Argonaut Gold Announces the La Colorada Project on Track for Production in Early Q2, 2012
09 1월 2012 - 8:00PM
Marketwired Canada
Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX:AR) ("Argonaut Gold", "Argonaut" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce the results from a new National Instrument 43-101 compliant
("N.I. 43-101"), Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the 100% owned La
Colorada gold-silver project, located 45 km southeast of Hermosillo, Mexico. The
updated PEA was completed by SRK Consulting Inc. of Denver, CO. Argonaut
acquired the La Colorada project (along with the San Antonio Gold Project)
through the acquisition of Pediment Gold Corp. in February of 2011. (All dollar
values in this release are expressed in $US).
La Colorada PEA Specifications (base case $1,500/oz gold and $20/oz silver):
Project Highlights
-- Initial capital expenditure for the project is estimated at $14.5
million with a sustaining capital of $11.7 million.
-- Pre-tax cash flow from operations estimated at $349 million over the
Life of Mine ("LOM").
-- Approximately a one year payback on initial investment, primarily
generated by reprocessing 2.7 million tonnes of run of mine ("ROM")
material grading 0.43 grams per tonne gold ("Au g/t") and 10.2 grams per
tonne silver ("Ag g/t").
Specifics
Mining costs $1.50/tonne
Processing costs $2.36/tonne
Site G&A $0.55/tonne
Initial capital $14.5 million
Sustaining capital $11.7 million
Average cash cost $620/ounce
Financial Details
-- Pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $278 million using a 5% discount
rate.
-- Pre-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 249% calculated by Argonaut
Gold.
-- Average annual pre-tax cash flow of $40.8 million.
Production Specifications
-- Average LOM cash operating costs are estimated to be $620 per ounce
based on silver noted as a byproduct credit.
-- Total processed indicated and inferred resource includes 35.5 million
tonnes containing 796,000 ounces of gold and 11.6 million ounces of
silver (average grades are 0.69g/t gold and 10.2g/t silver).
-- Recovered ounces from production include 438,000 ounces of gold and 3.1
million ounces of silver (For a total of 480,000 gold equivalent ounces)
utilizing expected average metallurgical recoveries of 55% for gold and
27% for silver.
-- LOM gold production is estimated at an average of 53,000 gold equivalent
ounces per year over a 9 year mine life.
-- Throughput estimate of 4 million tonnes per year from an open-pit mine,
with a recovery process using cyanide heap leaching, followed by carbon
adsorption/stripping and electrowinning to produce dore bars.
Specifics
Total resource processed: 35.5 million tonnes
LOM strip ratio: 3.4:1 (waste:ore)
Average grade: 0.69 g/t Au and 10.2 g/t Ag
Total recovered gold equivalent ounces: 480,000 ounces
Estimated gold recovery: 55% gold and 27% silver
Life Of Mine: 9 years
Average annual production: 53,000 gold equivalent ounces
Peter Dougherty, President and CEO of Argonaut Gold stated:
"We are excited to present the La Colorada PEA which shows a very significant
return on a minimal initial investment. It demonstrates the strong economic
viability of the mine, supporting a pay back of approximately 1 year.
Development of the project will be fully funded by our internal cash balance and
ongoing cash flow from operations. The PEA is inclusive of drilling thru
September 2011. Further drilling on the property and potential optimization of
the project remain important initiatives for the company."
Mr. Dougherty added:
"The necessary permits are in hand for us to begin production in the second
quarter of 2012. The La Colorada mine has robust project economics that will
potentially contribute over $300 million in cash flow for Argonaut shareholders.
The Pediment acquisition is a prime example of how Argonaut can Create Value
Beyond Gold."
Project Economics and Production Schedule
The mining plan developed for the La Colorada project by SRK Consulting provides
for a production profile which will involve the processing of approximately 35.5
million tonnes of total potential mineable material set out in the PEA. Over a 9
year project life a total of 480,000 gold equivalent ounces is expected to be
recovered, providing an average production of approximately 53,000 gold
equivalent ounces per year. The LOM average strip ratio for processed material
is estimated to be approximately 3.4 to 1. A summary of the annual mine
production is outlined below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units Total Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Mine
Production
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000s
Waste Tonnes 121,219 4,847 9,336 19,982 19,053 19,288
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Mineable 000s
Material Tonnes 32,753 1,153 2,664 4,018 4,947 4,712
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000s
Total Material Tonnes 153,972 6,000 12,000 24,000 24,000 24,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000s
Rehandled ROM Tonnes 2,700 2,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Processed 000s
Material Tonnes 35,453 3,853 2,664 4,000 4,000 4,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recoverable Gold 000s
from Pad (55%) Ounces 438.1 31.0 46.1 47.7 45.4 64.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recoverable
Silver from Pad 000s
(27%) Ounces 3,146.9 228.7 222.4 279.6 254.1 368.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Gold
Equivalent 000s
Production Ounces 480.076 34.063 49.053 51.392 48.834 69.821
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold and Silver production is based on 55.1% and 27.1% overall average
recoveries respectively mined material and recoveries vary by deposit,
refer to PEA for details
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units Total Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Mine
Production
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000s
Waste Tonnes 121,219 21,384 18,809 8,519 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Mineable 000s
Material Tonnes 32,753 2,616 5,191 7,452 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000s
Total Material Tonnes 153,972 24,000 24,000 15,972 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
000s
Rehandled ROM Tonnes 2,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Processed 000s
Material Tonnes 35,453 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,937
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recoverable Gold 000s
from Pad (55%) Ounces 438.1 48.7 53.5 67.3 29.6 3.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recoverable
Silver from Pad 000s
(27%) Ounces 3,146.9 258.8 607.1 530.7 337.2 59.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Gold
Equivalent 000s
Production Ounces 480.076 52.144 61.620 74.331 34.116 4.701
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold and Silver production is based on 55.1% and 27.1% overall average
recoveries respectively mined material and recoveries vary by deposit,
refer to PEA for details
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argonaut Gold has calculated the gold equivalent ounces using a $20/ounce silver
price and a $1500/ounce gold price, providing a 75:1 gold equivalent ratio. The
PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are
considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations
applied to them that would categorize them as mineral reserves. There is no
certainty that the PEA will be realized.
La Colorada National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report Resources
The La Colorada resources disclosed as part of the updated PEA were reported in
a N.I. 43-101 compliant Technical Report filed on www.sedar.com on December 8,
2011. The 1,067,000 gold ounces grading 0.64 g/t gold is contained within 50
million tonnes; this was calculated using a 0.10 g/t gold cut-off grade. The
complete resource estimate table is included below:
To view Figure 2, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ar_figure2.pdf.
For further information on the La Colorada project please see the N.I. 43-101
compliant technical report entitled "Technical Report on Resources La Colorada
Property Sonora, Mexico dated December 8, 2011 and available on www.sedar.com
and under the company's profile as well as the company's website,
www.argonautgoldinc.com.
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 Language Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains and refers to forward-looking information based on
current expectations. All other statements other than statements of historical
fact included in this release are forward-looking statements (or forward-looking
information). The Company's plans involve various estimates and assumptions and
its business and operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties. For
more details on these estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, see the
Company's most recent Annual Information Form and most recent Management
Discussion and Analysis on file with the Canadian securities regulatory
authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made
as of the date hereof and there can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate, such statements are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements. The Company assumes no obligation to
update the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements that are included herein.
The potential quantities and grades disclosed herein in connection with the
drilling results at La Colorada have been presented in an updated resource
prepared by SRK Consulting of Denver, CO.
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company believes that in addition to conventional measures prepared in
accordance with IFRS, the Company and certain investors and analysts use certain
other non-IFRS financial measures to evaluate the Company's performance
including its ability to generate cash flow and profits from its operations. The
Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this document. Non-IFRS
measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and
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. Readers are advised to read all IFRS
accounting disclosures presented in the Company's Financial Statements for more
detail.
Qualified Persons
Preparation of this press release was supervised by Mr. Thomas Burkhart,
Argonaut's Vice President of Exploration and, a "Qualified Persons" as defined
by NI 43-101. Mr. Alberto Orozco, Argonaut's Mexico Exploration Manager also
supervised the drill programs and on-site sample preparation procedures at La
Colorada. Bret Swanson of SRK of Denver, CO, who is an "Independent Qualified
Person" as defined by NI 43-101 and the lead person responsible for completing
the updated La Colorada resource has reviewed this press release as it relates
to the La Colorada project.
For sample analysis the Company utilizes a system of Quality Assurance/Quality
Control that includes insertion and verification of standards, blanks and
duplicates consistent with industry standards. Samples from the La Colorada
project are collected at site by personnel of Inspectorate's preparation
laboratory in Hermosillo where samples are prepared and pulps sent for assay in
Inspectorate's Sparks, NV laboratory. Samples are analyzed for gold by Fire
Assay and Atomic absorption finish (PKG-AuAg assay code; 0.005 to 10ppm
detection limit) plus Silver by Aqua Regia and Atomic Absorption finish (0.1 to
200 ppm detection limit). Samples over 10 g/t Au are assayed with gravimetric
finish (Assay code Au-1AT-GV). All samples are also assayed by ICP-AES (code
GENX-30) for a suite of 30 elements.
An updated N.I. 43-101 compliant technical report will be filed within 45 days
of the date of this press release.
Argonaut Gold (TSX:AR)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 6월(6) 2024 으로 7월(7) 2024
Argonaut Gold (TSX:AR)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 7월(7) 2023 으로 7월(7) 2024
