Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX:AR) ("Argonaut Gold", "Argonaut" or the
"Company") announces financial and operating results for the third
quarter ended September 30, 2011. All dollar amounts are expressed
in United States dollars unless otherwise specified. All financial
results are presented in accordance with IFRS, unless otherwise
noted.
THIRD QUARTER 2011 & RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
-- Q3 2011 revenue of $22.7 million
-- Q3 2011 net income of $6.0 million, $0.07 per basic share
-- Cash flows from operating activities before changes in non-cash
operating working capital and other items of $9.7 million
-- Cash on hand was $35 million at September 30, 2011
-- Gold production and cost:
-- 29,997 ounces of gold loaded to the pad (up 24% from Q3 2010)
-- Gold ounces produced in Q3 of 2011 were 16,884 ounces (up 33% from
Q3 2010)
-- Cash cost per ounce sold - $628
-- Q3 2011 El Castillo operating statistics:
-- Total tonnes mined - 4.8 million tonnes (up 2% from Q3 2010)
-- Record ore tonnes mined - 2.9 million tonnes (up 44% from Q3 2010)
-- Operational improvements:
-- Finalized agreement with the Company's mining contractor to expand
from 13 to 18 trucks with 100 tonne capacity and a fourth 992 loader
added to the mining fleet
-- West crusher relocated to east side for consolidated crushing
circuit with design capacity of 500,000 tonnes per month ("TPM");
operational in October
-- East side pad loading initiated and east carbon plant operational in
October with the ramp up to continue thru Q4 of 2011
-- Finalized an agreement expanding surface rights on the western side
of the property by 100 hectares, for an increase in overall surface
rights to 1385 hectares.
-- Exploration & resources:
-- La Colorada -Indicated resource increase to 1.06 mm oz. within an NI
43-101 compliant technical resource (up 76% Au and up 173% Ag over
previous NI 43-101)
-- Completed 36,234 metres of drilling in 245 holes total (39
pending release)
-- Three drill rigs continue on 52,000 metre drill program with a
fourth drill rig scheduled to arrive in early November
-- El Castillo - Sulphide metallurgical work pending completion
-- San Antonio - Two drill rigs continue on +10,000 metre drill program
-- Completed 10,242 metres for 71 holes pending release
This press release should be read in conjunction with the
Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial
statements for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and
associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") which
are available from the Company's website, www.argonautgoldinc.com,
in the "Investors" section under "Financial Filings", and under the
Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Argonaut Gold Financial Statistics
3rd Quarter 9 Months Ended
9/30/2011 9/30/2010 9/30/2011 9/30/2010
Revenue $22,706,718 $9,813,684 $70,015,072 $31,676,481
Net income (loss) $6,039,747 $961,881 $17,148,761 ($341,623)
Income (loss) per share -
basic $0.07 $0.02 $0.20 ($0.03)
Income (loss) per share -
diluted $0.06 $0.02 $0.19 ($0.03)
Gold ounces sold 13,260 7,994 46,052 26,779
Cash cost per ounce for
units sold $628 $622 $597 $809
Financial Results - Third Quarter 2011
During the third quarter of 2011, revenue was $22.7 million from
gold sales of 13,260 ounces compared to $9.8 million from sales of
7,994 ounces in the third quarter of 2010. Cost of sales and
depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses were $10.8
million for the quarter. Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold
(see Non-IFRS measures section note below) was $628 compared to
$622 in the same period of 2010 principally because of an increase
in longer ore hauls to the east pad and cyanide costs. During the
third quarter of 2011, operating income from mining operations was
$11.9 million compared to a $3.2 million operating income in the
third quarter of 2010. Net income for the quarter was $6.0 million,
or $0.07 per share.
Cash on hand increased from $32.3 million at June 30, 2011 to
$35.0 million, as a result of higher gold price realized sales and
early exercise of $6.8 million in broker compensation options
issued in connection with the private placement of shares of the
Company in late 2009. Cash flow from operations before changes in
non-cash operating working capital and other items was $9.7 million
during the quarter. The cash flow provided by operating activities
in the quarter was $7.7 million. At September 30, 2011,
approximately 6,300 gold ounces from Q3 were in finished goods
inventory.
Summary of Production Results
Ore tonnes mined increased by 44% (total tonnes mined increased
by 2%) for the third quarter 2011 over the third quarter of 2010.
Utilizing a larger, more efficient truck fleet at El Castillo for
the full quarter, the rate of mining production exceeded 1.6
million tonnes per month. The strip ratio of waste to ore declined
in the third quarter of 2011 to 0.66 compared to the third quarter
of 2010 of 1.36. (The new NI 43-101 compliant technical report for
El Castillo indicates the anticipated strip ratio is approximately
0.88 for the life of mine). Total ounces loaded to the pads also
increased. In the third quarter of 2011, there were 29,997 ounces
placed on the pad, representing a 24% increase over the 24,202
ounces placed on the pad in the third quarter of 2010. Gold
production of 16,884 ounces in the third quarter of 2011 was a 33%
increase compared to the third quarter of 2010.
The Company anticipates operating costs to rise in the near term
from longer ore haul distances to the east pad and increased
reagent costs as we begin operations at the eastern side of the
property. We believe this is a short term issue as the mine
expands. The Company is estimating a cash cost for ounces to be
sold in 2011 to be $600 to $625 per gold ounce.
Capital & Exploration Expenditures:
The Company recently increased its capital and exploration
expenditure budget for the year to $36 million. Additional
commitments for development of La Colorada are being allocated for
construction of heap leach pads, an absorption plant and a crushing
circuit; this is anticipated to be completed during early 2012. Key
operational metrics and production statistics for the third quarter
of 2011 compared to the respective period in 2010 are presented
below:
El Castillo Operating Statistics
3rd Quarter 9 Months
Percent Percent
9/30/2011 9/30/2010 Change 9/30/2011 9/30/2010 Change
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Tonnes ore 2,908,150 2,013,668 44% 8,232,763 5,197,406 58%
Tonnes waste 1,933,470 2,735,942 -29% 6,339,150 5,896,110 8%
Tonnes mined 4,841,620 4,749,610 2% 14,571,913 11,093,516 31%
Waste/ore ratio 0.66 1.36 -51% 0.77 1.13 -31%
Tonnes direct to
leach pad 2,282,601 1,675,504 +36% 6,016,269 4,237,532 +42%
Tonnes crushed 612,548 369,275 +66% 2,201,941 954,559 +131%
Average grams
per tonne of
gold to leach
pad 0.32 0.37 -14% 0.33 0.37 -11%
Gold ounces to
leach pad 29,997 24,202 +24% 87,777 60,744 +45%
Gold ounces
produced 16,884 12,724 +33% 52,351 33,032 +59%
Cash cost per
gold ounce sold $628 $622 10% $597 $809 -26%
CEO Commentary
Pete Dougherty, Argonaut's President and CEO states: "Argonaut
continued to deliver strong production in Q3, moving towards
meeting 2011 guidance of 70,000 ounces of gold produced during the
year. We are very pleased with the progress made during the first
nine months of 2011, expanding operations at El Castillo was a key
objective in future development of the property. In October, the
Company released a 76% gold increase and 173% silver increase in
resources at the La Colorada project. A total of 6 drill rigs are
continuing programs at both the La Colorada and San Antonio
projects." Mr. Dougherty added "Argonaut continues to see strong
progress being made at all three projects."
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company included the non-IFRS measure "Cash cost per gold
ounce for units sold" in this press release to supplement its
financial statements which are presented in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Cash cost per
gold ounce for units sold is equal to cost of sales less silver
sales divided by gold ounces sold. The Company believes that this
measure provides investors with an improved ability to evaluate the
performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any
standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore they may not
be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The
data is intended to provide additional information and should not
be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Please see the
MD&A for full disclosure on non-IFRS measures.
Technical Information and Mineral Properties Reports
The technical information contained in this document has been
prepared under supervision of, and reviewed and approved by Mr.
Thomas H. Burkhart, Argonaut's Vice President of Exploration, and a
qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.
Information on the Company's properties please see the reports
as listed below on the Company's website or on www.sedar.com:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
El Castillo Mine NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources and
Reserves, Argonaut Gold Inc., El Castillo Mine,
Durango State, Mexico dated November 6, 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
La Fortuna Property La Fortuna, Durango, Mexico, Technical Report
dated October 21, 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Antonio Gold Project Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on
the San Antonio Gold Project, Baja California Sur,
Mexico dated June 30, 2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
La Colorada Property Geological Report on the La Colorada Property with
a Resource Estimate on La Colorada and El Creston
Mineralized Zones - Sonora, Mexico dated November
30, 2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Argonaut Gold
Argonaut is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine
development and production activities. Its primary assets are the
production-stage El Castillo Mine in the State of Durango, Mexico,
the development stage and past producing La Colorada project, the
advanced exploration San Antonio project, and several exploration
stage projects, all of which are located in Mexico.
Creating Value Beyond Gold
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ
materially from management's current expectations. Actual results
may differ materially due to a number of factors. Except as
required by law, Argonaut Gold Inc. assumes no obligation to update
the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
Contacts: Argonaut Gold Inc. Nichole Cowles Investor Relations
Manager (775) 284-4422 x
101nichole.cowles@argonautgoldinc.comwww.argonautgoldinc.com
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