Summary
The Barsele Project is situated in the mining region of Västerbottens Län, Northern Sweden, 600 km north of Stockholm and covers 33,500 hectares in the Fennoscandian Shield. The Barsele Project is located on the western end of the Proterozoic “Skellefte Trend”, a prolific volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits belt, that intersects with the “Gold Line” in Northern Sweden. Both polymetallic “VMS” deposits and intrusive hosted “Orogenic gold” deposits are present in this region and on this property. Current and past producers in the region include Boliden, Kristineberg, Bjorkdal, Svartliden and Storliden.
The main gold-bearing system remains open in all directions. The structurally linked gold mineralized “lodes” occur mainly within a granodiorite host and to a lesser extent, volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Multiples of parallel to sub-parallel “lodes” that vary in width from 10 metres to 100 metres, combine for a maximum known thickness (including low grade-waste islands) of 425 metres. The Avan–Central–Skiråsen zones have a strike length approaching 3.6 kilometres and that same northwest trending structural corridor does contain localized bodies with gold mineralization over an additional 4.4 kilometres. The drill tested depth of the mineralized system approaches 1.0 kilometre and remains open. Gold is generally associated with arsenopyrite and low base metal content, but also occurs as native metal.
Since Agnico Eagle became operator of the project in late 2015, a total of 162,691 metres of overburden penetration and core collection has been tabulated from a total of 433 drill holes. A significant portion of the 2020 drilling was focused on defining, verifying and expanding the mineral resources within the Avan-Central-Skiråsen (CAS) “Orogenic Gold” system. The remaining drill meterage was primarily focused on the discovery of massive sulphide mineralization that is hosted in rocks of volcanic and sedimentary composition along with post mineral intrusive dykes and sills. The historic Norra VMS deposit within the claims is an example of this style of mineralization.
Why Sweden?
Mining in Sweden
Mining is a traditional industry in Sweden. Its history extends back over a thousand years. Its metal ore and other mineral resources, and knowledge about how to use them, have been major factors in building the prosperity the country enjoys today. The historic Falun Copper Mine was for hundreds of years the most important industrial site in the country producing, at times, up to two-thirds of Europe’s copper requirements.
The following centuries saw deposits of base metals, gold, silver and iron ore discovered and exploited. Notable early discoveries include the giant iron ore mines of Kiirunavaara and Luossavaara discovered during the 1730’s and operated today by Luossavaara – Kiirunavaara AB. In 1924 prospecting in the Skellefte district led to the discovery of the Boliden deposit and the foundation of Boliden Limited now listed in Toronto. Historical restrictions on foreign participation in Sweden’s mining industry have led to its domination by a small number of large domestic mining companies. Until recently the State took a major role in the mining industry through State run exploration and the right to acquire a major stake in any new mining venture. In 1991 however, following a change in Government and an application to join the European Union, Sweden adopted new policies to encourage foreign investment including cuts in the level of taxation, better business conditions and the privatization of state industrial interests. These new policies extended to the mining industry with the lifting of foreign investment restrictions and the abolition of State participation in mining projects. A new mining law was introduced to give effect to these new policies.
The attraction of post 1991 Sweden has been recognized by a number of major exploration companies that have developed a significant exploration presence in recent years.
Sweden at a Glance
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Area:
449,964 km2
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Population:
10.23 million (2019)
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Mineral Resources:
Iron ore, zinc, lead, copper, gold, silver, uranium
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Mining Facts:
Despite its relatively small size, Sweden’s share of world iron ore output is about 2%, and is the only iron ore exporter in Europe.
Drilling Highlight Intercepts
Drilling Highlights 2015-2020
Barsele Intersections – January 2018
Received assay results 2015-2017
NI 43-101 Resource Estimate
NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Barsele Property – effective date February 21, 2019.
The Independent and Qualified Persons for the Mineral Resource Estimate as defined by NI 43-101 are Harold Brisson, P.Eng. and Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., both from InnovExplo Inc. of Val d’Or Quebec.
Both Brisson and Pelletier are independent of both Barsele and joint venture partner Agnico Eagle, based on the requirements outlined in National Instrument 43-101 and NI 43-101F1. Agnico Eagle is not responsible for the Report.
2019 Mineral Resource Estimate
| Indicated | Inferred | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scenario | CUT-OFF (g/t) | Tonnage (t*1000) | Gold (g/t) | Gold Ounces | Tonnage (t*1000) | Gold (g/t) | Gold Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Constrained | 0.50 | 3,452 | 1.32 | 147,000 | 1,819 | 1.59 | 93,000 |
| Bulk Underground | 1.50 | 1,442 | 2.53 | 117,000 | 8,759 | 2.58 | 728,000 |
| Selective Underground | 1.80 | 684 | 2.75 | 60,000 | 14,917 | 2.64 | 1,265,000 |
| Total | 5,578 | 1.81 | 324,000 | 25,495 | 2.54 | 2,086,000 |
Mineral Resource Estimate Footnotes:
- The Independent and Qualified Persons for the Mineral Resource Estimate, as defined by NI 43-101, are Harold Brisson, P.Eng. and Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., both from InnovExplo Inc., and the effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is February 21, 2019.
- These mineral resources are not mineral reserves, as they do not have demonstrated economic viability.
- The mineral resource estimate follows current CIM definitions and guidelines for mineral resources.
- The results are presented undiluted and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.
- The estimate encompasses 61 gold-bearing zones, each defined by individual wireframes with a minimum true thickness of 2.0 metres and using the grade of the material when assayed, or a value of zero when not assayed. The resource was estimated using Geovia GEMS 6.8.
- High-grade capping supported by statistical analysis was carried out on assay data and established on a per domain basis for gold (g/t Au): low-grade mineralized envelope = 5.0 g/t Au, high-grade gold-bearing zones: Skiråsen = 30.0 g/t Au, Central = 30.0 to 40.0 g/t Au, Avan = 20.0 g/t Au.
- Grade interpolation was performed by Ordinary Kriging on 2.0 metres composites from drill-hole intersections falling within the mineralized zones in a block model using a block size of 10.0 metres by 3.0 metres by 5.0 metres.
- Density values were applied based on lithology. All mineralized zones were assigned 2.73 g/cm3.
- The Mineral Resource Estimate is categorized as Indicated and Inferred. The Inferred mineral resource category is only defined with a minimum of 2 drill-holes, within the areas where the drill spacing is less than 100 metres and shows reasonable geological and grade continuity. The Indicated mineral resource category is only defined with a minimum of 2 drill-holes, within the areas where the drill spacing is less than 25 metres. Clipping boundaries were used for classification based on those criteria.
- The Mineral Resource Estimate is reported for three cut-off grades depending on the nature and depth of the mineral resource: 1) a pit constrained extraction mining method at a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t Au, 2) a bulk underground extraction mining method at a cut-off grade of 1.50 g/t Au (Bulk Zones), and 3) a selective underground extraction mining method at a cut-off grade of 1.80 g/t Au (High Grade Zones). The cut-off grades were calculated using the following parameters: mining cost = $US 35.00 to $US 45.00; processing cost = $US 15.00; G&A = $US 5.00 to $US 8.00; refining and selling costs = $US 10.00; gold price = $US 1,300.00; and metallurgical recovery = 92.6 percent. The cut-off grades should be re-evaluated in light of future prevailing market conditions (metal prices, exchange rates, mining costs etc.).
- The number of metric tonnes were rounded to the nearest thousand, following the recommendations in NI 43-101 and any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects. The metal contents are presented in troy ounces (tonnes x grade / 31.10348).
- InnovExplo Inc. is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, or marketing issues, or any other relevant issue not reported in the Technical Report, that could materially affect the Mineral Resource Estimate.
Technical Reports
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Date
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Report
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PDF
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|---|---|---|
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2 April 2019
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NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Barsele Property (effective February 21, 2019, published April 2, 2019)
Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., Harold Brisson, P. Eng., Stephane Faure, P. Geo, Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P. Geo., InnovExplo Inc. NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Barsele Property |
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15 February 2018
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NI 43-101 Technical Report – Barsele Gold Project, Storuman, Sweden
Pierre-Luc Richard, P. Geo., M.Sc., and Carl Pelletier, P. Geo., B.Sc., both of InnovExplo Inc. “NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate On The Barsele Property” |
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30 November 2012
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NI 43-101 Technical Report – Barsele
Giroux, Butler Technical Report November 2012 – Orex Minerals Inc. Barsele Gold Project, Storuman, Sweden |
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18 March 2011
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NI 43-101 Technical Report – Barsele (REVISED)
Giroux and Thornsberry Technical Report for the Barsele Gold Project (Storuman, Sweden) |
QA/QC Procedures
Core Sampling, sample preparation, analytical methods & QAQC procedures at Barsele Au-VMS project, Sweden
Introduction
This document details the assay quality assurance and quality control program developed at Barsele.
Au-VMS project since October of 2015. This document describes sample monitoring from sampling stage and custody along with sample preparation and the precision and accuracy of metal analyses.
Since 24th January 2019 (E19801), MS Analytical in Storuman is responsible for both core cutting and sample preparation. In addition, MS Analytical in Canada is used for assaying of both Au and Multi-element of AES samples.
Drilling program
The drilling program at Barsele started on 12th of October 2015 on the Central Zone. The drilling method is currently NQ-2 which has a core diameter of 50.60mm. This drilling method came into effect on March 2017 replacing WL-76 (57.6mm core diameter) size drilling. The length of the holes varies between approximately 150-1330m. Oriented core measurements are done each 3m run. Below 350m depth (downhole) 6m runs are done if rock quality is good.
Logging sampling procedure
- At AES core logging facility in Storuman the core boxes are placed on logging tables. Starting with the first box placed in the upper left corner on the table and the second box below it.
- If oriented marks are present on the core the core is aligned in a 4m long core tray holder so the oriented mark can be drawn (green marker color) along the core with shorter lines indicating downhole direction. It is always the down/lower side of the core that is marked.
- Thereafter the meters are marked by the AES technician or geologist on the boxes with blue marker color. If core loss occur this is marked on the box.
- RQD is also done on the whole drill hole. The boundaries between different rock quality sections are marked with green marker as a Z with a I on top. Rock pieces either shorter or longer than 10cm for each section are measured. The type measured is depending on which is more abundant in the section, longer than 10cm or shorter than 10cm pieces. The total lengths of the pieces are entered into Excel spreadsheet. The number of natural occurring fractures in each section are calculated and entered into same spreadsheet. If core loss occur this is also entered into the spreadsheet that automatically calculates the RQD-value for the section in question. This is done by AES technician or geologist
- Magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements are taken at every meter mark along the hole and entered into Excel spreadsheet. This is done by AES technician or geologist.
- During the core logging the following things are recorded;
- ✔ lithological boundaries are marked
- ✔ grain size and texture
- ✔ rock color
- ✔ alteration type and strength
- ✔ sulphides present and amount
- ✔ structural features (e.g. foliation, shearing, brecciation, faults, lineations) and strain
- ✔ vein type and their width and concentration
- ✔ alpha, beta angles and gamma angles of structural features from oriented core Sulphides or eventual notes are marked with black colored marker on the box. The logging is done graphically on paper and thereafter entered into Fusion software. A logging protocol has been developed over the period October 2015- February 2019.
- Sampling intervals and lithological contacts are marked with red colored marker on the box and on the core as a vertical red line with a red line across. In the upper right corner of each box the name of the sample is written e.g. SEEXD101 the last three digits are written between the marked sample lines e.g. 901. Most of the core at Barsele is 1m samples. Sampling is never done across a lithological boundary. That means that a sample always starts/ends at lithological boundary or potentially at other anomalous features along the core such as much stronger/weaker alteration, less/more sulphides present.
- After the completion of marking sample intervals and assay numbers, the boxes are photographed both dry and wet and stored on the computer and on an external backup drive.
- The geologist that has performed marking of the samples of the core and box also fills in the Agnico Eagle sample bar coded tags. From and To depth and standard-, blank names, duplicate or field duplicate is marked on the barcoded sample tag that remains with Agnico the other part of the tag is sent to the core cutting facility/laboratory with the drill core.
- The Agnico Eagle geologist or technician e-mails the sawing list as Excel + pdf format and also prints out shipping/batch number on paper (A4 word document) that goes with the pallet to MS Analytical in Storuman.
- If specific gravity is done then Agnico Eagle geologist or technician e-mails this “SG order table” to MS Analytical as Excel format. Every 5th samples are done specific gravity on. More SG measurements are done if a VMS or BIF zone is intersected.
Sample handling and core sawing at MS Analytical, Storuman
- The pallet with the core boxes that is to be sawed is moved by AES personnel into the “portal room” together with a sawing list, sampling tags, batch number paper and cardboard box with standards on top.
- MS Analytical picks up the pallet with the core from the “portal room” and takes it into their core cutting facility.
- MS Analytical then labels sample bags with bar coded tags containing information about; client, sample type, sample number, sample x out of xxx and batch number.
- Sawing is done with automated core diamond saw.
- If oriented core then the core is sawed so that the oriented core remains in the box and the other half is sent to laboratory.
- Since 13th (batch E16583) of September 2016 a field duplicate is taken every 30th sample and sent for assaying. The field duplicate is a ¼ core sample. That means that ¼ core is left as a reference sample in the core box. This field duplicate sample gets its own sample number.
- Specific gravity is usually done on every 5th sample. A duplicate reading is taken every 20th sample.
Sample preparation at MS Analytical Storuman
- The sawed half core samples individually placed in a metal bucket together with MS analytical barcoded label and Agnico’s own barcoded sample tag.
- Every sample in the metal bucket is weighted individually.
Sample preparation flow chart at MS Analytical in Storuman
- The samples are then put into the oven to dry.
- The dried samples are thereafter individually crushed to 85% <2mm (PRP-925 CRU) material. This crushing size came into effect on the 6th of July 2018 replacing 70%<2mm (CRU-31). The change was based on the outcome of the “VG” test done during Q1-2018 (“One way to potentially upgrade the already almost perfect assay protocol could be to go from crushing 70% <2mm to crushing 85%<2mm and thereby lower the amount of +fraction material.”). SWED-Ehd6 (4-acid digestion) and SWED-Ehd7 (Aqua regia) are the given names for the lab packages being done at MS Analytical. MS Analytical performs internal QC crushing test.
- The crushed material is riffle split into 1Kg sample (PRP-925 SPL) and approximately 2.5kg as reject.
- The 1kg split is pulverized into 95% less than 75 microns (PRP-925 PPU). Pulverizing QC test is done after every twentieth sample.
- A 150gr split of the pulverized material (95% less than 75 micron) is then transfer into pre-labeled brown paper bags. The bags are thereafter packed in boxes to be shipped to MS Analytical in Canada for gold and multi element analysis.
- The remaining of the riffle split reject crushed material, approximately 2.5kg (“REJECT SAMPLE”) and pulverized material (~850 gr, “MASTER SAMPLE”) are packed in a single pallet with AES Batch number and MS Analytical certificate number with barcoded labels.
Sample preparation and analytical methods
The following MS analytical methods are used for the Barsele project
Preparation (PRP-925 Custom made for AES)
| PWE-100 | Log sample in tracking system, barcode and weight |
| QA/QC | Crushing QC test |
| QA/QC | Pulverizing QC Test |
| PRP-925 DRI | High temperature drying of wet samples in drying oven |
| PLG-100 | Pulp login — Rcd w/o BarCode |
| PRP-925 CRU | Fine crushing -85% <2mm |
| PRP-925 SPL | Split sample using riffle splitter. |
| PRP-925 PPU | Pulverizing 1kg sample to >95% passing 75µm |
Assay method
SWED-Edh-6
| FAS-121 | Au Fire Assay — AA on 50g ; above 3 ppm Au Fire Assay — Gravimetric |
| FAS-425 | Au by fire assay and gravimetric finish. 50g nominal sample weight |
| IMS-230 | 48 element for acid ICP-MS (four acid digestion) |
| ICF-6Xx | Default over limit methods for ICF-6Ag, ICF-6Cu, ICF-6Pb, ICF-6Zn |
| FAS-418 | Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish; for Ag above 1000 ppm |
SWED-Edh-7
| FAS-121 | Au Fire Assay — AA on 50g ; above 3 ppm Au Fire Assay — Gravimetric |
| FAS-425 | Au by fire assay and gravimetric finish. 50g nominal sample weight |
| ICP-130 | 35 element for acid ICP-ES (aqua Regia) |
| ICA-6Xx | Default over limit methods for ICA-6Ag, ICA-6As, ICA-6Cu, ICA-6Pb, ICA-6Zn |
| FAS-418 | Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish; for Ag above 1500 ppm |
| SPG-410 | (Specific gravity of core sample) |
The two different multi-element options that can be used are IMS-230 or ICP-130 and their associated overlimit methods. IMS-230 + ICF-6Xx= SWED-Edh6 lab package and ICP-130 + ICA-6Xx = SWED-Edh7 lab package.
Reference samples numbering and proportion
QAQC reference samples are numbered with same core sample ID series (e.g. for Barsele SEEXD……). From the start of the project in October 2015 commercial standards has been used. Standard or one blank sample has been inserted every tenth sample. Since mid-December (since batch E15535) a duplicate is also inserted into the sample sequence. That means that every tenth sample is either standards, a blank sample or a duplicate which is a coarse reject duplicate from previous sample (mother sample).
Since 13th (batch E16583) of September 2016 a field duplicate is taken every 30th sample and sent for assaying. This field duplicate sample gets its own sample number and is ¼ core sample of the previous sample. That means that ¼ core is left as a reference sample in the core box instead of ½ core.
QAQC Monitoring
Control charts are created in Fusion when the geologist is importing the assay results. If any of the standards or the blank results fails (= outside +/-2STD). The geologist report this to responsible person who decides case by case if any action is to be taken e.g. re-assaying of entire batch or not. If two standards or more fails in a batch then an investigation is initiated with potential partial or entire resampling of the batch. That is if no logical explanation is found to the two outliers.
About 7-10% selected replicate samples from selected batch will be sent in on a quarterly basis to a different (secondary) laboratory. The replicate samples should represent low-, moderate- and high grade samples (0-1, 1-3 and >3g/t) and should be reported in evenly distributed during the quarter period. A QAQC report is being prepared on a quarterly basis.
