VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan. 7, 2014) - Trevali Mining Corporation ("Trevali" or the "Company")(TSX:TV)(LMA:TV)(OTCQX:TREVF)(FRANKFURT:4TI) announces that ongoing mineral processing plant commissioning, and zinc and lead-silver concentrate production from its Santander Zinc-Lead-Silver Mine in Peru continues to progress well as the operation approaches full production.
During December, Santander mill throughput continued at full nameplate capacity of 2,000-tonnes-per-day, again giving an effective monthly plant utilization of 100%. Average head-grades for the month were 3.6% zinc, 1.5% lead and 1.4 oz/ton silver from a blend of underground feed, stockpiled surface material and higher-grade re-mined former tailings while the Company moves towards full underground production feed in Q1-2014 when the Magistral North (including Rosa Zone) and Central production stopes are brought fully online. Additionally, concentrate shipments for December have resulted in approximately 3,900 tonnes of zinc concentrate and 2,300 tonnes of lead-silver concentrate delivered and sold to partner Glencore.
| Tonnes processed in 2013 (approx.): | 252,000 tonnes |
| Zinc concentrate produced in 2013 (approx.): | 16,700 tonnes |
| Average zinc concentrate grade: | 49% Zn |
| Lead-silver concentrate produced in 2013 (approx.): | 5,200 tonnes |
| Average lead-silver concentrate grade: | 55% Pb, 49 oz/T Ag |
| | |
| Period | Zinc
recovery | | Lead
recovery | | Silver
recovery | |
| Since start-up (mid-August) | 81 | % | 80 | % | 66 | % |
| September 2013 | 80.9 | % | 77.6 | % | 63.2 | % |
| October 2013 | 85 | % | 83 | % | 69 | % |
| November 2013 | 80.3 | % | 81.9 | % | 66.7 | % |
| December 2013 | 82.3 | % | 84.1 | % | 70 | % |
Note: Reported production is preliminary in nature and subject to regular and ongoing reconciliation studies.
The Company anticipates both recoveries and concentrate production will further improve with the transition to full underground mill feed and ongoing mill optimization that includes the recent installation of a second Pb filter and the scheduled Courier OSA (on-stream analyzer) commissioning in Q1-2014. Ramp-up of underground production continues to increase with January production rates averaging approximately 1,500-tonnes-per-day and recent daily rates of up to 1,800-tonnes-per-day.
Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance
EurGeol Dr. Mark D. Cruise, Trevali's President and CEO, a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Cruise is not independent of the Company, as he is an officer, director and shareholder.
ABOUT TREVALI MINING CORPORATION
Trevali is a zinc-focused base metals mining company with operations in Canada and Peru.
In Peru, the Company has commenced commissioning and concentrate production at its Santander zinc-lead-silver mine and 2,000-tonne-per-day metallurgical plant. The Company anticipates declaring Commercial Production at the Santander Mine shortly.
In Canada, Trevali owns the Caribou mine and mill, Halfmile mine and Stratmat polymetallic deposit all located in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New Brunswick. Initial trial production from the Halfmile underground mine was successfully undertaken in 2012 and the Company anticipates commencing operations at its 3,000-tonne-per-day Caribou Mill Complex in 2014.
All of the Company's deposits remain open for expansion.
The common shares of Trevali are listed on the TSX (symbol TV), the OTCQX (symbol TREVF) and on the Lima Stock Exchange (symbol TV). For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of TREVALI MINING CORPORATION
Mark D. Cruise, President