Avalon Minerals Limited (AVI.ASX)
Market cap $50m and cash $11m
Recently raised $10.4m through a placement/rights issue to fund the BFS on the flagship Viscaria Cu-Fe Project in Northern Sweden, which currently has a resource of 66Mt at 0.9% Cu for >600ktpa contained copper across three primary zones.
Viscaria is well located with respect to infrastructure and LKAB has a large 20Mtpa Fe concentrate operation nearby.
Met test results have indicated that copper concentrate and magnetite concentrate can be expected to be produced from Viscaria with Cu recovery of 90% with concentrate grade of 25% and magnetite grade of 69.5% Fe with low impurities. The magnetite will be recovered and processed from the flotation tailings and is expected to be sold at mine gate to LKAB.
A PFS has previously been completed highlighting a 'development case' of a 3Mtpa open pit operation for 10 years assuming additional discoveries are made this year. That would result in forecast production of ~19ktpa Cu and ~750ktpa of Fe concentrate.
Forecast C1 cash costs are US$0.61/lb, capex is estimated at ~US$160m and the NPV based on the development case is US$126m, which compares favourably to the current market cap of <$50m.
Results of the BFS are expected late 2011 prior to financing and development in 2012. Production will begin in early 2013.
Drilling results are expected to be ongoing throughout 2011 from the three zones at Viscaria where the company is targeting an additional 30-50Mt. Regional drilling will commence later this year following a geophysical program.
Experienced management and Board with David McSweeney (ex MD and founder of GBG, current Chairman of AKM), Andrew Munckton (ex GBG) and Stephen Stone (MD of AZM).
AVI is the cheapest ASX listed copper stock within our ASX listed copper universe on an US$ EV/lb resource basis.
Market cap $50m and cash $11m
Recently raised $10.4m through a placement/rights issue to fund the BFS on the flagship Viscaria Cu-Fe Project in Northern Sweden, which currently has a resource of 66Mt at 0.9% Cu for >600ktpa contained copper across three primary zones.
Viscaria is well located with respect to infrastructure and LKAB has a large 20Mtpa Fe concentrate operation nearby.
Met test results have indicated that copper concentrate and magnetite concentrate can be expected to be produced from Viscaria with Cu recovery of 90% with concentrate grade of 25% and magnetite grade of 69.5% Fe with low impurities. The magnetite will be recovered and processed from the flotation tailings and is expected to be sold at mine gate to LKAB.
A PFS has previously been completed highlighting a 'development case' of a 3Mtpa open pit operation for 10 years assuming additional discoveries are made this year. That would result in forecast production of ~19ktpa Cu and ~750ktpa of Fe concentrate.
Forecast C1 cash costs are US$0.61/lb, capex is estimated at ~US$160m and the NPV based on the development case is US$126m, which compares favourably to the current market cap of <$50m.
Results of the BFS are expected late 2011 prior to financing and development in 2012. Production will begin in early 2013.
Drilling results are expected to be ongoing throughout 2011 from the three zones at Viscaria where the company is targeting an additional 30-50Mt. Regional drilling will commence later this year following a geophysical program.
Experienced management and Board with David McSweeney (ex MD and founder of GBG, current Chairman of AKM), Andrew Munckton (ex GBG) and Stephen Stone (MD of AZM).
AVI is the cheapest ASX listed copper stock within our ASX listed copper universe on an US$ EV/lb resource basis.
