Coeur Reports Significant Increase in Mineral Reserves at Rochester
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Coeur Mining Inc. (“Coeur” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CDE) (TSX: CDM) announced contained ounces of proven and probable reserves totaling approximately 86.0 million silver ounces and 605,000 gold ounces, representing increases of 91.5% and 96.4%, respectively, at its Rochester mine in Nevada. In addition to these reserves, Coeur estimates that effective as of September 16, 2013, Rochester contains approximately 69.3 million silver ounces and 560,000 gold ounces of measured and indicated resources and approximately 26.2 million silver ounces and 105,000 gold ounces of inferred resources. The resource estimates do not reflect results from the ongoing 2013 drilling program.
Table 1: Pro-Forma1 Rochester Proven and Probable Reserves | ||||||||||||||||||||
GRADE (Oz/Ton) | OUNCES | |||||||||||||||||||
SHORT TONS | SILVER | GOLD | SILVER | GOLD | ||||||||||||||||
ROCHESTER IN-SITU | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proven | 78,767,000 | 0.58 | 0.005 | 45,539,000 | 384,000 | |||||||||||||||
Probable | 42,703,000 | 0.62 | 0.004 | 26,589,000 | 156,000 | |||||||||||||||
ROCHESTER STOCKPILE | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proven | 19,949,000 | 0.52 | 0.003 | 10,275,000 | 50,000 | |||||||||||||||
Probable | 6,997,000 | 0.51 | 0.002 | 3,582,000 | 16,000 | |||||||||||||||
Total | 148,416,000 | 0.58 | 0.004 | 85,985,000 | 605,000 |
- Effective as of September 16, 2013 using metal prices of $25.00 per silver ounce and $1,450 per gold ounce and year-end 2012 topography and parameters (other than the lower metals price assumptions and the impact of the previously-announced resolution of the claims dispute). The reserves do not reflect 2013 mine production, depletion of reserves or exploration or drilling conducted during 2013. Rounding of tons and ounces, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent differences between tons, grade, and contained metal content.
Mitchell J. Krebs, Coeur’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Resolving the mining claims dispute at Rochester in late June enabled us to develop a new mine plan for Rochester, which significantly increased our silver and gold reserves. Based on this work, we now have a higher level of confidence in the long-term profile of Rochester, which we believe will extend well past the life of the current reserves. We expect to further increase in-situ and stockpile reserves and resources at Rochester at year end as a result of our 2013 drilling program. Rochester represents a unique and attractive source of growth for our stockholders with relatively minimal capital requirements, high expected returns, an attractive jurisdiction, and lower execution risk given its operating history of more than 25 years.”
Operating Outlook
Rochester’s annual crushing rate in 2012 was approximately 9.0 million tons, which resulted in production of 2.8 million silver ounces and 38,066 gold ounces. In 2013, the Company expects to crush approximately 12 million tons at Rochester. Annual crushing rates are expected to ramp up to 13 - 16.5 million tons starting in 2014. Beyond 2017, the Company anticipates increasing annual crushing rates to approximately 18.5 million tons.
Recent investments in the existing heap leach pads at Rochester have increased total capacity by 72 million tons, which Coeur expects will enable operations to continue into the second half of 2017. The removal of the claims dispute constraints allowed Coeur to reevaluate pit and pad limits and plan for new leach pad capacity. The Company is in the process of obtaining permits for 120 million tons of additional pad capacity, which are expected to be received by mid-2016. This expanded capacity is anticipated to further extend Rochester’s active mine life based on existing reserves through at least 2023. The Company is also assessing the optimal scenario for a further expansion of Rochester, targeting opportunities to expand reserves from the Company’s significant additional mineral resources.
The increased reserves at Rochester are inside pit limits now fully contained within the Company’s land package of approximately 8,800 acres of U.S. federal unpatented claims, patented claims, and other rights. The Company is in the process of preparing a new Technical Report pursuant to Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) to document the changes to the reserves and resources at Rochester that will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days.
About Coeur
Coeur Mining Inc. is the largest U.S.-based primary silver producer and a growing gold producer. The Company has four precious metals mines in the Americas generating strong production, sales and cash flow. Coeur produces from its wholly owned operations: the Palmarejo silver-gold mine in Mexico, the San Bartolomé silver mine in Bolivia, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada and the Kensington gold mine in Alaska. The Company also has a non-operating interest in the Endeavor mine in Australia. In addition, the Company has two silver-gold feasibility stage projects – the La Preciosa project in Mexico and the Joaquin project in Argentina. The Company also conducts ongoing exploration activities in Mexico, Argentina, Nevada, Alaska and Bolivia. The Company owns strategic investment positions in eight silver and gold development companies with projects in North and South America.
Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding estimated mineral reserve and resource levels, anticipated crushing rates, crushing and leach pad capacity expansions, receipt of permits, mine life, exploration efforts, capital expenditures, expected returns, execution risk and location. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Coeur's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that permits necessary for the planned Rochester expansion may not be obtained, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in developing large-scale mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), changes in the market prices of gold and silver and a sustained lower price environment, the uncertainties inherent in Coeur's production, exploratory and developmental activities, including risks relating to permitting and regulatory delays, ground conditions, grade variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages, the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of gold and silver ore reserves, changes that could result from Coeur's future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, reliance on third parties to operate certain mines where Coeur owns silver production and reserves, the loss of any third-party smelter to which Coeur markets silver and gold, the effects of environmental and other governmental regulations, the risks inherent in the ownership or operation of or investment in mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, Coeur's ability to raise additional financing necessary to conduct its business, make payments or refinance its debt, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian securities regulators, including, without limitation, Coeur's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities.
Donald J. Birak, Coeur's Senior Vice President of Exploration and a qualified person under NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosures concerning Coeur's mineral projects contained herein. A description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources, as well as data verification and quality assurance procedures and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors, will be included in the NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report for Rochester to be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days and is consistent with the NI 43-101-compliant Technical Reports for Rochester currently available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors-The United States Securities and Exchange Commission 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. We may use certain terms in public disclosures, such as "measured," "indicated," "inferred” and “resources," that are recognized by Canadian regulations, but that SEC guidelines generally 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 10-K which may be secured from us, or from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Table 2: Proven and Probable Reserves | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GRADE (Oz/Ton) | OUNCES | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LOCATION | SHORT TONS | SILVER | GOLD | SILVER | GOLD | ||||||||||||||||||
PROVEN RESERVES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 98,716,000 | 0.57 | 0.004 | 55,814,000 | 434,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Martha | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 1,187,000 | 2.92 | — | 3,460,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 647,000 | — | 0.277 | — | 179,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 2,258,000 | 4.32 | — | 9,757,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 5,747,000 | 4.67 | 0.061 | 26,858,000 | 348,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total | 108,555,000 | 95,889,000 | 961,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
PROBABLE RESERVES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 49,700,000 | 0.61 | 0.003 | 30,171,000 | 171,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Mina Martha | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 41,699,000 | 2.53 | — | 105,628,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 4,020,000 | — | 0.208 | — | 837,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 2,508,000 | 1.43 | — | 3,588,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 7,105,000 | 3.69 | 0.045 | 26,251,000 | 317,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total | 105,032,000 | 165,638,000 | 1,325,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 148,416,000 | 0.58 | 0.004 | 85,985,000 | 605,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Martha | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 42,886,000 | 2.54 | — | 109,088,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 4,667,000 | — | 0.218 | — | 1,016,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 4,766,000 | 2.80 | — | 13,345,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 12,852,000 | 4.13 | 0.052 | 53,110,000 | 665,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total Proven and Probable | 213,587,000 | 261,528,000 | 2,286,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Table 3: Measured and Indicated Resources (Excluding Proven and Probable Reserves) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GRADE (Oz/Ton) | OUNCES | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LOCATION | SHORT TONS | SILVER | GOLD | SILVER | GOLD | ||||||||||||||||||
MEASURED RESOURCES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 84,820,000 | 0.37 | 0.003 | 31,719,000 | 292,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Martha | Argentina | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 382,000 | — | 0.239 | — | 91,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 10,639,000 | 1.98 | — | 21,088,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 3,186,000 | 7.13 | 0.099 | 22,720,000 | 315,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | 5,942,000 | 4.58 | 0.003 | 27,191,000 | 19,000 | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | 12,664,000 | 2.78 | 0.005 | 35,194,000 | 68,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | 117,633,000 | 137,912,000 | 785,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
INDICATED RESOURCES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 94,722,000 | 0.40 | 0.003 | 37,581,000 | 269,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Mina Martha | Argentina | 57,000 | 13.57 | 0.017 | 775,000 | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 20,040,000 | 2.27 | — | 45,463,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 2,224,000 | — | 0.196 | — | 435,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 302,000 | 10.23 | — | 3,090,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 20,526,000 | 1.12 | 0.032 | 23,021,000 | 649,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | 11,398,000 | 3.33 | 0.004 | 37,980,000 | 42,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Lejano | Argentina | 1,233,000 | 2.42 | 0.008 | 2,983,000 | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | 44,576,000 | 2.49 | 0.005 | 110,979,000 | 209,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | 195,078,000 | 261,872,000 | 1,615,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 179,542,000 | 0.39 | 0.003 | 69,300,000 | 560,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Martha | Argentina | 57,000 | 13.57 | 0.017 | 775,000 | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 20,040,000 | 2.27 | — | 45,463,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 2,606,000 | — | 0.202 | — | 526,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 10,941,000 | 2.21 | — | 24,179,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 23,712,000 | 1.93 | 0.041 | 45,741,000 | 964,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | 17,340,000 | 3.76 | 0.004 | 65,171,000 | 61,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Lejano | Argentina | 1,233,000 | 2.42 | 0.008 | 2,983,000 | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | 57,240,000 | 2.55 | 0.005 | 146,173,000 | 278,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Measured and Indicated | 312,711,000 | 399,785,000 | 2,400,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Table 4: Inferred Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GRADE (Oz/Ton) | OUNCES | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LOCATION | SHORT TONS | SILVER | GOLD | SILVER | GOLD | ||||||||||||||||||
INFERRED RESOURCES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 41,054,000 | 0.64 | 0.003 | 26,179,000 | 105,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Martha | Argentina | 204,000 | 4.75 | 0.005 | 969,000 | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 2,826,000 | 1.17 | — | 3,319,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | 704,000 | — | 0.244 | — | 172,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | Australia | 3,527,000 | 1.09 | — | 3,836,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 11,903,000 | 1.86 | 0.038 | 22,104,000 | 457,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joaquin | Argentina | 1,060,000 | 2.94 | 0.003 | 3,113,000 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Lejano | Argentina | 3,307,000 | 1.73 | 0.006 | 5,713,000 | 19,000 | |||||||||||||||||
La Preciosa | Mexico | 19,504,000 | 1.93 | 0.003 | 37,726,000 | 60,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Inferred | 84,089,000 | 102,959,000 | 818,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Notes to the above mineral reserves and resources:
- Effective December 31, 2012, except for La Preciosa, which is effective June 26, 2013, and the Rochester update described herein, which is effective September 16, 2013 but based on year-end 2012 topography and parameters (other than the claims dispute and metals prices). The reserves do not reflect 2013 mine production depletion of the reserves or exploration or drilling conducted during 2013. Rounding of tons and ounces, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent differences between tons, grade, and contained metal content.
- Metal prices used for mineral reserves were $27.50 per ounce of silver and $1,450 per ounce of gold, except Endeavor, at $2,200 per metric ton of lead, $2,200 per metric ton of zinc and $34.00 per ounce of silver and Rochester, at $25.00 per ounce of silver and $1,450 per ounce of gold. Metal prices used for mineral resources were $33.00 per ounce of silver and $1,700 per ounce of gold, except for La Preciosa (see note 7 below), and Endeavor, at $2,200 per metric ton of lead, $2,200 per metric ton of zinc and $34.00 per ounce of silver.
- Palmarejo mineral resources are the addition of Palmarejo, Guadalupe, and La Patria (measured, indicated, and inferred).
- Mineral resources are in addition to mineral reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be considered for estimation of mineral reserves.
- Rounding of tons and ounces, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent differences between tons, grade, and contained metal content.
- For details on the estimation of mineral resources and reserves for each property, please refer to the relevant NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report on file at www.sedar.com and the updated Technical Report for Rochester to be filed within 45 days on www.sedar.com.
- La Preciosa mineral resources are effective June 26, 2013. La Preciosa mineral resources’ prices used were $27.45 per silver ounce and $1,508 per gold ounce. There are no mineral reserves at La Preciosa. The NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report, disclosing results of the PEA, is available on www.sedar.com.
Contact
Coeur Mining Inc.
Bridget Freas, Director, Investor Relations
312-268-5784
or
Donna Mirandola, Director, Corporate Communications
312-810-8138
www.coeur.com