Celsius Resources Limited (ASX: CLA) has appointed Mining Plus, part of the Byrnecut Group, to undertake key studies as it continues its Scoping Study into the development of large high-grade Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog copper-gold project (MCB Project) in the Philippines.
Through its Philippines-subsidiary Makilala Mining, Celsius has contracted Mining Plus to complete conceptual mine planning and financial modelling, which are key elements of the MCB Scoping Study.
Mining Plus has been contracted to consider and undertake mine planning and develop concepts for establishing an underground mine at the MCB copper-gold project, as part of the Scoping Study currently being prepared.
Its work will consider several mining methods, including but not limited to Block Caving and Sub-Level Caving, in order to select the most appropriate method applicable to the orebody conditions. A detailed financial model and mine plan will also be generated.
Mining Plus has had recent experience in developing mine plans for Philippine mining projects, which made them a preferred consultant for the MCB Project. In addition, Mining Plus has a global presence across multiple mining disciplines, with a large team of 150+ full time experts.
Contractual arrangements are also in place with ALS Testing laboratories in Perth, which will undertake the metallurgical and flotation test work program. Vacuum sealed core samples will be dispatched to ALS following evaluation of the samples by Intertek Philippines in Muntinlupa for multi-element assaying.
John Burgers has been engaged as an independent contractor to provide technical support during the metallurgical test work period, liaising with ALS and providing an interpretation report based on the results, which will include among others, Preliminary Plant Design, Water Balance, Process Plant Capex, and Processing Opex.
PSM Brisbane has been engaged to develop a conceptual Hydrological Model based on information generated from the Vibrating Wire Piezometers, which will be fitted in the four main drill holes located in the main ore body.
Given the terrain and the limited accessible infrastructure locations, contract finalisation is currently ongoing with Metso Outotec to develop a concept for utilising the maximum portion of the plant tailings for mine backfill to support the underground mining design and production planning. Part of their scope is the development of tailings strategies to cater for periods where tailings cannot be placed underground, to minimise the tailings dam footprint.
Located in the Cordillera Administrative Region, approximately 320 km north of Manila, on the large island of Luzon, the MCB Project holds a large, high-grade copper gold porphyry deposit.
A maiden JORC compliant Mineral Resource was declared for the Project in January 2021, comprising 313.8 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15 g/t gold, for 1.5 million tonnes of contained copper and 1.47 million ounces of gold. The resource comprises 290.3 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15 g/t gold in the Indicated category and 23.5 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.10 g/t gold in the Inferred category.
A high-grade core of 93.7 million tonnes @ 0.80% copper and 0.28 g/t goldwill be the focus for the company’s initial Scoping Study,
The high-grade core comprises 79.8 million tonnes @ 0.83% copper and 0.30 g/t gold in the Indicated category and 13.9 million tonnes @ 0.59% copper and 0.11 g/t gold in the Inferred category.
