As released on June 13, 2023, the first ever publicly available economic study (PEA) for the Berg project lays out a 43-101 compliant Project plan showing a standalone Open Pit Copper Mine and concentrator facility lying within one of the largest undeveloped Copper belts in British Columbia. The project being within the traditional territory of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation and Wet'suwet'en peoples along with the Cheslatta Carrier Nation Surge looks to partner with the local communities and Nations make use of existing infrastructure such as road access and the fully hydroelectric green power grid in BC, to rapidly advance the project to the Pre-Feasibility (PFS) level of study to declare the first ever reserves for the Berg project in the near future.
65% increase in M+I tonnes, 140% increase in Total tonnes
88% increase in contained copper
54,384 metres of drilling
Located within the Tahtsa Ranges of British Columbia the Berg resource is a classic calc-alkaline Cu-Mo porphyry deposit. The MRE benefits from 2,855 metres of new drilling completed by Surge in 2021, 7,261 new gold assays collected by Surge from historical core and pulp samples during 2022 and 2023, improved geostatistical modelling of silver in the deposit, and improved metallurgical recovery assumptions based on an extensive review of historical metallurgical testwork by Ausenco and Surge.
Mineralization at the Berg deposit forms a ring around a broadly cylindrical, multi-phase intrusive stock known as the Berg Stock. The mineral resources comprise two highly fractured mineralized zones in the northeast and southern portions of the annulus. Hypogene mineralization is characterized by several generations of veining, and a well-developed supergene enrichment blanket is superimposed on the hypogene mineralization.
Notes:
Figure. Berg Resource Cross Section Showing Resource Pit and Mineable Inventory Pit
Post tax NPV8% of $2.1 billion
3.9 year payback
Average Annual FCF of $348 million
30 year mine life, 978 million tonnes of Mineral Inventory
Large Economies of Scale mining and processing
Low Carbon footprint opportunity
The Berg PEA outlines a long-life open pit mine with excellent economics and the ability to feed a projected growing copper market in the transition away from fossil fuels. Ideally situated to make use of BC’s green power grid and taking advantage of available electric mining technologies such as downhill conveyor systems to transport rock while generating electricity. The conventional truck and shovel operation will further make use of battery electric technologies as they are developed in time for initial production at the Berg project. The conventional crushing/grinding and flotation circuit lead to a low execution risk project development yielding the following economic results:
The PEA is preliminary in nature and 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 the PEA will be realized.
The Berg property also hosts excellent exploration opportunities. Recent work includes over 4,000 soil, 500 rock samples and 24 ground IP lines across numerous target areas. Three new drill discoveries made and significant advancement of greenfields targets. Recent results on the Bergette target highlighted:
BGT22-01: 143m @ 0.23% Cu, 0.010% Mo, and 0.03 g/t Au from 3m depth
BGT22-02: 176m @ 0.22% Cu, 0.012% Mo, and 0.03 g/t Au from 8m depth
Disclaimer
Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for the Ootsa and Berg projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.