Austral Gold Reports September Quarter Results for 2017
Austral Gold Reports September Quarter Results for 2017
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 31, 2017) - Austral Gold Limited (TSXV: AGLD) (ASX: AGD) ('the
Company" or "Austral") is pleased to report results from activities during the first fiscal quarter ending September 30
th
, 2017.
"During the quarter, our main focus was commissioning the new plant in Chile with the objective of having all sections of the plant
operational. The team continues to work towards optimising technical performance of the plant and reaching full commercial
production in the near term", stated Stabro Kasaneva, CEO of Austral Gold. "In addition, our team has made tremendous
progress at Casposo as evidenced by more stabilized production during the quarter. I am also very confident about the potential
that exists at the Amancaya project, especially given the discovery of a new mineralized vein at Amancaya announced on August
21, 2017. Developing the potential at Amancaya is a priority for us and we plan on advancing our exploration activities to enable
drilling at the newly discovered Nueva vein by the end of the year".
Highlights
for
September Quarter (Q1 2018
FY
)
:
●
Quarterly combined production (100% Casposo, Guanaco and Amancaya) was 10,482 gold ounces and
549,546 silver ounces (or 17,732 gold equivalent ounces) or 9,163 gold ounces and 397,899 silver ounces
(Net to Austral*).
●
Quarterly cash cost (C1) and all-in-sustaining cost (AISC) across all operations were US$955/AuEq oz and
US$1,133/AuEq oz respectively with average selling prices at US$1,274/Au oz and US$17/Ag oz.
●
Sales proceeds for the September quarter was US$22.3m of which the Guanaco mine contributed with
US$7.8m and the Casposo mine with US$14.5m.
Guanaco and Amancaya Production
●
Quarterly production was 6,086 gold ounces and 44,057 silver ounces (or 6,668 gold equivalent ounces) as
compared to 11,762 gold ounces and 16,109 silver ounces (or 11,985 gold equivalent ounces) in the
September quarter 2016. Production was affected by lower tonnes processed due to some delays in the
commissioning phase of the new agitation leach plant.
●
Although YTD Production is 24,767 AuEq oz, we anticipate full year production to be at the lower end of the
45,000-50,000 AuEq oz guidance provided in June 2017 as higher production is expected in the last quarter of
2017 as a result of the ramp-up in processing at the new agitation leach plant.
●
Open-pit mining operations at Amancaya continued in the current quarter while more selective processes in
defining ore material within the narrow Central Vein to control dilution were implemented.
Casposo Production
●
Quarterly production was 4,396 gold ounces and 505,514 silver ounces (100% basis). Austral Gold's 70%
share of production was 3,077 gold ounces and 353,860 silver ounces (70% basis).
●
Casposo production continued to show improvement on a quarter over quarter basis as silver production
increased by 130,931 silver ounces or 35% from the prior quarter.
A summary of key operational parameters is set out in the following table:
Operations
Guanaco/Amancaya
Casposo (100% basis)
Net to Austral*
Sept
Quarter
2017
Sept
Quarter
2016
Sept
Quarter
2017
Sept
Quarter
2016
Sept
Quarter
2017
Sept
Quarter
2016
Processed (t)
99,240
140,460
65,481
68,055
145,077
175,168
Gold produced (oz)
6,086
11,762
4,396
4,457
9,163
14,035
Silver produced (oz)
44,057
16,109
505,514
313,765
397,917
176,129
Gold-Equivalent *** (oz)
6,668
11,985
11,048
8,585
14,402
16,363
C1 Cash Cost (US$/AuEq
oz)
997
673
930
804
955
728
All-in Sustaining Cost
(US$/Au oz)
1,229
848
1,043
1,200
1,113
995
Realised gold price
(US$/Au oz)
1,274
1,330
1,274
1,330
1,274
1,330
Realised silver price
(US$/Ag oz)
17
19
17
19
17
19
* Austral Gold owned 70% of Casposo for the quarter ended 30 September 2017; 51% for the quarter ended 30 September 2016
** The cash cost (C1) includes: Mine, Plant, On-Site G&A, Smelting, Refining, and 3% ENAMI Royalty (excludes Corporate G&A)
# The All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) includes: C1, Sustaining Capex, Brownfield Exploration, and Mine Closure Amortisation
*** AuEq ratio is calculated at 76:1 Ag:Au for September Quarter 2017
●
Production guidance for the full calendar year (100% basis) is 85,000-90,000 gold equivalent ounces, below
the initial guidance of 95,000-101,000 gold equivalent ounces.
Exploration
●
Exploration in Chile focussed on exploration at the Amancaya project, with the initial program of 134 trenches
●
Exploration in Chile focussed on exploration at the Amancaya project, with the initial program of 134 trenches
and a ground magnetic survey completed. Following the discovery of high grade mineralisation on the Nueva
Vein (see Company's News Release on 21 August 2017) additional infill trenches were completed and more
detailed ground magnetics commenced. The Company expects to commence first pass drilling on the Nueva
Vein by the end of the year.
●
Exploration in Argentina focussed on near Casposo mine targets with mapping and channel sampling to
complete the existing database and review of potential targets. Targets are initially being assessed on open pit
potential.
Mergers & Acquisitions
●
On 13 July 2017, Austral Gold executed a binding letter to acquire the San Guillermo and Reprado projects
from Revelo Resources Corp. (TSX-V: RVL) for consideration of up to ten million Austral Gold ordinary shares
(capped at US$0.21/share) and subject to existing Net Smelter Royalties (each an "NSR") and an additional
NSR of up to 1%. The offer is subject to entering into a definitive agreement and customary regulatory and
exchange approvals.
●
Other opportunities aligning with Austral Gold's strategic vision for value accretive investments in Latin America
are being explored.
Financial Figures
●
Cash on hand at 30 September 2017 was US$4.9m.
●
Total consolidated financial debt is at US$21m, of which US$13m are 3-year financial leases with local banks
in Chile and Argentina. Net debt repayments during the quarter totalled US$1.7m.
Further details can be found in the Company's Quarterly Activity Report filed at
www.australgold.com
,
http://www.asx.com.au
and
on
www.sedar.com
.
* Non-IFRS Measures
The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures including "Cash cost per gold ounce sold" and "All-in sustaining cost per
gold ounce sold" in this press release. Cash cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver sales divided by
gold ounces sold. All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver sales plus general and
administrative expenses, exploration expenses, accretion of reclamation provision and sustaining capital expenditures divided
by gold ounces sold. The Company believes that these measures provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the
performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. Therefore
they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data 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.
Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical content of this news release has been prepared by, or under the supervision of Michael Brown,
MAIG, and has been reviewed and approved by him. Mr Brown is a Geologist and Member of Australian Institute of
GeoScientists and an employee of Austral Gold Limited. Mr. Brown is a "qualified person" for the purposes of National
Instrument 43-101,
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Austral Gold
Austral Gold Limited is a growing precious metals mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of
quality assets in Chile and Argentina. The Company's flagship Guanaco
mine
in Chile is
operated with the Amancaya mine
with processing of ore from both mines at a new agitation leach plant at Guanaco. There is significant
exploration upside
at
and around both operations, with a new vein discovery at Amancaya
.
The Company
also
owns 70% and is
operator of the
underground silver-gold Casposo mine in San Juan, Argentina. With an experienced local technical team and highly
regarded major shareholder, Austral's goal is to continue to strengthen its asset base through acquisition and discovery.
Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:AGLD), and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:
AGD). For more information, please consult the company's website
:
www.australgold.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
On behalf of Austral Gold Limited:
"Stabro Kasaneva"
CEO
For Further Information Please Contact:
Mike Brown, VP Corporate Development
Canada: +1 604 568 2496
Argentina: + 54 11 4323 7558
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and
developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely",
"believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news
release include:
expectation to reach full commercial production in the near term, expectation to advance exploration activities
and commence drilling at Nueva vein by the end of the year, anticipation full year production to be at the lower end of the 45,000-
50,000 AuEq oz guidance provided in June 2017 as higher production is expected in the last quarter of 2017 as a result of the
ramp-up in processing at the new agitation leach plan. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or
implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates,
commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the
capital markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties;
unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the
Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified
under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR. You are cautioned that
the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that
actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions
may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and
operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-
looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by
applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.