Anaconda's Pine Cove Mine has Record FY Q4 '13 Sales Volume of Nearly 4,400 Ounces; Generates Nearly $6.8M in Revenue
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/13/13 -- Anaconda Mining Inc. ("Anaconda" or "the Company") - (TSX: ANX) is pleased to announce certain financial and operating results from the fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended May 31, 2013. During the fourth quarter, the Company sold 4,367 ounces of gold and generated $6,780,307 in revenue at an average sales price of $1,552 per ounce. The fourth quarter sales volume and revenue were approximately 41% and 32% greater than the third quarter sales volume and revenue, respectively. For fiscal 2013, the Company sold 14,879 ounces of gold and generated $24,173,439 in revenue at an average sales price of $1,625 per ounce. Compared to fiscal 2012, sales volume and revenue increased 24% and 21%, respectively.
President and CEO, Dustin Angelo, stated, "Fiscal fourth quarter was a strong performance with record results for gold sales volume and throughput. In the latter half of fiscal 2013, we introduced initiatives to maintain higher consistency in the operations, which manifested themselves in greater output and has set the stage for the coming fiscal year. Since fiscal 2011, year-over-year, the Company has demonstrated the ability to generate better and better operating results as evidenced by fiscal 2013 sales volume being 24% higher than fiscal 2012 and 178% greater than fiscal 2011. With the improvements in Pine Cove's operations and higher projected grade, we expect sales volume in FY 2014 to exceed FY 2013."
FY Q4 2013 Mill Operations Overview:
The Pine Cove mill processed 84,768 dry tonnes of ore during the fourth quarter, which is the highest quarterly volume achieved to date. The record throughput represented 982 tonnes per operating day, compared to the budgeted amount of 967. The mill operated for 86 days at an availability rate of 93% and an overall gold recovery of 84%, slightly exceeding budgeted expectations. The average head grade of 2.19 grams per tonne, exceeded the 1.99 grams per tonne budgeted for the quarter. The budgeted grade for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 is expected to be 1.89 grams per tonne with the average grade for the full fiscal year budgeted at 2.12 grams per tonne.
The following table summarizes the key operating statistics by quarter for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2013:
Q1 '13 Q2 '13 Q3 '13 Q4 '13 Total/Avg
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OPERATING STATISTICS:
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Availability 80% 94% 85% 93% 88%
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Dry tonnes processed 62,865 76,292 63,822 84,768 287,747
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Tonnes per 24-hour day 856 887 830 982 891
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Grade (grams per tonne) 1.85 1.76 2.17 2.19 1.99
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Overall mill recovery 84% 83% 83% 84% 83%
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Gold sales volume (troy oz.) 4,217 3,194 3,101 4,367 14,879
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The record throughput performance can be attributed to mechanical improvements in the crusher and an extension in the crushing schedule. The mechanical improvements increased availability and a 24-hour crushing schedule enabled Pine Cove to build and maintain a large crushed ore stockpile during the quarter. These changes provided a more consistent feed for the mill and allowed operations to continue unaffected during any planned or mechanical downtime of the crusher, thus resulting in record throughput for the fourth quarter.
At the end of the fourth quarter, Pine Cove initiated a crusher relocation program, which will be completed in Q1 FY 2014. The relocation is meant to further improve consistency in the crusher operations especially during the winter months when the operations are typically hindered more by weather and clean-up issues. Heat coils were installed in the new crusher pad to mitigate snow buildup. The crusher has also been raised to enable easier access for cleaning with heavy equipment. The operation also experimented with a de-icing product in the latter part of last winter which will now become part of routine winter operations. The relocation also allowed for the removal of one high maintenance conveyor belt from the crushing circuit.
ABOUT ANACONDA
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Anaconda is a growth oriented, gold mining and exploration company with a producing asset located on the Baie Verte Peninsula in Newfoundland, Canada called the Pine Cove mine.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains or refers to forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements regarding targets, estimates and/or assumptions in respect of future production, mine development costs, unit costs, capital costs, timing of commencement of operations and future economic, market and other conditions, and is based on current expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: the final approval of the private placement by the Toronto Stock Exchange; the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates; capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of the any project caused by unavailability of equipment, labour or supplies, climatic conditions or otherwise; termination or revision of any debt financing; failure to raise additional funds required to finance the completion of a project; and other factors. Additionally, forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as "plans," "may," "estimates," "expects," "indicates," "targeting," "potential" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Anaconda's beliefs in the potential mineralization, are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Contacts:
Anaconda Mining Inc.
Dustin Angelo
President and CEO
(647) 260-1248
dangelo@anacondamining.com
ProConsul Capital Ltd.
Andreas Curkovic
Investor Relations
(416) 577-9927
acurkovic@proconsulcapital.com
www.anacondamining.com
