Aya Gold & Silver Reports Record Quarterly Silver Production of 407,986 Ounces
PRESS RELEASE
Aya Gold & Silver Reports Record Quarterly Silver Production
of 407,986 Ounces
Montreal, Quebec, January 14, 2021 - Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA) (“Aya” or the “Corporation”)
is pleased to report record quarterly silver production of 407,986 ounces (“oz”) in Q4 2020 from its
Zgounder Silver Mine in the Kingdom of Morocco.
2020 Silver Production Highlights
• Total quarterly silver production of 407,98 6 oz in Q4 2020 , representing record quarterly
production
• Increased throughput to 566 tonnes per day (“tpd”) in Q4 2020, representing 81% of design
capacity
• Total annual silver production of 689,964 oz in 2020
Strong Finish to 2020 Production
Q4 2020*
Production
Tonnes processed 52,115
Average grade (g/t Ag) 309
Silver ingots produced (oz) 193,264
Silver in concentrate for sale produced (oz) 214,722
Total silver produced (oz) 407,986
*2020 numbers are preliminary and are subject to final adjustment.
“This quarter’s exceptional production numbers validate a series of actions and initiatives taken by
our new operations team including the flowsheet reorganization. We are on the right path to delivering
on our objective to attain our 700 tpd design capacity despite ongoing historical rainfall, maintenance,
and spare parts issues,” said Benoit La Salle, President & CEO of Aya.
Operational Changes
The substantial increase in production in Q4 2020 was achieved through four main operational
improvements including: flowsheet reorganization, grade control , selective mining, and milling
throughput.
The most important improvement was the October 2020 reconfiguration of the processing flowsheet,
which resulted in the separation of the cyanidation and flotation plant op erations. By operating in
parallel, both plants process fresh ore, which improves the combined milling rates and silver recovery.
Prior to their separation, the cyanidation plant processed concentrate produced by the flotation plant.
Production was limited by the cyanidation plant ’s leaching rate of the concentrate , which led to
underutilized cyanidation plant milling capacity.
Zgounder’s grade control methods were also modified to feed higher grade ore to the cyanidation
plant and lower grade ore to the flotation plant. In addition, the mills of the cyanidation plant were
restarted, and less ore was fed to the primary mill of the flotation plant. As a result, the combined
milling rate impro ved to 566 tpd in the quarter with the milling rate reaching 677 tpd in December.
Finally, the steady plant operation s, independent of one another , coupled with higher head grade
resulted in flotation and cyanidation recoveries increasing to 80.5% and 79.5%, respectively.
About Aya Gold & Silver Inc.
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian company focused on the operation, exploration,
acquisition and development of silver and gold deposits. Aya is currently operating mining and milling
facilities at its Zgounder Silver Mine, an 85%-15% joint venture between its subsidiary, ZMSM, and the
Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (“ONHYM”) of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Its mining portfolio also includes the Boumadine polymetallic deposit located in the Anti -Atlas
Mountains of Eastern Morocco which is also a joint venture with ONHYM wherein Aya retains an 85%
ownership. Additionally, the Corporation’s portfolio includes the Amizmiz and Azegour properties,
both being 100% owned, with gold, tungsten, molybdenum and copper occurrences covering over
100 square kilometres in a historical mining district of Morocco.
For additional information, please visit Aya’s website at www.ayagoldsilver.com.
Or contact:
Benoit La Salle, FCPA FCA
President & CEO
Alex Ball
VP, Corporate Development & IR
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities
legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute
forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use
of forward -looking terminology such as “record”, “strong”, “exceptional”, “right”, “objective”,
“ongoing”, “substantial”, “improves”, “will”, “focused”, “present”, “reasonable”, “established”, “has”,
“demonstrate”, “potential”, “expect” or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would" or "might". Forward -looking information is subject
to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level
of activity, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward -looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile
stock price; (ii) t he general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write -
downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of
mineral deposits including the accuracy of the current mineral reserve and min eral resource
estimates of the Corporation (including, but not limited to, ore tonnage and ore grade estimates) and
mine plans for the Corporation’s mining operations (including, but not limited to, throughput and
recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics); (v) the risk associated with establishing
title to mineral properties and assets including permitting, development, operations and production
from the Corporation’s operations being consistent with expectations and projections; (vi)
fluctuations in commodity prices and other risks and factors described or referred to in the section
entitled "Risk Factors" in the MD&A of the Corporation and which is available at www.sedar.com, all
of which should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.
Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those contained in the forward -looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those antic ipated in such forward -looking information. Such forward -
looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the
Corporation's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other
purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward -looking information.
Forward-looking information is given as of the date of this press release, and the Corporation does
not undertake to update such forward -looking information except in a ccordance with applicable
securities laws.