COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr. 15, 2013–
First Quarter Operating Highlights
- Companywide silver production of 3.8 million ounces was 22% lower than the first quarter 2012 due to lower grade ore processed from both open pit and underground operations at the Company’s Palmarejo mine.
- Companywide gold production of 56,913 ounces was 30% higher than the first quarter 2012 due to significantly higher production from the Company’s
Kensington andRochester mines. - Metal sales were
$178.6 million , down 13% compared with the first quarter 2012. - Average realized silver and gold prices were
$30.61 per ounce and$1,630 per ounce, respectively, representing decreases of 6% and 4%, respectively, compared with the first quarter of 2012. - Grades and mining rates rebounded at Palmarejo late in the first quarter compared to the third and fourth quarters of 2012. Palmarejo produced 1.6 million ounces of silver and 22,965 ounces of gold in the first quarter 2013. While lower than first quarter 2012 levels, silver and gold production was 6% and 15% higher, respectively, compared to the fourth quarter 2012. Production rates are expected to climb in the second half of 2013.
- San Bartolomé produced 1.4 million ounces of silver, which was 12% lower than the first quarter of 2012 due to lower silver grades, but the mine performed better than planned and this level should reflect anticipated production rates during the remainder of the year.
Rochester’s production was temporarily affected by extremely cold temperatures and heavier than normal snowfall during January and February, which impacted ore crushing.Rochester produced 0.6 million ounces of silver and 8,742 ounces of gold, which was lower than production in the fourth quarter 2012, but 47% and 65% higher than the first quarter 2012, respectively.Kensington’s gold production more than tripled compared to the first quarter of 2012, reaching 25,206 ounces.Kensington’s production is expected to increase in the second half of 2013 over the first half of 2013 due to anticipated improved grades and higher throughput rates.
Table 1: Operational Highlights: Production | ||||||||||||||
(silver ounces in thousands) | 1Q 2013 | 1Q 2012 | Quarter | |||||||||||
Silver | Gold | Silver | Gold | Silver | Gold | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 1,646 | 22,965 | 2,483 | 31,081 | (34 | %) | (26 | %) | ||||||
San Bartolomé | 1,391 | | 1,591 | | (13 | %) | n.a. | |||||||
Rochester | 648 | 8,742 | 441 | 5,292 | 47 | % | 65 | % | ||||||
Martha(1) | | | 123 | 84 | n.a. | n.a. | ||||||||
Kensington | | 25,206 | | 7,444 | n.a. | 239 | % | |||||||
Endeavor | 150 | | 248 | | (40 | %) | n.a. | |||||||
Total | 3,835 | 56,913 | 4,886 | 43,901 | (22 | %) | 30 | % | ||||||
1. The Martha mine in
2013 Outlook
In addition to its unchanged 2013 production outlook provided in Table 2 below, Coeur reiterated its full-year 2013 projected cash operating costs1 of
Table 2: 2013 Production Outlook | ||||||
(silver ounces in thousands) | Country | Silver | Gold | |||
Palmarejo | Mexico | 7,700-8,300 | 98,000-105,000 | |||
San Bartolomé | Bolivia | 5,300-5,700 | | |||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 4,500-4,900 | 44,000-46,000 | |||
Endeavor | Australia | 500-600 | | |||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | | 108,000-114,000 | |||
Total | 18,000-19,500 | 250,000-265,000 | ||||
About Coeur
Cautionary Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in
1. Cash operating costs are non-GAAP measures.
Non-U.S. GAAP Measures
We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under
Table 3: | ||||||
Operating Statistics from Continuing Operations – (Unaudited): | ||||||
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||
Silver Operations: | ||||||
Palmarejo | ||||||
Tons milled | 573,170 | 528,543 | ||||
Ore grade/Ag oz | 3.65 | 6.12 | ||||
Ore grade/Au oz | 0.04 | 0.06 | ||||
Recovery/Ag oz(1) | 78.8 | % | 76.8 | % | ||
Recovery/Au oz(1) | 90.1 | % | 93.3 | % | ||
Silver production ounces | 1,646,397 | 2,482,814 | ||||
Gold production ounces | 22,965 | 31,081 | ||||
San Bartolomé | ||||||
Tons milled | 374,985 | 378,104 | ||||
Ore grade/Ag oz | 4.09 | 4.62 | ||||
Recovery/Ag oz(1) | 90.6 | % | 91.2 | % | ||
Silver production ounces | 1,391,099 | 1,591,292 | ||||
Martha(3) | ||||||
Tons milled | | 34,069 | ||||
Ore grade/Ag oz | | 4.43 | ||||
Ore grade/Au oz | | 0.004 | ||||
Recovery/Ag oz(1) | | % | 81.4 | % | ||
Recovery/Au oz(1) | | % | 64.6 | % | ||
Silver production ounces | | 122,793 | ||||
Gold production ounces | | 84 | ||||
Rochester | ||||||
Tons milled | 2,439,757 | 2,009,518 | ||||
Ore grade/Ag oz | 0.52 | 0.55 | ||||
Ore grade/Au oz | 0.003 | 0.004 | ||||
Recovery/Ag oz(2) | 50.8 | % | 40.2 | % | ||
Recovery/Au oz(2) | 108.6 | % | 62.1 | % | ||
Silver production ounces | 647,589 | 441,337 | ||||
Gold production ounces | 8,742 | 5,292 | ||||
Endeavor | ||||||
Tons milled | 194,519 | 195,846 | ||||
Ore grade/Ag oz | 1.61 | 3.35 | ||||
Recovery/Ag oz(1) | 47.8 | % | 37.8 | % | ||
Silver production ounces | 149,594 | 247,958 | ||||
Gold Operation: | ||||||
Kensington | ||||||
Tons milled | 129,057 | 43,936 | ||||
Ore grade/Au oz | 0.20 | 0.18 | ||||
Recovery/Au oz(1) | 96.2 | % | 93.4 | % | ||
Gold production ounces | 25,206 | 7,444 | ||||
CONSOLIDATED PRODUCTION TOTALS | ||||||
Total silver ounces | 3,834,679 | 4,886,194 | ||||
Total gold ounces | 56,913 | 43,901 | ||||
1. Recoveries are affected by timing inherent in the leaching process.
2. Recoveries at
3. The Martha mine ceased active mining operations in September of 2012.
Table 4: | ||||||||||
Results of Operations by Mine – Palmarejo – (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
1Q 2013 | 4Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 1Q 2012 | ||||||
Underground Operations: | ||||||||||
Tons mined | 151,232 | 139,925 | 143,747 | 162,820 | 158,030 | |||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 4.22 | 4.70 | 6.13 | 8.91 | 7.82 | |||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.09 | 0.08 | 90 | 0.14 | 0.11 | |||||
Surface Operations: | ||||||||||
Tons mined | 388,651 | 465,498 | 424,380 | 321,758 | 347,609 | |||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 3.45 | 2.62 | 2.79 | 4.14 | 5.32 | |||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.04 | |||||
Processing: | ||||||||||
Total tons milled | 573,170 | 563,123 | 532,775 | 489,924 | 528,543 | |||||
Average recovery rate Ag | 78.8% | 84.2% | 90% | 84.2% | 76.8% | |||||
Average recovery rate Au | 90.1% | 91.4% | 102.5% | 92% | 93.3% | |||||
Silver production – oz (000’s) | 1,646 | 1,555 | 1,833 | 2,365 | 2,483 | |||||
Gold production – oz | 22,965 | 19,998 | 23,702 | 31,258 | 31,081 | |||||
Table 5: | ||||||||||
Results of Operations by Mine – San Bartolomé – (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
1Q 2013 | 4Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 1Q 2012 | ||||||
Tons milled | 374,985 | 363,813 | 344,349 | 391,005 | 378,104 | |||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 4.09 | 4.20 | 4.91 | 4.30 | 4.60 | |||||
Average recovery rate | 90.6% | 88.0% | 90.3% | 88.3% | 91.2% | |||||
Silver production (000’s) | 1,391 | 1,343 | 1,526 | 1,470 | 1,591 | |||||
Table 6: | ||||||||||
Results of Operations by Mine – Kensington – (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
1Q 2013 | 4Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 1Q 2012 | ||||||
Tons mined | 116,747 | 140,626 | 113,770 | 84,632 | 56,815 | |||||
Tons milled | 129,057 | 129,622 | 123,428 | 97,794 | 43,936 | |||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.20 | 0.23 | 0.21 | 0.23 | 0.18 | |||||
Average recovery rate | 96.2% | 96.9% | 95.9% | 94.2% | 93.4% | |||||
Gold production | 25,206 | 28,718 | 24,391 | 21,572 | 7,444 | |||||
Table 7: | ||||||||||
Results of Operations by Mine – Rochester – (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
1Q 2013 | 4Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 1Q 2012 | ||||||
Tons mined | 2,924,472 | 3,031,428 | 3,170,129 | 2,585,914 | 2,923,324 | |||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 0.52 | 0.51 | 0.52 | 0.63 | 0.55 | |||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.003 | 0.005 | 0.004 | 0.005 | 0.004 | |||||
Silver production (000’s) | 647 | 828 | 819 | 713 | 441 | |||||
Gold production | 8,742 | 12,055 | 10,599 | 10,120 | 5,292 | |||||
Table 8: | ||||||||||
Results of Operations by Mine – Endeavor – (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
1Q 2013 | 4Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 1Q 2012 | ||||||
Silver Production (000’s) | 150 | 105 | 140 | 240 | 248 | |||||
Table 9: | ||||||||||
Results of Operations by Mine – Martha(1) – (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| 1Q 2013 | 4Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 1Q 2012 | |||||
Total tons milled | | | 27,281 | 39,199,000 | 34,068 | |||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | | | 4.17 | 3,520 | 4.43 | |||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | | | 3.4 | | | |||||
Average recovery rate Ag | % | % | 81.5% | 78.2% | 81.4% | |||||
Average recovery rate Au | % | % | 82.6% | 72.4% | 64.6% | |||||
Silver production (000’s) | | | 93 | 108 | 123 | |||||
1. The Martha mine ceased active operations in September of 2012.
Source:
Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation
Wendy Yang, 208-665-0345
Vice President, Investor Relations
or
Stefany Bales, 208-667-8263
Director, Corporate Communications
www.coeur.com