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Amex Exploration Perron Gold Project Delivers Strong Economics in Updated PEA

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Amex Exploration (OTCQX:AMXEF) has announced impressive results from its updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the wholly-owned Perron gold project in Quebec. The project features a two-stage production strategy with a Phase 1 4-year toll milling operation at 1,000 tpd, followed by Phase 2 with a 13-year on-site processing plant at 2,000 tpd.

Key financial metrics include a post-tax IRR of 70.1% and NPV of C$1,085M at US$2,500/oz gold price. The project boasts average annual production of 95,000 oz gold over its 17.5-year mine life, with higher production of 112,000 oz annually in the first 10 years. Initial capital costs are C$146.1M, partially offset by C$68.6M in pre-production revenues.

The project demonstrates strong economics with a post-tax payback period of 1.4 years and competitive All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) of US$1,061/oz. The mine plan combines underground and open-pit operations, with processing recovery rates of 95%.

Amex Exploration (OTCQX:AMXEF) ha annunciato risultati notevoli dal PEA aggiornato per il progetto aurifero Perron in Quebec, interamente di sua proprietà. Il piano prevede una strategia produttiva in due fasi: Fase 1 con 4 anni di lavorazione in conto terzi a 1.000 tpd, seguita dalla Fase 2 con un impianto di trattamento in sito da 2.000 tpd per 13 anni.

I principali indicatori finanziari mostrano un IRR post-tasse del 70,1% e un NPV di C$1.085M assumendo un prezzo dell’oro di US$2.500/oz. La produzione media annua prevista è di 95.000 oz d’oro lungo una vita mineraria di 17,5 anni, con una produzione più elevata di 112.000 oz annue nei primi 10 anni. I costi di capitale iniziali sono pari a C$146,1M, compensati in parte da ricavi pre-produzione di C$68,6M.

Il progetto mette in evidenza una solida redditività con un periodo di payback post-tasse di 1,4 anni e costi sostenuti complessivi competitivi, con AISC di US$1.061/oz. Il piano minerario combina operazioni sotterranee e a cielo aperto, con tassi di recupero del 95% nel processo di trattamento.

Amex Exploration (OTCQX:AMXEF) ha anunciado resultados destacados del PEA actualizado para el proyecto aurífero Perron en Quebec, de su propiedad total. El proyecto contempla una estrategia de producción en dos etapas: Fase 1 con 4 años de molienda por contrato a 1.000 tpd, seguida por la Fase 2 con una planta de procesamiento en sitio de 2.000 tpd durante 13 años.

Las métricas financieras clave incluyen una TIR post-impuestos del 70,1% y un VAN de C$1.085M asumiendo un precio del oro de US$2.500/oz. La producción media anual es de 95.000 oz de oro durante una vida útil de 17,5 años, con una producción mayor de 112.000 oz anuales en los primeros 10 años. Los costos de capital iniciales son de C$146,1M, parcialmente compensados por ingresos preproducción de C$68,6M.

El proyecto muestra una sólida economía con un periodo de recuperación post-impuestos de 1,4 años y AISC competitivos de US$1.061/oz. El plan minero combina operaciones subterráneas y a cielo abierto, con recuperaciones de proceso del 95%.

Amex Exploration (OTCQX:AMXEF)ëŠ� 퀘벡ì—� 있는 ì „ì•¡ 소유 페론 ê¸� 프로ì íЏì—� 대í•� ì—…ë°ì´íЏë� 예비경제성í‰ê°€(PEA)ì—서 우수í•� ê²°ê³¼ë¥� 발표했습니다. ¶¥„로ì íЏµç� 2단계 ìƒì‚° ì „ëžµì� 채íƒí•˜ê³  있으ë©�, 1단계ëŠ� 1,000 tpdì� 외부 ìœ„íƒ ì²˜ë¦¬ ë°©ì‹ìœ¼ë¡œ 4ë…„ê°„ ìš´ì˜ë˜ê³ , 2단계ëŠ� 2,000 tpd 규모ì� 현장 처리 시설ì� 갖춘 13ë…� 단계입니ë‹�.

주요 재무 지표는 ê¸� ê°€ê²©ì„ ì˜¨ìŠ¤ë‹� 미화 $2,500ë¡� 가정할 ë•� 세후 내부수ìµë¥�(IRR) 70.1% ë°� 순현재가ì¹�(NPV) C$1,085Mì� í¬í•¨í•©ë‹ˆë‹�. ì˜ˆìƒ ì—°í‰ê·� ìƒì‚°ëŸ‰ì€ 17.5ë…� ê´‘ì‚° 수명 ë™ì•ˆ 95,000 온스ì´ê³ , ì²˜ìŒ 10ë…„ê°„ì€ ì—°í‰ê·� 112,000 온스ë¡� ë� 높습니다. 초기 ìžë³¸ë¹„ìš©ì€ C$146.1Mì´ë©°, ì´ëŠ” C$68.6Mì� ìƒì‚° ì � 수ìµìœ¼ë¡œ ì¼ë¶€ ìƒì‡„ë©ë‹ˆë‹�.

¶¥„로ì íЏµç� 세후 회수기간 1.4ë…�ê³� ê²½ìŸë � 있는 ì§€ì†ë¹„ìš�(AISC) 온스ë‹� US$1,061ë¡� 강한 ê²½ì œì„±ì„ ë³´ì—¬ì¤ë‹ˆë‹�. ê´‘ì‚° 계íšì€ 지하채굴과 노천채굴ì� 결합하며, ê°€ê³� íšŒìˆ˜ìœ¨ì€ 95%입니ë‹�.

Amex Exploration (OTCQX:AMXEF) a annoncé des résultats remarquables de son étude économique préliminaire (PEA) mise à jour pour le projet aurifère Perron au Québec, entièrement détenu par la société. Le projet prévoit une stratégie de production en deux phases�: la Phase 1 consiste en 4 années de broyage en sous-traitance à 1 000 tpd, suivie de la Phase 2 avec une usine de traitement sur site de 2 000 tpd pendant 13 ans.

Les indicateurs financiers clés montrent un TRI après impôts de 70,1% et un VAN de C$1 085M en supposant un prix de l’or à 2 500 $US/oz. La production annuelle moyenne est de 95 000 oz d’or sur une durée de vie de la mine de 17,5 ans, avec une production plus élevée de 112 000 oz par an durant les 10 premières années. Les coûts d’investissement initiaux s’élèvent à C$146,1M, partiellement compensés par des revenus pré-production de C$68,6M.

Le projet présente de solides performances économiques avec un délai de récupération après impôts de 1,4 an et des AISC compétitifs de 1 061 $US/oz. Le plan minier combine exploitation souterraine et à ciel ouvert, avec des taux de récupération au traitement de 95%.

Amex Exploration (OTCQX:AMXEF) hat beeindruckende Ergebnisse aus der aktualisierten vorläufigen Wirtschaftlichkeitsstudie (PEA) für das vollständig im Besitz befindliche Perron-Goldprojekt in Quebec bekanntgegeben. Das Projekt sieht eine zweistufige Produktionsstrategie vor: Phase 1 ist eine 4-jährige Lohnverarbeitung mit 1.000 tpd, gefolgt von Phase 2 mit einer 13-jährigen Vor-Ort-Aufbereitungsanlage mit 2.000 tpd.

Wesentliche finanzielle Kennzahlen umfassen eine nach Steuern erzielte IRR von 70,1% und einen NPV von C$1.085M bei einem Goldpreis von US$2.500/oz. Die durchschnittliche Jahresproduktion beträgt 95.000 Unzen Gold über eine Minenlaufzeit von 17,5 Jahren, wobei in den ersten 10 Jahren eine höhere Produktion von 112.000 Unzen pro Jahr erwartet wird. Die anfänglichen Investitionskosten belaufen sich auf C$146,1M, teilweise ausgeglichen durch Vorproduktionserlöse von C$68,6M.

Das Projekt zeigt starke Wirtschaftlichkeit mit einer nach Steuern berechneten Amortisationszeit von 1,4 Jahren und wettbewerbsfähigen AISC von US$1.061/oz. Der Abbauplan kombiniert Untertage- und Tagebauarbeiten, die Aufbereitungsrückgewinnungsrate liegt bei 95%.

Positive
  • Strong post-tax IRR of 70.1% and NPV of C$1,085M
  • High-grade resource with 5.07 g/t Au average diluted grade over LOM
  • Competitive AISC of US$1,061/oz Au
  • Quick payback period of 1.4 years post-tax
  • Substantial annual gold production averaging 112,000 oz in first 10 years
  • Two-stage approach minimizes initial capital requirements and risk
  • Located in mining-friendly Quebec with existing infrastructure
  • Environmental impact minimized by using mined-out pits for tailings storage
Negative
  • Initial capital requirement of C$146.1M needed
  • Additional C$191.6M growth capital required for Phase 2
  • High sustaining capital requirements of C$386.3M over LOM
  • Toll milling agreement not yet secured for Phase 1
  • Partially based on Inferred Resources which have geological uncertainty
  • Post-Tax IRR 70.1% and Post-Tax NPV C$1,085M at US$2,500/oz Au
  • Two Stage Production: 4-year toll milling operation followed by the construction of an on-site processing plant
  • Cumulative Undiscounted Post-Tax Cash Flow of C$1,768M, including C$1,273M over the first 10 years of production
  • Gold production to average 112,000 oz per year over the first 10 years of production

Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - September 4, 2025) - Amex Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AMX) (FSE: MX0) (OTCQX: AMXEF) ("Amex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA") for its wholly-owned Perron gold project (the "Project"), located near the towns of Normétal and Valcanton in the province of Quebec, Canada. The PEA was prepared in collaboration with independent engineering and geological firms Evomine, Bumigeme, P&E Mining Consultants, Norda Stelo, and Laurentia Exploration.

PEA Technical Presentation details

In connection with this news release, AMEX will hold a conference call and audio webcast on September 4, at 10 am EDT, followed by a question-and-answer session.

To access the call please register here:

You may also access the conference call on a listen-only basis via webcast at our website . The audio webcast will be archived on .

All dollar ($) amounts in this news release are in Canadian dollar ($) unless otherwise indicated.

Perron updated Preliminary Economic Assessment Highlights:

The Perron PEA has been updated to incorporate the latest Mineral Resource Estimate () and a new project development strategy. The following assumes a gold price of US$2,500/ounce ("oz") and a C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.38:1.

  • Staged production strategy derisk the project, simplifies the permitting process, accelerates time to revenue (targeting 2028) and minimizes shareholder dilution, with Phase 2 mine construction financed from free cash flow.
  • Phase 1:
    • 4-year 1,000 tpd contract mining, toll-milling operation in the Abitibi region, where numerous processing plants are in operation;
    • Low initial capital cost estimate of $146.1M which is partially offset from pre-production revenues of $68.6M for a net Initial CAPEX of $77.5M;
    • Average annual gold production of 102,000 oz gold ("Au") at an All in Sustaining Cost ("AISC") of US$1,165/oz Au;
    • Average diluted head grade of 10.07 grams per tonne ("gpt") for 0.41 million oz Au
  • Phase 2
    • 13-year 2,000 tpd owner operated mine with on-site processing facility;
    • Growth capital of $191.6M;
    • Average annual production of 93,000 oz Au at an AISC of US$1,027/oz Au;
    • Average diluted head grade of 4.32 gpt for 1.25 million oz Au.
  • Life of Mine ("LOM") of 17.5 years;
  • Average annual production of 95,000 oz Au, or 1.66 million oz Au over LOM, including an average per year of 112,000 oz for the first 10 years.
  • LOM Average diluted grade of 5.07 gpt Au;
  • LOM AISC of US$1,061/oz Au;
  • LOM Sustaining Capex of $386.3M;
  • Pre-tax NPV of $1,885M and After-tax NPV of $1,085M;
  • Pre-tax IRR of 99.1% and After-tax IRR of 70.1%;
  • Cumulative Pre-tax Undiscounted Net Free Cash Flow of $3,010M and Cumulative After-tax Undiscounted Net Free Cash Flow of $1,768M;
  • Pre-tax payback period of 1.1 years and After-tax payback period of 1.4.

CEO Commentary:

Victor Cantore, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMEX Exploration commented, "This PEA is based on our latest Mineral Resource Estimate and reflects our new vision for developing the Perron Project. Our staged approach to production and construction is both fiscally and technically prudent, minimizing permitting and technical risk, reducing upfront capital and enabling early cash flow."

Cantore continued, "The economics of this project are incredibly strong and with gold prices at record highs, quick time to production allows us to capitalize on current market conditions. Our cost structure is one of the lowest globally and reflects the benefits of having a project with high grade, easily mined gold ounces that is surrounded by infrastructure and mining expertise."

Table 1: PEA Study Economic Analysis Highlights

Economic Analysis HighlightsUnitBase CaseSpot
Gold PriceUS$/Au oz2,5003,400
Exchange RateCA$/US$1.381.38
Pre-Tax Phase 1 Free Cash Flow1CA$M6551,175
Pre-Tax Phase 2 Free Cash Flow1CA$M2,3553,879
Pre-Tax Total Free Cash FlowCA$M3,0105,055
Pre-Tax NPV (5%)CA$M1,8853,195
Pre-Tax IRR%99.1148.7
Pre-Tax Payback PeriodYrs1.10.2
Post-Tax Phase 1 Free Cash Flow1CA$M368671
Post-Tax Phase 2 Free Cash Flow1CA$M1,4002,276
Post-Tax Total Free Cash FlowCA$M1,7682,947
Post-Tax NPV (5%)CA$M1,0851,841
Post-Tax IRR%70.1107.6
Post-Tax Payback PeriodYrs1.40.4
Ratio Post-Tax NPV (5%) to Initial CAPEX2CA$M/CA$M713

 

Notes:
1 Growth CAPEX is attributed to Phase 2, even if incurred prior to Year 5
2 Initial capital expenditure estimate of $146.1M is partially offset from pre-production revenues of $68.6M for a net initial CAPEX of $77.5M.

Table 2: PEA Physical Highlights

Physical HighlightsUnitPre-prodPhase 1Phase 2Total
Processing Ratetpd
1,0002,000
Mine Lifeyrs
4.013.517.5
Avg. Diluted Grade Au gpt14.4710.074.325.07
Avg. Gold ProductionAu oz/yr
1029395
Total Gold ProductionAu koz204091,2511,680
Tonnes Processedkt461,3299,46810,843
Processing Recovery Rate%95959595

 

Table 3: PEA Study Financial Highlights

Financial HighlightsUnitPhase 1Phase 2Total/avg.
Average Operating CostUS$/oz943874891
All-in Sustaining Cash Costs (''AISC'')US$/oz1,1651,0271,061
Initial Capital Expenditure3CA$M146.1
146.1
Growth Capital ExpenditureCA$M
191.6191.6
LOM Sustaining Capital ExpenditureCA$M

386.3

 

Notes:
3 Initial capital expenditure estimate of $146.1M is partially offset from pre-production revenues of $68.6M for a net initial CAPEX of $77.5M.
- The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the economic forecasts on which the PEA is based will be realized.
- The economic analysis of the project was carried out using a discounted cash flow approach on a pre-tax and after-tax basis with a discount rate of 5%.
- Revenue was based on a long-term gold price of $2,500/oz in USD.

  • Underpinned by world class infrastructure, the Perron PEA demonstrates a top-tier high margin gold mining operation in the stable jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada. The Project is located within the Abitibi region, one of the most prolific gold belts in the world.

  • The PEA results confirm that Perron has the potential to be a stand-alone and highly profitable operation with an excellent internal rate of return (IRR) and after-tax net present value (NPV) at a range of gold prices.

  • The PEA shows that Perron has the potential to be a mine with limited environmental impact, utilizing the mined out open pits to store tailings and therefore avoiding the construction of a tailings management facility.

Mining

The mine will be operated as a mechanized underground operation, which will be complemented by open pit production. The mine will have an overall average production rate of 1,000 tpd of mineralized material during Phase 1 and a capacity of 2,000 tpd of mineralized material during Phase 2. Production is preceded by a 21-month pre-production period.

The selected underground mining method is longitudinal longhole stoping with cemented rockfill. Stope dimensions average 17.5 m in length, 25 m in height, and 4.7 m in width (LOM average) with a minimum mining width of 3.0 m. The different sectors of mine will be accessed via ramps and drifts to allow the efficient circulation of mobile mining equipment and to satisfy ventilation and emergency egress requirements. Pre-production and Phase 1 mining activities will mostly be done by a contractor, while Phase 2 considers a fleet of owner-operated equipment that includes 10 tonne LHDs and 42 tonne haul trucks.

Seven open pits are included in the mine plan and utilize conventional truck and shovel mining that will be executed by a contractor. The pits will begin to be mined at the beginning of Phase 1, with material completely extracted by year 13 as the pits are sequenced such that they can be used to manage all tailings generated by the on-site mill during Phase 2 of the Project.

Figure 1: Mine Design

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Table 4: Mine Physicals



TotalYr -2Yr -1Yr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8
Mineralized material UGkt9,534 089211346377383541592578625
Waste rock mined - UGkt4,346 75159205229220211339292258293
Subtotal - UGkt13,881 75.6248417575597594880885835917
Mineralized material OPkt1,308 --0641441531010536122
Waste rock mined OPkt11,044 --07451,0679801339243661,033
Overburden mined OPkt7,298 28-1,0877625293161,3057361,428666
Subtotal - OPkt19,651 2801,0871,5711,7411,4481,4481,7641,8301,821
Strip ratio - OP-14.0 ---23.511.18.5143.215.949.713.9
Total miningkt33,531 1042481,5032,1462,3372,0422,3282,6492,6652,739
Total mineralized materialkt10,8430 89 211 410 521 536 551 697 614 747

 



TotalYr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12Yr 13Yr 14Yr 15Yr 16Yr 17Yr 18
Mineralized material UGkt9,534564535650653626658660658647141
Waste rock mined - UGkt4,346236204280302275252257189710
Subtotal - UGkt13,881800739930955901910916847718141
Mineralized material OPkt1,308711152011919600000
Waste rock mined OPkt11,0441,2841,6591,5451,04925900000
Overburden mined OPkt729842516.300000000
Subtotal - OPkt19,6511,7811,7911,7461,24035500000
Strip ratio - OP-14.024.114.67.75.52.700000
Total miningkt33,5312,5812,5302,6762,1961,256910916847717140
Total mineralized materialkt10,843635 650 851 844 722 658 660 658 647 141

 

Processing

Phase 1 representing a 4-year 1,000 tpd contract mined, toll-milling operation in the Abitibi region, where numerous processing plants are in operation. Mineralized material will be loaded at the project site and transported by truck to the processing destination.

To date, AMEX has not entered into a toll milling arrangement with any third-party owner of a processing facility to treat its material. However, discussions were initiated and there are several parties that own processing facilities within the Abitibi region, with some permitted for toll milling and others that could be permitted upon arrangement, that could potentially treat the Perron mineralized material. Bumigeme inc., a mineral processing consultant based in Montréal (Canada), reviewed the flowsheets of these mills which are similar to the flowsheet developed in the PEA study for treating the Perron mineralized material. Bumigeme is confident that the recoveries anticipated from the toll treatment of ore from the Perron deposit will reach 94-95%, matching the expectations for the on-site processing plant (Phase 2). The Toll milling assumptions used in the PEA consists of an cost of CA$102.00 per tonne, covering for on-site crushing, transport and toll milling cost. A sensitivity analysis has been done on this cost and is presented in the Financial Analysis section.

Phase 2 consists of the construction and commissioning of a 2,000 tpd processing plant on-site at the Perron project. The plant will be in operation from year 5 to the end of the LOM. The flowsheet consists of primary crushing, followed by a grinding circuit consisting of a semi-autogenous grinding mill of 5.5 m diameter x 1.8 m long in an opened circuit and a ball mill of 4.0 m diameter x 6.7 m long in a closed circuit with cyclones - SABC circuit. A gravity circuit followed by leaching will recover coarse gold from the cyclone underflow, while the cyclone overflow, at a P80=74 microns, is treated in a six (6) tank carbon-in-leach circuit, followed by SO2/air cyanide destruction. Gold will be recovered in an adsorption-desorption-recovery circuit and electrowinning cells, with gold room recovery and production of bullion bars. The CIL tailings after the cyanide destruction will be pumped to a high-rate thickener to increase the slurry density to 62-64 % solid and pumped to empty pits.

Tests conducted in 2020 and 2024 on Perron ore achieved gold recoveries exceeding 95% using a gravity/cyanidation process. Based on these results and the treatment processes studied for four potential toll milling plants, an average recovery rate of 95% was considered for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the LOM. The process plant building will include a laboratory, mill offices, a dry and an electrical and mechanical shop.

Figure 2: Flowsheet

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Table 5: Gold Production by Source (Underground (UG) and Open Pit (OP))



TotalYr -2Yr -1Yr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8
UG Grade Processed g/t5.5-14.58.110.89.611.310.86.65.65.8
UG Gold Recovered oz1,593- 20 63 113 107 126 190 120 99 110
OP Grade Processed g/t2.2---5.0--2.72.92.82.2
OP Gold Recovered oz87 - - - 0 - - 2 12 13 7
Total Grade Processed g/t5.1-14.58.110.79.611.310.55.95.05.3
Total Gold Recoveredoz1,680 - 20 63 113 107 126 191 132 112 117

 



TotalYr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12Yr 13Yr 14Yr 15Yr 16Yr 17Yr 18
UG Grade Processed g/t5.54.63.23.64.73.12.83.54.33.13.3
UG Gold Recovered oz1,59380 52 71 94 60 57 71 87 62 14
OP Grade Processed g/t2.22.32.01.81.21.91.91.91.91.9-
OP Gold Recovered oz8712 12 5 3 6 4 4 4 3 -
Total Grade Processed g/t5.14.12.93.44.33.02.83.34.13.03.3
Total Gold Recoveredoz1,680 91 64 75 97 66 61 75 91 65 14

 

Figure 3: Gold Production per Year

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Infrastructure

The Project is approximately 6.5 kilometers from the town of Normétal, Quebec and is accessible via a well-maintained forestry road. The Project will require construction of the supporting infrastructure items, such as:

Phase 1
- Gatehouse and service and haulage roads;
- Temporary buildings to be used by the mining contractor (maintenance shop, warehouses, offices, dry, etc.);
- 6.5 kilometers of 25kV transmission line and an on-site substation;
- Surface water management facilities including final effluent water treatment plant, ditches, pond and pumping stations;
- Underground mine portal, mine ventilation systems (intake and exhaust) and waste dump and overburden storage facilities;
- Mineralized material loading facilities;

Phase 2
- 2,000 tpd process plant complex;
- Required infrastructures to pump the plant tailings to emptied open-pits;
- Maintenance shop;
- Administration building;
- Warehouse
- Additional surface water management facilities;
- Additional service and haulage roads;

These infrastructures and facilities will require different authorizations and permits prior to being built and operated. No camp will be required considering the nearby qualified labor pool.

Figure 4: Suggested Infrastructure Arrangement

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Figure 5: General site arrangement

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Workforce

During steady state operations, the number of employees (mine, process plant and G&A) is expected to peak at 272 people during Phase 1 of mine operation and at 335 people during Phase 2, including contractors (open pit mining, underground mining, contract services, etc.).

Tailings

During Phase 1, the tailings will be managed off-site at the toll mill facility. During Phase 2, the tailings storage plan will take advantage of open pits that will be mined in the first 13 years of mine operations. Process plant rejects will be thickened and pumped to the mined-out pits sequentially for permanent storage. Tailings will then consolidate over time and excess water will either be used for processing requirements or discharged to the environment once quality conditions are met. This concept aims to limit the environmental impact of the Perron Project, to limit the risks related to traditional Tailings Management Facility (TMF) stability, to simplify short-term and long-term monitoring and to greatly reduce the capital and operating costs related to tailings management.

Figure 6: Visual of in-pit tailings disposal

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Capital Expenditure

The total initial construction capital expenditure ("Initial CAPEX"), which is to bring Phase 1 of the Project into operation, is estimated at $146.1M, which will be partially offset from $68.6M in pre-production gold sales credits for an initial net CAPEX of $77.5M. It accounts for site development, the construction of a 25kV powerline connecting to the existing electrical substation in Normétal and the initial development of the underground mine. The Initial CAPEX estimate includes $7.4M of EPCM and indirect costs and a contingency of $9.2M.

The total growth capital expenditure ("Growth CAPEX"), to bring Phase 2 of the Project into operation, is estimated at $191.6M. It includes the costs of building a 2,000 tpd mill on site and acquiring an underground mobile equipment fleet. It also accounts for further site development, including a truck shop, warehouse and an administration facility. Additionally, the Growth CAPEX estimate includes $30.5M of EPCM and indirect costs and a contingency of $22.3M.

The Sustaining CAPEX ("SUSEX") is estimated to be $386.3M, including $11.4M of closure and rehabilitation costs. Underground mining SUSEX is earmarked for mining development, additional equipment, replacement units, and major repairs. Other SUSEX captures in-pit tailings storage, infrastructure and G&A.

Quotations from reputable suppliers were obtained for most of the large and high-cost equipment required for the plant, mine and site infrastructure. For other equipment and supplies, cost estimates were based on comparable projects, historical data or derived through consultants' in-house databases.

Table 6: Capital Expenditures

ItemUnitPhase 1Phase 22SustainingTotal
Site PreparationCA$M3.05.7-8.7
InfrastructureCA$M6.013.20.619.8
Power & ElectricalCA$M6.74.3-11.0
Water Management CA$M9.66.0-15.6
Process PlantCA$M-61.8-61.8
Mining FleetCA$M5.144.847.397.2
Underground DevelopmentCA$M46.4-316.2362.7
Tailings Management
-3.010.813.8
Closure and RehabilitationCA$M--11.411.4
Pre-production OPEXCA$M52.6--52.6
IndirectsCA$M7.430.5-40.9
ContingencyCA$M9.222.3-42.3
Sub-TotalCA$M146.1191.6386.3724.0
Pre-Production Revenues1CA$M-68.6

-68.6
TotalCA$M77.5191.6386.3655.4

 

Notes
1 Consists of mineralized material mined and sold during the pre-production period, ie., before the mined is developed at a point where a constant mining rate of 600 tonnes per day is sustainable (60% of the planned rate of 1,000 tonnes per day).
2 Phase 2 CAPEX represents the investment needed to build a processing plant on site and to increase the mining rate at 2,000 tonnes per day.

  • As per the CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines, working capital is reported separately to CAPEX in the economic model.

Operating Costs

LOM total operating cost is estimated at US$891 per ounce of gold produced, as summarized below. The LOM total AISC is estimated to be US$1,061 per ounce of gold produced based on a total gold production of 1,660,000 ounces over the 17.5 years of mine life. This cost structure places the Project in the bottom quartile of the global gold cost curve, which is mostly due to the high-grade nature of the mineralized material and to the simplicity of mining.

Table 8: Operating Costs

ItemPhase 1Phase 2LOM
CA$MUS$/Au ozCA$MUS$/Au ozCA$MUS$/Au oz
Mining Cost (UG + OP)318.2567927.55401,245.6547
Off-Site Transport53.295--53.123
Off-Site Processing82.4147--82.436
On-Site Processing--277.9162277.9122
Water Management1.327.148.44
General and Administration50.690217.8127268.4118
Selling Costs2.346.949.24
Royalty (1.5%)213764.23785.337
Total Operating Costs529.09431,501.48742,030.4891
Sustaining Capital125222261.7152386.3170
All-in Sustaining Costs (''AISC'')653.61,1651,763.11,0272,416.71,061

 

Table 8: Unit Operating Costs

ItemUnitPhase 1Phase 2
Underground MiningCA$t/mined199.197.2
Open-Pit MiningCA$t/mined9.610.0
Off-Site TransportCA$t/milled40.0-
Crushing & Off-Site ProcessingCA$t/milled62.0-
On-Site ProcessingCA$t/milled-29.4
Water ManagementCA$t/milled1.00.8
General & AdministrationCA$t/milled38.123.0
Selling CostsCA$t/milled1.70.7
Royalty (1.5%)CA$t/milled15.86.8

 

Financial Analysis

At base case gold price of US$2,500/oz and exchange rate of 1.38, the Project generates a post-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $1,085M using 5% discount rate and a post-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 70.1% with a payback period of 1.4 years from the commencement of commercial production. The Project generates cumulative post-tax free cash flow of $1,768M over the 17.5-year production period. Total taxes payable over LOM at the base case gold price is $1,243M.

Figure 7: After-Tax FCF

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

The PEA financial economic analysis is significantly influenced by gold prices. At spot prices of US$3,400/Au oz and exchange rate of 1.38, the Project generates an after-tax NPV of $1,841M and an after-tax IRR of 107.6% with a payback period of 0.4 years. A sensitivity analysis was performed on the gold price, operating costs, total CAPEX and Phase 1 off-site transport and processing.

Table 9: Sensitivity Analysis

Gold price sensitivity

VariationGold price
 (US$/oz)
Post-tax
 NPV
(CA$M)
Post-tax
IRR
Post-tax
Payback
period
(years)
-40%1,50021920.7%5.1
-20%2,00065947.0%2.0
0%2,5001,08570.1%1.4
+20%3,0001,50791.5%0.9
+40%3,5001,924111.5%0.3
+60%4,0002,340130.6%0.2

 

Operating costs sensitivity

VariationLOM average
operating
costs 
(CA$/tonne milled)
Post-tax
NPV
(CA$M)
Post-tax
IRR
Post-tax 
Payback
period
 (years)
-40%112.831,35482.8%1.1
-30%131.641,28879.7%1.2
-20%150.451,22176.6%1.3
-10%169.251,15373.4%1.3
0%188.061,08570.1%1.4
+10%206.861,01666.8%1.5
+20%225.6794863.4%1.6
+30%244.4787959.8%1.7
+40%263.2881156.1%1.9

 

Capital expenditures sensitivity

VariationTotal capital
 expenditures
 (CA$M)
Post-tax 
NPV 
(CA$M)
Post-tax
IRR
Post-tax 
Payback
period
(years)
-40%393.21,201102.1%0.9
-30%458.81,17391.9%1.1
-20%524.31,14383.4%1.2
-10%589.81,11476.3%1.3
0%655.41,08570.1%1.4
+10%720.91,05564.7%1.5
+20%786.41,02659.9%1.6
+30%852.099655.6%1.7
+40%917.596651.8%1.8

 

Phase 1 Transport and Toll Milling cost sensitivity

VariationPhase 1 Transport 
and Toll Milling 
Cost (CA$/tonne)
Post-tax 
NPV 
(CA$M)
Post-tax 
IRR
Post-tax 
Payback 
period 
(years)
-40%61.201,11073.3%1.3
-30%71.401,10472.5%1.3
-20%81.601,09771.7%1.4
-10%91.801,09170.9%1.4
0%102.001,08570.1%1.4
+10%112.201,07969.3%1.4
+20%122.401,07268.5%1.4
+30%132.601,06667.7%1.4
+40%142.801,06067.0%1.5

 

Permitting and Environment

According to the Regulation respecting the environmental impact assessment and review of certain projects (chapter Q-2, r. 23.1, last updated on April 1 2025), work required for the operation of a new mine is included in the list of projects subject to the environmental impact assessment and review procedure (Schedule 1). In the regulation, a "mine" is defined as all the surface and underground infrastructures forming part of a mineral substance operation, except surface mineral substances within the meaning of the Mining Act (chapter M-13.1). The scope of the environmental impact assessment will be defined by the directive (guideline) issued by the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) subsequent to the filing of the Project Notice by Amex, in accordance with section 31.2 of the Environment Quality Act (EQA).

An environmental and social scoping study is currently underway to identify the key environmental and social risks and issues associated with the project construction and operation and to more accurately define the scope of the environmental baseline studies required. The acquisition of baseline environmental knowledge on the Perron property began several years ago and is still ongoing today. The environmental baseline studies and early public consultations, help characterize the receiving environment and identify areas that are more ecologically or socially rich or sensitive. This information will be used as part of the environmental assessment process and the feasibility studies to further develop and optimize the project with the objective of ensuring the project environmental and social acceptability.

Once the environmental assessment and review procedure is completed and the project is approved, the various project components will require specific provincial and federal permits and authorizations. At the provincial level, this will include ministerial authorizations that must be electronically filed with the appropriate forms to comply with the EQA and the Regulation respecting the regulatory scheme applying to activities on the basis of their environmental impact (REAFIE) (Q-2, r. 17.1), the Mining Act (chapter M-13.1), as well as other provincial acts and regulations. At the federal level, some project components and impacts may require specific authorizations according to federal legal and regulatory framework, including authorizations under the Fisheries Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. F-14, the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (SOR/2002-222) and other federal acts and regulations.

Stakeholder Engagement

The aboriginal community affected by Amex's activities is the Abitibiwinni First Nation which is an Algonquin First Nation residing primarily in the community of Pikogan in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region. The Pikogan community, also called Abitibiwinni, is located three (3) kilometers from the town of Amos on the west bank of the Harricana River. The Perron project is located on a part of the ancestral territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation. A relationship of trust and respect has been built with the Abitibiwinni First Nation Council over the years through consistent transparency and consultation. With respect to local communities near the project, Normétal, Valcanton and Saint-Lambert are the main municipalities surrounding the Perron project.

Amex has always prioritized engaging stakeholders and implementing communication and consultation plans. Communication plans include a summary of the work completed on the property every six months as well as the company's exploration and development plans for the coming months. Active community participation in the development and implementation of the project is one of Amex's core values and aids in fostering good long-term relationships. Amex will continue consulting, supporting and informing all stakeholders at all stages of the project development. With this in mind, Ames aims to establish various working and consultation committees by the end of 2025.

Exploration Update

With the recent acquisition of the Perron West property (see press release dated March 25, 2025) quadrupling Amex's land holdings along the Normétal-Burntbush greenstone belt, the Company's exploration plans are significantly expanding to cover the vast, new area of prospective geology. Amex's constant evolution of knowledge of the mineralization styles and structures with the Beaupré Block on Perron will provide invaluable insight into guiding exploration on the Company's expanded land package.

Currently, Amex has multiple teams conducting surface exploration work on the 15,192-hectare Perron West project. Teams of technicians are completing large and widespread soil sampling programs to find and/or further define gold-in-soil anomalies, while teams of geologists are completing surface prospecting work, including mapping, grab sampling, structural measurements of outcrops, etc. The work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, with the results to help further define the existing anomalies on the property and further solidify drill planning for a maiden program on Perron West in 2026.

In addition, structural geology specialists from consultant Norda Stelo are continuing work on a thoroughly detailed 3D lithostructural model on the Perron property. This project is nearing completion and will help guide drill planning for the remainder of the year and into 2026 at Perron. The outcomes from this model will also improve Amex's understand and build upon a larger scaled regional structural framework, that will aid drill planning efforts on the Perron West property.

The Company will update the market with more in-depth details on drill planning for Perron in the near future.

Mineral Resource Estimate

The updated PEA was based on the NI 43-101 compliant Perron Project MRE, with an effective date of May 21, 2025 (please see the linked ). The mineral resources that have flowed to the mine plan at Perron come from multiple zones, with major contributions from the Champagne, Denise, Team, Grey Cat and Gratien zones.

Table 1: Summary of total Mineral Resources at the Perron Project

ZoneClassOPEN PIT (CoG 0.40 gpt Au)UNDERGROUND (CoG 1.40 gpt Au)TOTAL
TonnesAuAuTonnesAuAuTonnesAuAu
kg/tkozkg/tkozktg/tkoz
TotalMeas481.1233314.215238212.54154
Ind2,5203.162565,2817.11,2057,8015.831,461
M&I2,5693.122585,6147.521,3578,1836.141,615
Inf1,0442.02684,0004.96315,0444.31698

 

Perron Gold project Mineral Estimate notes:

  • The Mineral Resource Estimate is compliant with CIM 2019 Best Practices Guidelines for reporting Mineral Resources and Reserves.
  • Mineral Resources are presented undiluted and in situ and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The Mineral Resources near surface are constrained by pit optimization surfaces and the underground Mineral Resources are constrained by potentially mineable stope shapes.
  • The database is comprised of a total of 1,807 drill holes for 608492.30 metres of drilling (which includes historical drilling completed by previous operators, abandoned and exploration holes) in the extent of the Mineral Resource, of which (359 087.40 metres) 305,523 samples were assayed as of March 31, 2025, grid spacing is variable.
  • All NQ core assays reported by Amex were obtained by analytical methods described below under "QA/QC".
  • Geological interpretation of the zones was based on lithologies, mineralized zones orientation and cut-off grade considerations. Each zone has its own characteristic of mineral occurrence and amount of recoverable gold.
  • Geological wireframe interpretation was initially made from cross-sections at intervals in GEMSTM, and then completed in LeapfrogTM where selections of mineralized intervals were combined to generate mineralized wireframes. Wireframes are generally subvertical with various plunges.
  • The Mineral Resource Estimate encompasses a total of 115 wireframes, sub-vertical gold-bearing domains, each defined by individual wireframes with a minimum downhole width of 2.0 m.
  • Assay Samples were composited within the mineralization envelopes into 1.0 m length composites. A value of 0.001 g/t Au was applied in cases of drill core not assayed.
  • High-grade capping was done on composite data and established using a statistical analysis on a per-zone basis for gold. Capping varied from 5 g/t Au to 500 g/t Au and was applied on composites within each specific wireframe.
  • Bulk density values were applied on the different mineralized zones varied from 2.7 to 2.8 t/m3 based on site drill core measurements.
  • Inverse distance cubed grade interpolation was used.
  • Grade estimates are based on a parent block dimension of 5m x 5m x 5m with sub-cells down to 1m x 1m x 1m. Search parameters were determined by variography.
  • The Perron Mineral Resource Estimate is classified as Measured, Indicated and Inferred as follows:
    • The Measured Mineral Resource classification is defined by areas where drill hole sample spacing is less than 10 m, blocks are informed by a minimum of three drill holes, and reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown.
    • The Indicated Mineral Resource classification is defined by areas where drill spacing is less than 30 m (except Champagne Zone at 40 m), blocks are informed by a minimum of two drill holes, and reasonable geological and grade continuity is shown.
    • The Inferred Mineral Resource classification is defined by the limits of the constraining wireframes, blocks are informed by a minimum of one drill hole, and reasonable, however, not verified, geological and grade continuity is observed.
  • Grade estimates use metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). Metal contents are presented in troy ounces (metric tonnes x grade / 31.10348).
  • The QPs are not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political or marketing issues, or any other relevant issues that could materially affect the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Further details regarding the 2025 updated Mineral Resource Estimate, key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources of the Perron Gold Project are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Corporation's issuer profile in accordance with NI 43-101.

Qualified Persons

The qualified persons independent of the issuer, responsible for the technical information in this Press Release are Stephen Coates, P.Eng. of Evomine, Alexandre Burelle, P.Eng. of Evomine, Florent Baril, P.Eng. of Bumigeme, Antoine Yassa P.Geo. of P&E, Charles Spath, M.Sc., P.Geo. of P&E, Yungang Wu, M.Sc., P.Geo. of P&E, Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET of P&E, Denys Vermette, P.Geo. of Norda Stelo and Jérôme Augustin, Ph.D., P.Geo. of Laurentia Exploration. They declare that they have read this press release and that the scientific and technical information relating to the resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment presented therein are correct.

Disclosure

Non-GAAP financial measures

The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this document. These financial measures are not defined under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation. The Company believes that these financial measures, together with financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The inclusion of these financial measures is meant to provide additional information and should not be used as a substitute for performance measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures are not necessarily standard and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.

All-in sustaining cost

All in sustaining cost is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated based on guidance published by the World Gold Council ("WGC"). The WGC is a market development organization for the gold industry and is an association whose membership comprises leading gold mining companies. Although the WGC is not a mining industry regulatory organization, it worked closely with its member companies to develop these metrics. Adoption of the all-in sustaining cost metric is voluntary and not necessarily standard, and therefore, this measure presented by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the all-in sustaining cost measure complements existing measures and ratios reported.

All-in sustaining cost includes both operating and capital costs required to sustain gold production on an ongoing basis. Sustaining operating costs represent expenditures expected to be incurred that are considered necessary to maintain production. Sustaining capital represents expected capital expenditures comprising mine development costs, including capitalized waste, and ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities, and does not include expected capital expenditures for major growth projects or enhancement capital for significant infrastructure improvements.

About Amex Exploration Inc.

Amex Exploration Inc. has made significant high-grade gold discoveries, along with copper-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) zones, at its 100%-owned Perron Gold Project, located approximately 110 kilometres north of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Project comprises 117 contiguous claims (45.18 km²) and hosts both bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold mineralization styles.

When combined with the adjacent Perron West Project, which includes 48 claims (17.37 km²) in Quebec and 35 claims (134.55 km²) in Ontario, the consolidated land package spans a district-scale 197.52 km². This extensive property lies within highly prospective geology favourable for both high-grade gold and VMS mineralization.

The Project benefits from excellent infrastructure: it is accessible by a year-round road, located just 20 minutes from an airport, and approximately 8 km from the Town of Normétal. It is also in close proximity to several process plants owned by major gold producers.

For further information, please contact:

Victor Cantore
President and Chief Executive Officer
Amex Exploration: +1-514-866-8209

To view the source version of this press release, please visit

FAQ

What is the expected gold production and grade at AMXEF's Perron project?

The project will produce an average of 95,000 oz gold annually over its 17.5-year mine life, with higher production of 112,000 oz annually in first 10 years. The life-of-mine average diluted grade is 5.07 g/t Au.

What are the key financial metrics for AMXEF's Perron PEA?

The project shows a post-tax IRR of 70.1%, NPV of C$1,085M, and payback period of 1.4 years at US$2,500/oz gold. The All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) is US$1,061/oz.

How much initial capital is required for AMXEF's Perron project?

Initial capital cost is C$146.1M, partially offset by C$68.6M in pre-production revenues for a net initial CAPEX of C$77.5M. Additional growth capital of C$191.6M is required for Phase 2.

What is AMXEF's two-phase development strategy for Perron?

Phase 1 is a 4-year, 1,000 tpd toll milling operation, followed by Phase 2 with a 13-year, 2,000 tpd on-site processing facility. This approach reduces initial capital needs and accelerates time to production.

What are the mining methods planned for AMXEF's Perron project?

The project combines underground mining using longitudinal longhole stoping with conventional open-pit truck and shovel mining. The underground portion will produce 9,534kt while open pits will contribute 1,308kt of mineralized material.
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