WHITEHORSE, YT, April 6, 2022 /CNW/ - Minto Metals Corp.
("Minto" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the
Company's first quarter ("Quarter 1, 2022") production results from
the Minto Mine located within the Selkirk First Nation's Territory
in the central Yukon, Canada.
Payable copper production in Quarter 1, 2022 increased 70.7% over
Quarter 1, 2021 for a record 9.1 million pounds.
First Quarter Highlights:
- Copper payable sales increased 70.7% to 9.1 million pounds
compared to 5.3 million pounds in Quarter 1,
2021.
- Improved operating results for Quarter 1, 2022:
-
- Ore tonnes produced was 238,979 dry metric tonnes (dmt), a
37.0% increase from the 174,432 dry metric tonnes (dmt) produced in
Quarter 1, 2021.
- Mill Feed was 237,239 dry metric tonnes (dmt), an 11.7%
increase from the 212,329 dry metric tonnes (dmt) processed in
Quarter 1, 2021.
- Overall Head Grade was significantly higher at 1.8% Copper when
compared to the 1.2% Copper realized in Quarter 1, 2021.
2022 Quarter
1
|
|
2022 -QTR
1
|
|
2021 -QTR
1
|
|
QTR 1
|
Production
Results
|
|
31-Mar-22
|
|
31-Mar-21
|
|
%
Variance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore Tonnes
Produced
|
|
238,979
|
|
174,432
|
|
+37.0%
|
Ore Tonnes
Milled
|
|
237,239
|
|
212,329
|
|
+11.7%
|
Head Grade
%
|
|
1.83%
|
|
1.17%
|
|
+56.4%
|
Payable Copper
(million pounds)
|
|
9.10
|
|
5.33
|
|
+70.7%
|
Gold (ounces)
(1)
|
|
3,695
|
|
2,199
|
|
+68.1%
|
Silver (ounces)
(1)
|
|
45,126
|
|
22,720
|
|
+98.6%
|
|
1. 100%
amounts. Under the agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals, the
Company receives 65% of the value of gold shipments up to 11,000
ounces. Silver receipts are at the lesser of the prevailing market
price and US $4.35/oz
|
"After a challenging start in 2021, the team has shown
tremendous perseverance and has now put together 5 months in a row
of strong operating results as we carried our momentum from
November and December 2021 into the
first quarter of 2022," stated Chris
Stewart, President & CEO of Minto Metals.
"We eliminated our underground mine contractor and started to
self perform mining operations for the first time in Minto's
history in January 2022. This
transition combined with Covid-19 caused some manpower challenges
for us in January but we worked through that and delivered a record
quarter of production hitting our copper pound targets in January
and February and then finished up in March with our best results
ever. We delivered 3,101 tonnes/day of ore safely to surface
and produced 3.3 million pounds of payable copper compared to a
budget of 2,900 tonnes/day and 2.4 million pounds respectively.
These are wonderful results and a credit to the hard work and
dedication of all Minto employees." Mr. Stewart continued, "I am
extremely proud of our team."
Minto Metals plans to release its full QTR 1 2022 financial
results at the end of May.
About Minto Metals Corp.
Minto operates the producing Minto mine located in the Minto
Copper Belt, Yukon. The Minto mine
has been in operation since 2007 with underground mining commencing
in 2014. Since 2007, approximately 500Mlbs of copper have been
produced from the Minto mine. The current mine operations are based
on underground mining, a process plant to produce high-grade
copper, gold, and silver concentrate, and all supporting
infrastructure associated with a remote location in Yukon. The Minto property is located west of
the Yukon River, about 20 km WNW of Minto
Landing, the latter on the east side of the river, and
approximately 250 road-km north of the City of Whitehorse, the capital city of
Yukon.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains
"forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"
(collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of
the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and
projections as of the date of this news release. Any statement that
involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations,
beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future
events, or performance (often but not always using phrases such as
"expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or
"anticipated" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget",
"scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or
variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain
actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might " or
"will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of
historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news
release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, too
(a) timing and listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the
Exchange, (b) the use of proceeds from the RTO Financing, and (c)
details with respect to the business of the Resulting Issuer.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of
estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors, which may cause the actual results and future events to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not
limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and
social uncertainties; the delay or failure to receive board,
shareholder, court or regulatory approvals; the supply and demand
for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices;
changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to
inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions; risks relating
to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of
equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications
or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and
equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government
approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and
unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental
matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political
risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or
conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws; risks related
to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not
limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, and the
ability to obtain financing as required; and other risk factors as
detailed from time to time. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
the forward-looking statements and information contained in this
news release. Except as required by law, the Resulting Issuer
assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of
beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they
change, except as required by law. The statements in this news
release are made as of the date of this release.
Contact Information:
For further information:
David J.
Birch,
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 895-4824
E-mail: info@mintomine.com
Chris Stewart,
President & Chief Operating Officer
(647) 523-6618
SOURCE Minto Metals Corp.