EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

Paramount looks to reawaken Sleeper

Paramount Gold Nevada said it was evaluating a restart of the former Sleeper mine in Nevada, in response to higher gold prices.

Staff reporter
 Paramount Gold Nevada’s former Sleeper gold-silver mine in Nevada

Paramount Gold Nevada’s former Sleeper gold-silver mine in Nevada

It's appointed Mine Development Associates to analyse the dataset, identify drill targets produce a scoping level study and define parameters of a prefeasibility or feasibility study.

Paramount planned to start drilling in the first half of 2021.

"Gold at current levels makes Sleeper a much more valuable asset," CEO Rachel Goldman said.

The Sleeper mine was said to produce 1.66 million ounces of gold and 2.3Moz of silver between 1986-1996, at an average head grade of about 7g/t gold.

President and COO Glen Van Treek said the team had always believed the original Sleeper vein was not a unique occurrence.

"We look forward to the prospect of discovering a new ‘Sleeper type' deposit and applying our extensive database and our understanding of the local geology to a bigger land package," he said.

The project has a current measured and indicated resource of almost 3 million tonnes grading 0.33g/t gold for 3.1Moz and 3g/t silver for almost 29Moz, and an inferred 1.49Moz gold and 6.7Moz silver.

Paramount's 2015 preliminary economic assessment for Sleeper had put initial capex at $175 million and estimated annual production of more than 90,000oz of both gold and silver.

It had put the after-tax NPV5 at $125.8 million and IRR at 20%, using base case prices of $1,250/oz for gold and $16/oz silver.

Today's spot gold and silver prices are about $1,857/oz and $24/oz respectively.

Paramount is also planning "to build Oregon's first gold mine", where a recent feasibility study on its Grassy Mountain project outlined initial capex of US$98 million for an eight-year mine.

Grassy Mountain was expected to produce 47,000 ounces of gold and 55,000oz of silver annually and provide an after-tax NPV5 of $195 million and IRR of 40.9%, using a $1,900/oz gold price.

The company is chaired by Rudi Fronk, who is also chairman and CEO of Seabridge Gold.

It reported a net loss of $1.3 million for the September quarter and ended the period with $4.5 million in cash and equivalents.

Paramount had raised $5 million in June through a US offering and concurrent best efforts agency offering in Canada at $1.04 per share.

Its shares (NYSE American: PZG) have ranged from 47.1c-$1.48 over the past year.

They gained 2.6% to close at $1.16 yesterday, capitalising it at $39.8 million.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.