Monte do Carmo
Monte do Carmo is a Feasibility-stage gold project in Tocantins state, Brazil.
Acquired for a total cost of $60 million, the project has strong exploration upside, is substantially permitted and benefits from excellent infrastructure.
HIGHLIGHTS
Acquisition cost from Cerrado Gold
Mineral concessions
Measured & Indicated resource
Monte do Carmo in Tocantins State, Brazil
Strategic Rationale
- High quality project: Adds a low-cost, long-life asset located in a mining-friendly jurisdiction of Brazil, within close proximity to the Mara Rosa mine
- Significant exploration upside: Offers compelling near-mine exploration opportunities underpinned by a large land package which remains relatively underexplored
- De-risked permitting: Project permitting significantly advanced with the Installation License expected to be obtained in the near future
- Leverages Hochschild's expertise and presence in Brazil: Aligned with Hochschild's core strengths and long-term strategy of acquiring and optimising development stage projects in Latin America, specifically in Brazil, a country where the Company has robust management and technical teams
- Enhances Hochschild's portfolio: Provides the next leg of growth for Hochschild following the recent completion of the Mara Rosa mine
The Project
The Project benefits from significant existing site infrastructure including year-round access via a paved highway and close proximity to the Isamu Ikeda hydropower plant. Permitting is substantially advanced, with the Environmental Impact Assessment approved and the Preliminary Licence granted by the Tocantins state environmental agency in May 2023.
Since March 2024, the Company has executed a 1,704m twin hole drilling programme which has validated the deposit's mineral resource estimate. In addition, the Company has conducted a 4,806m resource drilling campaign across five prospective mineralisation zones. The campaign has already incorporated additional gold resources which confirm the strong geological potential of the Project.
An exploration programme across seven new targets will commence in November 2024 and, in addition, Hochschild plans to:
- Expand the resource base;
- Advance the installation license for the main project;
- Conduct any additional environmental analyses as identified during due diligence; and
- Develop the detailed engineering studies