Crown Mining Corp. Announces PEA Results for the Moonlight Copper Project
News Release
Crown Mining Corp. Announces PEA Results for the Moonlight Copper Project
March 02, 2018 - TORONTO, ONTARIO- Crown Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CWM) (“Crown” or “the
Company”) is pleased to report strong results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed
by Tetra Tech, regarding the Company’s Moonlight Copper Project located in Plumas County, California,
USA.
Highlights of the PEA Include:
Pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV): US$ 237M at 8% discount rate.
Pre-Tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR): 16.4%
Pre-tax Payback Period: 4.8 years
After-tax NPV of US$179M and after tax IRR of 14.6% for the base case
Initial Capital Cost: US$513M, including a contingency provision in the amount of US$71M
Plant Processing Rate: 60,000 tons per day (STPD)
Average Copper Recovery: 86.0%
Copper concentrate Production: Averaging 163,000 tons per year (STPY) with an average grade
of 28%.
Mine Life: 17 years, based on the existing Mineral Resource estimate
Projected Direct Employment: 332 employees (163 process and G&A; 169 mining)
Life of mine copper production of 1.5 billion pounds
The PEA was prepared under National Instrument 43 -101 standards by independent consultant, Tetra
Tech, and the full technical report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release. The Company
also engaged Cameron Resource Consulting, LLC (CRC) for the resource modeling.
Crown’s President & CEO, Stephen Dunn commented: “The Company is very encouraged with the results
of the PEA as they support the concept that the Moonlight Project can be developed as a profitable mining
operation at current copper prices.”
“The current study only focuses on the Moonlight deposit and does not factor in the other two deposits
or the several untested exploration targets on our property. Additional exploration success at Moonlight
and the inclusion of these other deposits could have a significant influence on the size, value and timing
of the overall development plan as we move forward.”
“We are also very excited with the potential for job opportunities for Plumas County and surrounding
regions. The PEA estimates approximately 330 year round jobs will be created during mine operations.
This will be an important economic boost for the local communities near our property that currently have
limited opportunities for long term employment.”
“With the recent rally in copper prices and given the projected doubling in demand for copper over the
next 20 years from the electric-vehicle revolution, renewable energy technologies, population growth and
global urbanization, we expect renewed attention on undeveloped copper deposits like our Moonlight -
Superior project. We at Crown Mining remain focused on unlocking the full potentia l of the Moonlight -
Superior project and look forward to advancing our project to the development stage.”
Mineral Resource Estimate
The Moonlight Deposit, part of the Moonlight -Superior Project in the historic Lights Creek District of
Plumas County, Calif ornia, is a disseminated copper deposit hosted by the Lights Creek stock of early
Jurassic age and intruded metavolcanic rocks. The deposit lies at the northern end of the Sierra Nevada
physiographic province at its juncture with the Late-Tertiary-to-Recent Cascade volcanic province to the
north and the Basin and Range province immediately to the east. The Lights Creek stock is a roughly
circular, tourmaline-rich quartz monzonite intrusive with areal extent of approximately 7sq mi. Copper
mineralization, mostly comprising chalcopyrite and bornite or their near -surface oxidation products, is
preferentially located in stockwork zones with fractures of multiple orientations, or at the intersection of
structures and lithologic contacts.
The Mineral Resource estimate for the Moonlight Copper Project has been prepared for Crown Mining
Corp (CM) by CRC with an effective date of December 15 , 2017 . The Mineral Resource estimate
incorporates geologic interpretations and a database compiled fro m historic drilling campaigns. The
resource database comprises 202 drill holes with 11,005 copper assays, 10,555 gold assays and 10,675
silver assays. Of the total, 189 holes are vertical N- and B-sized diamond drill holes drilled by American
Exploration Inc. (AMEX) from 1966 – 1970. Sheffield Resources Ltd. (Sheffield) completed 13 angled HQ-
sized diamond drill holes in 2005 – 2006, making up the remainder. Many of the historic drill hole collars
can be located on the surface; several collar locations were confirmed by CRC as part of the field data
verification for this study. CRC performed spot check sampling and assaying of remaining drill core and
select mineralized surface exposures . Drill hole logs and assays from the historic drill campaigns were
checked by CRC against information contained in the drill hole database used for Mineral Resource
estimation. An historic estimate for the deposit was filed in a 43-101 Technical Report on SEDAR in 2007,
but is superseded by the Mineral Resource estimate reported here.
Moonlight deposit drill spacing comprises a fairly regular 300 x 300 ft grid aligned with the overall deposit
trend. Drill spacing opens up near the bottom of the deposit due to variable drill hole depths. Separate
mineralized pods with northwest trend align to form an overall north-northeast deposit trend, discerned
as part of exploratory data analysis using contours of copper, gold and silver bench composites. The two
trends are sub -parallel to faults map ped on the surface beyond the edges of the deposits. Structural
complication by faulting inside the deposit outline does not appear to be major.
Most copper assaying by AMEX was in 10 ft lengths; Sheffield data, composing approximately 15% of the
resource database, comprises 6.5 ft (2m) sample lengths and assays for copper, silver and gold. AMEX
gold and silver assays were performed on 100 ft composites. Sheffield assay data is supported by
laboratory assay certificates, stored drill core and records from its quality control (QA-QC) program. AMEX
assay data is only supported by handwritten assays on drill logs and comparable results from a Sheffield
twin-hole program. The review of the AMEX data by CRC supports its use for estimation of copper and
silver. Approximately 80% of assays are from quartz monzonite, and nearly all of the rest are in relatively
low-grade metavolcanic wall-rocks. Less than 10% of the assays are from oxidized rocks. Copper assays
were composited for estimation to the proposed bench height (50 ft); gold and silver were composited to
100 ft intervals consistent with the general assay lengths for these metals.
Geologic units interpreted in three dimensions from plans and sections include the principal quartz
monzonite stock host, a metavolcanics solid, Tertiary sediment cover, and a late basalt plug. An oxide
lower surface was also interpreted from the drill logs to permit removal of oxide material from the mine
plan. An outer 0.1% Cu grade shell was constructed by contouring indicator estimate results on sections
and reconciling (smoothing) the sectional interpretation on clos ely-spaced plans. The geologic
interpretation was used to domain the deposit based on further statistical analysis, capping and
variography. Reliable directional variograms were obtained for copper and omnidirectional variograms
for silver. The quartz monzonite was found to contain approximately 90% of mineralization >0.1% Cu.
A block model was constructed with dimensions of 100 x 100 x 50 ft high to cover the Moonlight deposit
from the surface to a maximum depth at 4200 ft elevation. Grade estimates were by ordinary kriging
methods for copper and silver, and inverse distance methods (ID3) for gold using Micromine software.
Gold estimates outside the area s infill-drilled by Sheffield were assigned the mean value of the blocks
estimated by Sheffield data. A single specific gravity value was assigned to the block model based on a
statistical analysis of measurements collected by Sheffield from drill cores. Mineral Resources estimates
were validated graphically, for absence of global and local bias, and for change-of-support. A summary of
the estimates for the Moonlight deposit is listed in the Mineral Resource statement below:
Moonlight Mineral Resources as of December 15, 20171,2,3,4,5,6,7
Class Tons
(000’s)
Cu
(%)
Au
(opt)
Ag
(opt)
Cu Tons
(000’s)
Au Oz
(000’s)
Ag Oz
(000’s)
Indicated 252,000 0.25 0.0001 0.07 636 18 18,400
Inferred 109,000 0.24 0.0001 0.08 267 9 9,000
(1) Mineral Resources are estimated using CIM Best Practices guidelines and 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves.
(2) The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resources is Donald E. Cameron, Registered Geologist, Society of Mining Engineers (SME).
(3) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
(4) It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued
exploration.
(5) Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent differences between tons, grade and contained metal content.
(6) Mineral Resources are reported above a $6.25 net smelter return (NSR) cut-off (NSR=44.08*Cu + .348*31.10348*Ag) and within a
conceptual pit shell using copper, gold and silver prices of US$ 3.00/lb, $1275/oz and $17.5/oz, respectively, and preliminary operating costs
as of the effective date of this Mineral Resource.
(7) Effective date of Mineral Resource is December 15, 2017.
Moonlight Mineral Resources are moderately sensitive to the selection of the reporting cut -off
grade. In comparison with the historical 43 -101 Mineral Resource (2007), the current Mineral Resource
estimates are based on an updated drill hole database, are supported by a more developed lithologic
model and addition of an oxidation model, and use grade caps to reduce metal -at-risk rather than an
indicator approach. Classification is based on drill hole spacing, confidence criteria and a pit she ll to
demonstrate reasonable prospects for economic extraction, whereas in the historical estimate
classification was based mainly on estimation pass.
Proposed Mining Plan
Mining will be open pit -only using drill and blast, truck and shovel methods. Mini ng is planned to be
conducted using 50 ft benches with a maximum overall pit slope of 45 degrees. The mine plan developed
for the PEA is based on Geovia Whittle™ optimization. Over the mine life 650 million tons will be moved
which includes 365 million tons as mill feed and 286 million tons as waste rock and rejected low grade
material below cut-off grade.
The mining fleet includes 244 ton trucks, loaded by 29 yd3 diesel hydraulic shovel and 26 yd3 wheel loader.
Drill and blast will be done with track mounted drill rigs drilling 10 inch holes. Explosives are planned as
down hole service by explosives supplier. Haul roads are designed to be 100 ft wide to allow for two-way
traffic at a maximum gradient of 8%.
Strip ratios vary over life of mine ranging from 0.2 to 1.4 with an average of 0.78.
Proposed Processing Plant
The treatment technology proposed for the project is the conventional flotation co ncentration. The
processing plant will consist of crushing and grinding circuits, followed by a flotation process to recover
and upgrade copper and silver from the feed material.
The mill feed will be crushed by one 63” x 89” or equivalent gyratory crusher to 80% passing approximately
6”. Crushed material will be fed into a stockpile of 55,000-ton live capacity and then be further crushed
by three cone crushers (each with an installed power of 1,000 hp, two in operation and one standby)
followed by two high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR, each with an installed power of 7,500 hp). The product
from the HPGR circuit will be further ground to 80% passing 110 micron by two ball mills (each with an
installed power of 25,000 hp). The slurry from the hydrocyclones will feed one bank of rougher flotation
cells, each with 10,500 ft 3 volume. The rougher concentrate will be reground to 80% passing
approximately 50 micron prior to three stages of cleaner flotation by conventional flotation cells. The
flotation concentrate will be thickened and filtered and sent to the concentrate stockpile for subsequent
shipping to the smelter. The tailings produced will be impounded in a tailings management facility (TMF)
located at south of the processing plant.
At this stage of the study, value of gold has not been included in the economic evaluation. Further
investigation on gold credits should be conducted during the next phase of the study.
Tetra Tech used the metallurgical test work results and the report provided by Allihies Engineering Inc. in
collaboration with Continental Metallurgical Services, for processing plant design. The m etallurgical
results were disseminated in the January 04, 2018 Press Release titled “Crown Mining Reports Results
from Metallurgical Study”.
Infrastructure
The Project site is currently accessible via the existing network of logging roads , designed for
accommodating heavy equipment and vehicles used for logging activities. The power will be drawn from
the existing network of transmission lines located in Westwood, CA, which is approximately 10 miles
northwest of the project site.
The major buildings on site will include the process plant, primary crushing facility, secondary and tertiary
crushing, concentrate storage and loadout , truck shop complex, warehouse, administration, assay
laboratory and substation. A connecting network of roads that are required to access the various facilities
including the laydown area, the ope n pit, the process plant, ancillary buildings, the primary crusher, the
TMF, and the mining operations staging points will be constructed.
The project is expected to provide direct employment to approximately 330 hourly and staff personnel,
which are expected to be from the surrounding communities to provide supports to the project. During
the construction phase, the peak work force is expected to reach 450. The project construction will
provide additional employment opportunities to the surrounding communities.
Economic Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis
The operating assumptions for the financial model for the project are as follows:
Item Units LOM Total
Life of mine years 17
Annual tons processed (LOM average) ktons 21,469
Total tons mined including waste rock ktons 650,846
Total tons processed ktons 364,967
Total tons concentrate produced (dry mass) ktons 2,763
Copper recovered to concentrate ktons 774
Silver recovered to concentrate koz 19,141
Net revenue from sales US$ millions 4,468
Life of mine operating costs
Mining* US$ millions 856
Processing & tailings management US$ millions 1,740
General and administrative US$ millions 237
Total life of mine operating costs US$ millions 2,832
Life of mine unit operating costs
Mining US$/ton mined 1.32
Mining US$/ton processed 2.35
Processing & tailings management US$/ton processed 4.77
General and administrative US$/ton processed 0.65
Total life of mine operating costs US$/ton processed 7.76
Cash flow
Copper price US$ per lb. 3.15
Pre-tax operating cash flow US$ millions 851
Pre-tax net present value at 8% US$ millions 237
Pre-tax internal rate of return % 16.4
Post-tax operating cash flow US$ millions 708
Post-tax net present value at 8% US$ millions 179
Post-tax Internal rate of return % 14.6
*Includes pre-production mining cost.
The initial and sustaining capital costs are presented as follows:
Capital costs
Initial capital costs US$ millions 513
Mining equipment leasing costs (life of mine)* US$ millions 148
Life of mine sustaining costs US$ millions 97
Reclamation costs US$ millions 60
Total US$ millions 818
* Includes pre-production leasing cost.
Breakdown of the initial capital cost is as below:
Item US$ million
Site Development 40.4
Mining (excludes leased equipment) 15.6
Process 185.3
Tailings & Waste Rock Management 12.2
Utilities 7.7
Buildings 59.8
Plant Mobile Equipment & Misc. 3.9
Indirect Construction Costs 104.9
Owner’s Costs 12.4
Contingency 70.7
Total 512.9
A sensitivity analysis was performed, to test the impact of changes to copper price included in the
economic model, with the following results:
Cu Price Ag Price Pre-tax NPV Pre-tax IRR Post-tax NPV Post-tax IRR
US $/lb. US $/oz US $ Million % US $ Million %
3.00 18.00 132 12.9 91 11.5
3.15 18.00 237 16.4 179 14.6
3.25 18.00 307 18.6 236 16.6
3.50 18.00 482 23.9 376 21.1
4.00 18.00 832 33.5 653 29.4
Environmental Assessment
Baseline data availability for the Moonlight Project is not robust, however, the surface water sampling
that has been done shows that water quality criteria are not exceeded in the main stems of the major
drainages receiving runoff from developed or undeveloped portions of the property. Acid base accounting
of waste rock and tailings from existing impacts and recent drilling shows that acid generation will not be
a significant issue and that metals leaching is low. This supports the water quality results. N o other
baseline data have been collected for the project.
Permitting will take place under federal and state regulatory regimes as property ownership is both
private and federally managed. For this, environmental impact assessments are mandated and will need
to assess the full range of anticipated impacts from mining, transportation and waste disposal. Significant
additional baseline data collection for this process will be required. California law includes a requirement
for backfilling of open pits with available material. This will need to be considered in reclamation planning
and bonding.
Qualified Persons
The technical disclosures in this press release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. George Cole of
Crown Mining Corp., together with the following independent qualified persons;
• Donald Cameron, Reg. Geologist, SME, consultant, CRC, responsible for Mineral Resource estimate.
• Mark Horan, P.Eng., consultant, Tetra Tech, responsible for mine planning and economic analysis.
• Dr. John Huang, P.Eng., consultant, Tetra Tech, responsible for process.
• Hassan Ghaffari, P.Eng. , consultant, Tetra Tech, responsible for metallurgy, infrastructure and cost
estimation.
Cautionary Notes
Please note that the PEA is preliminary in nature, that it includes inferred mineral resources that are
considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would
enable them to be categorized 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.
About Crown Mining Corp.
Crown controls approximately 15 square miles of patented and unpatented federal mining claims in the
Light’s Creek Copper District in Plumas County, NE California; essentially, the entire District. The District
contains substantial copper (silver) sulfide and copper oxide resources in three deposits – Moonlight,
Superior and Engels, as well as several partially tested and untested exploration targets.
The Superior and Engels Mines operated from about 1915 -1930 producing over 161 million pounds of
copper from over 4 million tons of rock containing 2.2% copper with silver and gold credits. The Moonlight
Deposit was discovered and drilled by Placer Amex during the 1960’s.