Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF)
(“Discovery” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its financial
results for the first quarter (“Q1 2023”) ended March 31, 2023, and
to provide a summary of key events for the quarter and subsequent
to quarter-end. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars (“C$”)
unless otherwise noted. Discovery’s flagship project is the
100%-owned Cordero silver project (“Cordero” or the “Project”)
located in Chihuahua State, Mexico.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM Q1 2023 & SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS:
- Completion of
our PFS on Cordero that outlined an 18-year mine life with average
annual production of 33 Moz AgEq at an average AISC of $12.80/oz
AgEq in Years 1 to 12. The after-tax NPV5% was US$1.2 B and the IRR
was 28% at base case metal prices of Ag - US$22.00/oz, Au -
US$1,600/oz, Pb - US$1.00/lb and Zn - US$1.20/lb.
- The appointment
of Tony Makuch as the Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Makuch has more
than 35 years of development, operational and leadership
experience. Most recently he was CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.
where, under his five-year tenure, annual gold production grew from
315,000 oz to over 1,400,000 oz and Kirkland Lake’s share price
increased over 500%.
- Completion of a
“marketed” public offering for aggregate gross proceeds of
approximately C$51.75 million putting the Company in a strong
position to deliver on key de-risking milestones as well as the
Feasibility Study on Cordero.
- The graduation
to the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange reflecting the
Company’s maturity and growth with Cordero now having advanced to
the feasibility study stage.
- As of March 31,
2023, we had a cash and cash equivalents balance of $37
million.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Company is currently focused on advancing
its Feasibility Study (“FS” or “the Study”) with the objective of
delivering the Study in the first half of 2024. Feasibility Study
drilling, consisting of engineering drilling, resource upgrade
drilling, and reserve expansion drilling, is progressing well with
initial drill results highlighting the potential to further grow
reserves within and on the margins of the open pit. The sample
selection for the metallurgical testwork program is now finalized.
This program will target the potential reduction of reagent costs
and improved metallurgical performance through further variability
testwork. Work on optimizing bench heights and mine equipment
sizing with the objective of reducing mining costs will also get
underway shortly. We also remain committed to the growth potential
of Cordero with 9,000 m of drilling planned this year on
property-wide targets. This drilling follows on from significant
target generation work the Company has completed in recent years
including extensive mapping and sampling work and multiple
geophysical surveys.
In parallel to the FS work, the Company plans to
advance the construction permitting process for Cordero. The
submission of the Environmental Impact Statement (“Manifesto de
Impacto Ambiental” or “MIA”) to the Mexican Federal Environmental
Department (“SEMARNAT”) is currently planned for later this
quarter. Assuming a 12 to 24 month permitting timeline, this would
position the Company to make a potential construction decision
toward the end of 2024. Of note, on Saturday April 29, 2023, the
Mexican government approved a bill amending several laws relating
to mining and water concessions. The Company is awaiting further
details on these amendments, including publication of the approved
laws in the Official Gazette, to determine the impact, if any, on
the Company’s operations.
The Company’s Environment, Social and Governance
(“ESG”) program continues to be an important area of focus. The
2022 ESG report is scheduled for issuance in 2Q 2023, and key
government and international accreditation certifications are
planned for completion in the second half of 2023.
Our balance sheet remains exceptionally strong
with a current cash balance of over $80 million and no debt. This
puts the Company in a strong position to complete the FS as well as
other key derisking milestones required to advance Cordero to a
construction decision.
SUMMARY OF Q1 2023
& SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
Public Offering:
The Company announced on April 19, 2023, that it
closed its previously announced “marketed” public offering of
common shares of the Company for aggregate gross proceeds of
approximately C$51.75 million (the “Offering”). The Offering was
conducted by a syndicate of agents co-led by Clarus Securities Inc.
and Cormark Securities Inc., and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.,
Eight Capital, and PI Financial Corp. (collectively, the “Agents”),
and consisted of the sale of 43,125,000 common shares of the
Company which included the full exercise of the Agents’ option at a
price of C$1.20 per Share.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from
the Offering to fund the continued advancement and de-risking of
the Cordero Project and for working capital and general corporate
purposes.
Further details can be found in the news
releases dated April 12, 2023, and April 19, 2023.
Projects:
Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS)
On January 24, 2023, we announced the results
from the PFS on Cordero. Highlights from the study include:
-
Excellent project economics: Base Case after-tax
NPV5% of US$1.2 Billion (C$1.5 Billion) and IRR of 28% (Ag -
US$22.00/oz, Au - US$1,600/oz, Pb - US$1.00/lb and Zn -
US$1.20/lb).
-
Extended mine life & higher production:
18-year mine life with average annual production of 33 Moz
AgEq
-
High margins & low capital intensity
maintained: average AISC of US$12.80/oz AgEq in Years 1 to
12 with an initial development capex of US$455 M resulting in an
attractive NPV-to-capex ratio of 2.5x.
-
Significantly de-risked Reserve base: new Reserves
declared of Ag - 266 Moz, Au - 790 koz, Pb - 2,970 Mlb and Zn –
4,650 Mlb; more than 70% of mill feed in Years 1 to 5 classified as
Proven.
-
Exceptional silver price leverage: PFS mine plan
assumes only 42% of Measured & Indicated Resource tonnes are
processed; clear potential to significantly extend mine life at
higher silver prices.
-
ESG/economic contribution: total estimated taxes
payable of US$1.2 Billion, a peak estimated local workforce of over
1,000 employees and over $4 Billion of expected goods and services
purchased locally within Mexico over the life of the mine.
The PFS was released in conjunction with an
updated Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”). Further details on the
PFS and MRE results can be found in our news release dated January
24, 2023, and in the supporting technical report filed on SEDAR and
on the Company’s website.
Feasibility Study drilling
Feasibility Study drilling commenced in Q3 2022
and is expected to be ongoing throughout 2023. The program is
anticipated to consist of approximately 50,000 m of drilling
related to engineering drilling, reserve expansion drilling and
resource upgrade drilling. To date, the Company has released 45
drill holes consisting of 20,000 m of drilling. These initial drill
holes were focused on two key areas: 1) expansion of reserves
within and beneath the Pre-Feasibility Study open pit and 2)
upgrading and expansion of the resource in the far northeast of the
deposit.
Reserve Expansion Drilling –
highlight intercepts from this drilling include:
-
77 m averaging 46 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb and 1.4% Zn from 218
m and 22 m averaging 83 g/t Ag, 0.10 g/t Au, 1.8% Pb and 3.2% Zn
from 374 m within the PFS pit in areas modelled as low to medium
grade in hole C22-656.
-
96 m averaging 33 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb and 1.8% Zn from 464
m on the margins of the PFS pit in hole C22-654.
-
32 m averaging 77 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb and 1.3% Zn from 108
m and 39 m averaging 124 g/t Ag, 0.09 g/t Au, 1.2% Pb and 1.9% Zn
from 185 m within the reserves pit in the South Corridor in hole
C22-677.
-
36 m averaging 35 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb and 1.7% Zn from 481
m and 27 m averaging 25 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 0.6% Pb and 2.2% Zn
from 555 m in hole C22-687; these intervals were toward the bottom
and beneath the reserves pit in an area previously modelled as
waste.
These positive drill results demonstrate the
potential to expand reserves through the conversion of waste to ore
within the reserves pit and through the expansion at depth of the
reserves pit.
For further details on the drill results noted
above refer to our news release dated March 22, 2023. Supporting
Technical Disclosure for drill results can be found at the end of
this release.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
The following selected financial data is
summarized from the Company’s consolidated financial statements and
related notes thereto (the “Financial Statements”) for the quarter
ended March 31, 2023, and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis
(“MD&A”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A
is available at www.discoverysilver.com or on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com.
Net loss |
Q1 2023 |
Q1 2022 |
(a) Total |
$ |
(3,999,718 |
) |
$ |
(13,147,429 |
) |
(b) basic and diluted per share |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
Net loss & total comprehensive loss |
$ |
(3,344,648 |
) |
$ |
(13,402,257 |
) |
Total weighted average shares outstanding |
|
352,071,321 |
|
|
332,025,353 |
|
|
March 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
Cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments |
$ |
37,272,498 |
|
$ |
46,220,938 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
89,256,576 |
|
$ |
91,583,326 |
|
Total current liabilities |
$ |
1,783,522 |
|
$ |
1,964,868 |
|
Working capital(1) |
$ |
43,933,240 |
|
$ |
53,081,932 |
|
Total Shareholders’ equity |
$ |
87,036,587 |
|
$ |
89,158,070 |
|
(1) Non-GAAP measure defined as current assets
less current liabilities from the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
About Discovery
Discovery’s flagship project is its 100%-owned
Cordero project, one of the world’s largest silver deposits. The
PFS completed in January 2023 demonstrates that Cordero has the
potential to be developed into a highly capital efficient mine that
offers the combination of margin, size and scaleability. Cordero is
located close to infrastructure in a prolific mining belt in
Chihuahua State, Mexico.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,Tony
Makuch, P.EngCEO & Director
For further information contact:
Forbes Gemmell, CFAVP Corporate
DevelopmentPhone: 416-613-9410Email:
forbes.gemmell@discoverysilver.comWebsite:
www.discoverysilver.com
TECHNICAL NOTES & REFERENCES:
Drill results: all drill
results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut and
undiluted. Widths are drilled widths, not true widths, as a full
interpretation of the actual orientation of mineralization is not
complete. As a guideline, intervals with disseminated
mineralization were chosen based on a 25 g/t AgEq cutoff with no
more than 10 m of dilution. AgEq calculations are used as the basis
for total metal content calculations given Ag is the dominant metal
constituent as a percentage of AgEq value in approximately 70% of
the Company’s mineralized intercepts. AgEq calculations for cutoff
calculations are based on USD $22.00/oz Ag, $1,600/oz Au, $1.00/lb
Pb, $1.20/lb Zn and assume 100% metallurgical recovery and are
indicative of gross in-situ metal value at the indicated metal
prices.
Sample analysis and QA/QC Program
The true width of the veins is estimated to be
approximately 70% of the drilled width. Assays are uncut except
where indicated. All core assays are from HQ drill core unless
stated otherwise. Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core
storage facility located at the project site 40km north of the city
of Parral. Core samples from the program are cut in half, using a
diamond cutting saw, and are sent to ALS Geochemistry-Mexico for
preparation in Chihuahua City, Mexico, and subsequently pulps are
sent to ALS Vancouver, Canada, which is an accredited mineral
analysis laboratory, for analysis. All samples are prepared using a
method whereby the entire sample is crushed to 70% passing -2mm, a
split of 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing 75
microns. Samples are analyzed for gold using standard Fire
Assay-AAS techniques (Au-AA24) from a 50g pulp. Over limits are
analyzed by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Samples are also
analyzed using thirty three-element inductively coupled plasma
method (“ME-ICP61”). Over limit sample values are re-assayed for:
(1) values of zinc > 1%; (2) values of lead > 1%; and (3)
values of silver > 100 g/t. Samples are re-assayed using the
ME-OG62 (high-grade material ICP-AES) analytical package. For
values of silver greater than 1,500 g/t, samples are re-assayed
using the Ag-CON01 analytical method, a standard 30 g fire assay
with gravimetric finish. Certified standards and blanks are
routinely inserted into all sample shipments to ensure integrity of
the assay process. Selected samples are chosen for duplicate assay
from the coarse reject and pulps of the original sample. No QAQC
issues were noted with the results reported herein.
Qualified
Person
Gernot Wober, P.Geo, VP Exploration, Discovery
Silver Corp., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this
news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and has
reviewed and validated that the information contained in this news
release is accurate.
The most recent technical report for the Cordero
Project is the 2023 Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Company’s
Cordero project. The report was completed by Ausenco with support
from AGP, Knight Piésold and Hard Rock and is available on
Discovery’s website and on SEDAR under Discovery Silver Corp. The
PFS assumed average life-of-mine recovery assumptions of 87% for
Ag, 22% for Au, 86% for Pb and 85% for Zn.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Neither TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release is not for distribution to United States
newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.
This news release does not constitute an offer
to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any
sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the
securities in the United States of America. The securities have not
been and will not be registered under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or any state securities
laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to,
or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in
Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933
Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such
registration requirements is available.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release may include forward-looking
statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.
All statements within this news release, other than statements of
historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although
Discovery believes the expectations expressed in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results or developments may differ materially from those described
in forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the results of
the pre-feasibility study and the anticipated capital and operating
costs, sustaining costs, net present value, internal rate of
return, payback period, process capacity, average annual metal
production, average process recoveries, concession renewal,
permitting of the Project, anticipated mining and processing
methods, proposed pre-feasibility study production schedule and
metal production profile, anticipated construction period,
anticipated mine life, expected recoveries and grades, anticipated
production rates, infrastructure, social and environmental impact
studies, availability of labour, tax rates and commodity prices
that would support development of the Project. Information
concerning mineral resource/reserve estimates and the economic
analysis thereof contained in the results of the pre-feasibility
study are also forward-looking statements in that they reflect a
prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered, and the
results of mining, if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts which address events, results, outcomes or developments that
the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based
on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management
on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal
prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and
general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no
assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore,
readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such
uncertainties. Discovery does not assume any obligation to update
any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable
laws. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking
statements, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop
such forward-looking information, are described under the heading
"Risks Factors" in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated
March 29, 2023, which is available under the Company’s issuer
profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
NON-GAAP MEASURES:The Company has included
certain non-GAAP performance measures as detailed below. In the
mining industry, these are common performance measures but may not
be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and
the non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning.
Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and
should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.CASH COSTS
PER OUNCEThe Company calculated total cash costs per ounce by
dividing the sum of operating costs, royalty costs, production
taxes, refining and shipping costs, by payable silver-equivalent
ounces. While there is no standardized meaning of the measure
across the industry, the Company believes that this measure is
useful to external users in assessing operating performance.ALL-IN
SUSTAINING COSTS ("AISC")The Company has provided an AISC
performance measure that reflects all the expenditures that are
required to produce an ounce of payable metal. While there is no
standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the
Company’s definition conforms to the all-in sustaining cost
definition as set out by the World Gold Council in its guidance
dated June 27, 2013. Subsequent amendments to the guidance have not
materially affected the figures presented.FREE CASH FLOWFree Cash
Flow is a non-GAAP performance measure that is calculated as cash
flows from operations net of cash flows invested in mineral
property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation
assets. The Company believes that this measure is useful to the
external users in assessing the Company’s ability to generate cash
flows from its mineral projects.
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