Agnico-Eagle files new technical report on Goldex confirming reclassification of reserves
Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE and TSX)
(All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted)
TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2011 /CNW/ - Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited ('Agnico-Eagle' or the 'Company') today announced updated mineral resource data as at October 19, 2011 for its Goldex mine. In a press release dated October 19, 2011, the Company previously announced its intention to reclassify all of the proven and probable gold reserves at Goldex, other than the ore stockpiled on surface, as mineral resources. The reclassification was confirmed in a technical report compliant with the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 ('NI 43-101') with respect to the reserve and resource estimates at the Goldex mine, filed by the Company today. The report entitled 'Technical Report on Restatement of the Mineral Resources at Goldex Mine, Quebec, Canada as at October 19, 2011' may be found at www.sedar.com.
Detailed Mineral Reserve and Resource Data
The following table sets out the gold reserves and resources at the Goldex mine as at October 19, 2011, after the reclassification:*
Category Grade Tonnes
(g/t gold) (000s)
Proven Mineral Reserve** 1.70 77
Probable Mineral Reserve - -
Total Proven and Probable Reserve** 1.70 77
Measured Resource 1.86 12,362
Indicated Resource 1.68 21,234
Category Grade Tonnes
(g/t gold) (000s)
Total Measured and Indicated Resource 1.75 33,596
Total Inferred Resource 1.67 25,813
* Tonnage amounts and contained metal amounts presented in this table have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Reserves are not a sub-set of resources.
** As at October 19, 2011, there was a proven mineral reserve of approximately 4,000 ounces of gold contained in approximately 77,000 tonnes grading 1.70 g/t in ore stockpiled on surface. As at October 30, 2011, all of the ore in the stockpile had been processed through the mill.
About Agnico-Eagle
Agnico-Eagle is a long established, Canadian headquartered, gold producer with operations located in Canada, Finland and Mexico, and exploration and development activities in Canada, Finland, Mexico and the United States. The Company has full exposure to higher gold prices consistent with its policy of no forward gold sales and maintains a corporate strategy based on increasing shareholders' exposure to gold, on a per share basis. It has paid a cash dividend for 29 consecutive years. www.agnico-eagle.com
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this news release has been prepared as at December 5, 2011. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and 'forward looking information' under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and are referred to herein as 'forward-looking statements'. When used in this document, words such as 'anticipate', 'expect', 'estimate,' 'forecast,' 'planned', 'will', 'likely', 'schedule' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Such statements include without limitation: the Company's forward-looking production guidance, including estimated ore grades, reserves and resources, project timelines, drilling results, orebody configurations, metal production, life of mine trends, production estimates, the estimated timing of scoping and other studies, the methods by which ore will be extracted or processed, recovery rates, mill throughput, and projected exploration and capital expenditures, including costs and other estimates upon which such projections are based; the Company's plans to assess, monitor and remediate subsidence issues at Goldex and the related costs; the Company's plans to continue exploration drilling at Goldex; the potential to resume mining or other discontinued operations at Goldex; and other statements and information regarding anticipated trends with respect to the Company's operations, exploration and the funding thereof. Such statements reflect the Company's views as at the date of this press release and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico-Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The factors and assumptions of Agnico-Eagle contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the assumptions set forth herein and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F (the 'Form 20-F') in respect of the year ended December 31, 2010 and management's discussion for the periods ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011, all of which are filed with securities regulators in Canada and the United States, as well as: that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, damage to equipment, natural occurrences, equipment failures, accidents, political changes, title issues or otherwise; that permitting, production and expansion at Goldex proceed on a basis consistent with current expectations and that Agnico-Eagle does not change its plans relating to Goldex; that the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the United States dollar will be approximately consistent with current levels or as set out in this news release; that prices for gold, silver, zinc, copper and lead will be consistent with Agnico-Eagle's expectations; that prices for key mining and construction supplies, including labour costs, remain consistent with Agnico-Eagle's current expectations; that Agnico-Eagle's current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and metal recovery are accurate; that there are no material delays in the timing for completion of ongoing growth projects; that the Company's current plans to optimize production are successful; and that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the volatility of prices of gold and other metals; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and metal recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, capital expenditures, and other costs; currency fluctuations; financing of additional capital requirements; cost of exploration and development programs; mining risks; risks associated with foreign operations; governmental and environmental regulation; the volatility of the Company's stock price; and risks associated with the Company's byproduct metal derivative strategies. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see the Form 20-F, as well as the Company's other filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'). The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements and information, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Certain of the foregoing statements, primarily related to projects, are based on preliminary views of the Company with respect to, among other things, grade, tonnage, processing, recoveries, mining methods, capital costs, total cash costs, minesite costs, and location of surface infrastructure. Actual results and final decisions may be materially different from those currently anticipated.
Notes To Investors Regarding The Use Of Resources
Cautionary Note To Investors Concerning Estimates Of Measured And Indicated Resources
This press release uses the terms 'measured resources' and 'indicated resources'. We advise investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
Cautionary Note To Investors Concerning Estimates Of Inferred Resources
This press release also uses the term 'inferred resources'. We advise investors that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize it. 'Inferred resources' have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
Scientific And Technical Data
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is reporting mineral resource and reserve estimates in accordance with the CIM guidelines for the estimation, classification and reporting of resources and reserves.
Cautionary Note To U.S. Investors - The SEC permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Agnico-Eagle uses certain terms in this press release, such as 'measured', 'indicated', and 'inferred', and 'resources' that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, which may be obtained from us, or from the SEC's website at: http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml. A 'final' or 'bankable' feasibility study is required to meet the requirements to designate reserves under Industry Guide 7.
Estimates for the Goldex mine were calculated using historic three-year average metals prices and foreign exchange rates in accordance with the SEC Industry Guide 7. Industry Guide 7 requires the use of prices that reflect current economic conditions at the time of reserve determination, which the Staff of the SEC has interpreted to mean historic three-year average prices. The assumptions used for the mineral reserves and resources estimates reported by the Company today were based on three-year average prices for the period ending December 31, 2010 of $1,024 per ounce gold and a C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.08.
NI 43-101 requires mining companies to disclose reserves and resources using the subcategories of 'proven' reserves, 'probable' reserves, 'measured' resources, 'indicated' resources and 'inferred' resources. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
A mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated resource demonstrated by at least a preliminary feasibility study. This study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. A mineral reserve includes diluting materials and allows for losses that may occur when the material is mined. A proven mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. A probable mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. A measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. An indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. An inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
A Feasibility Study is a comprehensive technical and economic study of the selected development option for a mineral project that includes appropriately detailed assessments of realistically assumed mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental considerations together with any other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis, that are necessary to demonstrate at the time of reporting that extraction is reasonably justified (economically mineable). The results of the study may reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or finance, the development of the project. The confidence level of the study will be higher than that of a Pre-Feasibility Study.
The mineral reserves presented in this disclosure are separate from and not a portion of the mineral resources.
Additional information on the Goldex mineral project that is required by NI 43-101, sections 3.2 and 3.3 and paragraphs 3.4 (a), (c) and (d) can be found in the Technical Report referred to below, which may be found at www.sedar.com. Other important operating information can be found in the Company's Form 20-F and its news release dated October 19, 2011.
Property/Project QualifiedPerson Qualified Date of
name and responsible for Person most
location thecurrent responsible recent
Mineral for SEDAR
Resource Exploration Technical
andReserve and Report
Estimate relationship (NI43-101)
andrelationship to disclosure
to Agnico-Eagle
Agnico-Eagle
Goldex Quebec, Richard Genest, Richard October
Canada ing., Genest, ing., 19, 2011
Goldex Division Goldex
Superintendent Division
of geology Superintendent
of geology
The contents of this press release have been prepared under the supervision of, and reviewed by, Marc Legault P.Eng., Vice-President Project Development and a 'Qualified Person' for the purposes of NI 43-101.
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited
CONTACT: Investor Relations (416) 947-1212
