Barrick Gold Corporation Technical Report on the Hemlo Mine, Marathon
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BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE HEMLO MINE, MARATHON, ONTARIO, CANADA NI 43-101 Report Qualified Persons: Jason J. Cox, P.Eng. Wayne W. Valliant, P.Geo. Kathleen Ann Altman, Ph.D., P.E. April 25, 2017 RPA 55 University Ave. Suite 501 I Toronto, ON, Canada M5J 2H7 IT + 1 (416) 947 0907 www.rpacan.com Report Control Form Document Title Technical Report on the Hemlo Mine, Marathon, Ontario, Canada Client Name & Address Barrick Gold Corporation Brookfield Place, TD Canada Trust Tower Suite 3700, 161 Bay Street, P.O. Box 212 Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1 Document Reference Status & FINAL Project #2711 Issue No. Version Issue Date April 25, 2017 Lead Author Jason J. Cox (Signed) Wayne W. Valliant (Signed) Kathleen Ann Altman (Signed) Peer Reviewer Deborah A. McCombe (Signed) Project Manager Approval Jason J. Cox (Signed) Project Director Approval Rick Lambert (Signed) Report Distribution Name No. of Copies Client RPA Filing 1 (project box) Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. 55 University Avenue, Suite 501 Toronto, ON M5J 2H7 Canada Tel: +1 416 947 0907 Fax: +1 416 947 0395 [email protected] www.rpacan.com FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This report contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact regarding Barrick Gold Corporation or the Hemlo Mine, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "intend", "project", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "potential", "may", "will", "can", "could" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this report contains forward-looking statements with respect to cash flow forecasts, projected capital, operating and exploration expenditures, targeted cost reductions, mine life and production rates, potential mineralization and metal or mineral recoveries, and information pertaining to potential improvements to financial and operating performance and mine life at the Hemlo Mine that may result from open pit and underground extension projects, operational efficiency improvements, and ongoing exploration programs. All forward-looking statements in this report are necessarily based on opinions and estimates made as of the date such statements are made and are subject to important risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be controlled or predicted. Material assumptions regarding forward-looking statements are discussed in this report, where applicable. In addition to such assumptions, the forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of commodities (including gold, silver, diesel fuel, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes; risks associated with the fact that Phase 6 of the open pit at the Hemlo Mine is still in the early stages of evaluation and additional engineering and other analysis is required to fully assess their impact; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions, and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including disruptions in the maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information technology systems; damage to Barrick Gold Corporation’s or Hemlo Mine’s reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; the impact of global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; the impact of inflation; fluctuations in the currency markets; changes in interest rates; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; litigation; contests over title to properties or over access to water, power and other required infrastructure; increased costs and physical risks including extreme weather events and resource shortages related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion or gold concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Barrick Gold Corporation – Hemlo Mine, Project #2711 Technical Report NI 43-101 – April 25, 2017 Page i www.rpacan.com Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect Barrick Gold Corporation’s actual results, or the Hemlo Mine’s actual performance, and could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from the future results or performance expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Barrick Gold Corporation. All of the forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements. Barrick Gold Corporation, RPA, and the Qualified Persons who authored this report undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward‐looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Barrick Gold Corporation – Hemlo Mine, Project #2711 Technical Report NI 43-101 – April 25, 2017 Page ii www.rpacan.com TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 1-1 Technical Summary ....................................................................................................... 1-6 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 2-1 3 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS ................................................................................. 3-1 4 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION ................................................................ 4-1 Location ......................................................................................................................... 4-1 Land Tenure .................................................................................................................. 4-1 Royalties ........................................................................................................................ 4-4 Permits .......................................................................................................................... 4-6 5 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................... 5-1 6 HISTORY ........................................................................................................................ 6-1 7 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION .......................................................... 7-1 Regional Geology .......................................................................................................... 7-1 Local Geology ................................................................................................................ 7-5 Property Geology ......................................................................................................... 7-10 Mineralization .............................................................................................................. 7-15 8 DEPOSIT TYPES ............................................................................................................ 8-1 9 EXPLORATION ............................................................................................................... 9-1 Exploration Potential ...................................................................................................... 9-1 10 DRILLING .................................................................................................................... 10-1 11 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY ............................................ 11-1 Sampling Method and Approach .................................................................................. 11-1 Sample Preparation ..................................................................................................... 11-2 Sample Security ........................................................................................................... 11-2 Quality Assurance and Quality Control .......................................................................