MAG Silver Corp. (TSX / NYSE American: MAG) (“MAG”
or the
“Company”) announces the Company’s
unaudited financial results for the three and six months ended June
30, 2021. For details of the unaudited condensed interim
consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and
Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, please
see the Company’s filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on EDGAR
(www.sec.gov).
All amounts herein are reported in $000s
of United States dollars (“US$”) unless otherwise
specified.
HIGHLIGHTS – JUNE 30, 2021 AND EVENTS
SUBSEQUENT TO THE QUARTER END
OPERATIONAL
- Positive progress was achieved
during the quarter ended June 30, 2021 on the construction of the
4,000 tpd Juanicipio processing plant and civil works:
- Mechanical installation of the flotation cells and filters were
completed during the Q2 2021;
- The SAG and ball mills were installed during Q2 2021; and,
- Underground development has reached approximately 40 km (25
miles), and the first cut and fill stope has been opened and a
trial longhole stope is being tested.
- As reported by the operator Fresnillo, the Juanicipio plant is
expected to come in on budget and as scheduled to commence
commissioning in Q4 2021, reaching 40 to 50% of its 4,000 tonnes
per day (“tpd”) nameplate capacity by the end of 2021 and reaching
90 to 95% of its nameplate capacity in 2022.
- A regularly updated photo gallery of construction progress at
Juanicipio is available at
https://magsilver.com/projects/photo-gallery/#photo-gallery.
- Batch processing of mineralized material from development
headings continues through the nearby Fresnillo plant at a targeted
two days per month of continuous processing for a nominal expected
rate of 16,000 tonnes per month.
- For the three months ended June 30, 2021, on a 100% basis:
- 44,435 tonnes of mineralized material were processed through
the Fresnillo plant, with 404,518 payable silver ounces, 709
payable gold ounces, 133 tonnes of lead and 209 tonnes of zinc
produced and sold; and,
- Pre-commercial production sales totaled $11,256 for the quarter
(net of treatment and processing costs), less $2,373 in mining and
transportation costs, netting $8,883 recorded as gross profit by
Minera Juanicipio in the quarter.
- For the six months ended June 30, 2021, on a 100% basis:
- 80,830 tonnes of mineralized material were processed through
the Fresnillo plant, with 835,706 payable silver ounces, 1,340
payable gold ounces, 270 tonnes of lead and 408 tonnes of zinc
produced and sold;
- Average silver head grade of 405 grams per tonne (“g/t”) of the
material processed; and
- Pre-commercial production sales of $21,341 for the six month
period (net of treatment and processing costs) less $4,259 in
mining and transportation costs, netting $17,082 recorded as year
to date gross profit by Minera Juanicipio.
- Since August 2020, 152,689 tonnes of mineralized development
material have been processed through the Fresnillo plant, which is
expected to:
- contribute cash-flow to offset some of the initial project
capital; and
- significantly speed up project ramp-up due to the de-risking of
Juanicipio’s metallurgical performance.
- Juanicipio capex is estimated at
$440,000 (100% basis) as of January 1, 2018, less approximately
$313,400 in development expenditures incurred from then to June 30,
2021 leaving approximately $126,600 of remaining initial capital on
a 100% basis (MAG’s 44% estimated at $55,704) as at June 30, 2021.
The cash required will be reduced by:
- Existing cash held in Minera Juanicipio as at June 30, 2021
($15,107 on a 100% basis); and,
- Expected cashflow generated from mineralized material being
processed through the Fresnillo plant up until the Juanicipio plant
commences commissioning in Q4 2021.
- A further 14,207 tonnes of
development material were processed in July 2021.
EXPLORATION
- In spite of temporary COVID-19 restrictions established by the
Mexican Government in 2020, the full Juanicipio 2020 exploration
program was completed as planned with 33 surface holes (27,900
metres (“m”)) and 77 underground definition holes (11,800 m)
completed. Assays were reported subsequent to the quarter end (see
Press Release dated August 5, 2021), and the program successfully:
- Confirms, and allows modeling with greater detail and
confidence of the high-grade silver resource within the upper parts
of the Valdecañas Bonanza Zone (as defined in the 2017 PEA) where
the first several years of mining will occur;
- Confirms, expands, and allows improved modeling of the
continuous wide mineralization of the Valdecañas Deep Zone (as
defined in the 2017 PEA); and,
- Confirms, expands, and allows improved modeling of the
ever-growing Anticipada Vein.
- The 2021 Juanicipio Exploration
program is budgeted at $6 million on a 100% basis, and is to be
evenly allocated between continued step-out and infill drilling of
the Valdecañas Vein System (including independent targeting of the
Venadas Vein family and the Anticipada Vein) and three principal
target areas elsewhere in the Joint Venture ground.
- Five drill rigs are presently on
surface running concurrently with continued underground definition
drilling.
- Deer Trail Project in Utah:
- Phase I drilling was completed in
Q2 2021 with assays pending and expected to be released during the
third quarter of 2021.
- Subsequent to the quarter end, a 5
hole/5,000 metre Phase II drill program commenced and is in
process.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES
- As at June 30, 2021, MAG held cash
of $66,342 while Minera Juanicipio had cash on hand on a 100% basis
of $15,107.
CORPORATE
- MAG continues to refresh its board, as Mr. Derek White did not
stand for re-election at the Company’s Annual General and Special
Meeting on June 21, 2021, and subsequent to the quarter end on
August 3, 2021, Mr. Dale Peniuk was appointed to the board.
- Mr. Peniuk is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and
corporate director. Mr. Peniuk currently serves on the board and as
audit committee chair of Lundin Mining Corporation, Capstone Mining
Corp. and Argonaut Gold Inc., and has been on the board and chair
of the audit committee of numerous other Canadian public mining
companies since 2006. Mr. Peniuk obtained his Bachelor of Commerce
degree from the University of British Columbia in 1982 and his
Chartered Accountant designation from the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of British Columbia (now the Chartered Professional
Accountants of British Columbia) in 1986, and spent more than 20
years with KPMG LLP Chartered Accountants and predecessor firms,
the last 10 of which as an assurance partner with a focus on mining
companies, including leading KPMG’s Vancouver office mining
industry group.
JUANICIPIO PROJECT UPDATE
Processing Plant Construction and
Commissioning
During Q2 2021, continued progress was achieved
on the construction of the Juanicipio processing plant. The SAG and
ball mills were installed during the quarter, and mechanical
installation of the flotation cells and filters were completed
during the Q2 2021. All major mechanical pieces have now been
installed. The tailings and concentrate thickeners are nearing
completion. Significant progress has occurred on the initial
tailings storage facility, and on the fine ore bin and stockpile
dust cover. The lead and zinc flotation cell lines have been
installed and are now piped in for air, water and froth flow.
Underground development to date at Juanicipio is now approximately
40 km (25 miles) with access to the upper portion of the resource
now achieved. Underground development priorities include continuing
advance of the three internal spiral footwall production ramps
designed to access the full strike length of the Valdecañas Vein
system. Initial development indicates that the grade and width of
the vein are in line with previous drilling-derived estimates.
According to Fresnillo, the operator, the
Juanicipio processing plant is expected to come in on budget and as
scheduled to commence commissioning in fourth quarter 2021 reaching
40 to 50% of nameplate capacity by the end of 2021 and achieving 90
to 95% of nameplate capacity in 2022.
The estimated project capital cost on a 100%
basis, as estimated from January 1, 2018 is $440,000 less
approximately $313,400 in development expenditures incurred from
then to June 30, 2021 leaving approximately $126,600 of remaining
capital cost (MAG’s 44% estimated at $55,704) as at June 30, 2021.
This remaining funding requirement will be reduced by both:
existing cash held in Minera Juanicipio as at June 30, 2021
($15,107 on a 100% basis); and, expected cash flows generated from
mineralized development material processed at a targeted average
nominal rate of 16,000 tonnes per month through the Fresnillo
processing plant until the Juanicipio plant is commissioned (see
Underground Mine Production below).
A regularly updated photo gallery of
construction progress at Juanicipio is available at
https://magsilver.com/projects/photo-gallery/#photo-gallery.
Underground Mine Production
As of August of 2020, mineralized material from
development is being batch processed, refined and sold on
commercial terms at a targeted rate of 16,000 tonnes per month at
the nearby Fresnillo plant. The actual amount of material processed
on a monthly basis fluctuates due to the variability of
mineralization encountered in the development headings from month
to month. In the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, 44,435
and 80,830 tonnes of mineralized material respectively, were
processed through the Fresnillo plant, realizing commercial and
operational de-risking opportunities for the Juanicipio joint
venture. The average silver head grade for the development material
processed in the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 was 361
grams per tonne (“g/t”) and 405 g/t respectively. The sales and
treatment charges for tonnes processed in Q2 2021 were recorded on
a provisional basis and will be adjusted in Q3 2021 based on final
assay and pricing adjustments in accordance with the offtake
contracts. The resulting payable metals sold and processing details
on a 100% basis for the 3 months ended June 30, 2021 are summarized
in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Development Material Processed
at Fresnillo’s Processing Plant (100% basis)
Payable Metals |
Quantity 3 months, June
30, 2021 |
Average Per Unit (1) 3 months
June 30, 2021 |
$ Amount 3 months June
30, 2021 |
$ Amount 6 months June
30, 2021 |
$ Amount 3 months & 6
months June 30, 2020(2) |
Silver |
404,518 ounces |
$27.17 per oz |
$10,991 |
$22,148 |
- |
Gold |
709 ounces |
$1,861.27 per oz |
$1,320 |
$2,410 |
- |
Lead |
133 tonnes |
$0.99 per lb |
$290 |
$557 |
- |
Zinc |
209 tonnes |
$1.34 per lb |
$619 |
$1,174 |
- |
Treatment and refining and other processing charges |
$(1,964) |
$(3,802) |
- |
Provisional sales adjustment related to prior periods (3) |
- |
$(1,146) |
|
Net Sales |
$11,256 |
$21,341 |
- |
Mining and transportation costs |
$(2,373) |
$(4,259) |
- |
Gross Profit |
$8,883 |
$17,082 |
- |
(1) |
Ounces (“oz”) for silver and gold; and, pounds (“lb”) for lead and
zinc. |
(2) |
Underground mine production of development material commenced in
August of 2020, so there are no comparable 2020. |
(3) |
Provisional sales for 2020 were finalized in Q1 2021 resulting in
negative adjustment to net sales revenue of $1,146. |
By bringing forward the start-up of the
underground mine and processing mineralized development material at
the Fresnillo plant in advance of commissioning the Juanicipio
plant, MAG and Fresnillo expect to secure several positive outcomes
for the Juanicipio Project:
- generating cash-flow from production to offset some of the cash
requirements of the initial project capital;
- de-risking the flotation process through a better understanding
of the metallurgical characteristics and response of the Juanicipio
mineralization;
- increased certainty around the geological block model prior to
start-up of the processing plant; and
- allowing for a faster and more certain ramp-up to the nameplate
4,000 tpd plant design.
Juanicipio Exploration Update
Despite a temporary COVID-19 exploration halt
imposed by the Mexican Government in 2020, the full Juanicipio 2020
drilling program was completed as planned in 2020, although
processing of assays was delayed and only released subsequent to
the quarter ended June 30, 2021 (see Press Release dated August 5,
2021). A total of 33 surface holes (27,900 m) and 77 underground
definition holes (11,800 m) were completed with the primary
objectives of: infilling and expanding the Valdecañas Deep Zone
(“Deep Zone”) to optimize its planned extraction; and underground
definition drilling of the upper high-grade Valdecañas Bonanza Zone
(“Bonanza Zone”) where test mining has already begun and the focus
for the first several years of mining lies.
A complete set of tables by vein of the 2020
drilling results is available at:
https://magsilver.com/site/assets/files/5810/nr-mar3-2020-table1-sdadds.pdf
along with a new 3D video displaying the entire Valdecañas Vein
System, available at:
https://magsilver.com/site/assets/files/5810/SSMovieHQ2_3-Mar3-2019-sdsawe.mp4
.
The 2020 drilling program successfully:
- Confirms, and allows modeling with greater detail and
confidence of the high-grade silver resource within the upper parts
of the Valdecañas Bonanza Zone where the first several years of
mining will occur;
- Confirms, expands, and allows improved modeling of the
continuous wide mineralization of the Valdecañas Deep Zone;
and,
- Confirms, expands, and allows improved modeling of the
ever-growing Anticipada Vein.
DEER TRAIL PROJECT UPDATE
A Phase I surface-based core drilling program
was completed during Q2 2021. Assays and interpretations are
expected to be released during Q3 2021. A follow-up Phase II drill
program was planned as interpretation of the incoming core and
draft lab results were incorporated into the district geological
model. Phase II drilling commenced subsequent to the quarter end in
July 2021 and is planned for 5,000 metres over 5 holes.
Qualified Person: Dr. Peter
Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., has acted as the Qualified Person as defined
in National Instrument 43-101 for this disclosure and supervised
the preparation of the technical information in this release. Dr.
Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology and more than 38 years of relevant
experience focused on ore deposit exploration worldwide. He is a
Certified Professional Geologist (CPG 10227) by the American
Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona Registered
Geologist (ARG 21613). Dr. Megaw is not independent as he is Chief
Exploration Officer and a Shareholder of MAG.
FINANCIAL RESULTS – THREE AND SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30, 2021
As at June 30, 2021, the Company had working
capital of $68,374 (December 31, 2020: $94,513) including cash of
$66,342 (December 31, 2020: $94,008) and no long-term debt. As
well, as at June 30, 2021, Minera Juanicipio had cash of $15,107
(MAG’s attributable 44% share of $6,647). The Company makes cash
advances to Minera Juanicipio as ‘cash called’ by the operator
Fresnillo, based on approved joint venture budgets. In the three
and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company funded advances to
Minera Juanicipio, which combined with MAG’s Juanicipio
expenditures on its own account, totaled $23,809 and $23,910
respectively (June 30, 2020: $23,284 and $23,456 respectively).
Subsequent to June 30, 2021, the Company advanced an additional
$15,884 to Minera Juanicipio representing its 44% share of a
$36,100 cash call to fund process plant construction and further
underground development of the Juanicipio property.
The Company’s net income for three months ended
June 30, 2021 amounted to $3,305 and net loss for the six months
ended June 30, 2021 amounted to $357 or $0.03/share and
$(0.00)/share respectively (June 30, 2020: $1,297 net income and
$13,601 net loss respectively or $0.01/share or $(0.15)/share
respectively). The Company recorded its 44% share of income from
its equity investment in Juanicipio of $4,820 and $5,452
respectively for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 (June
30, 2020: $1,189 income and $3,498 loss, respectively) which
included MAG’s 44% share of net income from the sale of
pre-production development material (see Table 2
below). Share based payment expense (a non-cash item) recorded in
the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021 amounted to
$1,485 and $2,678 respectively (June 30, 2020: $1,230 and $1,708
respectively).
Table 2: MAG’s 44% share of income from
its equity investment in Juanicipio
|
Three Months June 30, 2021 |
Three Months June 30,
2020 |
Six Months June 30, 2021 |
Six Months June 30, 2020 |
Gross Profit from processing development material
(see Underground Mine Production – Juanicipio Project above) |
$8,883 |
|
|
Nil (1) |
|
$17,082 |
|
|
Nil (1) |
|
Administrative expenses |
$(287 |
) |
|
Nil |
|
$(655 |
) |
|
Nil |
|
Foreign exchange and other |
$1,199 |
|
$317 |
|
$124 |
|
$(3,558 |
) |
Net income (loss) before tax |
$9,795 |
|
$317 |
|
$16,551 |
|
$(3,558 |
) |
Income tax benefit (expense) (including deferred income tax) |
$1,160 |
|
$2,384 |
|
$(4,160 |
) |
$(4,392 |
) |
Net income (loss) for the period (100% basis) |
$10,955 |
|
$2,701 |
|
$ 12,391 |
|
$(7,950 |
) |
MAG’s 44% income (loss) - equity investment in
Juanicipio |
$4,820 |
|
$1,189 |
|
$5,452 |
|
$(3,498 |
) |
About MAG Silver Corp.
(www.magsilver.com)
MAG Silver Corp. (MAG: TSX / NYSE A) is a
Canadian development and exploration company focused on becoming a
top-tier primary silver mining company by exploring and advancing
high-grade, district scale, silver-dominant projects in the
Americas. Its principal focus and asset is the Juanicipio Project
(44%), being developed in a Joint Venture partnership with
Fresnillo Plc (56%), the Operator. Juanicipio is located in the
Fresnillo Silver Trend in Mexico, the world's premier silver mining
camp, and the Joint Venture is currently developing an underground
mine and constructing a 4,000 tonnes per day processing plant which
is expected to commence commissioning in Q4-2021. Underground mine
production of development material commenced in Q3-2020, and an
expanded exploration program is in place targeting multiple highly
prospective targets both at Juanicipio by the Joint Venture and by
MAG at the Deer Trail 100% earn-in project in Utah.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the NYSE
American has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the accuracy
or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by
management.
This release includes certain statements that
may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
statements in this release, other than statements of historical
facts are forward looking statements, including statements that
address future mineral production, reserve potential,
exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or
developments. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always,
identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate",
"plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project",
"predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might",
"should", "believe" and similar expressions. These statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from
those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.
Although MAG believes the expectations expressed in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results or developments may differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, changes in
commodities prices, changes in mineral
production performance, exploitation and exploration
successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and
general economic, market or business conditions, political risk,
currency risk and capital cost inflation. In addition,
forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, including
that data is incomplete and considerable additional work will be
required to complete further evaluation, including but not limited
to drilling, engineering and socio-economic studies and
investment. The reader is referred to the MAG’s filings with
the SEC and Canadian securities regulators for disclosure regarding
these and other risk factors. There is no certainty that any
forward-looking statement will come to pass and investors should
not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.
Please Note: Investors are urged to consider
closely the disclosures in MAG's annual and
quarterly reports and other public filings, accessible through
the Internet at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov LEI:
254900LGL904N7F3EL14
For further information on behalf of MAG Silver Corp.
Contact Michael J. Curlook, VP Investor Relations and Communications
Phone: (604) 630-1399
Toll Free: (866) 630-1399
Website: www.magsilver.com
Email: info@magsilver.com
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