Potential Upside & Downside Scenarios from the RefâFiled NIâŻ43â101 Technical Report for the Copeçal Gold Project
Scenario | What could happen | Why it matters (typical technicalâreport triggers) | Likâelihood cues (based on a fresh, independent NIâŻ43â101 filing) |
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Upside Scenarios | |||
1. Larger Inâsitu Resource estimate | The updated mineralâresource model may show additional tonnage and/or higher gold grades compared with the previous estimate, expanding the indicated or inferred resource. | A larger resource improves the projectâs economics (longer mine life, higher cashâflow) and can attract downstream partners or a higher valuation in the market. | A new NIâŻ43â101 filing usually incorporates the latest drilling results; if the MayâŻ2025 drill program added significant highâgrade intercepts, the resource could be upgraded. |
2. Higher grade zones identified | The report may highlight new highâgrade âsweetâspotâ zones within the Copeçal system that were not captured in the earlier model. | Highâgrade ore reduces processing cost per ounce and boosts netâpresentâvalue (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR). | The technical reportâs âGeology, Mineralization and Explorationâ focus often pinpoints mineralâenriched structures that can be targeted in a future preâFEAS. |
3. Favorable metallurgical results | Metallurgical test work could confirm that the ore is amenable to simple, lowâcost processing (e.g., high cyanideâleach recoveries, low reagent consumption). | Simple processing translates into a lower capitalâexpenditure (CAPEX) and operatingâexpenditure (OPEX) profile, improving project economics and shortening the time to production. | The inclusion of âExplorationâ in the title suggests that the report likely contains fresh assay and metallurgical data from recent core runs. |
4. Infrastructure or permitting upside | The report may identify that the project sits on or near existing transport corridors, power lines, or that the permitting environment in MatoâŻGrosso is supportive. | Reduced infrastructure spend and a smoother regulatory path lower the overall risk premium that investors apply to the project. | A âGeology, Mineralization and Explorationâ report often includes a âProject Overviewâ section that maps out access, landâuse and regulatory status. |
5. Positive economic sensitivity | The technical report may model a baseâcase with a relatively low cutâoff grade (e.g., 0.5âŻgâŻtâ»Âč) and still deliver attractive NPV/IRR, indicating the project is robust to modest goldâprice fluctuations. | Demonstrates that even if gold prices dip, the project can still generate positive cashâflows, widening the upside for investors. | A fresh NIâŻ43â101 filing typically includes a âPreâFEASâ or âEconomic Evaluationâ that runs priceâsensitivity scenarios; a strong baseâcase is a good sign. |
Scenario | What could happen | Why it matters (typical technicalâreport triggers) | Likâlikelihood cues |
---|---|---|---|
Downside Scenarios | |||
1. Resource downgrade (tonnage or grade) | The updated model may reâclassify some previously indicated resources to inferred, or cut the overall tonnage/grade if recent drilling intersected lowerâgrade mineralization. | A downgrade reduces the projected mineâlife and cashâflow, potentially lowering the projectâs valuation and making it harder to raise capital. | If the MayâŻ2025 drilling program was exploratory rather than infill, there is a risk that the new holes fell in âgapâ zones with subâoptimal grades. |
2. Metallurgical challenges | New oreâtype data could reveal refractory gold, high sulfide content, or other mineralogical complexities that require more expensive processing (e.g., flotationâcyanide, pressure oxidation). | Higher processing costs erode margins, increase CAPEX, and may push the project out of the âeconomicâ range at current goldâprice assumptions. | The âGeology, Mineralizationâ focus often uncovers new lithologies; if the deposit sits in a complex volcanicâsedimentary sequence, metallurgical surprises are possible. |
3. Higher cutâoff grade required | The report may recommend a higher cutâoff grade to achieve a realistic economic model, effectively shrinking the resource. | A higher cutâoff grade reduces the amount of ore that can be mined profitably, shortening the mineâlife and cashâflow profile. | The technical report may have revised the cutâoff based on updated cost assumptions (e.g., higher processing or logistics costs). |
4. Infrastructure or permitting constraints | The report could highlight that the project lacks road access, power, or that there are unresolved landâuse or environmental permits. | Additional spend and time to secure infrastructure or permits increase project risk and may delay the startâup, compressing the NPV. | The âExplorationâ component often flags gaps in the âProject Overviewâ that need to be addressed before a FEAS. |
5. Sensitivity to goldâprice volatility | The economic model may show that a modest decline in gold price (e.g., 10âŻ% below the baseâcase) pushes the NPV/IRR below the companyâs hurdle rate. | The project becomes more dependent on a strong goldâprice environment, raising the risk of a negative market reaction if prices soften. | A fresh NIâŻ43â101 filing usually includes a âpriceâsensitivityâ table; if the baseâcase uses a relatively optimistic gold price (e.g., USâŻ$1,900âŻozâ»Âč), the upside is limited. |
How to Use These Scenarios
- Investor DecisionâMaking â Compare the upside and downside bullet points with the companyâs current market valuation. If the upside (e.g., potential resource expansion, lowâcost processing) is not yet priced in, the stock may have upside potential. Conversely, if the downside (e.g., resource downgrade, metallurgical risk) is already reflected in the price, the market may be fairly valued or even overâvalued.
- Risk Management â Identify which downside items are most material (e.g., metallurgical challenges) and monitor for followâup data releases (e.g., metallurgical testâwork updates, permitting milestones).
- Strategic Planning â The upside scenarios (especially higherâgrade âsweetâspotsâ and infrastructure proximity) can guide the next phase of drilling, pit design, or partnership discussions, while the downside scenarios highlight where additional spend or contingency may be required (e.g., for processingâtechnology development).
Bottom line: The refiling of the NIâŻ43â101 technical report signals that GoldHaven has incorporated the latest drilling and geological data into a formal, independent resource model. The âupsideâ hinges on whether those new data points translate into larger, higherâgrade, and metallurgically amenable resources, while the âdownsideâ revolves around any potential resource downgrades, processing complexities, or infrastructure/permitting gaps that could erode project economics. Investors and analysts should therefore dig into the actual technical report (available on SEDAR+) to quantify the magnitude of each scenario, but the framework above captures the typical range of outcomes that stem from a refreshed NIâŻ43â101 filing.