Capstone Achieves Upper End of 2021 Production Guidance and Provides
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release. 1
January 20, 2022
Capstone Achieves Upper End of 2021 Production Guidance and Provides
2022 Guidance for Pinto Valley, Cozamin, and Santo Domingo
(All amounts in US$ unless otherwise specified)
Vancouver, British Columbia - Capstone Mining Corp. (“Capstone” or the “Company” ) (TSX:CS) is pleased to
provide a corporate update including 2022 production, cost and capital guidance, project and exploration work and
an update on the combination with Mantos Copper to form Capstone Copper Corp. An update to the 2022 guidance
will be provided shortly after completion of the combination with Mantos Copper.
In 2021, Capstone’s consolidated copper production was 85,000 tonnes which finished at the upper end of the
79,000 to 86,000 tonnes guidance range at C1 cash costs1 that were at the mid-point of the $1.75 to $ 1.90 per
pound of payable copper.
2021 Copper Production (tonnes) 2021 Guidance 2021 Actual
Pinto Valley 57,500 – 62,000 60,500
Cozamin 21,500 – 24,000 24,500
Total 79,000 – 86,000 85,000
The Company will provide further details on its 2021 results when it releases its 2021 Q4 results on Tuesday,
February 15, 2022 after market close , followed by a webcast and conference call on Wednesday, February 16,
2022 at 11:30 am Eastern Time.
2022 PRODUCTION, COST AND CAPITAL GUIDANCE
In 2022, Capstone expects to produce between 82,000 and 90,000 tonnes of copper at C1 cash costs1 of between
$1.85 and $2.00 per pound payable copper produced at its Cozamin and Pinto Valley mines.
Darren Pylot, CEO commented, “2021 was a nother challenging pandemic year and added to this was extreme
weather events in Arizona. I’m incredibly proud of our em ployees for delivering strong operational results despite
tough conditions and this speaks to our culture of excellence”.
Cashel Meagher, President and COO added, “I recently joined Capstone because of its platform to build a Canadian
mining champion in copper which will be significantly enhanced with the Mantos Copper combination. I look forward
to furthering operating eff iciencies and delivery of growth initiatives to hedge against the current inflationary cost
environment.”
2022 GUIDANCE Pinto Valley Cozamin Santo
Domingo Total
Production and C1 Cash Costs1 (US$)
Copper production (tonnes) 59,000 – 64,000 23,000 – 26,000 - 82,000 – 90,000
C1 Cash Cost (per payable pound)1 $2.15 – $2.30 $1.10 – $1.25 - $1.85 – $2.00
Capital Expenditure (US$ millions, rounded)
Sustaining1 $65 $27 - $92
Capitalized Stripping – Expansionary1 $5 - - $5
Expansionary1 $20 $30 $45 $95
Total Capital Expenditure $90 $57 $45 $192
Exploration (US$ millions, rounded)
Brownfield (Cozamin and Santo Domingo) - $3 $2 $5
Greenfield (Brazil and Chile) - - - $2
Greenfield (Copper Cities, Arizona) - - - $7
Total Exploration $3 $2 $14
NEWS RELEASE
TSX:CS ● capstonemining.com
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release. 2
Update on the Combination with Mantos Copper to form Capstone Copper Corp.
On November 30, 2021, Capstone announced a combination with Mantos Copper to creat e a premier copper
producer with transformational near -term growth. Capstone’s shareholders will vote on the transaction during a
Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) to be held on February 28, 2022. The record date for the Meeting
is January 14, 2022. Please refer to Capstone’s website (www.capstonemining.com) to access the Meeting’s
page that contains the meeting details and materials. The materials will be filed on Sedar and mailed out to
shareholders.
GROWTH PROJECTS 2022
Pinto Valley - PV4 Study
The PV4 Study is planned for release in Q4 2022 and is expected to maximize the conversion of approximately one
billion tonnes of mineral resources to mineral reserves by extending Pinto Valley’s mine life into the 2050s and to
increase the mine’s copper production profile. The application of the following new technologies and innovation is
being considered:
• Expansion of the use of Jetti Catalytic Leach Techn ology which has the potential to increase higher
mill cut-off-grades and increase tonnage available for leaching. Column leach testing is ongoing throug h
H1 2022 and results will be included in the PV4 Study.
• Enhanced Coarse Particle Flotation was pilot plant tested at Pinto Valley in 2020 and has the potential
to increase copper recovery by ~6% while enabling potential to increase mill throughput from the current
~60,000 tonnes per day. A low capital strategy is currently under review to improve coarse particle recovery
with some modest investment in the current conventional flotation circuit.
• Pyrite Agglomeration has strong ESG implications as it will divert acid-generating minerals including pyrite
and chalcopyrite from tailings to the dump leach operation. Additional copper recovery and lower costs via
self–generation of free acid are also key economic drivers for this project. The project’s implementation is
targeted for H2 2022 subject to board approval. The project is expected to require a low capex of less than
$10M with a fast payback of approximately 1.3 years.
Higher Mill Throughput will be considered targeting up to 65,000 to 70,000 tonnes per day . Key areas of
investment include upgrades to ball mill motors, grinding circuit cyclones, and to the rougher flotation circuit. Coarse
particle flotation technology will also be studied. An expanded dump leach strategy would translate to higher grades
sent to the mill for processing and increased copper cathode production by expanding dump leach tonnage.
Cozamin – Paste Backfill & Dry Stack Tailings
Construction of t he new paste backfill plant and dry stack tailings facility at Cozamin started in Q4 2021 and
completion is expected at year-end 2022. Approximately half of the filtered tailings will be combined with cement to
form a paste and pumped underground to be used as mine backfill, allowing for increased copper ore extraction .
This project has contributed to the extension of the mine life throug h 2031 and may give the optionality to extract
ore pillars from historic areas of the mine.
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release.
2 Reflects operating costs related to the cobalt process, net of by-product credits from sulphuric acid sales of $45 per tonne ex -minesite, power
credits from cogen plant, and copper recovered in the process. 3
Figure 1 – Major construction has commenced for the Paste Backfill Plant. The picture on right is an artist rendition of
the future plant expected to be operational by year-end 2022.
Santo Domingo – Cobalt Study
At Santo Domingo, a tailings stream containing pyrite laden with ~0.6% cobalt, will be recovered through flotation.
The concentrate will be sent to a conventional process of roasting and solvent extraction followed by crystallization
to produce battery grade cobalt sulphate heptahydrate. At an expected 10.4 million pounds of cobalt production per
year, this will be one of the largest and lowest cost cobalt producers in the world at C1 cash costs1,2 of -$4 per
pound. Additional benefits of this project include the production of by-product sulphuric acid from a pyrite roasting
process, which can be used for heap or dump leaching to produce low -cost copper cathodes at Santo Domingo ,
Mantoverde, and elsewhere in the district.
Figure 2 – Cobalt Project Timeline
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release. 4
EXPLORATION UPDATE
The 2022 budget for brownfield exploration at Cozamin is $3 million and Santo Domingo of $2 million. In addition,
the total budget for greenfield exploration is $9 million of which $7 million is planned for the Copper Cities Project
in the Pinto Valley district (refer to the news release titled “Capstone Enters into Exploration Access Agreement
with BHP Copper Inc. for Copper Cities Project ” dated January 20, 2022 ), and the remaining $ 2 million is
planned for exploration in Chile and Brazil.
Refer to the Exploration page on Capstone’s website for more information. An update on 2021 exploration results
and further details on 2022 exploration programs will be released during Q1 2022.
Cozamin Step-Out Drill Program
Figure 1 – MNV exploration target in the west at Cozamin. In 2022, this area will be drilled from underground from a
cross-cut developed in 2021. This will lead to efficient drilling being considerably closer to the target.
Q4 2021 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST DETAILS
Capstone will release its 2021 Q4 and YE 2021 results on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 after market close, followed
by an investor webcast and conference call on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 11:30 am ET (8:30 am PT).
Link to the webcast and audio:
https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1524721&tp_key=1dedc36dcb
Dial-in numbers for the audio -only portion of the conference call are below. Due to an increase in call volume,
please dial-in at least five minutes prior to 11:30 am ET to ensure placement into the conference line on time.
Toronto: (+1) 416-764-8650
Vancouver: (+1) 778-383-7413
North America toll free: 888-664-6383
Confirmation #50217755
A replay of the conference call will be available until March 2, 2022. Dial-in numbers for Toronto: (+1) 416-764-8677
and North American toll free: 888-390-0541. The replay code is 217755#. Following the replay, an audio file will be
available on Capstone’s website at: https://capstonemining.com/investors/events-and-presentations/default.aspx.
ABOUT CAPSTONE MINING CORP.
On November 30, 2021, Capstone and Mantos Copper announced th at they have entered into a definitive
agreement to combine pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia)
(the “Transaction”) Upon completion of the Transaction, the new company will be named Capstone Copper Corp.
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release.
2 Reflects operating costs related to the cobalt process, net of by-product credits from sulphuric acid sales of $45 per tonne ex -minesite, power
credits from cogen plant, and copper recovered in the process. 5
Capstone Mining Corp. is a Canadian base metals mining company, focused on copper. We are committed to the
responsible development of our assets and the environments in which we operate. Our two producing mines are
the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, US and the Cozamin copper -silver mine in Zacatecas State,
Mexico. In addition, Capstone owns 100% of Santo Domingo, a large scale, fully permitted, copper-iron-gold project
in Region III, Chile, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties. Capstone's strategy is to focus on the optimization
of operations and assets in politically stable, mining -friendly regions, centred in the Americas. Our headquarters
are in Vancouver, Canada and we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol CS.
Further information is available at www.capstonemining.com
For further information please contact:
Jerrold Annett, SVP, Strategy and Capital Markets
647-273-7351
Kettina Cordero, Director, IR and Communications
604-674-2268
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This document may contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this
document and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking
statements, except as required under applicable securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect our expectations or beliefs
regarding future events and the impacts of the ongoing and evolving COVID -19 pandemic. Forward -looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the estimation of Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves, the expected success of the underground paste backfill system study, the realization of Mineral
Reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production and capital
expenditures, the timing and expected results of the PV4 Study, construction at Cozamin, the Cobalt Study at Santo
Domingo and the budget for exploration at Cozamin, Santo Domingo, Pinto Valley and other Projects the success
of our mining operations, the continuing success of mineral exploration, the estimations for potential quantities and
grade of inferred resources and exploration targets, Capstone’s ability to fund futur e exploration activities,
environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses and title disputes. The consummation and timing of the
transaction with Mantos Copper (the”Trasaction”), the timing for the shareholders meeting for the Transaction and
the m ailing of materials. The potential effects of the COVID -19 pandemic on our business and operations are
unknown at this time, including Capstone’s ability to manage challenges and restrictions arising from COVID-19 in
the communities in which Capstone operates and our ability to continue to safely operate and to safely return our
business to normal operations. The impact of COVID-19 to Capstone is dependent on a number of factors outside
of our control and knowledge, including the ,effectiveness of the measures taken by public health and governmental
authorities to combat the spread of the disease, global economic uncertainties and outlook due to the disease, and
the evolving restrictions relating to mining activities and to travel in certain jurisdictions in which we operate.
In certain cases, forward -looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”,
“budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or variations of such wor ds and
phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”,
“occur” or “be achieved” or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this document certain forward-
looking statements are identified by words including “anticipated”, “guidance”, “plan” and “expected”. By their very
nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause our actual results, performance or achiev ements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward -looking statements. Such factors include,
amongst others, risks related to inherent hazards associated with mining operations and closure of mining projects,
future prices of copper and other metals, compliance with financial covenants, surety bonding, our ability to raise
capital, Capstone’s ability to acquire properties for growth, counterparty risks associated with sales of our metal s,
use of financial derivative instruments and associated counterparty risks, foreign currency exchange rate
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release. 6
fluctuations, market access restrictions or tariffs, changes in general economic conditions, accuracy of Mineral
Resource and Mineral Reserve estim ates, operating in foreign jurisdictions with risk of changes to governmental
regulation, compliance with governmental regulations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations,
reliance on approvals, licenses and permits from governmental authoritie s, acting as Indemnitor for Minto
Exploration Ltd.’s surety bond obligations post divestiture, impact of climatic conditions on our Pinto Valley and
Cozamin operations, aboriginal title claims and rights to consultation and accommodation, land reclamation and
mine closure obligations, risks relating to widespread epidemics or pandemic outbreak including the COVID -19
pandemic; the impact of COVID-19 on our workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those
impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to
transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the risks in connection with the operations, cash flow
and results of Capstone relating to the unknown duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainties and
risks related to the potential development of the Santo Domingo Project, including our ability to finance the Project,
increased operating and capital costs, challenges to title to our mineral pr operties, maintaining ongoing social
license to operate, dependence on key management personnel, potential conflicts of interest involving our directors
and officers, corruption and bribery, limitations inherent in our insurance coverage, labour relations, increasing
energy prices, competition in the mining industry, risks associated with joint venture partners, our ability to integrate
new acquisitions into our operations, cybersecurity threats, legal proceedings, risks related to the consummation of
the Transaction, including failure to receive shareholder and other necessary consents and approvals for the
Transaction. As well as other risks of the mining industry and those factors detailed from time to time in the
Company’s interim and annual financial statements and MD&A of those statements, all of which are filed and
available for review under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those described in our forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause our results,
performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as our actual results, performance or achievements could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statem ents. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance
on our forward-looking statements.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101 COMPLIANCE
Unless otherwise indicated, Capstone has prepared the technical information in this news release (“Technical
Information”) based on information contained in the technical reports, Annual Information Form and news releases
(collectively the “Disclosure Documents”) available under Capstone Mining Corp.’s company profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Each Disclosure Document was pre pared by or under the supervision of a qualified person (a
“Qualified Person”) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the
Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 43-101”). Readers are encouraged to review the full text of the Disclosure
Documents which qualifies the Technical Information. Readers are advised that Mineral Resources that are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Disclosure Documents are each intended to
be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context. The Technical Information is
subject to the assumptions and qualifications contained in the Disclosure Documents. Disclosure Documents
include the National Instrument 43 -101 compl iant technical reports titled "NI 43 -101 Technical Report on the
Cozamin Mine, Zacatecas, Mexico" effective October 23, 2020, “NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Pinto Valley
Mine, Arizona, USA” effective March 31, 2021 and “Santo Domingo Project, Region III, Chile, NI 43-101 Technical
Report” effective February 19, 2020.
The disclosure of scientific and Technical Information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Brad
Mercer, P. Geol., SVP Strategic Projects and Exploration.
ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Alternative performance measures are furnished to provide additional information. These non -GAAP performance
measures are included in this news release because these statistics are key performance measures that
management uses to monitor performance, to assess how the Company is performing, and to plan and assess the
overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a standard
meaning within IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other
1 This is an alternative performance measure; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this release.
2 Reflects operating costs related to the cobalt process, net of by-product credits from sulphuric acid sales of $45 per tonne ex -minesite, power
credits from cogen plant, and copper recovered in the process. 7
mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures
of performance in accordance with IFRS.
C1 Cash Costs1 Per Payable Pound of Copper Produced
C1 cash costs 1 per payable pound of copper produced is net of by -product credits and is a key performance
measure that management uses to monitor performance. Management uses this measure to assess how well the
Company’s producing mines are performing and to assess overall efficiency and effectiveness of the mining
operations and assumes that realized by -product prices are consistent with those prevailing during the reporting
period.
Net Debt
Net debt is a performance measure used by the Company to assess its financial position.
Sustaining capital
Sustaining capital is expenditures to maintain existing operations and sustain production levels.
Expansionary capital
Expansionary capital is expenditures to increase current or future production capacity, cash flow or earnings
potential.