Cukaru Peki Mineral Resource Estimate
The Cukaru Peki upper zone copper-gold high-sulphidation epithermal project is located within the central zone of the Timok Magmatic Complex, which represents one of the most highly endowed copper and gold districts in the world. SRK has supported the project since the year of its discovery; initially completing the maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) then providing on-site geological and sampling reviews, software training, drill planning assistance, and participation in geological workshops. SRK has completed a number of resource updates and conceptual mining studies which have been reported in the public domain using NI 43-101 guidelines.
Following a significant infill drilling program during 2016 and 2017, SRK updated the MRE alongside Nevsun’s geological staff for input to the prefeasibility study (PFS). Based on the significant database available, SRK integrated multidisciplinary data incorporating technical-economic, geotechnical, and metallurgical considerations to generate robust lithological, alteration, structural, and mineralisation models for input to advanced mining studies. The primary value driver—copper grade—was estimated in 3D by separately modelling covellite and enargite copper minerals to reflect their independent distributions and relative timings, used subsequently to inform concentrate quality considerations.
Notably the final model conferred “indicated” confidence in the copper and gold grades in terms of sampling and assay quality and their spatial distribution in well drilled areas. Lateral extents of the modelled grade distributions were informed by detailed structural geology modelling (in addition to district lithological and alteration control), which incorporated both geological observations and geotechnical datasets providing a robust geological framework and geotechnical domain model. This allowed a significant part of the deposit to be reported as ore reserves in the PFS.
