VANCOUVER, May 31, 2017 /CNW/ - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSX.V:SCZ) (the "Company" or "Santacruz") reports on the operating and financial results from the Rosario Project in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and the Veta Grande Project in Zacatecas, Mexico for the first quarter of 2017. The full version of the financial statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis can be viewed on the Company's website at www.santacruzsilver.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All amounts are in thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Q1 Highlights:
- Silver equivalent produced ounces of 223,968;
- Head grade of 216 Ag Eqv. g/t;
- 28% quarter over quarter reduction in production cost per tonne to $52.87
- 18% quarter over quarter reduction in cost per Ag Eq Oz to $19.55
"The fiscal results of the first quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2016 reflect a transition period for the Company as it added two new sources of mineralized material at the Rosario Project and expanded the development of mineralized material from previously mined stopes at Veta Grande referred to as "Chorros"" stated Arturo Préstamo, CEO of Santacruz adding, "As a result of mining the Chorros, the operating costs are substantially reduced and we look forward to continued production improvements at both Rosario and Veta Grande over the coming quarters."
2017 First Quarter Operational Highlights
| Summary of Production Results | 2017 Q1 (2) | 2016 Q4 (3) | 2016 Q1 (3) |
| Material Processed (tonnes milled) | 45,474 | 42,746 | 24,053 |
| Silver eqv. ounce production (1) | 223,968 | 200,122 | 290,569 |
| Silver production (ounces) | 92,154 | 67,927 | 162,802 |
| Gold production (ounces) | 326 | 285 | 128 |
| Lead production (tonnes) | 144 | 282 | 284 |
| Zinc production (tonnes) | 559 | 726 | 793 |
| Average Head Grade (g/t Ag Eqv.) | 216 | 189 | 389 |
Rosario Project Operational Results
| Summary of Production Results | 2017 Q1 (2) | 2016 Q4 (3) | 2016 Q1 (3) |
| Material Processed (tonnes milled) | 18,723 | 16,636 | 24,053 |
| Silver eqv. ounce production (1) | 115,240 | 99,749 | 290,569 |
| Silver production (ounces) | 34,556 | 39,900 | 162,802 |
| Silver head grade (g/t) | 66 | 81 | 218 |
| Silver recovery (%) | 86% | 92% | 97% |
| Gold production (ounces) | 195 | 179 | 128 |
| Lead production (tonnes) | 45 | 62 | 284 |
| Zinc production (tonnes) | 382 | 364 | 793 |
| Average Head Grade (g/t Ag Eqv.) | 226 | 225 | 389 |
Veta Grande Project Operational Results
| Summary of Production Results | 2017 Q1 (2) | 2016 Q4 (3) |
| Material Processed (tonnes milled) | 26,751 | 26,110 |
| Silver eqv. ounce production (1) | 108,728 | 100,373 |
| Silver production (ounces) | 57,598 | 28,027 |
| Silver head grade (g/t) | 117 | 57 |
| Silver recovery (%) | 57% | 58% |
| Gold production (ounces) | 131 | 106 |
| Lead production (tonnes) | 99 | 220 |
| Zinc production (tonnes) | 177 | 362 |
| Average Head Grade (g/t Ag Eqv.) | 209 | 165 |
| Note 1 | AgEqvOz=(Au*Pau)+(Ag*Pag)+(Pb*Ppb*2205)+(Zn*Pzn*2205) |
| (Pag) | |
| Metal Prices Q1 20172: Ag $16.00, Au $1,150, Pb $0.90, Zn $1.15 | |
| Metal Prices Q1 and Q4 20163: Ag $14.50, Au $1,100, Pb $0.76, Zn $0.71 | |
2017 First Quarter Financial Highlights
| 2017 Q1 | 2016 Q4 | 2016 Q1 | |
| Financial (1) | |||
| Revenue | $2,085 | $1,874 | $3,537 |
| Mine Operations Income (Loss) (6) | $(1,059) | $(1,896) | $462 |
| Net Income (Loss) (2) | $1,490 | $(3,646) | $(3,000) |
| Net Income (Loss) Per Share – Basic ($/share) | 0.01 | (0.02) | (0.03) |
| Adjusted EBITDA (5) | $(848) | $(1,560) | $601 |
| Operating (1) | |||
| Material Processed (tonnes milled) | 45,474 | 42,746 | 24,053 |
| Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (3) | 223,968 | 200,122 | 290,569 |
| Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (4) | 163,457 | 166,734 | 318,596 |
| Production Cost per Tonne (5) | 52.87 | 72.33 | 103.28 |
| Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent ($/oz.) (5) | 19.55 | 23.97 | 10.93 |
| All-in Sustaining Cost per Silver Equivalent ($/oz.) (5) | 24.56 | 26.15 | 14.10 |
| Average Realized Silver Price per Ounce ($/oz.) (5) (7) | 17.31 | 16.55 | 17.00 |
| (1) The Veta Grande Project commenced commercial production effective October 1, 2016 and therefore is not included in the 2016 Q1 financial or operating results. |
| (2) The net income of $1,490 reported in Q1 2017 is after recording a non-cash credit to income of $3,308 with respect to a change in derivative liability. |
| (3) Silver equivalent ounces produced in 2017 have been calculated using prices of US$16.00/oz., US$1,150/oz., US$1.00/lb. and US$1.15/lb. for silver, gold, lead and zinc respectively applied to the metal content of the lead and zinc concentrates produced by the Rosario Project as well as by the Veta Grande Project. Silver equivalent ounces produced in 2016 have been calculated using prices of US$14.50/oz., US$1,100/oz., US$0.76/lb and US$0.71/lb for silver, gold, lead and zinc respectively applied to the metal content of the lead and zinc concentrates produced by the Rosario Project during the first and fourth quarters of 2016 as well as by the Veta Grande Project during the fourth quarter of 2016. |
| (4) Silver equivalent sold ounces in the first quarter of 2016 has been calculated using a realized silver price of US$17.00/oz., after giving effect to certain forward metal sales entered into in connection with the JMET Agreement. |
| (5) The Company reports non-IFRS measures which include Production Cost per Tonne, Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent, All-in Sustaining Cost per Silver Equivalent and Average Realized Silver Price per Ounce. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions. |
| (6) The Company reports additional non-IFRS measures which include Mine Operations Income (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA. These additional financial disclosure measures are intended to provide additional information. |
| (7) Average realized silver price per ounce is prior to all treatment, smelting and refining charges. The average realized silver price per ounce for the first quarter of 2016 has been calculated after giving effect to certain forward metal sales entered into in connection with the JMET Agreement. |
Rosario Project Update
In Q1 2017 silver equivalent production from the Rosario Project increased by 16% (15,491 ounces) compared to Q4 2016. The improved production reflects the impact of the Cinco Estrellas Property and Membrillo Property as alternate sources of mill feed at the Rosario milling facility that resulted in a 13% increase in tonnes milled and higher recoveries for gold and zinc.
During the first quarter of 2017 and continuing into mid-May, the Company completed a new access ramp at the Cinco Estrellas Property from surface to Level 3 that shortly will be extended to Level 5. The new ramp has larger dimensions that will allow haulage trucks to access from Level 1 to Level 5 thereby greatly improving the transportation of mineralized material to surface. Currently there is approximately 2,000 tonnes of mineralized material that has just been hauled to surface grading on average 2.6 g/t Au and 60 g/t Ag based on samples taken from the stockpile of mined material. Management now expects to continue accessing mineralized material of similar or higher grades at the Cinco Estrellas Property based on sampling of planned mining stopes.
On May 29, 2017 the Company entered into the Membrillo Agreement. In connection with this agreement and with the concurrence of Grupo Mexico, the Company began development work at the Membrillo Vein late in the fourth quarter of 2016 and to date has completed approximately 816 metres of development drifting on Level 1 and is now advancing a ramp (145 metres completed to date) to Level 2 which will be 30 metres below Level 1. To date 7,504 tonnes of mineralized material from development works has been delivered to the Rosario Project mill facility for processing, with an average head grade of 30 g/t Ag; 0.24 g/t Au; 2.73% Zn; and 0.34% Pb.
The Company expects that once full mining operations are achieved at the Membrillo Vein the combined daily production from the Membrillo Vein and the Cinco Estrellas property will range from 450 to 500 tpd with an additional 100 to 150 tpd of mineralized material being delivered to the Rosario Project mill facility from the Rosario Mine. This diversification of feed to the Rosario Project's mill gives management much greater flexibility in developing and executing its operations plan at its Rosario Project.
Veta Grande Project Update
During the fourth quarter of 2016 mineralized material from the Chorros within the Veta Grande vein was identified and accessed from old workings below Level 3 at the Garcia mine. During the first quarter of 2017 approximately 26,700 tonnes of material at an estimated head grade of 117 g/t Ag, 0.83% Zn, 0.48% Pb and 0.24 g/t Au was processed at the Veta Grande Project, largely sourced from the Chorros .
Mineralized material from the Chorros will be a primary source of mill feed to the Veta Grande milling facility in 2017, combined with mineralized material from other mine working faces recently developed at the Garcia mine. At present the Company is extracting mineralized material from seven Chorros and expects to bring two additional Chorros online by mid-June. In connection with this matter during the first half of 2017 the Company plans to drive an access ramp for a vertical depth of 180 metres (150 metres completed to date) from the current workings at the Veta Grande vein, the largest of the vein systems contained within the Garcia mine.
In concert with the current optimized mine plan, the Company is deferring the installation of the 1,250 tonne-per-day ball mill, 4,000 tonne-per-day crushing circuit and 4,000 tonne-per-day zinc thickener and filter press until the second half of 2017.
About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.
Santacruz is a Mexican focused silver company with two producing silver projects (Rosario, including the Cinco Estrellas property and Membrillo Vein, and the right to operate the Veta Grande silver project and milling facility); and three exploration properties including the Gavilanes property, Minillas property and Zacatecas properties. The Company is managed by a technical team of professionals with proven track records in developing, operating and discovering silver mines in Mexico. Our corporate objective is to become a mid-tier silver producer.
