Overview
Back Forty is Aquila’s 100%-owned development-stage project delineating a zinc- and gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit located along the mineral-rich Penokean Volcanic Belt in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Over the past 10 years, Aquila and various joint venture partners, including Hudbay Minerals, have invested more than $75 million exploring and advancing Back Forty.
Aquila completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2014 that demonstrated strong economics. The company is currently advancing towards completion of a Feasibility Study, expected in H2 of 2017.
Aquila has been granted three of four final permits by Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality, including:
- Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining Permit
- Air Use Permit to Install
- Pollutant Discharge & Elimination System Permit (NPDES)
Quick Links
Gallery
Strong PEA Results
Project Highlights
Resource Estimate
Geology
Environmental Studies
Downloads
Letter to Community Leaders
Back Forty Project Fact Sheet
Back Forty FAQs
Independent Socio Economic Study
Socio Economic Fact Sheet
Letter to the Editor
VMS Minerals and Acid Rock Drainage Fact Sheet
Solid Waste Management Fact Sheet
Gallery
Strong Pea Results
In July 2014, Aquila released results from a new preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on Back Forty. The PEA contemplates mining 16.1Mt of mineralized material over the 16-year life of mine (“LOM”), of which 12.5Mt is open-pit and 3.6Mt is underground.
The PEA demonstrates the potential for a diverse earnings stream with a payable metal value mix of
Economic Highlights
The PEA includes inferred resources that are considered too geologically speculative to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the PEA results will be realized.
pre-tax | after-tax | |
NPV @ 6% | $282.2M | $210.8M |
IRR | 38.8% | 32.0% |
Payback Period | 1.4 years | 1.8 years |
Production Highlights
Initial throughput rate of 5,350 tpd
Expected total payable production of 532 thousand ounces of gold, 721 million pounds of zinc, 74 million pounds of copper, 4.6 million ounces of silver, and 21 million pounds of lead
The near-surface characteristics of the ore body provide the opportunity to develop a low-CAPEX, high-grade initial phase operation. The economics of this are still being evaluated as part of the PEA and will be reported when complete.
Total estimated initial capital cost of $261M million:
- $177 million of direct pre-production capital expenditure (“CAPEX”)
- $44 million contingency
- $40 million of indirect and owner’s costs
Average on-site operating costs:
- $29.25 per tonne processed for open-pit mining
- $66.20 per tonne processed for the underground mine
Sensitivity Analysis
A sensitivity analysis was performed to test the economic viability of Back Forty against possible fluctuations in commodity prices. A table illustrating project sensitivity is presented here:
| Base Case -15% | Base Case | Base Case +15% | |
| Gold | $1,099/oz | $1,293/oz | $1,487/oz |
| Silver | $17.39/oz | $20.46/oz | $23.53/oz |
| Zinc | $0.82/lb | $0.96/lb | $1.10/lb |
| Copper | $2.70/lb | $3.18/lb | $3.66/lb |
| Lead | $0.82/lb | $0.96/lb | $1.10/lb |
| Pre-Tax | |||
| NPV @ 6% | $122.3M | $282.2M | $440.6M |
| IRR | 23.7% | 38.8% | 52.0% |
| Payback Period | 2.8 years | 1.4 years | 0.9 years |
| After-Tax | |||
| NPV @ 6% | $95.2M | $210.8M | $324.8M |
| IRR | 20.2% | 32.0% | 42.0% |
| Payback Period | 3.1 years | 1.8 years | 1.2 years |
Project Potential
The optimized mine plan provides some flexibility in the development of the project including a low-CAPEX, high-grade initial phase operation.
This approach has the potential to provide attractive economic returns, mitigate certain start-up risks, and allow significant optionality in the long-term development of the project. This opportunity would be fully evaluated during the feasibility stage of project development and could be pursued depending on future macro-economic conditions.
Other opportunities for consideration include optimization of the underground mining approach, which was not completed as part of the PEA, improving processing performance, and defining the upside potential, including further exploration and expansion of the underground resource, in-pit targets, and near-mine drill targets, which have the potential to extend mine life and improve project economics.
Resource Estimate
In February 2013, Aquila updated its mineral resource estimate. The 2014 PEA incorporates the results from this updated resource, of which 90% was classified as Measured and Indicated and only 10% as Inferred. Please refer to Aquila’s annual information form dated March 30, 2015 for further information regarding the updated mineral resource estimate.
| Category | Tonnes | AU (G/T) | AG (G/T) | CU (%) | PB (%) | ZN (%) | AU (oz) Content | ZN (lbs) Content |
| Measured | 6,700,000 | 2.16 | 27.30 | 0.47 | 0.18 | 3.95 | 465,000 | 583,000,000 |
| Indicated | 8,430,000 | 1.92 | 22.24 | 0.22 | 0.26 | 2.36 | 520,000 | 439,000,000 |
| M&I | 15,130,000 | 2.03 | 24.48 | 0.33 | 0.22 | 3.06 | 985,000 | 1,022,000,000 |
| Inferred | 2,340,000 | 2.07 | 26.53 | 0.36 | 0.33 | 2.20 | 156,000 | 113,000,000 |
Geology
Mineralization at Back Forty consists of massive, semi-massive, and stringer sulfide mineralization as well as precious metal zones with sparse sulfides
Developed within a highly altered sequence of rhyolite breccias and pyroclastic rocks cut by dikes, sills and irregular intrusions of porphyritic dacite and rhyodacite. Late mafic dikes and at least one dioritic to gabbroic intrusive intrude the felsic sequence.
Structurally, this rhyolite sequence and associated massive sulfide mineralization has been deformed into an asymmetric, moderately southwest plunging anticlinal fold characterized by a gently dipping north limb, and a steeply dipping and sheared south limb. Folding has produced an axial planar schistosity and faulting has offset lithologies and created zones of weakness for younger intrusive rocks.
Altered host rocks form assemblages of quartz – sericite – pyrite throughout an extensive area surrounding the known mineralization. The degree and extent of this alteration is evidence for a large and long-lived hydrothermal system and suggests the potential for additional mineralization in the area.
History
To date, Aquila has completed over 500 diamond drill holes
Early in 2001, zinc-rich massive sulfide mineralization was intersected in a water well. Follow-up drill testing of a geophysical anomaly resulted in the discovery of the massive sulfide deposit. To date, Aquila has completed over 500 diamond drill holes and has drilled over 125,000 meters in which polymetallic ore mineralization has been intersected from the surface to depths exceeding 700 meters.
Maps & Cross Section
Environmental Studies
In preparation for mine permitting at the Back Forty Project, Aquila Resources implemented an Environmental Baseline Study (EBS) beginning in 2007. Environmental Resources Management was contracted to conduct the EBS. The survey was designed to meet Michigan’s Part 632 Permit to Mine time-critical baseline studies (e.g., two-year data requirements for certain resources), support mine planning and design activities, address key issues raised by stakeholders, and integrate with engineering design.
*Notes:
1. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
2. NSR cut-off values for the 2013 resource estimate were based on metal price assumptions of US$0.96 per pound zinc, US$3.65 per pound copper, US$1.01 per pound lead, US$1456.36 per troy ounce gold and US$27.78 per troy ounce silver. Metallurgical recoveries were determined and applied for each of the metallurgical domains determined for the deposit. Average cut-off value for the open-pit resource contained within an optimized pit shell was US$27.75. Average cut-off value for the underground resources outside of the optimized pit shell was US$66.45.
The EBS plan includes:
- Ground and surface water hydrogeology testing to support future modeling
- Wetland characterization
- Air quality and meteorological studies
- Flora and fauna surveys, including threatened and endangered species
- Cultural resources
- Visual and noise studies
- Pre-permitting consultation with regulatory agencies
The following have been completed:
- 18 glacial overburden groundwater monitor wells, nine bedrock monitor wells, and nine piezometers have been installed over a six-square-mile area around the project
- Surface water quality monitoring stations have been established on several rivers, streams and lakes near the project area
- Monitor wells and surface water stations have been sampled on a quarterly basis
- An additional 11 staff gauges have been installed over 20 square miles
- Complete meteorological and air quality monitoring station erected Fall 2007 with continuous on-site data collection
- Biological studies (aquatics, wildlife and flora) completed
- Cultural studies completed
- Visual and noise baseline studies completed
In addition to the environmental baseline study, Aquila Resources has acted in cooperation with the local township on a drinking water survey. At the request of Lake Township a third party environmental consulting firm, Foth Infrastructure and Environment of Green Bay, was contracted to design and implement a water quality study of residential water wells.