THOMPSON FALLS, MT / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2019 / United States Antimony Corporation (''USAC'') (NYSE
American: UAMY) reported the status of the beneficiation of the Los Juarez ore as follows:
- Approximately 30,000 tons of ore has been mined and is ready for processing.
- The crusher and flotation circuits at the Puerto Blanco mill are ready for production.
- The tailings pond excavation has been completed and will be ready for a liner following the installation of a culvert to
divert storm-water inflow.
- The majority of the cyanide leach plant has been built and is being installed at Puerto Blanco.
- The caustic leach plant at Madero to process the flotation concentrates is operational and has recovered the precious metals
with close to a 100% recovery. The initial metallic product from 6 runs was as follows:
|
Bar
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
Gold oz/ metric ton
|
93.25
|
80.3
|
126
|
130
|
176
|
111
|
|
Silver oz/ metric ton
|
10,414
|
11,000
|
15,900
|
16,400
|
23,200
|
15,100
|
- Marketing of the product is now underway. This will dictate whether USAC will further refine it to dore.
- Laboratory equipment is being purchased and personnel are being trained to fire assay and control the cyanide and other
parameters.
- The cost of reagents and fluxes is being researched, and it appears that China may be the best source.
Wadley continues to be a major source of high- grade antimony ore. Load haul dump (LHD) equipment is being provided to speed up
underground transportation and mine development.
The dismantling, removal, and transportation of the Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, LANXESS Holding Company US, Inc. antimony
plant in Reynosa, Mexico is on schedule to be completed by the end of January 2019. Trucking of the five large furnaces is
underway, and they will increase the plant capacity at Madero for the production of crude oxide tremendously. This will accommodate
more production from Wadley and Guadalupe in 2019.
Estimated sales for 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
|
Product
|
Q4 2017
|
Q4 2018
|
% Change
|
2017
|
2018
|
% change
|
|
Antimony pounds
|
415,427
|
391,784
|
-5.7
|
1,891,439
|
1,486,120
|
-21.4
|
|
Gold oz
|
69
|
14.61
|
-78.8
|
107
|
68.61
|
-35.9
|
|
Silver oz
|
9,913
|
2,866
|
-71.1
|
32,021
|
18,122
|
-43.5
|
|
Zeolite tons
|
293,057
|
349,457
|
+19.2
|
12,376
|
15,002
|
+21.2
|
The production of antimony, gold, and silver during 2018 was impacted by a reduction of the North American supply of raw
materials from 70 loads in 2017 to 37 loads in 2018, a decrease of 47.1%. Each load contained about 18,000 pounds of antimony.
However by Q4 2018, a sharp increase in the supply of Mexican production offset the reduction of the supply from North America.
The sale of zeolite increased from 12,377 tons in 2017 to 15,002 tons in 2018, an increase of 21%. Changes in the market were as
follows:
|
CATEGORY
|
2017
|
2018
|
% CHANGE
|
|
Animal feed
|
4128
|
3906
|
-5.4
|
|
Water filtration
|
3548
|
5288
|
+49
|
|
Air filtration
|
1805
|
1117
|
-38.1
|
|
Soil amendment
|
1251
|
505
|
-59.6
|
|
Traction control
|
633
|
1002
|
+58.3
|
|
Infill
|
483
|
579
|
+19.9
|
|
Oil and gas
|
359
|
1700
|
+37.5
|
|
Odor control
|
119
|
NA
|
|
|
Industrial
|
98
|
NA
|
|
|
Environmental
|
78
|
68
|
-12.8
|
|
BRZ Distributors
|
54
|
165
|
+205.6
|
|
Absorption
|
|
60
|
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
127
|
|
The average Rotterdam price for antimony metal during December 2018 was $7,838.42 per metric ton, or $3.5551 per pound.
CEO John Lawrence said, ''We are excited about starting pilot production of gold, silver, and antimony from the the Los Juarez
deposit in Q1 2019.''
About U.S. Antimony:
US Antimony is a growing, vertically-integrated natural resource company that has production and diversified operations in
precious metals, zeolite and antimony.
Forward Looking Statements:
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of
assumptions about future events, including matters related to the Company's operations, pending contracts and future revenues,
ability to execute on its increased production and installation schedules for planned capital expenditures and the size of
forecasted deposits. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the
assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to
have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are
subject to numerous factors and uncertainties. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are
discussed in the Company's most recent filings, including Form 10-KSB with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT:
Address: United States Antimony Corporation, PO Box 643, 47 Cox Gulch Rd. Thompson Falls, Montana, 59873
Phone: 406-827-3523
Email: tfl3543@blackfoot.net
Fax: 406-827-3543
SOURCE: United States Antimony Corporation
