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CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwire – July 6, 2012) – Rio Alto Mining Limited (“Rio Alto”) (TSX:RIO)(OTCQX:RIOAF)(LMA:RIO)(DBFrankfurt:MS2) is pleased to announce that its La Arena Gold Mine poured 58,081 ounces of gold during the three months ended June 30, 2012 (114,054 ounces of gold poured for the six months ended June 30, 2012). Sales in the second quarter of 43,234 ounces of gold at an average realized price per ounce of $1,586 generated cash sales proceeds of $68.6 million. During the quarter the Company delivered 14,846 ounces of gold to settle 17,466 notional ounces of its gold prepayment facility. The next scheduled delivery under the prepayment facility is in September 2013, however, Rio Alto may elect to make advance deliveries during 2012 in settlement of the remaining 27,170 notional ounces.
Ore and waste production from the La Arena Gold Mine for the second quarter of 2012 was:
| Actual | Mine Plan | Difference | |||||||||||||
| Tonnes | Au g/t | Tonnes | Au g/t | Tonnes | Au g/t | ||||||||||
| Ore mined | 1,105,748 | 1.25 | 2,160,000 | 0.63 | (1,054,252) | 0.62 | |||||||||
| Ore to stockpile | 85,533 | 0.20 | – | (85,533) | 0.20 | ||||||||||
| Ore from stockpile | 599,833 | 0.63 | – | 599,833) | 0.63 | ||||||||||
| Ore placed on pad | 1,620,048 | 1.09 | 2,160,000 | 0.63 | (539,952) | 0.46 | |||||||||
| Ounces placed on pad | 56,773 | 43,751 | 13,022 | ||||||||||||
| Waste mined | 2,016,694 | 2,745,975 | (729,281) | ||||||||||||
| Waste to Ore Ratio | 1.82 | 1.27 | |||||||||||||
| Production | Ounce | ||||||||||||||
| Variances | Variances | ||||||||||||||
| Ore placed on pad difference | (539,952 | ) | (10,937 | ) | |||||||||||
| Ore grade difference | 0.46 | 23,959 | |||||||||||||
| Gold ounce difference | 13,022 | ||||||||||||||
Production for the first six months of 2012 amounted to:
| Actual | Mine Plan | Difference | |||||||||||||
| Tonnes | Au g/t | Tonnes | Au g/t | Tonnes | Au g/t | ||||||||||
| Ore mined | 2,395,231 | 1.29 | 4,320,000 | 0.66 | (1,924,769) | 0.63 | |||||||||
| Ore to stockpile | 263,472 | 0.30 | – | (263,472) | 0.30 | ||||||||||
| Ore from stockpile | 930,943 | 0.70 | – | 930,943) | 0.70 | ||||||||||
| Ore placed on pad | 3,062,702 | 1.20 | 4,320,000 | 0.66 | (1,257,298) | 0.54 | |||||||||
| Ounces placed on pad | 118,103 | 91,946 | 26,157 | ||||||||||||
| Waste mined | 4,278,732 | 4,314,012 | (35,280) | ||||||||||||
| Waste to Ore Ratio | 1.79 | 1.00 | |||||||||||||
| Production | Ounce | ||||||||||||||
| Variances | Variances | ||||||||||||||
| Ore placed on pad difference | (1,257,298 | ) | (26,760 | ) | |||||||||||
| Ore grade difference | 0.54 | 52,917 | |||||||||||||
| Gold ounce difference | 26,157 | ||||||||||||||
Since ore was first mined at the La Arena Gold Mine the gold grade has been significantly higher than planned. This is principally due to mining narrow high grade, vertical or near vertical veins within the larger disseminated ore body. These veins were not identified in the drilling undertaken to generate the reserve model and mine plan. Management cannot predict whether high grade veins will be mined in the future. Overall mining fleet productivity has been lower than planned during the first six months of 2012 due, at various times, to either limited leach pad capacity or waste dump capacity. Both leach pad capacity and waste dump capacity are being increased.
With a proven technical team, strong operating and financial performance and high quality development and exploration projects, Rio Alto is positioned to grow into an intermediate gold producer. Based on current plans and assumptions the Company projects gold oxide production of over 200,000 ounces per year by 2014. All planned development, exploration and capital expenditures for 2012 will be completed without external funding. Rio Alto plans to pursue accretive acquisitions and carry out planned exploration programs.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking information including statements concerning expected gold production. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Rio Alto’s disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Rio Alto does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
To learn more about Rio Alto Mining Limited, please visit: www.rioaltomining.com or Rio Alto’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF RIO ALTO MINING LIMITED
Alex Black, President & CEO
Rio Alto Mining Limited
Alex Black
President & CEO
+511 99279 4655 or +511 625 9900
[email protected]
Rio Alto Mining Limited
Alejandra Gomez
Investor Relations
604.628.1401
866.393.4493 (FAX)
[email protected]
www.rioaltomining.com
