Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire -04/11/12)- Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR.TO – News)(NYSE: EXK –News)(Frankfurt: EJD.F – News) announced today that the Company set new records for silver and gold production in the First Quarter, 2012 from the Company’s two operating silver mines in Mexico, the Guanacevi Mine in Durango State and the Guanajuato Mine in Guanajuato State.
Silver production was up 19% to 1,072,491 ounces (oz) and gold production was up 26% to 6,321 oz compared to the First Quarter 2011. Revenues were up 39% to US$49.0 million thanks to both the higher metal production and higher realized gold prices.
Production Highlights of First Quarter 2012 (Compared to First Quarter 2011)
-- Silver production increased 19% to 1,072,491 oz -- Gold production rose 26% to 6,321 oz -- Silver and equivalents production escalated 21% to 1.39 million oz (at a 50:1 silver: gold ratio) -- Revenues jumped 39% to $49.0 million on 1,100,000 silver oz sold and 7,496 gold oz sold -- Realized silver price fell less than 1% to $33.10 per oz sold (1.4% above average price for Q1/12) -- Realized gold price rose 20% to $1,686 per oz sold (equal to average spot price for Q1/12) -- Metal held in inventory at quarter-end included 925,100 oz silver and 3,927 oz gold
Note: In January and February, 2012, gold and silver prices enjoyed a significant rebound from their lows in December, 2011. Endeavour therefore elected to sell most of the precious metal inventory it accumulated in Q4, 2011 in order to capture the higher gold and silver prices. However, gold and silver prices corrected sharply once again in March 2012 so Endeavour management once again chose to accumulate its precious metal production in Q1, 2012 rather than sell at depressed prices. Management plans to monitor precious metal prices closely and sell some (or all) of the silver and gold inventory at appropriately higher metal prices, or if the need arises for more cash.
Production Table for First Quarter 2012
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonnes Tonnes Grade Grade Recovery Recovery Silver Gold Mine Produced per day Ag g/t Au g/t Ag % Au % Oz Oz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanacevi 98,963 1,087 292 0.60 78.2 85.3 726,697 1,620 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanajuato 94,796 1,042 163 2.10 69.5 73.6 345,794 4,701 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consolidated 193,759 2,129 229 1.33 75.2 76.2 1,072,491 6,321 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Godfrey Walton, President and COO, stated, “Endeavour’s two mining operations have enjoyed a good start to 2012 with record silver and gold production in the First Quarter. As a result, the Company is well on the way to achieving its 2012 production guidance of 4.3 million oz silver and 26,000 oz gold. The 2012 organic expansion programs at both mines are now underway with plant throughputs expected to increase 60% by year-end at Guanajuato and 20% by mid-year at Guanacevi.”
“At the end of Q1, 2012, the new 115 kva state power line into Guanacevi was connected and energized to the mine and plant. As a result, the Company should enjoy some reduction in operating costs as the electrical generators currently being leased will no longer be needed, and there should be far fewer electrical brown-outs and related pump failures at the mines. The new dry stack tailings facility will also be connected and commissioned this month thanks to the new power supply.”
“At Guanajuato, the Lucero South ramp connected with the Lucero Main mine workings during the First Quarter, which should facilitate accelerated mine development and production from the Lucero vein going forward. Mine development continues to open up the Daniela and Karina veins for increasing production throughout the year in order to fill the newly expanded plant.”
Final NI 43-101 Reserve and Resource Report
Endeavour has received its final NI 43-101 reserve and resource report to December 31, 2011 and filed it on SEDAR. Some final adjustments were made to the reserve and resource estimates at Guanajuato by the report authors from Micon International Limited.
The net effect is that the proven reserves at Guanajuato were reduced by 25,700 oz silver and 100 oz gold, the indicated resources at Guanajuato were expanded by 3,026,200 oz silver and 24,200 oz gold, and the inferred resources at Guanajuato were expanded by 192,900 oz silver and 3,900 oz gold. The revised final tables of reserves and resources are appended below.
Godfrey Walton, M.Sc., P. Geo., the President and COO for Endeavour, is the Qualified Person who reviewed this news release and oversaw the mining operations.
ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP.
BRADFORD COOKE, Chairman and CEO
About Endeavour Silver Corp. – Endeavour Silver is a mid-cap silver mining company focused on the growth of its silver production, reserves and resources in Mexico. Since start-up in 2004, Endeavour has posted seven consecutive years of growing silver production, reserves and resources. The organic expansion programs now underway at Endeavour’s two operating silver mines in Mexico combined with its strategic acquisition and exploration programs should help Endeavour achieve its goal to become the next premier mid-tier silver mining company.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Endeavour’s anticipated performance in 2011, including revenue, cash cost and capital cost forecasts, silver and gold production, timing and expenditures to develop new silver mines and mineralized zones, silver and gold grades and recoveries, cash costs per ounce, capital expenditures and sustaining capital and the use of the Company’s working capital. The Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others: fluctuations in the prices of silver and gold, fluctuations in the currency markets (particularly the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar); fluctuations in the price of consumed commodities, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance; availability of and costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, reliability of calculation of mineral reserves and resources and precious metal recoveries, diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, global market events and conditions and challenges to the Company’s title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section “risk factors” contained in the Company’s most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Company’s mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with management’s expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
Reserves and Resources (as of December 31, 2011) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reserves Proven & Probable ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Description Tonnes g/t g/t Ag oz Au oz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proven ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanacevi 773,000 304 0.65 7,555,500 16,200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanajuato 337,000 189 2.41 2,019,700 26,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proven 1,110,000 268 1.18 9,575,200 42,200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Probable ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanacevi 799,000 231 0.39 5,935,400 10,100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanajuato 179,000 225 2.63 1,297,200 15,200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Probable 978,000 230 0.80 7,232,600 25,300 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Proven & Probable 2,088,000 250 1.01 16,807,800 67,500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources Measured & Indicated ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Description Tonnes g/t g/t Ag oz Au oz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Measured ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanajuato 258,000 177 2.51 1,470,900 20,800 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Measured 258,000 177 2.51 1,470,900 20,800 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicated ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanacevi 2,849,000 217 0.42 19,922,300 38,800 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanajuato 2,539,000 161 2.20 13,154,500 179,600 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Sebastian 307,000 199 0.55 1,968,000 5,400 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Indicated 5,695,000 191 1.22 35,044,800 223,800 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Measured & Indicated 5,953,000 191 1.28 36,515,700 244,600 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources Inferred ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Description Tonnes g/t g/t Ag oz Au oz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanacevi 2,013,000 217 0.40 14,050,900 26,200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanajuato 1,858,600 164 1.91 9,779,600 114,100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Sebastian 354,000 211 0.52 2,404,100 5,900 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Inferred 4,225,600 193 1.08 26,234,600 146,200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver-Gold-Lead-Zinc Resources (as of December 31, 2010) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Description Tonnes g/t g/t Ag oz Au oz Pb% Zn% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources Indicated ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parral 1,631,000 49 0.90 2,589,900 47,200 2.87 2.86 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Indicated 1,631,000 49 0.90 2,589,900 47,200 2.87 2.86 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Description Tonnes g/t g/t Ag oz Au oz Pb% Zn% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources Inferred ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guanacevi 307,000 98 0.10 962,900 1,000 1.73 3.32 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parral 1,303,000 63 0.88 2,658,900 36,900 2.55 2.28 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arroyo Seco 738,000 220 0.07 5,220,000 1,700 0.65 0.18 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Indicated 2,348,000 117 0.52 8,841,800 39,600 1.85 1.76 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. Reserve cut-off at Guanacevi is 158 g/t Ag 2. Reserve cut-off at Guanajuato is 111 g/t Ag 3. Mining width is 2.0 meters 4. Dilution is 15% after it has been diluted to a minimum mining width if required 5. Resource cut-off for the Guanacevi and Guanajuato projects is 100 Ag eq 6. Reserve and Resource Silver equivalent is 55:1 for Silver to Gold 7. At the Parral project a cut-off using NSR of $40 is used with the prices listed below 8. The cut-off used for Arroyo Seco was 100 g/t Ag Net Smelter Return (NSR) Cut-off Parameters for the Parral Project ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Description Parameter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Price US $1,000 per oz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver Price US $16 per oz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lead Price US $0.65 per lb ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zinc Price US $0.65 per lb ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Recovery (Overall) 75% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver Recovery (Overall) 71% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lead Recovery (Overall) 80% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zinc Recovery (Overall) 74% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smelter Terms Based on generic contract ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
