Mag Silver produces 2.4M oz Ag at Juanicipio in Q1
Mag Silver produces 2.4M oz Ag at Juanicipio in Q1
2022-04-27 09:22 ET - News Release
Mr. George Paspalas reports
MAG SILVER REPORTS FIRST QUARTER PRODUCTION FROM JUANICIPIO
Mag Silver Corp. has released its first quarter production of underground development and stope material from the Juanicipio project (56 per cent/44 per cent Fresnillo PLC and Mag Silver, respectively). As reported to Mag by the project operator Fresnillo, on a 100% basis, 145,484 tonnes of mineralized material were processed during the three months ended March 31, 2022 (three months March 31, 2021: 36,395 tonnes) at an average head grade of 597 silver grams per tonne ("g/t") or 17.4 silver ounces/ton (March 31, 2021: 458 g/t or 13.4 silver ounces/ton). Total Juanicipio production for the quarter based on provisional estimates before offtake agreement adjustments totaled 2,400,000 silver ounces and 5,837 gold ounces (March 31, 2021: 462,321 silver ounces and 697 gold ounces). Mag's attributable 44% production interest for the quarter based on provisional estimates before offtake agreement adjustments totaled 1,056,000 silver ounces and 2,568 gold ounces (March 31, 2021: 203,421 silver ounces and 307 gold ounces). The associated lead and zinc production will be reported with Mag's first quarter filings.
Until the Juanicipio processing plant is commissioned, mineralized material from the Juanicipio mine is being campaign processed through the nearby Fresnillo and Saucito beneficiation plants (both 100% owned by Fresnillo), with the lead (silver rich) and zinc concentrates treated at market terms under off-take agreements with Met-Mex Penoles, S.A. de C.V. in Torreon, Mexico. Just over half (54%) of the tonnes in first quarter were processed at the Saucito plant (March 31, 2021: nil), where the flowsheet more closely resembles that of the Juanicipio plant. It is expected these results will provide further valuable metallurgical benefits when production commences at Juanicipio. The net revenue from the current production, net of processing and treatment charges, is being applied by the Juanicipio shareholders to offset initial project and sustaining capital cash requirements.
Construction of the Juanicipio plant was delivered by Fresnillo on schedule during the fourth quarter of 2021. However, as previously disclosed, the mill commissioning timeline was extended until tie-in approval to the national power grid is obtained from the Federal power authorities (see Press Release December 27, 2021). According to Fresnillo, the power tie-in remains on track for mid-2022, with the expectation to ramp up the Juanicipio processing plant to 85-90% of capacity by year end.
"We are very pleased that Fresnillo reports good progress to get regulatory approval for the power grid connection by mid-year," said George Paspalas, Mag Silver's President and CEO. "It is very heartening to see the grade and tonnes the mine is delivering, particularly given that the majority of the mill feed is still coming from development headings. This augurs well for the geological model and full stope production in the future. Given the tonnage and good grades, the project has been self-funding this year with no additional capital injections required."
Qualified Person: Dr. Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., has acted as the Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 for this disclosure and supervised the preparation of the technical information in this release. Dr. Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology and more than 40 years of relevant experience focused on ore deposit exploration worldwide. He is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG 10227) by the American Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona Registered Geologist (ARG 21613). Dr. Megaw is not independent as he is Chief Exploration Officer and a Shareholder of Mag.
About Mag Silver Corp.
Mag Silver Corp. is a Canadian development and exploration company focused on becoming a top-tier primary silver mining company by exploring and advancing high-grade, district scale, silver-dominant projects in the Americas. Its principal focus and asset is the Juanicipio Project (44%), being developed with Fresnillo Plc (56%), the operator. The Project is located in the Fresnillo Silver Trend in Mexico, the world's premier silver mining camp, where the operator is currently developing an underground mine and constructing a 4,000 tonnes per day processing plant. Underground mine production of mineralized development material commenced in Q3 2020, and an expanded exploration program is in place targeting multiple highly prospective targets at Juanicipio. Mag is also executing a multi-phase exploration program at the Deer Trail 100% earn-in project in Utah.
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