THUNDER BAY, ON, Oct. 30, 2019 /CNW/ - PREMIER GOLD MINES
LIMITED ("Premier", "the Company") (TSX: PG) (OTCPK:
PIRGF) is pleased to announce Q3 production results.
Q3 - 2019 Production Highlights:
- 14,481 ounces of gold production at Mercedes
- 37,462 ounces of silver production at Mercedes
- 2,003 ounces of gold production at South Arturo
- 953 ounces of pre-production gold recovered at South
Arturo
Third quarter gold production from South Arturo includes 873
ounces from Phase 2 open pit stockpiles and 1,130 ounces from the
El Nino underground mine. In addition, 953 pre-production gold
ounces were recovered during the quarter, including 391 ounces from
Phase I open pit development and 562 ounces from El Nino
pre-commercial production in September.
"Having achieved commercial production ahead of schedule, South
Arturo continues to exceed my expectations," stated John Begeman, Executive Chairman of Premier.
"Realizing commercial production at El Nino this year rather than
next is a positive development that we expect will impact Premier's
consolidated operating performance for 2019, particularly in the
fourth quarter."
South Arturo Mine, Nevada
The El Nino underground mine is part of the South Arturo Joint
Venture (the "JV") operated by Barrick
Gold through its subsidiary Nevada
Gold Mines. El Nino is a high-grade operation (between 8 and
10 grams per tonne gold) that was developed by the JV on time and
on budget. The mine achieved commercial production in September and
it is expected that this low cost operation will contribute to a
strong fourth quarter for the Company.
El Nino is the second mine to be developed by the JV within the
last three years. Further expansion of the JV is currently underway
including development of Phase 1 and Phase 3 open pit projects, and
a potential heap leach operation. Stripping of the Phase 1 pit is
ongoing and further economic studies are being completed for the
Phase 3 pit and the heap leach material, some of which is currently
being stockpiled.
Exploration drilling continues at El Nino to increase reserves
and resources, and at East Dee, a high-grade mineralized zone
located immediately to the east of the Phase 1 open pit. Recent
highlight drill intercepts from El Nino include 24.4 m of 20.60 g/t Au and 50.3 m of 6.36 g/t Au and from Phase 3 open pit
drilling include 112.8 m of 7.29 g/t
Au and 62.5 m of 7.93 g/t Au (See
press release dated October 28, 2019
for complete results).
Mercedes Mine, Mexico
Work at the Mercedes Mine in Mexico is aimed at improving future
operations. The second and third quarters of 2019 have seen lower
production due primarily to lower than modeled grades in some
stoping areas. While the mine continues to deliver good
safety and environmental performance the operating team is focused
on implementing measures to increase production and reduce costs.
Additional development headings and stopes are being advanced with
support from both surface extensional drilling and underground
definition drilling.
Exploration and resource definition drilling continue to be a
priority on the property. Drilling significantly increased during
the third quarter with up to 9 drills active on the property.
Higher grade gold mineralization has been discovered at Lupita
Extension, San Martin, and Neo
with a current focus on Lupita Extension. Multiple drills are
defining high-grade mineralization that can be upgraded into
mineral resources and reserves. A design and development plan can
be initiated for the new area in order to increase faces for
mining.
Q3 2019 financial results and conference call
details:
Full financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, will be released before
market open on November 13, 2019 and
a conference call with senior management will be held at
10:00am EST.
Details for the conference call and webcast can be found below
and will be accessible on the Company's website.
Toll Free (North America): (+1)
888 390 0605
International: (+1) 416 764 8609
Conference ID: 04117197
Webcast Link:
https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2121292/6207C243C68E718C853E843EC337B798
Conference Call Replay
The conference call replay will be available from 1:00pm EST on November 13,
2019 until 11:59pm EST on
November 20, 2019.
Toll Free Replay Call (North
America): (+1) 888 390 0541
International Replay Call: (+1) 416 764 8677
Passcode: 117197 #
Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo.,
Executive Vice President, Corporate and Project Development, is the
Qualified Person for the information contained in this press
release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National
Instrument 43-101.
Premier Gold Mines Limited is a gold-producer and
respected exploration and development company with a high-quality
pipeline of precious metal projects in proven, accessible and safe
mining jurisdictions in Canada,
the United States, and
Mexico. Premier remains focused on
creating a low-cost, mid-tier gold producer through its two
producing gold mines; South Arturo and Mercedes, and through future
mine development opportunities at Hardrock in Ontario (Greenstone Gold JV) where permitting
and development initiatives are ongoing and McCoy-Cove in
Nevada.
This Press Release contains certain information that may
constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian
securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but
is not limited to, statements about strategic plans, including
future operations, future work programs, capital expenditures,
discovery and production of minerals, price of gold and currency
exchange rates, mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates and
corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is
necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while
considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results
and future events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks
inherent to the mining industry, adverse economic and market
developments and the risks identified in Premier's annual
information form under the heading "Risk Factors". There can be no
assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All
forward-looking information contained in this press release is
given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and
estimates of management and information available to management as
at the date hereof. Premier disclaims any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Limited