VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Mar 10, 2014 (Marketwired via COMTEX) — Avino Silver and Gold Mines Ltd. (nyse mkt:ASM) CA:ASM -0.43% (frankfurt:GV6) (“Avino” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the February 2014 production results from its San Gonzalo mine and Avino Mine surface stockpile operations located on the Avino property near Durango, Mexico.
February production from the San Gonzalo Mine and Avino Mine surface stockpiles are presented below along with a comparison with January output from both areas:
----------------------------------------------------------------- Total Feed Feed Mill Feed Grade Grade Recovery Recovery Days of (metric Silver Gold Silver Gold Operation tonnes) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Gonzalo (Circuit 1) 27 6,259 351 2.0 84 77 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Historic Above Ground Stock Piles (Circuit 2) 27 6,171 96 0.73 66 62 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12,430 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Total Total Total February January YTD Silver Total Gold Silver Eq. Silver Eq. Silver Produced Produced Produced Produced Eq. (oz) (oz) (oz) (oz) Produced Calculated Calculated Calculated Calculated % Change Calculated ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Gonzalo (Circuit 1) 59,138 301 77,979 83,437 (7)% 161,416 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Historic Above Ground Stock Piles (Circuit 2) 12,624 90 18,275 22,114 (17)% 40,389 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71,762 391 96,254 105,551 (9)% 201,805 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver equivalent was calculated using a 62.5:1 ratio for silver to gold. Mill production figures have not been reconciled and are subject to adjustment with concentrate sales. Year-to-date and calculated figures may not add up due to rounding. "We are pleased to report another month of consistent operations in February. Output was down marginally due to two fewer days in the month, however, Avino's daily average silver equivalent production was able to equal the output achieved in January, which was a record setting month. The San Gonzalo mine continues to demonstrate consistent grades and recoveries" - David Wolfin, President, CEO & Director, Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
Circuit 1 – San Gonzalo
Comparative production numbers from January and February 2014 at San Gonzalo, as well as 2014 yearly totals are reported as follows:
-------------------------------------------- Feb Jan Monthly 2014 2014 Change % YTD SG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Mill Feed (dry tonnes) 6,259 6,509 (4) 12,768 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Daily Throughput (tpd) 232 224 4 228 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Days of Operation 27 29 (7) 56 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feed Grade Silver (g/t) 351 358 (2) 355 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feed Grade Gold (g/t) 2.0 2.0 0 2.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bulk Concentrate (dry tonnes) 193 235 (18) 427 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bulk Concentrate Grade Silver (kg/t) 9.5 8.4 13 8.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bulk Concentrate Grade Gold (g/t) 48.6 42.1 15 45 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery Silver (%) 84 85 (1) 84 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery Gold (%) 77 77 0 77 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mill Availability (%) 98.7 93.7 5 96.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Silver Produced (kg) 1,839 1,978 (7) 3,817 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Gold Produced (g) 9,376 9,882 (5) 19,258 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Silver Produced (oz) calculated 59,138 63,580 (7) 122,718 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Gold Produced (oz) calculated 301 318 (5) 619 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Silver Equivalent Produced (oz) 77,979 83,437 (7) 161,416 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver equivalent was calculated using a 62.5:1 ratio for silver to gold, Mill production figures have not been reconciled and are subject to adjustment with concentrate sales. Year-to-date and calculated figures may not add up due to rounding.
February Highlights
-- Silver Equivalent ounces produced in February were lower by 7% than that of January due mainly to two fewer operating days. -- Feed grades of silver and gold together with their respective recoveries were similar to those of January with little or no change. -- Total tonnage processed was lower by 4%, however daily throughput was higher due to higher plant availability. -- The quality of concentrate produced was also better resulting in fewer tons produced.
Circuit 2 – Avino Mine Stock Piles
Comparative production numbers from January and February 2014 from the Avino Mine stock pile operation, as well as 2014 yearly totals are reported as follows:
-------------------------------------------- Feb Jan 2014 2014 % Change YTD 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total mill feed - (dry tonnes) 6,171 6,685 (8) 12,857 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Days of Operation 27 29 (7) 56 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feed grade Silver - g/t 96 108 (11) 102 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feed grade Gold - g/t 0.73 0.77 (5) 0.75 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bulk concentrate - (dry tonnes) 53 77 (31) 130 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bulk Concentrate Grade Silver (kg/t) 7.48 6.35 18 6.81 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bulk Concentrate Grade Gold (g/t) 53.58 40.44 32 45.75 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery Silver (%) 66 68 (3) 67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery Gold (%) 62 61 2 61 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mill availability (%) 96.4 95.1 1 95.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Silver Produced (oz) calculated 12,624 15,818 (20) 28,442 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Gold Produced (oz) calculated 90 101 (11) 191 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Silver Eq. Produced (oz) calculated 18,275 22,114 (17) 40,389 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver equivalent was calculated using a 62.5:1 ratio for silver to gold, Mill production figures have not been reconciled and are subject to adjustment with concentrate sales. Year-to-date and calculated figures may not add up due to rounding.
February Highlights
-- Silver and gold production was lower by 20% and 11% respectively to those of January. -- The lower production was due to two fewer operating days and lower feed grades. -- Total tonnage processed was lower by 8%. -- Silver and gold recoveries were relatively the same as those of January. -- The concentrate grade produced was higher and resulted in fewer tons produced for the month.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Mill assays are performed at the mine’s on-site lab. Check samples are verified by Inspectorate Labs in Reno, Nevada. San Gonzalo concentrate shipments are assayed at various certified Labs in Europe and also AH Knight in Manzanillo, Mexico. The Avino stockpile concentrate shipments are assayed at LSI in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Qualified Person(s)
Avino’s projects are under the supervision of Chris Sampson, P.Eng, Avino Consultant and Jasman Yee P.Eng, Avino Director, who are both qualified persons within the context of National Instrument 43-101. Both have reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.
About Avino
Avino is a silver and gold producer operating the Avino property located in Durango, Mexico. The Company’s mission is to become the next mid-tier silver producer through profitable organic growth at the Avino property. We are committed to managing all business activities in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner while contributing to the well-being of the community in which we operate.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "David Wolfin" ----------------------------------- David Wolfin President & CEO Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
Safe Harbor Statement – This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (together, the “forward looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including our belief as to the extent and timing of various studies including the PEA, and exploration results, the potential tonnage, grades and content of deposits, timing and establishment and extent of resources estimates. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers, directors or promoters of with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and uncertainties. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors – The information contained herein and incorporated by reference herein has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In particular, the term “resource” does not equate to the term “reserve”. The Securities Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” or “inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards, unless such information is required to be disclosed by the law of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation or of a jurisdiction in which its securities are traded. U.S. investors should also understand that “inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Disclosure of “contained ounces” is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. David Wolfin President & CEO 604.682.3701 604.682.3600 (FAX) [email protected] www.avino.com
SOURCE: Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.