Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX:AR) (the "Company", "Argonaut Gold" or
"Argonaut") is pleased to announce its financial and operating
results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012.
All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless
otherwise specified.
2012 Highlights:
-- Completed the Prodigy Gold acquisition, adding the Magino project which
contains over 6.3 million ounces in resources, nearly doubling our
overall resource base.
-- Constructed and started pouring gold at the La Colorada Mine,
representing our second operating mine.
-- Successfully carried out capital expansion programs to enhance
production at El Castillo, and La Colorada while reducing operating
cost.
-- Production increased to 108k ounces, a 50% improvement over 2011,
and 10% greater than guidance.
-- Cash cost per gold ounce sold of $597, a 4% improvement over 2011,
and lower than guidance of $625-$650.
-- Expanded our drill programs at La Colorada (Veta Madre) and San Antonio
(La Colpa) adding further mineralization to the Company's resources.
-- Completed further metallurgical test work on El Castillo's sulphide
resource, adding over 360k ounces to our in-pit resources.
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4th Quarter Year End
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2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
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Financials (000s)
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Revenue $ 52,347 $ 34,553 +51% $ 187,119 $ 104,568 +79%
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Net income $ 19,070 $ 9,123 +109% $ 64,856 $ 26,272 +147%
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Income per share -
basic $ 0.19 $ 0.10 +90% $ 0.68 $ 0.30 +127%
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Cash flow from
operating activities
before changes in non-
cash operating working
capital and other
items $ 24,134 $ 15,333 +57% $ 83,405 $ 41,906 +99%
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Gold production and cost:
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Gold ozs. loaded to the
pad 48,174 30,162 +60% 191,642 117,939 +62%
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Gold ozs. produced 32,000 19,698 +62% 108,081 72,049 +50%
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Gold ozs. sold 29,502 20,468 +44% 109,781 66,521 +65%
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Average realized sales
price $ 1,698 $ 1,684 +1% $ 1,662 $ 1,568 +6%
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Cash cost per gold
ounce sold $ 587 $ 679 -14% $ 597 $ 622 -4%
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CEO Commentary
Peter Dougherty, Argonaut's Chief Executive Officer stated,
"2012 was another milestone year for Argonaut Gold; the Company
exceeded initial top end gold production guidance of 90-95k ounces.
This production was accomplished at lower cash costs per gold ounce
and sold at a higher realized gold price. Our focus on continual
improvement has provided stellar results for our shareholders. The
culmination of the Company's performance was the acquisition of
Prodigy Gold and the Magino project in Wawa, Ontario. The Company's
total measured and indicated resource now exceeds more than 12
million ounces. The portfolio provides a strong base for production
growth to our goal of 300-500,000 ounces per year."
Mr. Dougherty added, "2013 initiatives will include additional
pad construction and final installation of equipment that aim to
provide an increase in overall production for the Company at La
Colorada and El Castillo. The permitting process will continue at
San Antonio. A prefeasibility study will be published mid-year 2013
for Magino. Finally, the Company will maintain its commitment to
exploration as a top focus for internal growth."
This press release should be read in conjunction with the
Company's audited annual consolidated financial statements for the
year-ended December 31, 2012 and associated management's discussion
and analysis ("MD&A") which are available from the Company's
website, www.argonautgold.com, in the "Investors" section under
"Financial Filings", and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Financial Results - Fourth Quarter 2012
During the fourth quarter of 2012, revenue was $52.3 million
from gold sales of 29,502 ounces. Gross profit was $26.6 million
for the quarter. Cash cost per gold ounce sold in the quarter was
$587 (compared to $679 for the same period in 2011). (Cash cost per
gold ounce sold is a non-IFRS measure, see note below). During the
quarter, profit from operations was $23.9 million. Net income for
the quarter was $19.1 million or $0.19 per basic share.
Financial Results - Year End 2012
For the year ended December 31, 2012, revenue was $187.1 million
from gold sales of 109,781 ounces. Gross profit was $95.2 million
for the year. Cash cost per gold ounce sold in the year was $597
(compared to $622 for the same period in 2011). For the full year,
profit from operations was $85.2 million. Net income for the year
was $64.9 million or $0.68 per basic share.
El Castillo Operating Statistics
4th Quarter Year End
2012 2011 Change 2012 2011 Change
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Tonnes ore 3,321,117 2,912,526 +14% 11,961,501 11,145,289 +7%
Tonnes waste 3,373,583 2,524,616 +34% 12,090,948 8,863,766 +36%
Tonnes mined 6,694,700 5,437,142 +23% 24,052,449 20,009,055 +20%
Waste/ore
ratio 1.02 0.87 +17% 1.01 0.80 +26%
Tonnes ore
direct to
leach pad 2,033,514 2,097,980 -3% 7,561,325 8,114,249 -7%
Tonnes
crushed 1,281,623 839,112 +53% 4,554,690 3,041,053 +50%
Gold grade
(g/t) 0.37 0.32 +16% 0.39 0.33 +18%
Gold loaded
to leach pad
(oz) 39,329 30,162 +30% 151,462 117,939 +28%
Gold produced
(oz) 25,805 19,698 +31% 87,712 72,049 +22%
Gold ounces
sold 23,595 20,468 +15% 89,881 66,521 +35%
Cash cost per
gold ounce
sold $ 661 $ 679 -3% $ 635 $ 622 +2%
Summary of Production Results
Total tonnes mined increased by 23% for the fourth quarter 2012
over fourth quarter 2011 and 20% year over year. The total of
ounces loaded to the pads increased primarily due to an increase in
the mining fleet and additional east side crusher at the operation
in 2012 over 2011. There were 39,329 ounces placed on the pad in
the fourth quarter of 2012, representing a 30% increase from the
fourth quarter of 2011. Year over year, there was a 28% increase in
ounces of gold loaded to the pad.
Gold production of 25,805 ounces in the fourth quarter of 2012
was a 31% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.
Production in 2012 of 87,712 ounces was a 22% increase over 2011
production.
The strip ratio of waste to ore increased in the fourth quarter
to 1.02 compared to 0.87 in the fourth quarter of 2011. The strip
ratio for the year ended December 31, 2012 was 1.01 compared to
0.80 for the year ended December 31, 2011, reflecting a push to the
southwest side of the pit.
La Colorada Operating Statistics (1)
4th Quarter Year End
2012 2012
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Tonnes moved 2,947,525 7,173,662
Tonnes crushed 623,119 2,895,324
Gold grade (g/t) 0.43 0.43
Gold loaded to leach pad (oz) 8,845 40,180
Gold produced (oz) 6,195 20,369
Silver produced (oz) 47,890 132,805
Gold ounces sold 5,907 19,900
Silver ounces sold 54,108 116,717
Cash cost per gold ounce sold $ 292 $ 424
(1) The La Colorada mine started production in the first quarter
of 2012. As such, there are no comparative statistics for prior
periods.
Summary of Production Results
Total tonnes moved were 2,947,525 for the fourth quarter 2012;
7,173,662 tonnes were moved during the full year 2012. There were
8,845 ounces placed on the pad in the fourth quarter of 2012. Total
gold production was 20,639 ounces during the year ended December
31, 2012, coming from reprocessing run of mine ore on the pad.
Expansion Projects for 2013
The Company plans on investing a total of between $57 million to
$75 million on capital expenditures and exploration initiatives in
2013. Major capital expenditures in 2013 are expected to include
approximately $32 million at El Castillo, $14 million at La
Colorada, $3 million at Magino, and between $3 million and $15
million at San Antonio. Exploration expenditures in 2013 are
expected to amount to between $5 million and $11 million.
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company has included a non-IFRS measure for "Cash cost per
gold ounce sold" in this press release to supplement its financial
statements which are presented in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Cash cost per gold ounce
sold is equal to production costs less silver sales divided by gold
ounces sold. The Company believes that this measure provides
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. Please see the MD&A for full
disclosure on non-IFRS measures.
Technical Information and Mineral Properties Reports
The technical information contained in this document has been
prepared under supervision of, and reviewed and approved by Mr.
Thomas H. Burkhart, Argonaut's Vice President of Exploration, a
qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For
further information on the Company's properties please see the
reports as listed below on the Company's website or on
www.sedar.com:
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El Castillo Mine NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources and
Reserves, Argonaut Gold Inc., El Castillo Mine,
Durango State, Mexico dated November 6, 2010
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La Colorada Mine NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment La
Colorada Project, Sonora, Mexico dated December 8,
2011
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Magino Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource
Estimate on the Magino Gold Project, Ontario,
Toronto, Canada dated October 4, 2012
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San Antonio Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource
Estimate on the San Antonio Gold Project, Baja
California Sur, Mexico dated October 10, 2012
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About Argonaut Gold
Argonaut Gold is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration,
mine development and production activities. Its primary assets are
the production stage El Castillo Mine in Durango, Mexico and, the
La Colorada Mine in Sonora, Mexico, the advanced exploration stage
San Antonio project in Mexico, the recently acquired advanced
exploration stage Magino project in the Province of Ontario, Canada
and several exploration stage projects, all of which are located in
North America.
Creating Value Beyond Gold
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ
materially from management's current expectations. Actual results
may differ materially due to a number of factors. Except as
required by law, Argonaut Gold Inc. assumes no obligation to update
the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
Contacts: Argonaut Gold Inc. Nichole Cowles Investor Relations
Manager (775) 284-4422 x 101nichole.cowles@argonautgoldinc.com
www.argonautgoldinc.com
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