TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Americas Silver Corporation (TSX:USA) (NYSE American:USAS) (“Americas Silver” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that first processing of ore from its San Rafael Project occurred in the last week of September, 2017 from development stockpiles. The first lead and zinc concentrates produced from the Company’s newly modified Los Braceros Mill have been shipped to the Port of Manzanillo from the Cosalá Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico.
The reconfigured flotation circuit at the Los Braceros Mill has been successfully commissioned. Initial milling rates, metal recoveries and concentrate grades are meeting expectations and approaching steady-state targets set out in the April 2016 San Rafael Pre-Feasibility Study. The Company expects San Rafael to be the sole source of mill feed by the end of November, 2017 with commercial production expected before the end of the fourth quarter. Five development headings are currently accessing ore in the southern lobe of the Main Zone at San Rafael and will be stockpiled while the existing Nuestra Señora ore is processed. The Nuestra Señora mine is expected to be put on care and maintenance by the end of Q1 2018, although additional material is available to supplement mill feed, if required.
“Initial concentrate deliveries were on time, met internal targets and third party specifications,” said Darren Blasutti, President and CEO. “Despite a transitional third quarter, the start-up of the San Rafael mine and continued strengthening of zinc and lead prices sets-up our fourth quarter and next year for significantly reduced all-in-sustaining costs and free cash flow. We expect to use this cash flow to further explore, develop and organically grow our large and prospective silver reserves and resources without equity dilution.”
About Americas Silver Corporation
Americas Silver is a silver mining company focused on growth in precious metals from its existing asset base and execution of targeted accretive acquisitions. It owns and operates the Cosalá Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico and the Galena Mine Complex in Idaho, USA. The Company has acquired an option on the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico.
Daren Dell, Chief Operating Officer and a Qualified Person under Canadian Securities Administrators guidelines, has approved the applicable contents of this news release. For further information please see SEDAR or americassilvercorp.com.
