VANCOUVER, June 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM:
TSX/NYSE American/GV6: FSE; "Avino" or "the Company") is pleased to
announce that it has commissioned Mill Circuit 4, which
involves ramp-up, testing, tuning, and that the mill is
operating consistent with Management's expectations. Following
the completion of the milling, flotation and thickening components,
Mill Circuit 4's 1,000 tonne per day ball mill, turned over on
February 26, 2018, for its initial
test. The charged ball mill start-up went very well with only minor
issues with the lube system which were resolved quickly.
Commissioning of the complete circuit resumed on May 19, 2018, with the introduction of mill feed,
followed by testing of the classification, flotation, thickening
and filtering components. The commissioning of these portions of
the circuit went well, with only minor issues with the flotation
blower that were also resolved quickly. The focus has now shifted
to continuing to ramp up throughput to nameplate capacity while
optimizing recovery in the circuit.
"With our current expansion nearly complete at the Avino
property, we are very excited to add Mill Circuit 4 to our
production profile. The new state of the art circuit effectively
increases our throughput capacity by 70%, and we expect it to be
online full time in early January
2019" said David Wolfin,
President and CEO. "I would like to thank our team in Mexico for their hard work, dedication and
resourcefulness to get this major project completed."
During the start up, testing and commissioning phase, which is
expected to last through the end of 2018, feed to Mill Circuit 4
will come from historic above-ground Avino Mine stockpiles which
have approximate feed grades of 51 g/t silver, 0.342 g/t gold, and
0.17% copper. Once complete, Mill Circuit 4 will transition to
processing newly-mined mill feed from the San Luis area of the Avino Mine.
Marketing Concentrate from Mill Circuit 4
Avino is currently marketing the concentrate products from Mill
Circuit 4, and there has been a very strong response from various
trading firms. Proposals are being reviewed to ensure optimum value
given the competitive market place for concentrate.
Avino Mine Expansion (San Luis
Area)
The San Luis area of the Avino
Vein is accessed through a separate portal located approximately 2
km from the main entrance of the Avino Mine (Elena Tolosa area). The current resources at
San Luis were included in the most
recent resource estimate on the Avino property which can be found
in Avino's news release dated February 21,
2018, on Avino's website and under the company's profile on
the SEDAR system. The news release was also filed with the SEC on
Form 6-K.
Work at San Luis is currently
focused on restoration of the main haulage ramp which is expected
to be completed near the end of the second quarter 2018. When the
haulage ramp is complete, plans are to begin development and
drifting on levels 6 and 6.5 followed by levels 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5 and
9. Most of these areas were partially developed during the 1980's
and 90's prior to the mine's closure.
Qualified Person
Avino's Mexican projects are under the supervision of Mr.
Jasman Yee, P.Eng, Avino director,
who is a qualified person ("QP") within the context of National
Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved all the
applicable technical data in this press release.
About Avino
Avino is a silver and gold producer with a diversified pipeline
of gold, silver and base metals properties in Mexico and Canada employing close to 600 people. Avino
produces from its wholly owned Avino and San Gonzalo Mines near
Durango, Mexico, and is currently
evaluating the potential economics of possible future production at
the Bralorne Gold Mine in British
Columbia, Canada. The Company's gold and silver production
remains unhedged. The Company's mission and strategy is to create
shareholder value through its focus on profitable organic growth at
the historic Avino Property near Durango,
Mexico, and the strategic acquisition of mineral exploration
and mining properties. Avino is committed to managing all business
activities in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective
manner, while contributing to the well-being of the communities in
which we operate.
On Behalf of the Board
"David
Wolfin"
______________________________
David Wolfin
President & CEO
Avino Silver & Gold Mines
Ltd.
Safe Harbor Statement - This news release contains
"forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
(together, the "forward looking statements") within the meaning of
applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, that the Mill Circuit 4 will come
online in January 2019, that there
will be demand for the Company's concentrate products, and
that the restoration of the main haulage ramp will be completed at
the end of the second quarter 2018. These forward looking
statements are made as of the date of this news release and the
dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there
can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or
results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking
statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations
upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur.
While we have based these forward-looking statements on our
expectations about future events as at the date that such
statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that
such future events will occur and are subject to risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause
events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such risks factors and assumptions include, among others, the
effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver
and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by
government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal
proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of
preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known
and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks
associated with project development; the need for additional
financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral
processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters;
uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign
countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance
on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among
certain of our officers, directors or promoters with certain other
projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations;
competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price
and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and
uncertainties as set forth in our reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Although we have attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or
alter any forward-looking statements except as required under
applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Avino Silver & Gold
Mines Ltd.