Exploration
On January 31, 2024, the Company announced positive exploration drilling results from the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine. The Antelope deposit, which comprises of the Springbok Zone, the Oryx Zone, and a possible third structure, Impala, subject to further confirmatory drilling, is located approximately three kilometers south of the Otjikoto open pit.
On June 20, 2024, the Company announced an initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Springbok Zone, the southernmost shoot of the recently discovered Antelope deposit. Over 36,000 meters have been drilled into the Springbok Zone to date, with 33 holes totaling 16,950 meters completed in 2024, to establish the 50 x 50 meter spacing that informs the initial Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate. Recent drilling at the Springbok Zone remains open southward, indicating additional exploration potential beyond the currently defined resource. The Company determined that the initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 1.75 million tonnes grading 6.91 g/t gold for a total of 390,000 ounces of gold was sufficient to initiate a PEA on development of the deposit by underground mining methods, similar to the Wolfshag deposit.
Subject to the receipt of a positive PEA and necessary permits and approvals, mining of the Sprinbok Zone could begin to contribute to gold production at Otjikoto as early as 2028. An initial budget of $10 million has be approved to de-risk the Antelope deposit development schedule by advancing early work planning, project permits and long lead orders. Exploration of the greater Antelope deposit has the potential to supplement the processing of ore stockpiles at Otjikoto, with an initial goal of adding between 80,000 and 90,000 ounces of additional gold production per year from 2029 through 2032, with potential to extend the mine life further through additional drilling at the Springbok and Oryx Zones at the Antelope deposit.
Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves does not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted into a Mineral Reserve.
Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have mining and economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves.
A total of $7 million is
budgeted for exploration at Otjikoto in 2025. The focus of the exploration program will be
drilling to expand and define the Antelope deposit, with a total of 44,000 meters of drilling
planned.