Annual Financial Statements

Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves

Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources are reported in accordance with the minimum standards described by the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code, 2004 Edition), and also conform to the standards set out in the South African Code for the Reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC 2000 Code). Mineral Resources are inclusive of the Ore Reserve component unless otherwise stated.

MINERAL RESOURCES

The 2008 Mineral Resource increased by 40.5 million ounces before the subtraction of depletion. After a depletion of 7.2 million ounces, the net increase is 33.4 million ounces to give a total Mineral Resource of 241.0 million ounces. Mineral Resources were estimated at a gold price of $1,000/oz (2007: $700/oz). The increased gold price resulted in 13.3 million ounces being added to the Mineral Resource while successful exploration and revised modelling resulted in a further increase of 27.5 million ounces. The remaining loss of 0.3 million ounces is the result of various other reasons.

Mineral ResourceMillion oz
Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2007207.6
Reductions  
TauTonaTransfers to Mponeng(1.9)
Great NoligwaTransfer of SV4 to Moab Khotsong(1.2)
Tau LekoaSignificant structure and facies changes to the north of Tau Lekoa(1.2)
OtherTotal of non-significant changes(1.4)
Additions  
La ColosaSuccessful greenfields exploration12.3
MponengGranting of WUDL’s licence and transfers from TauTona7.9
Moab KhotsongTransfer of SV4 to Moab Khotsong4.4
ObuasiExploration below 50 Level3.9
SavukaImproved economic outlook as a result of an increase in the gold price1.8
BoddingtonGrowth in Mineral Resources: successful near-mine exploration drilling and higher gold price1.6
IduapriemDue to increase in Mineral Resource gold price and remodelling of Block 7 & 81.4
Cripple Creek & VictorSuccessful exploration1.2
SadiolaDue to increase in Mineral Resource gold price, increase in the deep sulphides project1.2
SiguiriDue to increase in Mineral Resource gold price and increases in the Mineral Resource
at Sintroko and Foulata
1.0
OtherTotal of non-significant changes2.4
Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2008241.0

ORE RESERVES

The 2008 Ore Reserve increased by 7.7 million ounces before the subtraction of depletion. After a depletion of 5.9 million ounces, the net increase is 1.8 million ounces to give a total Ore Reserve of 74.9 million ounces.

A gold price of $720/oz was used for Ore Reserve estimates (2007: $600/oz). The change in economic assumptions made from 2007 to 2008 resulted in the Ore Reserve increasing by 2.7 million ounces while exploration and modelling resulted in an additional increase of 5.0 million ounces.

Ore ReserveMillion oz
Ore Reserves as at 31 December 200773.1
Reductions  
TauTonaCarbon Leader ground between 123-126 levels was transferred to Mponeng. With the change to scattered grid mining, lower value estimates resulting from increased sampling and drilling resulted in reductions. These were partially offset by a higher mine call factor and the inclusion the Carbon Leader eastern block.(1.5)
GeitaMineral Resource model changes and the application of grade factors to mitigate low model confidence; cost increases(1.4)
Great NoligwaTransfer of the SV4 section to Moab Khotsong.(1.3)
OtherTotal of non-significant changes(1.1)
Additions  
MponengIncreased grades, the additional ground from TauTona 123-126 level and improved economics which allowed for the mining of Block 3 & 5.2.8
ObuasiThe increase is due to a revised mine design and schedule.1.3
BoddingtonThe growth in Ore Reserve is due to successful drilling and a higher gold price1.1
SiguiriThe Seguelen NW and Sintroko deposits were upgraded from Inferred to Indicated Mineral Resource and the mining efficiency increased.0.6
OtherTotal of non-significant changes1.3
Ore Reserves as at 31 December 200874.9

BY-PRODUCTS

Several by-products are recovered as a result of the processing of gold Ore Reserves.

These include 0.19 million tonnes of uranium from the South African operations, 0.29 million tonnes of copper from Australia, 0.44 million tonnes of sulphur from Brazil and 35.7 million ounces of silver from Argentina. Details of by-product Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves are given in the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report 2008, which is available either on the corporate website or on request from the contacts.

EXTERNAL AUDIT OF MINERAL RESOURCE AND ORE RESERVE STATEMENT

During the course of the year and as part of the rolling audit programme, AngloGold Ashanti’s 2008 Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves for the following operations were submitted for external audit:

  • Mponeng
  • TauTona
  • Vaal River Surface Sources
  • Iduapriem
  • Navachab
  • Sadiola
  • Yatela

The company has been informed that the audit identified no material shortcomings in the process by which AngloGold Ashanti's Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources were evaluated. It is the company's intention to continue this process so that each of its operations will be audited every three years on average.

COMPETENT PERSONS

The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves is based on information compiled by the Competent Persons. These individuals are identified in the report. The Competent Persons consent to the inclusion of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves information in this report, in the form and context in which it appears.

During the past decade, the company has developed and implemented a rigorous system of internal and external reviews of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves. A documented chain of responsibility exists from the Competent Persons at the operations to the company's Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Steering Committee. Accordingly, the Chairman of the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Steering Committee, VA Chamberlain, MSc (Mining Engineering), BSc (Hons) (Geology), MAusIMM, assumes responsibility for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve processes for AngloGold Ashanti and is satisfied that the Competent Persons have fulfilled their responsibilities.

Note
A detailed breakdown of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves is provided in the report entitled, "Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve Report 2008" (PDF - **KB), it may be downloaded as a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This information is also available on request from the AngloGold Ashanti offices.

MINERAL RESOURCES BY COUNTRY (ATTRIBUTABLE)

as at 31 December 2008Resource
category
Tonnes
million
Grade
(g/t)
Contained
gold
tonnes
Contained
gold
million oz
South AfricaMeasured25.5613.80352.5711.34
 Indicated739.873.272,416.7977.70
 Inferred56.3510.47590.0618.97
 Total821.774.093,359.42108.01
ArgentinaMeasured11.011.7319.040.61
 Indicated22.003.4876.492.46
 Inferred4.974.1120.450.66
 Total37.993.05115.983.73
AustraliaMeasured101.251.19120.773.88
 Indicated404.490.84340.1510.94
 Inferred154.790.89138.434.45
 Total660.530.91599.3519.27
BrazilMeasured11.117.0177.802.50
 Indicated13.466.4987.362.81
 Inferred28.516.76192.596.19
 Total53.076.74357.7511.50
ColombiaMeasured
 Indicated
 Inferred409.771.01415.4513.36
 Total409.771.01415.4513.36
Democratic Republic of CongoMeasured
Indicated
 Inferred29.252.6978.532.52
 Total29.252.6978.532.52
GhanaMeasured94.215.21490.6815.78
 Indicated138.912.86397.3112.77
 Inferred100.104.25425.2713.67
 Total333.233.941,131.2642.22
GuineaMeasured33.530.6321.250.68
 Indicated125.220.84105.533.39
 Inferred64.080.9057.851.86
 Total222.820.83184.635.94
MaliMeasured19.401.6431.861.02
 Indicated26.392.4865.322.10
 Inferred11.102.3025.490.82
 Total56.892.16122.683.94
NamibiaMeasured13.830.7410.250.33
 Indicated61.941.2678.052.51
 Inferred42.311.0946.251.49
 Total118.081.14134.554.33
TanzaniaMeasured
 Indicated83.843.63304.109.78
 Inferred25.123.8195.773.08
 Total108.973.67399.8712.86
United StatesMeasured255.900.87223.317.18
 Indicated183.750.73134.974.34
 Inferred83.610.6655.601.79
 Total523.260.79413.8813.31
TotalMeasured565.802.381,347.5343.32
 Indicated1,799.872.234,006.08128.80
 Inferred1,009.962.122,141.7568.86
 Total3,375.632.227,495.36240.98

ORE RESERVES BY COUNTRY (ATTRIBUTABLE)

as at 31 December 2008CategoryTonnes
million
Grade
(g/t)
Contained
gold
tonnes
Contained
gold
million oz
South AfricaProved13.727.81107.133.44
 Probable215.104.37939.7930.21
 Total228.824.581,046.9233.66
ArgentinaProved9.991.3913.900.45
 Probable12.293.5243.241.39
 Total22.272.5657.131.84
AustraliaProved67.821.1074.542.40
 Probable214.500.90192.576.19
 Total282.330.95267.118.59
BrazilProved7.776.4450.061.61
 Probable7.025.8240.871.31
 Total14.796.1590.932.92
GhanaProved56.854.24240.897.74
 Probable36.433.82139.104.47
 Total93.284.07379.9812.22
GuineaProved56.130.5631.481.01
 Probable67.111.0469.642.24
 Total123.240.82101.123.25
MaliProved9.291.8717.330.56
 Probable6.652.2615.020.48
 Total15.942.0332.351.04
NamibiaProved7.210.896.390.21
 Probable27.581.2835.191.13
 Total34.781.2041.581.34
TanzaniaProved
 Probable54.302.93159.065.11
 Total54.302.93159.065.11
United StatesProved122.570.93104.603.36
 Probable55.700.8748.591.56
 Total168.270.91153.194.93
TotalProved341.351.89646.3120.78
 Probable696.672.421,683.0754.11
 Total1,038.022.242,329.3874.89

MINERAL RESOURCES BY COUNTRY (ATTRIBUTABLE) EXCLUSIVE OF ORE RESERVES

as at 31 December 2008 Resource
category
Tonnes
million
Grade
(g/t)
Contained
gold
tonnes
Contained
gold
million oz
South Africa Measured14.6214.08205.806.62
 Indicated556.662.701,504.1748.36
 Inferred56.3510.47590.0618.97
 Total627.633.662,300.0473.95
Argentina Measured
 Indicated
 Inferred
 Total
Australia Measured34.851.3848.221.55
 Indicated189.990.78147.584.74
 Inferred154.790.89138.434.45
 Total379.630.88334.2210.75
Brazil Measured3.206.6321.200.68
 Indicated6.636.2941.741.34
 Inferred27.496.81187.136.02
 Total37.326.70250.068.04
Colombia Measured
 Indicated
 Inferred409.771.01415.4513.36
 Total409.771.01415.4513.36
Democratic Republic of CongoMeasured
 Indicated
Inferred29.252.6978.532.52
Total29.252.6978.532.52
Ghana Measured33.326.42241.086.88
 Indicated73.902.48183.065.89
 Inferred56.463.75211.956.81
 Total163.693.72609.0919.58
Guinea Measured5.570.703.910.13
 Indicated37.130.7929.510.95
 Inferred64.360.9158.491.88
 Total107.060.8691.912.95
Mali Measured4.340.813.500.11
 Indicated21.422.3750.751.63
 Inferred11.102.3025.490.82
 Total36.872.1679.742.56
Namibia Measured6.630.563.710.12
 Indicated34.361.1840.611.31
 Inferred42.311.0946.251.49
 Total83.301.0990.582.91
Tanzania Measured
 Indicated35.953.32119.383.84
 Inferred25.123.8195.773.08
 Total61.073.52215.156.92
United States Measured143.330.83118.713.82
 Indicated128.040.6786.382.78
 Inferred83.610.6655.601.79
 Total354.990.73260.698.38
Total Measured245.872.52619.1219.91
 Indicated1,084.102.032,203.1870.83
 Inferred960.611.981,903.1661.19
  Total2,290.582.064,725.46151.93
Siguiri, Guinea

Siguiri, Guinea

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ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI Annual Financial Statements 2008