Hecla Files NI43-101 Technical Reports for Keno Hill and Casa Berardi Mines
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
Keno Hill
-
Silver Proven and Probable reserves of 55 million silver ounces, an increase of
45% over the reserves identified at the time of the acquisition in September 2022, and an increase of10% over year-end 2022. -
Reserves are calculated at a price assumption of
per ounce of silver.$17 -
Measured and Indicated resources are 34 million silver ounces, exclusive of reserves, and inferred resources are 32 million ounces, an increase of
5% and25% over year-end 2022, respectively. - 11-year reserve mine plan, silver production of 52.9 million ounces based on current reserves.
-
Current reserves expected to generate
of free cash flow with after-tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) of$420 million at$305 million silver and$22 5% discount rate.1
Casa Berardi
-
Gold Proven and Probable reserves decreased
21% to 1.3 million ounces due to the strategic decision to transition Casa Berardi to an open pit only operation. -
Reserves calculated at price assumption of
per gold ounce for open-pit and$1,650 /oz for underground.$1,850 - Measured and Indicated gold resources of 0.8 million ounces, exclusive of reserves.
- 14-year open pit reserve mine plan with production of 1.04 million ounces of gold.
-
Current reserves expected to generate
of free cash flow over LOM with an after-tax NPV of$602 million at$356 million gold price and$1,950 5% discount rate.2
Additional details regarding the reserves and resources at Keno Hill and Casa Berardi are contained in Table A accompanying this news release. The Keno Hill and Casa Berardi Mine reserves and resources were reported in the February 13, 2024 news release entitled “Hecla Reports Exploration Results and Reserves.”
Endnotes
1 | ||
2 |
ABOUT HECLA
Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest silver producer in
QUALIFIED PERSON (QP)
Kurt D. Allen, MSc., CPG, VP - Exploration of Hecla Mining Company and Keith Blair, MSc., CPG, Chief Geologist of Hecla Limited, who serve as a Qualified Person under National Instrument NI 43-101, supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information concerning Hecla’s mineral projects in this news release. Messrs. Allen and Blair have sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Messrs. Allen and Blair consent to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.
Table A
Mineral Reserves – 12/31/2023 (1)
Proven Reserves (1) |
|||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Greens Creek (2,3) |
|
|
9 |
11.3 |
0.08 |
3.5 |
8.4 |
100 |
1 |
310 |
740 |
Lucky Friday (2,4) |
|
|
5,299 |
12.8 |
- |
8.0 |
3.8 |
67,595 |
- |
424,080 |
201,280 |
Casa Berardi Underground (2,5) |
|
|
55 |
- |
0.12 |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (2,5) |
|
|
4,240 |
- |
0.09 |
- |
- |
- |
379 |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (2,6) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Total |
|
|
9,603 |
|
|
|
|
67,695 |
387 |
424,390 |
202,020 |
Probable Reserves (7) |
|||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Greens Creek (2,3) |
|
|
10,009 |
10.5 |
0.09 |
2.5 |
6.6 |
105,122 |
880 |
250,270 |
657,990 |
Lucky Friday (2,4) |
|
|
966 |
10.8 |
- |
7.1 |
2.9 |
10,411 |
- |
68,320 |
28,100 |
Casa Berardi Underground (2,5) |
|
|
175 |
- |
0.15 |
- |
- |
- |
26 |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (2,5) |
|
|
11,384 |
- |
0.08 |
- |
- |
- |
859 |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (2,6) |
|
|
2,069 |
26.6 |
0.01 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
55,068 |
13 |
58,170 |
52,380 |
Total |
|
|
24,603 |
|
|
|
|
170,601 |
1,778 |
376,760 |
738,470 |
Proven and Probable Reserves |
|||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Greens Creek (2,3) |
|
|
10,018 |
10.5 |
0.09 |
2.5 |
6.6 |
105,222 |
881 |
250,580 |
658,730 |
Lucky Friday (2,4) |
|
|
6,265 |
12.5 |
- |
7.9 |
3.7 |
78,006 |
- |
492,400 |
229,380 |
Casa Berardi Underground (2,5) |
|
|
230 |
- |
0.14 |
- |
- |
- |
33 |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (2,5) |
|
|
15,624 |
- |
0.08 |
- |
- |
- |
1,238 |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (2,6) |
|
|
2,069 |
26.6 |
0.01 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
55,068 |
13 |
58,170 |
52,380 |
Total |
|
|
34,206 |
|
|
|
|
238,296 |
2,165 |
801,150 |
940,490 |
(1) |
The term “reserve” means an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of indicated and measured mineral resources that, in the opinion of the qualified person, can be the basis of an economically viable project. More specifically, it is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated mineral resource, which includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined or extracted. The term “proven reserves” means the economically mineable part of a measured mineral resource and can only result from conversion of a measured mineral resource. See footnotes 8 and 9 below. |
|
(2) |
Mineral reserves are based on |
|
(3) |
The reserve NSR cut-off values for Greens Creek are |
|
(4) |
The reserve NSR cut-off values for Lucky Friday are |
|
(5) |
The average reserve cut-off grades at Casa Berardi are 0.11 oz/ton gold underground and 0.03 oz/ton gold for open pit. Metallurgical recovery (actual 2023): |
|
(6) |
The reserve NSR cut-off value at Keno Hill is |
|
(7) |
The term “probable reserves” means the economically mineable part of an indicated and, in some cases, a measured mineral resource. See footnotes 9 and 10 below. |
|
Totals may not represent the sum of parts due to rounding |
Mineral Resources - 12/31/2023 (8)
Measured Resources (9) |
|||||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Greens Creek (12,13) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Lucky Friday (12,14) |
|
|
5,326 |
8.6 |
- |
5.6 |
2.7 |
- |
45,785 |
- |
299,360 |
146,420 |
- |
Casa Berardi Underground(12,15) |
|
|
1,099 |
- |
0.21 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
234 |
- |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (12,15) |
|
|
67 |
- |
0.03 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (12,16) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fire Creek (18,19) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
18 |
4.9 |
0.59 |
- |
- |
- |
87 |
10 |
- |
- |
- |
Midas (18,21) |
|
|
2 |
7.6 |
0.68 |
- |
- |
- |
14 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
Heva (22) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hosco (22) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Star (12,23) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Underground (29) |
|
|
881 |
- |
0.09 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
75 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Open Pit (29) |
|
|
32 |
- |
0.06 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Underground (30) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Open Pit (30) |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Total |
|
|
7,425 |
|
|
|
|
|
45,886 |
324 |
299,360 |
146,420 |
- |
Indicated Resources (10) |
|||||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Greens Creek (12,13) |
|
|
8,040 |
13.9 |
0.10 |
3.0 |
8.0 |
- |
111,526 |
800 |
239,250 |
643,950 |
- |
Lucky Friday (12,14) |
|
|
1,011 |
8.0 |
- |
6.0 |
2.7 |
- |
8,136 |
- |
60,200 |
26,910 |
- |
Casa Berardi Underground (12,15) |
|
|
3,154 |
- |
0.19 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
603 |
- |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (12,15) |
|
|
205 |
- |
0.03 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (12,16) |
|
|
4,504 |
7.5 |
0.006 |
0.9 |
3.5 |
- |
33,926 |
26 |
41,120 |
157,350 |
- |
|
|
|
1,453 |
6.5 |
0.09 |
- |
- |
- |
9,430 |
135 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
1,187 |
5.5 |
0.01 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
1.2 |
6,579 |
16 |
22,420 |
34,100 |
14,650 |
Fire Creek (18,19) |
|
|
114 |
1.0 |
0.46 |
- |
- |
- |
113 |
53 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
70 |
1.9 |
0.58 |
- |
- |
- |
130 |
40 |
- |
- |
- |
Midas (18,21) |
|
|
76 |
5.7 |
0.42 |
- |
- |
- |
430 |
32 |
- |
- |
- |
Heva (22) |
|
|
1,266 |
- |
0.06 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
76 |
- |
- |
- |
Hosco (22) |
|
|
29,287 |
- |
0.04 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,202 |
- |
- |
- |
Star (12,23) |
|
|
1,068 |
3.0 |
- |
6.4 |
7.7 |
- |
3,177 |
- |
67,970 |
82,040 |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Underground (29) |
|
|
3,116 |
- |
0.10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
311 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Open Pit (29) |
|
|
960 |
- |
0.08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
76 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Underground (30) |
|
|
5,135 |
- |
0.12 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
604 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Open Pit (30) |
|
|
960 |
- |
0.13 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
128 |
- |
- |
- |
Total |
|
|
61,606 |
|
|
|
|
|
173,447 |
4,107 |
430,960 |
944,350 |
14,650 |
Measured & Indicated Resources |
|||||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Greens Creek (12,13) |
|
|
8,040 |
13.9 |
0.10 |
3.0 |
8.0 |
- |
111,526 |
800 |
239,250 |
643,950 |
- |
Lucky Friday (12,14) |
|
|
6,337 |
8.3 |
- |
5.8 |
2.7 |
- |
53,921 |
- |
359,560 |
173,330 |
- |
Casa Berardi Underground (12,15) |
|
|
4,253 |
- |
0.20 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
837 |
- |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (12,15) |
|
|
272 |
- |
0.03 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (12,16) |
|
|
4,504 |
7.5 |
0.006 |
0.9 |
3.5 |
- |
33,926 |
26 |
41,120 |
157,350 |
- |
|
|
|
1,453 |
6.5 |
0.09 |
- |
- |
- |
9,430 |
135 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
1,187 |
5.5 |
0.01 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
1.2 |
6,579 |
16 |
22,420 |
34,100 |
14,650 |
Fire Creek (18,19) |
|
|
114 |
1.0 |
0.46 |
- |
- |
- |
113 |
53 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
88 |
2.5 |
0.58 |
- |
- |
- |
217 |
50 |
- |
- |
- |
Midas (18,21) |
|
|
78 |
5.7 |
0.43 |
- |
- |
- |
444 |
33 |
- |
- |
- |
Heva (22) |
|
|
1,266 |
- |
0.06 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
76 |
- |
- |
- |
Hosco (22) |
|
|
29,287 |
- |
0.04 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,202 |
- |
- |
- |
Star (12,23) |
|
|
1,068 |
3.0 |
- |
6.4 |
7.7 |
- |
3,177 |
- |
67,970 |
82,040 |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Underground (29) |
|
|
3,997 |
- |
0.10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
386 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Open Pit (29) |
|
|
992 |
- |
0.08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
78 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Underground (30) |
|
|
5,135 |
- |
0.12 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
604 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Open Pit (30) |
|
|
960 |
- |
0.13 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
128 |
- |
- |
- |
Total |
|
|
69,031 |
|
|
|
|
|
219,333 |
4,431 |
730,320 |
1,090,770 |
14,650 |
Inferred Resources (11) |
|||||||||||||
Asset |
Location |
Ownership |
Tons
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Silver
|
Gold
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Copper
|
Greens Creek (12,13) |
|
|
1,930 |
13.4 |
0.08 |
2.9 |
6.9 |
- |
25,891 |
154 |
55,890 |
133,260 |
- |
Lucky Friday (12,14) |
|
|
3,600 |
7.8 |
- |
5.9 |
2.8 |
- |
27,934 |
- |
211,340 |
100,630 |
- |
Casa Berardi Underground (12,15) |
|
|
1,475 |
- |
0.22 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
332 |
- |
- |
- |
Casa Berardi Open Pit (12,15) |
|
|
828 |
- |
0.08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
64 |
- |
- |
- |
Keno Hill (12,16) |
|
|
2,836 |
11.2 |
0.003 |
1.1 |
1.8 |
- |
31,791 |
9 |
32,040 |
51,870 |
- |
|
|
|
3,490 |
6.4 |
0.05 |
- |
- |
- |
22,353 |
182 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
385 |
4.2 |
0.01 |
1.6 |
2.3 |
0.9 |
1,606 |
5 |
6,070 |
8,830 |
3,330 |
Fire Creek (18,19) |
|
|
764 |
0.5 |
0.51 |
- |
- |
- |
393 |
392 |
- |
- |
- |
Fire Creek - Open Pit (24) |
|
|
74,584 |
0.1 |
0.03 |
- |
- |
- |
5,232 |
2,178 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
642 |
3.0 |
0.42 |
- |
- |
- |
1,916 |
273 |
- |
- |
- |
Midas (18,21) |
|
|
1,232 |
6.3 |
0.50 |
- |
- |
- |
7,723 |
615 |
- |
- |
- |
Heva (22) |
|
|
2,787 |
- |
0.08 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
216 |
- |
- |
- |
Hosco (22) |
|
|
17,726 |
- |
0.04 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
663 |
- |
- |
- |
Star (12,23) |
|
|
2,851 |
3.1 |
- |
5.9 |
5.9 |
- |
8,795 |
- |
168,180 |
166,930 |
- |
San Juan Silver (12,25) |
|
|
2,570 |
14.9 |
0.01 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
- |
38,203 |
34 |
49,400 |
39,850 |
- |
|
|
|
913 |
0.3 |
0.14 |
- |
- |
- |
271 |
131 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
100,086 |
1.5 |
- |
- |
- |
0.7 |
148,736 |
- |
- |
- |
658,680 |
Libby Exploration Project (12,28) |
|
|
112,185 |
1.6 |
- |
- |
- |
0.7 |
183,346 |
- |
- |
- |
759,420 |
Rackla - Tiger Underground (29) |
|
|
30 |
- |
0.05 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Tiger Open Pit (29) |
|
|
152 |
- |
0.07 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
10 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Underground (30) |
|
|
5,919 |
- |
0.09 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
530 |
- |
- |
- |
Rackla - Osiris Open Pit (30) |
|
|
4,398 |
- |
0.12 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
514 |
- |
- |
- |
Total |
|
|
341,383 |
|
|
|
|
|
504,190 |
6,304 |
522,920 |
501,370 |
1,421,430 |
Note: All estimates are in-situ except for the proven reserves at Greens Creek which are in surface stockpiles. Mineral resources are exclusive of reserves. | ||
(8) |
The term "mineral resources" means a concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. A mineral resource is a reasonable estimate of mineralization, taking into account relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location or continuity, that, with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in whole or in part, become economically extractable. It is not merely an inventory of all mineralization drilled or sampled. |
|
(9) |
The term "measured resources" means that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with a measured mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because a measured mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than the level of confidence of either an indicated mineral resource or an inferred mineral resource, a measured mineral resource may be converted to a proven mineral reserve or to a probable mineral reserve. |
|
(10) |
The term "indicated resources" means that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with an indicated mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because an indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource, an indicated mineral resource may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve. |
|
(11) |
The term "inferred resources" means that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological uncertainty associated with an inferred mineral resource is too high to apply relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. Because an inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability, an inferred mineral resource may not be considered when assessing the economic viability of a mining project and may not be converted to a mineral reserve. |
|
(12) |
Mineral resources for operating properties are based on |
|
(13) |
The resource NSR cut-off values for Greens Creek are |
|
(14) |
The resource NSR cut-off values for Lucky Friday are |
|
(15) |
The average resource cut-off grades at Casa Berardi are 0.12 oz/ton gold for underground and 0.03 oz/ton gold for open pit; metallurgical recovery (actual 2023): |
|
(16) |
The resource NSR cut-off value at Keno Hill is |
|
(17) |
Indicated resources for most zones at |
|
(18) |
Mineral resources for Fire Creek, |
|
(19) |
Fire Creek mineral resources are reported at a gold equivalent cut-off grade of 0.283 oz/ton. Metallurgical recoveries: |
|
(20) |
|
|
(21) |
Midas mineral resources are reported at a gold equivalent cut-off grade of 0.237 oz/ton. Metallurgical recoveries: |
|
(22) |
Measured, indicated and inferred resources at Heva and Hosco are based on |
|
(23) |
Indicated and Inferred resources at the Star property are reported using a minimum mining width of 4.3 feet and an NSR cut-off value of |
|
(24) |
Inferred open-pit resources for Fire Creek calculated November 30, 2017 using gold and silver recoveries of |
|
(25) |
Inferred resources reported at a minimum mining width of 6.0 feet for Bulldog and an NSR cut-off value of |
|
(26) |
Inferred resource at |
|
(27) |
Inferred resource at |
|
(28) |
Inferred resource at the Libby Exploration Project reported at a minimum thickness of 15 feet and an NSR cut-off value of |
|
(29) |
Mineral resources at the Rackla-Tiger Project are based on a gold price of |
|
(30) |
Mineral resources at the Rackla-Osiris Project are based on a gold price of |
|
Totals may not represent the sum of parts due to rounding |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240328606021/en/
Anvita Mishra Patil
Vice President – Investor Relations and Treasurer
Cheryl Turner
Communications Coordinator
800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)
Email: hmc-info@hecla.com
Website: www.hecla.com
Source: Hecla Mining Company