The Xavantina Operations (formerly known as the NX Gold Mine) is located in southeastern Mato Grosso State, Brazil, approximately 670 km east of the capital city of Cuiabá. The Xavantina Operations consist of fully integrated underground mining and processing facilities. The high-grade, shear-zone hosted, quartz vein system is accessed via a single decline, and current mining operations are focused on the Santo Antônio vein. Ore is processed using a conventional three-stage crushing circuit, milling, and a combination of gravity concentration and intensive leaching and flotation followed by carbon in leach at the Xavantina Mill, located adjacent to the underground mine.
Near mine exploration activities are focused down-plunge of the Santo Antônio, Matinha, Brás and Buracão veins. In early 2021, the first regional exploration program commenced, focused on the on the under-explored, 31,716 hectare land package held by Ero Copper.
In August 2021, RGLD Gold AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Gold, Inc., purchased a $110 million gold stream on the Xavantina Operations in exchange for 25% of gold produced from the operation until 93,000 ounces of gold have been delivered, decreasing to 10% of gold produced over the remaining life of mine. RGLD Gold AG will make ongoing payments equal to 20% of the prevailing spot gold price for each ounce of gold delivered until 49,000 ounces of gold have been received, after which it will pay 40% of the prevailing spot gold price for each ounce of gold delivered. Full details of the transaction can be found in the Company’s press release dated June 30, 2021.