Atico Produces 2 Million Pounds of Cu and 2,155 Ounces of Au in Second Quarter 2014
July 14 2014 - 8:57AM
Marketwired Canada
Atico Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE:ATY)(PINKSHEETS:ATCMF) is pleased to
announce its operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2014 from its
El Roble mine. Production for the quarter totaled 2.07 million pounds of copper
and 2,155 ounces of gold in concentrates, an increase of 48% and 88%
respectively for copper and gold over the first quarter production.
"We are pleased with the results from our second full quarter of operating the
El Roble mine. The operation continues to advance on schedule along with a
steady increase in average daily throughput and metal output over the first
quarter," said Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO. "We expect to see continued increases in
monthly copper and gold production as we remain on track to achieve steady state
production of 650 tonnes processed per day by year end."
Second Quarter Operational Highlights
-- Production of 2.07 million pounds of copper contained in concentrates;
an increase of 48% over Q1 2014.
-- Production of 2,155 ounces of gold contained in concentrates; an
increase of 88% over Q1 2014.
-- Average processed tonnes per day of 440; an increase of 24% over Q1
2014.
-- 77 Days worked; an increase of 18% over Q1 2014.
-- Copper and gold head grades of 3.07% and 3.12 grams per tonne; in line
with company expectations for this quarter.
-- Copper and gold recovery of 90.1% and 63.4% respectively; in line with
company expectations for this quarter.
New Tailings Facility
Construction of the new tailings dam, essential component of the El Roble mine
plan, has been completed on schedule. Final testing of the equipment and
pipeline is being performed and it is expected the operation will start to
utilize the new facility in the coming weeks.
Second Quarter Operational Details
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Q2 2014 Total Q1 2014 Total % Change
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Production (Contained in
Concentrates)
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Copper (000s pounds) 2,070 1,398 48%
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Gold (ounces) 2,155 1,147 88%
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Mine
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Tonnes of ore mined 37,206 26,791 39%
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Mill
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Tonnes processed 33,888 23,016 47%
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Tonnes processed per day 440 354 24%
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Copper grade (%) 3.07 3.01 2%
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Gold grade (g/t) 3.12 2.43 28%
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Recoveries
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Copper (%) 90.1 91.5
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Gold (%) 63.4 63.7
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Concentrates
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Copper and Gold Concentrates
(dmt) 4,388 2,735 60%
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Payable copper produced (000s
lbs) 1,967 1,332 48%
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Note: Metal production figures are subject to adjustments based on final settlement.
El Roble Mine
El Roble is an operating underground copper and gold mine with a nominal mineral
processing capacity of 400 tonnes per day. Over the past 22 years, the mine has
processed 1.5 million tonnes of ore at an average head grade of 2.5% copper and
an estimated 2.5 g/t gold. Copper and gold mineralization occurs within
volcanogenic massive sulfide ("VMS") lenses.
Since entering into an option agreement in January 2011 to acquire 90% of El
Roble, Atico has aggressively explored the mine and surrounding claims. The
Company has completed 11,740 meters of diamond drilling and identified numerous
prospective targets for VMS deposits on the 6,679-hectare property. This
exploration led to the discovery of high-grade copper and gold mineralization
below the 2000 level, the lowest production level of the El Roble mine. Atico
has developed a new adit access from the 1880 elevation to develop these new
resources.
National Instrument 43-101 compliant inferred mineral resource are 1.58 million
tonnes grading 4.45 % copper and 3.17 g/t gold, at a cut-off grade of 0.72 %
copper equivalent. Mineralization is open at depth and along strike, the Company
plans to further test the limits of the resource.
On the larger land package, the Company has identified a prospective
stratigraphic contact between volcanic rocks and black and grey cherts that has
been traced by Atico geologists for ten kilometers. This contact has been
determined to be an important control on VMS mineralization on which Atico has
identified 15 prospective target areas for VMS type mineralization occurrence,
which is the focus of the surface drill program at El Roble.
Qualified Person
Mr. Thomas Kelly (SME Registered Member 1696580), Chief Operating Officer of the
Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 standards, is
responsible for ensuring that the information contained in this news release is
an accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or developed by
Atico.
About Atico Mining Corporation
Atico is a growth-oriented company, focused on exploring, developing and mining
copper and gold projects in Latin America. The Company operates the El Roble
mine and is pursuing additional acquisition opportunities. For more information,
please visit www.aticomining.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO
Atico Mining Corporation
Trading symbols: (TSX VENTURE:ATY)(PINKSHEETS:ATCMF)
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the
contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and
will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not
be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit
of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act)
unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information
purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of
net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements
involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and
assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include
uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology,
continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital
and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its
interest in and/or explore and develop the Company's mineral projects;
uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company's mineral
projects; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk
Factors" in the prospectus of the Company dated March 2, 2012 filed with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at
www.sedar.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Atico Mining Corporation
Igor Dutina
Investor Relations
+1.604.633.9022
www.aticomining.com