Scorpio Gold Produces 4,660 Ounces of Gold in Second Quarter 2017 at the
Scorpio Gold Produces 4,660 Ounces of Gold in Second Quarter 2017 at the
Mineral Ridge Operation, Nevada
Vancouver, August 8, 2017 - Scorpio Gold Corporatio n (“Scorpio Gold” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:
SGN) announces its operating results for the second quarter (“Q2”) of 2017 at its 70% owned Mineral Ridge
project, located in Nevada.
Production at Mineral Ridge in Q2 of 2017 totalled 4,660 ounces of gold and 2,505 ounces of silver,
representing decreases of 54% and 42% respectively over Q2 2016 production levels. The lower metal
production in Q2 2017 is attributed to fewer tons being mined and processed from the existing pits, due to
smaller benches being mined in lower pit elevations . The impact of decreased mine production was
somewhat offset by a 13% improvement in gold head grade in Q2 and an 8% improvement in the first half
(“H1”) of 2017 as compared to the same periods in 2016. Total gold production for H1 now stands at 10,401
ounces, a decrease of 44% from H1 of 2016.
The Company’s annual production forecast for 2017 is now currently expected to be at the low end of the
previous production guidance provided of 20,000 to 25,000 ounces of gold (as reported in the Company’s
May 30, 2017 news release).
Brian Lock, interim CEO, reports, “The second quarter of ore production at Mineral Ridge was consistent
with ore production in Q1, as production continues to be affected by a slowdown in mining and processing
while the project awaits approval of the amendment to its revised Plan of Operations, which is pending
from applicable regulatory authorities and is expec ted to be received in Q4 of 2017 or Q1 of 2018. Th e
Custer pit and other areas for which permitting is outstanding, will be evaluated for economics of associated
mining timelines when permits are received.”
Based on the Company’s current mine plan, production is scheduled through to September 2017 from the
Mary LC pit and from the Brodie satellite pit. The Company is currently evaluating the economics of mining
other pits at Mineral Ridge during Q4 of 2017 including the Phase B of the Drinkwater pit. The Company
will provide further updates on its proposed Q4 mining activities in due course.
Key Operating Statistics
Three months ending
June 30
Six months ending
June 30
2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change
Mining operations
Mary LC pit
Ore tonnes mined 123,241 138,795 -11.2% 253,687 285 ,667 -11.2%
Waste tonnes mined 568,225 919,453 -38.2% 1,496,011 1,622,483 -7.8%
Total mined 691,466 1,058,248 -34.7% 1,749,698 1,90 8,150 -8.3%
Strip Ratio 4.6 6.6 -30.3% 5.9 5.7 3.5%
Satellite pits
Ore tonnes mined 28,235 39,493 -28.5% 35,490 142,74 5 -75.1%
Waste tonnes mined 123,643 139,664 -11.5% 190,851 3 66,720 -48.0%
Total mined 151,878 179,157 -15.2% 226,341 509,465 -55.6%
Strip Ratio 4.4 3.5 25.7% 5.4 2.6 107.7%
Scorpio Gold Corporation | 2
Three months ending
June 30
Six months ending
June 30
2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change
Total producing pits
Ore tonnes mined 151,476 178,288 -15.0% 289,177 428 ,412 -32.5%
Waste tonnes mined 691,868 1,059,117 -34.7% 1,686,8 62 1,989,203 -15.2%
Total mined 843,344 1,237,405 -31.8% 1,976,039 2,41 7,615 -18.3%
Strip Ratio 4.6 5.9 -22.0% 5.8 4.6 26.1%
Pits under development
Ore tonnes mined 594 - 100.0% 772 - 100.0%
Waste tonnes mined 36,490 67,732 -46.1% 249,085 12 3,354 101.9%
Total mined 37,084 67,732 -45.2% 249,857 123,354 102.6%
Total mining operation
Ore tonnes mined 152,070 178,288 -14.7% 289,949 428 ,412 -32.3%
Waste tonnes mined 728,358 1,126,849 -35.4% 1,935,9 47 2,112,557 -8.4%
Total mined 880,428 1,305,137 -32.5% 2,225,896 2,54 0,969 -12.4%
Processing
Tonnes processed 151,485 275,551 -45.0% 289,877 527 ,138 -45.0%
Gold head grade (g/t) 1.50 1.33 12.8% 1.60 1.48 8.1 %
Ounces produced
Gold 4,660 10,089 -53.8% 10,401 18,597 -44.1%
Silver 2,505 4,325 -42.1% 5,359 8,246 -35.0%
Recoverable (1) gold
(ounces) placed on pad 4,982 8,002 -37.7% 10,157 17,034 -40.4%
(1) A weighted average metallurgical recovery factor ha s been applied to the estimated contained ounces cr ushed and placed on
the leach pad based on the pit from which the ore was mined.
About Scorpio Gold
Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County,
Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC. Mineral Ridge is currently in production as a conventional
open pit mining and heap leach operation. The Miner al Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing
structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a
100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada, with a fully
permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed
on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted immediately when needed.
Scorpio Gold’s Chairman, Peter J. Hawley, PGeo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument
43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION
Brian Lock,
Interim CEO
Scorpio Gold Corporation | 3
For further information contact:
Chris Zerga, President
Tel: (819) 825-7618
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.scorpiogold.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Ser vices Provider (as that term is defined in the poli cies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements
that are based on the Company’s current expectation s and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by
words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend” , “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “suggest”, “ indicate” and other similar
words or statements that certain events or conditio ns “may” or “will” occur, and include, without rest riction, any statements
regarding the Company achieving its production forecasts for 2017, its planned future production schedules and the timing for the
receipt of approval to the amendment to the Company ’s revised Plan of Operations. Such forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other fa ctors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from
estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including risks related to open
pit mining and heap leach operations, including una nticipated changes in the mineral content of materi als being mined;
unanticipated changes in recovery rates; changes in project parameters; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated;
the failure of contracted parties to perform; avail ability of skilled labour and the impact of labour disputes; delays in obtaining
regulatory and governmental approvals; changes in metals prices; the availability of cash flows or financing to meet the Company’s
ongoing financial obligations; unanticipated changes in key management personnel; changes in general economic conditions; other
risks of the mining industry; and those risk factor s outlined in the Company’s Management Discussion a nd Analysis as filed on
SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable
securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent o r obligation to update any forward-looking statemen t, whether as a result of
new information, future events or results or otherw ise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.