CERTEJ PROJECT
Certej (Romania)
Certej is an epithermal gold-silver project located in the Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania in western Romania.
The deposit extends from surface and will operate as an open pit mine.
Key Facts
| Location | Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
|---|---|
| Mine type | Open pit |
| Metals mined | Gold, Silver |
| Employees/contractors | ~250 |
| Expected mine life | 15 |
| Deposit type | Epithermal gold-silver |
| Ownership | 80.5% |
| Resources & Reserves | Resources & Reserves |
* Based on current proven and probable reserves.
2019 Outlook
The Company expects to spend approximately $3-5 million at Certej during 2019 with the focus on continuing to optimize engineering along with modest site enabling works for the main electric power and water lines to the site. An economic assessment for the nearby Bolcana project is underway, and will determine next steps for advancing the project.
Indicative Operating Data
| Estimated Annual | |
|---|---|
| Tonnes milled | 3.0 Mt |
| Au grade | 1.69 g/t |
| Ag grade | 11.0 g/t |
| Au recovery | 87% |
| Ag recovery | 80% |
| Gold production | 140,000oz |
| Silver production | 830,000 oz |
| C1 – Operating cash cost* | $550/oz |
| C2 – Total cash cost | $630/oz |
| Sustaining cash cost** | $730/oz |
* Net of by-products
** C2 + sustaining capital
For more information, please see our Certej Project Presentation.
Geology and Mineralization
Certej is an intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold deposit associated with a Miocene magmatic complex in the South Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Gold mineralization is hosted within Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (black shales and intercalated siltstones to sandstones) and Neogene conglomerates, grits and volcanic and intrusive units. Three main andesitic intrusive phases are recognised in the deposit; Dealu Grozii, Baiaga and Hondol, with the Baiaga Andesite located in the center of the system and mineralization developed along the intrusive contacts, within the Cretaceous and Neogene sedimentary rocks and in the Hondol and Dealu Grozii Andesites. Mineralization has a broad E-W orientation with higher grade breccia zones oriented along NW-SE and NE-SW structures. Ore styles include disseminated mineralization in sedimentary units and at the contacts of intrusive rocks, hydrothermal breccias, stockworks and distal veins. The gold occurs with pyrite in arsenic-rich rims together with variable amounts of sphalerite and galena. Native gold is present but restricted to the distal veins. Zonation is observed both in the style of mineralization and alteration patterns with widespread clay-sericite-pyrite-calcite surrounding a core of silica-adularia.
History
| 2015 | Feasibility Study completed |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Updated Technical Report published |
| 2013 | 10% increase in gold resources year on year from 4.3 Moz to 4.8 Moz |
| 2012 | Eldorado acquired Certej via the acquisition of European Goldfields; Mineral resources increased by 1.57 million ounces to 4.30 million ounces; Environmental Permit approved |
| 2000 | Deva Gold, a subsidiary of European Goldfields acquired a stake in Certej |
| 1983 | Minvest-owned Certej mine took over the Baiaga-Hondol deposit (central and west part of Certej) |