SilverCrest Announces Record Annual and 4th Quarter Production in 2013
January 16 2014 - 8:00AM
Marketwired
SilverCrest Announces Record Annual and 4th Quarter Production in
2013
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan 16, 2014) -
SilverCrest Mines Inc. (TSX-VENTURE:SVL)(NYSEMKT:SVLC)(NYSE
Amex:SVLC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce record production
of 2.66 million ounces AgEq(1) for 2013 and record production of
796,751 ounces AgEq(1) for Q4 2013 from its 100% owned Santa Elena
Mine located in Sonora, Mexico. All dollar amounts are expressed in
U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified.
2013 Operating
Highlights (Compared to 2012)
- Produced 779,026 ounces of silver, up 34%
- Produced 31,099 ounces of gold, down 6%.
- Produced 2.66million AgEq(1)ounces in 2013, up 12%
- Silver and gold ore grade (gpt) loaded on pad up 52% and 13%
respectively
- Average strip ratio (waste to ore) reduced from 4.25:1 to
2.56:1, a 40% decrease
N. Eric Fier, President and COO stated; "2013 was another
successful year and marked SilverCrest's second full year in
commercial production. Management congratulates our operating team
for their valuable contributions and for delivering on their
commitments. Santa Elena surpassed production guidance which was
revised upwards during the year and produced 2.66 million AgEq(1)
ounces in 2013. Moving forward in 2014, SilverCrest will continue
to focus on delivering strong operating results and optimizing our
operating cash flow as we complete the Santa Elena Expansion and
increase production to approximately 3.3 million to 3.6 million
AgEq(1) ounces. Management will continue to focus on improving cash
flows by reducing costs and increasing productivity where possible
to offset the current precious metals prices. Operating cash costs
are expected to range from $8.50 to $9.25 AgEq(1) ounce in 2014.
Further details on market guidance will be presented in the
upcoming annual financial report."
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Santa Elena mine produced
a record 228,787 silver ounces almost 50% more than the same
quarter in 2012. Silver production continues to set quarterly
records due to improvement in recoveries and higher grade ore
loaded on the leach pad. Gold production of 9,218 ounces was 18%
above the same quarter in 2012. Open pit tonnes and grades have
continued to reconcile closely with the resource model and mine
plan and all aspects of operations continue to function well.
Santa Elena Mine Operating Highlights |
|
2013 |
|
2012 |
|
% Change |
|
Q4 2013 |
|
Q4 2012 |
|
% Change |
Silver ounces produced |
|
779,026 |
|
579,609 |
|
34% |
|
228,787 |
|
153,863 |
|
49% |
Gold ounces produced |
|
31,099 |
|
33,004 |
|
-6% |
|
9,218 |
|
7,831 |
|
18% |
AgEq ounces produced (1) |
|
2,661,979 |
|
2,371,755 |
|
12% |
|
796,751 |
|
588,948 |
|
35% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver ounces sold |
|
751,633 |
|
588,312 |
|
28% |
|
208,200 |
|
171,714 |
|
21% |
Gold ounces sold |
|
30,487 |
|
34,834 |
|
-12% |
|
8,220 |
|
8,444 |
|
-3% |
AgEq ounces sold (1) |
|
2,595,716 |
|
2,477,623 |
|
5% |
|
714,678 |
|
640,856 |
|
12% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tonnes ore mined |
|
1,076,421 |
|
1,092,305 |
|
-1% |
|
248,725 |
|
301,295 |
|
-17% |
Tonnes waste mined |
|
2,753,025 |
|
4,640,700 |
|
-41% |
|
405,616 |
|
924,927 |
|
-56% |
Waste / ore ratio |
|
2.56 |
|
4.25 |
|
-40% |
|
1.63 |
|
3.07 |
|
-47% |
Ore tonnes crushed |
|
1,081,159 |
|
1,157,226 |
|
-7% |
|
263,097 |
|
308,693 |
|
-15% |
Average ore tonnes crushed per day |
|
2,962 |
|
3,162 |
|
-6% |
|
2,860 |
|
3,355 |
|
-15% |
Average silver ore grade (gpt) loaded on pad |
|
72.90 |
|
47.95 |
|
52% |
|
81.58 |
|
59.59 |
|
37% |
Average gold ore grade (gpt) loaded on pad |
|
1.61 |
|
1.43 |
|
13% |
|
1.82 |
|
1.42 |
|
28% |
Silver ounces delivered to pad |
|
2,533,883 |
|
1,784,118 |
|
42% |
|
690,104 |
|
591,441 |
|
17% |
Gold ounces delivered to pad |
|
56,093 |
|
53,296 |
|
5% |
|
15,363 |
|
14,089 |
|
9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ag : Au Ratio (1) |
|
60.5:1 |
|
54.3:1 |
|
12% |
|
61.6:1 |
|
55.6:1 |
|
11% |
(1) Silver equivalent ("AgEq") ounces
consist of the number of ounces of silver production/sold plus the
number of ounces of gold production/sold multiplied by the ratio of
the spot gold price to the spot silver price at the quarter end
dates for financial reporting. All numbers are rounded. |
2013 Construction and
Expansion Plan Progress
- The 3,000 tpd mill and Counter Current Decantation / Merrill
Crowe ("CCD/MC processing") plant is approximately 90% physically
complete. The current construction activities are focused on piping
and electrical work for all mill components. Please refer to
www.silvercrestmines.com for detailed construction photos
- The mill is now scheduled to start up late Q1 2014, due to a
one month delay in receiving the ball mill
- Total underground development progressed to 2,265 metres:
lateral development of 805 metres and main decline ramp to 1,460
metres in length as of December 31, 2013
- A 1,500 metre underground drill program was completed to assist
with detailed design of initial production stopes. Mining of these
stopes is anticipated in the second half of 2014
- The Company is targeting commissioning of the plant in the
second quarter of 2014. The Initial mill feed will be from the open
pit, transitioning to an underground and heap leach pad ore mix in
the third quarter of 2014
2014 Capital
Expenditure Budget
The following represents the estimated 2014 Capital Expenditure
Budget:
Santa Elena Expansion Capital |
|
2014 estimated expenditures |
Mill Facility (1) |
|
$14 million |
Underground Mine Development |
|
$ 5 million |
Underground Mine Equipment |
|
$ 7 million |
Total |
|
$26 million |
(1) $10 million is carried over from 2013
approved budget. |
|
|
Exploration |
|
2014 estimated expenditures |
Santa Elena - Surface and Underground Resource Expansion
Drilling |
|
$1.5 million |
Sonora - Exploration Projects 30/60 Km Existing Operations -
Initial Drilling |
|
$1.5 million |
La Joya Project - Infill Drilling |
|
$1.0 million |
La Joya Project - Acquisition Payments |
|
$1.8 million |
Total |
|
$5.8 million |
Exploration
expenditures may be adjusted throughout the year depending on
success. |
2014 Exploration
Program
In 2014, the Company will continue to focus its exploration
efforts through organic growth on; 1) surface and underground
drilling at Santa Elena for potential resource expansion and
further reserve definition, 2) the 30/60 kilometre program
surrounding the Santa Elena Mine to identify additional resources
including the recently optioned Ermitano Property and, 3) in-fill
drilling with subsequent metallurgical studies at La Joya to
upgrade current resources to a Pre-Feasibility level.
Upcoming
Conference:
SilverCrest's President & COO, N. Eric Fier, will be
attending the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference held at the
Vancouver Convention Centre on January 19-20, 2014. Management
looks forward to meeting its shareholders and interested parties at
booth #1310. Further information is available at:
http://cambridgehouse.com/event/vancouver-resource-investment-conference-2014.
The Qualified Person under National Instrument (NI 43‐101)
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this News
Release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, President and Chief Operating
Officer for SilverCrest Mines Inc., who has reviewed and approved
its contents.
SilverCrest Mines Inc. (TSX-VENTURE:SVL)(NYSEMKT:SVLC)(NYSE
Amex:SVLC) is a Canadian precious metals producer headquartered in
Vancouver, BC. SilverCrest's flagship property is the 100%‐owned
Santa Elena Mine, located 150 km northeast of Hermosillo, near
Banamichi in the State of Sonora, México. The mine is a high‐grade,
epithermal silver and gold producer, with an estimated life of mine
of 8 years and cash costs of $11 per ounce of silver equivalent
(55:1 Ag:Au) for the open pit heap leach and underground mine.
SilverCrest anticipates that the new 3,000 tonnes per day
conventional mill facility at the Santa Elena Mine should recover
an average annual rate of 1.5 million ounces of silver and 32,800
ounces of gold over the current reserve. Major expansion and
construction of the 3,000 tonnes per day conventional mill facility
is nearing completion and is expected to significantly increase
metals production at the Santa Elena Mine (open pit and
underground) in 2014 and beyond. Exploration programs continue to
make new discoveries at Santa Elena and also have rapidly advanced
the definition of a large polymetallic deposit at the La Joya
property in Durango State with stated resources nearing 200 million
ounces of Ag equivalent.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and the
United States Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements concern the Company's anticipated
results and developments in the Company's operations in future
periods, planned exploration and development of its properties,
plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in
the future. These statements relate to analyses and other
information that are based on expectations of future performance,
including silver and gold production and planned work programs.
Statements concerning reserves and mineral resource estimates may
also constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they
involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if
the property is developed and, in the case of mineral reserves,
such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions
that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation: risks related to precious and base metal price
fluctuations; risks related to fluctuations in the currency markets
(particularly the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar and United States
dollar); risks related to the inherently dangerous activity of
mining, including conditions or events beyond our control, and
operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration,
development and mining activities; uncertainty in the Company's
ability to raise financing and fund the exploration and development
of its mineral properties; uncertainty as to actual capital costs,
operating costs, production and economic returns, and uncertainty
that development activities will result in profitable mining
operations; risks related to reserves and mineral resource figures
being estimates based on interpretations and assumptions which may
result in less mineral production under actual conditions than is
currently estimated and to diminishing quantities or grades of
mineral reserves as properties are mined; risks related to
governmental regulations and obtaining necessary licenses and
permits; risks related to the business being subject to
environmental laws and regulations which may increase costs of
doing business and restrict our operations; risks related to
mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements,
transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to
inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance; risks
related to potential litigation; risks related to the global
economy; risks related to the Company's status as a foreign private
issuer in the United States; risks related to all of the Company's
properties being located in Mexico and El Salvador, including
political, economic, social and regulatory instability; and risks
related to officers and directors becoming associated with other
natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of
interests. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. The Company's forward-looking
statements are based on beliefs, expectations and opinions of
management on the date the statements are made. For the reasons set
forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
The information provided in this news release is not
intended to be a comprehensive review of all matters and
developments concerning the Company. It should be read in
conjunction with all other disclosure documents of the Company. The
information contained herein is not a substitute for detailed
investigation or analysis. No securities commission or regulatory
authority has reviewed the accuracy or adequacy of the information
presented.
N. Eric Fier, President and COO
SILVERCREST MINES INC.
SilverCrest Mines Inc.Fred Cooper(604) 694-1730 ext. 108Toll
Free:
1-866-691-1730info@silvercrestmines.comwww.silvercrestmines.com
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