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The Bakan District is
a prospective, epithermal system located
approximately 25 km west of the Company’s
North Lanut gold mine on the same CoW. Drilling
commenced at Bakan in 2005 and was completed
in 2007. An internal pre-feasibility study
completed shortly thereafter showed that
the project was viable at a production rate
of approximately 50,000 ounces per annum
over a 4.5 year mine life and warranted
a full feasibility study. Since then, delays
to the permitting process have been encountered on account
of areas of protected forest that overlap
one of the two primary deposits. These permitting delays have meant
that the start of construction is now likely
to be pushed back to beyond 2009. The environmental
impact assessment, known locally as an AMDAL,
was approved in July 2007. The technical
aspects of the project remain robust and
the feasibility study remains close to completion
pending all permitting approvals. Meanwhile,
limited cash resources are being spent on
the project.
The table below shows
the JORC-compliant Mineral Resources at
Bakan, as quoted in the Company’s
2008 Annual Report.
| |
 |
| Mineral
Resources |
 |
| Measured |
 |
|
Indicated |
 |
| Measured
+ Indicated |
 |
| Inferred |
 |
| Resources
subtotal |
|
 |
| Gross |
 |
| Tonnes__ |
 |
| |
 |
| 5,420,000__ |
 |
| 4,899,000__ |
 |
| 10,319,000__ |
 |
| 6,555,000__ |
 |
| 16,874,000__ |
|
 |
Grade––
(g/t)–– |
 |
| |
 |
| 1.21__ |
 |
| 0.93__ |
 |
| 1.07__ |
 |
| 0.77__ |
 |
| 0.96__ |
|
 |
Contained––
Ounces–– |
 |
| |
 |
| 210,200__ |
 |
| 146,400__ |
 |
| 356,600__ |
 |
| 162,500__ |
 |
| 519,100__ |
|
|
 |
| Net
attributable (80%) |
 |
| Tonnes__ |
 |
| |
 |
| 4,336,000__ |
 |
| 3,919,200__ |
 |
| 8,255,200__ |
 |
| 35,244,000__ |
 |
| 13,499,200__ |
|
 |
Grade––
(g/t)–– |
 |
| |
 |
| 1.21__ |
 |
| 0.93__ |
 |
| 1.07__ |
 |
| 0.77__ |
 |
| 0.96__ |
|
 |
Contained––
Ounces–– |
 |
| |
 |
| 168,160__ |
 |
| 117,120__ |
 |
| 285,280__ |
 |
| 130,000__ |
 |
| 415,280__ |
|
|
 |
(Bakan’s Mineral
Resources are calculated at a cut-off grade
of 0.35 g/t Au for oxidised material,
0.5 g/t Au for transitional material, and
1.2 g/t Au for fresh material.)
The Doup project is located
in the Kotabunan district, North Sulawesi,
approximately 25 km north east of North
Lanut. The project is located in an area
that is free of restricted forest, which
removes a major impediment to its development.
Avocet has a 60% economic interest in the
project with 40% held by local shareholders.
The Doup project is divided
into five prospects, namely the Benteng,
Panang, Tungow, Tapabeken and Parabo prospects.
The Panag and Benteng prospects were explored
by Placer Dome in the 1980s. Placer Dome
estimated a grade-tonnage inventory of 17
Mt @ 2.15 g/t for 1.2 Moz of gold, although
this figure was never officially reported.
In February 2009,Avocet
announced an Inferred Mineral Resource of
1.0 million ounces at Doup based on 11,288
m of diamond and reverse circulation drilling
undertaken in 2007 and 2008. The table below
shows the presently defined resource at
Doup, which includes the Panang and Benteng
prospects.
| |
 |
| Mineral
Resources |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Inferred
(Benteng) |
 |
| Inferred
(Panang) |
 |
| Resources
subtotal |
|
 |
| Gross |
 |
| Tonnes__ |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 11,590,000__ |
 |
| 13,430,000__ |
 |
| 25,020,000__ |
|
 |
Grade––
(g/t)–– |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1.30__ |
 |
| 1.10__ |
 |
| 1.20__ |
|
 |
Contained––
Ounces–– |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 489,400__ |
 |
| 476,900__ |
 |
| 966,300__ |
|
|
 |
| Net
attributable (60%) |
 |
| Tonnes__ |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 6,954,000__ |
 |
| 8,058,000__ |
 |
| 15,012,000__ |
|
 |
Grade––
(g/t)–– |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1.30__ |
 |
| 1.10__ |
 |
| 1.20__ |
|
 |
Contained––
Ounces–– |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 293,640__ |
 |
| 286,140__ |
 |
| 579,780__ |
|
|
 |
(Doup’s Mineral
Resources are calculated at a cut-off grade
of 0.5 g/t Au)
Avocet is currently undertaking
metallurgical test work on 2.8 tonnes of
samples from Benteng and Panang. In-fill
drilling to 25 metre centres is scheduled
to commence once metallurgical investigations
are complete with the aim of defining Measured
and Indicated Mineral Resources to JORC
Code standard. Following Indonesia’s transition from the older KP-based permit system, to the new IUP-system, Avocet has now acquired the necessary IUPs for Doup.
Successful due diligence
was completed on the Seruyung project, located
in Kalimantan, in 2008. Following this due
diligence period, an IP survey commenced
in early 2009. Thirteen lines totalling
14,500 m in length were completed. Geological
mapping and sampling continued at Ada Isut,
Dulun and Block 2, while partial leach soil
sampling was completed at Dulun. A drill
programme was commissioned with the objective
of testing and expanding the resource that
previous operators, both Canadian listed,
have quoted as being in excess of 300,000
ounces of gold. Avocet can earn up to an
80% interest at Seruyung based on the level
of expenditure.
The drill programme at
Seruyung was completed in February 2009
with a total of 14 holes for 1,970 m drilled.
Metallurgical
sampling has been completed and the samples have since been dispatched
from site to Penjom, where testing is ongoing.
As with Doup above, Avocet has successfully transferred all licences over to the new IUP-system of permits.
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