INITIAL BORDER "THERMAL" COAL RESOURCES
Revised Coal Resources at the Border Project (March 2012) |
Category
|
2009
(000's Tonnes)
|
2011
(000's Tonnes)*
|
2012
(000's Tonnes)*
|
Indicated
|
63,500
|
79,161
|
117,017
|
Inferred
|
89,600
|
33,003
|
33,003
|
*based on coal density of 1.38 from lab and downhole geophysics testing
- EMERGING MAJOR ENERGY SOURCE
- DISCOVERY OF NEW COAL DEPOSITS
- PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT COMPLETED MARCH 2011
- UPDATED NI 43-101
- COMPARATIVELY LOW STRIP RATIO (WASTE TO COAL REMOVAL) IMPROVES LIKELIHOOD OF POTENTIAL ECONOMIC VIABILITY
- EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE
- near highway & service communities
- railway transects property
BORDER PROPERTY - The Border Property is the focus of a major coal discovery in 2008. It is located on the eastern edge of mining-friendly central Saskatchewan, about 50 kilometers north of the town of Hudson Bay. The Border Property consists of approximately 16,073 hectares. It is situated along the Durango Coal Trend, which continues to the southeast and northwest of the property. Infrastructure around the Border Property is excellent. The town of Hudson Bay has approximately 2000 inhabitants with a skilled labor force. A major road transects the property and power and water are readily available. A CN railroad line also runs through the property, adjacent to the recent discovery.
Exploration Progress
To date, 146 holes have been completed and drilling has identified 17 coal deposits at Border, with the recent Fugro airborne gravity surveys indicating good potential for additional coal discoveries and the expansion of several existing deposits.
The new discoveries are confirmation that the geophysical techniques used by the company are successful in identifying coal bearing sub-basins and will continue to be used in identifying other areas for drilling.
The coal is located approximately 80 metres below surface and is potentially open pittable. The coal is ranked as sub bituminous thermal coal. The calorific value of the coal ranges from 17,800 Kj/Kg (7684 BTU/lb) to 21,300 Kj/Kg (9,159 BTU/lb) on an "Air Dried" basis. The average calorific value of the coal is similar to the major producers of the Alberta Plains and the Powder River Basin.
|
|
|
Pasquia 02 Deposit 47.5m = Cumulative Coal thickness without partings based on Loring Labs analysis, cutoff @ 30% ash. Calorific Values:15,333 Kj/Kg or 6652 BTU/lb. |
A geological model based on all drill holes to date has been developed and initial coal resources of 79.1 million tonnes Indicated, 34.9 million tonnes Inferred have been announced in 2011.
Goldsource has incorporated data from the winter 2009 - 2010 drill program into an updated NI 43-101 Technical Report, which includes an updated resource model and revised estimates of 117 million tonnes Indicated and 33,000 tonnes Inferred.
Preliminary Economic Assessment
(EFFECTIVE DATE, FEBRUARY15, 2011; AMENDED MARCH 5, 2012)
The Company cautions that the PEA is preliminary in nature in that it is based largely on Inferred Mineral Resources which are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be characterized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") was completed in March, 2011 under the direction of Marston Consultants and EBA Engineering Consultants. Initial results from the PEA concluded that:
- The development of the Border Coal Project is technically and economically feasible.
- An on-site clean coal-fired generator is a potential end use of the coal but special design of the coal-fired electric generating plant will be necessary to accommodate the coal quality of the deposits. Abundant biomass resources available in Saskatchewan to offset CO2 emissions to reduce the carbon footprint can supplement this Border coal. Recent power studies suggest that Saskatchewan's future power requirements may need additional generating facilities.
- An on-site coal to liquids plant also appears to be an alternative for an end use of the coal. Goldsource has signed confidentiality agreements with providers of this technology which was assessed as part of the PEA. Preliminary analyses show that these technologies may be technologically and economically viable at the price of oil current at the time of the report.
- A coal to liquids processing plant producing 14,000 Bbls of liquids per day would cost $1.9 billion and generate a 6% rate of return over a 30 year project life.
- A review of potential power generation and coal to liquids partners is underway. In addition, the study will examine mining and capital costs, transportation and potential export markets.
Exploration Objectives
|
Powder River Basin (Peabody Energy)- 20 metres of coal,
Border Property has 100 metres of coal |
From the holes drilled to date, the sub-basins appear to be comprised of discrete features containing exceptional coal zone intervals of up to approximately 100 metres thick with their limits defined by certain geophysical signatures and the underlying Devonian limestone. It is believed that the contours of underlying Devonian limestone continue to be a critical factor in defining the sub-basins and this information is being used to target other areas of potential coal deposition at Border.
Results from a Fugro airborne Falcon gravity survey completed in the spring of 2010 have been received. Initial assessment of the data shows more precise boundaries of existing deposits as well as newly defined targets. The Company believes that the test programs have enhanced its ability to identify new deposits and better define the boundaries of these unique deposits.
Current Strategy
Management recognizes the project requires a special expertise and financial capacity to bring it to fruition and will actively seek out a participant with these capabilities. The Company intends to maintain the Border Property on a care and maintenance basis until such time as a suitable market and/or applicable conversion process can be identified or until such time as an appropriate partner can be identified to advance the project. The current coal lease holdings will be reviewed annually and may be reduced periodically to minimize holding costs.
N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng., Qualified Person, Chief Operating Officer is also the Qualified Person responsible for the preparation of the technical information included in this web site and for supervision of field activities related to the Company projects.