MAG Announces Fourth Quarter and 2023 Production From Juanicipio
January 24 2024 - 6:50AM
MAG Silver Corp. (TSX / NYSE American: MAG) (“MAG”
or “MAG Silver”) reports production from Juanicipio (56% / 44%
Fresnillo plc (“Fresnillo”) and MAG, respectively) for the fourth
quarter (“Q4”) and year ended December 31, 2023.
Q4 Highlights
- Solid
processing performance: Juanicipio processed 346,766
tonnes of mineralized material in Q4, up from 322,249 tonnes in Q3
reflecting ongoing efforts to ramp up production and optimize
operations.
- Robust
production: Juanicipio produced 4.5 million silver ounces
and 10,591 gold ounces in Q4.
- Strong
grades: The average silver head grade for the quarter was
467 grams per tonne (“g/t”), marginally lower than the previous
quarter but offset by higher gold and base metal grades. This
continues to demonstrate the high-grade nature of the Juanicipio
deposit.
- Optionality
maintained: Juanicipio continued to capitalise on
available milling capacity at the Saucito plant (100% Fresnillo
owned) to maintain processing rates during periods of maintenance.
Approximately 5% of the material processed during Q4 was processed
through the Saucito plant.
2023 Full Year Highlights
- Processing
growth: Juanicipio processed a total of 1,268,756 tonnes
of mineralized material in 2023, exceeding expectations and
achieving guidance of reaching nameplate during Q3 2023. Consistent
processing growth quarter-on-quarter reflecting the commitment to
scaling up operations.
- Record
output: Juanicipio produced 16.8 million silver ounces and
36,732 gold ounces in 2023, a solid performance in its inaugural
and ramp up year.
-
Consistency: The average silver head grade for the
year was 472 g/t, demonstrating the notable consistency of the
Juanicipio deposit and solidifying its position as one of the
highest grade silver mines in the world.
As reported to MAG by the project operator
Fresnillo, mining rates continued to ramp up during the quarter
supporting the increased processing rate of 346,766 tonnes of
mineralized material across the Juanicipio and Saucito plants. The
average silver head grade for the quarter was 467 g/t, marginally
below the previous quarter as mining sequenced through lower grade.
This was mitigated by higher throughput delivering preliminary
production estimates for the quarter, before any adjustments from
offtake agreements, of 4.5 million silver ounces and 10,591 gold
ounces. Juanicipio produced 16.8 million silver ounces and 36,732
gold ounces for the year. MAG expects to release its comprehensive
financial and operational results on March 19, 2023.
Comparative production highlights (100%
basis):
|
|
Q4 2023* |
Q3 2023* |
% Chg |
Q4 2022^ |
% Chg |
FY 2023** |
FY 2022^ |
% Chg |
Tonnes processed |
t |
346,766 |
322,249 |
7.6% |
165,786 |
109.2% |
1,268,756 |
646,148 |
96.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Head grades |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver |
g/t |
467 |
523 |
-10.7% |
415 |
12.5% |
472 |
520 |
-9.2% |
Gold |
g/t |
1.37 |
1.32 |
3.8% |
1.31 |
4.6% |
1.27 |
1.39 |
-8.6% |
Lead |
% |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0.0% |
0.8 |
62.5% |
1.1 |
0.9 |
22.2% |
Zinc |
% |
2.4 |
2.3 |
4.3% |
1.6 |
50.0% |
2.1 |
1.7 |
23.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Production |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver |
koz |
4,505 |
4,782 |
-5.8% |
1,861 |
142.1% |
16,813 |
9,250 |
81.8% |
Gold |
oz |
10,591 |
9,444 |
12.1% |
5,393 |
96.4% |
36,732 |
22,252 |
65.1% |
Lead1 |
klb |
9,189 |
8,467 |
8.5% |
2,547 |
260.8% |
28,353 |
10,846 |
161.4% |
Zinc2 |
klb |
15,086 |
12,704 |
18.8% |
4,405 |
242.5% |
44,754 |
17,798 |
151.4% |
* Includes material processed at the Saucito and
Juanicipio beneficiation plants.** Includes material processed at
the Fresnillo, Saucito and Juanicipio beneficiation plants.^
Material processed exclusively at the Fresnillo and Saucito
beneficiation plants.1 Lead recovered to lead concentrate.2 Zinc
recovered to zinc concentrate.
“Q4 represents the fourth successive quarter of
operational advancements and step changes in performance at
Juanicipio with a continuous and consistent uptrend in quarterly
mining and milling rates,” said George Paspalas, MAG Silver’s
President and CEO. “Our focus remains on ongoing optimization as we
continue to execute on our strategy of delivering low-cost silver
production, generating robust attributable free cash flow and
diligent exploration to expand the metal inventory of this very
prospective property.”
Qualified Person: All
scientific or technical information in this press release is based
upon information prepared by or under the supervision of, or has
been approved by Gary Methven, P.Eng., who is a “Qualified Person”
for purposes of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects (“National Instrument 43-101” or “NI 43-101”).
Mr. Methven is not independent as he is Vice President, Technical
Services of MAG.
About MAG Silver Corp.
(www.magsilver.com)
MAG Silver Corp. is a growth-oriented Canadian
exploration company focused on advancing high-grade, district scale
precious metals projects in the Americas. MAG Silver is emerging as
a top-tier primary silver mining company through its (44%) joint
venture interest in the 4,000 tonnes per day (tpd) Juanicipio mine,
operated by Fresnillo plc (56%). The mine is located in the
Fresnillo Silver Trend in Mexico, the world’s premier silver mining
camp, where in addition to underground mine production and
processing of high-grade mineralized material, an expanded
exploration program is in place targeting multiple highly
prospective targets. MAG Silver is also executing multi-phase
exploration programs at the Deer Trail 100% earn-in Project in Utah
and the 100% owned Larder project, located in the historically
prolific Abitibi region of Canada.
For further information on behalf of MAG Silver Corp. Contact
Michael J. Curlook, Vice President, Investor
Relations and Communications
|
Phone: |
(604)
630-1399 |
Website: |
www.magsilver.com |
|
Toll Free: |
(866) 630-1399 |
Email: |
info@magsilver.com |
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 or
“forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking
statements”). All statements in this release, other than statements
of historical facts are forward looking statements, including
statements that address our expectations with respect to the timing
and success of the full-scale ramp up of milling activities,
provisional estimates relating to production at Juanicipio for Q4
and 2023, processing rates of development materials, future mineral
production, 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
the forward-looking statements identified herein include, but are
not limited to, a subsequent change in the Company’s approach to
executive compensation from that approach approved by Shareholders,
failure of the Company to receive approval from the Toronto Stock
Exchange of the renewal of the unallocated entitlements under the
Plans, changes in applicable laws, 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 those risks disclosed in MAG Silver’s
filings with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and
Canadian securities regulators. All forward-looking statements
contained herein are made as at the date hereof and MAG Silver
undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements
contained herein. 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.
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