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Dienstag, 16.01.2018 23:00 von PR Newswire | Aufrufe: 167

Argonaut Gold Announces 2017 Production, Provides 2018 Guidance and Three-Year Production Outlook, Strengthens Management Team and Provides Release Date For Fourth Quarter and Year End Operational and

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Canada NewsWire

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2018

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX: AR) (the "Company", "Argonaut Gold" or "Argonaut") announces gold equivalent ounce¹ ("GEO" or "GEOs") production of 34,987 during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 ("Q4") and 126,704 during the year ended December 31, 2017 ("YE"), including 2,932 pre-commercial production GEOs at San Agustin. During Q4, production was 19,653 GEOs at the El Castillo Complex (8,707 from El Castillo and 10,946 from San Agustin) located in the State of Durango, Mexico and 15,334 GEOs at the La Colorada Mine located near Hermosillo, Mexico. During 2017, the El Castillo Complex and La Colorada Mine GEO production totaled 73,418 (including 2,932 GEOs of pre-commercial production from San Agustin) and 53,286, respectively. Management expects YE consolidated cash costs²to be slightly above the high end of the range of 2017 guidance of $725 to $775 per gold ounce sold. At YE, the Company had a cash balance of $14 million and $8 million drawn from its $30 million corporate revolver. All dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise specified.

Pete Dougherty, President & CEO stated: "Production of 126,704 GEOs falls within our stated 2017 guidance of between 122,000 and 130,000 GEOs. At La Colorada we exceeded our expectation of between 47,000 and 50,000 GEOs with production of 53,286 GEOs. At San Agustin, we experienced a slower than expected ramp up in the mine and slower than anticipated flow rate to the leach pad. These issues have since been resolved and mining and flow rates are now meeting plan. We had several major accomplishments during 2017: San Agustin construction was completed on time and 25% under budget, we produced a positive Feasibility Study for our Magino project detailing a project with significantly lower initial capital requirements, a higher grade profile, an attractive rate of return and we remain on track to achieve our 60% growth target from 2016's approximate 122,000 GEO production to 2019's projected production of over 200,000 GEOs. 2017 was a capital intensive year for the Company due to San Agustin's construction, the purchase of the San Juan mineral concession from Fresnillo Plc and the acquisition of the Cerro del Gallo project. Our main focus as a Company during 2018 will be adding cash to the balance sheet through the free cash flow generated by our operations."

2018 Guidance

The Company anticipates it will produce between 165,000 to 180,000 GEOs during 2018 at a cash cost² of between $700 to $800 per gold ounce sold and all-in sustaining costs ("AISC")² of between $850 to $950 per gold ounce sold. The Company anticipates approximately 40% to 45% of its full year production during the first half of 2018 and 55% to 60% of production during the second half of 2018. Table 1 below illustrates the 2018 production and cost guidance:

Table 1 – 2018 GEO Production and Cost Guidance

El Castillo/San
Agustin⁽¹⁾
Complex

ARIVA.DE Börsen-Geflüster

Kurse

Argonaut Gold

0,277 €

-1,77%

La Colorada

Consolidated

GEO Production

In 000s

105 – 115

60 – 65

165 – 180

Cash costs^{(2) (3)}

$ per oz/Au

700 – 800

700 – 800

AISC^{(2) (3)}

$ per oz/Au

850 – 950

⁽¹⁾	Anticipated production from El Castillo and San Agustin is between 60,000 to 65,000 GEOs at a cash cost of $850 to $950 per gold ounce sold and 45,000 to 50,000 GEOs at a cash cost of $500 to $600 per gold ounce sold, respectively.
⁽²⁾	Assumes a MXN:USD exchange rate of 18:1.
⁽³⁾	Please refer to section "Non-IFRS Measures" below for a discussion of these non-IFRS measures.

The Company plans to invest $50 to $55 million in capital expenditures during 2018. Table 2 below illustrates the projected capital expenditures for 2018:

Table 2 – 2018 Capital Estimate ($M)⁽¹⁾

Sustaining	7 – 8
Expansion	23 – 25
Stripping	17 – 18
Exploration	3 – 4
Total	50 – 55

⁽¹⁾	Assumes exchanges rates of MXN:USD of 18.1 and CAD:USD of 1.3:1.

Table 3 below illustrates the projected capital expenditures for 2018 by project:

Table 3 – 2018 Capital Estimate by Project ($M)⁽¹⁾
	El Castillo/San Agustin Complex	La Colorada	Magino, San Antonio & Cerro del Gallo	Consolidated
Total	26 – 28	17 – 18	7 – 9	50 – 55

⁽¹⁾	Assumes exchanges rates of MXN:USD of 18.1 and CAD:USD of 1.3:1

Three-Year Production Outlook

By 2019, the Company expects to produce over 200,000 GEOs annually from its existing operations, which would reflect over 60% production growth from 2016. This production growth is primarily driven by the ramp up of the El Castillo Complex with the addition of San Agustin and the extension of mine life at El Castillo subsequent to the San Juan concession purchase from Fresnillo Plc (see press release dated February 23, 2017) as well as higher anticipated grades at La Colorada as mining transitions to the El Creston pit. Table 3 illustrates the Company's projected three-year production outlook:

Table 3 – Three-Year GEO Production Outlook
Year	El Castillo/San Agustin Complex GEO Production (000s)	La Colorada GEO Production (000s)	Consolidated GEO Production (000s)
2018	105 – 115	60 – 65	165 – 180
2019	140 – 150	70 – 75	210 – 225
2020	150 – 160	60 – 65	210 – 225

Management Team

The Company is pleased to announce the hiring of Brian Arkell as Vice President, Exploration. Mr. Arkell has over 30 years of worldwide experience in exploration, resource development and mine operations. Mr. Arkell previously served as Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Caza Gold Corp. from 2014 to 2017. Prior to his role leading Caza Gold, he served as Senior Vice President of Exploration and Corporate Development for Rio Novo Gold Inc. from 2011 through 2013. Prior to this, he held a variety of senior positions at Newmont Mining Co., including Director of Geology Canada & Hope Bay, Director of Geology and Exploration, South America, Geology Manager at the Waihi Gold Project in New Zealand and Manager of Mine Geology for the Yanacocha Mine in Peru. He has also served as Chief Geologist at the Batu Hijau and Mesel Mines in Indonesisa, as well as holding various positions in Nevada and the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Arkell studied geology and engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (M.S.) and at the University of Maryland (B.S.). He is a Registered Member of SME, Fellow of AusIMM, and Fellow of SEG. He is a Qualified Person (QP) under Canadian NI 43-101 Standards, as well as a Competent Person under Australian JORC Code.

Pete Dougherty, President and CEO commented: "I'm very pleased to welcome Brian to the Argonaut team. His wealth of experience in exploration and resource development are tremendous assets for the Company. I also want to extend the Company's gratitude to Tom Burkhart, our former Vice President, Exploration, for remaining on as a consultant following his retirement in March 2017 until a suitable replacement could be found."

Argonaut Gold Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast
The Company anticipates releasing its fourth quarter and year end financial results after market close on February 22, 2018 and will host a conference call and webcast on February 23, 2018 at 8:30 am EST to discuss the results.

Fourth Quarter and Year End Conference Call Information for February 23, 2018:
Toll Free (North America):	1-888-231-8191
International:	1-647-427-7450
Webcast:	www.argonautgold.com

Fourth Quarter and Year End Conference Call Replay:

Toll Free Replay Call (North America):

1-855-859-2056

International Replay Call:

Mehr Nachrichten zur Argonaut Gold Aktie kostenlos abonnieren

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