This technical report presents the prefeasibility study results for a two-stage processing operation treating oxide and sulphide ores at the Gediktepe project in Turkey.
Report context
The Gediktepe project, located in the Balıkesir Province of Western Turkey, is operated by Polimetal Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.S., a 50/50 joint venture between Alacer Gold Corp. and Lidya Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. This technical report was prepared in the first quarter of 2019 under NI 43-101 guidelines, documenting the outcomes of technical investigations by Polimetal as at the end of 2018. A previous prefeasibility study was completed in 2016.
Processing route
Stage 1: Oxide ore processing
The oxide processing facility has been designed to treat 1.1 Mt per annum of oxide ore for approximately two years. Gold and silver ore will be treated in a single stage semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill circuit, followed by sodium cyanide leaching, carbon-in-pulp (CIP), and elution and electrowinning techniques to recover the gold and silver.
Stage 2: Sulphide ore processing
After the two-year oxide period, the plant will process 2.4 Mt per annum of sulphide ore over a total mine life of approximately 11 years. The oxide processing plant will be expanded to process copper and zinc-bearing ore by flotation. A 5.5 MW secondary grinding ball mill will be added to the grinding circuit. Sequential flotation will be employed to produce separate copper and zinc concentrates for export.
Testwork basis
The major unit operations of the oxide and sulphide process flowsheets have been tested at bench scale, along with specialist vendor testwork as required. The proposed oxide ore flowsheet is presented in Figure 1.7 and the flowsheet for sulphide ore in Figure 1.8 of the original report.
Infrastructure
Buildings and facilities planned to be constructed adjacent to the process plants include workshop and warehouse, changeroom, security gate house, mine administration building, kitchen and dry mess, laboratory, fuel storage, control room, and other dedicated structures. Additional infrastructure includes waste dumps (PAG and NPAG), ROM stockpile area, topsoil stockpile areas, Tailings Storage Facility for oxide and sulphide tailings disposal, clean water pond, water diversion structures, 154 kVa power transmission line, operations personnel camp and facilities, and mining contractor area. Proposed off-site infrastructure includes covered concentrate storage and blending bays at the selected export facility.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Unit | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxide ore treatment rate | Mtpa | 1.1 | Design |
| Sulphide ore treatment rate | Mtpa | 2.4 | Design |
| Oxide ore mined | kt | 2,755 | Design (life-of-mine) |
| Oxide grade – Au | g/t | 2.34 | Design |
| Oxide grade – Ag | g/t | 56.7 | Design |
| Sulphide ore mined | kt | 18,580 | Design (life-of-mine) |
| Sulphide grade – Cu | % | 0.92 | Design |
| Sulphide grade – Zn | % | 1.98 | Design |
| Sulphide grade – Au | g/t | 0.85 | Design |
| Sulphide grade – Ag | g/t | 31.8 | Design |
| Copper concentrate produced | kt | 387 | Design (life-of-mine) |
| Zinc concentrate produced | kt | 503 | Design (life-of-mine) |
| Copper in concentrate | kt | 115 | Design |
| Zinc in concentrate | kt | 284 | Design |
| Total gold production | koz | 345 | Design |
| Total silver production | koz | 8,148 | Design |
| Secondary grinding ball mill | MW | 5.5 | Design |
| Secondary grinding ball mill added | – | Stage 2 | Design |
| Oxide process direct cost | $/t ore | 20.85 | Design estimate |
| Sulphide mill direct cost | $/t ore | 19.88 | Design estimate |
| Overall operating cost | $/t ore | 39.62 | Design estimate |
Project website: https://elementalroyalty.com/projects/gediktepe/
Technical qualifications
This prefeasibility study (PFS19) is at a prefeasibility level of accuracy. The resource classification categories assigned to the Gediktepe estimates (Measured, Indicated, and Inferred) have identified different levels of confidence across the deposit, which is considered sufficient for prefeasibility assessment. The Qualified Persons have not reviewed the mineral tenure, nor independently verified the legal status, ownership of the project area, underlying property agreements, or permits, and have fully relied upon information derived from Polimetal for this information. The QPs have fully relied upon, and disclaim responsibility for, information supplied by Alacer relating to taxation and royalties, and information supplied by Polimetal staff and experts relating to market studies and contracts. The QPs have fully relied upon, and disclaim responsibility for, information derived from experts regarding environmental and work programme permitting status.
Source: Gediktepe Project , 2019 Technical Report, effective end of 2018, prepared for Alacer Gold Corp.
