Iamgold’S Pre-Feasibility Study FOR Côté GOLD Project Demonstrates Low Operating Costs and Attractive Returns
NEWS RELEASE
TSX: IMG NYSE: IAG
IAMGOLD’S PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR CÔTÉ GOLD PROJECT
DEMONSTRATES LOW OPERATING COSTS AND ATTRACTIVE RETURNS
All amounts are in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Toronto, Ontario, June 5, 2017 – IAMGOLD Corporation (“IAMGOLD” or the “Company”) today
announced positive results from a Prefeasibility Study ("PFS") for its Côté Gold Project (Project) in
Northern Ontario. The results, which outline an economically viable project and confirm the development
concept previously set out in the Preliminary Economic Assessment, clear the way for the Company to
initiate a feasibility study and to support the permitting process. Coinciding with this news release the
Company also announced a partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining in which they will acquire a 30%
participating interest in the Côté Gold Project.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Proven and Probable Reserves of 5.9 million ounces
Mine Life of 17 years with mill throughput of 32,000 tpd
Life of Mine (LOM) average annual production of 320,000 oz
Average grade 0.94 g/t Au
LOM cash costs of $605/oz and all-in sustaining costs of $689/oz
At $1,250/oz gold price, after-tax Net Asset Value of $703M (5% discount rate)
After-tax Internal Rate of Return of 14%, with payback period of 4.5 years
Initial capital expenditures of $1,047M
Steve Letwin, President and CEO of IAMGOLD, said “The robust project economics generated from the
PFS further validates our view that Côté Gold is an exceptional organic growth project, particularly when
our industry faces a shortage of undeveloped gold deposits in attractive mining jurisdictions with
surrounding infrastructure. This is a project with low operating costs and an attractive rate of return, that’s
expected to deliver 320,000 ounces a year for 17 years. The conversion of nearly six million ounces from
resources to reserves on a project basis and over 3.8 million ounces attributable to IAMGOLD,
representing an overall increase in our attributable consolidated reserves by 49%1, stands out in an
industry challenged with reserve replacement. Additionally, Côté has significant exploration upside
potential with more than 500-square kilometres of exploration rights-held property surrounding the deposit.
We are looking forward to working with Sumitomo to advance the Côté Gold Project towards
development.”
The PFS was completed jointly by IAMGOLD, Amec Foster Wheeler (Amec), and Roscoe Postle
Associates Inc. (RPA), with inputs from technical studies completed by other consultants. The PFS
represents a comprehensive study of the technical and economic viability of a mineral project that has
advanced to a stage where a preferred mining method is established and an effective method of mineral
processing is determined.
IAMGOLD is using the PFS to identify the preferred development option, to demonstrate economic viability
of the Project, to support Mineral Reserve disclosure, and to identify additional work recommended to
support the completion of a feasibility study. We expect the feasibility study to be completed in the second
half of 2018.
A technical report summarizing the PFS will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news
release.
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1 Based on IAMGOLD’s 2016 year-end reserves of 7.8 million ounces and the Company’s attributed reserves of 3.8
million ounces from the Côté Gold Project (based on IAMGOLD’s 64.75% [70% x 92.5%] working interest in the Côté
Gold Project).
PFS HIGHLIGHTS
*excludes deferred initial capital attributable to equipment leasing of $116M, net of down payments and leasing
payments.
USD Currency used with exchange rate of: CAD$ = US$0.7692
MINERAL RESOURCES
The RPA Mineral Resource estimate used as the basis for the study is summarized below.
Mineral Resource Statement - May 26, 2017
Classification
Cut-off Grade
(g/t Au)
Tonnes
(000)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Contained Ounces
(000)
Indicated 0.30 281,171 0.89 8,037
Inferred 0.30 76,471 0.50 1,231
Notes:
1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Resources.
2. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t Au.
3. Mineral Resources are estimated using long-term gold price of $1,500 per ounce, and a US$/C$
exchange rate of 1:1.25.
4. Bulk density varies from 2.69 t/m3 for tonalite to 2.75 t/m3 for diorite, and 2.93 t/m3 for diabase.
Project Economics and Key Parameters
Mining Capacity 60 Mtpa
Milling Capacity 32,000 t/d
LOM Average Annual Gold Production 320,000 oz.
LOM Average Recovery Rate 91.8%
Mine Life 17 years
LOM Average Total Cash Costs $605/oz
LOM Average AISC $689/oz
Average Grade 0.94 g/t Au
Average LOM Strip Ratio 2.85:1
Estimated Capital Expenditure (millions)
Initial Capital* $1,047
Sustaining Capital $418
Closure Costs $40
Gold Price Assumption used in financial analysis $1,250/oz
Pre-tax NAV (5%) (millions) $1,063
Pre-Tax IRR 16.7%
After-tax NAV (5%) (millions) $703
After-tax IRR 14.0%
Payback Period 4.5 years
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MINERAL RESERVES
The tonnes, grades, and classification of the Mineral Reserves captured within the PFS mine plan are
summarized below.
Mineral Reserve Statement - May 26, 2017
Tonnes Grade Contained Ounces
Classification (000) (g/t Au) (000)
Proven - - -
Probable 196,079 0.94 5,926
Proven & Probable 196,079 0.94 5,926
Waste within Designed Pit 559,155 Total Tonnage within Designed Pit 755,234
Notes:
1. Reserves estimated assuming open pit mining methods
2. Reserves are based on a gold price of $1200/oz
3. Fixed process recovery of 92.5%
4. Treatment and refining costs, including transport and selling cost, estimated to be $4.00/oz Au.
5. Variable royalty percentages by zone: 0.75% for zone 1, 1.00% for zone 2, 0.00% for zone 3, 1.50% for
zone 4, 0.75% for zone 5, 1.50% for zone 6, 0.75% for zone 7, and 0.75% for zone 8. Only zones 2, 3, 5
and 6 have Mineral Reserves.
6. Processing costs: $8.77/t. Include process cost: $6.58/t, G&A: $1.45/t, Sustaining: $0.57/t, Closure:
$0.18/t.
7. Mining costs: $1.93/t incremented at $0.035/t/12 m below 388m elevation. Average mining cost: $2.39/t.
Rehandling cost $0.84/t.
MINING AND PROCESSING
The PFS study identifies the preferred development option as being a conventional truck and shovel open
pit mining operation and determined an effective method of mineral processing being a processing circuit
incorporating primary crushing, secondary crushing, tertiary high pressure grinding roll crushing, ball
milling, gravity concentration and cyanide leaching, followed by gold recovery using carbon-in-pulp,
stripping and electrowinning. The crushing-grinding circuit being utilized is more energy efficient than a
standard SAG or a pre-crush circuit and uses less crushing and grinding media. A thickened tailings
management facility is demonstrated and the mine site would be powered by a 44 km tap line connection
to Hydro One's Shining Tree Substation. Key parameters that provide the basis for the PFS and other
qualifications and assumptions are provided below:
Parameter Value
Maximum Mining Capacity 60 Mtpa
Stockpile Capacity 25 Mt
Processing Rate 32 Ktpd (11.7 Mtpa)
Metallurgical Recoveries 91.8%
Open pit mining includes 40 Mt extracted during the two year pre-production period followed by 16 years of
production mining. Stockpile reclaim extends the operation into Year 17. The amount of rehandled mill
feed over the life of the operation is 42 Mt. The average grade scheduled is 0.94 g/t Au and the LOM
stripping ratio is 2.85:1.
Unit Production Costs
Life of mine total cash costs are estimated at $605/oz of gold produced and all-in sustaining costs at
$689/oz of gold sold.
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Capital Costs
Initial Capital costs are estimated at $1,047 million, life-of-mine Sustaining Capital costs are estimated at
$418 million, and Closure costs are estimated at $40 million, with details below. Costs assume leasing of
the mine production fleet and some other major equipment components.
Capital Cost Estimate Summary
Initial Capital $M
Mine Site Prep and Infrastructure 29
Mine Equipment 59
Electrical & Communications 31
Infrastructure 104
Process Plant 252
Tailings Management Facility Equipment 24
Tailings & Water Management 47
Offsite Facilities 25
Owner’s Cost 27
Indirects 198
Contingency (20%) 170
Mining Pre-production 80
1,047
Sustaining Capital
Mining 74
Mine General Site Works 11
Tailings & Water Management 150
Tailings Indirects 10
Capital Leases* 155
Contingency 19
418
Closure Costs 40
* total cost of capital leases (initial + sustaining) including financing costs, excluding down payments.
Operating Costs
Average operating costs per tonne processed are as follows:
Average Operating Costs ($/tonne milled)
Mining 7.91
Processing 6.10
G&A 1.42
Total 15.43
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Future Work
The PFS recommended the completion of a feasibility study to validate and detail the elements of the
development concept set out in the PFS, and which would include additional drilling, stripping, engineering
studies and environmental studies, including hydrological, hydrogeological and geotechnical analyses.
The recommended feasibility study is expected to be completed in the second half of 2018. In addition, we
continue to conduct exploration activities within our more than 500-square-kilometre property surrounding
the Côté Gold deposit, the objective being to develop and assess targets that could further maximize our
flexibility with respect to future development decisions.
Qualified Persons
The 2017 Côté Gold PFS was prepared by Amec Foster Wheeler and incorporates the work of IAMGOLD
and RPA Qualified Persons (QPs) (as defined under National Instrument 43-101). Amec Foster Wheeler
and RPA Qualified Persons are independent of IAMGOLD and have reviewed and approved this news
release. IAMGOLD Qualified Persons are not independent of IAMGOLD and have reviewed and approved
this news release. The affiliation and areas of responsibility for each Qualified Perso n involved in preparing
the 2017 Côté Gold PFS, upon which the technical report will be based, are:
Amec Foster Wheeler QPs
B. Wang, Ph.D., P. Eng., Design of surface watercourse realignments, tailings management
facility, mine rock areas and seepage collection ponds
A. Peralta, P. Eng., Mine design, capital and operating costs, reserve estimate
I. A. Lipiec, P. Eng., Process design, capital and operating costs
P. Baluch, P. Eng., Project infrastructure
D. Dyck, P.Eng., Environmental studies, permitting and social or community impact
D. Smiley, P. Eng., Economic analysis
J. Padilla, P. Eng., Project infrastructure, electrical power supply/distribution
RPA QPs
T. Ciuculescu, M.Sc., P.Geo. and L. Evans, M.Sc., P.Eng., Drilling, sample preparation and
analysis and security, data verification, and mineral resource estimate
IAMGOLD QPs
A. Smith, M.Sc., P. Geo., Exploration, geological setting, and deposit
M-F. Bugnon, M.Sc., P.Geo., Property description, location, accessibility, climate, infrastructure,
physiography and history
Other scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed an d approved by
Geoffrey Chinn M.Sc.(A)., P.Geo., IAMGOLD, Project Manager, a Qualified Person under the terms of
National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Chinn has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.
Data Verification
IAMGOLD technicians and geologists on site follow a sample preparation protocol to ensure quality
control before sending samples to the assay laboratory. Most of the drill holes are sampled at one-metre
intervals and consist of one-half the drill core. Sample intervals are tagged by the geologist. All sample
intervals are logged with a unique number in a sample book by the geologist. The borehole number and
sample interval are transferred to one of the tags and recorded in the logs. One tag is placed in a plastic
sample bag with the sample and the second is stapled in the core box beneath the remaining
representative half core sample. During this procedure, the location for the insertion of certified reference
material and blanks into the sample sequence is noted. Core is sawed by geotechnicians following the
orientation line drawn by the geologist. The entire length of a drill hole is sampled, except, diabase dykes
that occur within the sequence are not sampled, aside for two one-metre shoulder samples at the upper
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and lower contacts. The remaining half of the core is stored in racks at the core farm facilities located on
site.
For quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) purposes, IAMGOLD inserts control samples after every
twelfth sample interval. The control samples consist either of a certified reference material (CRM) or a
blank sample. IAMGOLD inserts control samples as a standard procedure. The primary laboratory sets
aside the pulp from one out of every 10 samples to be sent to a second laboratory as a check assa y.
Between 2012 and 2014, check assays were completed at ActLabs, Ancaster, Ontario. During the 2015
drilling campaign, check assays on pulps were completed by ALS Minerals, Val d’Or, Quebec. All of the
samples were analyzed using the FA-AA method. Samples that assayed above the maximum limit using
FA-AA were re-analyzed with the FA-Gravimetric method.
Mr. Alan Smith, P.Geo., District Manager Exploration for IAMGOLD, has made site visits to the Côté Gold
Project and surrounding exploration projects between February 2013 and June 2017, the most recent site
visit being May 29 to June 02, 2017, where the following areas were visited / inspected:
a review of current regional exploration programs and results; and
an inspection of the core farm, core shack, and specific outcrops of the Côté Gold Project .
Ms. Marie-France Bugnon, P.Geo., General Manager Exploration for IAMGOLD, has made site visits,
exploration reviews and legal and claims updates to the Côté Gold Project between June 2012 and May
2017, the most recent site visit being on May18-19, 2017, where the following activities were reviewed and
inspected:
2017 winter diamond drilling program results and observations for the King Errington and
Weeduck Lake area of the Chester property, and the Monella Point target area of the TAAC West
property;
Participation in a site visit with RPA geologists; and
Status on legal and assessment work requirements for the maintenance of the Côté Gold district
exploration properties portfolio and updates.
Mr. Luke Evans, M.Sc., P.Eng., RPA Principal Geologist and Executive Vice President, Geology and
Resource Estimation and Mr. Tudorel Ciuculescu, M.Sc., P.Geo., RPA Senior Geologist, v isited the Côté
Gold site on May 18-19, 2017, where the following activities were reviewed and inspected:
Used a handheld GPS to confirm the location of a small number of drill hole collars ;
Reviewed core samples from several drill holes and compared them against the geology and
assay tables; and,
Reviewed geology of stripped outcrops within the conceptual pit boundary.
RPA also carried out site visits on various occasions since 2007. It is the RPA QP’s opinion that:
The sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures are adequate to support a Mineral
Resource estimate on the Côté Gold deposit, and
The logging, sampling procedures, and data entries were completed to industry standards. It is
the QP’s opinion that the database is adequate to support a Mineral Resource estimate on the
Côté Gold deposit.
Mr. Tony Lipiec, P. Eng., has been involved in supervising the Côté Gold testwork since October 2016 and
has visited the laboratories performing the work. He visited the facilities at the University of British
Columbia in Vancouver, Canada on January 16, 2017. He also visited and reviewed work pe rformed at
COREM in Quebec City, Canada on March 9-10, 2017.
Dr. Bing Wang, P. Eng., visited the Côté Gold Project site on several occasions: May 16, October 4 and 31
to November 4, 2016 and April 13-14, 2017. The following areas were inspected:
Property mineral lease boundaries;
Topography and geographical features – lakes, rivers, protected areas, etc.;
Prior mine excavations, select bedrock outcrop locations, depth of overburden;
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Exploration drill sites and representative drill cores, potential for Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) ; and,
Proposed location of open-pit, mine rock area, mill feed stockpile, topsoil/overburden storage,
tailings management facility, property access, mine facilities, utility corridors, water management
structures.
Mr. Paul Baluch, P.Eng., visited the Côté Gold Project site on two occasions: October 4, 2016, and April
13-14, 2017. The following areas were inspected:
Existing project infrastructure such as the:
Access roads
Core shack area
Mesomikenda camp
Chester 1 site including the nearby Trelawney Aggregate Pit #1
Powerline corridor including Shining Tree substation area
Areas of the proposed project infrastructure such as the:
Permanent camp location
Emulsion plant location
Processing plant location including the truck shop and warehouse area, coarse ore stockpile
and electrical substation area
Tailings management facility area
Topography and geographical features (water bodies, etc.)
Ms. Debbie Dyck, P. Eng., has been involved in the Côté Gold Project baseline studies and EA process
since 2012, and last visited the site on April 13-14, 2017.
CONFERENCE CALL
A conference call will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) for a
discussion with management regarding the IAMGOLD-Sumitomo transaction and highlights from the Côté
Gold prefeasibility study. A webcast of the conference call will also be available through IAMGOLD`s
website - www.iamgold.com.
Conference Call Information: North America Toll-Free: 1-800-319-4610 or 1-604-638-5340.
A replay of this conference call will be accessible for one month following the call by dialing: North America
toll-free: 1-800-319-6413 or 1-604-638-9010, passcode: 1490#.
Forward-Looking Information
All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources estimates reported by the Company were estimated in
accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining,
Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards (May 10, 2014). These standards differ significantly from
the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
This document contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation
and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward -looking
statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events
or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future
events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:
(i) the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves;
(ii) the PFS representing a viable development option for the Project;
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(iii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of
sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods;
(iv) the estimated amount of future production, both produced and metal recovered; and,
(v) estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns
from an operating mine.
Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs,
plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or
phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes",
"intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or
results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of
these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward -looking
statements.
All forward-looking statements are based on IAMGOLD's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as
various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant
assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include:
(i) the presence of and continuity of metals at the Côté Gold Project at estimated grades;
(ii) the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results; including
the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining
operations;
(iii) the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment;
(iv) the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the
estimated delivery times;
(v) currency exchange rates;
(vi) metals sales prices and exchange rate assumed;
(vii) appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis;
(viii) tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation;
(ix) the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs;
(x) anticipated mining losses and dilution;
(xi) metallurgical performance;
(xii) reasonable contingency requirements;
(xiii) success in realizing proposed operations;
(xiv) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and
(xv) the fulfillment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local
communities.
Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently
available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the
correctness of other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal
rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein.
The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the
future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and
specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not
be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual
outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates
assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be
generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast,
but specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the
material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; variations in rates of