Kombat Open Pit Mineral Reserve Estimate
T R I G O N R E P O R T S M I N E R A L R E S E R V E A N D U P D A T E D F E A S I B I L I T Y
S T U D Y F O R T H E K O M B A T O P E N P I T
TORONTO, December 14, 2021 – Trigon Metals Inc. (TSX -V: TM) (“Trigon” or the “Company”)
announces an updated National Instrument 43 -101 compliant Mineral Reserve estimate and
feasibility study for the open pit mine at the Kombat project in Namibia (“Kombat”).
Kombat Open Pit Mineral Reserve Estimate
In 2018, the Company published a Mineral Reserve estimate for the Kombat open pit, together
with a feasibility study on the open pit project. The Mineral Resource estimate for Kombat was
updated in 2020 and again on August 3, 2021, based on the confirmator y resampling program
undertaken in early 2021. At that time, a s the updated Mineral Resource estimate differed from
the estimate used for the 2018 feasibility study, the Company moved the Kombat open pit back
to a Mineral Resource estimate stage, as the Mi neral Reserves, technical, engineering and
economic studies had to be redone to align with the updated Mineral Resources.
The Mineral Resource estimate for Kombat (open pit and underground) as updated on August 3,
2021 is set out in the table below.
Combined Mineral Resource Estimation (Open Pit and Underground) as at 3 August 2021
Mineral Resource Estimate Classification Tonnes
Cu Pb Ag
Mt % % g/t
Indicated 12.22 1.94 0.70 13.67
Inferred 1.91 2.19 1.79 6.13
Notes:
1. The open pit Mineral Resource is limited at depth of 160 m for Kombat and 150 m for Gross Otavi with a CuEq cut -off of 0.65% for
Kombat and 0.77% for Gross Otavi.
2. The underground Mineral Resource is based on a cut-off grade of 1.5 % CuEq.
3. The CuEq (copper equivalent) is based on copper and silver only (excludes lead).
4. Commodity prices used for the cut-off grades: Cu = USD 9,100/t, Pb = USD 2,500/t, and Ag = USD 27/oz.
5. Historical mine voids have been depleted from the Mineral Resource.
6. Mineral Resources are reported as total Mineral Resources and are not attributed.
The Indicated Mineral Resource estimate comprises 5.28Mt from the open pit, at a grade of 1.00%
copper, and 6.93Mt from the underground at a grade of 2.66% copper.
A new feasibility study has now been completed on the Kombat open pit, and an updated Mineral
Reserve estimate for the open pit is set out below.
Kombat Project Open Pit Mineral Reserve Estimation as at 3 August 2021
Mineral
Reserve
Category
Diluted Tonnes Grade Content
Cu Pb Ag Cu Pb Ag
Mt % % ppm t t kg
Probable 1.54 1.14 0.28 7.49 17,559 4,301 11,508
Total 1.54 1.14 0.28 7.49 17,559 4,301 11,508
Notes:
1. The Mineral Reserve estimation includes only diluted Indicated Mineral Resources which have been converted to Probable
Mineral Reserves.
2. No Inferred Mineral Resources have been included in the Mineral Reserve estimation.
3. Mineral Reserve estimation stated at a cut-off of 0.65% Cu.
4. The Ore Reserve estimation was completed using an average Cu price of USD7,054/t and average Ag price of USD20.15/oz
over the life of mine.
5. The Pb in the Mineral Reserve estimation under current offtake agreement will not contribute to revenue but will carry a
penalty.
6. The Mineral Reserves are reported as total Mineral Reserves and are not attributed.
As set out above, a lthough the Kombat underground Mineral Resource estimate does contain
resources in the Indicated category, only the open pit Mineral Resources have been considered
in the Mineral Reserve conversion process at this stage, as t he underground study work is still
based on a P reliminary Economic Assessment level of confidence and requires additional work
which will be undertaken as a second phase of the restart of the Kombat mine.
Feasibility Study
Production and Processing
The Kombat open pit mine has a potential life of mine of 5 years, mining a total of 1.5Mt ore, at
an average grade of 1.14% copper and 7.49 g/t silver.
Item Unit Kombat
Open Pit Waste Tonnes Mined kt 10,488
Open Pit Ore Tonnes Mined kt 1,536
Stripping Ratio to:tw 6.83
Total Tonnes Mined kt 12,024
Average Cu Grade Mined % 1.14%
Average Ag Grade Mined g/t 7.49
Average Cu Recovery % 91.9%
Total 22% Cu Concentrate kt 73
LoM Years 5
Capital
The total start -up capital for the Kombat open pits, including the refurbishment of the plant, is
USD10 million, including contingencies. All of the capital, excluding stay in business capital is
spent in year 1, and the majority of this capital has already been spent in 2021 to date.
Capital Expenditure Unit LoM Year 1
Total Mining Capital USDm 0.58 0.58
Total Plant Capital USDm 10.82 9.01
Total Other Capital USDm 0.50 0.50
Total Direct Capital over LoM USDm 9.11 9.11
Total SIB Capital USDm 1.87 0.06
Total Capital Contingencies USDm 0.91 0.91
Total Combined Capital USDm 11.90 10.08
Revenue and Operating Costs
The table below summarises the turnover and costs from the open pit mine, per recovered copper
equivalent pound.
Net Turnover USD/Copper Eq. lb 3.46
Mine Cost USD/Copper Eq. lb 1.21
Plant Costs USD/Copper Eq. lb 0.78
Other Costs USD/Copper Eq. lb 0.83
Direct Cash Costs (C1) USD/Copper Eq. lb 2.81
Capex USD/Copper Eq. lb 0.36
Production Costs (C2) USD/Copper Eq. lb 3.18
Royalties USD/Copper Eq. lb 0.10
Corporate Overheads USD/Copper Eq. lb -
Fully Allocated Costs (C3) USD/Copper Eq. lb 3.27
EBITDA* USD/Copper Eq. lb 0.55
Kombat Open Pit Restart
The restart of the open pit mine at Kombat is reaching its final stages, with open pit mining having
resumed in October 2021, in order to produce run of mine for the commissioning of the processing
plant in December 2021. The refurbishment of the plant is almost complete with long lead
equipment items currently being installed. The project remains on track for first production of
copper concentrate in early 2022.
Updated Production Guidance
The Company provides updated production forecasts based on the latest Mineral Resource and
Reserve estimates for both the open pit and underground projects of 3,500 tons for 2022 (open
pit only), increasing to 14,000 tons by 2024, with the re-commissioning of the underground mine
and the doubling of the current capacity of the processing plant.
Jed Richardson, Trigon’s CEO, commented, “As we reach the culmination of the process to restart
the open pit mine, we will now start focusing on the second phase of the Kombat project, bein g
the re-opening of the historic higher grade, long life underground mine, which is where we see
the significant potential for this project and for Trigon to grow into a mid-tier copper producer.”
The updated Mineral Reserve estimate has been prepared and classified by technical consultants
Minxcon (Pty) Ltd (“Minxcon”) in accordance with the reporting guidelines as set out in National
Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) as required by the
Canadian Securities Administrators. For further information with respect to the key assumptions,
parameters, risks, the mineral reserve estimate, data verification, quality assurance and quality
control (“QA/QC”) and other technical information, please refer to the technical report.
A NI 43-101 technical report with respect to the Mineral Reserve estimate and Feasibility Study
will be filed under the Company’s profile on SEDAR within 45 days of this press release.
Qualified Persons
Mr. D van Heerden (B Eng (Min.), MCom (Bus. Admin.), MMC, Pr.Eng. No. 20050318, FSAIMM,
AMMSA), Mr. U Engelmann (BSc (Zoo. & Bot.), BSc Hons (Geol.), Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA), and Mr.
NJ Odendaal (BSc (Geol.), BSc (Min. Econ.), MSc (Min. Eng.), Pr.Sci.Nat., FSAIMM, MGSSA) of
Minxcon are all “qualified persons” as such term is defined in NI 43- 101 and CIM definition
standards and have reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this
press release. Mr. van Heerden, Mr. Engelmann and Mr. Odendaal are considered independent
of Trigon.
Trigon Metals Inc.
Trigon is a publicly traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core business
focused on copper and silver holdings in mine-friendly African jurisdictions. Currently the company
has operations in Namibia and Morocco. In Namibia, the Company holds an 80% interest in five
mining licences in the Otavi Mountainlands, an area of Namibia widely recognized for its high-
grade copper deposits, where the Company is focused on exploration and re-development of the
previously producing Kombat mine. In Morocco, the Company is the holder of the Silver Hill
project, a highly prospective copper and silver exploration project.
Cautionary Notes
This news release contains information with respect to certain Non -GAAP measures. These
measures are included because these statistics are key performance measures that management
may use to monitor performance. Management may use these statistics in future to assess how
the Company is performing to plan and to assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining
operations. These performance measures do not have a meaning within International Financial
Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to
similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be
considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements
regarding the Company’s Mineral Resources and Reserves, Feasibility Study, the Company’s
strategies and the Company’s abilities to execute such strategies, the Company’s expectations
for the Kombat operations, the Company’s ability to restart the Kombat operations, the Company’s
ability to obtain adequate investment and other financing, the Company’s operations, the
economic viability of mining at the Kombat Mine and the Company’s future plans and objectives.
These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks
and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties inherent to economic
studies; risks and unc ertainties relating to: history of losses; requirements for additional capital;
dilution; loss of its material properties; interest rates increase; global economy; no history of
production; future metals price fluctuations, speculative nature of exploratio n activities; periodic
interruptions to exploration, development and mining activities; environmental hazards and
liability; industrial accidents; failure of processing and mining equipment to perform as expected;
labor disputes; supply problems; uncertain ty of production and cost estimates; the interpretation
of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations in ore reserves, grade of
mineralization or re covery rates may differ from what is indicated and the difference may be
material; legal and regulatory proceedings and community actions; accidents, title matters;
regulatory restrictions; permitting and licensing; volatility of the market price of Trigon common
shares; insurance; competition; currency fluctuations; loss of key employees; uncertainties and
risks inherent with doing business in a developing country, including, without limitation, war,
corruption, terrorism, political instability and the unc ertainty of the rule of law; and other risks of
the mining industry. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the
management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial
statements or other r eports and filings filed at www.sedar.com from time to time. We do not
assume any obligation to update any forward -looking statements, except as required by
applicable laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
For further information, contact:
Jed Richardson
+1 647 276 6002
Website: www.trigonmetals.com