The MARA Project was first formed through the integration of the Minera Alumbrera plant and mining infrastructure and Agua Rica project in a joint venture between Yamana Gold, Glencore and Newmont in December 2020. MARA is a porphyry copper, molybdenum, gold and silver deposit located in the province of Catamarca, Argentina. The property is east of the prominent Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex which hosts the producing Alumbrera mine. The project has Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves of 11.8 Blbs of copper and 7.4 Moz of gold contained in 1,105 Mt at copper and gold grades of 0.48% and 0.2 g/t respectively (0.2% Cu cut-off).
Development scenarios considered for MARA include a large-scale open pit operation that would be integrated with the neighboring Alumbrera mine and the other scenario is a smaller scale standalone operation that would minimize upfront capital expenditures while maintaining longer term optionality to increase the scale of the mining operation. The large scale open pit scenario outlined in the 2019 Pre-Feasibility Study projects a mine life of 28 years at average annual production levels over the first 10 years of approximately 556 Mlbs* of copper equivalent, including 107 kozs of gold, as well as silver and molybdenum.
Sandstorm entered into an early deposit gold stream on MARA that allows for an additional advance payment of between $135 million and $225 million to convert the 0.25% NSR royalty into a gold stream. The amount of the payment is based on the following formula: $150,000 multiplied by the price of gold plus $7.5 million. If this advance payment is made, Sandstorm will have the right to purchase 20% of the gold produced at MARA for the life of the mine, with ongoing payments equal to 30% of the spot price of gold.
*Based on Yamana’s April 5, 2022 Investor Day Presentation.
