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Q3 Earnings per Basic Share of $0.07
TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Nov. 14, 2011) – Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX:AR) (“Argonaut Gold”, “Argonaut” or the “Company”) announces financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise specified. All financial results are presented in accordance with IFRS, unless otherwise noted.
THIRD QUARTER 2011 & RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and associated Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) which are available from the Company’s website, www.argonautgoldinc.com, in the “Investors” section under “Financial Filings”, and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
| Argonaut Gold Financial Statistics | |||||
| 3rd Quarter | 9 Months Ended | ||||
| 9/30/2011 | 9/30/2010 | 9/30/2011 | 9/30/2010 | ||
| Revenue | $22,706,718 | $9,813,684 | $70,015,072 | $31,676,481 | |
| Net income (loss) | $6,039,747 | $961,881 | $17,148,761 | ($341,623 | ) |
| Income (loss) per share – basic | $0.07 | $0.02 | $0.20 | ($0.03 | ) |
| Income (loss) per share – diluted | $0.06 | $0.02 | $0.19 | ($0.03 | ) |
| Gold ounces sold | 13,260 | 7,994 | 46,052 | 26,779 | |
| Cash cost per ounce for units sold | $628 | $622 | $597 | $809 | |
Financial Results – Third Quarter 2011
During the third quarter of 2011, revenue was $22.7 million from gold sales of 13,260 ounces compared to $9.8 million from sales of 7,994 ounces in the third quarter of 2010. Cost of sales and depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses were $10.8 million for the quarter. Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold (see Non-IFRS measures section note below) was $628 compared to $622 in the same period of 2010 principally because of an increase in longer ore hauls to the east pad and cyanide costs. During the third quarter of 2011, operating income from mining operations was $11.9 million compared to a $3.2 million operating income in the third quarter of 2010. Net income for the quarter was $6.0 million, or $0.07 per share.
Cash on hand increased from $32.3 million at June 30, 2011 to $35.0 million, as a result of higher gold price realized sales and early exercise of $6.8 million in broker compensation options issued in connection with the private placement of shares of the Company in late 2009. Cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash operating working capital and other items was $9.7 million during the quarter. The cash flow provided by operating activities in the quarter was $7.7 million. At September 30, 2011, approximately 6,300 gold ounces from Q3 were in finished goods inventory.
Summary of Production Results
Ore tonnes mined increased by 44% (total tonnes mined increased by 2%) for the third quarter 2011 over the third quarter of 2010. Utilizing a larger, more efficient truck fleet at El Castillo for the full quarter, the rate of mining production exceeded 1.6 million tonnes per month. The strip ratio of waste to ore declined in the third quarter of 2011 to 0.66 compared to the third quarter of 2010 of 1.36. (The new NI 43-101 compliant technical report for El Castillo indicates the anticipated strip ratio is approximately 0.88 for the life of mine). Total ounces loaded to the pads also increased. In the third quarter of 2011, there were 29,997 ounces placed on the pad, representing a 24% increase over the 24,202 ounces placed on the pad in the third quarter of 2010. Gold production of 16,884 ounces in the third quarter of 2011 was a 33% increase compared to the third quarter of 2010.
The Company anticipates operating costs to rise in the near term from longer ore haul distances to the east pad and increased reagent costs as we begin operations at the eastern side of the property. We believe this is a short term issue as the mine expands. The Company is estimating a cash cost for ounces to be sold in 2011 to be $600 to $625 per gold ounce.
Capital & Exploration Expenditures:
The Company recently increased its capital and exploration expenditure budget for the year to $36 million. Additional commitments for development of La Colorada are being allocated for construction of heap leach pads, an absorption plant and a crushing circuit; this is anticipated to be completed during early 2012. Key operational metrics and production statistics for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the respective period in 2010 are presented below:
| El Castillo Operating Statistics | ||||||
| 3rd Quarter | 9 Months | |||||
| 9/30/2011 | 9/30/2010 | Percent Change |
9/30/2011 | 9/30/2010 | Percent Change |
|
| Tonnes ore | 2,908,150 | 2,013,668 | 44% | 8,232,763 | 5,197,406 | 58% |
| Tonnes waste | 1,933,470 | 2,735,942 | -29% | 6,339,150 | 5,896,110 | 8% |
| Tonnes mined | 4,841,620 | 4,749,610 | 2% | 14,571,913 | 11,093,516 | 31% |
| Waste/ore ratio | 0.66 | 1.36 | -51% | 0.77 | 1.13 | -31% |
| Tonnes direct to leach pad | 2,282,601 | 1,675,504 | +36% | 6,016,269 | 4,237,532 | +42% |
| Tonnes crushed | 612,548 | 369,275 | +66% | 2,201,941 | 954,559 | +131% |
| Average grams per tonne of gold to leach pad | 0.32 | 0.37 | -14% | 0.33 | 0.37 | -11% |
| Gold ounces to leach pad | 29,997 | 24,202 | +24% | 87,777 | 60,744 | +45% |
| Gold ounces produced | 16,884 | 12,724 | +33% | 52,351 | 33,032 | +59% |
| Cash cost per gold ounce sold | $628 | $622 | 10% | $597 | $809 | -26% |
CEO Commentary
Pete Dougherty, Argonaut’s President and CEO states: “Argonaut continued to deliver strong production in Q3, moving towards meeting 2011 guidance of 70,000 ounces of gold produced during the year. We are very pleased with the progress made during the first nine months of 2011, expanding operations at El Castillo was a key objective in future development of the property. In October, the Company released a 76% gold increase and 173% silver increase in resources at the La Colorada project. A total of 6 drill rigs are continuing programs at both the La Colorada and San Antonio projects.” Mr. Dougherty added “Argonaut continues to see strong progress being made at all three projects.”
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company included the non-IFRS measure “Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold” in this press release to supplement its financial statements which are presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Cash cost per gold ounce for units sold is equal to cost of sales less silver sales divided by gold ounces sold. The Company believes that this measure provides investors with an improved ability to evaluate the performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Please see the MD&A for full disclosure on non-IFRS measures.
Technical Information and Mineral Properties Reports
The technical information contained in this document has been prepared under supervision of, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Thomas H. Burkhart, Argonaut’s Vice President of Exploration, and a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.
Information on the Company’s properties please see the reports as listed below on the Company’s website or on www.sedar.com:
| El Castillo Mine | NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources and Reserves, Argonaut Gold Inc., El Castillo Mine, Durango State, Mexico dated November 6, 2010 |
| La Fortuna Property | La Fortuna, Durango, Mexico, Technical Report dated October 21, 2008 |
| San Antonio Gold Project | Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on the San Antonio Gold Project, Baja California Sur, Mexico dated June 30, 2011 |
| La Colorada Property | Geological Report on the La Colorada Property with a Resource Estimate on La Colorada and El Creston Mineralized Zones – Sonora, Mexico dated November 30, 2009 |
About Argonaut Gold
Argonaut is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and production activities. Its primary assets are the production-stage El Castillo Mine in the State of Durango, Mexico, the development stage and past producing La Colorada project, the advanced exploration San Antonio project, and several exploration stage projects, all of which are located in Mexico.
Creating Value Beyond Gold
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from management’s current expectations. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors. Except as required by law, Argonaut Gold Inc. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
