Aurcana Corporation (“Aurcana” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that the 2011 first quarter production figures for the La Negra mine in Mexico confirmed record silver production and La Negra is on track for a record year.
In July 2010, La Negra completed in time and budget a mine and mill expansion from 1000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) to 1500 tpd.
La Negra’s production increase was successfully supported by a 2010 diamond drilling program of 11,000 metres.
Aurcana has recently completed a lead concentrate circuit that is currently being tested, and will remove lead from the Copper concentrate. The success of the 2010 expansion and current metal prices has prompted engineering work on the design, cost and schedule for a second expansion to over 2000 tpd.
La Negra Mine Production
Year |
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| unit | Year | Year | Year | Year | 1st Qrt |
Production |
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|
|
|
|
Ore mined | (WMT) | 122,702 | 306,384 | 323,330 | 477,759 | 142,000 |
Ore milled | (MT) | 149,578 | 297,867 | 300,952 | 422,603 | 127,231 |
Average grades |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver | (g/t) | 66 | 75 | 94 | 76 | 74 |
Copper | % | 0.76% | 0.79% | 0.54% | 0.47% | 0.44% |
Zinc | % | 1.02% | 1.08% | 0.99% | 1.18% | 1.09% |
Concentrate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead (March 2011) | (DMT) | – | – | – | – | 108 |
Copper | (DMT) | 4,100 | 9,151 | 9,036 | 11,655 | 2,994 |
Zinc | (DMT) | 1,564 | 3,112 | 3,449 | 5,219 | 1,582 |
Contained metal |
|
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|
|
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Silver in lead(March 2011) | (tr oz) | – | – | – | – | 20,284 |
Silver in Copper | (tr oz) | 228,201 | 514,853 | 749,442 | 838,077 | 219,991 |
Copper in Copper | (lbs) | 1,891,832 | 4,136,865 | 3,432,671 | 3,686,534 | 1,028,965 |
Zinc in zinc | (lbs) | 1,512,141 | 3,320,088 | 3,225,166 | 5,136,865 | 1,473,600 |
Mr. Lenic Rodriguez, President and CEO of the Company, commented: “The La Negra Mine is a success story for Aurcana. It has delivered consecutive years of increasing silver production and reduction in unit cost. The 2010 expansion of the mine and mill from 1000 to 1500 tpd, was very well timed for the rise in Silver and Copper prices.”
Shafter Silver Mine Project, Texas
Shafter Silver mine is currently in the fourth month of an 18 month construction program. The project is on budget and on schedule to go into production in May of 2012.
At the end of the first quarter 2011:
- Earthmoving and site preparation is 60% complete and will be finished by the end of April. Pouring concrete foundations will commence in early May 2011;
- Mine portal is excavated and ground support installed in preparation for mining commencing in mid April 2011;
- The first of three sets of new Sandvik underground equipment has been delivered or is in transit;
- An oversized ball mill has been procured and is currently being removed from its location in Florida and will be delivered to site in June 2011;
- All key members of the project team are hired and on site;
- Detailed engineering was started in October 2010 and is well in advance of construction; and
- Ways of accelerating the project schedule are being investigated.
Technical Reports on Reserves and Resources for the La Negra Mine are available on the Company’s website at www.aurcana.com and filed on SEDAR.
About Aurcana Corporation:
Aurcana is committed to become a mid-tier silver producer. Annualized pure silver production is on schedule to exceed 5 million ounces (6.0 million ounces of silver equivalent) by year 2012. The reader should be cautioned the Company has not completed a feasibility study confirming the projected production capacity for La Negra and there is no certainty the Company’s plans will be economically viable.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
AURCANA CORPORATION
“Lenic Rodriguez”, President and C.E.O.
For further information, visit the website at www.aurcana.com:
P: (604) 331-9333 TF: (866) 532-9333 F: (604) 633-9179 E: [email protected]
