Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Cobre Panamá - Feasibility (2010)
Cobre Panamá - Feasibility (2010)
Cobre Panamá - Feasibility (2010)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLES
Table 1-1: Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources - Mina de Cobre Panamá .............................. 3
Table 1-2: Inferred Mineral Resources - Mina de Cobre Panamá..................................................... 3
Table 1-3: Mineral Reserve Estimates by Classification and Ore Type ............................................ 4
Table 1-4: Concentrator Production Summary .................................................................................. 6
Table 1-5: Capital Expenditures (millions) ......................................................................................... 8
Table 1-6: Summary of Operating Cost Estimate ($/t milled) ............................................................ 8
Table 1-7: Long-Term Metal Price Assumptions ............................................................................... 9
Table 2-1: Dates of Site Visits and Areas of Responsibility ............................................................ 11
Table 4-1: MPSA Mineral Concessions under Law No. 9, 1997 ..................................................... 20
Table 6-1: Exploration History of the Cobre Panamá Concession .................................................. 25
Table 11-1: Summary of Drilling by Operator and Area .................................................................... 51
Table 11-2: Summary of Drilling by Area ........................................................................................... 51
Table 15-1: 2007 Resource Estimate – Molejón Gold Deposit (Petaquilla Minerals) ....................... 78
Table 16-1: Concentrator Production Summary ................................................................................ 80
Table 17-1: Distribution of Drilling Data by Area ............................................................................... 90
Table 17-2: Statistical Summary of Sample Assay Data by Area ..................................................... 91
Table 17-3: Summary of Interpolation Domains ................................................................................ 98
Table 17-4: Summary of Bulk Density Values by Rock Type ............................................................ 98
Table 17-5: Summary of Outlier Grade Controls ............................................................................... 99
Table 17-6: Variogram Parameters ................................................................................................. 100
Table 17-7: Block Model Limits........................................................................................................ 102
Table 17-8: Interpolation Parameters .............................................................................................. 104
Table 17-9: Summary of Measured Mineral Resources .................................................................. 111
Table 17-10: Summary of Indicated Mineral Resources ................................................................... 111
Table 17-11: Summary of Measured And Indicated Mineral Resources ........................................... 113
Table 17-12: Summary of Inferred Mineral Resource ....................................................................... 114
Table 17-13: Historical Resource Estimate – 14 January 1998 ........................................................ 115
Table 17-14: Overall Slopes for Floating Cone Analyses .................................................................. 119
Table 17-15: Floating Cone Price Sensitivity Analyses (combined results from Botija, Colina and
Valle Grande) ............................................................................................................... 121
Table 17-16: Basic Pit Design Parameters ........................................................................................ 122
Table 17-17: Pit Slope Design Parameters ....................................................................................... 123
Table 17-18: Ore Definition Parameters for Mineral Reserve Estimates .......................................... 126
Table 17-19: NSR Cutoff Grades (US$/t) used in Mineral Reserve Estimates ................................. 127
Table 17-20: Material Densities used in Mineral Reserve Estimates ................................................ 127
Table 17-21: Proven Mineral Reserve Estimates by Ore Type ......................................................... 128
Table 17-22: Probable Mineral Reserve Estimates by Ore Type ...................................................... 129
Table 17-23: Combined Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve Estimates by Ore Type ................. 130
Table 23-1: Mine Production Schedule ........................................................................................... 151
Table 23-2: Mill Feed Schedule (all ore types) ................................................................................ 153
Table 23-3: Concentrator Production Summary .............................................................................. 159
Table 23-4: Mining Production Parameters ..................................................................................... 167
Table 23-5: Analysis of Copper (Cu) Concentrate........................................................................... 168
Table 23-6: Analysis of Molybdenum (Mo) Concentrate ................................................................. 169
Table 23-7: Summary of Capital Costs ............................................................................................ 175
Table 23-8: Summary of Operating Cost Estimate ($/t milled) ........................................................ 176
Table 23-9: Long-Term Metal Price Assumptions ........................................................................... 177
Table 23-10: Summary of Key Financials (base case) ...................................................................... 178
Table 23-11: Impact of Metal Price Change ...................................................................................... 179
Table 23-12: Levered Case Financial Results................................................................................... 180
Table 23-13: Summary of Base Case Performance Statistics .......................................................... 180
Table 23-14: Summary of Levered Case Performance Statistics ...................................................... 180
FIGURES
1.0 SUMMARY
Introduction
This Technical Report was compiled by WLR Consulting, Inc. for Inmet Mining Corporation to
provide updated mineral resource and reserve estimates and the mining plan for the Cobre
Panamá project. The report was written under the direction of William Rose, P.E., with
contributions from Robert Sim, P.Geo., Bruce Davies, FAusIMM., Alexandra Kozak, P.Eng.,
Colin Burge, P.Geo. and Gary Wells, P.Geo., all Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101 and
as described in Section 22. This Technical Report summarizes the findings of the Mina de
Cobre Panamá Project FEED Study Report completed by AMEC AMERICAS LIMITED (AMEC)
on March 31, 2010.
Inmet Mining Corporation, through its Panamanian subsidiary Minera Panamá S.A. (MPSA) is
100% owner of the Mina de Cobre Panamá project. The property consists of four concessions
totalling 13,600 hectares.
History
Copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry style mineralization was discovered in central Panamá
during a regional survey by the United Nations in 1968. Exploration by several companies has
since outlined three large deposits and several smaller ones. Companies that have conducted
drill programs include: United Nations Development Program (1968-1969), Panamá Mineral
Resources Development Company (PMRD), a Japanese consortium (1970-1980), Inmet -
Adrian Resources – Teck (formerly Teck Cominco) (1990-1997), Petaquilla Copper (2006-2008)
and Minera Panamá S.A. (MPSA) (2007-2009). A total of 1,275 diamond drill holes (230,555 m)
have been completed.
Geology
The porphyry deposits occur at the southern margin of a large granodioritic batholith of mid-
Oligocene age (36.4 Ma). They occur in a WNW-ESE oriented zone with dimensions of 9 km by
4.5 km (Figure 1-1). The three main deposits are Botija, Colina and Valle Grande. There are
also a number of smaller zones; the most significant being Brazo and Botija Abajo.
All of the porphyry style mineralization on the property is hosted in granodiorite, feldspar-quartz-
hornblende porphyry and adjacent andesitic volcanics. At Botija, a number of north dipping
feldspar-quartz-hornblende dikes cut the granodiorite. Two roof pendants of andesitic volcanics
occur in the central and eastern parts of the deposit. At Colina, mineralization is associated with
an east-southeasterly trending, shallow north dipping, 2.5 km by 1 km feldspar-quartz-
hornblende porphyry sill and dike complex that intrudes granodiorite and andesitic volcanics.
The Valle Grande zone is associated with a southeast trending feldspar-quartz-hornblende
porphyry lopolith that is bounded to the north and south by andesitic volcanics and minor
granodioritic dikes. At Brazo and Botija Abajo the host rock is dominantly feldspar-quartz or
feldspar-quartz-hornblende porphyry.
Hydrothermal alteration along the Cobre mineral trend is primarily silica-chlorite which is
interpreted to be a form of propylitic alteration. Potassic alteration, consisting of salmon
coloured potassium feldspar and secondary biotite is seen in the central parts of Botija. Argillic
and phyllic alteration is patchy in the three main deposits with the latter variety being most
prevalent near the tops of the deposits. At Brazo, pervasive sericite, clay and pyrite is
associated with well-developed quartz stockworks.
Mineral Resources
The mineral resources for the porphyry deposits on the Cobre Panamá concession were
estimated using the entire drill hole and assay database that exists for the project, a pit shell
which is defined with a copper price of $2.30 per lb and a Cu cut-off grade of 0.15%. These are
presented in Table 1-1 (Measured plus Indicated) and Table 1-2 (Inferred). Mineral resources,
that are not mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be
assumed that all or any part of an Inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an Indicated or
Measured mineral resource as a result of continued exploration.
Tonnes Cu Mo Au Ag
Deposit Category (million) (%) (%) g/t g/t
Botija Measured 261 0.56 0.009 0.13 1.50
Indicated 907 0.33 0.007 0.06 1.00
Mineral Reserves
The mine plan was initially developed from the deposit models produced by MPSA and Inmet
Mining as of the 1st of November 2009. A series of floating cone analyses were conducted to
determine economic pit limits and the mining phase development sequence for three mineral
deposits in the project Concession area: Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande. Botija is immediately
northeast of the proposed concentrator site, Colina is about 2 km to the west-northwest, and
Valle Grande is roughly 1 km to the southwest. The Botija deposit model was subsequently
updated in January 2010 to include in-fill drilling that improved the resource classifications. The
January 2010 Botija and November 2009 Colina/Valle Grande models were used to estimate
mineral reserves.
The floating cone evaluations, mine design, and reserve estimates are based on metal prices of
$2.00/lb Cu, $12.00/lb Mo, $750/oz Au, and $12.50/oz Ag. Recoveries for Cu, Mo, and Au vary
by grade, ore type, and deposit, while Ag recovery is generally fixed, except for deductions for
saprock ore. Over the life of the project, concentrator recoveries will average about 86% for Cu,
59% for Mo, 54% for Au, and 46% for Ag. Weighted average mining costs of $1.33/t were used
in the pit limit analyses, along with base ore processing and general & administration (G&A)
costs of $3.88/t and $1.49/t, respectively. Grinding rates will vary by ore type and deposit,
which affects the unit ore processing and G&A costs and, therefore, the cutoff grades used for
reserve estimation. The Mina de Cobre Panamá project mineral reserve estimates are based on
proven and probable ore; all inferred mineral resources were treated as waste.
Table 1-3 presents the mineral reserves by classification and ore type, based on cutoff grades
that vary by ore type, deposit, and the time period in which the reserves are to be mined. Total
proven and probable mineral reserves are estimated at 2,143 Mt grading 0.41% Cu, 0.008%
Mo, 0.07 Au g/t and 1.43 Ag g/t. Contained metal is projected at approximately 19.6 billion
pounds of copper, 361 million pounds of molybdenum, 4.96 million troy ounces of gold, and
98.7 million troy ounces of silver. Total material within the designed ultimate pits is estimated at
3.444 billion tonnes, resulting in a stripping ratio of 0.61:1 (tonnes of waste per tonne of ore).
The above mineral reserve projections are contained within the estimates of measured and
indicated mineral resources (see Table 1-1). Mr. William Rose, P.E., Principal Mining Engineer
of WLR Consulting, Inc. estimated the mineral reserves, which have an effective date of March
31, 2010. Mr. Rose meets the requirements of an independent Qualified Person under the
standards of NI 43-101.
Metallurgy
The property has been investigated on behalf of several owners since 1968, and preliminary
feasibility studies and prefeasibility studies were done in 1977, 1979, and 1994; feasibility
studies were produced in 1994 (updated in 1995), 1996, and 1998. In all of these studies,
testwork was done commensurate with the requirements of the times; the study produced in
1997 and published in early 1998 (Teck Corporation Petaquilla Feasibility Study, Simons Project
No. U11G, Volume 1, January 1998) built mostly upon work done in the earlier studies.
In 1997, an extensive program of metallurgical testing was designed to confirm earlier work on
the metallurgical response of the Botija and Colina deposits. Most of the work was done at
Lakefield Research Ltd., Lakefield, Ontario. Grinding, flotation, dewatering, and mineralogical
work were performed as part of this program. In addition to the Lakefield work, locked-cycle
flotation testwork and modal analysis were performed at G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd.,
Kamloops, B.C. (G&T) to assist in defining grind requirements for both rougher and cleaner
flotation. Copper-molybdenum separation using differential flotation was conducted by
International Metallurgical and Environmental, Kelowna, B.C. (IME). The metallurgical work
done for the present study has built upon the 1997/1998 study with some knowledge of, but no
reliance on, work performed before that time.
The testwork before 2007 was based on large composite samples, and the results, particularly
for flotation testing, could not be used for interpreting the variability of response for material
within the deposits. Consequently, a large sampling program was undertaken in 2008/2009 to
bolster the knowledge from previous work and provide the missing insight into the variability of
response. A total of 16 special holes for metallurgical grinding and flotation tests were drilled in
the Botija, Valle Grande, and Colina orebodies. Sample preparation, flotation testing, and
testing of flotation products were done primarily at G&T Metallurgical Services in Kamloops,
British Columbia. Grinding work was conducted at SGS Mineral Services in Lakefield, Ontario,
and at Philips Enterprises LLC in Golden, Colorado.
The resulting life-of mine production data are shown in Table 1-4.
Ore Processing
Ore from the Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande pits will be treated in a concentrator to produce a
copper concentrate and a molybdenum concentrate for sale on the world market. Initially, the
concentrator will treat nominally 150,000 t/d of ore supplied from the Botija pit; later, ore will be
received from the Colina and Valle Grande pits. From Year 10, the concentrator ore throughput
will be increased by 50%, to a nominal 225,000 t/d, to maintain production of concentrate
despite a falling head grade. Crushing, grinding, bulk rougher flotation, water, and air systems
will increase in capacity by 50% to accomplish the increase in ore treatment rate; all other
systems will remain at the same size.
The process plant is designed to process ore at a head grade of 0.70% Cu and 0.013% Mo.
These levels are higher than the highest sustained head grades of 0.58% Cu and 0.011% Mo
expected to be mined in Year 5, but the design provides the flexibility to accommodate a wide
range of head grades over the project life. The plant design also allows for 15% day-to-day
fluctuations in throughput. The process includes the following facilities:
Infrastructure
There will be several distinct and separate construction areas:
mine site, including the process plant site and camp facilities
port site and camp facilities
300 MW power plant (construction and operation by Suez)
tailings management facility (TMF) and associated infrastructure
Botija pit initially followed by the Colina and Valle Grande pits
230 kV overhead power line Eastern Access Road and upgrades from Llano Grande
Coast Road and pipelines.
Project Capital
The total estimated cost to design and build the Mina de Cobre Panamá 150,000 t/d project
described in this report is US$4,320 million, including an Owner-provided mining fleet and self-
performed preproduction development. This amount covers the direct field costs of executing
the project, plus the Owner’s indirect costs associated with design, construction, and
commissioning. The estimate is summarized in Table 1-5,
All costs are expressed in second quarter 2009 (Q2) US dollars. No allowance has been
included for escalation, interest, financing fees, taxes, duties, or working capital during
construction. The level of accuracy for the estimate is ±15% of estimated final costs.
Operating Costs
The operating cost estimate (opex) has been prepared as an annual cost for the project from
plant start-up to mine closure. The life of the project is 30 years at a nominal processing plant
throughput rate of 150,000 t/d (54.8 Mt/a) for the first nine years, followed by an increase to a
nominal throughput of 225,000 t/d (82.1 Mt/a) from Year 10 onward.
The operating cost estimate is expressed in constant second quarter 2009 (Q2 2009)
U.S. dollars with no allowances for escalation or fluctuation in exchange rates. Costs incurred
before plant start-up on Q4 2015 are treated as capital expenditures (capex).
The average costs for the project over the mine life are shown in Table 1-6.
The total operating cost is $15,490 million over the LOM for a milled feed of 2,143 Mt. The
overall unit operating cost is $7.23/t of milled ore.
Economics
Engineering studies have demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing significant
quantities of copper, molybdenum, silver, and gold from the Mina de Cobre Panamá project.
The economic viability of the project has been evaluated by using a combination of pre-tax and
after-tax cash flow analyses, based on the engineering studies and cost estimates discussed
herein. Under the metal price assumptions shown in Table 1-7 and using a discount rate of 8%,
the pre-tax project net present value (NPV) for the base case is $1,661 million, and the internal
rate of return (IRR) is 12.6%. The after-tax NPV is $1,536 million with an IRR of 12.4%. The
cumulative pre-tax undiscounted cash flow value for the project is $12,873 million and the
payback period is 5.9 years.
Another case (levered) assuming $2.16 billion of debt financing, representing 50% of the
preproduction capital, was evaluated. This resulted in a project after-tax IRR of 15.1% – a net
improvement of 2.7% over the un-levered base case.
For the sake of discounting, cash flows are assumed to occur at the end of each period. All
cash flows are discounted to the beginning of Q4 2010.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
AMEC Americas Limited (AMEC) was retained in early 2007 to develop the Draft Interim FEED
Report (AMEC, 2008), a study produced for Teck to bring the Mina de Cobre Panamá project
(then known as the Petaquilla project) to full feasibility level. AMEC was subsequently
commissioned by Inmet Mining, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Minera Panamá S.A.
(MPSA), to complete the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) Study, which incorporates
the results of additional exploration drilling and metallurgical testing.
The purpose of the FEED Study is to describe the status of the Mina de Cobre Panamá project,
in the Donoso District of Panamá, in sufficient detail for MPSA to pursue international financing
options and move on to the next stage of project engineering and development. One of the
study objectives is to produce a capital cost estimate with an accuracy of +15%/-15%, with a
confidence level of 80%, of estimated final cost based on 10% completion of engineering.
The results of the FEED program were announced by Inmet Mining in a press release dated
March 31, 2010. This technical report is a summary of the FEED report and was prepared in
accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and Form 43-
101F1 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) under the direction of William Rose,
P.E. with WLR Consulting, Inc., an independent “Qualified Person” as defined by the NI 43-101.
Mr. Rose visited the site between April 15th to 16th, 2009 to review the geologic and
physiographic settings for the project and to review the data collection program. In addition, the
following Qualified Persons responsible for preparing parts of this technical report visited the
site on the dates noted. Please refer to section 22 for the Statement of Qualified Person for
each Qualified Person named in this report.
Colin Burge, P.Geo., is the site technical manager for the FEED drill program and has been on
site since October 2007.
Gary Wells, P.Geo., compiled the geological and drillhole databases and prepared the
geological models used in the resource calculations. He visited the site on several occasions
since 2008, the most recent being November 14th to November 17th, 2009.
Bruce Davis, F.AusIMM, reviewed the QA/QC for the FEED drill program. He visited the site
between April 15th to April 16th, 2009.
Robert Sim, P.Geo., estimated the mineral resources and visited the site between April 15th to
April 16th, 2009
Alexandra Kozak, P.Eng., supervised the engineering for Section 16.0, Mineral Processing and
Metallurgical Testing, as well as the mineral processing aspects of Section 23.0. She did not
visit the site.
Table 2-1 summarizes the responsibilities of the Qualified Persons who compiled this technical
report.
William Rose 15-16 April 2009 Sections 1, 2, 3, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23.1, 23.4,
23.5.1, 23.6, 23.7, 23.8, 23.9, 23.10, 23.11, 23.12 and
23.13. Overall responsibility for technical report.
Colin Burge Numerous visits Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and those portions of the
summary, conclusions and recommendations that pertain to
those sections.
Gary Wells Numerous visits Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 21 and those
portions of the summary, conclusions and
recommendations that pertain to those sections.
Bruce Davis 15-16 April 2009 Sections 14, 17.1 and those portions of the summary,
conclusions and recommendations that pertain to those
sections.
Rob Sim 15-16 April 2009 Section 17.1 and those portions of the summary,
conclusions and recommendations that pertain to that
section.
Alexandra Kozak No site visit Sections 16, 23.2, 23.3, 23.5.2, 23.5.3 and those portions of
the summary, conclusions and recommendations that
pertain to those sections.
The information and data obtained for this report came from the FEED Study report by AMEC.
Other technical data, documents and reports on the property were also used for this report and
are listed in the References (Section 21).
The effective date for the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates is March 31, 2010.
The report was prepared by WLR Consulting, Inc. (WLRC) under the direction of William Rose,
P.E., Principal Mining Engineer, a “Qualified Person” for the purposes of NI 43-101 and fulfills
the requirements of an “Independent Qualified Person”. The information, conclusions, opinions
and estimates contained herein are based on:
The Mina de Cobre Panamá Project FEED Study Report issued by AMEC on March 31,
2010 (the “FEED Study”).
Data, reports and other information supplied by Inmet Mining Corporation and other
third party sources.
For the purpose of this report, WLRC has relied on the ownership data (mineral, surface and
access rights) and information provided by Inmet Mining Corporation and believes that such
data and information were essentially complete and correct to the best of our knowledge and
that no information was intentionally withheld. WLRC has not researched property title or
mineral rights for the Mina de Cobre Panamá project and expresses no legal opinion as to the
ownership status of the property.
WLRC has relied upon Dr. Les Hulett of Les Hulett Consulting and Dr. Craig Ford, VP of People
and Environment for Inmet Mining, for data and information regarding environmental and socio-
political issues facing the project. Dr. Hulett is independent of Inmet Mining, while Dr. Ford is
not independent.
Mr. Diomedes Gonzalez provided data and information regarding the permits required for
project construction and operation. Mr. Gonzalez is Permits & Government Relations Manager
for Minera Panamá S.A. and is not independent of Inmet Mining.
AMEC , based in Vancouver, Canada, performed engineering studies and designs for the ore
processing, port and other support facilities; prepared estimates of the capital and operating
costs (excluding mining and mine equipment capital); and performed financial evaluations of the
project. WLRC has relied upon these data and information for the preparation of this technical
report. AMEC is independent of Inmet Mining.
Inmet/MPSA
WLR Consulting, Inc.
All measurement units used in this report are metric and currency is expressed in US dollars
unless otherwise stated.
Units of Measure
Above mean sea level .......................................................................................................................... amsl
Ampere ......................................................................................................................................................A
Annum (year) ............................................................................................................................................. a
Barrel ...................................................................................................................................................... bbl
Billion (year) .............................................................................................................................................. G
Billion years ago ...................................................................................................................................... Ga
Centimetre .............................................................................................................................................. cm
Cubic centimetre .................................................................................................................................... cm3
Cubic metre..............................................................................................................................................m3
Day ............................................................................................................................................................ d
Days per week ......................................................................................................................................d/wk
Days per year (annum) ........................................................................................................................... d/a
Decibel adjusted ....................................................................................................................................dBa
Decibel .....................................................................................................................................................dB
Degree ....................................................................................................................................................... °
Degrees Celsius ....................................................................................................................................... °C
Diameter .................................................................................................................................................... ø
Dry metric ton ......................................................................................................................................... dmt
Gigajoule ................................................................................................................................................. GJ
Gram .......................................................................................................................................................... g
Grams per litre ........................................................................................................................................ g/L
Grams per tonne ...................................................................................................................................... g/t
Greater than ............................................................................................................................................... >
2
Hectare (10,000 m ) ................................................................................................................................. ha
Hertz ........................................................................................................................................................Hz
Hour ........................................................................................................................................................... h
Hours per day ......................................................................................................................................... h/d
Hours per week .....................................................................................................................................h/wk
Hours per year ........................................................................................................................................ h/a
Horsepower.............................................................................................................................................. hp
Joule .......................................................................................................................................................... J
4.1 Location
The Mina de Cobre Panamá Concession is located in Colón Province of north central Panamá,
approximately 120 km west of Panamá City (Figure 4-1). The process plant site location is
N8°50' and W80°38'; the port site location at Punta Rincón is N9°02' and W80°41'.
Under Panamanian Ley Petaquilla, or Law No. 9, 1997, the concession rights to the Mina de
Cobre Panamá (then Petaquilla) property were granted to Minera Panamá, S.A. (then Minera
Petaquilla, S.A.). This project-specific law gave MPSA rights over the gold, copper, and other
mineral deposits for the purposes of exploring, extracting, processing, transporting, and
marketing of all base or precious minerals located in the Concession Area. Later, in June 2005,
the Molejón Gold Project Agreement gave Petaquilla Minerals Ltd (PTQ) the property and
mineral rights over a portion of the Concession Area, deemed the Molejón Sub-Concession, to
permit it to develop the Molejón gold deposit on a stand-alone basis. PTQ was also given the
right to explore and mine gold deposits (greater than 50 percent of the present value being
derived from gold or other precious metals content) in the larger Concession Area provided
such rights do not impair or impead MPSA’s ability or interest to exploit the Concession Area,
while MPSA retains the right to develop any copper deposits on the Molejón Sub-Concession.
The Molejón Sub-Concession covers 600 hectares of the total 13,600 hectare Concession Area.
MPSA will exercise its rights under Law No. 9, 1997, to acquire or lease state lands located in
the proposed tailings basin area. MPSA has undertaken an investigation of existing private
holders of surface rights and will initiate negotiations for the acquisition of these properties
according to the procedures established by Law No. 9 and other applicable laws. In the event
that lands are occupied, MPSA will adhere to International Finance Corporation’s Performance
Standard 5 in connection with relocation and resettlement of affected persons and communities.
MPSA will also conform with the requirements of IFC PS 6 regarding protected areas, since the
proposed TMF is located within the Donoso Multiple-Use Area, a form of protected area in
Panamá.
At Punta Rincón, where the proposed port site facilities are located, MPSA purchased surface
title to much of the land required for construction and permanent use of the site between 1998
and 2000. Additional land will be acquired as above.
MPSA is entitled under Law No. 9 to an easement for the Coast Road between the Concession
and Punta Rincón.
The Concession consists of four zones totalling 13,600 hectares as defined in Annex 1 of Law No. 9
-1997 and shown in Figure 4-3. The geographic coordinates for each zone are given in Table 4-1.
Zona No. 1, with a total surface area of 4,000 hectares, lies in the Jurisdictions of
Northern Coclé and San José del General, Donoso District, Province of Colón.
Zona No. 2, with a total surface area of 6,600 hectares, lies in the Jurisdiction of Northern
Coclé, Donoso District, Province of Colón. It is contiguous to the west of Zona No. 1.
Zona No. 3, with a total surface area of 1,200 hectares, lies in the Jurisdiction of San José
del General, Donoso District, Province of Colón. It is contiguous to the south of Zona No.
1.
Zona No. 4, with a total surface area of 1,800 hectares, lies in the Jurisdiction of San José
del General, Donoso District, Province of Colón. Zona No. 4 is contiguous to the east of
Zona 1 and contiguous to the east of Zona 3.
4.3 Permits
In accordance with current Panamanian legislation, MPSA must submit an Estudio de Impacto
Ambiental Category III (ESIA, or Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) to the
environmental authority, Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM, or the National
Environmental Authority). ANAM’s approval of the ESIA will constitute the major permit to
proceed with the construction of the project. Submission of the ESIA for approval is planned for
April 2010.
More than 150 additional permits have been identified as being required for development, such
as the clearing of trees, use of water and construction activities. Other regulatory agencies
include the maritime authority for port facilities and the municipality of Donoso for general
construction. Application for these permits will proceed in parallel with and immediately
following the EsIA approval process.
1. “Exoneration for the Company, its Affiliates, contractors and subcontractors of any import
tax or duty, contribution, charge, consular fee, lien, duty or another tax or contribution, or of any
name or class that fall [are levied] on the introduction and import of equipment, machinery,
materials, parts, diesel and Bunker C and other petroleum derivatives”
3. “Excepting only the respective mining royalties and royalties, as long as the Company has
not finished repaying the debt which the Company or its Affiliates acquire for construction and
development of [the Project], the Company and its Affiliates shall be totally exempt from
payment of any type of tax, fee, duty, charge, lien, contribution or tribute that may be levied due
to any reason in relation to the development of THE PROJECT, except municipal taxes.”
For the purposes for this study it is assumed the term of the debt repayment schedule will be 11
years. These benefits and charges are incorporated into the financial evaluation of the project.
5.1 Accessibility
The Mina de Cobre Panamá Concession is located in the district of Donoso, Colón Province in
the Republic of Panamá, approximately 120 km west of Panamá City (Figure 4-1). Colón is in
the north central part of Panamá, bounded by the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Coclé
province to the south. The project will entail two main development areas: a mine and plant site
located within the concession boundaries and a port site at Punta Rincón which is located on
the Carribbean coast, 25 km north of the plant site. The plant site is located at latitude 8o 50’
North and longitude 80o 38’ West. The port site location is located at latitude 9°02' North and
longitude 80°41' West.
Access to the property is via the southern Pan-American Highway from Panamá City to
Penonomé, surfaced all weather roads to La Pintada and gravel roads from Coclecito to the
Colina camp. There are a number of drill roads on the Botija deposit but access to most of the
drill pads at Botija and the other mineralized zones is by helicopter. A large concrete helicopter
pad was constructed at the Colina camp and is used for mobilizing crews and drills.
There is an existing airplane runway at Conclecito but the frequent, thick cloud cover in this area
is an impediment that would limit the availability of any runway operations.
5.2 Climate
Climatic conditions are equatorial. Annual precipitation averages 4,700 mm, humidity is high,
and temperatures are relatively high (25°C to 30°C) year-round. Coastal areas generally
receive more rainfall than inland locations. Heavy tropical rains are prevalent throughout the
year – even the driest month receives more than 60 mm of rain. Storms are generally of short
duration, ranging from 1½ to 2 hours.
MPSA has two main camps on the property and several smaller ones in more remote parts of
the property. The Colina camp and New camp can accommodate approximately 400 people and
both are accessible by road. Core shacks, core storage and sample preparation facilities are
present at both camps. Remote camps are located at the Colina and Botija deposits.
The development of the Cobre Panamá Project will require the construction of a port facility and
300 MW power plant at Punto Rincón, about 25 km north of the mine and plant area. A Coast
Road must be constructed to connect these two sites. Other required development includes
power transmission lines, concentrate and water pipelines, man camps, shops, and other
support facilities. The high rainfall environment will provide ample water for the project, which
will be captured in the tailings basin and other collection areas.
The Botija, Colina and Valle Grande mineral deposits are within the existing concession
boundaries. MPSA has rights to acquire or lease lands for waste rock storage and tailings
facilities, stockpiles, mill and port sites, and other support facilities.
While local people will be given hiring preference, additional personnel will be required from
other areas of the country. Substantial training programs will be required for national workers.
Skilled expatriate personnel will be needed in the early stages of the project to help provide this
training and for initial project management.
5.4 Physiography
The Concession area is characterized by rugged topography with heavy rainforest cover. The
dominant landforms are relatively narrow ridges that parallel major geological structural trends
and are bisected by numerous surface water drainages. Elevations range between 70 m asl
and 300 m asl in the vicinity of the Botija, Colina and Valle Grande deposits. The terrain at the
port site is gentler, with elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 60 m asl.
6.0 HISTORY
Several pre-feasibility and feasibility studies have been done. These include:
2. Kilborn Engineering Pacific Ltd completed a prefeasibility study in 1994 and an update
in 1995 for Adrian Resources Ltd., a precursor of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. and
Petaquilla Copper Ltd.
3. H.A. Simons, now AMEC, produced a feasibility study for Teck Corporation in
November 1996 with a subsequent update in January 1998. The resource estimates
included in the 1998 are discussed in more detail in section 17.1.14.
In May 1998, the updated January 1998 document was submitted to Dirección General de
Recursos Minerales (General Directorate of Mineral Resources, DGRM) of the Panamanian
Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and was accepted as the official Feasibility Study to satisfy
concession law requirements for the delivery of a feasibility study. The Petaquilla (Mina de
Cobre Panamá) concession rights were granted to Minera Petaquilla, S.A., now Minera
Panamá, S.A. (MPSA), under Panamanian Law No. 9 on 26 February 1997. At that time, the
shareholders of MPSA were Petaquilla Copper Ltd., Teck Cominco, and Inmet Mining
Corporation.
In June 2005, through the Molejón Gold Project Agreement, MPSA transferred to Petaquilla
Minerals Ltd. the property and precious-metal mineral rights over a portion of the Concession
Area, deemed the Molejón Sub-Concession, to permit it to develop the Molejón gold deposit on
a stand-alone basis.
In September 2008 Inmet acquired Petaquilla Copper Ltd, and in November 2008 Inmet
acquired Teck Cominco’s remaining share in MPSA, taking Inmet to a 100% interest in MPSA.
In October 2009 Inmet announced an option agreement with LS-Nikko Copper Inc. under which
LS-Nikko has the right to acquire a 20% interest in the Mina de Cobre Panamá copper project.
If LS-Nikko exercises the option, it will receive an equity interest in MPSA.
The name of the project was changed to Mina de Cobre Panamá in 2009.
The exploration history of the Cobre Panamá Concession is summarized briefly in Table 6-1.
In the Chorotega block, the island arc sequence consists of several distinct pulses of volcanism,
including Palaeocene-Eocene, mid-Oligocene, late Oligocene to early Miocene, and Pliocene-
Pleistocene, probably separated by times of plate reorganization (de Boer et al., 1995).
Intrusive rocks of the older suite lie along a tholeiitic trend on an AFM plot. No porphyry
mineralization is recognized during this period (Kesler et al., 1977). Younger rocks are calc-
alkaline and contain porphyry mineralization ranging from Oligocene (Mina de Cobre Panamá
deposits 32 Ma) to Pliocene (Cerro Colorado 5 Ma).
Middle Oligocene rocks in the Chorotega block, including the 400 km2 Petaquilla batholith,
range from gabbros to hornblende granites. The more northerly location of the Petaquilla
batholith relative to the axis of the older arc suggests a flattening of subduction (de Boer et al.,
1995). Plutonic rocks of Miocene and younger age are progressively more felsic and calc-
alkaline, with an increase in K2O, corresponding to the evolution of the volcanic arc over time
(Kesler et al., 1977). DeBoer et al. (1995) note that Oligocene rocks typically exhibit negative
zirconium anomalies, whereas the Miocene and younger rocks show positive zirconium
anomalies. Despite these trends, intrusive rocks of all ages exhibit low 87Sr/86Sr initial ratios
(Kesler et al., 1977), suggesting derivation from mantle wedge and slab, and emplacement into
relatively primitive oceanic basement.
In the area of the Cobre Panamá deposits, the oldest rocks are submarine andesite and basalt
flows and tuffs, intercalated with clastic sedimentary rocks and reef limestones, of probable
Eocene to early Oligocene age. The arc became emergent during mid-Oligocene time, with
terrestrial flows and volcaniclastic rocks and lesser intercalated submarine tuffs. Miocene and
younger rocks comprise the bulk of volcanic rocks in western Panamá and consist of both
terrestrial and marine volcanic and volcanic-derived rocks of progressively more felsic
composition.
Reconnaissance mapping (Figure 7-2) in the region of the MPSA Concession and surrounding
areas in central Panamá (Azuero Peninsula) was undertaken from 1966 to 1969 by the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP, 1968, 1969; Kent, 1968). The region is underlain by
altered andesitic to basaltic flows and tuffs and clastic sedimentary rocks of presumed early to
mid-Tertiary age, intruded by the mid-Oligocene (36.4 ± 2 Ma hornblende K-Ar age; Kesler,
1977) Petaquilla batholith, which is of granodiorite composition. Numerous satellite stocks and
plutons composed of equigranular to porphyritic granodiorite, tonalite, quartz diorite, and diorite
occur around the margin of the batholith, and are most prevalent along its southern boundary.
Interpretation of satellite imagery for the region suggests that major structural trends, expressed
as topographic linears, are northeast and northwest (Figure 7-2). Northwest-trending linears are
parallel and may be related to the Canal shear zone and other large left-lateral shear zones in
the region.
A more detailed geological map for the concession is based on work done Adrian Resources in
the 1992’. The results of this work is shown in Figure 7-3.
7.2 Lithology
Seven main lithological units have been recognized on the property. From oldest to youngest
these units are:
Cross-cutting relationships suggest that the andesite volcanics and volcanoclastics were
intruded by the granodiorite, which forms a batholith and hosts most of the copper
mineralization. This was followed by the intrusion of dikes and apophyses of the feldspar-quartz-
hornblende porphyry that is the most extensive of the porphyry lithologies and contains slightly
higher grade copper mineralization than the granodiorite. There are few cross-cutting contacts
between the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry and the granodiorite, and at times it is difficult
to texturally distinguish the two lithologies. This suggests that they were intruded over a short
period of geological time, most likely as a continuum of differentiation products of the regional-
scale batholith. The intrusion of a volumetrically minor set of feldspar quartz porphyry dikes
followed, which so far has only been recognized at Botija and Brazo.
A set of mafic dikes cuts the aforementioned lithologies; the dikes are volumetrically very minor
and may be a final differentiation phase of the batholiths. A set of late andesite dikes clearly
cross-cuts all other lithologies and exhibits well-developed chill margins, indicating that the dikes
were intruded after the main porphyry intrusive event had cooled. Since exhumation of the
porphyry system, surface weathering has produced a saprolite profile that is typical of tropical
environments.
The lopolith morphology of the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry bodies at Botija, Colina, and
Valle Grande have led to consideration of magmatic stoping as its likely mechanism of
emplacement. Evidence for stoping includes:
Space for emplacement of the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry in the three deposits was
likely created by cantilever subsidence of the lower contact of the intruding body (Cruden,
1998). At Botija and Colina the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry is interpreted to have
flowed laterally into a sill-like lopolith that was fed from a high-angle feeder dike in the north of
the deposit. At Valle Grande emplacement was likely fed from a high-angle feeder dike to the
northwest. Sinking blocks are only “trapped” in the final crystallization phase of a magma (Žák et
al, 2006). This is consistent with the interpretation that the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry
in the three deposits formed as a differentiation product of the larger granodiorite batholith.
A detailed description of each of these lithologies follows, with the respective logging code
provided in parentheses.
7.3 Alteration
Five types of alteration were modelled at Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande. Propylitic alteration
was divided into types A and B. The alteration types are listed below, beginning with the earlier
one and progressing to assemblages that likely overlap or occur later in the development of the
hydrothermal system.
Paragenetic, cross-cutting, and mineral texture relationships suggest that the two propylitic
mineral assemblages and the potassic alteration formed early, and both are frequently
associated with chalcopyrite, minor bornite, and minor pyrite mineralization. These early
alteration types are overprinted by phyllic alteration that includes white and green sericite and
ubiquitous pyrite with variable silicification or quartz veining. In addition to pyrite, phyllic
alteration has been observed to occur frequently with chalcopyrite, but very rarely bornite.
Argillic alteration overprints propylitic, potassic, and phyllic alteration and is therefore
paragenetically younger. In general argillic alteration occurs within 300 m from surface and is
most common near surface. White clay found within a few tens of metres of oxidized sulphides
is most likely supergene in origin, perhaps overprinting an earlier alteration phase. Other clay
minerals can be assumed to relate to hypogene alteration. Argillic alteration has been modelled
from visual observation of clay. Little resolution on clay mineralogy is available, and there may
be some overlap with logged sericite.
In addition to the five dominant alteration types described above, metasomatism of the andesite
volcanic package can produce a biotite hornfels with significant disseminated sulphide
mineralization that is likely broadly coeval with the formation of propylitic and potassic alteration.
Post-mineral zeolite alteration in the intrusion and andesite is widespread and consists of pink
zeolite veinlets and fracture fills with vein-hosted calcite and rare barite, locally making up as
much as 10% of the rock mass. This likely occurred sometime late in the development of the
phyllic alteration and before hypogene clay alteration ended. Chloritization of mafic minerals
may also accompany this late-stage mineral assemblage.
7.4 Botija
Drill roads have provided some outcrop exposures at Botija but most of the geological
knowledge has been a result of drilling. A plan map of the surface geology was constructed
based on surface mapping that has been supplemented with the collar geology for each drill
hole (Figure 7-4).
The granodiorite and the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry host two irregular, keel-shaped
andesite roof pendants measuring approximately 500 m in diameter and separated by
approximately 300 m. The roof pendant in the central part of the deposit reaches a depth of
200 m. The other andesite roof pendant is located at the eastern margin of the deposit and
extends to a depth of at least 300 m. A smaller north-south elongate andesite roof pendant
measuring approximately 250 m x 100 m and extending to a depth of 150 m sits between the
northern margins of the two larger bodies.
Figure 7-4: Botija Deposit - Plan Map - Geology, Drill Hole Locations
A set of north-south geological cross sections spaced at 50 or 100 meter intervals has been
constructed over the Botija mineralized zone. A geological model illustrating the distribution of
the main rock types was constructed using these sections. An example of one of these cross
sections is given in (Figure 7-5).
The feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry appears to have intruded as one to four dikes ranging
in thickness from 20 m to 200 m that coalesce to form a single body between 100 m and 600 m
thick that extends down to a depth of approximately 450 m. In a general sense, mineralization
shows a spatial association with this intrusive phase. The feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry
morphology gives the impression that it intruded from the north as a series of dikes that fed the
central apophysis, where they coalesced. In general the dip of the more distinct dikes is
approximately 70° to the north. The feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry appears to support the
andesite roof pendants rather than cross-cut them. This feature may indicate that the porphyry
was emplaced relatively passively by magmatic stoping rather than as a stock that could be
expected to cross-cut pre-existing lithologies. There is very little hydrothermal or magmatic
brecciation at Botija.
At Botija, propylitic alteration is irregular and not dominant, occurring generally sporadically at
depth and in the periphery of the deposits. Propylitic A alteration is associated with andesite
specifically. Potassic alteration is widespread in the central part of the deposit and shows a
loose spatial association with higher copper grades and porphyry intrusive, often following the
northerly dip of these features. Phyllic alteration is irregular, occurring mainly in the central area
of the deposit near surface and also at depth. Argillic alteration is also irregular and mostly
occurs within 250 m of surface.
At Botija, displacement of lithological units and mineralization was used in an attempt to identify
the location of significant faults, and three minor faults were traced from surface through the drill
sections using the available data. However, displacement of lithology was a few tens of metres
across these faults at the most, and mineralization and alteration were not significantly
displaced.
Zones of increased fracturing were noted on the southern margin on Botija, along the previously
described Botija River Fault Zone (Speidel and Faure, 1996), but evidence of displacement was
not found, and insufficient data exist to confidently model it in three dimensions.
Numerous centimetric high-angle faults with some gouge have been noted in drill core for Botija,
but they are too numerous to connect in a coherent model. These minor faults trend 070°-090°
and 300°-330° and commonly contain pyrite and sometimes chalcopyrite, frequently with
chloritic and sericitic feldspar quartz porphyry dikes in the western part of the deposit
(Escalante, 2009). Most of these faults dip to the north. Another easterly dipping centimetric
fault set with minor displacement trends 160°-180°, dips between 20° and 60°, and may control
the distribution of chloritic, sericitic, and clay-altered feldspar quartz porphyry dikes and local
quartz veining in the north and southern part of the deposit (Escalante, 2009). One of these
faults may also constitute the southern contact of the eastern andesite roof pendant at Botija
(Escalante, 2009). If stoping is considered to be the dominant mechanism for emplacement of
the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry at Botija, then many of the zones of minor faulting and
fracturing could be caused by dilation, and minor dip or strike-slip faults could be expected,
particularly in the subsiding floor of the feldspar quartz hornblende lopolith.
7.5 Colina
Outcrop exposures in the Colina area are found in creek bottoms and at recently constructed
(i.e. not overgrown) drill pads. A plan map of the surface geology was constructed using the
collar geology for each drill hole (Figure 7-6).
Figure 7-6: Colina Deposit - Plan Map - Geology, Drill Hole Locations
The Colina deposit is focused on a 2.5 km long x 1 km wide feldspar quartz hornblende
porphyry sill and dike complex (lopolith) that trends east-southeast and has been closed by
drilling in this direction; remaining open to the west-northwest. Located in the southern part of
the deposit is an irregular L-shaped andesite roof pendant with the long axis orientated to the
east-southeast and the short axis orientated to the south-southwest. The long axis is 100 m to
200 m wide at surface, the short axis 400 m to 500 m wide.
A set of north-south geological cross sections spaced at 100 meter intervals has been
constructed over the Colina mineralized zone. A geological model illustrating the distribution of
the main rock types was constructed using these sections. An example of one of these cross
sections is given in (Figure 7-7).
The majority of the feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry comprises 50 m to 200 m thick sills that
dip shallowly to the north and are often interconnected by dikes. The sills and dikes coalesce in
the centre of the deposit, offset towards the northern contact from where the porphyry appears
to emanate.
At the base of the feldspar quartz hornblende sills, a transition to granodiorite often occurs,
accompanied by increased fracturing, frequently with the presence of some minor mafic dikes,
and, in a general sense, frequently with a rapid decline in copper grade. These contacts are
thought to correspond to the lower stoped contact and the fracturing to be largely due to
tensional forces exerted by the sinking granodiorite causing tensional failure. Ingress of highly
fractionated residual mafic magma locally may explain the spatial relationship to narrow mafic
dikes in these areas. At the northern contact of the dike, the granodiorite and andesite host
rocks are intermixed, and the nature of the contact and morphology of the granodiorite are
complex. In general, the emplacement mechanism is thought to correspond to a lower contact
slab, “hinged” in the south with a cantilevered down-dropping edge to the north, where sills and
feeder dikes of feldspar hornblende quartz porphyry were emplaced.
Propylitic alteration generally affects the andesite in the periphery of the Colina deposit and the
andesite in the central part is frequently affected by silica-chlorite alteration. Phyllic alteration is
patchy and difficult to interpret as a continuous zone. In general, it is not associated with the
higher-grade part of the deposit.
There is very little potassic alteration at Colina compared to Botija, possibly because the
feldspar quartz porphyry forms a series of sills with interconnecting dikes rather than a more
vertically continuous body. Anhydrite and its (supergene) alteration product, gypsum, are also
not as common as they are at Botija, probably because these minerals generally accompany
potassic alteration. Magnetite is more common at Colina than Botija in the western and
northern parts of the deposit, and an area of quartz-magnetite veining follows one of the thicker
sills. Where it is present, potassic alteration occurs as weak potassium feldspar with patchy
biotite alteration of mafic minerals.
Weak phyllic alteration is common, and strong sericite alteration is discontinuous but generally
found to mantle the elongate core zone of higher-grade copper mineralization
Argillic alteration forms as an often-continuous zone from surface to depths ranging from 20 m
to 80 m. It is most likely of supergene origin.
The Valle Grande deposit is focused on a 2,000 m long x 500 m wide irregular feldspar-quartz-
hornblende porphyry lopolith that trends to the southeast. An irregular andesite roof pendant
approximately 300 m in diameter is located at the southeastern end of this body. The lopolith
remains open to the northwest.
Figure 7-8: Valle Grande Deposit - Plan Map - Geology, Drill Hole Locations
A set of geological cross sections oriented at 30o east of north and spaced at 100 meter
intervals has been constructed over the Colina mineralized zone. A geological model illustrating
the distribution of the main rock types was constructed using these sections. An example of one
of these cross sections is given in (Figure 7-9).
The northeastern contact of the lopolith is interpreted to be irregular but is generally vertical.
The southwestern contact dips to the northeast, meaning that the body widens to surface. In
detail, along the southwestern contact the lopolith appears to branch into various 10 m to 200 m
wide discontinuous sills that intrude the andesite (with lesser granodiorite) host rock at low
angles that reach horizontal locally. It is thought that this area constitutes the feeder dike for the
lopolith.
At Valle Grande the most common logged alteration type is propylitic. This is likely due to the
dominance of andesites as host rocks. The preponderance of this alteration type within the
feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry may be due to some wallrock assimilation providing for a
higher proportion of ferro-magnesium minerals.
Silica-chlorite alteration is irregular, often occurring deep within the feldspar quartz hornblende
porphyry dike.
Potassic alteration is generally erratic in distribution and often occurs at depths of at least
200 m. The thickest, most coherent areas of potassic alteration are in the central part of the
principal dike.
Phyllic alteration is irregular and occurs generally on the contacts of the feldspar quartz
hornblende dike, clearly mantling it in some drill sections.
Argillic alteration occurs from surface to depths of 100 m to 150 m, often as a continuous zone.
There are sporadic areas of deep (200 m to 300 m) argillic alteration that do not correlate well
between 100 m spaced sections. Clay that begins at surface is likely to be at least partly
supergene, and the isolated, deep patches of clay alteration may be hypogene in origin.
An attempt was made to interpret structural data for Valle Grande for this study, but it has not
been possible to identify any specific structural features.
The mineralized zones on the Cobre Panamá property are examples of Cu-Au-Mo porphyry
deposits (Guilbert and Lowell, 1974; Lowell and Guilbert, 1970). Common features of a
porphyry deposit include the following:
Large zones of hydrothermally altered rocks that commonly grade from a central
potassic core to peripheral phyllic, argillic and propylitic altered zones.
Mineralization is generally low grade and consists of disseminated, fracture, veinlet and
quartz stockwork controlled sulphide mineralization.
9.0 MINERALIZATION
9.1 Introduction
Hypogene Mineralization
Hypogene mineralization within the granodiorite and porphyry phases consists of
disseminations, micro-veinlets, fracture fillings, veinlets, and quartz-sulphide stockworks.
Copper mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite with lesser bornite. Within all of the deposits the
proportion of bornite relative to chalcopyrite shows a loosely defined increase with depth.
Molybdenite is present, particularly in quartz “B” veinlets (Gustafson and Hunt, 1975). Pyrite is
ubiquitous, but the tenor increases in areas of phyllic and chlorite-silica alteration compared to
other alteration zones, particularly the potassic. Within the phyllic zone, pyrite occurs in
disseminations and in “D” veinlets (Gustafson and Hunt, 1975) with quartz. Specularite and
magnetite mineralization also occur as disseminations and veinlets in all of the deposits.
At the andesite contact with the feldspar quartz hornblende, porphyry copper mineralization can
reach a high tenor in zones of biotite hornfels. In such areas chalcopyrite is the dominant
sulphide, with minor pyrite and rare bornite in veinlets, blebs, and disseminations. This contact-
style of mineralization is typically cross-cut by quartz-sulphide veinlets.
Supergene Mineralization
Recent oxidation of sulphides near surface has leached copper from the present-day saprolite
and previously eroded surficial oxidized layer. This has been weakly and irregularly
reprecipitated in the upper reaches of the sulphide facies. Secondary sulphides are dominantly
chalcocite with minor covellite and rare native copper and occur as fracture fillings, coatings on
sulphide minerals, and disseminations. Where these sulphides have been oxidized, malachite
is the main copper oxide mineral.
The absence of a significant zone of enrichment at Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande is likely due
to the removal by erosion of a well-developed phyllic alteration zone that may have overlain
these deposits. The oxidation of pyrite in such a zone supplies sufficient acid for leaching of
copper. Additionally, the neutralized host rock of the phyllic zone provides a suitable host rock
within which secondary copper minerals can be re-precipitated. A well-developed phyllic
alteration zone does exist at Brazo, and significant secondary copper sulphide mineralization is
found there.
9.2 Botija
A quartz vein stockwork of “A” and “B” veinlets occurs within the central feldspar quartz
hornblende porphyry dike complex and in its contact zones particularly, and appears to form a
locus for higher-grade copper and molybdenum mineralization (Gustafson and Hunt, 1975).
This stockwork hosts most of chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization, with the latter vein type
containing the largest proportion of molybdenite. In the southeast and northern parts of the
deposit, narrow zones of epidote and chlorite skarn measuring up to a few tens of metres occur
at the andesite contact with specularite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and often calcite, quartz, bornite,
and magnetite veinlets, blebs, and disseminations. Secondary chalcocite and covellite have
been observed near the upper contact of the sulphide zone.
9.3 Colina
In general, higher copper grades appear to be loosely spatially associated with feldspar quartz
hornblende porphyry, particularly in the thicker areas where dikes and sills coalesce and around
the upper contacts of sills. Colina appears to consist of several thin, stacked sheets of
high-grade mineralization, separated by areas of low-grade mineralization, and the “sheets”
correspond spatially to the aforementioned sills. Pyrite and chalcopyrite with lesser bornite
occur mainly in quartz veinlets, frequently with molybdenite. Vein types have not been
systematically mapped at Colina, but it is likely that they emanate from the contact areas of
feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry sills and dikes that have a complex morphology. Contact
metamorphism forms strongly silicified or biotite-altered zones where andesite is in contact with
feldspar quartz hornblende porphyry. Pyrite and chalcopyrite are generally found in veinlets
with lesser blebs and disseminations. Magnetite and molybdenite have also been noted in
these zones, the latter occurring in quartz “B” type veinlets (Gustafson and Hunt, 1975).
Secondary chalcocite and covellite have been observed as sooty coatings, primarily on
chalcopyrite located at the base of the saprolite or within partially oxidized structures that
penetrate more deeply into the underlying sulphide domain, following permeable structures.
Occasionally chalcocite has completely replaced the pre-existing sulphide to form veins and
disseminations; native copper rarely occurs in fractures. Locally, within the saprolite or
secondary copper zones, malachite is observed where a copper sulphide mineral has oxidized.
Secondary chalcocite and covellite have been observed near the upper contact of the sulphide
zone.
9.5 Brazo
The Brazo zone is 3 km south-southeast of the Botija deposit. Soil surveys outlined a
well-defined Mo anomaly associated with this mineralization. Drilling by Adrian Resources
discovered porphyry-style Cu-Au mineralization, which occurs in feldspar-quartz porphyry.
Alteration consists of pervasive sericite and/or clay with pyrite and quartz. Well-developed
quartz stockworks are present. Supergene mineralization consisting of chalcocite and rare
native copper extends locally to a depth of 150 m. Hypogene mineralization consists of
chalcopyrite, pyrite, and rare bornite. On the basis of previous drilling, the Brazo zone has a
southeastern trend with dimensions of at least 300 m long by 200 m wide and extends to a
depth of 350 m. The zone is open to the northwest and southeast. MPSA is currently drilling
this zone to assess its size and grade.
Petaquilla Copper drilled 195 holes in the Botija Abajo area between 2006 and 2008. Drill
spacing is locally 25 m. Two zones of mineralization are present – Botija Abajo West and Botija
Abajo East. Mineralization at Boitja Abajo West is dominantly copper rich with local Au-enriched
zones. Its dimensions are 500 m x 350 m and it has been tested to depths of at least 140 m
below the surface. The zone is open along strike to the northwest and southeast and at depth.
Botija Abajo East is a southeast-trending zone that has a strike length of 650 m, width of 150 m,
and extends to a depth of approximately 50 m. The Cu-Au mineralization is associated with a
well-defined Au-Mo soil anomaly.
9.7 Medio
The Medio prospect lies between the Colina and Botija deposits. It was discovered by
prospecting of Cu-Mo soil anomalies. Several drill holes in the area intersected Cu
mineralization hosted in porphyry/granodiorite. MPSA is currently drilling this zone to assess its
size and grade.
9.9 Lata
The Lata area, 4 km northwest of the Colina deposit, is underlain by andesite tuffs and flows
and argillic altered diorite and granodiorite intrusions. Gold soil anomalies occur on the edge of
a magnetic high. Adrian Resources drilled eight holes in the area in 1995 and intersected
anomalous Au values.
9.10 Nada
The Nada showing is 1.5 km west of the Molejón deposit. Drilling in the area tested Cu-Mo soil
anomalies. Weak Cu-Au porphyry-style mineralization is hosted in andesite breccias.
10.0 EXPLORATION
Note: Soil survey area (blue outline), Mo >100 ppm (blue areas), Cu >400 ppm (green areas), Au >100 ppb
(yellow areas).
A well-defined chargeability high is associated with the Botija deposit and the eastern edge of
the Valle Grande deposit. A number of smaller IP chargeability anomalies occur along a
southeastern trend between Botija and Botija Abajo.
11.0 DRILLING
Since 1968 a number of drill programs have been conducted to test the extent of porphyry
copper mineralization on the Concession. Details of these drill programs are summarized in
Table 11-2. A drill hole location map is provided in Figure 11-1.
Table 11-1: Summary of Drilling by Operator and Area
Colina Botija Valle Grande Other Totals
No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of
Program holes Metres holes Metres holes Metres holes Metres holes Metres
UNDP (s) 3 91.5 9 235.2 6 216.5 - - 18 543.2
UNDP (d) 4 670.8 4 728.4 2 412.4 - - 10 1,811.6
PMRD (s) 18 560.3 12 373.0 - - - - 30 933.3
PMRD (d) 30 7,236.2 20 5,199.3 1 207.1 - - 51 12,642.6
Adrian (1992-1995) 42 9,001.2 54 17,003.0 112 23,699.7 188 26,035.7 396 75,739.6
TeckCominco 47 12,718.1 32 8,243.8 12 1,879.1 33 3,995.6 124 26,836.6
(1996)
TeckCominco 13 2,271.9 9 2,379.5 7 1,202.7 14 2,245.1 43 8,099.2
(1997)
Petaquilla Copper 4 268.2 38 1,472.1 43 2,153 230 26,575.1 315 30,468.4
(2006-2007)
MPSA (2007-2009) 65 18,611.7 105 33,765.1 47 11,220.8 71 9,863.5 288 73,480.7
Total 226 51,449.6 283 69,399.4 230 40,991.3 536 68,715.0 1,275 230,555.2
Note: MPSA 2007-2009 (magenta); Petaquilla Copper 2006-2007 (green); Historical (pre-2007) (grey).
Core recoveries were generally poor in overburden (20% to 80%) but very good, near 100%, in
areas below the weathered horizon. Core diameter was thin-wall B (BTW) or NQ.
At Botija, 54 vertical drill holes were drilled, which reduced the hole spacing to 100 m. At
Colina, 38 vertical holes tested the southwest gold zone and the main deposit on 200 m centres.
At Valle Grande, 118 holes tested the mineralized zone at a drill spacing of 100 m to 200 m.
Most of these holes were drilled with an azimuth of 220° or 40° and dip of -50° to cut across a
hypothesized northwest-trending structural grain. Other drill holes completed by Adrian tested
the Molejón Gold zone and other exploration targets on the mineral Concession.
Skeleton core from most holes is available and stored at the MPSA New Camp core storage
facility. Most of the original core was left on site where termites and weather destroyed the
boxes, rendering the core generally mixed and useless.
define the global limits of mineralization at Botija, with emphasis on the east and
southeast zones
locate the limits of and confirm potential at Colina by tightening drill hole spacing to
approximately 100 m
evaluate starter pit potential and define the limits of mineralization in the northwest
zone at Valle Grande.
The 1997 drill program was a continuation of the 1996 program, beginning in March of 1997 and
lasting four months. The program was designed by Teck and Adrian and implemented and
supervised by Simons. A total of 43 drill holes totalling 8,099 m were completed. The main
objectives of the program were as follows:
provide sufficient drill density at Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande to calculate
indicated mineral reserves
provide material for metallurgical and grinding tests from seven holes at Botija, five at
Colina, four at Valle Grande, and one hole at Brazo
complete infill drilling at Botija to bring the reserves in the starter pit to the measured
category. In addition, these holes were used for grinding tests to establish
throughputs for this pit.
drill geotechnical holes at Botija and Colina
drill condemnation holes at possible plant site locations and in the tailings area.
Core recovery data from MPSA and Teck-Adrian drill holes located in the Botija and Colina
deposit areas were reviewed. Values range from 1% to 100% with an overall average of 93%.
Less than 5% of the sample intervals have recoveries below 50%, and 90% of the data have
recoveries greater than 80%. There are no indications of any correlation between metal grade
and recovery. No data adjustments or exclusions related to core recoveries were carried out
before the resource model was developed.
11.3 Surveying
11.3.1 Downhole Surveying
Historical Drilling
There is no record of downhole surveys for holes drilled before 1992.
During the 1992-1997 period, Adrian and Teck performed down-hole surveys on all holes using
a Tropari device or acid tests. One test near the bottom of the holes was normally adequate for
vertical holes, as readings rarely deviated by more than 1°. Inclined holes normally deviated
with depth by a few degrees or more and required two to three tests per hole. Spurious results
were discarded. Probable sources of error with the tropari tests include an abundance of
magnetite in some areas and rock types and possible equipment malfunction due to corrosion in
the tropical environment.
No downhole surveys were completed on the Petaquilla Copper drill holes. Most of the holes
are vertical and shallow, and because the drilling was HQ, significant deviation is unlikely.
MPSA
Downhole surveys were completed on all geotechnical drill holes using a Reflex Maxibor II
instrument. All resource drill holes greater than 300 m in depth were surveyed with the Maxibor
instrument or the FLEXIT smart-tool single shot. Measurements with the FLEXIT were taken at
60 m intervals throughout the hole.
Teck subsequently surveyed most other holes in the Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande starter pit
and Molejón deposit areas by conventional methods (total stations). Locations of many of the
holes that tested exploration targets are approximate, based on hip chain and compass
traverses from known locations or on hand-held GPS readings.
MPSA (2007–2009)
During the 2007-2009 MPSA drill programs, drill collar locations were identified in the field using
a GARMIN GPS-60CSx hand-held GPS unit. After each drill hole was completed, a cement
monument with hole number and depth was constructed at the site. The collar locations were
surveyed by GeoTi S.A. using a differential GPS system and base station (Topcon Hiper Lite
plus). This system is accurate to 5 cm. All of the MPSA drill holes were surveyed.
In 2008 MPSA contracted GeoTi S.A. to survey 61 historical drill collars (11% of database). All
collar coordinates were found to be within 5 m of original historical coordinates except for hole
B96-33, which returned coordinates 10 m southwest of original site. Almost all coordinates in
the 2008 survey were shifted southwest from original survey. The reason for the shift in the
GeoTi data has not been resolved.
MPSA checked the location of another 29 holes using a hand-held Garmin GPS 60Csx during
the 2007-2009 field programs. All locations were validated except Botija hole LBB-038, which
was located in the field 33 m west and 35 m south of the original historical surveyed collar
coordinate. This hole was corrected in the database.
12.1.2 PMRD
PMRD samples were half-split core using a mechanical splitter. This was an industry standard
procedure at the time and is still used occasionally. PMRD samples were uniform 2 m in length.
Core is delivered to the logging facility at Colina camp by helicopter. Core boxes are closed at
the drill and then transported in specially constructed cages slung below the helicopter to
eliminate spillage from the boxes during transport. Cages are deposited at the helicopter pad
and transported by truck and workers to the core logging facility. The core is photographed and
then placed on tables in the logging facility, where it is geologically logged and the sample
intervals are marked. Sample intervals are uniformly 1.5 meters in length and disregard
lithological boundaries. A sample is selected approximately every metre for specific gravity
determination, which is performed by weighing the sample in air and then in water. The
samples are dried prior to immersion, but not coated with a sealing agent.
After the specific gravity determination is completed, the sample is returned to the core box.
When logging is completed, the core is moved to the core splitting area, where it is split using
rock saws with specially constructed jigs that hold the core securely and insure that the core is
split in the centre of the core. One half of the core is then replaced in the core box for archive
and the other half is placed in a large plastic bag marked with the sample number. The bags
containing the samples are then transferred to the sample preparation facility. The archive
samples are placed in racks in the storage facility.
12.2 MPSA
The drill contractor places the HQ drill core into wooden core boxes (1 m long x 3 rows) at the
drill rig. Lids are placed on the boxes and secured by wire before transport by helicopter to the
drill contractor’s staging area. Core is transported by truck to the Colina core facility by workers
supervised by MPSA.
The core boxes are washed and laid out in order, and meterage blocks are checked.
High-resolution digital photos are taken starting at the top of the hole. Each photo shows two
boxes and a sign with the hole number, interval, and a colour bar. Images are downloaded onto
the site computer and relabelled with the hole and core box numbers. The JPEG files from
each drill hole are combined into one PDF file and included in the digital filing cabinet.
The drill core is placed on the core logging benches where it is examined by MPSA geologists
who prepare geological and geotechnical paper logs for each hole. The paper logs for each
hole are scanned as PDF documents which are included in the digital filing cabinet. The original
logs are stored at site. These logs are entered into Excel spreadsheets by a data entry
assistant. These Excel files are subsequently imported into the ACCESS database.
MPSA geologists and/or geological assistants select the assay samples. Sample intervals are
1.5 m except where they are modified due to major lithological changes. Bar-coded sample
tags are then placed in the boxes at the start of each sample interval. An aluminum metal tag
with the sample number is attached to each box by geological assistants. The sample numbers,
hole number, and intervals are entered into an Excel spreadsheet.
In the Colina core saw room, MPSA personnel cut the drill core in half using production rock
saws. Saprolite is sampled with a spoon or sheet-metal tool similar to a trowel. One half of the
core sample is returned to the boxes for storage at the new camp facility, and the other half is
placed in a plastic bag with the bar-coded sample ticket. These bags are taken to the sample
preparation laboratory.
13.1.2 PMRD
The core from the PMRD drill program was split with a mechanical splitter. Samples were taken
at 2 m intervals down the hole. The rock was pulverized and then sent to the assay lab of
Direction General de Recursos Minerales of Panamá where they were analyzed for Cu and Mo
using an atomic absorption instrument. Thirty duplicate samples were sent to the Central
Research Lab of Mitsui Smelting and Mining Limited for check assaying. The Direction General
de Recursos Minerales of Panamá assays were slightly lower, but within acceptable limits. The
Mitsui results averged 0.597% Cu and the Panamá results averaged 0.578% Cu. Results of
this work were deemed satisfactory.
Adrian and Teck twinned two holes for grade comparison (Simons, 1996). Areas with adjacent
holes were also identified in the western part of Colina and Botija; some differences were noted,
but the PMRD data were generally validated by the nearby holes.
After delivery to the core logging and sample preparation facility at Colina, the core was marked
into 1.5 m lengths. Geological logging was done by Canadian geologists hired by Adrian and
geotechnical logging by Panamanian geologists hired by Geotec. A modified form of GEOLOG
was used to record geological data, including lithology, alteration, mineralization, and structure.
Geotechnical information included recovery and RQD values for each 1.5 m interval.
Adrian and Teck sample intervals were 1.5 m in length from the collar of the holes. Samples
were marked and split with a mechanical splitter. Half of the split core was archived, but this
material has been lost. The remaining half was crushed and split with a Jones splitter. A one-
eighth split weighing approximately 250 grams was taken for each 1.5 m interval for analysis.
The equipment was cleaned with an air hose between samples. Core rejects were stored in
plastic bags, which were stored on site.
Teck’s metallurgical samples average 4.5 m in length, although locally the length was modified if
there were lithological changes. According to the record, metallurgical samples were not split
but entirely consumed for testing.
Assaying
Samples from the Adrian and Teck drilling programs were analyzed at TSL Laboratories in
Saskatoon, Canada. The general procedures are as follows:
Copper analysis was performed by acid digestion of a 0.5 gram sample and analyzed
by AA (atomic absorption).
Molybdenum analysis was performed by acid digestion of a 1 gram sample and
analyzed by AA.
A 30 gram sample was used for gold analysis by fire assay with an AA finish.
Silver analysis was performed by acid digestion of a 2 gram sample and analyzed by
AA.
In the event of failure of the power supply or problems with the electric oven, the facility has two
wood-fired drying rooms, where wood fires in stoves are used to heat a room to approximately
60°C. Samples require more drying time than in the electric oven, but the capacity is
significantly larger than the electric oven, thus insuring that a continuous stream of samples is
available to the crusher.
A 250 gram aliquot of sample is then split using a riffle splitter with approximately 12 mm
(½ inch) openings. The reject material is replaced in plastic bags, which are then clearly
marked and stored in a covered storage area on site. The 250 gram aliquot is placed in a small
plastic bag with a sample tag and heat-sealed. The plastic bags are very heavy and durable,
and tamper evident when sealed properly. Approximately 60 samples are then placed in large
woven plastic (rice) bags, which are tied off and clearly marked. Samples from different parts of
the deposit are sent to different laboratories, and the destination is clearly marked at the sample
preparation facility.
The sample preparation facility is locked when no one is working there, and when the doors are
not locked, someone is always present in the facility. This policy is in place to monitor the
integrity of the samples.
Samples were trucked on Mondays and Wednesdays to the Petaquilla Copper office at La
Pintada, where they were placed in sturdy boxes and labelled for shipment. The boxes were
immediately placed in a truck for transport to Panamá City, where they were entrusted to FedEx
for shipment to SGS Laboratories in Lima, Perú, or ALS Chemex in Vancouver, Canada. The
samples arrive in Panamá City the same day they are shipped from the sample preparation
facility.
Assaying
Samples sent to SGS Laboratories in Lima, Perú, were analyzed for sequential copper and for
Au, Ag, Cu total, and Mo using the standard assay techniques. Samples sent to ALS Chemex
in Vancouver were analyzed for Cu, Au, Ag, Mo, and multi-element ICP using standard assay
techniques.
13.2 MPSA
Sample Preparation
MPSA personnel placed samples in aluminum trays which were transferred to ovens where they
are dried for 12 hours at 90°C. The entire sample is then crushed to -10 mesh (2 mm) using a
Rocklabs Boyd crusher. Regular (at least twice a day) sieve tests are carried out to ensure that
material is being crushed to the appropriate size. If the quantity passing falls below 80%,
crusher jaws are adjusted accordingly. A written record of this test is available for review. The
crusher is cleaned with high-pressure air after every sample. After every 10 samples a coarse
blank sample is passed through the crusher.
Each crushed sample weighs approximately 8 kg. This material is split using a Jones riffle
splitter. A 500 gram aliquot of each sample is taken for assay and placed and heat-sealed in a
small plastic bag marked with a bar-coded sample tag. The remaining material is returned to
the original sample bag and stored on site. The assay samples are shipped by air courier to
ALS Chemex in Lima, Perú, for analysis.
Assaying
Samples collected from 5 October 2007 to 1 October 2009 were assayed by:
Acme Santiago
S. Av. Claudio Arrau 7152, Pudahuel
Santiago, Chile
Near-surface samples are analyzed for sequential copper to estimate the amount of leachable
copper. Sulphuric, cyanide, and citric-acid soluble copper and residual copper values are
reported for each sample.
All pulps are currently being stored at ALS Chemex in Lima, Perú.
During a site visit (April 15-16th, 2009) the principal author (William Rose) and the QA/QC
consultant (Bruce Davis) noted that all procedures described above were being carefully
observed and meet or exceed industry standards for collection, handling and transport of drill
core samples.
During the 1996-1997 Teck programs, a combination of check assays was sent to Chemex
Labs Ltd. in Vancouver along with standard samples to monitor the quality of analyses. Check
assay samples were assayed for Cu, Au, Ag, and Mo. The standards were inserted into the
sample stream at a rate of 1 in 15 samples. A discussion of the results of the check and
standard assay results is given in the feasibility reports by Simons (1996, 1998).
Control samples were inserted with the samples collected during the drill campaign conducted
by Petaquilla Copper S.A.. The copper assay results of standard reference material indicate the
copper assays from the program are valid as shown in Figure 14-1.
Figure 14-1: Results for ORE 52Pb – Reference Material Certified for Cu
Gold results were more erratic than copper over the range of values likely to be encountered in
the deposit areas. An example with a slightly higher grade standard is shown in Figure 14-2.
Generally, the performance on the higher grade standards was acceptable; accuracy was good
while precision is as indicated in the figure.
The blanks showed no indication of contamination in the samples (Figure 14-3, 14-4).
In addition, 10 holes from Botija Abajo (7 holes) and Brazo (2 holes) were reassayed using the
archived core. One hole, BRDH-005, was re-drilled as BR09-019M. Analytical results of this
work are comparable to the original assays done by Petaquilla Copper. QA/QC performance
was good for this work and is described as part of the MPSA work program.
14.2 MPSA
QA/QC Sample Insertion
QA/QC sampling was initiated at the start of the FEED drill program in October 2007. A series
of blank samples, crusher duplicates, prepared standards, and core duplicates were inserted at
random into the sample stream being sent to the analytical lab. In addition, a proportion of the
samples were re-assayed for Cu and Au at a second lab. During the initial phase of the
program (October 2007 to June 2008) the percentages of QA/QC samples are as follows:
blanks (4.7%), crusher duplicates (4.9%), prepared standards (5.0%), core duplicates (4.1%),
and umpire/check analyses (5.0%). After a review of these data in July 2008, the proportion of
QA/QC samples was reduced to the following: blanks (3.1%), crusher duplicates (3.2%),
prepared standards (4.0%), and umpire/check analyses (4.5%). Core duplicates (¼ cores) were
discontinued after the initial phase because enough of this type of QA/QC sample had been
collected to alleviate any concerns. There was sometimes high variability in core duplicates,
especially with gold results, often due to geological variability in the sample, veins or a nugget
effect.
Blanks
Blank material was inserted at a rate of roughly 1 per 30 samples. The blank material is derived
from an unmineralized granodiorite outcrop adjacent to the bridge over RÍo San Juan. The
material is visually identical to the Petaquilla batholith. Blanks are inserted into the sample
stream at the crusher and therefore have the dual purpose of cleaning the jaws and serving as a
control on potential contamination.
Standards
Commercially available certified porphyry standards from CDN Labs in Vancouver, Canada, and
Ore Research and Exploration (OREAS) of Melbourne, Australia, have been used. Standard
samples are inserted at random into the sample stream at the Colina sample preparation facility.
The analysis includes all results from 2007 through the holes drilled for grinding studies in 2009.
Only example graphs are given with the text. A complete set of graphs for SRM, coarse reject
duplicates, umpire duplicates, and blanks is provided in a separate document. Note that the
charts are made with uncorrected data. Comments are given in the text explaining out of control
results. In some cases explanatory annotation is also provided on the chart. The results were
divided into two groups, 2007-08 and 2009. The division is merely a matter of convenience and
it does not imply the program was significantly different between years.
1.30
1.20
1.10
1.00
Accepted value = 0.853
UCL = 0.938
Copper (%)
0.90
AVG = 0.8672
0.80
LCL = 0.768
13 of 257 are out of control
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0 100 200 300
Sequence Number
1.2
0.6
0.3
0.0
0 100 200 300
Sequence Number
The results for gold also fall within the control limits at or above the prescribed rate of ninety
percent (Figure 14-6).
UCL = 2.04
2
AVG = 1.8457
Gold (g/t)
LCL = 1.67
0
0 100 200 300
Sequence Number
2.50
2.30
Accepted value = 1.85
20 of 262 out of control
2.10
Gold (g/t)
UCL = 2.03
1.90
AVG = 1.8114
1.70
LCL = 1.665
1.50
0 100 200 300
Sequence Number
Blank results for Cu and Au are shown in Figure 14-7 and 14-8 respectively. Only what appear
to be sample “swaps” in the copper blank material exceed the control limit. The out of control
samples have been reviewed in the context of the affected batches. No evidence of
contamination was ever found.
Copper Blanks
0.40
0.30
Copper (%)
0.20
0.10
UCL = 0.03
AVG = 0.0127
0.00
0 200 400 600 800
Sequence Number
Blank Copper
0.3
0.2
Copper (%)
UCL = 0.03
Sequence Number
Gold has a few more “out of control” results but the number of out of control results still does not
exceed the prescribed rate for outliers. There is no evidence of contamination in the samples.
Gold Blanks
0.12
0.10
0.08
Gold (g/t)
0.06
0.04
AVG = 0.0064
0.00
0 200 400 600 800
Sequence Number
Blank Gold
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
Gold (g/t)
0.04
0.03
7 of 942 exceed control limit
0.01
AVG = 0.0060
0.00
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Sequence Number
Coarse duplicate samples check the adequacy of the sample preparation protocol. The charts
below (Figure 14-9, 14-10) are for example batches which show the pairs fall within control limits
at above the prescribed rate. This indicates the sample preparation process is under control and
producing samples that are sufficiently homogeneous to form the basis for resource estimation.
A relatively large percentage of the gold values fall outside of the control limits at the lower end
of the grade range. This appears to be due to assay detection limit effects rather than a problem
with the preparation process.
0.9
0.6
0.3 +30%
Relative Difference
-0.0
-0.3 -30%
-0.6
0.9
0.6
0.3 +30%
Relative Difference
-0.0
-0.3 -30%
-0.6
0.9
0.6
0.3 +30%
Relative Difference
-0.0
-0.3 -30%
-0.6
0.9
0.6
0.3 +30%
Relative Difference
-0.0
-0.3 -30%
-0.6
-0.9
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Check assays were performed by Acme Analytical Labs in Santiago, Chile. Results for copper
indicate the checks validate the original assay results as shown in Figure 14-11.
2.00
1.80
1.60
Duplicate Acme Cu (%)
1.40
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00
Original ALS Cu (%)
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
Relative Difference
0.1 +10%
0.0
-0.1 -10%
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
0.0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Copper (%)
0.9
0.6
0.3
Relative Difference
+10%
-0.0
-10%
-0.3
-0.6
-0.9
0 1 2 3
Copper (%)
The gold results show a similar pattern of dispersion as the coarse reject duplicates (Figure
14-12). It appears that the results are unbiased (an average relative difference near zero), but
results are erratic for values less than 0.15 g/t Au. The differences are most likely the result of
detection limit effects in the assay process and are not an indication of any problem.
0.5
0.4
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
Original ALS Au (ppm)
0
Relative Difference
+10%
-0
-10%
-0
-1
-1
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Gold (g/t)
Conclusions
Results from all types of QC samples indicate sample “mix ups” occur occasionally; however,
the standard reference (SR) material indicates the assay process is producing valid results.
Blank assays show that there has been no contamination in the preparation or assay process.
The coarse reject work demonstrates the sample preparation process is well controlled. Assay
from pulp duplicates submitted to Acme for assay confirm the values in the original assays.
The Cobre Panamá sampling and assaying program produces sample information that meets
industry standards for copper and gold accuracy and reliability. The assay results are sufficiently
accurate and precise for use in resource estimation and the release of drill hole results on a
hole by hole basis.
There are no quality control checks applied to molybdenum or silver assays. The lack of control
is considered to be of no consequence since these metals contribute comparatively little to
project revenue.
A series of 44 holes were randomly selected from the MPSA database in order to conduct
manual validation of the underlying database. Data was compared back to a master database
provided by MPSA which includes scans of signed assay certificates and scans of original drill
hole logs. A total of 43 errors were found for an error frequency of 0.55%. Eleven of these
errors occurred in one drill hole in which the assay results were offset by three sample intervals.
The remaining errors were primarily related to incorrect manual keying of data generated by
Teck and Adrian in the mid-1990’s.
None of the errors identified during this review are considered significant and would have
negligible effects on the resource estimate. An overall error rate of less than 1% is considered
to have virtually no affect on the overall mineral resource estimate.
There are no adjacent copper-producing properties. The closest significant copper property is
the Cerro Colorado porphyry copper deposit located 120 km to the west.
15.1 Molejón
The Molejón Gold deposit is located approximately 4 km south of the Botija deposit and is
owned by Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada. Preproduction began in July 2009.
The Molejón area is underlain by Tertiary volcanics and subvolcanic andesites, which have
been intruded by feldspar-quartz porphyry dikes. Significant gold grades are associated with
three northeast-trending structurally controlled zones of quartz-carbonate breccias and adjacent
altered zones that dip at a shallow angle 25° to the northwest. The main near-surface
mineralized zone is approximately 10 m thick. The deposit is interpreted to be a
low-sulphidation, quartz-adularia epithermal gold deposit. Main zone veins locally exhibit typical
banded cockade textures, and gold occurs as electrum. Economic mineralization consists of
the oxidized portion of the breccia, feldspar quartz porphyry, and feldspar andesite flows.
On 18 October 2007 Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. announced a “NI 43-101 compliant gold resource
estimate” completed by AAT Mining Services. Measured, Indicated, and Inferred resources
were calculated at a cutoff grade of 0.5 g/t Au. Results are summarized in Table 15-1. These
resources were taken from the Petaquilla Minerals website (www.petaquilla.com) and are
provided for information only.
Table 15-1: 2007 Resource Estimate – Molejón Gold Deposit (Petaquilla Minerals)
Class Tonnes Au Grade (g/t) Ounces
Measured 9,445,109 1.75 532,801
Indicated 6,281,558 1.11 223,785
Inferred 12,209,004 0.872 342,111
In 1997, an extensive program of metallurgical testing was designed to confirm earlier work on
the metallurgical response of the Botija and Colina deposits. Most of the work was done at
Lakefield Research Ltd., Lakefield, Ontario. Grinding, flotation, dewatering, and mineralogical
work were performed as part of this program. In addition to the Lakefield work, locked-cycle
flotation testwork and modal analysis were performed at G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd.,
Kamloops, B.C. (G&T) to assist in defining grind requirements for both rougher and cleaner
flotation. Copper-molybdenum separation using differential flotation was conducted by
International Metallurgical and Environmental, Kelowna, B.C. (IME). The metallurgical work
done for the present study has built upon the 1997/1998 study with some knowledge of, but no
reliance on, work performed before that time.
The testwork before 2007 was based on large composite samples, and the results, particularly
for flotation testing, could not be used for interpreting the variability of response for material
within the deposits. Consequently, a large sampling program was undertaken in 2008/2009 to
bolster the knowledge from previous work and provide the missing insight into the variability of
response. A total of 16 special holes for metallurgical grinding and flotation tests were drilled in
the Botija, Valle Grande, and Colina orebodies. Sample preparation, flotation testing, and
testing of flotation products were done primarily at G&T. Grinding work was conducted at SGS
Mineral Services, Lakefield, Ontario, and at Philips Enterprises LLC, Golden, Colorado.
The resulting life-of mine production data are shown in Table 16-1.
16.1.2 Samples
For the 2008/2009 sampling campaign, a series of 11 drill holes, subsequently expanded to 12
holes, were sited in the Botija and Colina mineralized zones. The positions of the holes were
selected to cover an even spread along the major axes (the centrelines) of the two zones; the
holes were targeted to penetrate the major combinations of lithology and alteration identified in
the 1998 geological model.
quantities of samples for further testing, primarily for molybdenum separation tests. In turn, the
molybdenum separation tests generated samples for additional tests.
The pilot plant produced about 70 kg of final bulk concentrate, which was used to carry out
bench-scale copper-molybdenum separation work and solid-liquid separation tests. The bulk
concentrate produced in the pilot plant contained 27.6% copper and 0.51% molybdenum.
Copper-molybdenum separation tests were carried out on a blended bulk concentrate produced
in the pilot plant. It was possible to produce marketable-grade molybdenum concentrates at
about 90% molybdenum recovery.
Deleterious minor element concentrates in both the bulk and molybdenum concentrates were
generally below penalty limits. Lead levels in the molybdenum concentrate at 0.04% may be on
the threshold of penalty limits at some roasters.
The process plant is designed to process ore at a head grade of 0.7% Cu and 0.013% Mo.
These levels are higher than the highest sustained head grades of 0.58% Cu and 0.011% Mo
expected to be mined in Year 5, but the design provides the flexibility to accommodate a wide
range of head grades over the project life. The plant design also allows for 15% day-to-day
fluctuations in throughput. The process includes the following facilities:
Pebble
Open Pit Mine Crushers (2) Cyclone Cluster (4)
Primary Screens
Crusher
Coarse
Ore
Stockpile Ball Mills (4)
Tailings to Impoundment
Rougher Flotation
(4 banks of 7)
1st Cleaner Flotation (2 banks of 8) Potentially Acid-Generating
Tailings to Impoundment
Regrind Cyclone
Vertimills Cluster (2) Bulk Conc.
(4) Thickener To Process Water
Mine
2nd Cleaner 3rd Cleaner
Bulk Site
Flotation (6) Flotation (4)
Concentrate
o/f Storage
Tanks (2)
Port
Shiploader
Mo Conc.
Mo Dryer Packing
Cu Conc. Loadout
3rd Mo Clnr 4th Mo Clnr 5th Mo Clnr Mo Concentrate
Flotation Flotation Flotation Thickener
Run-of-mine (ROM) ore will be delivered by haul truck to the dump pockets of two primary
gyratory crushers installed in a single in-ground concrete structure close to the rim of the Botija
pit. A 400,000 tonne ROM stockpile will be located close to the crushers to provide a 2½-day
supply of ore for times when weather conditions preclude hauling ore out of the pit. The ROM
stockpile will be operated on a first in, first out basis to prevent the accumulation of aged ore.
Separate feeders and take-away conveyors will move the ore from each crusher to a series of
conveyors which will discharge the ore onto a conical coarse ore stockpile at the concentrator.
Provision will be made at the transfer point between the two overland conveyors to accept mill
feed from future crushed ore sources. The coarse ore stockpile will hold a 2½-day supply for
the mill, 15 hours of which will be available to the reclaim feeders without the assistance of a
bulldozer.
Two trains of feeders and conveyors will draw ore from below the coarse ore stockpile and feed
two parallel wet-grinding lines, each consisting of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill and
two ball mills, all equipped with gearless drives. The SAG mill circuits will be closed by trommel
screens followed by washing screens; conveyors will deliver screen oversize to pebble
crushers. The pebble crushing circuits will include pebble bins, cone crushers, and a bypass
arrangement. Crushed pebbles will return to the SAG mills via the feed conveyors. From Year
10 of operation, another coarse-ore stockpile and grinding line will be added to increase in ore
treatment rate.
Discharge from each SAG mill will be evenly split between two ball-mill circuits. The four ball-
mill circuits will be closed by hydrocyclones. Ground slurry will be directed to a flotation circuit
where a bulk sulphide concentrate, containing copper, molybdenum, and gold values, will be
collected and concentrated in a rougher followed by three stages of cleaner flotation. The
roughers and first cleaners will be tank cells, while the second and third cleaners will be column
cells. Before cleaning, rougher concentrate will be reground in vertical stirred mills. From Year
10, a 50% increase in rougher capacity will be required to accommodate the increase in
throughout, but the amount of copper will be the same; therefore, no change to the existing
downstream regrind and cleaning capacity will be needed.
When the molybdenum head grade warrants operating the molybdenum plant, the bulk
concentrate will be thickened in a conventional thickener (with no flocculant) and pumped to a
differential flotation plant, where copper minerals will be depressed, and molybdenite floated
into a molybdenum concentrate. The molybdenum concentrate will be filtered, dried, and
packaged in tote bags for shipment to offshore roasters. Tailings from the molybdenum flotation
circuit will constitute the copper concentrate, which will be pumped approximately 30 km to a
filter plant at a port on the Caribbean coast. If the molybdenum head grade is very low, the
molybdenum separation plant will be bypassed.
The estimates are developed from 3D block models based on geostatistical applications using
commercial mine planning software (MineSight® v4.60.09). The project limits area is based on
the UTM coordinate system using the WGS84 ITRF-97 projection. A nominal block size of
25x25x15 m V is considered appropriate for the distribution of sample data, the deposit type,
and the scale. Sample data are derived from surface diamond drill holes completed primarily
from three main drilling programs beginning in the mid-late 1990s. Most of the drilling has been
completed with vertical holes spaced on approximately 100 m intervals throughout the deposits.
Drilling at Valle Grande is primarily completed with inclined drill holes designed to intersect what
was originally interpreted to be a shallow-dipping mineralized target.
This report includes mineral resource estimates for the three better-defined porphyry deposits –
Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande – as well as the lesser-drilled Botija-Abajo/ Brazo area. The
locations of these deposit areas are shown in Figure 17-1. No mineral resource estimates are
included in this report for the Molejón gold deposit, which is owned and operated by Petaquilla
Minerals Ltd.
The resource estimate has been generated from drill hole sample assay results and the
interpretation of a geologic model that relates to the spatial distribution of copper, molybdenum,
gold, and silver. Interpolation characteristics have been defined based on the geology, drill hole
spacing, and geostatistical analysis of the data. The resources have been classified by their
proximity to the sample locations and are reported, as required by NI 43-101, according to the
CIM standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves.
The current understanding of the geology at Botija-Abaja/Brazo does not allow for the
generation of a 3D geology model at this stage; relogging of all drill core in this area is
recommended and is underway.
Mineralization tends to occur within the porphyritic rocks and extending into the contact area of
the plutonic rocks. There is evidence of minor post-mineral (barren) dikes, but these are often
less than 3 m in width and, as a result, interpretation and segregation in the resource model are
impractical at the overall scale of these deposits.
Convincing structural features that influence the distribution of the mineralization have not been
recognized. There has been no clear interpretation of either feeder zones or post-depositional
zones of displacement. As a result, structural features have not been a factor in generating the
resource model.
The geology database also includes alteration types in drill holes. Based on a review of this
information, it shows a somewhat erratic distribution of facies and as such does not appear to
be useful in controlling grade distribution. As a result a wireframe interpretation of the various
alteration assemblages has not been undertaken. The grade properties of the various facies
have been reviewed and are presented in the data analysis section of this report (Section
17.1.5).
Except for the Japanese holes, which contain only copper and molybdenum results (not tested
for gold or silver), samples have been analyzed for copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver.
Resource models were initially generated for all areas in August 2009 using drilling data dated
up to 28 July 2009. During late summer and fall of 2009, additional infill drilling was completed
on a portion of the Botija deposit, and the Botija model was subsequently updated using data
dated 24 November 2009. Drilling was underway in the Brazo area in the fall of 2009, but the
information was not included in the 24 November 2009 database. No additional drilling has
been conducted on the Colina or Valle Grande deposits after the initial August 2009 model
build.
Assay data were provided in the form of a series of Excel spreadsheet files, which were
reformatted before being imported into MineSight®. Values below detection limits were handled
as follows:
Japanese holes – If Cu value exists, set all missing Mo values to zero (0). If Mo
exists, set all missing Cu values to zero (0). Au and Ag never tested; therefore, these
all remain as “missing” (“-1” value in MineSight® treated as “missing”).
Teck/Adrian holes – If Cu value exists, set all missing Mo, Au, and Ag values to zero
(0). If Mo exists, set all missing Cu values to zero (0).
MPSA holes – Values below DL are identified with “<#” in the spreadsheet file.
These have been changed to 1/2DL before being imported into MineSight®. Note
that original molybdenum analysis in MPSA holes are in Moppm units, which have
been converted to Mo% (Mo%=Moppm/10000) to be consistent with pre-MPSA
assay data.
Additional information includes logged geology data, including lithology and alteration codes.
Bulk density data are also available for all MPSA drill holes. The surface topographic data are
derived from Lidar information (April 2009), which has been regularized to a 10 m grid and
triangulated into a 3D surface. This simplified the data for easier use, and the level of detail is
considered sufficient for the scale of the deposits.
As of the August 2009 model build, the database has a total of 1,275 diamond core drill holes
with a cumulative length of 230,555 m. This includes exploration and condemnation holes
proximal to the main porphyry deposits plus all drilling conducted at the neighbouring Molejón
deposit. It also includes several holes, drilled within the mineralized areas of the deposits, that
were completed primarily to provide material for metallurgical testing. Some of these “Met”
holes were not sampled and assayed, but they do provide information in the geologic
interpretation of the deposits. During 2007 and 2008, Petaquilla Copper Limited (a shareholder
in MPSA at the time) drilled a number of relatively short holes in all deposit areas to test for the
presence of oxide copper mineralization. These holes do not influence the resource estimation
but do provide some definition of the saprolite, saprock, and hypogene mineralization limits.
The distribution of drilling data is summarized by area in Table 17-1. Drill holes are typically
spaced at 100 m to140 m intervals throughout the copper porphyry deposit areas. In mid-2009
a portion of the central, higher-grade area of the Botija deposit was drilled with holes on a 70 m
grid pattern.
Individual sample intervals range from 0.03 m to 36.50 m and average 1.54 m in length; 86% of
sample intervals are exactly 1.5 m in length. Most of the long sample intervals are derived from
saprolite composites. The basic statistical summary of the assay sample database is provided
in Table 17-2.
Core recovery data from MPSA and Teck-Adrian drill holes located in the Botija and Colina
deposit areas were reviewed. Values range from 1% to 100% with an overall average of 93%.
Less than 5% of the sample intervals have recoveries below 50%, and 90% of the data have
recoveries greater than 80%. There are no indications of any correlation between metal grade
and recovery. No data adjustments or exclusions related to core recoveries were carried out
before the resource model was developed.
Figure 17-1 shows the distribution of drilling by vintage in relation to the various deposit areas.
17.1.4 Compositing
Drill hole samples are composited to standardize the database for further statistical evaluation.
This step eliminates any effects related to the sample length that may exist in the data.
To retain the original characteristics of the underlying data, a composite length is selected that
reasonably reflects the average original sample length. The generation of longer composites
results in some degree of smoothing, which could mask certain features of the data. Sample
intervals are relatively consistent in the database with approximately 86% at exactly 1.5 m in
length. As a result, a standard composite length of 1.5 m has been applied to the sample data.
Drill hole composites are length-weighted and have been generated “down-the-hole,” meaning
that composites begin at the top of each hole and are generated at 1.5 m intervals down the
length of the hole. Several holes were randomly selected, and the composited values were
checked for accuracy. No errors were found.
A domain boundary, which segregates the data during interpolation, is typically applied if the
average grade in one domain is significantly different from that of another domain. A boundary
may also be applied where there is evidence that there is a significant change in the grade
distribution across the contact.
EDA was initially conducted for copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver between lithology and
alteration types.
Drill hole data were composited to 15 m intervals and declustered through the development of a
series of nearest-neighbour (NN) models. A 15 m composite length was selected because it
equals the vertical size of the blocks in the model, ensuring that the analysis uses all of the
data. “Distance to data” values were stored in blocks during the generation of all three NN
models, allowing for subsequent comparisons to be limited to proximal data. Declustered
blocks selected for comparisons were limited to a maximum distance of 100 m from both data
types (i.e., comparisons between MPSA and Teck/Adrian data are limited to declustered blocks
within a maximum distance of 100 m from both data types.) A series of QQ plots were
developed for comparison purposes.
Overall, copper grades tend to agree in all deposit areas. Molybdenum grades in the new
(FEED) holes show consistently lower grades, but because it is a relatively small economic
contributor in the deposits, this is not considered to be a significant issue. Gold and silver tend
to show similar grades between FEED and T/A holes, which tend to be higher than J+PTC
holes. This may be the result of improved sampling and assaying procedures.
When present, the grade differences between data sources are considered relatively minor,
indicating no significant bias between data sets derived from differing sources (vintages). This
comparison validates, by association, some of the older data and shows that all data can be
combined for use in the development of resource models.
Elevated copper grades are generally present in all three of the main rock types,
andesite, porphyry, and granodiorite, and also in the minor breccia and faults units.
The porphyry shows marginally higher grades at Botija and Colina. Low grades
occur in the saprolite and post-mineral dikes.
Gold grades are slightly higher in the saprolite compared to the other rock domains.
Molybdenum tends to be similar across all rock types. Silver trends are similar to
copper.
Similar results are evident in boxplots generated using rock type codes derived from the 3D
interpretation of lithologic types. These results indicate that the interpreted wireframe model is
an appropriate representation of the underlying drill hole data. Examples of the copper
distribution by rock type are shown in Figure 17-5 to 17-7.
Alteration trends show slightly higher copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum grades in phyllic,
potassic, and, often to a lesser extent, argillic facies in all deposit areas. These are all minor
alteration types that tend to be somewhat erratically distributed throughout the deposit areas. In
total, they comprise less than 20% of the contained sample data.
A series of contact profiles were generated to evaluate the change in copper grades across
prominent rock domain boundaries. None were generated for the minor elements molybdenum,
gold, and silver because no significant grade differences are evident in the boxplots.
Copper grade differences tend to be flat or transitional across all logged rock type domains
except the saprolite, which tends to be significantly lower than the neighbouring domains. The
transition between saprock and underlying (fresh) rocks also tends to be transitional throughout,
suggesting that little depletion and/or enrichment has taken place in this domain. At Botija, the
andesite copper grades appear to be drop across the boundary with the granodiorite (Figure
17-8) and porphyry (Figure 17-9), suggesting that hard boundaries may be required. However,
upon inspection of the sample grades, several low-grade areas of andesite exist, but more
commonly the grades appear to be transitional between neighbouring domains.
Contact profiles produced between logged alteration types show transitional or no changes in
copper grade at all contacts.
There are no indications that alteration facies play a significant role in the distribution of metals
in any of the deposit areas.
17.1.5.5 Conclusions
Table 17-3 summarize the elements to be estimated in the models and how the various
domains are applied during grade interpolations. In the absence of an interpreted geologic
model for Botija-Abajo/Brazo, no separate domains are used in this area during grade
interpolations in the model.
Bulk density was measured using the “wet” method in which pieces of core, averaging 10 to
15 cm in length, are weighed in air (Wa) and again while submerged in water (Ww). The
volume (V) is determined as V=Wa-Ww (assuming 1 cm3 of water = 1 gram) and the density (D)
is determined as D = Wa/V. Core is not sealed in wax or cellophane before weighing.
Observations of representative drill core indicate that rocks are not porous, and therefore it is
assumed that these measurements reflect the true bulk densities of the rocks.
Since bulk density data are restricted to only MPSA drilling, the spatial distribution of samples is
not appropriate for modelling purposes. Therefore, average values were determined based on
the rock type distribution and were assigned in the resource model. The results are listed in
Table 17-4. Based on limited bulk density measurements for saprolite, it has been assigned a
value of 1.5 t/m3.
Bulk density measurements are available for only one MPSA hole drilled in the Brazo zone. In
the absence of more data, an average value of 2.65 t/m3 is assumed in determining resource
tonnage in the Botija-Abajo/Brazo area.
Potential outlier samples were reviewed visually for their locations in relation to the surrounding
data. It was decided that potential outlier samples would be controlled through the use of outlier
limitations during block grade interpolation. Samples above a defined threshold are limited to a
maximum distance of influence of 50 m during grade estimates. The limits and resulting effects
on the models are listed in Table 17-5.
The percentage of metal lost in the model due to outlier restrictions is considered appropriate for
all elements.
17.1.8 Variography
The degree of spatial variability and continuity in a mineral deposit tends to depend on both the
distance and direction between points of comparison. Typically, the variability between samples
increases as the distance between samples also increases. If the variability is related to the
direction of comparison, then the deposit is said to exhibit anisotropic tendencies, which can be
summarized by an ellipse fitted to the ranges in the different directions. The semi-variogram is
a common function used to measure the spatial variability within a deposit.
The components of the variogram include the nugget, the sill, and the range. Often, samples
compared over very short distances – even samples compared from the same location – show
some degree of variability. As a result, the curve of the variogram often begins at a point on the
y-axis above the origin. This point is called the “nugget.” The nugget is a measure of not only
the natural variability of the data over very short distances but also of the variability that can be
introduced due to errors during sample collection, preparation, and assaying.
The amount of variability between samples typically increases as the distance between the
samples increases. Eventually, the degree of variability between samples reaches a constant,
maximum value. This is called the “sill,” and the distance between samples at which this occurs
is referred to as the “range.”
The spatial evaluation of the data in this report has been conducted using a correlogram rather
than the traditional variogram. The correlogram is normalized to the variance of the data and is
less sensitive to outlier values, generally giving cleaner results.
Correlograms were generated for the distribution of copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver using
the commercial software package Sage 2001© developed by Isaacs & Co. Multidirectional
correlograms were generated for composited drill hole samples; the results are summarized in
Table 17-6.
Blocks in the model were coded on a majority basis with the various rock codes. During this
stage, blocks along a domain boundary are coded if >50% of the block occurs within the
boundaries of that domain.
The proportion of blocks that occur below the topographic surfaces are also calculated and
stored within the model as individual percentage items. These values are used as a weighting
factor in determining the in-situ resources for the deposit.
The OK models were generated with a relatively limited number samples in order to match the
change-of-support or (Herco) grade distribution. This approach reduces the amount of
smoothing (averaging) in the model and, while there may be some uncertainty on a localized
scale, produces reliable estimations of the recoverable grade and tonnage for the overall
deposit. All grade estimations use length-weighted composite drill hole sample data. The
interpolation parameters are summarized by domain in Table 17-8.
17.1.11 Validation
The results of the modelling process were validated through several methods. These include a
thorough visual review of the model grades in relation to the underlying drill hole sample grades,
comparisons with the change-of-support model, comparisons with other estimation methods,
and grade distribution comparisons using swath plots.
Visual Inspection
The block model was visually inspected in detail in both section and plan to ensure the desired
results following interpolation. This includes confirmation of the proper coding of blocks within
the various domains. The distribution of block grades was compared relative to the drill hole
samples to ensure their proper representation in the model.
The Herco (Hermitian correction) distribution is derived from the declustered composite grades
that were adjusted to account for the change in support as one goes from smaller drill hole
composite samples to the large blocks in the model. The transformation results in a
less-skewed distribution but with the same mean as the original declustered samples.
It is expected that selectivity during mining will be based primarily on copper grades and that the
secondary elements molybdenum, gold, and silver will contribute only as minor accessories.
For completeness, however, Herco plots were generated for all elements in all deposits. An
appropriate degree of correlation is evident in all models. Examples from copper models are
shown in Figure 17-11 through 17-14.
On a local scale, the NN model does not provide reliable estimations of grade but, on a much
larger scale, it represents an unbiased estimation of the grade distribution based on the
underlying data. Therefore, if the OK model is unbiased, the grade trends may show local
fluctuations on a swath plot, but the overall trend should be similar to the NN distribution of
grade.
Swath plots have been generated in three orthogonal directions for all elements in all models.
Examples from copper models are shown in Figure 17-13.
There is good correspondence between the models in all elements. The degree of smoothing in
the OK model is evident in the peaks and valleys shown in the swath plots. Deviations tend to
occur for two reasons. First, reduced tonnages near the edges of the deposit tend to
accentuate the differences in grade between models. Second, differences in grade become
more apparent in the lower-grade areas – typically the flanks of the deposit where the drilling
density often decreases.
The parameters are based on the results of a geostatistical study of uncertainty that defines
categories based on confidence limits. Measured resources are defined as material in which
the predicted grade is within ±15% on a quarterly basis, at a 90% confidence limit. In other
words, there is a 90% chance that the recovered metal for a quarter-year of production will be
within ±15% of the production actually achieved. Similarly, Indicated resources include material
in which the yearly metal production is estimated with ±15% at the 90% confidence level.
The confidence limit evaluation shows similar results for the Botija and Colina deposits, with
quarterly production estimated within ±15% at the 90% confidence limit with holes spaced at
70 m intervals. Annual production can be forecast at similar confidence levels based on drilling
spaced at 150 m intervals.
At Valle Grande, the relative variogram shows more variation, and the classification criteria have
been adjusted accordingly. Measured resources require drilling on a nominal 50 m grid pattern,
and Indicated resources require drilling on a 120 m grid pattern.
The Botija-Abajo / Brazo area has not undergone a detailed evaluation of this type. The
parameters used for Botija and Colina are assumed to be applicable for classification of
resources in this area.
These results are used to define the classification criteria listed below. The limits of Indicated
and Inferred resources are shown in plan view in Figure 17-14.
Measured Resources – Botija, Colina and Botija-Abajo / Brazo areas require model
blocks with copper grades estimated by a minimum of three drill holes located within
an average distance of 50 m. This is achieved with drill holes at a nominal spacing of
70 m. At Valle Grande, Measured model blocks are estimated by a minimum of three
drill holes within an average distance of 35 m.
Indicated Resources – Botija, Colina, and Botija-Abajo / Brazo areas require model
blocks with copper grades estimated by a minimum of three drill holes located within
a maximum average distance of 100 m. This is achieved with drill holes at a nominal
spacing of 150 m. At Valle Grande, Indicated model blocks are estimated using a
minimum of three drill holes within an average distance of 90 m.
Inferred Resources – These are model blocks that do not meet the criteria for
Measured or Indicated resources but are within a maximum distance of 250 m from a
single drill hole.
To ensure that the reported resource exhibits reasonable prospects for economic extraction, the
resource is limited within a pit shell with a 40° slope angle generated about copper grades in
blocks classified in the Indicated and Inferred categories at a copper price of $2.30/lb copper
and total operating costs of $7.41/t. This constraint excludes deeper mineralization that cannot
support the increased strip ratios at this assumed metal price. The following tables list the
mineral resource estimates. Mineral resources, that are not mineral reserves, do not have
demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred
mineral resource will be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource as a result of
continued exploration.
There are no known factors related to environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
socioeconomics, marketing, or political issues that could materially affect the mineral resource.
Cutoff Grade
(Cu%) Mt Cu % Mo % Au g/t Ag g/t
Colina
0.10 1,272 0.34 0.006 0.05 1.4
0.15 1,178 0.35 0.007 0.05 1.5
0.20 1,006 0.38 0.007 0.06 1.5
0.25 841 0.42 0.008 0.06 1.6
0.30 680 0.45 0.008 0.07 1.7
0.35 522 0.49 0.009 0.08 1.7
0.40 391 0.53 0.009 0.08 1.8
Valle Grande
0.10 717 0.33 0.006 0.04 1.3
0.15 671 0.34 0.006 0.04 1.3
0.20 591 0.37 0.007 0.04 1.4
0.25 494 0.40 0.007 0.05 1.5
0.30 390 0.43 0.007 0.05 1.6
0.35 289 0.47 0.008 0.06 1.7
0.40 200 0.51 0.008 0.06 1.8
Botija-Abajo
0.10 215 0.25 0.003 0.09 0.9
0.15 184 0.28 0.004 0.09 0.9
0.20 142 0.31 0.004 0.10 0.9
0.25 100 0.34 0.004 0.11 0.9
0.30 64 0.39 0.004 0.12 0.9
0.35 40 0.43 0.004 0.13 1.0
0.40 21 0.48 0.004 0.13 1.0
Brazo
0.10 74 0.41 0.004 0.12 0.7
0.15 71 0.43 0.004 0.12 0.7
0.20 66 0.45 0.004 0.12 0.7
0.25 61 0.46 0.004 0.12 0.8
0.30 56 0.48 0.004 0.13 0.7
0.35 51 0.50 0.004 0.13 0.7
0.40 44 0.52 0.004 0.13 0.7
All Areas Combined
0.10 3,343 0.32 0.006 0.05 1.2
0.15 3,010 0.34 0.006 0.06 1.2
0.20 2,539 0.37 0.007 0.06 1.3
0.25 2,057 0.41 0.007 0.07 1.4
0.30 1,611 0.44 0.008 0.07 1.5
0.35 1,211 0.49 0.008 0.08 1.5
0.40 883 0.53 0.009 0.08 1.6
Note: Mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The “base case” cutoff grade of 0.15% Cu is highlighted in the table.
AMEC reviewed the resource models for Botija and Colina in the fall of 2007 (AMEC, 2007) to
evaluate whether they were compliant with the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources
and Mineral Reserves (2005) as required by NI 43-101. The underlying data and information for
this review were provided by Teck from the archived 1998 feasibility study (Simons, 1998). The
parts of the historic database related to the Valle Grande deposit were not located during this
evaluation, and so AMEC’s review included only the Colina and Botija deposits.
During its evaluation of the underlying database (AMEC, 2007), AMEC found that the Japanese
drill holes lacked documentation but that, based on comparisons with surrounding current (and
validated) drilling, this older information was usable for resource estimation purposes. AMEC
considered the QA/QC procedures used by Adrian and Teck in the 1990s to be inconsistent with
current standards; however, the information was considered to have been validated through a
combination of check assays and twin hole comparisons. This conclusion has been confirmed
further by additional drill data generated by MPSA.
The Simons 1998 report states the following with regard to classification: “Classification turned
out to be a problem. The original Teck model was classified by kriging variance which could not
be duplicated as per the documentation. It was decided that a new classification scheme be
adopted based on distance from samples.” Unfortunately, the classification parameters are not
listed in the AMEC 2007 report but have been interpreted based on information presented in
Appendix 2H of the Simons 1998 report:
Measured Resources (1998) – Blocks with a minimum of two drill holes within a
100x100x100 m search and within a maximum distance of 35 m from a single hole.
Indicated Resources (1998) – Blocks with a minimum of two holes within 100 m
search and within 75 m from a single hole. Or, blocks that do not meet the criteria for
measured resources but are within a maximum distance of 35 m from a single drill
hole.
These parameters allow for the classification of both Measured and, to a lesser extent, Indicated
resources based on a single drill hole, resulting in a “spotted” or clustered distribution of
Measured resources about individual drill holes. The FEED Study interprets that in order to be
consistent with the classification descriptions outlined by the CIM (2005) and required by NI 43-
101, the Measured resources must be contiguous. As a result, Measured resources have been
reduced from earlier estimates.
Except for the starter pit zone at Botija, most of the drilling in the deposit areas is spaced at
intervals of 140 m or less. In this study, this sampling configuration results in the designation of
much of the resource as Indicated. In the Botija starter pit area, drilling is at tighter spacing, and
it qualifies as Measured resource.
17.2.2 Recoveries
Only sulphide mineralization classified as Measured or Indicated was considered potential ore in
saprock, andesite, porphyry, and granodiorite rock types; all saprolite and mineral resources
classified as Inferred were treated as waste.
Copper recovery estimates are a function of the Cu grade expressed in the following formula:
The copper recovery was reduced by four percentage points for all rock types in Valle Grande.
Copper recoveries were capped at 95%.
Molybdenum recovery is a function of both Cu and Mo grades. Figure 17-15 shows the Mo
recovery functions by grade range, both graphically and in tabular form. Mo recovery in Valle
Grande was reduced by three percentage points from the computed values.
Gold recovery was computed from the following formula, with the gold grade expressed in
grams per tonne:
Silver recoveries were fixed at 47.3% for all rock types except saprock. Saprock recoveries
were based on Botija/Colina granodiorite formulas, but reduced by 25 percentage points for all
metals due to the partially oxidized nature of the material. Cu, Mo, and Au recoveries for
low-grade andesite, porphyry, and granodiorite ore that will be stockpiled (i.e., for project return
optimization) were reduced by 20 percentage points to account for anticipated partial oxidation.
Over the life of the project, concentrator recoveries are forecast to average about 86% for Cu,
59% for Mo, 54% for Au, and 46% for Ag.
Overall slope angles used in the FC evaluation were derived from slope guidelines provided by
AMEC EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL (AMEC E&E). The maximum bench face angle in Colina
Sector 4 was reduced from 70° to 65° to better fit excavations using electric rope shovels,
effectively treating the small Sector 4 slope the same as neighbouring Sector 3 to the east. The
overall slope angles were then adjusted to accommodate the recommended maximum inter-
ramp slopes, diversion ditches, and sumps, and the anticipated placement of haulage ramps
along certain pit walls. The resulting overall slopes used in the FC evaluations are summarized
in Table 17-14.
Mining cost assumptions were $1.21/t for ore and $1.54/t for waste. (Waste hauls, on average,
are expected to be 2 km longer or more). This yields a weighted average cost of approximately
$1.33/t. Sustaining mine capital costs were estimated at $0.30/t. The base ore processing and
G&A costs were projected at $3.88/t and $1.49/t, respectively, for a nominal grinding rate of
150,000 t/d. Ore processing and G&A costs were then adjusted for anticipated grinding rates
that vary by rock type and deposit. Freight, smelting and refining (FSR) costs of $0.33/lb Cu
and $0.09/lb Mo were deducted from the market metals prices. Recovery and net smelter
return (NSR) values were computed for each block by custom subroutines and stored within the
block model.
Price sensitivities were evaluated in generally 5%, or $0.10/lb Cu, increments, ranging from
prices at +25% ($2.50 Cu) to -55% ($0.90 Cu) of the base case of $2.00/lb Cu, $12.00/lb Mo,
$750/oz Au, and $12.50/oz Ag. Prices for Mo, Au, and Ag were varied proportionately in all
cases. For purposes of the pit limit evaluations, all saprock was treated as waste. Time value
of money effects were included in the FC analyses with a 1.5% per bench discounting factor
that approximates an annual discount rate of 8-10%. This reduces the net present value of
lower ore zones with respect to overlying waste, which must be stripped two to four years in
advance of ore mining. Table 17-15 summarizes the combined FC price sensitivity results for
all three deposits, excluding ore-grade saprock mineral resources. The base case FC results
are highlighted in bold type.
The estimates presented in Table 17-15 should not be confused with mineral reserves, which
are based on open pit designs that incorporate access, operating, geotechnical and other
criteria in addition to economic constraints. The floating cone results should not be relied upon,
but do provide an indication of potential mineral reserves that must be validated by proper
designs. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
Table 17-15: Floating Cone Price Sensitivity Analyses (combined results from Botija, Colina and Valle Grande)
Metal Price Contained Mineral Resources* (>= Variable Internal Cutoffs) Waste Total Strip
Cu $/lb Mo $/lb Au $/oz Ag $/oz kt NSR $/t Cu % Mo % Au g/t Ag g/t kt kt Ratio
2.50 15.00 938 15.63 2,637,174 16.93 0.37 0.007 0.06 1.32 1,310,961 3,948,135 0.50
2.40 14.40 900 15.00 2,563,867 16.39 0.38 0.007 0.06 1.34 1,276,017 3,839,884 0.50
2.30 13.80 863 14.38 2,477,956 15.84 0.38 0.007 0.06 1.35 1,210,737 3,688,693 0.49
2.20 13.20 825 13.75 2,390,619 15.28 0.39 0.007 0.07 1.36 1,162,885 3,553,504 0.49
2.10 12.60 788 13.13 2,283,037 14.74 0.39 0.007 0.07 1.37 1,082,393 3,365,430 0.47
2.00 12.00 750 12.50 2,187,930 14.17 0.40 0.007 0.07 1.38 1,036,278 3,224,208 0.47
1.90 11.40 713 11.88 2,062,835 13.62 0.41 0.007 0.07 1.39 953,372 3,016,207 0.46
1.80 10.80 675 11.25 1,932,878 13.07 0.42 0.008 0.07 1.41 884,969 2,817,847 0.46
1.70 10.20 638 10.63 1,803,905 12.50 0.43 0.008 0.07 1.42 840,097 2,644,002 0.47
1.60 9.60 600 10.00 1,643,889 11.97 0.44 0.008 0.08 1.44 768,508 2,412,397 0.47
1.50 9.00 563 9.38 1,491,085 11.41 0.45 0.008 0.08 1.46 727,731 2,218,816 0.49
1.40 8.40 525 8.75 1,299,115 10.89 0.47 0.009 0.08 1.49 655,625 1,954,740 0.50
1.30 7.80 488 8.13 1,086,452 10.37 0.49 0.009 0.09 1.52 574,489 1,660,941 0.53
1.20 7.20 450 7.50 827,144 9.96 0.52 0.009 0.09 1.55 476,179 1,303,323 0.58
1.15 6.90 431 7.19 705,363 9.75 0.53 0.009 0.10 1.58 424,295 1,129,658 0.60
1.10 6.60 413 6.88 485,511 9.48 0.55 0.010 0.10 1.63 255,232 740,743 0.53
1.05 6.30 394 6.56 385,095 9.26 0.57 0.010 0.10 1.64 211,602 596,697 0.55
1.00 6.00 375 6.25 293,664 8.98 0.59 0.010 0.10 1.67 164,140 457,804 0.56
0.90 5.40 338 5.63 106,395 8.57 0.65 0.013 0.11 1.69 62,765 169,160 0.59
* Measured and Indicated. Excludes saprolite, saprock and inferred mineral resources, which are treated as waste in this tabulation.
The ultimate pits and internal mining phases were designed to accommodate large-scale mining
equipment operating on 15 m benches. This equipment includes rotary blasthole drills capable
of drilling holes up to 311 mm in diameter, 55 m3 electric shovels, 38 m3 front-end loaders, and
off-highway haulage trucks with payload capacities of 360 tonnes.
The base case floating cone shells, derived from metal prices of $2.00/lb Cu, $12.00/lb Mo,
$750/oz Au, and $12.50/oz Ag, as described in the preceding section, were used to guide the
ultimate pit designs. Pit walls were smoothed to minimize or eliminate, where possible, noses
and notches that could affect slope stability. Internal haulage ramps were included in each
pit/phase design to allow for truck access to working faces on each level. Provisions were also
made for pit dewatering collection ditches and sumps on 90 m vertical intervals within each pit.
The basic parameters used in the design of the mining phases, or pushbacks, are summarized
in Table 17-16.
Inter-ramp slope angles used in the ultimate pit and internal phase designs were derived from
slope guidelines provided by AMEC E&E. Table 17-17 summarizes the pit slope design
parameters, including internal working slopes. Eleven mining phases were designed for the
project: four for the Botija pit, four for Colina, and three for Valle Grande (VG). This total
excludes a construction materials quarry that will be used to supply low-sulphur waste rock for
project facilities during the preproduction period. Figure 17-16 illustrates the ultimate pit and
waste rock storage facility (WRSF) designs that were developed for this study. Grid lines are on
2 km intervals.
Figure 17-16: Ultimate Pit and Waste Rock Storage Facility Designs
The mineral reserve estimates for the Mina de Cobre Panamá project are based on material
classified as proven and probable only; all Inferred mineral resources were treated as waste.
Proven and probable mineral reserves generally correspond to Measured and Indicated mineral
resource classifications, respectively, once economic, technical, environmental, socio/political,
and other criteria are applied to define ore.
Sulphide ore within the open pit mining sequence is defined by metal prices of $2.00/lb Cu,
$12.00/lb Mo, $750/oz Au, and $12.50/oz Ag, and by the recoveries outlined in Section 17.2.2.
Table 17-18 summarizes the economic parameters used to define ore in the mineral reserve
estimates. Net smelter return (NSR) values were calculated for each model block using these
parameters for saprock, andesite, porphyry, and granodiorite rock types; all saprolite was
treated as waste. NSR cutoff grades for ore types, excluding saprock, vary by rock type,
deposit, and time period for the purpose of increasing the present value of the project returns.
The NSR cutoffs by ore type and deposit are presented in Table 17-19.
Saprock will not be shipped directly to the mill because of its lower anticipated recoveries but
will be stockpiled for later processing if found to be above an NSR cutoff of $5.21/t. Similarly,
mineralized andesite, porphyry, and granodiorite below the declining cutoffs (Years 1-15), but
above the low-grade cutoffs, will be placed into a low-grade stockpile. All ore stockpiles are
scheduled to be rehandled after the open pits are depleted.
Bulk material densities were stored in each block model and used to calculate tonnages for
mineral reserve estimates. Table 17-20 presents the average material densities used in the
mineral reserve estimates.
17.4.3 Dilution
The Botija, Colina, and Valle Grande deposits are all well-disseminated Cu-Mo-Au-Ag
mineralized systems that have large ore zones above the anticipated cutoff grades. The sample
compositing and block grade interpolation process used to construct the deposit block models is
believed to incorporate sufficient dilution and, hence, no additional dilution factors were applied.
Ore recovery within the open pits is expected to be virtually 100%. However, stockpiled ore
losses are estimated at 7% to account for inaccessibility along steep terrain and for material
losses in the contact zone with felled timber.
Total proven and probable mineral reserves are estimated at approximately 2.14 Gt grading
0.41% Cu, 0.008% Mo, 0.07 Au g/t, and 1.43 Ag g/t. Of this total, about 245 Mt in the Botija pit
are classified as proven mineral reserves at average grades of 0.59% Cu, 0.010% Mo, 0.14 Au
g/t, and 1.61 Ag g/t. Approximately 1.97 Gt of the total will be shipped either directly to the
primary crusher or to a nearby ROM ore stockpile. About 173 Mt will be recovered from long-
term stockpiles of saprock and low-grade ore. Table 17-21 and Table 17-22 summarize the
proven and probable mineral reserve estimates by ore type, respectively. Table 17-23 presents
the combined total of estimated proven and probable mineral reserves by deposit and ore type.
Table 17-23:Combined Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve Estimates by Ore Type
Proven + Probable Mineral Reserves
Pit / Ore Type kt NSR $/t Cu % Mo % Au g/t Ag g/t
Botija
Saprock 12,800 10.12 0.39 0.010 0.09 1.59
Andesite 52,200 14.77 0.41 0.009 0.08 0.98
Porphyry 265,500 19.51 0.52 0.009 0.12 1.45
Granodiorite 473,800 14.59 0.41 0.008 0.07 1.21
Total Botija 804,400 16.16 0.44 0.008 0.09 1.28
Colina
Saprock 31,800 10.01 0.39 0.007 0.11 1.45
Andesite 210,500 14.08 0.40 0.007 0.07 1.54
Porphyry 542,900 14.68 0.41 0.007 0.07 1.58
Granodiorite 89,700 11.44 0.32 0.008 0.04 1.44
Total Colina 874,800 14.03 0.40 0.007 0.07 1.55
Valle Grande
Saprock 15,900 9.06 0.39 0.008 0.07 1.55
Andesite 171,500 12.79 0.39 0.006 0.05 1.36
Porphyry 236,100 13.29 0.40 0.008 0.05 1.56
Granodiorite 39,900 13.50 0.41 0.008 0.04 1.51
Total VG 463,400 12.98 0.39 0.007 0.05 1.48
Total All Pits
Saprock 60,500 9.79 0.39 0.008 0.09 1.50
Andesite 434,200 13.66 0.39 0.007 0.06 1.40
Porphyry 1,044,500 15.59 0.44 0.008 0.08 1.54
Granodiorite 603,400 14.05 0.39 0.008 0.07 1.26
Total 2,142,600 14.60 0.41 0.008 0.07 1.43
Note: Estimates based on January 2010 Botija and November 2009 Colina-VG deposit models and
metal prices of $2.00/lb Cu, $12.00/lb Mo, $750/oz Au, and $12.50/oz Ag
Total material (ore, stockpiled ore, and waste) within the designed ultimate pits is estimated at
3.444 Gt, resulting in a stripping ratio of 0.61:1. This excludes the effects of ore stockpile
rehandling.
Contained metal in the mineral reserve is projected at approximately 19.6 billion pounds of
copper, 361 million pounds of molybdenum, 4.96 million troy ounces of gold, and 98.7 million
troy ounces of silver. All mineral reserve estimates reported in the Table 17-21, Table 17-22
and Table 17-23 are contained within the mineral resource estimates presented in Section 17.1.
It should be noted that the designed ultimate pits contain approximately 260 Mt of ore-grade
Inferred mineral resources that are treated as waste in the above estimates. These Inferred
mineral resources have an average grade of 0.28% Cu, 0.005% Mo, 0.06 Au g/t, and 1.14 Ag
g/t, and will require further drilling to potentially be considered as mineral reserves that could
lower the average stripping ratio. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative
geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be
categorized as mineral reserves. Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty
as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. It cannot be
assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded.
Failure to obtain the necessary permits to develop the project could affect all of the above
mineral reserve estimates. There are no other known factors related to environmental,
permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, or political issues that could
materially affect the mineral reserve estimates.
The mineral reserves presented in this section are as of March 31, 2010 and were estimated by
William Rose, P.E., Principal Mining Engineer of WLR Consulting, Inc. Mr. Rose meets the
requirements of an independent Qualified Person under the standards of NI 43-101 as set out in
Section 22 and the attached Certificate of Qualified Person.
To the best of the Authors’ knowledge, all relevant data and information has been addressed
elsewhere in this report.
The following conclusions are drawn from the completion of the FEED Study:
2. Extensive drilling (1,275 holes totaling 230,555 m) has defined a mineral resource
(measured and indicated) of 3,271 Mt grading 0.36% Cu, 0.007% Mo, 0.06 g/t Au and
1.30 g/t Ag. A mineral reserve (proven and probable) of 2,143 Mt grading 0.41 % Cu,
0.008 % Mo, 0.07 g/t Au and 1.43 g/t Ag is included in this resource estimate.
3. Proper diligence has been taken with respect to the drilling program, sampling and
metallurgical testing – meeting or exceeding industry standard practices. The data
density and reliability are sufficient to support a feasibility-grade evaluation of the
project.
4. The estimated mineral reserves will support mining operations for approximately 30
years at nominal ore processing rates of 150,000 t/d through the first nine years of
operation and 225,000 t/d thereafter. Ore processing will be scheduled for continuous
operation and will consist of conventional crushing, grinding and flotation of sulphide
mineralization. Metallurgical testing indicates that the concentrates will be of good
quality, with no significant levels of deleterious constituents.
6. Over 150 permits have been identified as being required to develop the Mina de Cobre
Panamá project.
7. The total estimated cost to design and build the Mina de Cobre Panamá project
(150,000 t/d) is US$4.32 billion. Expansion of the concentrator in Year 10 to a nominal
capacity of 225,000 t/d and other sustaining capital over the life of the project is
estimated at an additional US$1.72 billion.
8. Operating costs, including mining, processing, site services and G&A, are estimated at
approximately US$7.23/t of milled ore.
9. The un-levered, after-tax internal rate of return for the project is estimated at 12.4%. A
levered case, assuming 50% debt financing totaling US$2.16 billion, yields an after-tax
15.1% internal rate of return. The payback period is projected at 5.9 years.
The FEED Study has successfully expanded the mineral resource and mineral reserve base of
the project to support the proposed development plan. The Mina de Cobre Panamá project is
technically and economically feasible.
20.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The following actions are recommended for the Mina de Cobre Panamá project:
1. The project should proceed to the next phase of basic engineering for subsequent
development in anticipation of receiving the necessary permits.
2. Inmet Mining and its wholly-owned subsidiary Minera Panamá S.A. should complete the
currently underway Estudio de Impacto Ambiental Category III (ESIA, or Environmental
and Social Impact Assessment) and proceed with acquiring the necessary permits for
project construction and operation.
3. Additional in-fill drilling should be performed in Colina mining phases 1 and 2 and Valle
Grande mining phase 1 to upgrade the classification of mineral reserves for material
that will likely be mined during Years 6-10 of the project. The work should be
completed during late preproduction through the first 2-3 years of operation.
4. Conduct additional drilling to potentially convert inferred mineral resources within the
proposed pit limits to mineral reserves. This could extend the life of the project and
reduce the stripping ratio. The drilling would be in peripheral areas of each deposit
that would be developed in later years; consequently, its completion is not urgent.
Botija should be targeted first as its development precedes the other deposits. It
should be remembered that inferred mineral resources are speculative and uncertain in
nature and cannot be relied upon. There is no assurance that inferred mineral
resources will be upgraded to mineral reserves.
5. There are a number of exploration targets such as Brazo, Botija Abajo and extensions
of the Colina and Valle Grande deposits that have the potential to expand the life of the
project and should be further tested by exploration drilling. Brazo and the northeast
extension of Colina could impact mining plans during the first 10-15 years of operation.
The Brazo area should be drilled in late preproduction through the first 2-3 years of
operation as indications of higher grades may affect early mine development.
6. Additional exploration, including a ZTEM airborne survey, soil geochemical surveys and
diamond drilling, is recommended to test the western extent of the Cobre Mineral
trend.
7. Engineering studies should be conducted to optimize the type and location of the Colina
crusher and related conveyor facilities, which must be placed into operation by the start
of Year 6. This includes foundation and other geotechnical testing,
exploration/condemnation drilling in proposed sites, and economic trade-off analyses.
Consideration should be given to a semi-mobile facility that could be moved
periodically to minimize ore haulage distances from the Colina and Valle Grande
deposits and, therefore, potentially reduce mine operating costs. These studies should
be performed during the preproduction development period through the first two years
of operation.
21.0 REFERENCES
AMEC, 2010. Mina de Cobre Panamá Project FEED Study Report; AMEC Report
AMEC, 2007. Petaquilla Project, Panamá NI 43-101 Technical Report; AMEC Report, 174 p.
Awmack, H.J., 1992. Qualifying Report on the Petaquilla Project; Adrian Resources Limited,
Internal Report, 25 p.
Awmack, H.J., 1992. Summary Report on the Petaquilla Project; Inmet Mining Corportation,
Minera Panamá S.A.
Awmack, H.J., and G.F. McArthur, 1993. 1993 Interim Report on the Petaquilla Project;
Adrian Resources Limited, Internal Report.
CIM, 2005. CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves; 11
December 2005, Prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions.
Cruden, A., 1998. On the emplacement of tabular granites, Journal of the Geological Society,
London. Vol. 155, p. 853-862.
Davis, B.M., 1997. Some Methods of Producing Interval Estimates for Global and Local
Resources, SME Preprint 97-5, 4p.
de Boer J.Z., M.S. Drummond, M.J. Bordelon, M.J. Defant, H. Bellon, and R.C. Maury, 1995.
Cenozoic Magmatic Phases of the Costa Rican Island Arc (Cordillera de Talamanca); in
Geologic and Tectonic Development of the Caribbean Plate Boundary in Southern South
America, Mann, P, ed.; Geological Society of America, Special Paper 295, p. 35-56.
Escalante, A., 2009. Overview of the Geology of the Botija porphyry Cu-Au-Mo deposit,
Panamá. Minera Panamá S.A.. Internal Report.
Gustafson, L.B. and Hunt, J.P., 1975. The porphyry copper deposit at El Salvador, Chile.
Economic Geology, v. 70, p. 857-912.
Journel, A.G. and Ch.J. Huijbregts, 1978. Mining Geostatistics; Academic Press, 600 p.
Kesler, S.E., J.F. Sutter, J.J. Issigonis, L.M. Jones, and R.L. Walker, 1977. Evolution of
Porphyry Copper Mineralization in an Oceanic Island Arc: Panamá; Economic Geology, v. 72, p.
1142-1153.
McArthur, G.F., S. Harris, S. Kenwood, and D. Laudrum, 1995. 1994 Summary Report on the
Petaquilla Project; Adrian Resources Limited, Internal Report.
Mann, P. 1995. Preface: Geologic and Tectonic Development of the Caribbean Plate Boundary
in Southern South America. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 295, p. xi-xxxii.
Panamá Mineral Resources Development Company, 1977. Preliminary Feasibility Report of the
Petaquilla Project; PMRD Internal Report, 42 p.
Sides, E.J., 1994. Effect of Barren Dikes on Ore Potential at Cerro Colorado Porphyry Copper
Deposit, Panamá; Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, v. 93, p. B39-B47.
Simons 1996. Petaquilla Project Feasibility Study. Issued to Teck Cominco, November 1996.
Simons 1998. Petaquilla Project Feasbility Study. Issued to Teck Cominco, January 1998.
Speidel, F. and Faure, S., 1996. Surface Geology of Botija and Petaquilla deposits. Panamá,
Internal Report, 36 p.
Speidel, F., Faure, S., Smith, M.T., McArthur, G.F., 2001. Exploration and discovery at the
Petaquilla Copper-Gold Concession, Panamá. Soc. Econ. Geo. Spec. Pub. 8, p. 349-362.
Thompson, A.J.B., 1996. Petaquilla project, Panamá: Petrographic descriptions and whole rock
geochemistry, Petrascience Consultants Inc., unpublished report for Inmet Mining Corporation.
Twiss, R.J. and Moores, E.M., 1992. Structural Geology. W.H. Freeman and Company, New
York, p. 1-532.
United Nations Development Program, 1969. Porphyry Copper Mineralization at Cerro
Petaquilla, Province of Colón, Panamá; United Nations Development Program Report, 87 p.
Žák, J.; Holub, F.V.; Kachlíl, V., 2006. Magmatic stoping as an important emplacement
mechanism of Variscan plutons: evidence from roof pendants in the Central Bohemian Plutonic
Complex (Bohemian Massif). International Journall of Earth Sciences (Geol Rundsch). 95, p.
771-789.
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, A platform for sustainable development, Technical Series 02,
Project for the Consolidation of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor 2002,
http://www.ccad.ws/PCCBM/docs/platform.pdf
2. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from the Colorado School
of Mines in 1977.
3. I am a:
Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado (No. 19296)
Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Arizona (No. 15055)
Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.
(no. 2762350RM)
4. I have practiced my profession continuously for 32 years since my graduation from college.
My experience includes underground and open pit projects in coal, industrial minerals, base
and precious metals, and includes performing mineral resource and reserve estimations, open
pit mine design and planning, production scheduling, estimations of mining equipment and
manpower requirements, estimations of mine capital and operating costs for scoping-level,
prefeasibility and feasibility studies for projects in North America, Central and South America,
the Philippines, Australia, Africa and Europe.
5. I have read the definition of “Qualified Person” set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-
101”) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as
defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a
“Qualified Person” for the purposes of NI 43-101.
6. I am responsible for the overall preparation of the technical report titled “Mina de Cobre
Panamá Project, Panamá NI 43-101 Technical Report” effective date March 31, 2010 (the
“Technical Report”), prepared for Inmet Mining Corporation. and, in particular, am responsible
for the preparation of those portions of the Technical Report not specifically prepared by other
qualified persons.
7. I have not had prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report. I
have visited the subject property on April 15-16, 2009.
8. As of the date of this certificate, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the
Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be
disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.
9. I am independent of the issuer applying all of the tests in Section 1.4 of National Instrument 43-
101.
10. I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has
been prepared in compliance with that instrument and form.
11. I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other regulatory
authority and any publication by them for regulatory purposes, including electronic publication
in the public company files on their websites accessible by the public, of the Technical Report.
William L. Rose
Print Name of Qualified Person
2. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science from University of Waterloo in
1981.
5. I have read the definition of “Qualified Person” set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-
101”) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as
defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a
“Qualified Person” for the purposes of NI 43-101 but do not fulfill the requirements of an
“independent qualified person”.
6. I have assisted in the preparation of the technical report titled “Mina de Cobre Panamá,
Project, Panamá NI 43-101 Technical Report” effective date March 31 2010 (the “Technical
Report”), prepared for Inmet Mining Corporation. and, in particular, I prepared Sections 7
through 13 and parts of 19 and 20 of the Technical Report.
7. I have had prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report. The
nature of my prior involvement is that I personally supervised technical [field] work on the
property from July 1, 2007 to the present.
8. As of the date of this certificate, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the
Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be
disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.
9. I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has
been prepared in compliance with that instrument and form.
10. I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other regulatory
authority and any publication by them for regulatory purposes, including electronic publication
in the public company files on their websites accessible by the public, of the Technical Report.
2. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Chemistry from Carleton
University in 1975 and a Ph.D. in Geology from Queen’s University in 1980.
5. I have read the definition of “Qualified Person” set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI
43-101”) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional
association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the
requirements to be a “Qualified Person” for the purposes of NI 43-101 but do not fulfill the
requirements of an “independent qualified person”.
6. I have assisted in the preparation of the technical report titled “Mina de Cobre Panamá
Project, Panamá NI 43-101 Technical Report” effective date March 31, 2010 (the
“Technical Report”), prepared for Inmet Mining Corporation and, in particular, I prepared
sections 4 through 13, section 15, parts of sections 19 and 20, and section 21 of the
Technical Report.
7. I have had prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.
The nature of my prior involvement was to maintain and update the geological and digital
drilling database for the project since October 2008 and to construct the geological models
used in the resource modeling.
8. I have visited the property on several occasions since 2008, most recently from November
14th to 17th, 2009.
9. As of the date of this certificate, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the
Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be
disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.
10. I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has
been prepared in compliance with that instrument and form.
11. I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other
regulatory authority and any publication by them for regulatory purposes, including
electronic publication in the public company files on their websites accessible by the
public, of the Technical Report.
Gary S. Wells
Print Name of Qualified Person
2. I graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Wyoming in 1978.
3. I am a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Registration Number 2111185.
4. I have practiced my profession continuously for 32 years and have been involved in geostatistical
studies, mineral resource and reserve estimations and feasibility studies on numerous underground
and open pit base metal and gold deposits in Canada, the United States, Central and South
America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
5. I have read the definition of “qualified person” set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) and
certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI
43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a “qualified person” for
the purposes of NI 43-101.
6. I am responsible for the QA/QC evaluations in Section 14 and for the geostatistical analyses
described in Section 17 of the Technical Report titled “Mina de Cobre Panamá Project, Panamá NI
43-101 Technical Report” with effective date March 31, 2010, (the “Technical Report”). I personally
visited the site from April 14 to April 18, 2009.
7. During the period between 1996 and 1998 I was involved in the project in the position of
Geostatistician, with H. A. Simons during delineation drilling and subsequent feasibility studies
conducted by H. A. Simons for Adrian Resources and Teck Corporation.
8. As of the date of this certificate, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the Technical
Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to make the Technical
Report not misleading.
9. I am independent of the issuer applying all of the tests in Section 1.4 of National Instrument 43-101.
10. I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has been
prepared in compliance with that instrument and form.
11. I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other regulatory
authority and any publication by them, including electronic publication in the public company files
on their websites accessible by the public, of the Technical Report
_
Bruce M. Davis, FAusIMM
2. I graduated from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Science (Geology) in 1984.
4. I have practiced my profession continuously for 26 years and have been involved in mineral
exploration, mine site geology and operations, mineral resource and reserve estimations and
feasibility studies on numerous underground and open pit base metal and gold deposits in
Canada, the United States, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
5. I have read the definition of “qualified person” set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-
101”) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as
defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a
“qualified person” for the purposes of NI 43-101.
6. I am responsible for the preparation of the mineral resources estimates described in Section
17.1 of the Technical Report titled “Mina de Cobre Panamá Project, Panamá NI 43-101
Technical Report“ with effective date March 31, 2010, (the “Technical Report”). I personally
visited the site from April 14 to April 18, 2009.
7. During the period between 1996 and 1998 I was involved in the project in the position of Senior
Geologist, Resource Evaluations with Inmet Mining Corporation. I was one of Inmet’s
technical representatives during delineation drilling and subsequent feasibility studies
conducted by Adrian Resources and Teck Corporation.
8. As of the date of this certificate, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the
Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to make the
Technical Report not misleading.
9. I am independent of the issuer applying all of the tests in Section 1.4 of National Instrument 43-
101.
10. I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has
been prepared in compliance with that instrument and form.
11. I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other regulatory
authority and any publication by them, including electronic publication in the public company
files on their websites accessible by the public, of the Technical Report
_
Robert Sim, P. Geo.
I, Alexandra J. Kozak, P.Eng., am employed as Manager, Process Engineering with AMEC Americas
Limited.
This certificate applies to the Technical Report entitled “Inmet Mining Corporation, Mina de
Cobre Panamá Project, Panamá, NI 43-101 Technical Report” (the Technical Report) dated
March 31, 2010.
I have practiced my profession continuously since 1985 and have been involved in operations in
Canada and Guyana and preparation of scoping, pre-feasibility, and feasibility level studies for gold,
base metals and diamond properties in Canada, United States, Peru, Mexico, Mongolia, Ghana, and
New Guinea. I am currently a Consulting Engineer and have been so since September 1996.
I am responsible for Section 16, 23.2, 23.3, 23.5.2, 23.5.3 and those portions of the Summary,
Interpretation and Conclusions, and Recommendations that pertain to those sections, of the
Technical Report.
I have been involved with the Mina de Cobre Panamá Project since March 2010, as part of the
preparation of this Technical Report.
I have read NI 43–101 and this Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with that
Instrument.
As of the date of this certificate, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the
Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed
to make the Technical Report not misleading.
AMEC Americas Limited 111 Dunsmuir Street, Suite 400 Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5W3 Tel (604) 664-3030 Fax (604) 664-3057
www.amec.com
Table 23-1 summarizes the resulting mine production and material handling schedule. Mine
operations will be scheduled for two 12-hour shifts per day, 365 days per year. The concentrator
will operate an estimated 29.5 years, including the processing of about 173 Mt of stockpiled ore
during Years 28 to 30. During preproduction stripping and pit operations, approximately 65 Mt of
saprock and 119 Mt of low-grade ore, totalling 184 Mt, will be stockpiled in selected areas within
the Botija West area. The ROM stockpile is estimated to contain about 1.5 Mt. Stockpile
recovery losses are estimated at 7% to account for inaccessibility along steep terrain and
material losses in the contact zone with felled timber.
The contractor’s construction materials excavation, saprolite removal, and limited waste rock
stripping are estimated at about 186 Mt over the life of the mine. Of this total, about 149 Mt is
saprolite. Under the schedule in Table 23-1, the Owner will handle more than 3.43 billion
tonnes (Gt) during the 31 years of preproduction stripping and mine operations.
The contractor will excavate about 37 Mt from a construction materials quarry before Month -15.
Of this total, about 5 Mt is saprolite, 1.8 Mt is ore-grade material that will be stockpiled, and
about 30 Mt is waste rock – half of which is projected to be low-sulphur material suitable for
construction of other project facilities.
The following Owner’s primary equipment will be required for the peak mining rates during
Years 11 to 20:
Mine workforce levels will vary between about 317 and 563 people during the operating years,
depending on production rates and haulage distances. This includes both salaried and hourly
workers, expatriates, and nationals. Four rotating crews will provide continuous operator and
maintenance coverage in the mine.
Table 23-2 presents the projected mill feed schedule for the FEED Study mine plan. RCu, RMo
and RAu refer to recoverable grades of Cu, Mo and Au, respectively. Ag Rec refers to the
anticipated recovery for Ag expressed in percent. HrPKt refers to milling hours per kilo-tonne of
ore at a nominal grinding rate of 150,000 t/d.
the concentrator ore throughput will be increased by 50%, to a nominal 225,000 t/d, to maintain
production of concentrate despite a falling head grade. Crushing, grinding, bulk rougher
flotation, water, and air systems will increase in capacity by 50% to accomplish the increase in
ore treatment rate; all other systems will remain at the same size.
The process plant is designed to process ore at a head grade of 0.7% Cu and 0.013% Mo.
These levels are higher than the highest sustained head grades of 0.58% Cu and 0.011% Mo
expected to be mined in Year 5, but the design provides the flexibility to accommodate a wide
range of head grades over the project life. The plant design also allows for 15% day-to-day
fluctuations in throughput. The process includes the following facilities:
Run-of-mine (ROM) ore will be delivered by haul truck to the dump pockets of two primary
gyratory crushers installed in a single in-ground concrete structure close to the rim of the Botija
pit. A 400,000 tonne ROM stockpile will be located close to the crushers to provide a 2½-day
supply of ore for times when weather conditions preclude hauling ore out of the pit. The ROM
stockpile will be operated on a first in, first out basis to prevent the accumulation of aged ore.
Separate feeders and take-away conveyors will move the ore from each crusher to a series of
conveyors which will discharge the ore onto a conical coarse ore stockpile at the concentrator.
There will be provision at the transfer point between the two overland conveyors to accept mill
feed from future crushed ore sources. The coarse ore stockpile will hold a 2½-day supply for
the mill, 15 hours of which will be available to the reclaim feeders without the assistance of a
bulldozer.
Two trains of feeders and conveyors will draw ore from below the coarse ore stockpile and feed
two parallel wet-grinding lines, each consisting of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill and
two ball mills, all equipped with gearless drives. The SAG mill circuits will be closed by trommel
screens followed by washing screens; conveyors will deliver screen oversize to pebble
crushers. The pebble crushing circuits will include pebble bins, cone crushers, and a bypass
arrangement. Crushed pebbles will return to the SAG mills via the feed conveyors. From Year
10 of operation, another coarse-ore stockpile and grinding line will be added to increase the ore
treatment rate.
Discharge from each SAG mill will be evenly split between two ball-mill circuits. The four ball-
mill circuits will be closed by hydrocyclones. Ground slurry will be directed to a flotation circuit
where a bulk sulphide concentrate, containing copper, molybdenum, and gold values, will be
collected and concentrated in a rougher followed by three stages of cleaner flotation. The
roughers and first cleaners will be tank cells, while the second and third cleaners will be column
cells. Before cleaning, rougher concentrate will be reground in vertical stirred mills. From Year
10, a 50% increase in rougher capacity will be required to accommodate the increase in
throughout, but the amount of copper will be the same; therefore, no change to the existing
downstream regrind and cleaning capacity will be needed.
When the molybdenum head grade warrants operating the molybdenum plant, the bulk
concentrate will be thickened in a conventional thickener (with no flocculant) and pumped to a
differential flotation plant, where copper minerals will be depressed and molybdenite floated into
a molybdenum concentrate. The molybdenum concentrate will be filtered, dried, and packaged
in tote bags for shipment to offshore roasters. Tailings from the molybdenum flotation circuit will
constitute the copper concentrate, which will be pumped approximately 30 km to a filter plant at
a port on the Caribbean coast. If the molybdenum head grade is very low, the molybdenum
separation plant will be bypassed.
Pebble
Open Pit Mine Crushers (2) Cyclone Cluster (4)
Primary Screens
Crusher
Coarse
Ore
Stockpile Ball Mills (4)
Tailings to Impoundment
Rougher Flotation
(4 banks of 7) st
Potentially Acid-Generating
1 Cleaner Flotation (2 banks of 8)
Tailings to Impoundment
Regrind Cyclone
Vertimills Cluster (2) Bulk Conc.
(4) Thickener To Process Water
Mine
2nd Cleaner 3rd Cleaner
Bulk Site
Flotation (6) Flotation (4)
Concentrate
o/f Storage
Tanks (2)
Port
Shiploader
Mo Conc.
Mo Dryer Packing
Cu Conc. Loadout
3rd Mo Clnr 4th Mo Clnr 5th Mo Clnr Mo Concentrate
Flotation Flotation Flotation Thickener
The locations of the process plant and ancillary facilities at the mine/plant site are shown in
Figure 23-2. The facilities are centrally located with respect to the three open pits and
associated WRSFs. The available area is rather limited, but the layout has been designed for
efficient material flow and personnel access to the buildings.
The facilities will be constructed along ridgelines or on hill tops to maximize the use of gravity for
milling, flotation, and tailings discharge, to minimize cut-and-fill quantities, and to place the
structures on competent ground.
Laboratory
Site of Future 3rd Line
Flotation
ROM Stockpile
Primary Crushers
presumed to be potentially acid generating and will be directed by gravity in a separate line for
subaqueous discharge in the TMF.
Direct precipitation into the TMF, together with contact water directed to the facility from the
WRSFs and other disturbed land in the area, will result in a net excess of water in the TMF.
Some of this water will be recycled back to the process plant by barge-mounted pumps. Excess
water will be discharged at a controlled rate to the natural watercourses downstream of the
impoundment, via a polishing pond, and will meet all applicable emission limit values and
receiving water quality criteria.
In 1997, an extensive program of metallurgical testing was designed to confirm earlier work on
the metallurgical response of the Botija and Colina deposits. Most of the work was done at
Lakefield Research Ltd., Lakefield, Ontario. Grinding, flotation, dewatering, and mineralogical
work were performed as part of this program. In addition to the Lakefield work, locked-cycle
flotation testwork and modal analysis were performed at G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd.,
Kamloops, B.C. (G&T) to assist in defining grind requirements for both rougher and cleaner
flotation. Copper-molybdenum separation by differential flotation was conducted by
International Metallurgical and Environmental, Kelowna, B.C. (IME). The metallurgical work
done for the present study has built upon the 1997/1998 study with some knowledge of, but no
reliance on, work performed before that time.
The testwork before 2007 was based on large composite samples, and the results, particularly
for flotation testing, could not be used for interpreting the variability of response for material
within the deposits. Consequently, a large sampling program was undertaken in 2008/2009 to
bolster the knowledge from previous work and provide the missing insight into the variability of
response. A total of 16 special holes for metallurgical grinding and flotation tests were drilled in
the Botija, Valle Grande, and Colina orebodies. Sample preparation, flotation testing, and
testing of flotation products were done primarily at G&T. Grinding work was conducted at SGS
Mineral Services, Lakefield, Ontario, and at Philips Enterprises LLC, Golden, Colorado.The life-
of mine production and recovery data are shown in Table 23-3. Recovery formulas for each
metal are described in more detail in Section 17.2.2.
23.4 Infrastructure
Various project support facilities will be provided at the mine/plant site and the port site. The
mine site facilities are divided into two areas: the mine/plant site, which includes buildings and
structures for repair and maintenance of mine and plant equipment, and the eastern
infrastructure area, which includes facilities for personnel accommodations, administration, and
security. The port site includes facilities for concentrate storage and load-out to ocean-going
vessels, coal receiving facilities, a barge berth, and inbound/export freight handling and storage
facilities. The right-of-way for the access corridor between the two sites will be occupied by a
new road, pipelines, and power transmission lines.
Proposed layouts of the mine/plant site, eastern infrastructure area, and port site are shown in
Figure 23-3, 23-4, and 23-5.
The mine truckshop will be the main services complex on site, containing maintenance facilities
for the mine mobile equipment fleet, warehouse space, a machine shop, offices, and the mine
dispatch centre.
A mine service vehicle shop will be provided for all light- and medium-duty vehicles such as
non-mining mobile equipment, road transport vehicles, personnel buses, and pickup trucks.
Facilities for a licensed blasting contractor will be provided on the opposite side of a ridge south
of the plant site area. The foundations will be cut into the hillside to provide a natural barrier to
protect the mine/plant facilities as well as the nearby Molejón mine property to the southeast.
The construction camp will be sized for 3,500 workers and the permanent camp for 1,200
workers, including those employed at the port site during operations. A separate 900-person
construction camp will be provided at the port site.
The main administration building will include a reception area, a small training room, and other
standard office features. An elevator will be provided for full accessibility. A separate training
facility adjacent to the permanent camp will be equipped to provide all training functions for the
mine and mill.
The medical clinic will be equipped to treat general injuries and sicknesses, stabilize serious
cases for medivac to off-site health facilities, and dispense drugs and medications. The clinic
will have 12 beds, 6 of which will be in single rooms with adjoining washrooms. The facilities
will include an emergency operating room, recovery room, x-ray room, two
consulting/examination rooms, pharmacist’s office, doctor’s office, nurse’s office, nursing
station, waiting room, and related support services, including a mortuary-type cold storage
drawer. The clinic will initially be installed near the construction camp facility and relocated
closer to the operations camp at the end of the construction phase of the project.
On-Shore Facilities
These will include:
The administration, warehouse, and shops complex will house all the services, offices, and
covered warehouse space required at the port site. The building will include a Panamanian
customs office, medical facilities, and a garage for emergency and vehicles.
Much of the area within the port areas boundaries will be devoted to the storage of full
containers unloaded from ships and empty containers returned from the plant site or other
project locations and awaiting transfer to a ship.
Marine Facilities
These will include:
causeway
access trestle
shiploader
service platform
berthing dolphin and mooring arrangement
fuel receiving system
coal receiving system
barge berth and ramp
coastal freighter berth
temporary construction quay.
The main berth is designed to handle ships in the design range from 30,000 dwt to 65,000 dwt
for both copper concentrate export and coal import. The copper concentrate will be loaded into
the ships by a radial shiploader with the capacity to cover up to three hatches without warping.
The barge and coastal vessel berth is designed to accommodate barges of up to 7,500 dwt and
vessels of up to 10,000 dwt. The berth will allow receipt of all supplies for the mine,
concentrator, and power plant. Supplies will generally be containerized in 20 ft containers and
off-loaded by crane. The berth will be designed to accommodate roll-on/roll-off vessels.
A separate tug pen with sheltered mooring and refuelling facilities will be provided for tugs and
line boats stationed at the terminal and Panamanian coast guard vessels.
At the port site, an additional controlled security gate will be installed across the access road to
the deep sea berth to provide security and controlled access to the offshore and marine
facilities. In addition, the entire port site will be enclosed by a 2.1 m high fence.
The police stations will be used for all police force requirements for the general area and will be
located outside the security perimeters of the site boundaries so that the police can provide
local law enforcement functions and security support without violating any international,
Homeland, or security/access requirements. One officer and eight personnel of other ranks will
be assigned to each police station.
The existing road access is from the south, at a turnoff from the Pan-American Highway at
Penonomé. This road runs northerly in the direction of the mine/plant site, bypassing the small
community of Coclecito and continuing through the Molejón Sub-Concession.
MPSA will realign the road through the Molejón property around the mine workings during 2010
and early 2011 for use during the initial construction phase until the permanent Eastern Access
Road is ready for use.
The Eastern Access Road will be roughly 12.6 km long, starting approximately 5.2 km west of
the town of Coclecito. A bridge will be installed across Río Botija to allow the road to continue
north to the southeast corner of the TMF, where it joins the Coast Road.
The Coast Road, including the reclaim pipeline corridor, will be approximately 30 km long and
will be a private road to connect the project port site with the mine/plant site. The road will be
suitable for the transport of regular and oversized freight and equipment needed for construction
and operation of the mine/plant facilities. The three pipelines (concentrate, diesel fuel, filtrate
return) will be buried in the shoulder of the road. Bridges will be required for crossings over Río
Uvero and Río del Medio.
Measures to assist wildlife in crossing the roads will include the installation of netting across
some sections for species living in the jungle canopy, local crossings over roadside ditches for
ground-based species, and specially designed culverts for smaller wildlife.
23.5 Markets
23.5.1 Scope
The marketing plan for the Mina de Cobre Panamá project is based on updated metallurgical
data, ongoing discussions and negotiations with potential customers, and analysis by
independent consultants and Inmet Mining’s marketing group. All cost assumptions are based
on consistent application of the principle that fuel and treatment charges are linked to the
copper price used over the long term.
Inmet has estimated that the Mine de Cobre Panamá concentrate will be sold to smelters in
Europe (35%) and Asia (65%). The forecast for average shipping rate for this study is
$37/tonne.
The study is based on the production parameters for Years 1 to 30 as shown in Table 23-4.
23.5.3 Quality
The anticipated quality of the copper and molybdenum concentrates to be produced is based on
extensive metallurgical testing carried out by Lakefield Research for the 1998 feasibility study
and by G&T Metallurgical Services for the FEED study. The relevant parameters are presented
in Table 23-5 and Table 23-6. Overall the concentrates are considered to be of good quality
with no significant deleterious constituents.
MPSA will create a mining operation of the highest standards that generates added value in a
sustainable manner for the benefit of its shareholders, workers, neighbouring communities, and
the country, and that protects the safety and health of its employees, the environment, and the
surrounding communities. MPSA also intends to help establish an enduring economic base that
will be viable beyond the life of the mine. To achieve this goal, MPSA will work with the
communities in the region to develop sustainable infrastructure and economic activity through
the mechanism of a Foundation that will bring together the communities, the regional
government, and other representative bodies as partners for development, funded by a
structured revenue-sharing arrangement based on MPSA’s mining activities. At the same time,
MPSA recognizes that the project is located in a highly diverse ecosystem – part of the
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) – that is both sensitive and under threat from
anthropogenic activity. MPSA will work with authorities to implement protected areas for the
movement of fauna and to maintain habitat for threatened species, and will participate in
education programs to help local residents understand the sensitivity of the ecosystem.
MPSA will also work with the communities and agencies to control to the extent possible
project-induced in-migration and to create opportunities to alleviate pressures on natural
ecosystems. The overall objective is to leave behind, at the end of the mine life, a sustainable
system that both supports local inhabitants in a reasonable manner and that maintains – and
where possible enhances – the rich biodiversity of the region. MPSA has developed policies to
demonstrate and communicate the company’s commitment to sustainability to all stakeholders.
MPSA is preparing an ESIA to international standards that identifies and addresses the potential
sociological, socioeconomic, and environmental impacts of the Mina de Cobre Panamá project,
both positive and negative. The ESIA conforms with the requirements of ANAM (Panamanian)
and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards (PS) on Social and
Environmental Sustainability for the assessment of a mining project of this magnitude. The
assessment process included extensive consultations with stakeholders about the project,
baseline studies of the local socioeconomic and natural environments, identification of concerns
and opportunities arising from the field studies and consultations, and consideration of
alternatives to and within the project to limit or mitigate potential negative impacts, and plans to
address the remaining, residual project impacts.
MPSA’s community relations program started in 2007 and focused on the local communities to
provide information on project plans and the alternatives being considered, and to listen to and
understand community issues and concerns about the project. MPSA also engaged with
external stakeholders, civil society, government agencies, and the media. Public ESIA-related
consultations began in early 2008 and included two rounds of discussions with the same
groups. In the second round, completed in August 2009, MPSA specifically discussed the
expected impacts of the project and the proposed mitigation measures. Stakeholders again had
an opportunity to question MPSA representatives and express their concerns.
Field and literature studies of the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments were
carried out to determine the existing state of these environments in the immediate area of the
project (project development area, or PDA) and in the region surrounding the project
(ecosystem region).
The project is located within one of the few remaining intact tracts of primary rainforest within
the MBC. Both the Project development area (PDA) and the ecosystem region are relatively
pristine. Habitat is intact in 89 percent of the PDA and in 92 percent of the ecosystem region.
The ESIA studies identified more than 850 species of flora, including 65 species “new to
science” and 164 potential species of concern. More than 78 amphibians and reptile species,
262 bird species, 134 butterfly species, and 26 mammal species were found in the study area.
In addition, four undescribed robber frog species considered “new to science” and endemic to
the footprint were found.
Degraded areas include those of high human use for agriculture, placer mining, village
residences along streams, and along exploration roads. Population in-migration and
deforestation both appear to be increasing separately from the Project, reducing wildlife habitat
and adversely affecting biodiversity.
Approximately 6,000 people reside within a 20 km radius of the proposed mine, mainly in small
communities varying in size from 100 to 600 people. Latino and indigenous communities are
both present. Most of these communities have no infrastructure, only rudimentary health
facilities and basic schooling. Average income ranges from US$300 to US$400 per month per
family, with many families dependent on subsistence agriculture or activities such as artisanal
mining. Water resources for human use are abundant, although drinking water quality is poor,
with high levels of fecal coliform in many potable water sources.
Social conditions throughout the area are changing in response to perceived opportunities
associated with other mining projects and artisanal gold mining activities, and as a result of in-
migration of indigenous people to the forest. Increasing deforestation resulting from agricultural,
mining, hunting, and fishing pressures is leading to local scarcities of some plant and animal
species.
A human health and ecological risk assessment (HHERA) found that most combinations of
existing receptors and contaminants of potential concern found negligible or low risks to human
health and the ecology.
A valued ecosystem components (VEC) approach was used to assess the potential impacts of
the project. The selected VECs incorporate both the natural and human environments and in
large part reflect the issues and concerns that emerged during the stakeholder consultations.
Direct loss of habitat will primarily result from clearing associated with the project; indirect loss
of habitat will primarily result from the in-migration of people to the area, some of which is
occurring as a baseline condition and some of which will be induced by project development.
This habitat loss will negatively affect the biodiversity of the regional ecosystem as well as the
movement of fauna through established forest corridors. Habitat loss and its direct effects on
flora and fauna, and particularly on identified species of concern, is the largest biophysical
impact of the project on its surroundings.
Removal of the forest cover and reduced access to the natural resources of the forest will have
negative effects on the populations that depend on these resources for their livelihood.
Examples of such resources are construction materials (wood), medicinal plants, fauna, fish,
and, in the port area, marine resources. Further deterioration of natural resources could result
from long-term project-induced in-migration of people into the area.
Some individuals and families will be forced to relocate because they are located within the
proposed project footprint; these people will be assisted through MPSA’s resettlement plan
which will comply with IFC PS 5 and 7.
The project will, however, result in the generation of employment for local communities and of
higher income and revenue through new job opportunities, procurement of goods and services,
and payment of taxes and royalties – a positive impact.
Measures to limit and/or mitigate impacts on the natural and socioeconomic environments have
been incorporated into project planning and design. The residual impacts of the project are
those negative or positive effects that remain after all mitigations have been implemented. The
principal residual biological impact will be the reduction of biodiversity in the region resulting
from development within the project footprint. Further mitigation will depend on the success of
the project reclamation program designed to restore secondary growth (initially) to the PDA.
The other principal residual impacts will be on the social and economic structures of the region.
Whether these are positive or negative will depend on the success of the efforts of the
Foundation and other MPSA initiatives to offset social issues and establish a sustainable
economic system that extends beyond a dependence on mining.
Further residual impacts will relate to the creation of four large bodies of standing water (the
three mine pits and the tailings pond), possible long-term effects on water quality that may
persist despite of water treatment, and the long-term stability of the tailings management facility
embankments. In all cases, MPSA is committed to ensuring that the mitigation actions remain
as effective as possible through the mine life and after closure.
MPSA has developed mitigation plans and actions based on evolving international best practice,
particularly in the areas of biodiversity offsets and compensation and of community
development. MPSA has developed an environmental and social management system to limit
and/or mitigate negative effects and provide positive benefits to the local and national economy.
At the time of this writing, no reclamation/remediation bonds have been posted for the proposed
project development.
1. “Exoneration for the Company, its Affiliates, contractors and subcontractors of any import
tax or duty, contribution, charge, consular fee, lien, duty or another tax or contribution, or of any
name or class that fall [are levied] on the introduction and import of equipment, machinery,
materials, parts, diesel and Bunker C and other petroleum derivatives”
3. “Excepting only the respective mining royalties and royalties, as long as the Company has
not finished repaying the debt which the Company or its Affiliates acquire for construction and
development of [the Project], the Company and its Affiliates shall be totally exempt from
payment of any type of tax, fee, duty, charge, lien, contribution or tribute that may be levied due
to any reason in relation to the development of THE PROJECT, except municipal taxes.”
For the purposes for this study it is assumed the term of the debt repayment schedule will be 11
years. These benefits and charges are incorporated into the financial model.
The capital cost estimate is based on an EPCM approach. Mid-way into the study, MPSA
asked that AMEC change to an EPC-type approach, and allowances were made to capture
costs associated with an EPC contract, as follows:
AMEC was responsible for developing the costs for its scope of work and for assimilating costs
provided by other project participants into an overall project capital cost estimate, as follows:
Sandwell Engineering Inc ................... marine facilities design, quantities, and estimates
Pipeline Systems International (PSI) ...... concentrate, water return, and diesel pipelines
Estudios Electricos ............................. 230 kV power line and Llano Sánchez substation
MPSA ............................................. mining preproduction development and mining fleet
MPSA ........................................................................................................ Owner’s costs
With the exception of initial earthworks, the estimate does not include capital costs for the power
generating plant and associated facilities being constructed by others.
The scope of the project evolved over the course of the FEED Study. Changes made after
December 2009 included relocating the construction and permanent camps at the plant site,
adding the Eastern Access Road, and modifying the plant site layout to allow for the future third
processing train. Where engineering assessment was performed for the changes, the cost
impact has been included in the capital cost build-up. Where engineering assessment was not
completed to a full FEED level, allowances were made and added to the appropriate cost area.
All costs are expressed in second quarter 2009 (Q2) US dollars. No allowance has been
included for escalation, interest, financing fees, taxes, duties, or working capital during
construction. The level of accuracy for the estimate is ±15% of estimated final costs, as per
AACE Class 3 definition.
Sustaining capital, not covered in Table 23-7, includes costs for the installation of the Colina
crushing station and associated materials handling infrastructure, replacement of the mine and
plant mobile equipment, and the installation of the third grinding line to increase production in
Year 10. The cost estimate for these major expansions and equipment is $1,116 million.
Sustaining costs also include typical items such as ongoing tailings dam construction, water
management and treatment facilities, electrical equipment, and community support. Total life-
of-mine sustaining capital for these items, plus the mobile equipment and plant expansions
mentioned above, is estimated at $1,723 million.
The operating cost estimate is expressed in constant second quarter 2009 (Q2 2009)
U.S. dollars with no allowances for escalation or fluctuation in exchange rates. Costs incurred
before plant start-up on Q4 April 2015 are treated as capital expenditures (capex).
The average costs for the project over the mine life are shown in Table 23-8.
The total operating cost is $15,469 million over the LOM for a milled feed of 2,143 Mt. The
overall unit operating cost is $7.23/t of milled ore.
Another case (levered) assuming $2.16 billion of debt financing, representing 50% of the
preproduction capital, was evaluated. This resulted in a project after-tax IRR of 15.1% – a net
improvement of 2.7% over the un-levered base case.
For the sake of discounting, cash flows are assumed to occur at the end of each period. All
cash flows are discounted to the beginning of Q4 2010.
Base Case
Table 23-10 summarizes the key project financials for the un-levered base case.
Sensitivity analyses for the project NPV @ 8% and the IRR were performed on a range of metal
prices (Cu, Au, Ag, Mo), from -30% to +30%, as well as changes to capital costs, operating
costs, steel prices (grinding media), process reagent prices, and diesel fuel prices. The results
are shown in Figure 23-6 and Figure 23-7.
The project is most sensitive to changes in metal prices (as well as recovery and head grade),
less so to capital and operating cost changes, and least sensitive to variations in individual
commodity pricing for steel, reagents, and diesel. The dramatic effect of price change can be
observed in Table 23-11 .
5,000
4,000
NPV @ 8% ($US million)
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
-40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
(1,000)
(2,000)
Change in Factor
Capital expenditure Operating expenditure M etal price Steel price Reagents Co pper Diesel Fuel
20%
18%
16%
14%
12%
IRR (%)
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Change in Factor
Capital expenditure Operating expenditure M etal price Steel price Reagents Co pper Diesel Fuel
Levered Case
The levered case assumed the following:
The financial results of the levered case at various pricing scenarios are shown in Table 23-12.
Performance Statistics
Inmet cost metrics are summarized in
Table 23-13 for the base case and in Table 23-14 for the levered case. The metric items are
defined as follows:
Cash costs are the sum of on-site costs, off-site costs, NSR royalty, non-income taxes,
and by-product credits divided by recovered copper.
Break-even cash costs are cash costs plus sustaining capital divided by recovered
copper.
Financed break-even cash costs are break-even cash costs plus interest expense
divided by recovered copper.
Total costs are cash costs plus interest expense divided by recovered copper plus life-
of-mine capital divided by life-of-mine recovered copper.
23.12 Payback
Payback for the project is 5.9 years.