Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX:AR) (the "Company", "Argonaut Gold" or "Argonaut") is
pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2013. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars
unless otherwise specified.
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1st Quarter
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2013 2012 Change
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Financials (000s)
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Revenue $ 43,080 $ 24,353 up 77%
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Net income $ 11,615 $ 7,260 up 60%
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Income per share - basic $ 0.08 $ 0.08 N/A
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Cash flow from operating activities
before changes in non-cash
operating working capital and other
items $ 19,351 $ 8,141 up 138%
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Cash and cash equivalents $ 168,514 $ 17,779 up 848%
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Gold production and cost:
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Gold ounces loaded to pads 39,786 44,169 down 10%
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Gold ounces produced 28,907 20,884 up 38%
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Gold ounces sold 25,441 14,498 up 75%
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Average realized sales price $ 1,622 $ 1,677 down 3%
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Cash cost per gold ounce sold $ 594 $ 639 down 7%
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FIRST QUARTER 2013 & RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
-- Capital expenditures of $18.8 million on mineral properties, plant and
equipment
-- El Castillo operations:
-- Pad 8 construction well under way with stacking of ore and leaching
-- Argonaut is now operating all mining internally, having assumed
prior contractor mining activities in March 2013
-- Over 360,000 gold ounces were added to the in-pit resources relating
to sulphide mineralization
-- La Colorada operations:
-- Pad construction initiated in 2012 continues to progress well and we
have now begun loading and leaching
-- Crushing circuit expansion continues and is scheduled to be
completed and operational in the third quarter of 2013
-- Updated resource for the Veta Madre deposit added 110,000 inferred
gold ounces, with potential for further expansion
-- San Antonio and Magino permitting process underway
CEO Commentary
Pete Dougherty, President and CEO of Argonaut Gold stated "2013 will see a
substantial investment in both the El Castillo and La Colorada operations as we
bring forward our capital expansion programs. At El Castillo, the addition of
the new heap leach pads and west side crusher/overland conveyor is aimed at
reducing operating costs and providing production growth; both should be fully
functional in the third quarter of this year. At La Colorada, the Company
continues to open the ore body and construct the new crusher; both are
anticipated to provide improved production in the second half of the year.
Overall operations are showing steady improvement toward our 2013 goals and
objectives and we are poised to make our guidance provided earlier."
Financial Results - First Quarter 2013
During the first quarter of 2013, revenue was $43.1 million from gold sales of
25,441 ounces, compared to $24.4 million from gold sales of 14,498 ounces in the
first quarter of 2012. Cash cost per gold ounce sold in the quarter was $594,
compared to $639 in the same period of the prior year (cash cost per gold ounce
sold is a non-IFRS measure, see note below).
During the first quarter of 2013, gross profit was $21.0 million, compared to
$12.3 million in the first quarter of 2012. During the quarter, profit from
operations was $17.2 million, compared to $9.7 million in the same period of the
prior year. Net income for the period was $11.6 million, or $0.08 per basic
share, versus $7.3 million, or $0.08 per basic share, in the first quarter of
2012.
Cash and cash equivalents was $168.5 million at March 31, 2013. Capital
expenditures in the first quarter were $18.8 million primarily as a result of
infrastructure improvements at the El Castillo and La Colorada mines.
This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited
interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March
31, 2013 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.
El Castillo Operating Statistics
Q1 2013 Q1 2012 Change
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Tonnes ore 3,172,772 3,050,527 up 4%
Tonnes waste 3,013,605 2,914,397 up 3%
Tonnes mined 6,186,377 5,964,924 up 4%
Waste/ore ratio 0.95 0.96 down 1%
Tonnes ore direct to leach pad 1,729,396 2,183,893 down 21%
Tonnes crushed 1,431,686 838,378 up 71%
Average grams per tonne of gold to
leach pad 0.35 0.36 down 3%
Gold loaded to leach pad (oz) 36,023 35,283 up 2%
Gold produced (oz) 23,125 17,799 up 30%
Gold ounces sold 19,509 14,498 up 35%
Silver ounces sold 8,687 1,410 up 516%
Cash cost per gold ounce sold $ 702 $ 639 up 10%
Summary of Production Results at El Castillo
As of mid-March, we assumed the day to day mining operations at El Castillo from
the former mining contractor. We hope to bring further efficiencies to the
mining process through this investment. Total tonnes mined in the first quarter
2013 were up 4 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2012. Of note, the 1.4
million tonnes crushed in the first quarter was a new record for El Castillo and
represented a 71 percent increase in crushed tonnes, over the first quarter of
2012. The total ounces loaded to the leach pad were 36,023 in the first quarter
of 2013, a 2 percent increase over the first quarter of 2012. The stripping
ratio of waste to ore remained relatively consistent between periods.
The 2013 production guidance at El Castillo is expected to be between
90,000-100,000 ounces with a cash cost between $700 and $725 per gold ounce
sold.
La Colorada Operating Statistics
Q1 2013 Q1 2012 Change
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Tonnes ore 556,637 - N/A
Tonnes waste 3,798,625 - N/A
Tonnes mined 4,355,262 - N/A
Waste/ore ratio 6.82 - N/A
Tonnes moved 4,355,262 678,310 up 542%
Tonnes ore direct to leach pad - - N/A
Tonnes crushed 402,548 680,396 down 41%
Average grams per tonne of gold to
leach pad 0.27 0.41 down 34%
Gold loaded to leach pad (oz) 3,763 8,886 down 58%
Gold produced (oz) 5,782 3,085 up 87%
Gold ounces sold 5,932 - N/A
Silver produced (oz) 44,879 17,182 up 161%
Silver ounces sold 54,269 - N/A
Cash cost per gold ounce sold $ 240 $ - N/A
Summary of Production Results at La Colorada
Overburden removal began in the fourth quarter of 2012; we have now increased
the daily mining rate to roughly 50,000 tonnes per day. During removal of the
overburden we have encountered some marginally mineralized material at 0.27 g/t
for the first quarter. We are on schedule to have the pit opened to ore in the
third quarter. As a result, we anticipate mineralization to increase during the
second half of the year.
The 2013 production guidance at La Colorada is between 30,000-40,000 ounces,
back loaded to the second half of the year, with a cash cost between $450 and
$475 per gold ounce sold.
Expansion Projects for 2013
The Company plans on investing a total of between $64 million to $74 million on
capital expenditures and exploration initiatives in 2013. Major capital
expenditures in 2013 are expected to include approximately $25 million at El
Castillo, $19 million at La Colorada, $6 million at Magino, between $5 million
and $11 million at San Antonio and between $2 million and $3 million for other
capital expenditures. Exploration expenditures in 2013 are expected to amount to
between $7 million and $10 million.
Non-IFRS Measures
The Company included the non-IFRS measure "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.
Qualified Person, 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. Mr. Alberto Orozco, Argonaut's Mexico Exploration Manager
also supervised the drill programs and on-site sample preparation procedures at
La Colorada. Bret Swanson of SRK of Denver, CO, who is an "Independent Qualified
Person" as defined by NI 43-101 and the lead person responsible for completing
the updated Veta Madre resource has reviewed this press release as it relates to
Veta Madre.
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 NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources and Reserves, Argonaut
Mine Gold Inc., El Castillo Mine, Durango State, Mexico dated
November 6, 2010
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La Colorada NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment La Colorada Project,
Mine Sonora, Mexico dated December 8, 2011
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Magino Gold NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on
Project the Magino Gold Project, Ontario, Toronto, Canada dated
October 4, 2012
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San Antonio NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate on
Gold Project 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 Baja California
Sur, Mexico, the recently acquired advanced exploration stage Magino project in
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Argonaut Gold Inc.
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations Manager
(775) 284-4422 x 101
nichole.cowles@argonautgold.com
www.argonautgold.com
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