Name and Location
Yenipazar gold and polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide project, Turkey.

Client
Aldridge Minerals.

Project Description
The Yenipazar project has probable mineral reserves estimated at 29.17-million tonnes, grading 0.89 g/t of gold, 29.6 g/t of silver, 0.30% of copper, 0.96% lead and 1.41% zinc.

A conventional openpit mine has been proposed.

According to an optimisation study contract miners will be used to mine the ore and waste materials, instead of an owner-operated fleet. Drilling and blasting of ore and waste rock will be required, while overburden materials will be free digging.

The organic topsoil component of the overburden will be segregated and stockpiled separately. These temporary topsoil stockpiles will eventually be removed when the material is used as part of the closure plan to cap the tailings dam, waste rock dump and other disturbed areas.

To distribute the waste stripping quantities over time and to allow for faster access to better grade ore, the pit has been subdivided into four phases that are mined sequentially. Mining may occur in multiple phases simultaneously, depending on the respective strip ratios of ore to waste on the mining benches.

As part of the feasibility study completed in April 2013, an extensive testwork programme was undertaken to establish the process-design parameters, formulate the process flowsheet, select equipment, evaluate ore variability and confirm metallurgical recoveries.

Based on the findings of this testwork programme the process plant design parameters were determined.

The design basis of the selected process is based on whole ore processing at a nominal throughput of 2.5-million tonnes a year.

The process plant and design, as detailed in the feasibility study, is based on conventional crushing and grinding, followed by a gravity circuit, where most of the gold and a portion of the silver are recovered.

The gravity circuit is followed by sequential flotation of copper, lead and zinc.

Value
An optimisation study has reduced the preproduction capital costs for the Yenipazar project from $382-million to $230-million.

Duration
Once initiated, it is estimated that construction will take about 21 months and will be followed by a two-month period of plant commissioning and production ramp-up, which will take an estimated six months. Full commercial production will follow thereafter.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Aldridge Minerals director of corporate development and corporate secretary David Carew, tel + 1 416 477 6984.