VANCOUVER, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. (the "Company" or "First Majestic") is pleased to announce its 2014 Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates for its existing mineral property assets in Mexico as of December 31, 2014. Silver metal content in the Proven and Probable Reserve category totaled 101.1 million ounces of silver, down 7% from 108.6 million as of December 31, 2013. Metal prices used to estimate the 2014 Reserve estimates were lowered compared to the prior year to: $20.00/oz of silver, $1,200/oz of gold, $0.95/lb of lead and $1.00/lb of zinc.

The following table shows the total tonnage mined from each of the Company's five producing properties during 2014, including total ounces of silver and silver equivalent ounces produced from each property and the tonnage mined from delineated reserves and resources at each property.

The Company completed over 44,000 metres of diamond drilling at its five operating mines in 2014, representing a 25% reduction in metres drilled compared to the prior year. For 2015, First Majestic is planning to drill approximately 50,000 metres to further define known mineralized ore bodies at its operating mines. A combination of surface and underground drill rigs will focus on assisting mining activities, definition drilling and to support future updates to the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Reports.

Starting this year, First Majestic is reporting Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral Reserves; readers are cautioned of this change since the Company had previously reported Mineral Resources exclusive of Mineral Reserves.

The largest change to Mineral Reserves occurred at La Encantada where the old tailings were downgraded from Proven and Probable Reserves to Inferred Resources after the Company's decision to suspend the reprocessing of the old tailings due to the low metal price environment. This resulted in a 76% increase in the Reserves silver grade, a 57% decrease in total Reserve tonnes and a 24% decrease in Reserve silver metal content. However, the underground Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves increased by 56% to 3.2 million tonnes containing 28.4 million ounces of silver with average silver grade of 276 g/t.

Silver metal content in the Measured and Indicated Resource category totaled 152.4 million ounces. In addition, the silver metal content in the Inferred Resource totaled 170.4 million ounces, a decrease of 18% compared to the prior year due mainly to the impact of lower metal price assumptions, the adoption of the stricter CIM Definition Standards, and the subtraction of Resources for the Peñasco Quemado and La Frazada projects, which were disposed of during 2014.

The complete 2014 Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates for all metals, tonnage and grades are shown below in the following tables: 

The Company also announces that its 2014 audited financial statements have been filed on SEDAR.  In addition, a Form 40-F report has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on EDGAR.  Both documents are also available on the Company's website at www.firstmajestic.com.

Shareholders may also receive a copy of First Majestic's audited financial statements, without charge, upon request to First Majestic, Suite 1805 – 925 West Georgia Street Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6C 3L2 or to [email protected].

Mr. Ramon Mendoza Reyes, Vice President Technical Services for First Majestic, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.

First Majestic is a mining company focused on silver production in México and is aggressively pursuing the development of its existing mineral property assets and the pursuit through acquisition of additional mineral assets which contribute to the Company achieving its corporate growth objectives.

FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP.
"signed"
Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the price of silver and other metals; the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and estimates of future production and costs of production at our properties; estimated production rates for silver and other payable metals produced by us, the estimated cost of development of our development projects; the effects of laws, regulations and government policies on our operations, including, without limitation, the laws in Mexico which currently have significant restrictions related to mining; obtaining or maintaining necessary permits, licences and approvals from government authorities; and continued access to necessary infrastructure, including, without limitation, access to power, land, water and roads to carry on activities as planned.

These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of silver, gold, base metals or certain other commodities (such as natural gas, fuel oil and electricity); fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, Mexico; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining, including those currently enacted in Mexico; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; the Company's title to properties; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form, under the caption "Risks Relating to First Majestic's Business".

Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Original Article: http://www.firstmajestic.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=702203&_Type=News-Releases&_Title=First-Majestic-Updates-Mineral-Reserve-and-Resource-Estimates-for-Year-End-…