TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Excellon
Resources Inc. (TSX:EXN; OTC:EXLLF) ("Excellon" or
the "Company"), Mexico's
highest grade silver producer, is pleased to announce production
results for the third quarter of 2013 from the La Platosa Mine
in Durango, Mexico.
Q3 2013 Highlights
- 607,252 silver equivalent ounces produced, a 50% increase
over Q2 2013, including:
-
- 454,573 oz Ag;
- 1,921,547 lb Pb; and
- 2,149,884 lb Zn;
- Ore grade of 975 g/t Ag (28 oz/T), including over 190,000
ounces of silver production in September from ore grading over
1,000 g/t Ag (29 oz/T);
- Net cash costs of $7.77 per Ag
oz and all-in costs of $10.65 per Ag
eq. oz;
- Generating positive cash flow with cash, accounts receivable
and securities totaling $9.7 million
at the end of the quarter.
"Our operations team at La Platosa deserves
credit for a solid third quarter," stated Brendan Cahill, President and Chief Executive
Officer. "Our year-to-date results position us well to deliver on
our updated production targets for 2013. We will continue to
implement our mine optimization plans to improve mine production
over the coming year. We also remain focused on reducing corporate
and mine-site costs to maintain and further improve our
peer-leading all-in cost profile."
Q3 2013 Production Results
|
Q3 2013 |
Q3 2012* |
9-Mos 2013 |
9-Mos 2012* |
Tonnes Mined |
18,271 |
1,627 |
50,010 |
35,357 |
Tonnes Milled |
16,707 |
2,151 |
48,676 |
36,747 |
Grades: |
|
|
|
|
Silver (g/t) |
975 |
750 |
733 |
876 |
Silver (oz/T) |
28.43 |
21.87 |
21.38 |
25.55 |
Lead (%) |
6.61 |
6.18 |
6.52 |
6.79 |
Zinc (%) |
7.51 |
10.70 |
9.27 |
11.99 |
Recoveries: |
|
|
|
|
Silver (%) |
92.4 |
95.2 |
93.7 |
93.1 |
Lead (%) |
79.7 |
87.1 |
82.9 |
81.0 |
Zinc (%) |
79.4 |
88.4 |
82.1 |
85.5 |
Metal Production: |
|
|
|
|
Silver (oz) |
454,573 |
19,545 |
998,575 |
830,100 |
Lead (lb) |
1,921,547 |
278,529 |
5,621,805 |
4,338,092 |
Zinc (lb) |
2,149,884 |
424,900 |
8,019,890 |
8,063,029 |
Ag Eq (oz) |
607,252 |
45,923 |
1,510,138 |
1,295,142 |
Cost: |
|
|
|
|
Net Cash/Ag Oz ($) |
7.77 |
17.75 |
8.77 |
5.31 |
All-In/Ag Eq Oz ($) |
10.65 |
40.81 |
15.60 |
15.08 |
Subject to adjustment following settlement with concentrate
purchaser.
Silver equivalent ounces established using prices of US$24 per
oz Ag, US$0.90 per lb Pb, and US$0.90 per lb Zn applied to the
recovered metal content of the concentrates.
"All-In Costs" include all direct mining, treatment and refining
costs, capital and sustaining expenditures, mine and resource
expansion drilling and corporate general and administrative
expenses
* Production was suspended during the third quarter of 2012 due
to an illegal blockade of the La Platosa Mine. |
Production during the quarter was primarily from
the Guadalupe South and 6B Mantos. The Company is currently
mining four to six faces in these mantos and is accessing the 6A
Manto. During the coming months, the Company expects to open
new faces in the Guadalupe South and 623 Mantos, with the Rodilla
Manto expected to be accessed in 2014.
The Company expects annual net cash costs and
all-in costs (currently $8.77 and
$15.60, respectively) to trend lower
over the remainder of the year as mining continues to access
higher-grade areas. The Company remains focussed on cost
reduction and efficiency, as well as increasing production to
maximize operating cash flow.
Excellon is targeting 2013 production of 1.35
million ounces of silver, 8.2 million pounds of lead and 11.9
million pounds of zinc or 2.1 million silver equivalent ounces
(based on $24 silver, $0.90 lead and $0.90 zinc) at a targeted all-in cost of
$14.00 per silver equivalent
ounce.
The Company plans to release third quarter
financial results on November 5, 2013
before market open.
About Excellon
Excellon's 100%-owned La Platosa Mine in Durango
is Mexico's highest grade silver
mine, with lead and zinc by-products making it one of the lowest
cash cost silver mines in the country. The Company is
positioning itself to capitalize on undervalued projects by
focusing on increasing La Platosa's profitable silver production
and near-term mineable resources.
Additional details on the La Platosa Mine and
the rest of Excellon's exploration properties are available at
www.excellonresources.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed
and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
the content of this Press Release, which has been prepared by
management. This press release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section
27E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include, without
limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations,
performance and achievements of the Company, including potential
property acquisitions, the timing, content, cost and results of
proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral
deposits/resources/reserves, geological interpretations, proposed
production rates, potential mineral recovery processes and rates,
business and financing plans, business trends and future operating
revenues. Although the Company believes that such statements are
reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically
identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend,
estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which,
by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions
investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are
not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual
results may differ materially from those in forward looking
statements as a result of various factors, including, but not
limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any
mineral deposits that may be located, significant downward
variations in the market price of any minerals produced
[particularly silver], the Company's inability to obtain any
necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its
activities, to produce minerals from its properties successfully or
profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the
necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business
strategies. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be
accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these
materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to
the Company's mineral properties, and particularly the November 22, 2011 NI 43-101-compliant technical
report prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. with respect to
the Platosa Property. This press release is not, and is not to be
construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in
the United States.
SOURCE Excellon Resources Inc.