Estimated $1,325 Au Equivalent. No “free” copper”.Using 404 permit application mine plan “resource”, $3-5 billion to construct, ~$1 billion sunk cost with high annual operating cost; estimated all-in gold equivalent cost at $1,325 USD per ounce (includes copper and moly credit).
*Cost equivalency can be applied to copper or gold. The gold equivalency includes both copper and moly. The estimate has noting to do with metals’ price regarding rate of return. It is an estimate of all-in construction and operating cost, excluding noted significant other costs below.
20-year mine life (14-years mining). 6.7 billion pounds Cu, 353 million pounds Mo, and 11 million ounces of Au in the measured & indicated category including inferred. 0.3% Cu; 3 grams per ton Au, 158 ppm Mo.
Assumptions: fuel costs remain at current levels, 100% mining head grade and processing recovery, perputual water treatment cost not included, no smelting costs included, 3% Alaska net income royalty not included.
2019 feasibility study. Preliminary Economic Assessment and NI are inadequate in detailed costing and reserve classification.
2027/2028 production.