Cerrado Gold Begins Underground Operations at Its Minera Don Nicolas Mine

Rhea-AI Summary

Cerrado Gold (CRDOF) has initiated underground operations at its Minera Don Nicolas Mine in Argentina, marking a significant operational expansion. The company completed the initial blast for the underground portal construction, with production expected to begin in June and reach steady state by October 2025. The underground development will initially focus on the high-grade Paloma pit area. Simultaneously, Cerrado has launched a 20,000-metre exploration drill program, targeting near-surface, high-grade deposits for the CIL plant and expanding resources around the Las Calandrias heap leach project. The company now operates through three production methods: open pit, heap leach, and underground operations, diversifying its mining capabilities.

Positive

• Initial underground portal construction commenced with successful first blast
• Underground operations expected to contribute to production starting June 2025
• Launch of 20,000-metre exploration drill program to identify additional high-grade deposits
• Diversification of mining methods with three operational approaches: open pit, heap leach, and underground

Negative

• None.

Highlights:

• Portal construction commenced with initial blast completed

• Underground operations expected to contribute to production in June and ramp up during Q3 2025

• Open pit exploration drill campaign commenced

TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / June 12, 2025 / Cerrado Gold Inc. [TSX.V:CERT][OTCQX:CRDOF][FRA:BAI0] ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the development of the Company's inaugural underground operation commencing underneath the high-grade Paloma pit at its Minera Don Nicolas Mine in Argentina ("MDN").

Earlier this week, the Company completed the initial blast to begin construction of the underground portal and progress the development of the underground mine over the coming months. The initial decline will be driven through the ore body and will provide nominal feed to the carbon in leach ("CIL") plant. Production from the underground is expected to ramp-up to reach steady state production by October this year.

Additionally, the Company has now mobilized the initial drill rig to commence the previously announced 20,000 metre exploration drill program at MDN. The primary focus will be near surface, high-grade deposits that can provide feed to the CIL plant as well as expanding potential resources in and around the Las Calandrias heap leach project to add both high grade and heap leachable material. Underground drilling at Paloma will commence once the underground exploration platforms have been established.

Mark Brennan, Executive Chairman, commented: "The start of the underground operation is a key milestone for Cerrado's Argentinian operations; we now have the ability to produce from open pit, heap leach and underground operations. Not only will the underground operations contribute to production immediately, but it will also provide a platform for underground exploration, which remains completely open and largely unexplored at MDN."

Review of Technical Information

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Croal, P.Eng., Chief Technical Officer for Cerrado Gold, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Cerrado

Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company. The Company is the 100% owner of the producing Minera Don Nicolás and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Portugal, the Company holds an 80% interest in the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec.

In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas ("MDN") operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias heap leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff.

In Portugal, Cerrado is focused on the development and exploration of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant development and exploration opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential.

In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier high purity high grade DRI Iron Ore project, which has the potential to produce a premium iron ore concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com.

Mark Brennan
CEO and Chairman

Mike McAllister
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1-647-805-5662
mmcallister@cerradogold.com

Disclaimer

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado, the Company's 2025 guidance including expected gold production, future growth, the goals of our planned underground exploration program, the expected timing of the strengthening of the 2025 production, the primary sources of the 2025 production, expectations regarding production at the underground operation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information.

In making the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado has made certain assumptions. Although Cerrado believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

SOURCE: Cerrado Gold Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

When will Cerrado Gold's underground operations at Minera Don Nicolas reach steady state production?

According to the press release, the underground operations are expected to reach steady state production by October 2025.

What is the size of the exploration drill program announced by Cerrado Gold (CRDOF)?

Cerrado Gold announced a 20,000-metre exploration drill program at the Minera Don Nicolas Mine.

What are the three types of mining operations at Cerrado Gold's Minera Don Nicolas Mine?

The mine operates through open pit, heap leach, and underground mining operations.

Where is the underground development taking place at Cerrado Gold's mine?

The underground development is taking place underneath the high-grade Paloma pit at the Minera Don Nicolas Mine in Argentina.

What are the main targets of Cerrado Gold's exploration program at MDN?

The exploration program targets near-surface, high-grade deposits for the CIL plant and expanding resources around the Las Calandrias heap leach project.