KINROSS GOLD CORP

Paracatu, Brazil

General

Kinross is the owner of the Paracatu mine located in the northwestern portion of the Minas Gerais State in Brazil. The Paracatu mine includes an open pit mine, two process plants (“Plant I” and “Plant II”), two tailings facilities areas, Santo Antônio and Eustáquio, and related surface infrastructure. As part of its operations there are two hydroelectric power plants that provide power for industrial areas, located in the state of Goiás.

The Paracatu mine is 100% owned and operated by Kinross’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Kinross Brasil Mineração S.A. (“KBM”).

Technical Report

Please see the Company’s National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report dated March 10, 2020 in respect of Paracatu, prepared by John Sims, available at www.kinross.com and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ atwww.sedarplus.ca. Detailed financial, production and operational information for the Paracatu mine are available in Kinross’ MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Property Description, Location and Access

The Paracatu mine is a large-scale open pit mine located adjacent to the city of Paracatu, situated in the northwestern portion of Minas Gerais State, 230 kilometres southeast of the national capital Brasília and 480 kilometres northwest of the state capital Belo Horizonte.

In Brazil, mining licenses (known as decrees) are issued by the Agência Nacional de Mineração (“ANM”). Once certain obligations have been satisfied, the ANM issues a mining decree that is automatically renewable annually, and has no set expiry date. KBM currently holds its title by way of five mining licenses (Grupamento Mineiro) totalling 1,916 hectares. The mine and most of the surface infrastructure lie within the mining licenses and the new tailings facility is situated over a mining easement. The remaining infrastructure is built on surface lands controlled by KBM. KBM holds title to 89 exploration permits totalling approximately 123,940 hectares and has applications before the ANM for an additional nine (9) applications (exploration and mining applications) totalling approximately 5,687 hectares. These exploration permits and applications for exploration permits comprise a significant land package around Paracatu.

Effective January 1, 2018, KBM must pay to ANM a royalty equivalent to 1.5% of gross revenues for gold and 2.0% of gross revenues for silver. Another 0.75% is payable to the holders of surface rights in the mine area not already owned by KBM.

Kinross is in compliance with the Paracatu permits in all material respects.

Access from Paracatu is by vehicle via a four lane paved mine access road. A small paved airstrip that can accommodate small, charter aircraft also services Paracatu.

History

Gold mining has been associated with the Paracatu area since 1722 when placer gold was discovered in the creeks and rivers of the Paracatu region. Alluvial mining peaked in the mid-1800s and until the 1980s, was largely restricted to “garimpeiros” (artisanal) miners. In 1984, Rio Tinto Zinc (“Rio Tinto”) explored the property using modern exploration methods, and by 1987, the Rio Paracatu Mineração (now known as KBM) joint venture was formed between Rio Tinto and Autram Mineração e Participações (the latter being part of the TVX group of companies). Production commenced in 1987 and the mine has operated continuously since then.

In 2003, TVX’s 49% share in KBM was acquired by Kinross as part of the business combination between Kinross, TVX and Echo Bay. Kinross purchased the remaining 51% from Rio Tinto in December 2004.

In January 2005, Kinross and KBM commenced the exploration drill program west of Rico Creek and became aware of the potential for a significant reserve increase. A Plant Capacity Scoping Study was completed in June 2005, which evaluated several alternatives to increase plant throughput. All options considered in this study assumed the installation of an in-pit crushing and conveying system and a 38-foot diameter SAG mill, which were the cornerstone assumptions in the original Feasibility Study carried out at the property.

In 2006, an expansion project (Plant II) was approved by Kinross’ Board of Directors, and in 2007, construction of a new 41 million tonnes per year plant began. The new plant began operations in September 2008 and completion of ramp-up was achieved in the fourth quarter of 2009, stabilizing plant operation and increasing global recovery to an average of 77.5% in 2010.

In 2009, the Company approved plans to undertake a new expansion project at Paracatu, which consisted of the implementation of a third ball mill to increase the grinding capacity needed to process harder ore from the Paracatu orebody. That 15-megawatt ball mill was delivered in 2010, and installation and commissioning was completed in the third quarter of 2011.

With a view to adding processing and grinding capacity, in 2010 the Company approved the addition of a fourth ball mill. Start-up of the fourth ball mill occurred in the third quarter of 2012.

Since 2014, Plant I has been processing sulphide ore (type B2) which has reduced throughput as it is harder and has a higher resistance to grinding. In 2015, Plant II implemented a gravity circuit to improve gold recovery. A similar system was installed at Plant I in 2018 and expanded in 2022. An expansion for the gravity circuit at Plant II is currently underway.

In 2015, when the Santo Antônio tailings facility reached its capacity, Plant I started pumping tailings to the Eustáquio tailings facility, which allowed for the reprocessing of the higher grade portion of tailings from the Santo Antônio tailings facility. Originally, tailings were transported by truck, but a pumping system was added in 2017 and additional pumping systems were subsequently added in 2019 and 2023. Tailings reprocessing at the Eustáquio Dam began in 2016.

In 2016, a pebble conveyor was installed connecting Plant II to Plant I to take advantage of excess crushing capacity available in the crushing system feeding Plant I.

In 2018, Kinross acquired the Barra dos Coqueiros (“BCO”) and Caçu hydroelectric power plants located on the Claro River in the neighbouring state of Goiás, approximately 660 kilometres west of Paracatu. The hydroelectric power plants supply a large part of Paracatu’s power needs. In 2021, Kinross acquired the right to extend the operating concessions of the plants until 2044.

Geological Setting, Mineralization and Deposit Types

The Paracatu property is located within the Brasília Belt, a north-south trending Neoproterozoic belt that extends along the western side of the São Francisco-Congo Craton. Sedimentary units are mostly preserved in the northern part of the belt, whereas in the southern part where Paracatu is located, there is intense deformation and metamorphism. The contacts between metasedimentary units are primarily tectonic. A series of NS strike thrust faults are developed extensively along the belt. The timing of deformation is estimated at 800 to 600 million years ago, which coincides with the Brasiliano orogenic cycle.

The host phyllites of the Paracatu Formation exhibit well-developed quartz boudins and associated sulfide mineralization. Sericite minerals are common, as a result of extensive metamorphic alteration of the host rocks. Bedding planes were transposed by the foliation developed during the thrusting deformation. Sigmoidal foliation and boudinage structures are often observed in outcrops.

The mineralization at Paracatu exhibits distinct mineralogical zoning with the arsenopyrite content increasing in the zones of intense deformation. Gold grade increases with increasing arsenopyrite content. Pyrrhotite occurs in the western part of the deposit and gold grades are also elevated where higher pyrrhotite content is observed. The deposit formation model proposed for Paracatu suggests that gold and arsenopyrite were introduced by hydrothermal fluids concurrently with a deformative event. Gold occurs either as free gold or electrum. The boudins are disseminated in the deposit.

Since Kinross’ acquisition of Paracatu in 2003, the majority of exploration efforts have been concentrated on consolidating and increasing the mineral resources/reserves associated within the known ore body and mineralized extensions. Exploration outside of the mining area was initiated in 2006 and discontinued in 2008. Regional exploration activities were restarted in 2020, with a focus on the structural belt that extends from the mine. Geologic mapping, soil sampling, geophysics and drilling are the main activities currently being executed. The objective is to identify and drill potential targets, which can then be further converted into mineable reserves.

Drilling

At the start of mining at Paracatu, exploration campaigns focused on the upper levels of the orebody, within 25 to 30 metres of surface. As mining advanced, deeper drilling campaigns were required to better model the orebody. Currently, the drilling spacing corresponds to a fairly regular 70 metre x 70 metre grid. An infill drilling campaign is in progress and focused on the higher variability areas to achieve a 50 metre x 50 metre grid.

Drilling programs were completed primarily by Rio Tinto until 2004. Since 2005, all campaigns have been carried out by KBM or under its supervision. The drilling activities were conducted by various drilling contractors and supervised by geological staff. In 2013, Kinross purchased two drill rigs and, since then, all infill drilling has been carried out by the KBM team.

The dominant sample collection method used to delineate the Paracatu resource and reserve model is by diamond core drilling. All drill hole data are stored in acQuire database software. The database contains 4,761 diamond drill holes collected between 1984 and 2024, totalling 254,104 metres in length. The hole spacing varies from 25 to 200 metres with an average of approximately 70 metres. Core diameters for holes drilled by Kinross include HX (76.2 mm), HQ (63.5 mm), HTW (70.9 mm), and NQ (47.6 mm). Substantially all of this drilling has been completed on the mining leases.

Between 2019 and 2024, 71,603 metres of drilling was performed, which principally focused on characterizing the ore body in different areas in order to fill in the gaps in information in the NE and SW portions of the site.

Core was collected continuously from the collar. Wooden tags were placed in the core trays and labelled according to the drill run. All core boxes were clearly labelled with the hole number and drilled interval. Lids were nailed on each core box at the drill site to facilitate transport to the core shed logging facility.

Drill reports identified all zones of broken ground, fault zones and water gain or loss. Water gain or loss was almost non-existent. Rusty water seams in the mineralized zone horizon were extremely rare, suggesting that active water flow occurs almost exclusively in the weathered zone, near to the surface.

Sampling, Analysis and Data Verification

Drill core is transported by KBM personnel from the drill site to the core logging facility for logging and sampling. Technicians check depth markers and box numbers and calculate core recovery. The core is logged descriptively and marked for sampling by Kinross geologists. Logging and sampling data are recorded in digital logs in acQuire software. Core is photographed prior to sampling.

Upon completion of geological and geotechnical core logging of a diamond drill hole, a core logging geologist identifies the sections of core to be sampled and analyzed for gold and other variables (sulfur, density, acid neutralising capacity, multi-element, base metals, etc.). After core is logged, samples are collected and then delivered to the preparation laboratory for sample preparation. The sample dispatch and batch numbers are sent in digital format. The greatest areas of core loss were from the collar to 15 metres down the hole in laterite (or weathered) zones. Kinross employs a systematic sampling approach where drill core is sampled using standard one metre sample lengths. This standard was used for 78% of the assays. Starting in 2018, sample lengths increased to 3 metres.

Reference pieces of 8-10 centimetres are collected and used for density testing. These pieces are labelled and stored at the core logging facility.

The entire core is sampled for gold and both of the hanging wall and footwall contacts have a 12 metre buffer applied in order to ensure proper contact delimitation. The samples vary from 1 to 3 metres for gold, whereas bond work index (“BWI”) and acid neutralizing capacity sampling uses 12 metre composites as per the procedure for those tests.

Core samples for analysis are stored in a secure warehouse (core shed) at site prior to sample preparation. The core shed is either locked or under direct supervision of the geological staff. Prior to shipping, drill core samples are placed in large plastic bags, tagged and sealed. A sample transmittal form that identifies each batch of samples is prepared. The samples are transported directly to the laboratory for sample preparation and analysis.

All core boxes are covered with wooden lids and nailed shut before being transported by Kinross personnel from Kinross drill rigs to the logging facility located inside the fenced mine gates. The sample tag number is also written in permanent marker on the outside of each sample bag.

Samples are loaded onto pickup trucks and transported to the Kinross Paracatu preparation lab for preparation. The samples are crushed to 95% passing in 6 mesh (3.35 mm) and homogenized. After that, the samples are crushed again to 95% passing in 8 mesh (2.36 mm) and homogenized. Approximately 2 kg of coarse reject is retained and stored at the core shed for 18 months and 2 kg is discarded. The remaining 2.5 kg is split and pulverized to 95% passing 100 mesh (150 µm).

This sample is homogenized and three 50 gram aliquots are selected for screen-fire assaying with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. The remaining pulverized sample is discarded. These processes are performed in on-site laboratories. Until 2005, Kinross reduced the nugget effect by combining results from six separate fire assays of 50 gram sample aliquots. Each sub-sample was fire assayed followed by an AA finish. In June 2005, Kinross commissioned Agoratek International to conduct a review of exploration sampling procedures and to assess the requirements for six 50 gram aliquot assays per sample (Bongarcon, 2005). Agoratek, led by Dominique Francois-Bongarcon, a recognized expert in sampling, reviewed the sampling procedures and concluded that only three 50 gram aliquots would be sufficient for the purpose of reducing the variability of the results. Since then, three sub-samples have been used.

Analytical results are received electronically and managed using a laboratory information management system and imported into the acQuire database. Assay batches are reviewed for acceptance by the database administrator.

Kinross has completed a significant amount of drilling since 2012. From January 2012 to December 2024 a total of 11,626 coarse blanks of crushed limestone and quartz (silica) and 12,503 standards were analyzed at the Kinross, ALS and SGS laboratories. This represents an insertion rate of 12% for coarse blanks and 13% for the standards.

KBM independently verified 10% of the data collected between 1999 and 2004 against original source documents. The holes were chosen at random and any errors against original sources were documented. No significant or material errors were identified. The Kinross geology department verified 5% of the data collected between 2010 and 2012 against original source documents. This verification activity also did not identify any concerns regarding the quality or accuracy of the data or database.

As part of external auditing in 2006, 2009, and 2012, Roscoe Postle Associates (RPA, 2012) verified the gold values in the database with the assay certificates for a total of 1,192 assays from 13 drill holes. No significant errors were identified. RPA also checked the downhole survey values and found no significant errors.

Paracatu has been improving the quality assurance and quality control methods and systems since 2014. These improvements provide confidence in the integrity of the geological/geochemical database.

Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing

In May 2018, a characterization program was completed by SGS Minerals Service in Canada. For this work, four different samples, as described below (C1 to C4) were composited, and prepared for bulk mineralogy and gold deportment studies. The four composites represent key groupings of ore characteristics, which are expected to be encountered over the remaining life of mine: C1 – Sulfur Rich - Zone of more intense alteration based on sulfur content and base metal content, high sulfur grade and enriched in base metals.; C2 – Upper Oxide - Zone of higher oxidation and low sulfur grade; C3 – Lower Alkali - Halo zone or more distal mineralization based on sulfur content and base metal content and increased alkali content; and C4 – Life of mine – composition based on the proportion of the ore types in the mine remaining to be processed over life of mine.

The mineralogical characterization of Paracatu Run of Mine (“ROM”) ore indicates that gold grains are generally fine, F50~14µm and shows that there is a significant difference in the gold grain sizes in the tailings and concentrate products, which shows that the gold with smaller grain size ends up in the tailings.

In April 2018, a sample from Plant II rougher tails was sent to São Paulo University and characterization was completed to determine the gold association and liberation. Only 37% of gold is exposed and the main association is with sulfide minerals. No liberated gold particles were noted in the sample.

Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates

Refer to the “Kinross Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources” section for quantity, grades and category. Assumptions are outlined in the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Statements Notes in the “Kinross Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources” section.

Mining Operations

The Paracatu operation consists of an open pit mine, two process plants, two tailings facilities, and related surface infrastructure and support buildings.

At Paracatu, ore hardness increases with depth and, as a result, modelling the hardness of the Paracatu deposit is important for costing and process throughput parameters. Kinross modeled ore hardness based on BWI analyses from diamond drill samples. KBM estimated that blasting of the Paracatu rocks would be necessary for blocks with a BWI greater than 8.5 kWh/t.

In 2024, the Paracatu mining fleet consisted of 38 CAT 793 trucks, three CAT 7495 shovels, three CAT 994 loaders, and one CAT 6040 backhoe excavator.

Processing and Recovery Operations

Plant I has operated continuously since 1987 and underwent expansion upgrades in 1997 and 1999. In 2024, the plant processed 9.1 Mt at a BWI of approximately 11 kWh/t.

Plant I crushing circuit consists of four independent parallel operating lines (A, B, C and D), each consisting of a primary screen (Metso – 8’ x 20’), a primary crusher (APSM Hazemag), a secondary screen (Weir – 6’ x 16’) and a secondary crusher (HP300). The lines are fed with front end loaders with material from Plant II stockpile pebbles and ROM ore.

Plant I grinding circuit consists of four primary ball mills with 4.5 metre diameter by 5.7 metre long Effective Grinding Length (“EGL”) and 1.8 MW drives, one secondary ball mill with 5 metre diameter by 7.6 metre long EGL and 3 MW drives and one rod mill used to regrind the primary ball mill’s oversize.

The grinding circuit product, cyclone overflow, feeds the rougher flotation circuit consisting of Wemco (10 cells of 42.5 m3 each); Outokumpu (4 cells of 16.5 m3 each); and Smartcells (4 cells of 127 m3 each). A portion of the rougher concentrate is fed to a Knelson Concentrator (QS48). In 2022, KBM installed one Knelson 48 in the grinding line in the circulant load.

Plant II was developed as part of the Paracatu Expansion III Project and consists of one in-pit crusher (MMD toothed roll type), a 1.8 kilometres conveyor to a covered stockpile area, one 20 MW semi-autogenous grinding (“SAG”) mill and two 13 MW ball mills. Subsequently, a 15 MW third ball mill was installed in June 2011 and a fourth 15 MW ball mill was installed in August 2012. In 2024, the plant processed 40.6 Mt of ROM at a BWI of approximately 12.5 kWh/t.

The Plant II grinding circuit consists of one 11.6 metre diameter by 6.7 metre long EGL SAG mill with a 20 MW gearless drive, two 7.3 metre diameter by 12.0 metre long EGL with 13 MW drive and two 8.0 metre diameter by 12.8 metre long EGL ball mills with 15 MW drive. The ball mills are equipped with dual pinion gear drives. The SAG mill operates in open/closed circuit with a trommel screen and vibrating screen, and the pebbles have the option to be fed to Plant I (open circuit) or back to the SAG (closed circuit). Oversize rejects from the SAG mill are transferred to the SAG mill feed conveyor by three pebble conveyors in series when operated in closed circuit. When it operates in open circuit, the oversize rejects are transferred by a conveyor to the Plant I crushing circuit.

In October 2015 KBM started the Processing Santo Antônio Tailings (“PSAT”) project, which involves mining the area using haul trucks and reprocessing the tailings in Plant II. In 2017, KBM started to mine the area using hydraulic mining by pumping the tailings pulp to Plant I.

Part of the tailings generated and placed at Eustaquio dam are reprocessed at Plant II.

In 2023 a gravity recoverable gold circuit was installed in one of the ball mills. In 2024, gravity recoverable gold circuits were installed in the three other ball mills.

Infrastructure, Permitting and Compliance Activities

Paracatu infrastructure and services have been designed to support an operation of 66 Mt/a.

The mine site consists of two processing plants, related mine services facilities (truck shop, truck wash facility, warehouse, fuel storage and distribution facilities, reagent storage and distribution facilities), and other facilities to support operations (safety/security/first aid/emergency response building, assay laboratory, plant guard house, dining facilities, offices etc.).

The mine draws its power from the Brazilian national power grid which is largely based on hydroelectric power generation. Kinross is connected to the 500 kV national grid via a 500 kV/230 kV substation owned by the mine. A 230 kV transmission line, approximately 34 kilometres long, feeds the mine from this substation. This transmission line is connected to substation 43-SE-501 located at the mine site which subsequently feeds the Plant II distribution system at 13.8 kV and Plant I transmission line at 138 kV. The 138 kV Plant I transmission line feeds a 138 kV/13.8 kV substation located at Plant I, which subsequently feeds the Plant I distribution system. The total current site power demand is 140 MVA with a power factor of 98%.

In 2018, Kinross acquired the BCO and Caçu hydroelectric power plants located on the Claro River in the neighbouring state of Goiás, approximately 660 kilometres west of Paracatu. The Claro River is a tributary of the Paranaiba River which is a major river in the country. The power is “wheeled” from these generating plants to Paracatu using existing transmission infrastructure and market mechanisms. Both plants are “run of the river” facilities and have been operating since 2010, with a total installed capacity of 155 MW (BCO – 90 MW; Caçu – 65 MW).

The BCO plant has 2 Kaplan turbines (originally manufactured by Alstom), each with a rated capacity of 45 MW and 36 m nominal hydraulic head. The Caçu plant has 2 Kaplan turbines (originally manufactured by Alstom), each with a rated capacity of 32.5 MW and 27 m nominal hydraulic head. Both plants have 230 kV transmission line connections (owned by Kinross – 2 km for BCO and 29 km for Caçu) to the national grid electrical substation. The operation and maintenance of the plants are contracted to an established external provider specializing in such services.

The operating concessions for both plants expire in 2044, after Paracatu’s mine life is expected to end. The acquisition allowed Kinross to significantly lower AISC costs at Paracatu by eliminating approximately 60% - 65% of future power purchases. Part of the savings is due to lower regulatory charges for self-generation.

Since 2009, Kinross has maintained an independent review process for all of its tailings facilities. The review process includes annual on-site visits, as well as a review of new construction or new expansions at the design stage. The review is conducted by an independent expert. Given the risk profile at Paracatu, on-site independent reviews are conducted on an annual basis.

The main water sources for KBM operations are run-off water collected in the mine sumps, run-off water collected in the tailings dam catchment watersheds, recirculated effluent from processing activities, and make-up water from streams and wells. The majority of process water is captured and maintained in the mine sumps and tailings catchment basins during the rainy season for use during the dry season. To maintain the plant’s water supply, KBM uses Eustaquio as the main storage facility and Santo Antônio dam and mine sumps as a complementary structure.

Kinross estimates the net present value of future cash outflows for site reclamation and remediation costs at Paracatu under IFRS as at December 31, 2024, at approximately $122.6 million.

Capital and Operating Costs

The capital cost estimate for Paracatu is summarized in the table below.

Estimated Sustaining Capital for Life of Mine

Estimated Operating Costs for Life of Mine

Exploration, Development and Production

In 2025, KBM expects to continue a diamond drilling program on the Paracatu deposit in the SW and NE portions of the mine to enhance existing information. The expectation is to add almost 20,000 metres of diamond drilling holes by the end of 2026.

The Company has continued the optimization and analysis work focused on determining the optimal mine plan. Mine life is expected to run to 2032.