushed feed is for variable costs only, with fixed costs included in the mining costs

Project Infrastructure

The primary access to the Project will be via a road from Saen Monourom approximately 66km to the east of the Project as shown below in Figure Fourteen. This road currently runs from Saen Monourom to approximately 15kms south-east of the Project site and currently services villages located between Saen Monourom and the Project. As part of the Project development, Emerald will upgrade this road where required to meet the required standards for operations and extend it the short distance to the Project site.

Figure Fourteen| Project Access

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Power

Emerald has been in advanced discussions with the Electricite du Cambodge (‘EDC’) regarding the provision of high voltage grid power supply to the Okvau project site. These discussions are extremely positive and it is expected the Project will benefit from access to grid power either upon commissioning or in the early years of operations. The EDC generates, transmits, and distributes electric power to distribution systems and bulk power consumers in Cambodia.

Electricity Grid

The EDC is rapidly expanding the National electricity grid in Cambodia. The town of Kratie located approximately 80km to the west of the Project is now connected to the electricity grid with an 115kV transmission line (with provision to go to 230kV).

The EDC has indicated to Emerald that it will extend the 115kV transmission lines to the Okvau project site by December 2018. Based on the current regulated tariffs in Cambodia, the EDC would then supply power at 11.8 cents per kilowatt hour (the tariff has been consistently falling in Cambodia over the past years and is expected to continue to fall). This tariff is based on 24 hour usage and is a combination of ‘off peak’ and ‘peak’ rates. Emerald would be required to fund only a substation and a few kilometres of a low voltage transmission line to bring the power into the mine site.

Transmission Lines

As a contingency Emerald has completed a power supply study to construct an onsite diesel power station. Under this study, the power station would be located adjacent to the process plant and house 12 x CAT3516B diesel generators for 15.6MW of installed continuous capacity. The Project, as contemplated by the DFS, has 13.25MW of maximum power demand and 12MW average continuous power demand. If a diesel power supply is required for the first two years of operation (i.e. to December 2020) it would increase the average LOM AISC costs from US$731/oz to US$745/oz.

Tailings Storage Facility

Tailings from the process plant will be disposed of in a dedicated tailings storage facility (‘TSF’). TSF will be located within a broad shallow valley to the south-east of the open pit, comprising a primary embankment to the south and a saddle embankment to the west. The waste rock dump will be located to the north and north-west of the TSF and will abut the TSF embankment to enhance structural stability of the TSF.

The proposed TSF development concept contains the currently envisaged life of mine tailings as well as provision for freeboard to contain process water and stormwater inputs. Assuming a tailings settled density of some 1.40t/m[3] , tailings production of 14.3Mt would require a storage requirement of around 10,500ML (10.5 million m[3] ). The TSF has been designed to accommodate 17,800ML including freeboard.

Accommodation

Emerald proposes building a permanent accommodation camp suitable to accommodate up to 207 people per day which allows for mining contractor personnel. The accommodation camp will be managed and operated initially (first year) by a third party service provider on a contract basis. After the first year of operation it is envisaged that the management and operation of the facility will be migrated to Emerald control.

The permanent accommodation camp will be adapted by room configuration to provide the required accommodation during the construction phase.

Other

Project infrastructure to support mining and processing including mine and process plant services facilities, fuel storage, administrative offices and maintenance workshops has been included within the capital development costs for the Project.

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Environment & Social

Social, Environmental and Community

Earth Systems was appointed to assist Emerald with the execution of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (‘ESIA’) for the Project. Earth Systems has previous experience in Cambodia and the region and utilised the services of a local registered consultancy, E&A Consultants, in undertaking many of the studies and the preparation of the documents required for the development approvals.

Consultation with stakeholders at local district and provincial levels has been ongoing since the baseline studies commenced a number of years ago. A final draft ESIA was submitted to the Ministry of Environment late December 2016 with positive feedback received from Government and key stakeholders. Workshops and site visits with the Ministry of Environment have been conducted over the past few months with a decision from the Ministry of Environment anticipated in the near term.

The Okvau Deposit is located outside the Core Zone of the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary but within the outer boundaries of that sanctuary. Local surface artisanal mining activity at Okvau has caused significant disturbance to the area and the development of a modern mining operation, undertaken to the highest environmental standards, will provide the opportunity to remediate some of this disturbance.

Emerald estimates that a permanent workforce of approximately 250 will be required to operate the Project. Employees will be sourced from the local and adjacent provinces in conjunction with a small number of highly skilled expatriates.

A Rehabilitation and Conceptual Mine Closure Plan has been prepared as part of the ESIA. The rehabilitation and closure costs associated with this plan have been incorporated into the DFS.

Relocation and Resettlement

The Project area is sparsely populated with ten dispersed villages containing approximately 5,000 residents identified within 20 kilometres of the Project. The nearest significant village is the O’Khlor settlement of Pu Tung village located approximately 15km away.

The closest settlement area to the Project is the Okvau Village (established 2005) which is considered a sub-village of the Pu Tung Village and is located directly in the area of the Okvau Deposit. There is no agriculture use or farming in the area. As at the date of this report, based on census and baseline economic surveys and a comprehensive Rehabilitation Action Plan (‘RAP’), there are 58 affected households located at the Okvau Village.

Emerald has committed to implement the resettlement of these households in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulation, as well as the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Performance Standards. The entitlement, compensation and allowances have been based on Asian Development Bank policy on involuntary resettlement and the approved Government resettlement procedures.

Resettlement costs have been factored into the DFS capital costs.

Operations

The mining and processing activities will be supported by facilities, systems, services and infrastructure that are sufficient in magnitude, fit for purpose and based upon models used by Emerald management at other gold operations within Australia and overseas. The senior organisational chart is shown below in Figure Fifteen.

Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart

|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|Figure Fifteen | Senior Organisational Chart|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|General Manager|||||||||||
|Administration
Manager||Occupational Health
& Safety Manager|Environmental
Manager|Plant
Superintendent||Maintenance
Superintendent|Mining
Superintendent|Camp Manager||Security
Manager|

Staff at the operation, operations personnel and contractor’s personnel will work on a roster which includes fourteen work shifts followed by seven rostered days off with commute travel back to their point of origin provided by Emerald. In the case of expatriates, transport will be via helicopter to and from Phnom Penh and then international flights back to and returning from their point of origin. For local Cambodian workers, bus transportation will be provided back to their home towns of Saen Monourom, Snoul and Kratie.

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Workforce

The breakdown of employees for operations by expatriate and local employees is summarised in Table Fifteen.

Table Fifteen | Operating Workforce[1]

Emerald
Expatriates 26
Local 206
232
Mining Contractor
Expatriates 22
Local 76
98
Total Operating Workforce 330

1 The workforce breakdown is an average for the early years of operations with a reduction in expatriate workforce expected over the LOM

Mining Contract

All mining operations will be carried out by a suitably experienced open pit mining contractor. This contractor will also be responsible for the mining-related construction activities, including Run of Mine (ROM) pad, haul road construction and maintenance during operations.

Capital and Operating Costs

Capital Costs

The capital cost for the process plant and associated infrastructure has been estimated by Mintrex with input from Emerald. The estimate is presented in US dollars (US$) to an accuracy level of[+/-] 15% as at end of Quarter 1, 2017.

The estimated pre-production capital cost is US$98.0M, inclusive of US$7.1M of mining contractor establishment costs and preproduction mining costs. This cost includes all associated project infrastructure and indirect costs. It includes an allowance of US$4.4M of spares, plus first fills and commissioning.

Emerald has chosen not to include a contingency allowance to the capital cost estimate as it is believed that sufficient conservatism has been adopted through the cost estimation process. This approach reflects Emerald’s intention to manage construction of the Project with its own internal development team. Emerald will however ensure that sufficient funding be in place to cover the eventuality of a cost overrun to the magnitude that the Board of Emerald considers appropriate.

No allowance has been made for the acquisition of the initial mining fleet given Emerald’s intention to utilise a mining contractor with the operating costs based on that operating strategy.

A breakdown of the major capital costs is shown in Table Sixteen.

Table Sixteen | Capital Cost Estimate

Description
Treatment Plant US$45.2M
Infrastructure (Road, Power, TSF, Camp, Plant Mobile Equipment & Process US$26.6M
Plant Infrastructure)
Earthworks and Construction Overheads US$4.7M
EPCM and Commissioning US$7.4M
Owners Costs, Spares, First Fills & Household Resettlement US$7.0M
Estimated Capital Costs US$90.9M
Mining Contractor Establishment & Mobilisation US$2.2M
Pre-production Mining Costs US$4.9M
Total Capital Requirement US$98.0M

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Operating Costs

Operating costs have been estimated on the basis of a treatment rate of 2.0Mtpa in conjunction with the process design, mechanical equipment list, metallurgical test work results, estimated personnel requirements and labour costs, fuel and reagent supply costs. Indicative mining costs were provided by a reputable Australian mining contractor. Emerald’s management team has also drawn on its past management of similar scale projects.

The average Life of Mine (‘LOM’) C1 Cash Cost is estimated at US$650/oz of gold produced. Operating costs include all direct operating costs comprising mining costs, processing costs, ancillary costs, general & administration costs and transport & refining costs.

Overall summary of operating costs over the LOM is shown below in Table Seventeen.

Table Seventeen | C1 Cash Operating Cost Estimate

Description
LOM Cost
LOM Cost / Ore Tonne LOM Cost / Ounce
Mining
US$253M
US$17.77/t US$333/oz
Processing
US$202M
US$14.13/t US$265/oz
General & Administration
US$37M
US$2.58/t US$48/oz
Transport and Refining
US$3M
US$0.24/t US$5/oz
C1 Cash Costs
US$495M
US$34.73/t US$650/oz

All-In Sustaining Costs (AISC)

Under the current Exploration & Exploitation Agreement, the royalty payable to the Cambodian Government is fixed at 2.5% of gross revenue. In addition, a third party royalty of 1.5% of gross revenue is payable which is capped at A$22.5M.

The tailings storage facility (‘TSF’) has been designed to be developed in two stages, with the second stage to occur during the second year of operations at a cost of US$1.3M to provide adequate capacity for LOM tails.

Additional sustaining capital includes maintenance of a Government owned access road to ensure it meets standards required for the Project, contributions to Environmental and Community Development Funds and an allowance for miscellaneous annual sustaining capital.

The total sustaining capital over the LOM is estimated at US$9M plus a further US$14M for rehabilitation and closure costs.

The average Life of Mine (‘LOM’) AISC is estimated at US$731/oz of gold produced. Overall summary of AISC over the LOM is shown below in Table Eighteen.

Table Eighteen | All-In Sustaining Cost Estimate

Description
LOM Cost
LOM Cost / Ore Tonne LOM Cost / Ounce
C1 Cash Costs
US$495M
US$34.73/t US$650/oz
Royalties
US$38M
US$2.67/t US$50/oz
Sustaining Capital
US$9M
US$0.63/t US$12/oz
Rehabilitation & Closure Costs
US$14M
US$0.98/t US$19/0z
All-in Sustaining Cash Cost
US$556M
US$39.01/t US$731/oz

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Financial Assessment

The financial assessment is based on a gold price of US$1,250/oz, diesel price of US$0.57/litre (12 month trailing average price VAT excluded as per Emerald’s expectation) and a AUD:USD exchange rate of US$0.75. Table Nineteen summarises the financial results of the DFS. All financial outcomes are 100% attributable to Emerald.

Table Nineteen | Financial Assessment

Operating Cash Flow US$419M A$558M
Project Cash Flow After Capital Costs (Before Tax) US$298M A$397M
Project Cash Flow After Capital Costs (After Tax) US$215M A$286M
NPV(5%)pre-tax US$223M A$298M
NPV(5%)post-tax1 US$160M A$213M
Payback (pre-tax) Upon First Gold Pour 26 months
Payback (post-tax) Upon First Gold Pour 30 months
IRR pre-tax 48% pa
IRR post-tax1 40% pa

1 Taxation is based on current and draft Cambodian tax law and does not allow for any incentives or tax relief

The Okvau Deposit is clearly an economically robust project and resilient to lower gold prices. Key drivers of the Project economics include; Ore Reserve grade, moderate strip ratio, single open pit and low development capital cost relative to annual and LOM production.

Sensitivity Analysis

Table Twenty outlines the Net Project Cash Flow, NPV and IRR for the Project at various gold prices.

Table Twenty | Gold Price Sensitivity

US$1,100
US$1,200
US$1,250
US$1,300 US$1,400
Pre-Tax
Net Project Cash Flow US$188M
US$261M
US$298M
US$334M US$407M
Project NPV(5%) US$133M
US$193M
US$223M
US$253M US$$313M
Project IRR 32% pa
43% pa
48% pa
53% pa 64% pa
Post-Tax
Net Project Cash Flow US$138M
US$189M
US$215M
US$240M US$291M
Project NPV(5%) US$95M
US$138M
US$160M
US$181M US$224M
Project IRR 27% pa
36% pa
40% pa
45% pa 54% pa

Sensitivity analysis demonstrate that the Project is resilient to changes in mining, processing and capital costs with significant leverage to improved head grade. Graphs One and Two demonstrate the sensitivity of the Project NPV (pre-tax) and IRR (pretax) to key variables including; head grade, ore tonnes, gold recovery, mining costs, processing costs and capital costs.

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Graph One | Project NPV (pre-tax) Sensitivity

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Graph Two | Project IRR (pre-tax) Sensitivity

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Financing

Emerald believes there are reasonable grounds to assume the future funding for the development of the Project, as contemplated in the DFS, will be available on the following basis:

  • Emerald intends to finance the Project through a combination of debt and equity. The Board will take into account a prudent level of debt financing whilst also taking into consideration shareholder dilution.

  • The Project economics are compelling and expected to be attractive to project financiers given an Ore Reserve of 907koz with AISC of US$731/oz and a pre-tax payback period of only 26 months.

  • Emerald’s Board and Management have an exceptional track record in financing and successfully developing projects of similar scale.

  • Preparations for debt funding are underway and Emerald is in discussions with a number of Australian and International banks that are well credentialed in financing mining projects in overseas jurisdictions such as Cambodia. No material or binding financing agreements have been signed to date.

  • Emerald believes any equity funding requirement is manageable given the current major shareholders’ support for the company and Emerald’s market capitalisation of approximately A$100M.

Permitting & Licencing

Emerald has submitted to the Ministry of Mines & Energy an application for an Industrial Mining Licence over a Project area of approximately 11km[2] within the existing Okvau Exploration Licence. As part of this process, a comprehensive Environment & Social Impact Assessment for the Project has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment for approval. A number of workshops have been conducted on the ESIA and Emerald is encouraged by the positive response received to date. Furthermore, Emerald is in discussions with the Royal Government of Cambodia regarding the negotiation of a Mineral Investment Agreement to provide all stakeholders long term certainty regarding the operation of the Project and fiscal regime. The current Law on Mineral Resources (2001) provides for the ability to negotiate a Mineral Investment Agreement for projects that the Minister considers to be of significant benefit to Cambodia. Emerald has received the support of the Minister for this.

Emerald is confident all material approvals and licences will be in place by 3[rd] Quarter of 2017 and not hinder the development timetable for the Project.

Royalties, Taxation & Benefits to Cambodia

Emerald engaged an independent economic group, The Centre for International Economics (Canberra) to undertake an economic study on the impact the Project would have to Cambodia. The study found the Project development would account for 7% of current foreign investment into Cambodia and production would represent approximately 1% of total annual exports from Cambodia and, more importantly, represent a fivefold increase in the mineral exports from Cambodia. It is estimated the Project would increase Cambodia’s GDP by 0.1%-0.3% each year of operation.

A gross revenue royalty is payable to the Royal Government of Cambodia at a flat rate of 2.50%. The total value of royalties provided for in the Study equate to over US$24M over the LOM based on the gold price assumption of US$1,250 per ounce.

The corporate tax rate in Cambodia is generally 20% on taxable profits, however mining companies are subject to a rate of 30%. After allowance for accrued tax losses, depreciation and amortisation, the total forecast corporate tax payable over the LOM is approximately US$83M.

As part of the ESIA, Emerald has offered the establishment of Environmental and Community Development Funds to which it will make financial contributions which will provide additional benefits to the local communities and environment.

In addition, the Cambodian Government will earn additional revenue through fuel taxes and salary income tax on employee’s salaries.

It is expected the development of Okvau will bring significant benefits to Cambodia and the local economy through investment, employment (direct and indirect), education and training. It is expected the completed operation would employ approximately 330 workers. During construction, employment numbers are expected to be as high as 500 workers. Emerald aim’s to utilise local contractors where possible and it will endeavour to reduce expatiate staff numbers through replacement with local workers over time as appropriate.

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About Cambodia

Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with a constitution providing for a multi-party democracy. The population of Cambodia is approximately 14 million. The Royal Government of Cambodia, formed on the basis of elections internationally recognised as free and fair, was established in 1993. Elections are held every five (5) years with the last election held in July 2013.

Cambodia has a relatively open trading regime and joined the World Trade Organisation in 2004. The government’s adherence to the global market, freedom from exchange controls and unrestricted capital movement makes Cambodia one of the most business friendly countries in the region.

The Cambodian Government has implemented a strategy to create an appropriate investment environment to attract foreign companies, particularly in the mining industry. Cambodia has a modern and transparent mining code and the government is supportive of foreign investment particularly in mining and exploration to help realise the value of its potential mineral value.

Detailed information on all aspects of Emeralds’ projects can be found on the Company’s website www.emeraldresources.com.au .

For further information please contact Emerald Resources NL Morgan Hart Managing Director

Emerald Resources NL Justin Tremain Executive Director

Forward Looking Statement

This announcement contains certain forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry in which Emerald Resources operates, and beliefs and assumptions regarding the Company’s future performance. Words such as “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”’ “estimates”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of Emerald Resources only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Emerald Resources will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

This announcement has been prepared in compliance with the current JORC Code 2012 Edition and the ASX listing Rules. All material assumptions on which the forecast financial information is based have been included in this announcement.

The Company believes that is has a reasonable basis for making the forward-looking statements in this announcement, including with respect to any production targets and financial estimates, based on the information contained in this announcement.

100% of the production target referred to in this announcement is based on Probable Ore Reserves.

Emerald has a highly experienced management team, undoubtedly one of the best credentialed gold development teams in Australia with a proven history of developing projects successfully, quickly and cost effectively. In particular, the Managing Director, Mr Morgan Hart, who has overseen the successful development of gold projects for Equigold NL and, most recently, as Operations Director of Regis Resources Ltd. His experience in developing countries includes the development of the Bonikro Gold Project in Cote d’Ivoire. He has assembled a team of highly competent mining engineers and geologists for the development of the Okvau Gold Project.

The Company believes it has a reasonable basis to expect to be able to fund and develop the Okvau Gold Project for the reason set out above and in this announcement. However, there is no certainty that the Company can raise funding when required.

Competent Persons Statements

The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr Craig Johnson, who is an employee to the Company and who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Craig Johnson has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Mr Craig Johnson has reviewed the contents of this news release and consents to the inclusion in this announcement of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this report that relates to the Mineral Resources for the Okvau Gold Deposit was prepared by EGRM Consulting Pty Ltd, Mr Brett Gossage, who is a consultant to the Company, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AIG), and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Gossage has reviewed the contents of this news release and consents to the inclusion in this announcement of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Information in this announcement that relates to Ore Reserves for the Okvau Gold Deposit is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by Mr Glenn Williamson, an independent specialist mining consultant. Mr Williamson is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy. Mr Williamson has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person (or “CP”) as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Williamson has reviewed the contents of this news release and consents to the inclusion in this announcement of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

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Appendix One | JORC Code, 2012 Edition | ‘Table 1’ Report

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections).

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Sampling techniques
Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or
specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate
to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes,
or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken
as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity
and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems
used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the
Public Report.

In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done this would be
relatively simple (eg ‘reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1
m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge
for fire assay’). In other cases more explanation may be required,
such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling
problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine
nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.

Diamond drilling is used to recover a continuous core sample
of bedrock. As a standard 1m length half-core samples are
submitted for assay, in a small number of cases sample
interval lengths have been modified to use geological
boundaries as the limit of sample interval for assay.

Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is used to collect 1m samples
these are riffle split at the drill rig to produce a 3-5kg sub-
sample.

Soil samples (approx. 100g) are collected from shallow (+/-
20-30cm deep) augers, to avoid any surface contamination
and used to define areas of interest and/or drill targets.

Sample preparation is carried out at a commercial off-site
laboratory (ALS Phnom Penh) and gold assays are conducted
at the ALS Vientiane assay laboratory

Standards, duplicates and blanks are inserted in sample
batches to test laboratory performance
Drilling techniques
Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air
blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple
or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other
type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).

A track-mounted Boart Longyear LF70 M/P drill rig is used to
drill HQ3 and NQ2 diamond core.

A track mounted Boart Longyear DB540 M/P drill rig is used
to drill 5.25 inch RC holes.

Core diameter varies – HQ, HQ3, NQ, NQ2, NQ3, NTW and
BTW used at various times.

Core was oriented by means of a REFLEX ACT orientation tool,
following a standard operating procedure, for all drilling
subsequent to 2009. A spear tool was used for drilling pre-
2009.
Drill sample recovery
Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries
and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure
representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade
and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential
loss/gain of fine/coarse material.

All RC 1m samples and sub-samples (pre- and post-split) are
weighed at the rig, to check that there is adequate sample
material for assay. Any wet or damp samples are noted and
that information is recorded in the database; samples are
usually dry.

Diamond core recovery is routinely monitored by comparing
recovered core vs drill run lengths – recovery is consistently
high. Recovery data are recorded on drill run lengths

There is no relationshipbetween sample recoveryandgrade
Logging
Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and
geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate
Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or
costean, channel, etc) photography.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.

All RC chips and diamond core is routinely logged
(qualitatively) by a geologist, to record details of regolith
(oxidation), lithology, structure, mineralization and/or
veining, and alteration. In addition, the magnetic
susceptibility of all samples is routinely measured. All logging
and sampling data are captured into a database, with
appropriate validation and security features.

A geotechnical log is produced for all diamond core

Core has been logged to an appropriate level of detail by
a geologist to support mineral resource estimation

100% of core is logged, with the mineralised intersections
logged to greater detail

In addition to the geological logging, other features
recorded are: location of bulk density samples; downhole
camera survey calibration, intervals confidently oriented;
and core condition.

Standard field data are similarly recorded (qualitatively)
routinelybyageologist for all soil samplingsites.
Sub-sampling
techniques and sample
preparation

If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core

Most RC samples are dry and there is little likelihood of
compromised results due to moisture.

Diamond drill core is sawn in half with core split using a core
saw; one half is preserved as a geological record, the other
is sent for assay.

All types of samples are prepared for assay at the NATA
accredited ALS Cambodia sample prep facility in Phnom
Penh. This facility has been inspected numerous times by
independent consultants including by Mr Brett Gossage in
December 2016.

Samples are dried for a minimum of 12 hours at 100˚C;
crushed with a Boyd Crusher, to -2mm, with a rotary splitter
attached, to deliver a 1.0-1.2kg split; which in turn is
pulverized to -75µm by an Essa LM2 or LM5 Ring Mill. A
standard >85% pass rate is achieved (with particle size
analysisperformed on everyfifteenth sample as a check).
taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and
whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the
sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to
maximise representivity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in
situ material collected, including for instance results for field
duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the
material being sampled.

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Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary

At least three field duplicate samples are collected at the RC
drill rig (per hole) to monitor sampling precision; while coarse
crush duplicates of diamond core are generated at the
sample prep stage (because of the need to preserve drill
core).

This sample technique is industry norm, and is deemed
appropriate for the material
Quality of assay data
and laboratory tests

The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and
laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered
partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc,
the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument
make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and
their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks,
duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable
levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been
established.

All drill samples are sent to the NATA accredited ALS
Laboratory in Vientiane, Laos, for fire assay. From 2016 a
50g fire assay was completed (Au-AA26: 50g ore grade
method, total extraction by fusion, with an AA finish). Samples
reporting >100ppm upper detection limit are repeated by
Au-AAGRA22 method, graphite furnace with gravimetric
finish. Pre 2016, a 30g fire assay was completed (Au-AA25:
30g ore grade method, total extraction by fusion, with an AA
finish), samples which report >100ppm upper detection limit
are repeated by Au-AAGRA22 method, graphite furnace
with gravimetric finish.

Resource and Metallurgy samples are sent to the similarly
accredited ALS Lab in Brisbane, Australia, for multi-element
ICP analysis, after aqua regia digest of a 1g charge by ME-
MS42: ICP-MS for Ag, As, Bi, Cu, Sb, Te, Hg. Multi-element
samples returning >250ppm upper limit for Ag, As, Bi, Cu, Sb,
Te by ME-MS42 are repeated by ME-IC41: ICP-AES.

All Exploration 1m RC samples and soil samples are sent to
the NATA accredited ALS Laboratory in Brisbane, Australia,
for gold and multi-element ICP analysis, after digest of a 50g
charge by aqua regia (TL44-MEPKG, ICP MS/AES for Au, Ag,
Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La,
Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl,
Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Zn.

Fire assay is considered a total gold assay

This method has a lower detection limit of 0.01g/t gold

All magnetic susceptibility measurements of drill samples are
made with a Terraplus KT-10 magnetic susceptibility meter.

An appropriate sample preparation and analytical quality
control programme confirms that the gold fire assay values
are of acceptable quality to underpin mineral resource
estimation.

Industry-standard QAQC protocols are routinely followed for
all sample batches sent for assay, which includes the insertion
of commercially available CRMs and blanks into all batches -
usually 1 of each for every 20 field samples. Some blanks
used are home-made from barren basalt or quarry granite.
QAQC data are routinely checked before any associated
assay results are reviewed for interpretation, and any
problems are investigated before results are released to the
market - no issues were raised with the results reported here.

All assay data, including internal and external QA/QC data
and control charts of standard, replicate and duplicate assay
results, are communicated electronically

Reviews of QA/QC data concluded that the quality of assay
data is sufficient to support reporting of the Okvau Resource
Estimate
Verification of
sampling and
assaying

The verification of significant intersections by either independent or

The calculations of all significant intercepts (for drill holes) are
routinely checked by senior management.

Two close spaced (twin) holes confirm confidence in the
existence and projection of mineralised intercepts over short
ranges

All field data associated with drilling and sampling, and all
associated assay and analytical results, are managed in a
relational database, with industry-standard verification
protocols and security measures in place.

Brett Gossage visited the site in December 2016 and visually
verified the results in the assay database against mineralised
intersections evident in the stored half core
alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data
verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Discuss any adjustment to assay data.
Location of data
points

Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and
down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used
in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used.

Quality and adequacy of topographic control.

Drill hole collar locations are surveyed with a differential
GPS used in RTK survey mode. The instrument has sub
centimeter accuracy for both horizontal coordinates and
vertical coordinates.

All locations are surveyed to the WGS84 UTM grid. Collar
coordinates are routinely converted to a local grid (local N is
approx. equivalent to UTM 045˚), with an appropriate
transformation about a common point - to simplify the
interpretation of drill cross sections.

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Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary

In 2017, Wes Gartrell, a WA authorised mine surveyor,
completed checks on the survey. His work confirmed the
accuracy of all the previously collected survey data

The first 9 holes of the Okvau resource drill hole database
were not surveyed downhole; but all subsequent holes were
surveyed downhole at 25-30m intervals for all types of
drilling, using a single-shot REFLEX survey tool (operated by
the driller and checked by the supervising geologist).

A topography surface was generated using data collected
from a UAV (drone) survey referencing established survey
control. This topography surface was confirmed by the
survey positions of the drill collars and was applied to this
study
Data spacing and
distribution

Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the
degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the
Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and
classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied.

Intersection spacing for the Okvau Resource Estimate is
typically 25m by 25m or better in the top 100m of the
deposit. Below 100m vertical the drill spacing widens to 25m
drill sections and 50m on or along section.

This drill spacing is considered to be sufficient to establish
geological and grade continuity appropriate for the
declaration of resources

No samples within a “zone of interest” are ever composited.
Orientation of data in
relation to geological
structure

Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of

Drill holes are usually designed to intersect target structures
with a “close-to-orthogonal” intercept.

Drilling has been done at various orientations; moderately to
steeply northwest dipping is the most common

Most of the drill holes intersect the mineralised zones at
sufficient angle for the risk of significant sampling orientation
bias to be low.
possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering
the deposit type.

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation
of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a
sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.
Sample security
The measures taken to ensure sample security.

The chain of custody for all drill samples from the drill rig to
the ALS Sample Prep facility in Phnom Penh is managed by
Renaissance personnel. RC drill samples are transported from
the drill site to the Okvau field camp, where core is logged
and all samples are batched up for shipment to Phnom Penh.
Soil samples are collected by Renaissance personnel and they
deliver the samples to the ALS sample prep facility.

Sample submission forms are sent to the ALS Sample Prep
facility in paper form (with the samples themselves) and also
as an electronic copy. Delivered samples are reconciled with
the batch submission form prior to the commencement of any
sample preparation.

ALS is responsible for shipping sample pulps from Phnom Penh
to the analytical laboratories in Vientiane and Brisbane, and
all samples are tracked via their Global Enterprise
Management System.

All bulk residues are stored permanently at the ALS
laboratory in Vientiane, except for samples from the first 9
drill holes, which were submitted to Mineral Assay and
Services Co in Thailand
Audits or reviews
The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.

All QAQC data are reviewed routinely, batch by batch, and
on a quarterly basis to conduct trend analyses, etc. Any issues
arising are dealt with immediately and problems resolved
before results are interpreted and/or reported.

Comprehensive QAQC audits have been conducted on this
project by Duncan Hackman (August 2009, February 2010 &
November 2011), SRK (February 2013), Nola Hackman
(January 2014) and Brian Wolfe (2015).

Brett Gossage (2017) completed a review of the available
quality data and concluded the data quality was robust and
appropriate for resource estimation studies.

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Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section).

Criteria Explanation Commentary
Mineral tenement and
land tenure status

Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including
agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures,
partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites,
wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any
known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.

The Okvau Project is comprised of two tenements: the Okvau
Exploration Licence (No. 0187 MME MR EL) and the O
Chhung Exploration Licence (No. 0185 MME MR EL), both of
which are held (100%) in the name of Renaissance Minerals
(Cambodia) Ltd, a wholly owned Cambodian subsidiary of
Renaissance Minerals Ltd. Emerald Resources NL owns 100%
of Renaissance Minerals Ltd.

The tenure is considered to be completely secure.

The Okvau Exploration Licence is located within the broader
Phnom Prich Wilderness Sanctuary area but located outside
of the ‘core zone’.

The Royal Government of Cambodia (via the Ministry of
Mines and Energy) is very supportive of the Project and has
given assurances that mining will be allowed to proceed at
Okvau.
Exploration done by
other parties

Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.

Renaissance Minerals (Cambodia) Ltd was acquired by
Renaissance Minerals Ltd (ASX RNS) in May 2012 and was
formerly named OZ Minerals (Cambodia) Ltd when it was a
100% owned subsidiary of OZ Minerals Ltd. OZ Minerals
was formed in 2009 by the merger of Oxiana Ltd (who
initiated the Okvau Project) and Zinifex.

Oxiana and OZ Minerals completed the following work at
Okvau between 2006 and 2011: a resource drill-out of the
Okvau deposit; plus a regional geological interpretation of
Landsat imagery; stream sediment geochemistry, with some
soil sampling follow-up; airborne magnetic and radiometric
surveys over both ELs, and various ground geophysical
surveys (including gradient array IP); geological mapping
and trenching; and the initial drill testing of various
exploration targets.
Geology
Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation.

The Okvau deposit is interpreted as an “intrusion-related
gold system”. It is hosted mostly in Cretaceous age diorite
and, to a lesser extent, in surrounding hornfels
(metamorphosed, fine-grained clastic sediments). Gold
mineralization is hosted within a complex array of sulphide
veins, which strike northeast to east-west, and dip at shallow
to moderately steep angles, to the south and southeast.

Mineralisation is structurally controlled and mostly confined
to the diorite. The highest grade intersections generally occur
at the diorite-hornfels contact.

The host diorite at Okvau is one of numerous similar
Cretaceous-aged intrusions in eastern Cambodia, which are
believed to be related to an ancient subduction zone that
was located to the east,off the coast of current Vietnam.
Drill hole Information
A summary of all information material to the understanding of the
exploration results including a tabulation of the following information
for all Material drill holes:
-
easting and northing of the drill hole collar
-
elevation or RL (Reduced Level – elevation above sea level in
metres) of the drill hole collar
-
dip and azimuth of the hole
-
down hole length and interception depth
-
hole length.
If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information
is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the
understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly
explain why this is the case.

The Okvau Resource Estimate is based on a database of 217
drill holes, for a total of 42257.38m. The database can be
further broken down into 113 diamond drill holes for
31,447.38m and 105 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes for
10,810m.

Intersection spacing for the Okvau Resource Estimate is
typically 25m by 25m in the top 100m of the deposit. Below
120mRL vertical metres the drill spacing widens to 25m drill
sections and 50m on or along section.
Data
aggregation
methods

In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques,
maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high
grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade
results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for
such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such
aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values
should be clearlystated.

Compositing done the Okvau Resource Estimate is discussed
in Section 3
Relationship
between
mineralisation
widths
and intercept lengths

These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of

The majority of drill holes intersect the mineralisation at a
sufficient angle for the risk of sampling orientation bias to
be low.
Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle
is known, its nature should be reported.

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Criteria Explanation Commentary

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there
should be a clear statement to this effect (eg ‘down hole length, true
width not known’).
Diagrams
Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of
intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being
reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill
hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.

Appropriate maps are included in the body of this release.
Balanced reporting
Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not
practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades
and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of
Exploration Results.

Not applicable.
Other
substantive
exploration data

Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be
reported including (but not limited to): geological observations;
geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples –
size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density,
groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential
deleterious or contaminating substances.

Surface geological mapping and detailed structural studies
have helped inform the geological model of the Okvau
Deposit.

Emerald has completed a Definitive Feasibility Study, the
result of which are reported in this release. This study
included metallurgical, geotechnical and hydrological
studies.
Further work
The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral
extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions,
including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas,
provided this information is not commercially sensitive.

Further drilling at the Okvau Deposit will be undertaken to
test lateral extensions of the known mineralisation

Further drilling will be undertaken to test new targets, as
potential is recognized.

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Section 3 Estimation and Reporting of Mineral Resources

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section).

Criteria Explanation Commentary
Database integrity
Measures taken to ensure that data has not been corrupted by, for
example, transcription or keying errors, between its initial collection
and its use for Mineral Resource estimation purposes.

Data validation procedures used.

During a site visit by Brett Gossage, field observations were
compared with the corresponding information in the
database.

Visual checks were made to confirm that mineralised
intervals evident in the drill core corresponded with assay
results in the database.

Collar positions were checked on the ground to confirm
positional accuracy.
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.

A site visit was completed to the Okvau site by Brett
Gossage on the 6/12/2016. In addition, the ALS sample
preparation laboratory in Phnom Penh was reviewed on
5/12/2017. No material issues were identified.

No review of the ALS Assay Laboratory in Vientiane, Laos,
however, independent consultant Mr Brian Wolfe, completed
a review of this facility in 2015 and concluded the
laboratory was laboratories appeared clean and
organized and no material issues were noted.

Diamond drilling was being completed during the site visit.
The drilling and sampling was completed consistent with
good industry practice.

The core management facilities were observed, and
appeared to be organised and well suited to managing the
logging and sampling procedures efficiently.

No RC drilling was being completed during the site visit. The
drilling and sampling protocols were reviewed and are
considered to represent good industry practices.

Based on the site reviews, no data quality issues have been
identified sufficient to affect the currently designated
classification of the resources.
Geological
interpretation

Confidence in (or conversely, the uncertainty of) the geological
interpretation of the mineral deposit.

Nature of the data used and of any assumptions made.

The effect, if any, of alternative interpretations on Mineral Resource
estimation.

The use of geology in guiding and controlling Mineral Resource
estimation.

The factors affecting continuity both of grade and geology.

The mineralisation is hosted within a Cretaceous diorite
intrusion emplaced in a Triassic metasedimentary package.
Gold grade continuity is best defined along the traces of
planar shears within the diorite that extend into the
metasediments (hornfels).

A wireframe solid of the diorite has been generated and is
used as a control of the mineralisation constraints. In
addition, a wireframe representing the top of fresh has also
been interpreted by Emerald.

A mineralisation constraint was modelled based on a cross
sectional and flitch interpretation that was completed by
Emerald using a 0.5gt Au lower cutoff grade. The
interpretation included 2m external dilution and a maximum
5m internal dilution. This interpretation was completed
applying the interpreted geological controls.

An indicator kriging estimate was generated using 1m
downhole composites of the drilling coded with the Emerald
mineralisation interpretation. A grade shell was constructed
using a 0.35 or greater probability threshold estimated with
the indicator kriging. The grade shell was constrained to
within 100m of the nearest data point in the diorite and 75m
within the hornfels. This grade constraint ensures the
appropriate continuity of the interpreted zones with the
inclusion
of
additional
sub-grade
material.
The
mineralisation constraint has been used for the resource
estimation studies.

Alternative grade constraints were generated by varying
the cut-off grade, intercept criteria and the probability of
the indicator estimate. The continuity of these alternative
interpretation was variable according to the chosen
parameters and the chosen grade shell was felt to be the
most representative of the mineralization continuity and 3D
geometry.
Dimensions
The extent and variability of the Mineral Resource expressed as length
(along strike or otherwise), plan width, and depth below surface to the
upper and lower limits of the Mineral Resource.

The mineralization has been delineated over a strike length
of approximately 680m, a width of approximately 650m
and to a depth of 550m below surface.
Estimation
and
modelling techniques

The nature and appropriateness of the estimation technique(s) applied
and key assumptions, including treatment of extreme grade values,
domaining, interpolation parameters and maximum distance of
extrapolation from data points. If a computer assisted estimation
method was chosen, include a description of computer software and
parameters used.

The availability of check estimates, previous estimates and/or mine
production records and whether the Mineral Resource estimate takes
appropriate account of such data.

The assumptions made regarding recovery of by-products.

Multiple Indicator Kriging (MIK) with change of support to
estimate recoverable resources was chosen as the most
appropriate estimation method for gold.

Secondary variables (sulphur, arsenic, bismuth, antimony,
copper, and tellurium) have been estimated using Ordinary
Kriging (OK).

The mineralisation domain to constrain estimation was
modelled as described above. Diorite and hornfels
mineralisation have been estimated separately with soft
boundaries used to limit the sharing of data between the
mineralisation domains.

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Criteria Explanation Commentary

Estimation of deleterious elements or other non-grade variables of
economic significant (eg. Sulphur for acid mine drainage
characterization).

In the case of block model interpolation, the block size in relation to the
average sample spacing and the search employed.

Any assumptions behind modelling of selective mining units.

Any assumption about correlation between variables.

Description of how the geological interpretation was used to control the
resource estimates.

Discussion of basis for using or not using grade cutting or capping.

The process of validation, the checking process used, the comparison of
model data to drillhole data, and use of reconciliation data if
available.

A downhole composite length of 2m has been used in
estimation.

Variogram model were generated and fitted for indicator
and gold grade variograms. Separate variography was
modelled for hornfels and diorite.

A parent block size of 20mE x 25mN x 10mRL was used for
grade estimation.

A multiple pass estimation strategy was applied.

Sample neighbourhood of dimensions of 50m x 50m x 20m,
100m x 100m x 40m, and 200 x 200mN x 80mRL were
used for passes 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The reported
resource is comprised of little of the 3rdestimation pass.

A maximum of 40 and with a minimum of 24 (pass 1) and
12 (passes 2 & 3) composites have been used in grade
estimation. A maximum number of 8 composites from any
drillhole have been allowed to estimate a single block.

A combination of soft and semi-soft boundaries were used in
grade estimation. Composites from the adjacent domain (i.e.
hornfels when estimating diorite and the reverse) were used
for estimation pass 1 (50m by 50m by 20m). For estimation
passes 2 and 3, the adjacent domain composites were
required to be within 40m by 40m by 10m of the block
centroid for estimation. Adjacent domain composites further
than this distance were excluded.

Composite grades were capped at 20g/t for the hornfels
and 40gt for the diorite fresh domains and 10g/t for the
diorite oxide domain. For estimation passes 2 and 3,
additional high grade caps of 6.98gt and 8.88gt were
applied to the hornfels and diorite domains composites
respectively to reduce the impact of potential extrapolation
of high grade data.

Density values were assigned based on lithology and
oxidation. The assigned diorite density for oxide was
2.82t/m3and 2.87t/m3for fresh material. The assigned
hornfels density was 2.76t/m3for oxidised rock and
2.78t/m3for fresh material.

The topography surface was generated using data collected
from a UAV (drone) survey referencing established survey
control. The detailed UAV and surface survey incorporated
has fully accounted for depletion by artisanal mining.

From the MIK panel estimate, a selective mining unit (SMU)
estimate has been generated based on a 5m by 5m and 5m
block size. This SMU is based on the envisaged mining
practises likely to be employed at Okvau.

The MIK SMU has been localised to SMU size blocks for
visualisation and mine planning purposes. s.

Previous resource estimates are available (SRK 2013) and
Wolfe (2015). Differences have been noted estimates in
terms of grade, tonnage and resource classification relative
to the current estimate. The differences are interpreted to
be a result of improved understanding of the structural
controls, additional drill hole data, differences in the
domaining approach and the estimation method.

The grade estimates were statistically and visually validated
prior to acceptance.
Moisture
Whether the tonnages are estimated on a dry basis or with natural
moisture,and the method of determination of the moisture content.

Tonnages are estimated on a dry basis, as described above.
Cut-off parameters
The basis of the adopted cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters
applied.

The resource model has been designed to be robust for a
range of lower cutoff grades between 0.3gt to 1.0gt.
Based on the results of the Feasibility Study completed by
Emerald, a cut-off of 0.70g/t was chosen as the base case
for reporting Mineral Resources.
Mining
factors
or
assumptions

Assumptions made regarding possible mining methods, minimum mining
dimensions and internal (or, if applicable, extraction) mining dilution. It
is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable
prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential
metallurgical methods, but the assumptions made regarding mining
methods and parameters when estimating Mineral Resources may not
always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with
an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made.

The resource model assumes open cut mining is completed
and a moderate to high level of mining selectivity is achieved
in mining.

It has been assumed that high quality grade control will be
applied to ore/waste delineation processes using RC
drilling, or similar, applying a pattern sufficient to ensure
adequate coverage of the mineralisation zones.

An SMU dimension of 5mE x 5mN x 5mRL has been selected
for recoverable resources calculation.

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Criteria Explanation Commentary
Metallurgical factors or
assumptions

The basis for assumptions or predictions regarding metallurgical
amenability. It is always necessary as part of the process of
determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to
consider potential metallurgical methods, but the assumptions
regarding metallurgical treatment processes and parameters made
when reporting Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where
this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis
of the metallurgical assumptions made.

Renaissance has undertaken several phases of metallurgical
test work at the Bureau Veritas Minerals Pty Ltd laboratories
in Perth, Western Australia under the management of
Renaissance’s metallurgical consultant Metpro Consultants
Pty Ltd. Further metallurgical test work has been undertaken
at ALS Metallurgy Pty Ltd laboratories in Perth, Western
Australia under the control of Emerald resources NL. Utilising
coarse grinding and flotation, fine grinding of a low mass
concentrate and conventional cyanide leaching of
concentrate and flotation tails the average LOM gold
recovery is estimated to be 84%.
Environmental factors or
assumptions

Assumptions made regarding possible waste and process residue
disposal options. It is always necessary as part of the process of
determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to
consider the potential environmental impacts of the mining and
processing option. While at this stage the determination of potential
environmental impact, particularly for a greenfields project, may not
always be well advanced, the status of early consideration of these
potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these
aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an
explanation of the environmental assumptions made.

Artisanal surface mining is practiced in the project area, so
that the surface expression of the deposit is represented by
disturbed ground.

Due to the low relief and reasonably open topography of
the area, and the lack of land conflict issues, it is assumed
that waste and process residue would not preclude the
project from progressing.

Renaissance has undertaken a detailed Environmental
Impact Assessment.

Renaissance has submitted its detailed Environmental Impact
Assessment to the Ministry of Environment in Cambodia and
is progressing with licensing requirements in order to obtain
approvals to commence extraction.
Bulk density
Whether assumed or determined. If assumed, the basis for the
assumptions. If determined, the method used, whether wet or dry, the
frequency of the measurements, the nature, size and representativeness
of the samples.

The bulk density for bulk material must have been measured by
methods that adequately account for void spaces (vugs, porosity, etc.),
moisture and differences between rock and alteration zones within the
deposit.

Discuss assumptions for bulk density estimates used in the evaluation
process of the different materials.

9,371 dry bulk density measurements were taken for
selected core samples, using the immersion method.

The measurements have been sub-divided into fresh and
oxidised samples and have also grouped by lithology.

Based on the above the bulk densities have been assigned
as either 2.82t/m3or 2.87t/m3for diorite oxide and fresh
respectively and 2.76t/m3or 2.78t/m3for hornfels oxide
and fresh respectively.
Classification
The basis for the classification of the Mineral Resources into varying
confidence categories.

Whether appropriate account has been taken of all relevant factors
(ie. Relative confidence in tonnage/grade estimations, reliability of
input data, confidence in continuity of geology and metal values,
quality, quantity and distribution of the data).

Whether the result appropriately reflects the Competent Person’s view
of the deposit.

The estimate has been classified as Indicated and Inferred
based on the quality of the data collected, the density of
data, the confidence of the geological model and
mineralisation model, and the gold grade estimation quality.

Based on these factors, high confidence estimates that were
within approximately 30m or better of drilling and have
been estimated with high confidence grade interpolation
(generally estimation pass 1, or within 20m of drilling for
estimation pass 2) were considered as Indicated Mineral
Resource.

Inferred Mineral Resource blocks were estimates not
considered Indicated Resource but still within the interpreted
mineralisation zone and within 75m of drilling (when
estimated with pass 1 or 2) or within 40m of drilling for
estimation pass 3.

A cross sectional interpretation was completed using criteria
listed above and a wireframe solid produced to capture
those blocks that could be considered as Indicated and
Inferred Resource. Note the wireframes were constructed
such that contiguous zones of indicated and inferred blocks
were grouped resulting in isolated blocks being reclassified

The result appropriately reflects the Competent Person’s
view of the deposit.
Audits or reviews
The results of any audits or reviews of Mineral Resource estimates.

No audits or reviews of the Mineral Resource estimate have
taken place. However, previous estimates have been
generated byindependent consultants.
Discussion of relative
accuracy / confidence

Where appropriate, a statement of the relative accuracy and
confidence level in the Mineral Resource estimate using an approach
or procedure deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For
example, the application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to
quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence
limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative
discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and
confidence of the estimate.

The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local
estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be
relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should
include assumptions made and the procedures used.

These statement of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate
should be compared withproduction data,where available.

The Mineral Resource is considered to be of sufficient local
confidence to allow mine planning studies to be completed.

The Indicated and Inferred classifications assigned locally to
the estimation are considered sufficient to represent the
relative accuracy and confidence. This has been applied to
a relative confidence based on data density and zone
confidence for resource classification.

No quantitative analysis in confidence limits has been
undertaken.

Production data are not available for Okvau.

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Section 4 Estimation and Reporting of Ore Reserves

(Criteria listed in section 1, and where relevant in sections 2 and 3, also apply to this section.)

Criteria 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 Mineral Resource estimate that forms the basis for this
Ore Reserve Estimate was completed by Brett Gossage,
Principal Consultant and Director of EGRM. Mr Gossage is
a geologist with over 27 years’ experience. He is a Member
of the AusIMM and a Member of the AIG.

The Mineral Resources reported are inclusive of the Ore
Reserves
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.

Glenn Williamson has undertaken six site visits for site
inspection in support of mine planning and to coordinate
groundwater monitoring studies, geotechnical drilling,
surveying of exploration drill holes and topographical
survey. The visits have contributed to the outcome of the Ore
Reserve estimation process and the development of the DFS.
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
ModifyingFactors have been considered.

The study to which this ore reserve estimate and report
applies is a definitive feasibility study. The study has been
conducted at a level necessary to establish that the mine
plan is technically achievable and economic with modifying
factors considered and applied where appropriate.
Cut-off parameters
The basis of the cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters applied.

Cut-off grade reported in the Ore Reserve Statement has
been calculated on the basis of a gold price of US$1,250
per Troy ounce. Mining recovery and mining dilution have
been applied to the resource model in the MIK resource
estimation stage no additional mining loss or mining dilution
has been applied in the calculation of the reserve.
Metallurgical recovery has been applied at 84% and costs
have been estimated from quotations or established by
estimation
from
first
principles.
The
milling
and
administration costs have been estimated from first
principles as part of a DFS study and the use of 84%
metallurgical recovery is based on the results of
metallurgical test work.
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 mining method(s)
and other mining parameters including associated design issues such as
pre-strip, access, etc.

The assumptions made regarding geotechnical parameters (eg 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.

Whittle Optimisation was used to establish the basic shell on
which to base design. Inputs included cost factors, both
quoted earthmoving and drill and blast costs and estimated
administration and milling costs, pit slopes, US$1,200 per
ounce gold price, mining recovery (100%) and dilution (0%)
and metallurgical recovery (85%).

From within the optimal shell, a nested shell was selected
that provided space for cutback and a basis for evening out
the production schedule for balancing fleet requirements

Pit slopes were recommended based on a study of
geotechnical logging of existing exploration diamond drill
holes, 5 geotechnical diamond drill holes (two of which were
drilled in the most recent resource drilling programme
based on the recommendation of Dr PM Dight
(Geotechnical Engineer). An overall pit slope of 52
degrees was applied in optimization and design closely
matched that with slopes including ramps

Minimum mining width has not been applied in optimization
but has been applied to the resource model as 5mx5mx5m.

Grade control drilling in advance of mining has been
allowed for at US$25/metre for drilling and assaying over
17,000,000 cubic metres.

Inferred material has been included in the optimization in
all runs and excluded from pit design analysis. No inferred
material has been reported the pit design reported in the
Ore Reserve.

The mining schedule associated with the Ore Reserve calls
for 2x 120 tonne excavators with 12x90 tonne dump trucks
with ancillary gear to mine the ore and waste at the
required rate.
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 metallurgical process proposed is CIL in association with
flotation to process arsenopyrite and antimony which occurs
in association with the gold mineralization. The process is
established and used by a number of gold producers
successfully.

A total of 6 metallurgical holes were drilled in two passes
for metallurgical testing. Compositing of samples was done
by level to simulate process feed for the holes drilled in the
second pass.

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Criteria Explanation Commentary

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?

Metallurgical recovery has been applied at 84% in
accordance with instruction and the results of test work. No
further allowance has been made for deleterious elements.

No recoverable minerals are defined by specification in this
case.
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, status of design options considered and,
where applicable, the status of approvals for process residue storage
and waste dumps should be reported.

Environmental studies are substantially progressed for the
Okvau Project with environmental impact and mitigation
strategies and costs having been established in support of
the DFS. Selection has been made of sites for waste rock
storage and a tailings storage facility. Waste rock
characterization studies have been undertaken and
contributed to design and costing in all phases of
Earthmoving, Operations and Closure. The approvals
process is advanced with no indication that approval will
not be given
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.

Little infrastructure exists at the study site and all, including
access roads, will need to be developed. There is sufficient
land to contain all required infrastructure. No electrical
power is currently reticulated to site , but is expected to be
constructed in support of the project. An access road of
about 65km in length will need to be constructed consisting
of approximately 20km of new road and 45km of
upgrade. This cost was not considered in the static analysis
of Ore Reserves but has been costed in the DFS cash flow
and capital estimates.
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 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 items with the exception of ongoing fixed costs
associated with D&B and ELHD were not considered directly
in the Ore Reserve study. In the DFS study, the order of
expected capital has been estimated at US$98 million with
mining capital accounted for added to the variable mining
costs. Effect of capital expenditure in the DFS has been
estimated using NPV and IRR modelling including sensitivity
to gold price, cost and metallurgical factors.

Deleterious elements such as arsenic and tellurides occur in
the deposit. The effect of these on recovery has been
indicated by metallurgical test work. The environmental
impact of these minerals in the TSF and Waste Storage
areas has been studied and mitigation of the effect of them
has been considered in DFS design and costing

Operating costs have, in the case of mining, been quoted
by a mining contractor for drill and blast and load and haul.
In-house first principle estimates have been made by
Emerald as part of a DFS for other costs. All costs have been
quoted or estimated in US$.

No allowance for royalties was made in the Ore Reserve
estimation but royalties have been accounted for
subsequently in the detailed financial modelling in the DFS.

Transportation charges in relation to mining have been
accounted for in contract rates quoted for load and haul
and drill and blast. Fuel costs take account of delivery to
site as do milling costs for consumables.

No allowance has been made for refining charges on gold
sales in the Ore Reserve study but has been accounted for
in the financial model.
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.

Head grade of gold ore has been estimated by inclusion of
dilution within the block model used as the resource model.
Blocks within the resource model have been created at 5
metre x 5 metre x 5 metre SMU size and allow for mining
dilution in the reported grade, influenced by the geology
and surrounding grades.

Gold price of US$1,250 per troy ounce was applied in Ore
Reserve Analysis based on current average gold price.
Historically this price has been exceeded for a period of
years but recently the price fell to US$1,140 and then
recovered.
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.

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.

The gold market has been strong over a reasonable period
of time and the gold price used in the study has been
exceeded over 7 of the last 10 years. At the time of this
study the gold price has been in the order of US$1,250 per
troy ounce.

Gold supply has averaged 4,000t/annum over the last 10
years and demand has been consistent with about 66%
derived from mining and 34% from recycling.

It has been assumed that supply and demand for gold will
continue on the same average basis.

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Criteria Explanation Commentary
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 coarse NPV was calculated using DFS estimated Capital
of US$98 million and a discount rate of 5%. Cash flows
were allowance for all capital to be spent in year 1 and all
mining and processing costs expended on a flat floor basis
based on 2,000,000 tonnes per annum processing with
associated income from gold sales at $1,250/troy ounce.
This showed an NPV of about US$245 million over 9 years
of the project from commencement of construction based on
a static net income total of US$375 million.

Analysis of sensitivities was conducted on the Whittle shell
selected for design.

Financial modelling of NPV and IRR was conducted with
sensitivity estimates in the DFS.
Social
The status of agreements with key stakeholders and matters leading to
social licence to operate.

Consultation with stakeholders at local district and
provincial levels has been ongoing since the baseline
studies commenced a number of years ago. A final draft
ESIA was submitted to the Ministry of Environment late
December 2016 with feedback from Government and key
stakeholders very positive. Workshops and site visits with
the Ministry of Environment have been conducted over the
past few months with a decision from the Ministry of
Environment anticipated in the near term.
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 reserve is
contingent.

Flooding is a material risk to the pit in operations. It is
planned to construct a substantial waste bund to exclude
flood waters and mitigate the risk.

Emerald has submitted to the Ministry of Mines & Energy
an application for an Industrial Mining Licence over a
Project area of approximately 11km2 within the existing
Okvau Exploration Licence. As part of this process, a
comprehensive Environment & Social Impact Assessment for
the Project has been submitted to the Ministry of
Environment for approval. A number of workshops have
been conducted on the ESIA and Emerald is encouraged by
the positive response received to date. Furthermore,
Emerald is in discussions with the Royal Government of
Cambodia regarding the negotiation of a Mineral
Investment Agreement to provide all stakeholders long term
certainty regarding the operation of the Project and fiscal
regime. The current Law on Mineral Resources (2001)
provides for the ability to negotiate a Mineral Investment
Agreement for projects that the Minister considers to be of
significant benefit to Cambodia. Emerald has received the
support of the Minister for this.

Emerald is confident all material approvals and licences
will be granted within the timeframe indicated.
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).

No Measured Mineral Resources existed in the resource
model and all Probable Ore Reserves have been derived
from Indicated Mineral Resources.

The results of classification accurately reflect Glenn
Williamson’s view of the project.
Audits or reviews
The results of any audits or reviews of Ore Reserve estimates.

No audit has been conducted of the Ore Reserve estimate
Discussion of relative
accuracy/ confidence

Where appropriate a statement of the relative accuracy and confidence
level in the Ore Reserve estimate using an approach or procedure
deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For example, the
application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to quantify the
relative accuracy of the reserve within stated confidence limits, or, if such
an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the
factors which could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the
estimate.

The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local
estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be
relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should
include assumptions made and the procedures used.

Accuracy and confidence discussions should extend to specific discussions
of any applied Modifying Factors that may have a material impact on
Ore Reserve viability, or for which there are remaining areas of
uncertainty at the current study stage.

It is recognised that this may not be possible or appropriate in all
circumstances. These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of
the estimate should be compared withproduction data,where available.

The grade estimates were statistically and visually
validated prior to acceptance in the resource estimation
process

The Probable Ore Reserve which is the subject of the Ore
Reserve Statement and DFS is based on an Indicated
Mineral Resource where the confidence level is less than
confidence would be in a Measured Mineral Resource.
Confidence in the associated cost estimates is of a high level
with those aspects having been estimated from first
principles. Confidence in metallurgical recovery, and mining
dilution and loss aspects is moderate, with those aspects not
having been operationally tested. The overall global
confidence in the Probable Ore Reserve is less than for a
Proved Ore Reserve

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