Brigus Gold Exceeds Q1 Production Target
Brigus Gold Corporation ('Brigus? or the 'Company?)(NYSE MKT: BRD; TSX:
BRD) is pleased to announce record production levels of 26,316 gold
ounces in the first quarter of 2013.
'Operationally Brigus has never been stronger,? said Daniel Racine,
Brigus′ President and Chief Operating Officer. 'Much of our production
success can be attributed to the underground gold grades which continued
to exceed reserve grades during the quarter.?
Operating Results | ? | First Quarter | ? | Change | ? | Fourth Quarter | ? | Change | |||
2013 | ? | 2012 | 2012 | ||||||||
Tonnes milled | 183,819 | 180,965 | 2,854 | 185,727 | (1,908) | ||||||
Tonnes per day | 2,042 | 1,989 | 53 | 2,019 | 23 | ||||||
Average recovery (%) | 94 | 96 | (2) | 94 | - | ||||||
Average grade (gpt) | 4.74 | 3.04 | 1.70 | 4.04 | 0.70 | ||||||
Gold production (ounces) | 26,316 | 16,922 | 9,394 | 22,672 | 3,644 | ||||||
Gold sold (ounces) | 27,818 | 16,033 | 11,785 | 20,175 | 7,643 | ||||||
Gold price (US$/ ounce) (1) | $1,626 | $1,687 | $(61) | $1,712 | $(86) |
(1) Excludes the impact of sales under the Goldstream agreement
Brigus Gold produced a total of 26,316 gold ounces in Q1 2013, a 16
percent increase from the 22,672 ounces produced in the fourth quarter
of 2012 and a 56 percent increase over the same period in 2012. The
Black Fox mill processed 183,819 tonnes of ore at an average grade of
4.74 grams of gold per tonne and an average recovery of 94 percent in
the quarter. Throughput averaged 2,042 tonnes per day.
The Company will release complete first quarter financial and
operational results on May 14, 2013.
2013 Outlook
In 2013, Brigus will fund Black Fox and Grey
Fox operations with internally generated cash flows. Brigus′ production
guidance for 2013 is 90,000 to 100,000 ounces and cash costs are
anticipated to be in the range of $700 - $750 per ounce.
Capital costs for 2013 are forecasted as follows; $16 million (M) for
underground sustaining capital, $6M for development capital relating to
the underground, $13M for open pit capital stripping and overburden
removal, $6M for property plant, equipment and other capital items,
$2.5M for underground exploration, and $12M for development of the Grey
Fox Mine and exploration on the Black Fox Complex.
The Company remains focused on increasing gold resources at Grey Fox and
at the Black Fox underground mine through targeted exploration drilling
which will continue throughout the year.
About Brigus Gold
Brigus is a growing gold producer
committed to maximizing shareholder value through a strategy of
efficient production, targeted exploration and select acquisitions. The
Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox mine and mill in the Timmins
Gold District of Ontario, Canada. The Black Fox Complex encompasses the
Black Fox mine and adjoining properties in the Township of Black
River-Matheson, Ontario, Canada. Brigus is also advancing the Goldfields
Project located near Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the
Box and Athona gold deposits. In Mexico, Brigus has the Ixhuatan Project
located in the state of Chiapas. In the Dominican Republic, Brigus has
signed an agreement to sell its remaining interests in three mineral
exploration projects.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Statements
contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are
forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements
regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its production, total
cash costs, steady state annual production and mining rate estimates;
increase in gold production; increase in profitability; exploration
drill results and resource additions, are forward-looking statements and
estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties. This
forward-looking statements include, or may be based upon, estimates,
forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect
to, among other things, the outcome of legal proceedings, the issue of
permits, the size and quality of the Company's mineral resources,
progress in development of mineral properties, future production and
sales volumes, capital and mine production costs, demand and market
outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining
charges, and the financial results of the Company.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from these forward-looking statements include environmental risks and
other factors disclosed under the heading 'Risk Factors? in Brigus′ most
recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis
filed under the Company′s name at www.sedar.com
and annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov
as well as elsewhere in Brigus′ documents filed from time to time
with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory
authorities. All forward-looking statements included in this news
release are based on information available to the Company on the date
hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Brigus Gold Corporation
Kate Wood, (902) 442-7184
Manager,
Investor Relations
kwood@brigusgold.com