MONTE DO CARMO
OPTION AND LOAN AGREEMENTS WITH SUBSIDIARY OF HOCHSCHILD MINING PLC FOR THE SALE OF THE MONTE DO CARMO GOLD PROJECT FOR TOTAL CONSIDERATION OF US$60 MILLION (C$80 MILLION)
Proposed Transaction expected to strengthen balance sheet and addresses lack of funding available to development projects in the junior mining sector
Company will be well-positioned to sustain production rates and drive future growth via its operating Minera Don Nicolas gold mine in Argentina and completing a feasibility study at its Mont Sorcier iron development project in Quebec capable of producing 67% DRI grade iron concentrates
Transaction Highlights:
US$15 million 10% interest-bearing secured loan (“Signing Loan”) entered into effective on the date of news announcement (March 4, 2024), advanced in cash as follows:
US$7 million advanced by the Purchaser on the date of this announcement;
US$1 million to be advanced 60 days after the date of the First Advance; and
US$8 million to be advanced within two days following the mailing to Cerrado shareholders of the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the meeting of Cerrado shareholders at which management would seek the Cerrado Shareholder Approval.
Upon obtaining the Cerrado Shareholder Approval, the Signing Loan shall be deemed to be repaid in full by Cerrado and the amount of the Signing Loan shall be applied as part of the Consideration (as defined below).
US$10 million in cash, payable within 5 days of the date on which the Purchaser gives written notice of its exercise of the Option to Cerrado, or by March (16), 2025.
US$20 million which together with the Signing Loan and the Second Payment, the (“Consideration”) in cash payable upon either: (i) if necessary, the approval of the Proposed Transaction by Hochschild shareholders, which is to occur no later than June 30, 2025; or (ii) if Hochschild shareholder approval is not required, by no later than March 30, 2025.
In addition, Amarillo will make the following additional payments following the acquisition of the Project:
US$10 million in cash payable within 14 days of the second anniversary of the date on which Cerrado shareholders approve the Proposed Transaction (the “Second Anniversary Payment”); and
US$5 million in cash payable within 14 days of the earlier of: (i) the commencement of commercial production from the Project; and (ii) March 31, 2027 (the “Production Payment”).
Location
Tocantins, Brazil
Ownership
82,541 ha concession package
Status
Feasibility Complete
Deposit Type
Intrusion related gold
Infrastructure
Very accessible, skilled labor, water, power, paved roads
NPV5% After Tax
Free Cash Flow Over LoM
%
After Tax IRR
LoM Average Annual Production
LoM AISC in $USD
Identified Mineralized Trends Under Explored
Property Summary
The Company is currently developing the known ore body at Serra Alta towards construction and production and conducting exploration at other targets on the property. The principal deposit, Serra Alta contains a Proven and Probable resource of 895 kozs and was subject to a Feasibility Study dated in October 31 2023. The Serra Alta Feasibility outlined a robust economic case for development of the Serra Alta deposit.
Throughout the 21 concessions and 82,541 ha hectares Cerrado Gold has identified an additional 30km of known mineralized trends that may hold the next “Serra Alta” style discovery. Several targets have been identified all with minimal drilling to date.
Geological Description & Exploration Program
Volcano Sedimentary Sequence of Upper Proterozoic age, intruded by a huge granite body of Lower Proterozoic age. The principal gold mineralization is associated to hydrothermally altered and sheared granite associated with low percentages in sulphides (Pyrite, Galena, Sphalerite and Chalcopyrite). Mineralization proceeds under the felsic volcanics and also of the phanerozoic sediments.
Mineral Reserve Estimate
Satellite Exploration
Exploration Potential: Finding The next 30k of Mineralized Trends:
Key exploration identifiers we look for :
-
- Granite Host
- NE Shear Zones
- Proximity to intrusive contact volcanics
Serra Alta: Remains open
- Magnetic lineaments extending for >1km strike length
- Potentially represents the NE continuity of the DK2 shear (Host of E3 Zone)
- Targeting additional granitic hanging wall analogues to segmented zones in Serra Alta
Bit-3: Largely untested Magnetic anomaly
- Large Geophysical anomaly that indicates a Huge Mafic/Ultramafic geological unit
- This target is related to a 15 km Shear zone strike and potential is open for exploration in depth
- Notable Results to date include:
- Hole FLD-01 – 12m@ 1.99 Au g/t
Mining Operations
The Monte do Carmo Project PEA considered an open pit operation with an average production rate of 1.92 Mtpa of ROM. Surface mining will use a contract mining fleet of hydraulic excavators, front-end loaders, and haul trucks, as well as correspondent ancillary equipment.
Site Infrastructure
68 kv Powerline south of the location for the process plant
Telecommunication mast in Monte do Carmo town. There is cellular reception in the immediate area, including the camp.
Community
The town of Monte do Carmo has a population of 6k people largely supported the surrounding agricultural industry (soy & corn). The town sits 55km southeast of Porto national and 95km south of Palmas, easily travelable by paved highway.
Technical Reports
Cerrado Gold has completed technical reports prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101.
NI 43-101 Technical Report
Feasibility Study – Monte do Carmo Gold Project, December 15, 2023
GE21 Report
Independent Technical Report – Update Preliminary Economic Assessment for Serra Alta Deposit, July 2021
Micon Report
An Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Serra Alta Deposit at the Monte do Carmo Project, Tocantins State, Brazil, July 21, 2021
TESTWORK Report
Metallurgical Tests with Samples from the orebodies of the Project: SERRA ALTA, June 2021
GE21 Report
Preliminary Economic Assessment for Serra Alta Deposit, April 23, 2020
Micon Report