Aya Gold & Silver Files Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical Report for Boumadine Project

Original announcement by jmn on

Company
Aya Gold & Silver Inc.
Ticker
AYA
Exchange
TSX
Region
Morocco
Primary commodity
Gold
Secondary commodities
Silver, Zinc, Lead
Document categories
Other, Resource update
Extracted
2026-10-21 12:34:44 UTC

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published:

Minestarters Atlas analysis

Summary

Aya Gold & Silver has filed an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Boumadine Polymetallic Project in Morocco. The update features a significantly improved economic profile with an after-tax NPV of $3.5B and a 93% IRR, supported by an expanded mineral resource estimate.

Reasoning: The updated PEA shows massive improvements in project economics (NPV and IRR) and a significantly larger mineral resource compared to the 2025 PEA.

Positive factors

  • NPV 5% more than doubled to $3.5B
  • IRR of 93%
  • Mine life extended from 11 to 14 years
  • Significant MRE growth (91% total growth)
  • Strong capital efficiency ratio increase

Negative factors

  • Preliminary nature of PEA

Facts used in scoring: 2

Classification and evidence

NI 43-101 Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: The report is explicitly stated to be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 standards.

Evidence · text

“N.I. 43-101 Report Morocco”

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: The document presents an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (2026 MRE) superseding the 2025 PEA.

Evidence · text

“The updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE" or "2026 MRE") contained in the 2026 PEA was prepared by independent Qualified Person”

Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 2. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

Resource Estimates (2)

indicatedBoumadine · goldTonnes: 8600000Contained Metal: 1.1Contained Unit: mozView all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Boumadine
Commodity
gold
Region
morocco
Reported Region
Morocco
Ticker
AYA

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Reporting standards
ni_43_101
QP Signed
Yes
Qualified person names
Guy Dishaw
Resource group id
resource:00c55cdb0a85d9007aad
Mining method
combined

Resource Data

Category
indicated
Tonnes
8600000
Contained Metal
1.1
Contained Unit
moz

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2026-02-28

Metal Equivalent

Metal Eq. Grade
4.02
Metal Eq. Unit
g/t AuEq
Assumptions Disclosed
Yes

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-10-21T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Indicated resource shows significant growth in contained metal compared to the prior estimate.

Positive factors

  • 34% increase in contained metal vs prior

Evidence · text

“Indicated: 8.6 Mt at 4.02 g/t AuEq containing 1.1 Moz AuEq, up 34%”

Tags used in scoring

Indicated Resourcepositive

Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves.

Why it applies: category is "indicated"

Cut-off Undisclosednegative

High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.

Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated

QP/CP Signedpositive

Qualified Person (QP) or Competent Person (CP) named and signed off — a member of a recognized professional association (e.g., AusIMM, SME, AIG, P.Geo) with relevant experience.

Why it applies: qp_signed is true

NI 43-101 Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes ni_43_101

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

PEA-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Preliminary Economic Assessment — early-stage study.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

DFS-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Definitive Feasibility Study — requires high M&I confidence.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

inferredBoumadine · goldTonnes: 45400000Contained Metal: 4.3Contained Unit: mozView all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Boumadine
Commodity
gold
Region
morocco
Reported Region
Morocco
Ticker
AYA

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Reporting standards
ni_43_101
QP Signed
Yes
Qualified person names
Guy Dishaw
Resource group id
resource:ad81c5f5ca84a7bebaa0
Mining method
combined

Resource Data

Category
inferred
Tonnes
45400000
Contained Metal
4.3
Contained Unit
moz

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2026-02-28

Metal Equivalent

Metal Eq. Grade
2.92
Metal Eq. Unit
g/t AuEq
Assumptions Disclosed
Yes

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-10-21T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Large inferred resource component provides significant scale but lower geological confidence.

Positive factors

  • 1% increase in contained metal

Evidence · text

“Inferred: 45.4 Mt at 2.92 g/t AuEq, containing 4.3 Moz AuEq, up 1%”

Tags used in scoring

Inferred Resourcenegative

Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.

Why it applies: category is "inferred"

Cut-off Undisclosednegative

High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.

Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated

QP/CP Signedpositive

Qualified Person (QP) or Competent Person (CP) named and signed off — a member of a recognized professional association (e.g., AusIMM, SME, AIG, P.Geo) with relevant experience.

Why it applies: qp_signed is true

NI 43-101 Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes ni_43_101

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

PEA-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Preliminary Economic Assessment — early-stage study.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

DFS-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Definitive Feasibility Study — requires high M&I confidence.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.