TIDMPGD
RNS Number : 4569F
Patagonia Gold PLC
21 February 2018
21 February 2018
Patagonia Gold Plc
("Patagonia Gold" or the "Company")
Operations Update
Patagonia Gold Plc, the mining company with gold and silver
projects in the southern Patagonia region of Argentina, Chile and
Uruguay, is pleased to provide an update on Operations.
Summary
-- Production:
- Total production for 2017 was 26,005 oz AuEq (2016: 25,800 oz AuEq, 2015: 21,521 oz AuEq)
- Monthly production continues to ramp up at Cap Oeste and in
January 2018, 3,646 oz AuEq were produced with February on schedule
to exceed 4,200 AuEq
- Cash costs in January were USD 711 per oz AuEq
- Production guidance for 2018 is estimated at 59,000 ozs AuEq
-- Following the update of the Cap-Oeste resource model the
Company continues to evaluate alternatives to extract value from
the 295,000 oz AuEq COSE style ore situated below the existing pit
design
-- A resource update of Calcatreu at current metal prices is
underway and is expected to be complete by 31 March 2018
Production
Gold production at Cap Oeste continues to ramp up with January
2018 production reaching 3,646 oz AuEq, andFebruary production is
on target to exceed 4,200 oz AuEq. Although production for 2017 was
below expectations due to a series of issues including importation
delays, equipment downtime and industrial action the Company is now
confident the circuit is running well and that 2018 production
guidance will be achieved. The circuit is now fully commissioned
and operating with an 85% plus availability. A better understanding
of the leaching kinetics of the Cap-Oeste deposit combined with
improvements made in the operating efficiencies of the circuit,
higher grade mine feed as the pit deepens, and changes made to the
leaching cycles has led to higher production and reductions in cash
operating costs.
Engineering design and the acquisition of a second crushing and
mixing circuit is now well underway with all major components
purchased and in transit or currently under refurbishment. This
circuit will be installed in Cap-Oeste in late Q2 with the
objective of retreating approximately 800,000T of ore previously
stacked before the agglomeration circuit was installed and
operational. Due to the high moisture content and considerable clay
content, a specialised roll crusher circuit has been sourced to
enable this wet material to be treated without blocking the
crushing equipment.
A trial re-crushing and leaching programme is due to start at
Lomada during the second quarter; a trial of approximately 100,000T
of higher grade previously stacked and leached ROM material will be
mixed and crushed and then restacked with the objective of
recovering any metal not leached from the uncrushed material. No
estimate of anticipated production will be given at this point
however management is positive the exercise will generate positive
cashflow, and the operating cash cost is estimated at approximately
$4/T of material re-crushed. Further updates will be provided as
the programme gets underway.
Cap-Oeste resource update
On 3 November 2017, the Company announced an update of the Cap
Oeste resource model, which confirmed a JORC compliant resource
model of Measured and Indicated resources containing 10,555,741T @
at an average grade of 2.07 g/t Au and 62.85 g/t Ag for 1,009,000
oz AuEq reported below the existing final pit design currently
being mined. A portion of this resource is made up of high grade
COSE style non refractory mineralisation which totals 472,426T @
12.63 g/t Au and 469.96 g/t Ag for 294,596 Oz AuEq contained metal
at a grade of 19.4g/t AuEq. The Company is currently evaluating the
best means by which to realise value from this resource, including
mining the resource and treating at its existing facility.
The Resource remaining as at 31 December 2017 are tabled
below:
Gross Resources for Cap-Oeste December 2017
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geo Ox Tonnes Grade (g/t) Metal (ozs)
----------- ------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Au LUC/OK Ag LUC/OK Auequ Fin Au Ag Auequ Fin
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
MEASURED RESOURCES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 368 2.73 25.15 3.09 32 298 37
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
COSE - - - - - - -
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Fresh 2,913 2.94 49.39 3.65 276 4,626 342
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Sub-Total 3,281 2.92 46.67 3.59 308 4,924 379
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
INDICATED RESOURCES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 2,181,820 1.07 36.21 1.59 75,291 2,539,692 111,866
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
COSE 525,878 12.99 485.46 19.98 219,620 8,207,832 337,820
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Fresh 8,213,073 1.71 47.03 2.39 451,405 12,419,091 630,251
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Sub-Total 10,920,771 2.13 65.98 3.08 746,316 23,166,615 1,079,937
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
MEAS + IND RESOURCES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 2,182,188 1.07 36.20 1.59 75,323 2,539,990 111,902
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
COSE 525,878 12.99 485.46 19.98 219,620 8,207,832 337,820
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Fresh 8,215,986 1.71 47.03 2.39 451,681 12,423,717 630,593
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Sub-Total 10,924,052 2.13 65.98 3.08 746,624 23,171,539 1,080,316
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
INFERRED RESOURCES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 528,193 0.68 23.15 1.01 11,468 393,044 17,127
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
COSE - - - - - - -
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Fresh 4,366,559 1.45 36.14 1.97 203,929 5,073,580 276,999
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Sub-Total 4,894,752 1.37 34.74 1.87 215,396 5,466,624 294,126
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
TOTAL 15,818,804 1.89 56.31 2.70 962,020 28,638,163 1,374,442
----------- ------------------ ------------------ --------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------
Gold equivalent (Au_equ) values are calculated at a ratio of
69.4:1 Au/Ag.
Rounding errors for averages and totals may occur.
Resource were calculated at Au price of $1250/oz and Ag price
od $18/oz
Net Attributable Resources for Cap-Oeste December 2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geo Ox Tonnes Grade (g/t) Metal (ozs)
----------- ----------- --------------------------- ---------------------------------
Au Ag Auequ
LUC/OK LUC/OK Fin Au Ag Auequ Fin
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
MEASURED RESOURCES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 331 2.73 25.15 3.09 29 268 33
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
COSE - - - - - - -
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Fresh 2,622 2.94 49.39 3.65 248 4,163 308
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Sub-Total 2,953 2.92 46.67 3.59 277 4,431 341
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
INDICATED RESOURCES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 1,963,638 1.07 36.21 1.59 67,762 2,285,723 100,679
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
COSE 473,290 12.99 485.46 19.98 197,658 7,387,049 304,038
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Fresh 7,391,766 1.71 47.03 2.39 406,265 11,177,182 567,226
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Sub-Total 9,828,694 2.13 65.98 3.08 671,685 20,849,954 971,943
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
MEAS + IND RESOURCES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 1,963,969 1.07 36.20 1.59 67,791 2,285,991 100,712
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
COSE 473,290 12.99 485.46 19.98 197,658 7,387,049 304,038
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Fresh 7,394,387 1.71 47.03 2.39 406,513 11,181,345 567,534
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Sub-Total 9,831,647 2.13 65.98 3.08 671,962 20,854,385 972,284
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
INFERRED RESOURCES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxide 475,374 0.68 23.15 1.01 10,321 353,740 15,415
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
COSE - - - - - - -
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Fresh 3,929,903 1.45 36.14 1.97 183,536 4,566,222 249,299
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Sub-Total 4,405,277 1.37 34.74 1.87 193,857 4,919,962 264,714
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
TOTAL 14,236,924 1.89 56.31 2.70 865,818 25,774,346 1,236,998
----------- ----------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Gold equivalent (Au_equ) values are calculated at a ratio of
69.4:1 Au/Ag.
Rounding errors for averages and totals may occur
Resources were calculated at Au price of $1250/oz and Ag price
of $18/oz
Calcatreu
Following the purchase of the Calcatreu project announced on 1
February 2018, the Company has engaged the services of CUBE
Consulting to update the Calcatreu resource model at current metal
prices. The current resource model was prepared by MICON
International in February 2008 using prevailing metal prices of
$650/oz Au and $12.50/oz Ag. The global resource reported contained
780,000 Oz AuEq @ 3.04 g/t in the Indicated category and a further
255,000 oz AuEq at 2.33 g/t in Inferred category. The new 43-101
complaint resource model is scheduled to be completed and released
by 31 March 2018.
Exploration work will commence this month at Calcatreu with a
Geophysics crew starting an Induced Polarisation programme on the
extension of existing mineralisation where historic anomalies
already exist. No exploration drilling has been completed on the
Calcatreu project for the last 10 years and previously only exposed
vein systems were tested, leaving in excess of 8km of strike
potential completely untested with modern exploration techniques.
The company remains very optimistic that further mineralisation
will be encountered within the tenement package. Further updates
will be provided in due course.
Glossary of technical terms
Ag the chemical symbol for Silver
Au the chemical symbol for Gold
AuEq gold equivalent, taking into account
the amount of AG, calculated at a ratio
of 69.4:1 Ag to Au
g/t grammes per tonne
Indicated that part of a Mineral Resource for
Resource which quantity, grade or quality, densities,
shape and physical characteristics
are estimated with sufficient confidence
to allow the application of modifying
factors in sufficient detail to support
mine planning and evaluation of the
economic viability of the deposit.
Geological evidence is derived from
adequately detailed and reliable exploration,
sampling and testing and is sufficient
to assume geological and grade or quality
continuity between points of observation
Inferred Resource that part of a Mineral Resource for
which quantity and grade or quality
are estimated on the basis of limited
geological evidence and sampling. Geological
evidence is sufficient to imply but
not verify geological and grade or
quality continuity
JORC the Joint Ore Reserves Committee: The
Australasian Code for Reporting of
Exploration Results, Mineral Resources
and Ore Reserves, as published by the
Joint Ore Reserves Committee of The
Australasian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, Australian Institute of
Geoscientists and Minerals Council
of Australia
LUK/OK Localised uniform conditioning/Ordinary
Kriging
Measured Resource that part of a Mineral Resource for
which quantity, grade or quality, densities,
shape, and physical characteristics
are estimated with confidence sufficient
to allow the application of modifying
factors to support detailed mine planning
and final evaluation of the economic
viability of the deposit. Geological
evidence is derived from detailed and
reliable exploration, sampling and
testing and is sufficient to confirm
geological and grade or quality continuity
between points of observation where
data and samples are gathered
Mineral Resource a concentration or occurrence of solid
material of economic interest in or
on the Earth's crust in such form,
grade or quality and quantity that
there are reasonable prospects for
eventual economic extraction. The location,
quantity, grade or quality, continuity
and other geological characteristics
of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated
or interpreted from specific geological
evidence and knowledge, including sampling
Moz million ounces
oz ounces
t tonnes
Matthew Boyes, (BSC. Geology, Fellow AusIMM) Chief Operating
Officer for the Company and a qualified person as defined in
Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified all
scientific or technical mining disclosure contained in this
announcement.
- Ends -
About Patagonia Gold
Patagonia Gold Plc is a mining company that seeks to grow
shareholder value through exploration, development and production
of gold and silver projects in the southern Patagonia region of
Argentina. The Company is primarily focused on three projects: the
flagship Cap-Oeste project, the La Manchuria project and the Lomada
heap leach project. Patagonia Gold, indirectly through its
subsidiaries or under option agreements, has mineral rights to over
220 properties in several provinces of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
and is one of the largest landholders in the province of Santa
Cruz.
For more information, please contact:
Christopher van Tienhoven, Chief Executive Officer
Patagonia Gold Plc
Tel: +54 11 5278 6950
Angela Hallett and Richard Tulloch
Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7409 3494
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR").
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
UPDBBLLLVLFFBBZ
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 21, 2018 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)
Patagonia Gold (LSE:PGD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Patagonia Gold (LSE:PGD)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024