Overview
True North Copper (ASX:TNC) is getting into a transformative part on our path to grow to be Australia’s subsequent copper producer. Mining actions have commenced at our Cloncurry Copper Venture – a low-cost, low-risk, absolutely funded and permitted challenge.
The corporate’s subsequent mine improvement is the high-grade Vero useful resource on the Mt Oxide Venture. True North Copper is dedicated to creating and strengthening our understanding of this phenomenally mineralised challenge, which boasts an up to date copper-silver mineral useful resource estimate of 15.03 Mt at 1.46 % copper and 10.59 g/t silver for a contained 220 kt copper and 5.13 Moz silver.
Copper demand is rising in a world market of diminishing provide. The worldwide surge in synthetic intelligence, electrical autos, decarbonisation initiatives, and broader macro tendencies is intensifying the demand for copper.
Firm Highlights
True North Copper is making ready to grow to be Australia’s subsequent copper producer.
True North Copper’s two principal property are positioned in northwest Queensland, Australia – a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction:
- Cloncurry Copper Venture (CCP) – IOCG and ISCG copper-gold deposits proposed for open pit mining operations, with intensive surrounding exploration tenure. Mining actions have commenced on the Wallace North deposit, a part of CCP.
- Mt Oxide Venture (Mt Oxide) – IOCG high-grade, globally vital, copper-cobalt-silver deposit topic to re-optimisation research, and exploration in surrounding tenure.
Cloncurry Copper Venture (CCP)
- Mining restart examine confirms optimistic CCP challenge economics – AU$367 million with free money movement of AU$111 million, and a pre-tax NPV10 of AU$88 million over a 4.6 12 months mine life, at US$8,500 per ton copper value and US$1,850 per ounce gold value (0.7 AU$:USD trade fee).
- Wallace North Mine preparation and mobilisation. Wallace North is scheduled as the primary open pit (one in all 4 – Wallace North, Nice Australia Mine [GAM], Taipan and Orphan Shear) to be mined as a part of the mining restart on the CCP.
- Mining ramp-up will initially construct ore stockpiles, with mining anticipated to start out This autumn FY24 (AUS). Oxide copper-gold ore will probably be transported by street practice to the Cloncurry Operations heap leach. Sulphide ore will probably be transported to a close-by concentrator for toll therapy below TNC’s toll-milling settlement with Glencore.
- CCP’s whole reserves elevated. TNC’s Cloncurry Copper Venture (CCP) whole reserves presently embrace 4.7Mt possible ore reserves grading 0.80 % copper and 0.13g/t gold, containing 37.5 kiloton of copper and 20.0koz of gold.
Determine: Cloncurry copper challenge and Cloncurry operations hub
Mt Oxide Venture
- Extremely potential and underexplored. Phenomenally mineralised system.
- Exploration outcomes from True North Copper’s maiden diamond drill program throughout Mt Oxide’s Vero Useful resource not solely returned globally vital grades, but in addition showcased the increasing nature of the Vero high-grade ore physique together with:
- 66.50 metres @ 4.95 % copper, 32.7g/t silver and 685 ppm cobalt from 234.00 metres
- [inc.] 20.60 metres @ 10.51 % copper, 63 g/t silver and 1,149 ppm cobalt from
234.60 metres and - [inc.] 8.55 metres @ 6.03 % copper, 51.6 g/t silver and 98 ppm cobalt from
290.15 metres
- [inc.] 20.60 metres @ 10.51 % copper, 63 g/t silver and 1,149 ppm cobalt from
- 66.50 metres @ 4.95 % copper, 32.7g/t silver and 685 ppm cobalt from 234.00 metres
- Up to date Copper-Silver Mineral Useful resource Estimate. The up to date MRE for the Vero deposit incorporates 15.03 Mt at 1.46 % copper and 10.59 g/t silver for a contained 220 kt copper and 5.13 Moz silver. Vero’s up to date useful resource delivers a 20 % improve in silver ounces, demonstrating the potential to provide a major silver co-product along with copper.
- A number of thrilling future exploration packages and high-priority potential targets alongside the ten kilometre-long mineralised development that hosts Vero.
- Strongly Anomalous Copper and Pathfinder Parts. A scientific rock chip sampling marketing campaign on the Aquila and Ivena North prospects on the Mt Oxide challenge recognized broad zones of copper mineralisation with samples from Aquila exhibiting a number of gossanous breccia buildings as much as 30 metres broad. Sampling from Ivena North has recognized copper, cobalt and arsenic tendencies inside two geochemically anomalous zones from a number of gossanous breccia buildings which are as much as 25 metres broad.
Determine: Cross-section of MOXD217 (10 metres clipping window) exhibiting the situation of geological and grade composites in addition to the up to date interpretation of copper grade domains based mostly on the outcomes from MOXD217
Funding and Strategic Partnerships
- AU$42 million (US$28 million) USD-denominated senior secured mortgage facility (mortgage facility) with Nebari Pure Sources Credit score Fund II LP (Nebari)1. The Mortgage Facility is supplied in two tranches. Drawdown of Tranche 1 – US$18 million (roughly AU$25.5 million) on 9 February 2024.
- Binding offtake and toll-milling agreements with Glencore Worldwide AG (Glencore) for 100% of copper focus from TNC’s CCP and toll-milling providers of as much as 1Mt of ore per 12 months for the CCP’s Lifetime of Mine (LoM).
Determine: Visible illustration of Vero Useful resource inside surrounding Mt Isa Inlier.
TNC Exploration Program
- Exploration technique concentrating on transformative discoveries throughout TNC’s greater than 850 sq km of tenure package deal inside the Mt Isa Inlier.
- Important potential for transformative discoveries of copper-gold cobalt-silver in three districts.
- Quite a few high-quality copper-gold-cobalt-silver targets positioned with mineralised structural corridors inside the japanese & western fold belts equivalent to:
- Cloncurry Fault Hall 🡪 Host to the GAM and Mt Norma Sources
- Ernest Henry Hall 🡪 Ernest Henry, E1 Camp and Monakoff
- Mt Gordon Hall 🡪 Capricorn Copper and Vero
- Mt Roseby Hall 🡪 Little Eva and Blackard.
- 12.55 Mt @ 0.82 % copper (indicated and inferred assets) and a number of prospects positioned inside a 30-kilometre radius of the corporate’s CCP characterize near-term manufacturing alternatives.
- Current JV over extremely potential tenements with CMG deal will increase TNC’s land place on the core of its CCP.
- TNC awarded the Queensland Authorities Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) Grant. The CEI grant has been used in the direction of supply of forefront MIMDAS induced polarisation, resistivity and magnetotellurics geophysical surveys on the Mt Oxide. The exploration has focused huge and disseminated sulphide mineralisation and delivered an improved understanding of the large-scale structural structure that controls mineralisation all through the Mt Oxide exploration leases.
Determine: Abstract of exploration and improvement pipeline throughout all TNC initiatives.
Initiatives
Cloncurry Copper Venture
Our Cloncurry copper challenge (CCP) hosts iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) and iron-sulphide-copper-gold (ISCG) deposits with intensive surrounding exploration tenure. It’s constructed on a robust financial foundation and low-risk price construction.
The CCP presently incorporates two reserves the place mining will begin together with – the Wallace North maiden useful resource and the Nice Australia mine reserve (GAM):
- GAM consists of GAM, Orphan Shear and Taipan deposits) totalling 4.7Mt grading 0.80 % copper and 0.13g/t gold containing 37.5kt of copper and 20 koz of gold – improve to be introduced mid-2024.
- Wallace North ore reserve totals 0.7Mt (possible) grading 1.01 % copper and 0.46g/t gold for six.8kt copper and 10 koz gold.
TNC’s CCP growth is ongoing with exploration progressing and superior initiatives in strategic places surrounding the prevailing CCP operation, promising long-term progress prospects.
Our strategic partnerships, together with a binding offtake and toll-milling agreements with Glencore Worldwide AG, supported by debt funding secured with Nebari, underscore our operational readiness and place TNC to capitalise on an especially beneficial copper market.
Mining operations will kick off on the Wallace North open reduce pit, concentrating on higher-grade ores (~1 % copper) from floor mining. Ore will bear major crushing on the Cloncurry operations hub and the toll therapy facility, positioned inside a 40-kilometre radius, with a predominant concentrate on sulphide ores.
All obligatory permits for mining are secured throughout the CCP, bolstered by a longtime environmental monitoring community with a sturdy historic database.
TNC’s operational technique entails a phased strategy to mine improvement, with mining actions commencing in 2024 and a deliberate ramp-up of manufacturing all through 2025.
Cloncurry Operations Hub
The Cloncurry operations hub is strategically positioned to the CCP’s 4 open pit deposits together with: Nice Australia, Orphan Shear, Taipan and Wallace North.
The COH is 2 kilometres from the township of Cloncurry and offers important infrastructure, technical methods and assist to all of TNC’s challenge operations. An energetic oxide heap leach and solvent extraction (SX) processing plant, mine buildings, web site administration amenities, workshops, open pit mine amenities, onsite explosive magazines, web site storage, water administration methods and present web site energy provide are positioned on the COH.
Cloncurry Copper Venture – Venture Economics
- Mining 4.8Mt of ore over an preliminary 4.6-year mine life, at a low strip ratio of 4.2, delivering 35kt copper and 29 koz gold contained steel (based mostly on present JORC reserves)
- Anticipated mine income of AU$367 million with free money movement of AU$111 million, and a pre-tax NPV10 of AU$88 million, demonstrating sturdy working economics at US$8,500/t copper value and US$1,850/oz gold value (0.7 AU$:USD trade fee).
- Payback anticipated inside six months publish mining restart, pushed by beneficial commodity costs and low all-in sustaining price (AISC) of US$2.65/lb copper.
- Low up entrance capex of AU$1.5 million leverages present infrastructure, whereas peak working expenditure is estimated at AU$2.2 million.
- Sulphide and oxide ore manufacturing – two copper merchandise. copper sulphide (LoM approx. 90 %) + copper sulphate (LoM approx. 10 %).
- Mineral focus grade 22-26 % copper (with gold/silver credit).
- Sulphide Ores extra than88 % anticipated restoration.
- Transitional Ores greater than 77 % anticipated restoration.
- Very low deleterious parts in mineral focus.
Cloncurry Copper Venture – Exploration
- CCP growth and exploration targeted on speedy copper-gold-ore supply progress.
- With greater than 80 prospects positioned inside a 30-kilometre radius of the CCP, TNC is targeted on growth and the exploration potential for added copper-gold-cobalt-silver mineralisation to be introduced into the manufacturing fold, together with large-scale transformative discoveries.
- Our profitable 2023 Exploration Program recognized the next targets:
- Cloncurry Copper Venture – eight new drill targets at Larger Australian and Copperhead.
- Salebury and Rocklands South – Compelling untested geophysical anomalies in historic information.
- Mt Norma – untested floor anomalies and down plunge useful resource extension targets on mining lease inside 30 kilometres of the Cloncurry operations hub.
- Wynberg, Notlor, Marimo Development and Tanbah restricted historic exploration vital copper-gold in floor sampling and drilling, restricted testing.
Determine: Excessive precedence exploration targets on the CCP
Mt Oxide Venture
The Mt Oxide challenge hosts the Vero useful resource of 15.98 Mt @ 1.43 % copper (measured, indicated and inferred) a Mt Isa model sediment-hosted copper-silver-cobalt system. Analogues embrace Capricorn copper and Mt Isa copper.
The Vero useful resource at our Mt Oxide challenge is our subsequent mine. We’re targeted on understanding this phenomenally mineralised system.
Mt Oxide’s Vero Useful resource 2023 exploration program returned excellent and globally vital grades. The outcomes of our 2023 maiden drilling program on the Vero useful resource showcased the increasing nature of the Vero high-grade ore physique.
Vero Useful resource maiden drilling program
2023 Vero useful resource drilling highlights included (* = Estimated True Width):
MOXD217 returned phenomenal outcomes that positioned the drill gap within the prime globally ranked copper drill holes of 2023 together with :
- 66.50 metres (48.00 metres*) @ 4.95 % copper, 32.7 g/t silver and 685 ppm cobaltfrom 234 metres.
- 11 metres (8.19 metres*) @ 3.06 % copper, 34.2 g/t silver and 682 ppm cobalt from 357.50 metres.
- 8.55 metres (8.55 metres*) @ 6.16 % copper, 45.9 g/t silver and 140 ppm cobalt from 172.50 metres.
MOXD221 intercepted a large interval of high-grade shallow dipping mineralisation in addition to a second deeper intercept, offering indications of quickly growing grade and widths of mineralisation to the south together with:
- 42.10 metres (41 metres*) @ 1.66 % copper, 13.5 g/t silver and 1,083 ppm cobalt from 154.90 metres.
- [including] 4 metres (2.24 metres*) @ 7.65 % copper, 57.3 g/t silver and 1,164 ppm cobalt from 191.20 metres.
MOXD226A returned three key zones of sturdy mineralisation together with a broad interval of 69.95 metres and additional intervals of as much as 11.19 % copper.
Highlights embrace:
- 69.95 metres (42.85 metres*) @ 1.91percent copper, 17.7g/t silver and 675 ppm cobalt from 224.55 metres
- [including] 9.65 metres (5.89 metres*) @ 2.74 % copper, 24.1g/t silver and 993 ppm cobalt from 239.50 metres
- [including] 18.15 metres (11.07 metres*) @ 3.23 % copper, 26.8g/t silver and 585 ppm cobalt from 276.35 metres
- 16.75 metres (16.75 metres*) @ 5.30 % copper, 44- g/t silver and 120 ppm cobalt from 165.25 metres
- [including] 4.65 metres (4.65 metres*) @ 11.19 % copper, 93.9g/t silver and 136 ppm cobalt from 172.55 metres
Determine: Location of geological and grade composites in addition to the up to date interpretation of copper grade domains based mostly on the outcomes from MOXD226A
Mt Oxide Discovery Technique
TNC is dedicated to unlocking Mt Oxide’s underexplored targets.
- Mt Oxide lies adjoining to a big crustal scale construction – the Mt Gordon Fault Zone. Splays off this construction (Dorman Fault) host Vero.
- Mt Oxide has proof of large-scale fluid movement, massive mineral system potential.
- Copper-silver-cobalt mineralisation interpreted to have been fashioned close to floor and higher components are preserved.
- Wonderful depth potential of mineralisation within the Mt Oxide challenge.
- Restricted systematic fashionable exploration outdoors of the Vero useful resource.
- Important alternative to use modern mineral exploration to construct a bigger copper stock in a well-endowed mineral system.
- Greater than 10 kilometres development alongside Dorman fault zone of intermittently outcropping gossanous / silica breccias, just about no drilling, floor sampling or efficient geophysics.
- A number of untested targets with vital alteration-mineralisation footprints.
- No utility of tried and examined geophysics or systematic floor rock chip geochemistry and mapping.
- Low price extremely efficient exploration methods to filter and prioritise drill targets.
A number of thrilling future exploration packages and high-priority potential targets alongside 10-kilometre lengthy mineralised development that hosts Vero together with:
- Aquila & Mt Gordon
- Ivena North
- Camp Gossans
- Cave Creek
- Huge Oxide
Determine: A number of thrilling future exploration packages and high-priority potential targets alongside the 10-kilometre lengthy mineralised development that hosts Vero useful resource’s Mt Oxide challenge.
A scientific rock chip sampling marketing campaign on the Aquila and Ivena North prospects indicated strongly anomalous copper and pathfinder parts.
- Sampling at Aquila highlighted six zones of anomalous copper, cobalt and arsenic related to a number of gossanous breccia buildings as much as 30 metres broad.
- Aquila B Development: +180 metres lengthy and +30 metres broad copper +/- cobalt-arsenic-silver inside a 440 metres lengthy fault breccia with seen copper oxide mineralisation. The development consists of rock chip channels returning 3.6 metres @ 0.49 % copper with a peak assay of 0.94 % copper.
- Aquila A Development: +20 metres lengthy and as much as 12 metres broad copper-arsenic-antimony anomalous zone inside +210 metres strike of hematite altered hydrothermal breccias, returning as much as 0.05 % copper and 12.7g/t silver and anomalous pathfinders.
- Aquila D Development: +100 metres lengthy and as much as 4 metres broad copper-cobalt development related to a historic prospecting pit with sturdy copper oxide mineralisation, and a peak assay of 0.87 % copper.
- At Ivena North, sampling has recognized copper, cobalt & arsenic tendencies inside two geochemically anomalous zones from a number of gossanous breccia buildings which are as much as 25 metres broad.
- Ivena North A Development – +130 metres lengthy and as much as 15 metres broad copper-cobalt-aresenic development inside a +580 metres strike of hydrothermal breccia and gossans that returned assays as much as 1.38 % copper and anomalous arsenic +/- silver-antimony-bismuth-molybdenum.
TNC’s subsequent steps embrace prioritisation of those targets, designing and planning upcoming drill packages, and securing the required permits for on-ground entry.
Administration Workforce
Bevan Jones – Managing Director
Bevan Jones is a seasoned operations officer providing practically 30 years of expertise in mine administration throughout a various vary of commodities and has a confirmed monitor report in directing enterprise enchancment initiatives and operational transformation. Jones’ earlier roles embrace chief working officer at Karora Sources (TSX:KRR), in addition to normal supervisor of Gold Fields Restricted’s (JSE:GFI) St Ives Gold Mine in WA, the place he executed transformative progress methods and delivered distinctive operational outcomes. Most not too long ago, Jones was the managing director at Brisbane-based Additional Mining Options, the place he performed a number one function in establishing the corporate specializing in enterprise transformation and operational excellence. Jones gained worldwide operational expertise as chief working officer of BCM Group Worldwide in West Africa, normal supervisor of the Wetar Copper Mine in Indonesia and normal supervisor of the Hidden Valley Mine in Papua New Guinea, in addition to mining supervisor of Barrick Gold’s Lumwana Copper Mine in Zambia.
