Mineral reserves and resources
Our mineral reserves and resources are the foundation of our company and fundamental to our success.
We have interests in a number of uranium properties. The tables in this section show our estimates of the proven and probable reserves, measured and indicated resources and inferred resources at those properties. However, only three of the properties listed in those tables are material uranium properties for us: McArthur River and Inkai, which are being mined, and Cigar Lake, which is being developed.
We estimate and disclose mineral reserves and resources in five categories, using the definitions adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, and in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101), developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators. You can find out more about these categories at www.cim.org.
About mineral resources
Mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability, but have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. They fall into three categories: measured, indicated and inferred. Our reported mineral resources are exclusive of mineral reserves.
- Measured and indicated mineral resources can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters to support evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
- measured resources: we can confirm geological and grade continuity to support production planning.
- indicated resources: we can reasonably assume geological and grade continuity to support mine planning.
- inferred mineral resources are estimated using limited information. We do not have enough confidence to evaluate their economic viability in a meaningful way. You should not assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource as a result of continued exploration.
About mineral reserves
Mineral reserves are the economically mineable part of measured and indicated mineral resources demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. They fall into two categories:
- proven reserves: the economically mineable part of a measured resource for which a preliminary feasibility study demonstrates that economic extraction is justified
- probable reserves: the economically mineable part of a measured and/or indicated resource for which a preliminary feasibility study demonstrates that economic extraction is justified
We use current geological models, an average uranium price of $58.00 (US) per pound U3O8 unless otherwise noted, and current or projected operating costs and mine plans to estimate our mineral reserves, allowing for dilution and mining losses. We apply our standard data verification process for every estimate.
We report mineral reserves as the quantity of contained ore supporting our mining plans, and include an estimate of the metallurgical recovery for each uranium property. Metallurgical recovery is an estimate of the amount of valuable product that can be physically recovered by the metallurgical extraction process, and is calculated by multiplying the quantity of contained metal (content) by the estimated metallurgical recovery percentage. Our share of uranium in the mineral reserves table here is before accounting for estimated metallurgical recovery.
Changes this year
Our share of proven and probable mineral reserves went from 476 million pounds U3O8 at the end of 2010 to 435 million pounds at the end of 2011. The change was mostly the result of:
- mining and milling activities, which used 23.4 million pounds
- conversion of probable mineral reserves to proven from additional drilling results and/or refinements to the mining and freezing plans at McArthur River and Cigar Lake
- conversion of mineral reserves to mineral resources for portions of Gas Hills-Peach and North Butte-Brown Ranch where it was recognized that the project risks and economic assessments could be improved by modelling individual roll-fronts instead of combining them as one mineralized unit
- At Inkai, a requirement to produce equal amounts from blocks 1 and 2 resulted in an update of the life-of-mine production schedule and conversion of pounds from reserves to resources
Measured and indicated mineral resources increased from 142 million pounds U3O8 at the end of 2010 to 254 million pounds at the end of 2011. The change was mostly the result of:
- first time reporting of mineral resources at Kintyre
- conversion of inferred mineral resources to indicated resources at McArthur River
- conversion of mineral reserves to mineral resources at Gas Hills-Peach and Inkai
At the end of 2011, our share of inferred mineral resources was 318 million pounds U3O8 — a net decrease of 39 million pounds, which were mostly upgraded to the indicated resource category at McArthur River zone B and Cigar Lake.
Qualified persons
The technical and scientific information discussed in this MD&A, including mineral reserve and resource estimates, for our material properties (McArthur River/Key Lake, Inkai and Cigar Lake) were approved by the following individuals who are qualified persons for the purposes of NI 43-101:
McArthur River/Key Lake
- Alain G. Mainville, director, mineral resources management, Cameco
- David Bronkhorst, vice-president, Saskatchewan mining south, Cameco
- Greg Murdock, technical superintendent, McArthur River, Cameco
- Les Yesnik, general manager, Key Lake, Cameco
Cigar Lake
- Alain G. Mainville, director, mineral resources management, Cameco
- Eric Paulsen, interim chief metallurgist, technology & innovation, Cameco
- Grant Goddard, vice-president, Saskatchewan mining north, Cameco
- Scott Bishop, principal mine engineer, technology & innovation, Cameco
Inkai
- Alain G. Mainville, director, mineral resources management, Cameco
- Dave Neuburger, vice-president, international mining, Cameco
- Lawrence Reimann, manager, technical services, Cameco Resources
Important information about mineral reserve and resource estimates
Although we have carefully prepared and verified the mineral reserve and resource figures in this document, the figures are estimates, based in part on forward-looking information.
Estimates are based on our knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling results, the quality of available data and management's best judgment. They are, however, imprecise by nature, may change over time, and include many variables and assumptions including:
- geological interpretation
- extraction plans
- commodity prices and currency exchange rates
- recovery rates
- operating and capital costs
There is no assurance that the indicated levels of uranium will be produced, and we may have to re-estimate our mineral reserves based on actual production experience. Changes in the price of uranium, production costs or recovery rates could make it unprofitable for us to operate or develop a particular site or sites for a period of time. See here for information about forward-looking information.
Please see our mineral reserves and resources section of our annual information form for the specific assumptions, parameters and methods used for McArthur River, Inkai and Cigar Lake mineral reserve and resource estimates.
Important information for US investors
While the terms measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources are recognized and required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not recognize them. Under US standards, mineralization may not be classified as a 'reserve' unless it has been determined at the time of reporting that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted. US investors should not assume that:
- any or all of a measured or indicated mineral resource will ever be converted into proven or probable mineral reserves
- any or all of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable, or will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities regulations, estimates of inferred resources may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies. Inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasibility.
The requirements of Canadian securities regulators for identification of 'reserves' are also not the same as those of the SEC, and mineral reserves reported by us in accordance with Canadian requirements may not qualify as reserves under SEC standards.
Other information concerning descriptions of mineralization, mineral reserves and resources may not be comparable to information made public by companies that comply with the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements for US domestic mining companies, including Industry Guide 7.