VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jan 12, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — SilverCrest Mines Inc. (otcqx:STVZF)(pinksheets:STVZF) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce record production of silver and gold was achieved in the Fourth Quarter, 2011 from the Santa Elena Mine located in Sonora, Mexico.
Santa Elena Mine Production Highlights: Fourth Quarter, 2011 compared to Third Quarter, 2011
— Silver production up 23% to 131,045 ounces
— Gold production up 8% to 9,536 ounces
— Silver equivalent production up 16% to 667,766 ounces
— Silver ounces delivered to pad up 33% to 524,375
— Gold ounces delivered to pad up 12% to 20,094
— Tonnes crushed up 30% to 328,945
During the first year of production the mine produced 377,071 ounces of silver and 26,969 ounces of gold (1,737,418 ounces of silver equivalent, Ag:Au ratio 50.4:1). The first full year of commercial production will be 2012 during which the mine is expected to produce approximately 435,000 ounces of silver and 33,000 ounces of gold.
J. Scott Drever, President stated; “We are certainly pleased with the continuous improvements being made at the Santa Elena Mine. All aspects of the operations are at or above design capacities. This is reflected in the steady increase in the overall performance statistics and more specifically in the record number of ounces of silver and gold poured on site and sold out of the refinery. The improvements in production numbers will be reflected in our year end financial results to be released towards the end of March. Our substantial operating cash flow has enabled us to retire our US$12.5 million bank debt. Our strong cash position of US$26.2 million at year end assures that we can continue with our Expansion Plan to double production at Santa Elena and to aggressively explore the La Joya property where the Company has a major new discovery”.
——————————————————-
Santa Elena Mine
Operating
Highlights: 2011 Q4 2011 Q3 2011 Q2 2011 Q1 2011
—————————————————————————-
Silver ounces
produced 377,071 131,045 106,636 74,678 64,712
Gold ounces produced 26,969 9,536 8,805 5,476 3,152
Silver equivalent
ounces produced (1) 1,737,418 667,766 575,079 310,090 184,483
Silver ounces sold 344,546 120,199 96,631 70,326 57,390
Gold ounces sold 23,962 9,702 7,627 4,300 2,333
Tonnes Ore 981,590 328,625 248,192 249,214 155,559
Tonnes waste 3,697,291 1,417,413 1,058,909 708,049 512,920
Waste / ore ratio 3.77 4.31 4.27 2.84 3.30
Ore tonnes crushed 1,050,022 328,945 253,496 249,054 218,527
Average ore tonnes
crushed per day 2,877 3,575 2,755 2,737 2,428
Average silver ore
grade (gpt) loaded
on pad 44.77 49.55 48.47 44.09 34.07
Average gold ore
grade (gpt) loaded
on pad 1.82 1.90 2.20 1.91 1.14
Silver ounces
delivered to pad 1,511,807 524,375 395,068 352,995 239,369
Gold ounces delivered
to pad 61,280 20,094 17,912 15,268 8,006
Ag:Au Ratio (1) 50.4:1 56.3:1 53.2:1 43:1 38:1
—————————————————————————-
(1) Silver equivalence was calculated using the market spot rates per gold
and silver ounce at the quarter end date
For additional information and to view production photos, please visit the Company’s website at www.silvercrestmines.com .
N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng. and Chief Operating Officer for SilverCrest Mines Inc. and Qualified Person for this news release has reviewed and approved its contents.
SilverCrest Mines Inc. /quotes/zigman/325516 CA:SVL +1.32% (otcqx:STVZF) is a Mexican precious metals producer with headquarters based in Vancouver, BC. SilverCrest’s flagship property is the 100%-owned Santa Elena Mine, which is located 150 km northeast of Hermosillo, near Banamichi in the State of Sonora, Mexico. The mine is a high-grade, epithermal gold and silver producer, with an estimated life of mine cash cost of US$8 per ounce of silver equivalent (55:1 Ag). SilverCrest anticipates that the 2,500 tonnes per day facility should recover approximately 4,805,000 ounces of silver and 179,000 ounces of gold over the 6.5 year life of the open pit phase of the Santa Elena Mine. A three year expansion plan is underway to double metals production at the Santa Elena Mine and exploration programs are rapidly advancing the definition of a large polymetallic deposit at the La Joya property in Durango, Mexico.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and the United States Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company’s anticipated results and developments in the Company’s operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on expectations of future performance, including silver and gold production and planned work programs. Statements concerning reserves and mineral resource estimates may also constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed and, in the case of mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to precious and base metal price fluctuations; risks related to fluctuations in the currency markets (particularly the Mexican peso, Canadian dollar and United States dollar); risks related to the inherently dangerous activity of mining, including conditions or events beyond our control, and operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; uncertainty in the Company’s ability to raise financing and fund the exploration and development of its mineral properties; uncertainty as to actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns, and uncertainty that development activities will result in profitable mining operations; risks related to reserves and mineral resource figures being estimates based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently estimated and to diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; risks related to governmental regulations and obtaining necessary licenses and permits; risks related to the business being subject to environmental laws and regulations which may increase costs of doing business and restrict our operations; risks related to mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance; risks related to potential litigation; risks related to the global economy; risks related to the Company’s status as a foreign private issuer in the United States; risks related to all of the Company’s properties being located in Mexico and El Salvador, including political, economic, social and regulatory instability; and risks related to officers and directors becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
The information provided in this news release is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all matters and developments concerning the Company. It should be read in conjunction with all other disclosure documents of the Company. The information contained herein is not a substitute for detailed investigation or analysis. No securities commission or regulatory authority has reviewed the accuracy or adequacy of the information presented.
J. Scott Drever, President
SILVERCREST MINES INC.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
SilverCrest Mines Inc.
Fred Cooper
(604) 694-1730 ext. 108 or Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730
(604) 694-1761 (FAX)
[email protected]www.silvercrestmines.com
SOURCE: SilverCrest Mines Inc.
mailto:[email protected]http://www.silvercrestmines.com
