Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX:AIS) has compiled a group mineral resource and ore reserve statement to December 31, 2022, with overall resource tonnage increased by 6% to 54.9 million tonnes on the June 30, 2022, estimate.
This has seen contained copper metal increase 3% to 814,000 tonnes, including a 7% increase at the Tritton operations in NSW and a 16% increase at the Jaguar project in WA.
Contained gold metal has increased 6% to 1.416 million ounces, including a 16% increase at the Cracow Gold Project in Queensland while contained zinc metal is up 5% to 1.041 million tonnes with this resource related to the Jaguar project.
New estimates
The group resource estimate sees new resources reported for the Kurrajong deposit at Tritton and the Golden Plateau deposit at Cracow as well as an updated resource for Turbo deposit at Jaguar. Resources for the North Queensland and Stockman projects are also incorporated.
Group mineral resource estimates at December 31, 2022.
Meanwhile, the group’s ore reserve tonnage has decreased by 5% to 16 million tonnes due to mining depletion and this is partly offset by the maiden ore reserve for Jaguar’s Turbo deposit.
Aeris’ group mineral resources and ore reserves are reported in accordance with the guidelines of the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC 2012).
Resource changes
The mineral resource estimate has increased due to resource drilling programs at Tritton, Jaguar and Cracow.
Changes in group mineral resource tonnage relative to June 31, 2022.
At the Tritton operations mineral resource tonnage increased by 2.1 million tonnes due to resource updates at the Budgerygar, South Wing and Kurrajong deposits.
Resource tonnage at the Cracow project increased by 800,000 tonnes due primarily to a maiden resource reported for Golden Plateau.
At Jaguar, resource tonnage increased by 600,000 tonnes as a result of resource definition drilling at Bentley and Turbo.
Resource tonnage was reduced by 200,000 tonnes at the North Queensland Project due to mining depletion and the removal of some oxide material below the Mt Colin pit from the resource while there was no change to the Stockman resource.
Group ore reserve estimates at December 31, 2022.
Ore reserve changes
When compared to the ore reserves at June 30, 2022, group reserves have been reduced by 750,000 tonnes to 126 million tonnes due primarily to mining depletion.
At Tritton the reserve tonnage decreased by 800,000 tonnes predominantly due to mining depletion at Tritton and Murrawombie.
Changes in group ore reserve tonnage relative to June 30, 2022.
Mining depletion was also the reason for a decrease of 200,000 tonnes in the ore reserve at Cracow and a decrease of 140,000 tonnes at the North Queensland Project (Mt Colin).
At Jaguar ore reserve tonnage increased by 400,000 tonnes due to the maiden ore reserve estimate at Turbo while at Stockman there was no change to the reserve.