TORONTO -- (Marketwire) -- 02/05/13 -- Golden Star Resources Ltd. (NYSE MKT: GSS) (TSX: GSC) (GHANA: GSR) ("Golden Star" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (collectively "Mineral Reserves") and Mineral Resources as at December 31, 2012.
During 2012 the Company's exploration strategy focused on drilling at Wassa, where the Company increased Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves by 85% to 1.47 million ounces of contained gold, relative to December 31, 2011. At Bogoso, the combination of mining depletion and improved pit design focused on maximization of cash flow and resulted in a reduction in Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves to 2.84 million ounces.
Sam Coetzer, President and CEO of Golden Star, commented: "The excellent drilling results at Wassa and below the existing Wassa pits have almost doubled the reserves at Wassa Main. This resulted in the life of mine being increased to more than 12 years, assuming the current 2.7 million tonnes per year processing rate. The ongoing drilling program at Wassa is utilizing six drill rigs to test the mineralization down plunge where the zone remains open, in addition to infill drilling within the year-end resource pit shells. We are optimistic that reserves will increase further when we update the resource models and pit designs in the second half of 2013. Depending on the results of the ongoing Wassa Expansion Project scoping study, we will undertake a prefeasibility study expected to be published towards the end of 2013. At Prestea Underground, we are nearing completion of the West Reef Feasibility Study, which should enable the Company to report reserves in July 2013.
"These developments at Wassa and Prestea Underground demonstrate the Company's strategy to unlock value by shifting production to sustainable, lower-cost ore with greater processing recoveries."
Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
The Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates have been estimated by the Company's technical personnel in accordance with definitions and guidelines set out in the Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves published by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum and as required by Canada's National Instrument 43-101.
Mineral Reserves
In 2012, the Company replaced its mined Reserves. The replacement was due largely to the addition of Proven and Probable Reserves at Wassa, which grew by 85%.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------PROVEN and As at December 31, 2012 As at December 31, 2011 PROBABLE MINERAL RESERVES --------------------------------------------------------------Property, Mineral Reserve Tonnes Gold Grade Ounces Tonnes Gold Grade Ounces Category (millions) (g/t) (millions) (millions) (g/t) (millions)----------------------------------------------------------------------------Bogoso/Prestea Proven Mineral Reserves Non- refractory 1.3 1.82 0.08 1.3 1.64 0.07 Refractory 7.8 2.52 0.64 8.3 2.72 0.73---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proven 9.2 2.42 0.71 9.6 2.57 0.80---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Probable Mineral Reserves Non- refractory 4.8 2.35 0.36 6.9 2.31 0.51 Refractory 21.2 2.58 1.76 24.2 2.60 2.02---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Probable 26.0 2.54 2.12 31.1 2.54 2.54----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Proven and Probable Non- refractory 6.2 2.23 0.44 8.2 2.21 0.58 Refractory 29.0 2.57 2.39 32.6 2.63 2.75----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Bogoso/Preste a Proven and Probable 35.2 2.51 2.84 40.8 2.55 3.34----------------------------------------------------------------------------Wassa/HBB Proven Mineral Reserves Non- refractory 0.8 0.89 0.02 0.6 1.27 0.03 Probable Mineral Reserves Non- refractory 31.0 1.45 1.45 17.4 1.38 0.77----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Wassa/HBB Proven and Probable 31.8 1.44 1.47 18.1 1.38 0.80----------------------------------------------------------------------------TOTALS Proven Mineral Reserves Non- refractory 2.1 1.47 0.10 1.9 1.52 0.10 Refractory 7.8 2.52 0.64 8.3 2.72 0.73---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proven 10.0 2.30 0.74 10.3 2.49 0.82---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Probable Mineral Reserves Non- refractory 35.9 1.57 1.82 24.3 1.65 1.29 Refractory 21.2 2.58 1.76 24.2 2.60 2.02---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Probable 57.1 1.95 3.57 48.5 2.12 3.31----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Proven and Probable Non- refractory 38.0 1.57 1.92 26.3 1.64 1.38 Refractory 29.0 2.57 2.39 32.6 2.63 2.75----------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Proven and Probable 67.1 2.00 4.31 58.8 2.19 4.14----------------------------------------------------------------------------
