Technical Report for the Maricunga Gold Mine - Kinross Gold

Kinross Gold CorporationMaricunga Mine Technical Report17.0 MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE17.1 IntroductionThe Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimates for the Maricunga Project have beenprepared under the direct supervision of Maryse Bélanger, P. Geo., Director TechnicalServices, Kinross Americas.During the course of 2007, a full review of the geologic interpretation and the spatial controlsof mineralization was undertaken for both Verde and Pancho resulting in new resourcemodels to support updated Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates.17.2 Interpretation and Grade Domains17.2.1 VerdeThe gold grade model for Verde used to rely on a lithological interpretation completed by thesite geologists to discriminate between mineralized and barren lithologic units. Miningexperience at Verde has shown that the mineralization tends to cross over all lithologies.The Verde model update prepared in 2007 incorporates a new interpretation based on abetter understanding of the geology and the mineralization and its spatial distribution.Essentially, mining has shown that the gold content of the material mined is often related toits position relative to the known post-mineral intrusive bodies at Verde East and VerdeWest.The model update is based on the new interpretation for Verde East and Verde West. Theconcept and resulting geometry are the same for both open-pit areas. The mineralizationand its inner limits are defined within a zone of high-grade material centred about a postmineralintrusive. The proximity to the post-mineral intrusive is what affects most the overallgrade distribution.The halo surrounding the higher-grade core is slightly more diffuse and incorporatesmineralization of lesser tenor. The overall concept also concurs with observations in themining areas where the material closer to the PMI displays stronger brecciation and more78