Coeur Reports First Quarter Production Results
CHICAGO, April 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coeur Mining Inc. (the "Company" or "Coeur") (NYSE:CDE) today announced preliminary first quarter production of 3.8 million ounces of silver and 69,734 ounces of gold, or 8.0 million silver equivalent ounces.
Quarterly Production Results1
Click here for quarterly production results: http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/29849/file/33071.pdf
1Q 2015 Operational Results1
First quarter operational highlights for each of the Company's mines are provided below.
| Palmarejo, Mexico | 1Q 2015 | 4Q 2014 | 3Q 2014 | 2Q 2014 | 1Q 2014 |
| Underground Operations: | |||||
| Tons mined | 149,150 | 187,729 | 169,656 | 177,359 | 209,854 |
| Average silver grade (oz/t) | 4.34 | 4.49 | 4.92 | 6.15 | 5.95 |
| Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.10 | 0.11 | 0.11 |
| Surface Operations: | |||||
| Tons mined | 281,481 | 320,802 | 343,001 | 320,583 | 358,222 |
| Average silver grade (oz/t) | 3.79 | 2.90 | 3.09 | 3.72 | 3.50 |
| Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Processing: | |||||
| Total tons milled | 451,918 | 510,813 | 518,212 | 534,718 | 571,345 |
| Average recovery rate – Ag | 78.7% | 80.2% | 82.7% | 75.6% | 73.3% |
| Average recovery rate – Au | 73.9% | 78.7% | 86.9% | 78.9% | 78.0% |
| Silver production ounces (000's) | 1,354 | 1,444 | 1,533 | 1,761 | 1,820 |
| Gold production ounces | 15,495 | 15,237 | 22,514 | 23,706 | 25,216 |
| Silver-equivalent production ounces (000's) | 2,284 | 2,358 | 2,884 | 3,183 | 3,333 |
- Production at Palmarejo continues to transition to underground mining at the Guadalupe mine and - beginning in 2016 - the Independencia mine while mining activities in the historic zones are gradually reduced. Open-pit operations are expected to end in the second quarter of 2015 and underground mining at the legacy zones is expected to end by January 2016.
- Underground mining from Guadalupe continues to accelerate and is on track to reach 1,500 tons per day in the third quarter.
- Development continues on the 1,000 meter decline to the high-grade Independencia deposit, which combines Paramount Gold and Silver Corp.'s Don Ese deposit with Coeur's Independencia structure.
- Closing of the previously announced acquisition of Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. is expected to occur on April 17, 2015.
- The oxide ore bypass in the process plant is expected to be fully implemented during the second quarter and lead to higher recovery rates. Recovery rates for both silver and gold were slightly lower during the first quarter due to a higher proportion of oxide ore from open pit mining.
| Rochester, Nevada | 1Q 2015 | 4Q 2014 | 3Q 2014 | 2Q 2014 | 1Q 2014 |
| Tons placed | 4,013,879 | 3,876,944 | 3,892,421 | 3,329,582 | 3,640,861 |
| Average silver grade (oz/t) | 0.74 | 0.60 | 0.51 | 0.58 | 0.59 |
| Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.005 | 0.003 | 0.003 |
| Silver production ounces (000's) | 1,144 | 1,170 | 1,156 | 1,112 | 750 |
| Gold production ounces | 13,721 | 15,764 | 11,702 | 9,230 | 8,192 |
| Silver-equivalent production ounces (000's) | 1,967 | 2,116 | 1,858 | 1,666 | 1,242 |
- Silver equivalent production decreased 7% compared to the fourth quarter at Rochester but remains significantly higher than the first three quarters of 2014. The average silver grade increased 23% compared to the fourth quarter.
- Silver equivalent production is expected to increase by 15% - 30% in 2015 compared to 2014.
| Kensington, Alaska | 1Q 2015 | 4Q 2014 | 3Q 2014 | 2Q 2014 | 1Q 2014 |
| Tons milled | 147,969 | 167,417 | 145,097 | 163,749 | 159,697 |
| Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.23 | 0.18 | 0.17 |
| Average recovery rate | 94.8% | 94.2% | 93.0% | 94.5% | 94.5% |
| Gold production ounces | 33,909 | 33,533 | 30,773 | 28,089 | 25,428 |
- Higher head grades offset lower throughput at Kensington in the first quarter, generating strong production in line with fourth quarter performance.
- Coeur anticipates releasing a new mine plan at Kensington in April 2015, which is expected to reflect higher-grade, higher-margin production over the life of the mine.
| San Bartolomé, Bolivia | 1Q 2015 | 4Q 2014 | 3Q 2014 | 2Q 2014 | 1Q 2014 |
| Tons milled | 406,951 | 454,136 | 471,938 | 437,975 | 385,375 |
| Average silver grade (oz/t) | 3.65 | 3.77 | 3.70 | 3.86 | 3.88 |
| Average recovery rate | 81.6% | 88.0% | 86.5% | 87.5% | 90.5% |
| Silver production ounces (000's) | 1,213 | 1,506 | 1,509 | 1,481 | 1,355 |
- First quarter production at San Bartolomé was affected by maintenance downtime and heavy rain, which resulted in processing a higher proportion of lower-grade stockpiled ore.
- Full-year 2015 production, grade, and recovery rates are expected to be similar to 2014 levels.
| Wharf, South Dakota | 1Q 2015 | 4Q 2014 | 3Q 2014 | 2Q 2014 | 1Q 2014 |
| Tons placed | 415,996 | ||||
| Average gold equivalent grade (oz/t) | 0.007 | ||||
| Gold equivalent production ounces | 6,609 |
- First quarter operating results at Wharf represent production since the acquisition closed on February 20, 2015.
| Endeavor, Australia | 1Q 2015 | 4Q 2014 | 3Q 2014 | 2Q 2014 | 1Q 2014 |
| Silver production ounces (000's) | 133 | 191 | 141 | 111 | 147 |
- Silver production received from the Company's silver stream from the Endeavor mine in Australia decreased by 30% in the first quarter.
2015 Production Outlook
Coeur's 2015 total silver and gold production guidance is unchanged as shown below.
| (silver and silver equivalent ounces in thousands) | Silver | Gold | Silver Equivalent |
| Palmarejo | 3,900 - 4,300 | 55,000 - 65,000 | 7,200 - 8,200 |
| San Bartolomé | 5,800 - 6,100 | — | 5,800 - 6,100 |
| Rochester | 4,700 - 5,000 | 55,000 - 65,000 | 8,000 - 8,900 |
| Endeavor | 400 - 600 | — | 400 - 600 |
| Kensington | — | 110,000 - 115,000 | 6,600 - 6,900 |
| Wharf | — | 74,000 - 78,000 | 4,440 - 4,680 |
| Total | 14,800 - 16,000 | 294,000 - 323,000 | 32,440 - 35,380 |
1. Silver and gold equivalence calculated using a 60:1 silver to gold ratio.
Financial Results and Conference Call
Coeur will report its full operational and financial results for the first quarter 2015 on May 4, 2015 after the New York Stock Exchange closes for trading. There will be a conference call on May 5, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.
| Dial-In Numbers: | (888) 317-6016 (US) | |
| (855) 669-9657 (Canada) | ||
| (412) 317-6016 (International) | ||
| Conference ID: | Coeur Mining Inc. | |
The conference call and presentation will also be webcast on the Company's website www.coeur.com.
Hosting the call will be Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur, who will be joined by Peter C. Mitchell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Frank L. Hanagarne, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hans Rasmussen, Vice President of Exploration, Joe Phillips, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, and other members of management.
A replay of the call will be available through May 19, 2015.
| Replay numbers: | (877) 344-7529 (US) |
| (855) 669-9658 (Canada) | |
| (412) 317-0088 (International) | |
| Conference ID: | 100 63 549 |
About Coeur
Coeur Mining is the largest U.S.-based primary silver producer and a significant gold producer with five precious metals mines in the Americas employing approximately 2,100 people. 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, the Kensington gold mine in Alaska, and the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. The Company also has a non-operating interest in the Endeavor mine in Australia in addition to royalties on the Cerro Bayo mine in Chile, the El Gallo complex in Mexico, the Zaruma mine in Ecuador, and the Correnso mine in New Zealand. 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 Alaska, Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and Nevada. The Company owns strategic investment positions in several silver and gold development companies with projects in North and South America.
Cautionary Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding anticipated production, grades, margins, mine plans, recovery rates, open-pit and underground operations at Palmarejo, development efforts, the closing of the Paramount acquisition, and future performance. 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 the Paramount transaction will not be consummated on a timely basis or at all, the risk that the anticipated benefits of the Wharf and Paramount acquisitions are not realized, the risk that anticipated production levels are not attained, 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 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 and the absence of control over mining operations in which Coeur or its subsidiaries hold royalty or streaming interests and risks related to these mining operations including results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdiction in which the mining operations are located, 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 report on Form 10-K. 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.
W. David Tyler, Coeur's Vice President, Technical Services and a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information concerning Coeur's mineral projects in this news release. For a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources, as well as data verification 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, Canadian investors should refer to the Technical Reports for each of Coeur's properties as filed on SEDAR at sedar.com.
CONTACT: For Additional Information:
Bridget Freas, Director, Investor Relations
(312) 489-5819
Donna Mirandola, Director, Corporate Communications
(312) 489-5842
www.coeur.com
