Western Exploration Files NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Aura Gold Silver Project
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) has filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for its Aura Gold-Silver Project in Nevada, highlighting significant resource increases and positive economic assessment results. The Gravel Creek resource showed a 56% increase in gold resources to 571,000 ounces and an 83% increase in silver resources to 9,726,000 ounces in the inferred category.
The Doby George Heap Leach PEA revealed promising economics with a base case after-tax NPV of US$70.7M and 25.4% IRR at $2,150/oz gold price, potentially increasing to $211.2M NPV with 62.2% IRR at $3,000/oz gold. The project features a 5-year mine life with pre-production capital costs of US$115.2M and attractive all-in sustaining costs of US$1,197 per ounce at $3,000 gold price.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) ha presentato un Rapporto Tecnico NI 43-101 per il suo progetto Aura Gold-Silver in Nevada, evidenziando significativi aumenti delle risorse e risultati economici positivi. La risorsa Gravel Creek ha mostrato un aumento del 56% delle risorse d'oro raggiungendo 571.000 once e un incremento dell'83% delle risorse d'argento a 9.726.000 once nella categoria inferita.
Il PEA del Doby George Heap Leach ha rivelato un'economia promettente con un NPV base dopo le tasse di 70,7 milioni di dollari USA e un IRR del 25,4% al prezzo dell'oro di 2.150 $/oz, potenzialmente aumentando a 211,2 milioni di dollari di NPV con un IRR del 62,2% a 3.000 $/oz. Il progetto prevede una vita mineraria di 5 anni con costi di capitale pre-produzione di 115,2 milioni di dollari USA e costi sostenuti totali attraenti di 1.197 $ per oncia al prezzo dell'oro di 3.000 $.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) ha presentado un Informe T茅cnico NI 43-101 para su proyecto Aura Gold-Silver en Nevada, destacando aumentos significativos en los recursos y resultados econ贸micos positivos. El recurso Gravel Creek mostr贸 un aumento del 56% en recursos de oro alcanzando 571,000 onzas y un incremento del 83% en recursos de plata a 9,726,000 onzas en la categor铆a inferida.
El PEA de Doby George Heap Leach revel贸 una econom铆a prometedora con un VPN base despu茅s de impuestos de 70,7 millones de d贸lares y una TIR del 25,4% a un precio del oro de 2,150 $/oz, que podr铆a aumentar a 211,2 millones de d贸lares de VPN con una TIR del 62,2% a 3,000 $/oz. El proyecto cuenta con una vida 煤til de mina de 5 a帽os con costos de capital previos a la producci贸n de 115,2 millones de d贸lares y costos sostenidos totales atractivos de 1,197 $ por onza al precio del oro de 3,000 $.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF)電� 雱る皵雼れ棎 鞙勳箻頃� Aura Gold-Silver 頂勲鞝濏姼鞐� 雽頃� NI 43-101 旮办垹 氤搓碃靹滊ゼ 鞝滌稖頄堨溂氅�, 鞛愳洂 歃濌皜鞕 旮嶌爼鞝侅澑 瓴届牅 韽夑皜 瓴瓣臣毳� 臧曥“頄堨姷雼堧嫟. Gravel Creek 鞛愳洂鞚 於旍爼 氩旍<鞐愳劀 旮� 鞛愳洂鞚� 56% 歃濌皜頃橃棳 571,000鞓姢, 鞚 鞛愳洂鞚� 83% 歃濌皜頃橃棳 9,726,000鞓姢鞐� 雼枅鞀惦媹雼�.
Doby George Heap Leach PEA電� 旮� 臧瓴� 2,150雼煬/鞓姢 旮办鞙茧 靹疙泟 旮办 靾滍槃鞛皜旃�(NPV) 7,070毵� 雼煬鞕 雮措秬靾橃澋毳�(IRR) 25.4%鞚� 鞙犽頃� 瓴届牅靹膘潉 氤挫棳欤检棃鞙茧┌, 旮� 臧瓴╈澊 3,000雼煬/鞓姢鞚� 瓴届毎 NPV臧 2鞏� 1,120毵� 雼煬, IRR鞚� 62.2%旯岇 歃濌皜頃� 靾� 鞛堨姷雼堧嫟. 鞚� 頂勲鞝濏姼電� 5雲勳潣 甏戩偘 靾橂獏鞚� 臧歆氅�, 靸濎偘 鞝� 鞛愲掣 牍勳毄鞚� 1鞏� 1,520毵� 雼煬鞚搓碃, 旮� 臧瓴� 3,000雼煬 旮办鞙茧 鞓姢雼� 鞙犾 牍勳毄鞚� 1,197雼煬搿� 毵る牓鞝侅瀰雼堧嫟.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) a d茅pos茅 un rapport technique NI 43-101 pour son projet Aura Gold-Silver au Nevada, mettant en avant des augmentations significatives des ressources et des r茅sultats 茅conomiques positifs. La ressource Gravel Creek a montr茅 une augmentation de 56 % des ressources en or 脿 571 000 onces et une augmentation de 83 % des ressources en argent 脿 9 726 000 onces dans la cat茅gorie inf茅r茅e.
Le PEA du Doby George Heap Leach a r茅v茅l茅 une 茅conomie prometteuse avec une valeur actuelle nette apr猫s imp么ts de 70,7 millions USD et un TRI de 25,4 % 脿 un prix de l'or de 2 150 $/oz, pouvant potentiellement atteindre 211,2 millions USD de VAN avec un TRI de 62,2 % 脿 3 000 $/oz. Le projet pr茅sente une dur茅e de vie mini猫re de 5 ans avec des co没ts en capital avant production de 115,2 millions USD et des co没ts totaux soutenus attractifs de 1 197 USD par once au prix de l'or de 3 000 $.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) hat einen NI 43-101 Technischen Bericht f眉r sein Aura Gold-Silver Projekt in Nevada eingereicht, der signifikante Ressourcenzuw盲chse und positive wirtschaftliche Bewertungen hervorhebt. Die Ressource Gravel Creek zeigte einen 56%igen Anstieg der Goldressourcen auf 571.000 Unzen und einen 83%igen Anstieg der Silberressourcen auf 9.726.000 Unzen in der Kategorie 鈥瀒nferred鈥�.
Die Doby George Heap Leach PEA zeigte vielversprechende Wirtschaftlichkeit mit einem Basisfall nach Steuern NPV von 70,7 Mio. USD und einer IRR von 25,4% bei einem Goldpreis von 2.150 USD/oz, der sich potenziell auf 211,2 Mio. USD NPV mit einer IRR von 62,2% bei 3.000 USD/oz erh枚hen k枚nnte. Das Projekt verf眉gt 眉ber eine Minenlaufzeit von 5 Jahren mit Vorproduktionskapitalkosten von 115,2 Mio. USD und attraktiven All-in Sustaining Costs von 1.197 USD pro Unze bei einem Goldpreis von 3.000 USD.
- Significant 56% increase in inferred gold resources to 571,000 ounces at Gravel Creek
- 83% increase in inferred silver resources to 9,726,000 ounces at Gravel Creek
- Strong economics with base case after-tax NPV of US$70.7M and 25.4% IRR
- Potential upside case NPV of US$211.2M with 62.2% IRR at $3,000/oz gold
- Competitive all-in sustaining cost of US$1,197 per ounce
- Short payback period of less than 18 months at $3,000 gold price
- Significant initial capital requirement of US$115.2M plus $12.4M working capital
- Relatively low average grade of 1.01 g/t Au
- Short mine life of only 5 years
Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - June 25, 2025) - Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX) (OTCQX: WEXPF) (the "Company" or "Western Exploration") has filed on SEDAR+ a technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") on the Aura Project ("Aura" or the "Project"), titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Doby George Deposits and Updated Resource Estimate for the Gravel Creek Gold-Silver Deposits, Aura Gold-Silver Project, Elko County, Nevada" (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report supports disclosures dated May 8, 2025, titled "Western Exploration Announces Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Doby George Resource at The Aura Project" and June 23, 2025 titled "Western Exploration Announces
Highlights of the updated Gravel Creek MRE include:
A significant increase in grades and ounces, at a 3.0g AuEq/t cutoff*, in the inferred mineral resource category, reflecting the positive contribution from the high-grade vein discovery hosted in Jarbidge rhyolite east of Gravel Creek.
Increased ounces of gold in the inferred mineral resource category from 367,000 ounces Au to 571,000 ounces Au, representing a
56% * increase in ounces of gold and a9% increase in grade of gold.Increased ounces of silver in the inferred mineral resource category from 5,307,000 ounces Ag to 9,726,000 ounces Ag, representing an
83% * increase in ounces of silver and a28% * increase in grade of silver.
Indicated gold equivalent grade, reported at a 3.0 g/t Aueq cutoff*, remained relatively constant between 2021 and 2025 with 216,000 ounces Au and 3,367,000 ounces Ag being reported in the current MRE.
Highlights of the updated Doby George Heap Leach PEA include:
Base Case After-tax NPV of US
$70.7M and an IRR of25.4% using a gold price of US$2,150 increasing to US$211.2M with a62.2% IRR utilizing a US$3,000 /oz gold price (see upside metal price to base case metal price comparison in Table 1)Total Life-of-Mine ("LOM") after-tax net cash flow of US
$271.2M over a five-year project life using US$3,000 gold priceAverage annual operating cash flow of
$112.1M and a less than 18-month payback period using US$3,000 gold priceLOM all-in Sustaining cost of US
$1,197 per ounce at US$3,000 gold price and US$1,152 per ounce at the base case of gold price being US$2,150 LOM average grade of 1.01 g/t Au creating potential for significant profit margins
Estimated pre-production capital costs of US
$115.2M excluding upfront Working Capital of US$12.4M which is credited back to the operation on year five
The Technical Report was prepared by RESPEC Company LLC ("RESPEC") and Kappes, Cassidy & Associates ("KCA") both based in Reno, Nevada with an effective date of June 17, 2025. The Technical Report can be found on the Company's website at and on SEDAR+ at under the Company's issuer profile.
2025 Exploration Plan
Exploration will continue in 2025 with an approximate 4,000 meter drill program focused on the Tomasina Fault Zone at Wood Gulch. Wood Gulch is a former producing open pit mine and geological reinterpretation based on prior drill results has reprioritized Wood Gulch as a highly prospective target. While Wood Gulch is the focus of Western Exploration's 2025 exploration program, the significant resource increase at Gravel Creek (as described in this news release) supports a more extensive drill program aimed at infill drilling and resource expansion. In addition, the Company will continue to de-risk the project through project refinement, both in terms of potential processing and cost parameters, continued geotechnical work, ongoing environmental studies, and permit planning.
Webinar Reminder
Join CEO Darcy Marud for a live webinar on Thursday, June 26, at 1 pm PT where he will provide an update on the latest company developments. Please .
Technical Information
The Gravel Creek, Wood Gulch and Doby George MREs were prepared for Western Exploration by Mr. Michael S. Lindholm, C.P.G. of RESPEC in Reno, Nevada, who is a qualified person for purposes of NI 43-101 and independent of Western Exploration as defined in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.
The PEA has been prepared by independent representatives of KCA and RESPEC, each of whom is a "qualified person" (within the meaning of NI 43-101) (each, a "qualified person") and independent of Western Exploration for purposes of Section 1.5 of NI 43-101. At the effective date of the PEA, each qualified person has certified that, to the best of their knowledge, information, and belief, the parts of the PEA for which they were responsible, contain all scientific and technical information required to be disclosed to make the PEA not misleading. The affiliation and areas of responsibility for each qualified person involved in preparing the PEA are provided below.
- Travis Manning, P.E. of KCA - processing design and costs, metallurgy, recovery and cash flow
- Mr. Michael S. Lindholm, C.P.G. of RESPEC - geology, database and MRE
- Kyle Murphy, P.E. of RESPEC - open pit design, mine planning, scheduling and costing
About Western Exploration
Western Exploration is focused on advancing the
Additional information regarding Western Exploration can be found on Western Exploration's corporate website () and on SEDAR+ () under Western Exploration's issuer profile.
For further information, please contact:
Darcy Marud
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (775) 329-8119
Email: [email protected]
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations
Telephone: (775) 240-4172
Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Statements Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources
This news release uses the terms measured, indicated, and inferred mineral resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definition, which is incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require the Company to make certain assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "potential", "feasibility", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This news release contains the forward-looking information pertaining to, among other things: the significance of the results of the MRE; the Technical Report being filed within 45 days of May 8, 2025 (if at all) supporting the results of the MRE described in this news release; the ability of exploration activities, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; management's expectations on the grade and extension of mineralization; the accuracy of results from prior exploration activities conducted at the Aura Project; the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release; the prospects, if any, of the Doby George, Gravel Creek and Wood Gulch mineral deposits; and the schedule of further drilling and exploration activities. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability of Western Exploration to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; the uncertain nature of exploration activities; property and royalty interests in respect of the Aura Project; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Western Exploration cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Western Exploration nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Western Exploration does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.
For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward‐looking statements and forward-looking information made in this news release concerning Western Exploration, please refer to the continuous disclosure record of Western Exploration on SEDAR+ () under Western Exploration's issuer profile. The forward-looking statements set forth herein concerning Western Exploration reflect management's expectations as at the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date. Western Exploration disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit