Ashburton Ventures Inc. (ABR, TSX-V) roared to life yesterday as most of the Sheslay Valley plays heated up. Doubleview Capital Corp. (DBV, TSX-V), with assays pending, was first out of the gate and finished the day at a new all-time closing high of 34 cents, up 8 pennies.
ABR actually recorded the biggest percentage gain, climbing 33% to 6 cents. Ashburton has a clear plan of attack for its two Sheslay holdings, the Hackett Property contiguous to the Doubleview discovery (within 1 km of drill holes HAT-08 and HAT-11), and the recently acquired Grizzly West Extension Project attached to the western border of Garibaldi Resources Corp.’s (GGI, TSX-V) Grizzly Property. ABR is commencing sampling and mapping programs and is also gearing up for drilling at the Hackett as announced by the company April 25.
ABR President Kyler Hardy has very intimate knowledge of the Sheslay district and over the last few years has had his boots on the ground from the Star Project, when it was known as the Copper Creek Property, to Teck’s Eagle Project in the south.
Below is a 2-year weekly chart that shows how technical analysis (TA) can be such a valuable tool. In the case of ABR, TA reveals a few important things including how a significant breakout above a horizontal channel is drawing closer after the stock held critical support at 4.5 cents – just half a penny below the now-rising 100-day moving average (SMA).
Three specific matters of note with regard to John’s chart: 1) RSI(14) “W” formations are generally a very bullish sign, and we have one here; 2) A major reversal in the CMF indicator occurred in late January with buy pressure suddenly replacing sell pressure that was dominant for more than a year. ABR has been under strong accumulation for more than three months due to events in the Sheslay Valley; 3) The ADX indicator confirms an overall bullish trend.
While certainly speculative, as all junior resource stocks are, ABR has significant upside potential in our view given its strategic holdings in the Sheslay district, its intimate knowledge of the area, and its current modest market cap of only $2 million with just 36 million shares outstanding. The Sheslay district has not yet reached “critical mass” but when it does, the “herd” could take a situation like this to much higher levels.
ABR 2-Year Weekly Chart
Click on the link below for a more in-depth look at ABR. As always, perform your own due diligence.
Note: John and Jon both hold share positions in ABR.
Excellent! also, a good article on gold here: http://goldscents.blogspot.ca/2014/05/commodities-moving-down-into-midyear.html
Comment by STEVEN1 — May 6, 2014 @ 4:13 am
Gold Bullion Receives Positive Pre-Feasibility Study for the Rolling Start to Gold Production at Granada
(via Thenewswire.ca)
Montreal, Quebec / TNW-ACCESSWIRE / May 6, 2014 / Gold Bullion Development Corp. (TSXV: GBB) (OTCPINK: GBBFF) (the “Company” or “Gold Bullion”) announces it has received the Preliminary-Feasibility Study “PFS” for the “Rolling Start” at Granada. All in total cash costs for gold production at the higher grades of 4.24 g/t gold from the open pits assessed by this study are US $797 per ounce at an internal rate of return of 169% percent before tax. The payback period for the $6.7 million needed to commence the “Rolling Start” is just under 7 months with an NPV of $24.65 million before taxes discounted at 6% within 3 years.
The after taxes NPV has an IRR of 139% with an NPV of $20.04 Million. At this stage of the property development the PFS delineates gold production of 73,585 ounces at the annual rates of 25,669, 27,556 and 20,361 ounces per year respectively over the next three years. The higher-grade resource to be mined for the “Rolling Start” gold production is based on reserves of 569,000 tonnes at 4.24 g/t for 73.6 thousand ounces of gold at a cash cost of US $797 per ounce. Mill feed including dilution is 170,000 tonnes at 3.72 g/t gold in the Proven Category and 398,600 tonnes at 4.46 g/t gold in the Probable Category. These gold grades demonstrate and are indicative of the inherent flexibility the Company has with respect to grades contained in the current resource at the 11,000-hectare Granada Mine property.
The “Rolling Start” study was prepared as a stand-alone project utilizing custom milling (see press release MOU of April 10th for details) at a local mill and solely relates to those mineral reserves located within the open pits of the Granada deposit. The “Rolling Start” does not take into account the underground mineral resources, which also comprise a significant part of the Granada Project.
The synergy of accessing an existing operating mill in the prolific gold producing Abitibi region of Quebec in tandem with the proposed open pit “Rolling Start” mineral extraction plan brings the Company into position as a potential gold producer. During this initial development phase the Company is continuing to study and analyze the economics around underground mine development and will also engage in “right sizing” property holdings.
The Company also has drill-defined targets to the north of the LONG Bars Zone aimed at corroborating earlier drill data that outlined the potential for an additional 1-2 million ounces of gold at grades of 3.0 to 4.2 grams per tonne. (Press release dated November 13th, 2013.) The current higher-grade resource estimation and the potential addition to the resource cover approximately 20 percent of the already explored LONG Bars zone. By increasing the input grade of the open pitable resource when practical, de-risking of the project will remain an ongoing priority going forward.
This Preliminary Feasibility Study was prepared by SGS Canada Inc. “SGS” in Blainville, Quebec with additional contributions from other leading engineering firms and consultants, in accordance with and as defined by National Instrument 43-101 “NI 43-101” Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Gold Production “Rolling Start” Highlights from the PFS are summarized below:
Assumptions
Gold Price (US$/oz) 1,260
Canadian $ to US$ rate 1.11
Mineral Reserves
Open Pit Rolling Start Mineral Reserves (ounces) 77,460
Mine Parameters
Ore milled
Mine plan tonnage (thousand tonnes) 569
Mine plan grade (grams/tonne) 4.24
Production rate (annualized ore tonnes per day) 550
Days of operation per year 350
Estimated gold mill recovery (%) 95%
Total gold recovered (ounces) 73,585
Pre-production period (years) 0.2
Rolling Start Mine life (years) 3
Average annual gold production (ounces) 24,528
Costs
Pre-production capital ($ millions) 6.7
Sustaining capital and restoration ($ million) 2.89
Cost per tonne milled ($/t)1 120
Average total cash cost per ounce (US$/oz)2 797
Financial Return
Payback from start of production before tax (years) 0.56
Internal Rate of Return (before tax) 169%
Net present value, before tax, 6% discount ($ millions) 24.65
Payback from start of production after tax (years) 0.67
Internal Rate of Return (after tax) 139%
Net present value, after tax, 6% discount ($ millions) 20.04
Note: Part of taxes will be offset by past property development expenditures
(All dollar figures expressed in Canadian dollars, except where indicated)
1) Includes 3% NSR costs
2) Does not include the 3% NSR and capex costs
Frank J. Basa, President and Chief Executive Officer on progress thus far, “We are very pleased with the PFS on the Rolling Start. Due to the dedication and diligence of Gold Bullion’s technical team and consultants, we have delivered this study and a PEA within 20 months of completing the last drill program and are excited to see mining at Granada restart. This goal is consistent with our stated strategy to create shareholder value through successful exploration and development of brown field properties located in the prolific and prosperous Abitibi region.”
The delivery of the “Rolling Start” Preliminary Feasibility Study completes the first stage of Gold Bullion’s continuous development program at Granada. By advancing the Granada project to commercial production the Company has demonstrated positive economics, environmental forethought and social gain, while mitigating the technical, financial, and environmental risks of the project.
As permitting and social acceptance issues could have affected mineral reserves, the Company held 29 separate meetings prior to PFS completion. Five were with key stakeholders and there was one public meeting. The Company has already incorporated the majority of the feedback, views, and recommendations from those meetings into the PFS.
Discussions with stakeholders will continue near-term to ensure the final Feasibility Study integrates all available input with the goal of enhancing and maximizing economic, environmental and social gains for all concerned parties.
Resources
In the context of re-engineering to increase the robustness of the Granada project, Mineral resources were remodeled with mineral zones having a minimum horizontal width of 7m down to elevation 237.5m. This resource model has been used for pit optimization and design for the “Rolling Start” project. This model starts from the surface and pit bottom to elevation 237.5 metres.
In order to address mining underground, mineralized zones have been remodeled with 3 to 4 meters horizontal width below elevation 237.5 metres. Highlights include a Measured and Indicated combined underground gold resource of 325,450 ounces of gold at an average grade of 5.10 g/t gold plus 25,700 ounces Inferred at a grade of 7.14 g/t gold.
The details of the underground model are presented in the following table.
Mineral Resources
Underground
Under Pit to Z=237.5 m
COG
Above 1.69 g/t
Resource Class
Tonnage
Gold g/t
Ounces
Measured
371,500
3.10
37,000
Indicated
462,000
3.72
55,000
Measured+Indicated
833,500
3.44
92,250
Inferred
33,500
6.85
7,400
UG beneath Z=237.5 m
COG
Above 3 g/t
Resource Class
Tonnage
Gold g/t
Ounces
Measured
392,000
5.60
70,600
Indicated
759,000
6.66
162,600
Measured+Indicated
1,151,000
6.30
233,200
Inferred
78,500
7.25
18,300
Combined
Rounded numbers
Resource Class
Tonnage
Gold g/t
Ounces
Measured
763,500
4.38
107,600
Indicated
1,221,000
5.54
217,600
Measured+Indicated
1,984,500
5.10
325,450
Inferred
112,000
7.14
25,700
The mineral resources are blocks above gold cut of grade (COG), composite and have been capped at 30 g/t for the estimation of Mineral resources. The density to convert volume to tonnage is 2.7. Mineral resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The completed version of the PFS will contain further details and is to be provided within the next 45 days from the date of this press release as required by NI 43-101 regulations.
Frank J. Basa, President and Chief Executive Officer on property resources at lower grade “We have made progress from our 43-101 low-grade resource at 1 gram per tonne gold which was standing at 1.6 million ounces Measured and Indicated with 1.0 million ounces inferred as per the November 15th, 2012 press release with a revised resource of 934,000 ounces Measured and Indicated at 2.21 g/t gold with 627,000 ounces Inferred at 2.23 g/t gold as per the PEA issued February 4th 2013 (effective December 21st, 2012). The scenarios noted in the PEA was part of the optimization process, included increasing the open-pit resource grade from 1 g/t to 2 g/t. The material is still there, however it has been reengineered with the PFS Rolling Start to reduce risk and fast track the project.”
Qualified Persons
Claude Duplessis, P. Eng., consultant for SGS, is responsible for validating the database and estimating the mineral resources described herein and has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release including after tax (relying on another expert). Claude Duplessis is a Qualified Person and is independent of Gold Bullion within the meaning of NI 43-101.
Jonathan Gagne, Eng., and Gaston Gagnon, Eng., mining engineers at SGS, are responsible for the mining and economic aspects before tax of the disclosure and have reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Jonathan Gagne and Gaston Gagnon are both Qualified Persons and are independent of Gold Bullion within the meaning of and as defined by NI 43-101 regulations.
About Gold Bullion Development Corp.
Gold Bullion Development Corp. is a TSX Venture-listed junior natural resource company focusing on the exploration and development of its Granada Property near Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and its high grade Castle Silver Mine in Gowganda, Ontario. Additional information on the Company’s Granada gold property is available by visiting the Gold Bullion Development Corp website and Sedar website.
“Frank J. Basa”
Comment by Paul — May 6, 2014 @ 5:57 am
For some reason my other post did not work. GBB PFS looks very positive. Can you give some feedback
Thanks
Comment by Paul — May 6, 2014 @ 7:06 am
If the volume is only couple of million shares for this news, it will go back to 3 cents soon. Guys, beware of the trap…. 5 – 10 million daily turnover is required… otherwise, it is only a loser’s play.
Comment by Theodore — May 6, 2014 @ 7:25 am
Paul, GBB news just came out. At first glance the numbers look very good for the “rolling start” at Granada. This could get some momentum coming back into GBB – plenty of paper to churn through, however, given the cheap financings (especially FT) we’ve seen. You always have to consider share structure, and GBB’s share structure has been blown to bits. That’s a MAJOR problem Frank has. Massive volume, and I mean massive, is needed to clean up the GBB market. And they’ll have to get creative on coming up with the dollars for this (the rolling start). Having said that, these numbers do provide some hope that GBB can get back on track.
Comment by Jon - BMR — May 6, 2014 @ 7:27 am