Fronteer Gold Inc. (TSX: FRG)(NYSE Amex: FRG) announces financial
results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and
provides a brief update on our gold projects and corporate
activities. All amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise
stated.
"Fronteer Gold continues to demonstrate its commitment to
becoming a significant gold producer in Nevada," says Fronteer Gold
President and CEO Mark O'Dea. "We have consolidated ownership of
our flagship Long Canyon project, a high-quality gold asset with
significant growth potential, and acquired additional surface and
water rights that should help speed the completion of development
activities. Newmont has expanded its work-program at our Sandman
project and we have commenced construction of an underground
decline at our Northumberland project. We also continue to complete
transactions that help maintain our strong treasury and leave us
well positioned to advance our key gold projects toward
production."
HIGHLIGHTS
-- Cash and short-term deposits at September 30, 2010, totaled $163.1
million, up 10.7% from $147.3 million at December 31, 2009.
-- Completed the acquisition of AuEx Ventures Inc. on November 1, 2010,
consolidating ownership of our flagship Long Canyon project and
creating a dominant position in the Pequop Gold District. On August 30,
we announced Fronteer Gold had entered into an agreement to acquire
100% of the outstanding common shares of AuEx by way of a plan of
arrangement.
-- Continued advancing our three key gold projects in Nevada, with the
following highlights:
-- At Long Canyon, our drilling program continued to intersect wide
intervals of high-grade oxide gold. In addition, we completed the
purchase of the Big Springs Ranch, which secured additional surface
and water rights. Environmental, engineering and metallurgical
studies are all underway.
-- At Sandman, drilling at the North Hill deposit has returned multiple
intervals of near-surface oxide gold and a new property-wide
exploration drill program is underway with assay results expected in
fourth quarter. Newmont is three months into its final year of a
three-year earn-in agreement.
-- At Northumberland, J.S. Redpath Corp. was contracted to construct a
280-metre long decline to access high-grade mineralization within
the deposit. Construction is underway with completion targeted for
early 2011. Drilling completed in the third quarter further defined
and extended near-surface high-grade gold mineralization.
-- Completed, or are in negotiations on, several transactions that
strengthen our ability to fund advancement of our key gold projects,
while maintaining ongoing exposure to exploration upside through
retained interests and shareholdings, including:
-- In October, entered into a definitive agreement to sell 10 gold
properties, derived principally from Fronteer Gold's $4.8 million
purchase of the Nevada Eagle portfolio, to Bridgeport Ventures Inc.
Bridgeport issued an aggregate of 4.5 million common shares as
consideration for the sale, valued at $5.6 million (as at close of
trading on October 22, 2010)
-- Reported 646.5-metres of continuous copper-gold mineralization, the
longest interval to date at our Halilaga porphyry project in Turkey.
Additional drilling to expand and better define this early-stage
porphyry deposit is underway with additional results to be reported in
the fourth quarter;
-- Received the second draft of the Land Use Plan for the Labrador Inuit
Settlement Area, in which our Michelin project is located, that
stipulates mining is a permitted discretionary use, pending an
environmental assessment and government approval. The first draft of the
Environmental Protection legislation has also been released and is
consistent with existing federal and provincial environmental
legislation. Discussions continue with potential partners for the
financing and development of the Michelin Project.
100% CONSOLIDATION OF FLAGSHIP PROJECT
On November 2, we announced the successful completion of our
acquisition of AuEx Ventures, consolidating ownership of our
flagship Long Canyon project, a high-quality gold asset, and
creating a dominant position in the Pequop Gold District. Fronteer
Gold acquired an additional 49% interest in Long Canyon to own
100%, through the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding
shares of AuEx, Fronteer Gold's prior partner. With this
acquisition, Fronteer Gold also acquired AuEx's 49% interest in the
Pequop District's West Pequop project and their interest in the
South Pequop project. AuEx shareholders received 0.645 of a
Fronteer Gold share, $0.66 in cash and 0.5 of a share in a new
exploration company for each AuEx share, for a total cost of $267.6
million. In addition, each AuEx shareholder received 0.5 shares of
Renaissance Exploration Inc. a company formed to hold the assets of
AuEx not acquired by Fronteer Gold. Fronteer Gold acquired a 9.9%
interest in Renaissance at an additional cost of $4.7 million.
UPDATE ON NEVADA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Fronteer Gold continued to make progress on its key gold
development projects in the first quarter of 2010.
Long Canyon, Nevada, USA
Long Canyon is a high-grade gold deposit that remains open in
multiple directions. Our goal is to move the project to the
pre-feasibility stage as soon as possible. Total project
expenditures for the first three quarters of 2010 were $14.0
million, of which $7.0 million were attributable to Fronteer Gold,
net of joint venture recoveries. Approximately 54,000 metres were
drilled during the first three quarters of 2010, as part of an
expanded 70,000-metre program for the year. Up to six rigs will now
operate on site through December. An additional 10,000 metres are
planned from December through to April. In the third quarter,
Fronteer Gold continued to intersect numerous broad intervals of
high-grade oxide gold to the northern extension of the deposit,
demonstrating the potential for resource growth and enhanced
project scope. Four, 15-ton surface bulk samples and one three-ton
large-diametre core sample were also collected in the third quarter
for large-column metallurgical testing. Run-of-mine, heap-leach
conditions will be simulated. Engineering, mine design studies and
permitting work continue. During the third quarter, Fronteer Gold
completed the purchase of the Big Springs Ranch ("BSR") for US$12
million (our share US$6.12 million). The acquisition included the
purchase of approximately 37,540 acres of surface rights, nearly
all of the water rights appurtenant to the ranch, mineral rights
owned by BSR, and dwellings and improvements on the ranch. This
purchase provides the project with additional surface and water
rights that should help speed the completion of development
activities.
Sandman, Nevada, USA
Sandman is a high-grade epithermal gold system under option to
Newmont USA Ltd. Our joint venture partner is undertaking a
US$3-million exploration and development program focusing on the
four known gold deposits, as well as conducting a property-wide
exploration program. As of September 30, 2010, Newmont has spent
approximately US$12.8 million at Sandman. Newmont must spend an
additional US$1.2 million by June of 2011 in order to fulfill the
expenditure requirement of its earn-in obligation. In addition,
Newmont must also make a production decision by June 2011. In the
third quarter, activities at Sandman extended well beyond previous
in-fill drill programs at the Southeast Pediment and Silica Ridge
gold deposits. Newmont completed its Phase 1 development drill
program at North Hill. Drill results from North Hill continue to
highlight near-surface, high-grade oxide gold mineralization,
demonstrating the strength of this mineralized system. Newmont also
drilled a monitoring well to begin collecting hydrological data for
the deposit area. Newmont has also completed 33 holes (5,624
metres) of a 53-hole (9,000 metre) property-wide exploration drill
program at Sandman. Newmont is drill testing up to eight new
high-priority targets. At both Silica Ridge and Southeast Pediment,
drill programs of more than 70 holes are planned, four column tests
are near completion, and waste rock characterization and
geotechnical evaluation are in progress.
Northumberland, Nevada, USA
Northumberland is a large Carlin-type gold deposit located on
private lands owned by Fronteer Gold. For the first three quarters
of 2010, we spent $3.7 million at Northumberland. The budget for
Northumberland for 2010 has been increased from an initial $4.4
million to approximately $8.6 million to accelerate the project
timeline. Our goal is to advance the project as a combined open-pit
and underground mine. We aim to selectively mine the higher-grade
underground sulphide resource, and mine oxide and transitional
material in open pit. Drilling in third quarter clearly
demonstrates the presence of high-grade domains at Northumberland.
Results from 2010 drilling have returned some of the highest grade
gold intervals ever intersected at this project. Construction of a
280-metre decline to access high-grade mineralization within the
deposit commenced in Q3 with completion targeted for early 2011.
The decline provides: the most cost-effective method for evaluating
controls on high-grade mineralization; access to extraction of bulk
samples for metallurgical testing and pilot testing at third-party
processing facilities; and an easy transition from exploration to
production. In the third quarter, we continued metallurgical work
to optimize recoveries and minimize capital and operating costs, as
well as ongoing engineering and mining studies. Upon completion of
underground development activities, we plan on completing a
Preliminary Economic Assessment.
OTHER PROJECTS
Halilaga, Turkey
Beyond Nevada, our top exploration priority is Halilaga in
Turkey. Our 40% share of the Phase I costs are approximately $1.1
million of which approximately $1.0 million has been spent. In the
third quarter, drilling returned the longest interval of continuous
copper-gold mineralization ever intersected at Halilaga's Central
Zone: 0.26 g/t gold and 0.33% copper over 646.50 metres starting
from surface. Based on the success of this significant hole, the
drill plan was modified and an additional core rig added to the
program, for a total of three core rigs. Additional drilling in
October continues to report grades and widths similar to other
significant bulk-tonnage copper-gold deposits. We anticipate
completing a project first resource estimate by year-end, assuming
sufficient drilling has been completed.
Michelin, Labrador, Canada
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we spent at total
of $2.4 million on the Michelin project. For 2010, we have a
development budget of $3.3 million which will focus on finalizing
tailings management options, infrastructure design studies, ongoing
environmental baseline studies and continuing community
consultation. In the third quarter, the Nunatsiavut government
released a revised draft Land Use Plan ("LUP") that stipulates
mining is a permitted discretionary use, pending an environmental
assessment and government approval, on lands where the Michelin
Project is located. Also in the third quarter, the first draft of
the Environmental Protection legislation was released and is
consistent with existing federal and provincial environmental
legislation. The restriction on actual uranium mining is
anticipated to be removed on, or around, March 2011, the timeline
the Nunatsiavut government has set to ratify the LUP and complete
its environmental legislation. Aurora has undertaken an extensive
community engagement initiative to build understanding around
mining and the benefits communities can expect to derive from the
Michelin Project. Responses to these community initiatives have
been very positive, with high attendance and growing interest.
Fronteer Gold and Aurora continue to investigate a number of
alternatives for financing and developing the Michelin Project.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data are derived from our
financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2010
and 2009.
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Nine months ended
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, September 30,
except per share amounts) 2010 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) for the period (12,852) 7,923
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (0.11) 0.07
Cash invested in mineral properties, net of joint
venture recoveries 14,105 10,942
Cash provided by financing activities 2,794 227
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As at
September 30, December 31,
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars) 2010 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
deposits 163,143 147,901
Working capital 160,881 144,493
Total assets 510,966 521,184
Long term liabilities 41,142 51,438
Shareholders' equity 464,908 464,927
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For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we lost
$21.2 million or $0.18 per share and $12.9 million, or $0.11 per
share, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September
30, 2009, we earned $11.9 million or $0.10 per share and $8.0
million, or $0.07 per share, respectively. Contributing to the
change year over year was a writedown of $33.7 million in the third
quarter of 2010 on the Company's Zaca project which offset the net
$18.8 million gain on the sale of the Agi Dagi and Kirazli projects
in the first quarter of 2010 and an increase in certain operating
expenses. In addition the Company recognized a FX gain of $6.0
million in 2009 compared to a $1.0 million FX gain in 2010, and a
gain on sale of long term investments in 2009 of $9.3 million
compared to a loss of $0.4 million in 2010. Due primarily to the
writedown of the Zaca project the Company recognized a future tax
recovery of $15.7 million in 2010 compared to a recovery of $4.3
million in 2009.
This press release should be read in conjunction with our
unaudited consolidated financial statements and Management's
Discussion and Analysis as at September 30, 2010. These documents
can be found on our website (http://www.fronteergold.com) and on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Shareholders may receive a copy of the complete unaudited financial
statements free of charge upon request.
ABOUT FRONTEER GOLD
We intend to become a significant gold producer. Our financial
strength and solid operational team give us the ability to advance
our key gold projects to production. Our future potential
production platform includes our Long Canyon, Sandman and
Northumberland projects - all located in Nevada, one of the
friendliest gold-mining jurisdictions in the world. Additionally,
we have 100% ownership of Aurora Energy Resources Inc, developer of
one of the world's largest uranium deposits, based in Labrador,
Canada. For further information on Fronteer Gold visit
www.fronteergold.com.
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein,
certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to
potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of
mineralized zone, timing of exploration and development programs
and size of exploration, development and general and administrative
budgets involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievement of Fronteer Gold to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among
others, risks related to international operations and joint
ventures , the actual results of current exploration activities,
conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation
of ore reserves and mineral resources, changes in project
parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold
and silver, environmental risks and hazards, increased
infrastructure and/or operating costs, ability to raise financing,
labor and employment matters, and government regulation and
permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in Fronteer Gold's Annual
Information form and Fronteer Gold's latest Form 40-F on file with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington,
D.C. Although Fronteer Gold has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there
may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Fronteer Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
NEWS RELEASE 10-38
Contacts: Fronteer Gold Inc. Mark O'Dea President & CEO
604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677 Fronteer Gold Inc. Patrick
Reid Senior Director, Institutional Marketing 604-632-4677 or Toll
Free 1-877-632-4677 Fronteer Gold Inc. Glen Edwards Director,
Communications 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677
info@fronteergold.com www.fronteergold.com
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