SilverCrest Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "SilverCrest") (TSX
VENTURE: SVL)(FRANKFURT: CW5) is pleased to announce strong
positive cash flow, earnings and operating results in line with
budgeted projections for its first quarter of commercial production
at its Santa Elena Mine in Sonora, Mexico. This press release
should be read in conjunction with the Company's Manangement
Discussion & Analysis, Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial
Statements and Notes to Financial Statements for the six month
period ended June 30, 2011, available on the Company's website at
www.silvercrestmines.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All
monetary figures are expressed in United States dollars unless
otherwise specified.
The results for the three month period ended June 30, 2011 is
the first quarter SilverCrest has reported production revenues and
expenses.
Three months ended
Financial Highlights June 30, 2011
Revenue reported $8,556,261
Mine operating earnings (1) $5,705,087
Comprehensive earnings before loss on non-cash
derivative instruments $4,296,517
Comprehensive earnings $790,429
Comprehensive Earnings per share $0.01
Cash flow from operations before changes in
working capital items $3,113,371
Cash and cash equivalents $33,320,876
Cash operating cost per silver equivalent ounce
sold (2) $8.27
Operating Highlights
Tonnes of ore mined 249,217
Tonnes of waste mined 707,553
Waste/Ore ratio 2.84
Ounces of silver produced 74,678
Ounces of gold produced 5,476
Ounces of silver sold 70,326
Ounces of gold sold 4,300
(1) Mine operating earnings have not been adjusted for non cash revenue
which consists of $2,007,810 from derivative instruments and $322,725
from deferred revenue.
(2) Silver equivalence was calculated using market spot rates of $1,505.50
per gold ounce and $35.02 per silver ounce at June 30, 2011.
Highlights for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
Second Quarter Financial Highlights
Revenues reported from the Santa Elena Mine amounted to
$8,556,261. Silver sales were 70,325 ounces at an average realized
price of $38.90. Gold delivered into the Macquarie Bank Ltd.
("MBL") Hedging Facility was 3,440 ounces at an average realized
price of $926.50. Included in revenue is a non cash amount of
$2,007,810 representing the difference between the market spot
price at the date of delivery for gold and the hedge price of
$926.50 per ounce settled in the quarter. The Company also recorded
gold sales of $623,705 related to the delivery of 860 gold ounces
to Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm"), which consists of $300,979 of
cash received and $322,725 from amortization of deferred
revenue.
Cost of sales amounted to $2,109,801 which is a cash operating
cost of $8.27 per silver equivalent ounce sold. Cash operating
costs are consistent with the Santa Elena Life of Mine budget
projections for 2011.
Other net expense items amounted to $4,914,658 which primarily
relates to loss on derivative instruments of $3,506,089. Under IFRS
the Company's derivative instruments are fair valued at the
financial position date with the resulting gain or losses included
in the operating results for the period. The derivative loss
comprises $3,221,089 relating to the incremental fair value of the
MBL Hedging Facility and $285,000 relating to the incremental fair
value of the MBL European gold call option which represents the
difference between the average market spot price of gold for the
quarter and strike price of $926.50 per ounce for the Hedging
Facility and $1,000 per ounce for the European gold call option
respectively.
Comprehensive earnings for the quarter were $790,429 or $.01 per
share compared to a comprehensive loss of $(8,892,761) or $(0.15)
per share for Q2 2010.
The Company made a loan repayment of $800,000 from Santa Elena
production revenues to MBL and subsequent to June 30, 2011, made
further loan repayments of $2,000,000 from production revenues.
Loan obligations of $3.6 million remain for fiscal 2011.
The Company completed a prospectus financing for total gross
proceeds of CAD$30 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $33.3
million at June 30, 2011 of which only $1.5 million is designated
cash.
Second Quarter Operating Highlights
Approximately 249,000 tonnes of ore were mined, crushed and
delivered to the pad at the Santa Elena Mine. The high grade ore
(average grade of 1.91 gpt Au and 44.08 gpt Ag) of the Main zone is
now being mined and will provide the bulk of the ore to be mined in
2011. Crusher throughput averaged 2,737 tonnes per day which is
above the design throughput capacity of 2,500 tpd. Optimization of
the various operating parameters of the crusher has been completed
in order to ensure a steady state of production at design
capacity.
During the quarter, 74,678 ounces of silver and 5,476 ounces of
gold were produced as dore, with a significant amount of silver and
gold still in solution for processing and recovery. The Company
sold 70,326 ounces of silver and 4,300 ounces of gold. The Company
also delivered 860 ounces of gold under its gold stream contract
with Sandstorm, and delivered 3,440 ounces under the gold price
protection program with MBL. Results are consistent with the Santa
Elena Life of Mine budget projections for 2011.
No lost time accidents occurred. Since construction started in
October 2009 there has been no lost time accidents with over
563,000 hours worked by June 30, 2011.
J. Scott Drever, President stated; "Achieving commercial
production in June was an important and exciting milestone for the
Company but more importantly we have been able to generate
significant positive cash flow and earnings early in the
development of the Santa Elena Mine. To date in 2011 the Company
has generated metal sales of $13.4 million, of which $4.8 million
was capitalized in the three months to March 31, 2011. By achieving
a cash operating cost of $8.27 per ounce of silver equivalent at
this early stage we have met our initial expectations but we will
continue to optimize our operations so as to reduce this cost. With
a cash balance of $33.3 million and increasing operational cash
flows we should be able to achieve both our financial and growth
objectives".
Outlook for the remainder of 2011
As part of the Company's Expansion Plan to double production
over the next three years, an estimated 45 hole infill drill
program comprising approximately 5,000 metres is set to commence in
the third quarter at Cruz de Mayo, a satellite property of Santa
Elena Mine, to increase and upgrade resources to a Pre-Feasibility
level. Engineering and selection of contractors is underway for
commencement of an underground decline at the Santa Elena Mine in
the fourth quarter which upon completion, will provide access to
further explore, potentially expand and develop the current silver
and gold resources below the planned ultimate pit.
The La Joya Project Phase 1, 26 diamond drill hole program,
comprising approximately 5,500 metres, has just been completed.
Work is underway to prepare an initial 43-101 compliant Technical
Report with a resource estimation. Based on success of Phase I, a
Phase II, 10,000 metre drill program consisting of approximately 50
drill holes, is planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2011.
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, and Chief Operating Officer for
SilverCrest Mines Inc., who has reviewed and approved its
contents.
SilverCrest Mines Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SVL)(FRANKFURT: CW5) is a
Mexican precious metals producer with headquarters based in
Vancouver, BC. SilverCrest's flagship property is the 100%-owned
Santa Elena Mine, which is located 150km northeast of Hermosillo,
near Banamichi in the State of Sonora, Mexico. The mine is a
high-grade, epithermal gold and silver producer, with an estimated
life of mine cash cost of $8 per ounce of silver equivalent (55:1
Ag:Au). SilverCrest anticipates that the 2,500 tonnes per day
facility should recover approximately 4,805,000 ounces of silver
and 179,000 ounces of gold over the 6.5 year life of the open pit
phase of the Santa Elena Mine.
J. Scott Drever, President
SILVERCREST MINES INC.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Contacts: SilverCrest Mines Inc. Fred Cooper (604) 694-1730 Toll
Free: 1-866-691-1730 (604) 694-1761 (FAX) info@silvercrestmines.com
www.silvercrestmines.com
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