|
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 7, 2013) - Scorpio Gold Corporation ("Scorpio Gold" or the "Company") (News - Market indicators) announces its final operating results for the fourth quarter of 2012 ("Q4") and provides 2013 guidance for its 70% owned Mineral Ridge Project located in Nevada.
Peter J. Hawley, CEO reports: "The Company is pleased to provide its final production numbers for 2012. In our first year of declared commercial production the Mineral Ridge operation produced a total of 32,066 ounces of gold and 13,871 ounces of silver, meeting its yearly production guidance for 2012. Actual mined ore production in the Drinkwater Pit in 2012 was 3.9% higher than predicted by the reserve block model and the ore mined contained 11.4% more gold ounces than predicted.
"The Company has taken a conservative approach to production guidance for 2013. In the year ahead we look forward to receiving approval for an amended Plan of Operations submitted to the Nevada Bureau of Land Management for the incorporation of a super pit, which will expand the current Mary Pit to incorporate the Mary LC zone. The new super pit will have dimensions greater that the current operating Drinkwater Pit. In addition, the Company looks forward to completion of its new crushing plant that will increase average throughput in 2013 to approximately 2,700 tons per day."
|
|
Q4 |
|
Q3 |
|
Q2 |
|
Q1 |
|
Total 2012 |
Mining operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drinkwater pit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore tonnes mined |
|
161,699 |
|
156,007 |
|
160,664 |
|
122,995 |
|
601,365 |
|
|
Waste tonnes mined |
|
606,047 |
|
738,890 |
|
700,523 |
|
656,770 |
|
2,702,230 |
|
|
Total mined |
|
767,746 |
|
894,897 |
|
861,187 |
|
779,765 |
|
3,303,595 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary pit (in development) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore tonnes mined |
|
15,072 |
|
8,727 |
|
3,156 |
|
- |
|
26,955 |
|
|
Waste tonnes mined |
|
340,576 |
|
282,157 |
|
244,927 |
|
280,205 |
|
1,147,865 |
|
|
Total mined |
|
355,648 |
|
290,884 |
|
248,083 |
|
280,205 |
|
1,174,820 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Processing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tonnes processed |
|
176,500 |
|
186,858 |
|
160,759 |
|
126,668 |
|
650,785 |
|
Gold head grade (g/t) |
|
2.67 |
|
2.10 |
|
2.09 |
|
2.34 |
|
2.30 |
|
Ounces produced (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold |
|
10,812 |
|
6,663 |
|
7,394 |
|
7,197 |
|
32,066 |
|
|
Silver |
|
4,867 |
|
2,900 |
|
2,930 |
|
3,174 |
|
13,871 |
|
Throughput (tonnes per day) |
|
2,292 |
|
2,427 |
|
2,115 |
|
1,667 |
|
2,127 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Precious Metal Sales (ounces)(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold |
|
9,266 |
|
7,234 |
|
7,803 |
|
7,774 |
|
32,077 |
|
|
Silver |
|
3,954 |
|
3,135 |
|
2,956 |
|
3,429 |
|
13,474 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploration Drilling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holes |
|
42 |
|
35 |
|
63 |
|
51 |
|
191 |
|
Meters |
|
6,826 |
|
5,880 |
|
6,436 |
|
5,104 |
|
24,246 |
|
(1) Production and sales numbers for Q4 include 1,878 ounces of gold and 759 ounces of silver that were part of a sale of loaded carbon to Waterton Global Value L.P. ("Waterton"). Waterton is a joint venture partner and secured creditor of the Company and has certain rights to purchase gold and silver produced by the Company. |
|
2013 Production and Operating Guidance
In 2012, the Company commenced construction of a new crushing plant in an improved location that is permitted for 24 hour per day operation at 400 tons per hour. Among multiple design improvements, the new plant will have greater horsepower, a larger jaw crusher, 25% more screen capacity, a modified cone crusher with quick change design, a "bag-house" dust suppression system to reduce water addition to ore and process logic control at multiple stations with inter-locks. With the new plant coming online in 2013, the estimated average throughput for the year will increase to approximately 2,700 tons per day.
Gold production for 2013 at the Mineral Ridge operation is forecast at 32,000 to 35,000 ounces at a total cash cost of US$800 to $US900 per ounce of gold sold.
The following key parameters form the basis for the 2013 production forecast and operating cost estimate:
- Throughput: 2,700 short tons (2,450 metric tonnes) per day
- Average grade: 0.057 ounces per short ton (1.95 grams per tonne) gold
- Waste to ore ratio of Mary and Drinkwater pits combined: 4.37 to 1
The Company expects these parameters to fluctuate throughout 2013 and as a result, these parameters should be treated as full-year averages and will not necessarily be reflective of quarterly operating results.
2013 Operating and Development Budget
The 2013 capital and development cost budget is US$6.5 million and includes the following key items:
|
|
|
Capital Expenditure - Mineral Ridge Operation |
|
2013 Budget |
Mary pit development |
|
US$2.0 million |
Water well |
|
US$0.1 million |
Crusher enhancements |
|
US$2.8 million |
Power line relocation |
|
US$0.5 million |
Mobile equipment, contingency, other |
|
US$1.1 million |
Total |
|
US$6.5 million |
|
|
|
2013 Exploration Budget
The 2013 exploration budget for the Mineral Ridge project is US$3.2 million and will focus on continued resource and reserve expansion of the Mary LC, Drinkwater Highwall and adjacent satellite deposits, as well as testing of high quality exploration targets.
Scorpio Gold's CEO, Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person for the Mineral Ridge project and has reviewed and approved the content of this release. For additional information, please see the Company's website at www.scorpiogold.com.
About Mineral Ridge
The Mineral Ridge gold mining operation is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest with joint venture partner Waterton Global Value L.P. (30%), and is entitled to receive 80% of cash flow generated. Mineral Ridge is currently in production as a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. The property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and bodies at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold recently acquired the Goldwedge gold property and milling facility in Manhattan, Nevada and the Pinon gold property near Carlin, Nevada. The Company is assessing its exploration plans for these properties as well as the potential for toll milling at the 500 ton per day Goldwedge plant.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION
Peter J. Hawley, CEO
The Company relies on litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to the exploration, development and exploitation of its Mineral Ridge project and forecasts of mining, gold production and operating costs. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including risks such as mining risks, factors that can increase operating costs, delays related to completion of exploration programs and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. 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.
Scorpio Gold Corporation Steve Roebuck President (819) 825-7618 sroebuck@scorpiogold.com www.scorpiogold.com or Investor Relations: Torrey Hills Capital Jim Macdonald (858) 456-7300 jm@sdthc.com
| |