Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 13, 2021) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSX: FR) (NYSE: AG) (FSE: FMV) ("First Majestic" or the "Company") announces that total production in the second quarter of 2021 from the Company's four producing operations, the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine, the La Encantada Silver Mine and the recently acquired Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine, reached 6.4 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 3.3 million ounces of silver and 46,545 ounces of gold. The Company's financial results for the second quarter of 2021 are scheduled to be released on Monday, August 16, 2021.
SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Total Production: The Company produced 6.4 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 3.3 million ounces of silver and 46,545 ounces of gold, representing an increase of 13% and 95%, respectively, compared to the previous quarter primarily due to a 14% increase in silver equivalent production from the three operating Mexican mines and the inclusion of production from the Jerritt Canyon operation effective April 30, 2021.
LNG Power at Santa Elena: The Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG") facility at Santa Elena successfully reached full capacity after completing final ramp-up procedures in early May. Santa Elena is now the Company's second operation that has been fully converted from diesel to low-cost LNG power.
Stockpiling at Ermitaño: During the quarter, the Company began extracting low-grade mineralized material from the development of the test stope area from the Ermitaño deposit. As of July 5th, approximately 18,200 tonnes of mineralized material grading 2.2 g/t gold and 39 g/t silver have been placed in surface stockpiles. Over the next six months, an additional 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of material is expected to be stockpiled on surface in anticipation of future processing at the Santa Elena processing plant in the first quarter of 2022.
Jerritt Canyon Acquisition Completed - Early Exploration Success: During the quarter, the Company completed the acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine adding a fourth producing operation to its growing portfolio of assets. Post-closing of the acquisition, drill hole WT-151 intersected 76.2 metres of 1.65 g/t gold, including 7.6 metres of 4.63 g/t gold, at Waterpipe II. This area of the property is developing into a target with open pit potential. Over the next six to 12 months, the Company has planned an aggressive exploration program to follow-up and test more than 25 near-mine and greenfield targets.
26 Active Drill Rigs: The Company completed a total of 53,608 metres in exploration drilling across the Company's mines during the quarter. At the end of the quarter, a total of 26 exploration drill rigs were active consisting of 13 rigs at San Dimas, five at Jerritt Canyon, six rigs at Santa Elena and two rigs at La Encantada.
"The second quarter marked a major milestone for First Majestic," stated Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO. "The acquisition of Jerritt Canyon not only gave us a new quarterly record in gold production, but it represents the Company's first major investment outside of Mexico. The overall integration process of this new mine is going well and has included several site management changes designed to grow this important operation to production levels not seen for over 15 years. Similar to our turnaround story of San Dimas, we are planning to bring significant improvements to Jerritt Canyon but it will require time and investments to complete. Lastly, the exploration potential across Jerritt Canyon's land package is extremely high for large, new discoveries and we are already planning to drill multiple exciting targets, such as Waterpipe II, over the next several quarters."
PRODUCTION TABLE | Q2 | Q2 | Y/Y | Q1 | Q/Q |
2021 | 2020 | Change | 2021 | Change | |
Ore processed/tonnes milled | 826,213 | 333,559 | 148% | 614,245 | 35% |
Silver ounces produced | 3,274,026 | 1,834,575 | 78% | 2,908,024 | 13% |
Gold ounces produced | 46,545 | 15,764 | 195% | 23,873 | 95% |
Silver equivalent ounces produced | 6,435,023 | 3,505,376 | 84% | 4,540,296 | 42% |
QUARTERLY REVIEW
Total ore processed during the quarter at the Company's mines amounted to 826,213 tonnes, representing a 35% increase compared to the previous quarter. The increase in tonnes processed was primarily due to the acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon operation on April 30, 2021 and a 26% increase in production rates at Santa Elena resulting from continued improvements in underground ore deliveries.
Consolidated silver and gold grades in the quarter averaged 137 g/t and 1.80 g/t, respectively. Gold grades increased significantly by 43% when compared to the prior quarter due to the addition of Jerritt Canyon and higher gold grades at Santa Elena and San Dimas in the quarter.
Consolidated silver and gold recoveries averaged 90% and 91%, respectively, during the quarter.
MINE BY MINE PRODUCTION TABLE
Mine | Ore Processed | Tonnes per Day | Ag Grade (g/t) | Au Grade (g/t) | Ag Recovery | Au Recovery | Ag Oz Produced | Au Oz Produced | AgEq Oz Produced |
San Dimas | 202,382 | 2,224 | 301 | 3.07 | 95% | 96% | 1,868,031 | 19,227 | 3,176,725 |
Jerritt Canyon | 146,611 | 2,365 | - | 4.03 | - | 84% | - | 18,762 | 1,270,398 |
Santa Elena | 234,381 | 2,576 | 81 | 1.17 | 93% | 96% | 565,453 | 8,453 | 1,140,398 |
La Encantada | 242,839 | 2,669 | 138 | 0.02 | 78% | 90% | 840,541 | 102 | 847,502 |
Total | 826,213 | 9,079 | 137 | 1.80 | 90% | 91% | 3,274,026 | 46,545 | 6,435,023 |
*Jerritt Canyon production was over a 62 day period from April 30, 2021 to June 30, 2021.
*Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
*The following prices were used in the calculation of silver equivalent ounces: Silver: $26.26 per ounce, Gold: $1,794 per ounce.
At the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine:
At the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine:
At the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine:
At the La Encantada Silver Mine:
JERRITT CANYON OPTIMIZATION PLANS
Given its extensive 40-year production history in Nevada, Jerritt Canyon is one of the state's most prominent gold mines. However, the operation has suffered from a lack of investment in exploration and development in recent years. First Majestic is planning to deploy capital towards exploration, underground development and plant optimization at the operation with the objective of increasing production rates, reducing costs and extending mine life of the asset.
Since the acquisition announcement in January 2021, First Majestic has been developing a long-term mine and exploration plan for the future of the operation. The Company has identified numerous projects that will be implemented over the next 12 to 24 months to improve production and reduce costs at the mine and processing plant, including:
It should be noted that many of the anticipated benefits from these modifications are not yet reflected in the forecasted operating results below and are expected to take several quarters to materialize.
OUTLOOK
Following the acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon operation, the Company has revised its annual production guidance to incorporate the following operational adjustments:
As a result of these operational modifications, total production in 2021 is expected to increase to a range of 25.7 to 27.5 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 13.0 to 13.8 million ounces of silver and 181,000 to 194,000 ounces of gold. This compares to the previous annual production guidance of 20.6 to 22.9 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 12.5 to 13.9 million ounces of silver and 100,000 to 112,000 ounces of gold.
The Company is also providing guidance for the second half of 2021 on a mine-by-mine basis below. Cash costs and AISC are on a per payable silver equivalent ounce. Metal price and foreign currency assumptions for calculating silver equivalent ounces were updated to the following: $25.00/oz for silver (previously $22.50/oz), $1,800/oz for gold (unchanged), MXN:USD 20:1 (unchanged). As result of the lower silver-to-gold ratio used in the updated guidance, the Company has reduced its estimated 2021 production by 0.9 million silver equivalent ounces.
GUIDANCE FOR SECOND HALF 2021
Silver Oz (M) | Gold Oz (k) | Silver Eqv Oz (M) | Cash Cost | AISC | |
Silver: | ($ per AgEq oz) | ($ per AgEq oz) | |||
San Dimas, Mexico | 4.0 - 4.5 | 43 - 48 | 7.1 - 7.9 | 7.39 - 7.84 | 10.43 - 11.21 |
Santa Elena, Mexico | 1.2 - 1.4 | 14 - 16 | 2.3 - 2.5 | 14.07 - 14.91 | 17.72 - 18.97 |
La Encantada, Mexico | 1.5 - 1.7 | - | 1.5 - 1.7 | 13.29 - 14.08 | 15.57 - 16.60 |
Mexico Consolidated: | 6.7 - 7.6 | 57 - 64 | 10.9 - 12.1 | 9.81 - 11.29 | 14.86 - 16.86 |
Gold: | ($ per AuEq oz) | ($ per AuEq oz) | |||
Jerritt Canyon, USA | - | 54 - 60 | 3.9 - 4.3 | 1,365 - 1,447 | 1,816 - 1,949 |
Total Production | ($ per AgEq oz) | ($ per AgEq oz) | |||
Consolidated | 6.7 - 7.6 | 111 - 124 | 14.8 - 16.4 | 12.20 - 13.60 | 17.57 - 19.53 |
*Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
* Cash Costs and AISC are non-GAAP measures. Consolidated AISC includes general and administrative cost estimates and non-cash costs of $1.31 to $1.41 per payable silver equivalent ounce.
*Jerritt Canyon Gold's AISC includes the impact of $12.3 million investment in the TSF2 expansion lift, or $206 to $230 per AuEq ounce.
In the second half of 2021, the Company expects total production of between 14.8 to 16.4 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 6.7 to 7.6 million ounces of silver and 111,000 to 124,000 ounces of gold. This represents a 44% increase to the midpoint of guidance when compared to 10.8 million silver equivalent ounces produced in the first half of 2021.
A mine-by-mine breakdown of the revised full year 2021 production guidance is included in the table below and assumes the same metal prices and foreign currency assumptions as stated previously.
GUIDANCE FOR FULL YEAR 2021
Silver Oz (M) | Gold Oz (k) | Silver Eqv Oz (M) | Cash Cost | AISC | |
Silver: | ($ per AgEq oz) | ($ per AgEq oz) | |||
San Dimas, Mexico | 7.6 - 8.1 | 80 - 85 | 13.2 - 14.0 | 8.51 - 8.82 | 12.04 - 12.56 |
Santa Elena, Mexico | 2.3 - 2.4 | 29 - 31 | 4.3 - 4.6 | 15.74 - 16.29 | 19.97 - 20.77 |
La Encantada, Mexico | 3.1 - 3.3 | - | 3.1 - 3.3 | 13.39 - 13.78 | 15.73 - 16.25 |
Mexico Consolidated: | 13.0 - 13.8 | 109 - 115 | 20.6 - 21.9 | 10.75 - 11.12 | 15.77 - 16.43 |
Gold: | ($ per AuEq oz) | ($ per AuEq oz) | |||
Jerritt Canyon, USA | - | 72 - 79 | 5.1 - 5.6 | 1,381 - 1,443 | 1,785 - 1,881 |
Total Production | ($ per AgEq oz) | ($ per AgEq oz) | |||
Consolidated | 13.0 - 13.8 | 181 - 194 | 25.7 - 27.5 | 12.52 - 12.96 | 17.86 - 18.63 |
*Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
* Cash Costs and AISC are non-GAAP measures. Consolidated AISC includes general and administrative cost estimates and non-cash costs of $1.26 to $1.32 per payable silver ounce.
*Jerritt Canyon Gold's AISC includes the impact of the $12.3 million investment in the TSF2 expansion lift, or $157 to $170 per AuEq ounce.
Annual cash costs are now expected to be within the range of $12.52 to $12.96 per ounce, compared to the previous guidance of $9.52 to $10.10 per ounce, primarily due to the addition of the Jerritt Canyon operation and higher development costs at Santa Elena. In addition, annual all-in sustaining costs are now expected to be within a range of $17.86 to $18.63 per ounce, compared to the previous guidance of $14.81 to $15.99 per ounce. Many of the anticipated cost benefits at Jerritt Canyon are not yet reflected in the forecasted operating results above and is expected to take several quarters to materialize.
REVISED CAPITAL BUDGET
The Company has updated its 2021 capital budget to include the Jerritt Canyon operation as well as the reallocation of capital for development and exploration across its operations. As a result, total capital investments for 2021 are now estimated at $205.3 million, consisting of $84.2 million for sustaining requirements and $121.1 million for expansionary projects. This represents a 22% increase compared to the original 2021 capital budget of $168.4 million primarily due to the inclusion of the Jerritt Canyon operation and additional investments in underground development at Santa Elena. The revised budget includes $92.2 million to be spent on underground development, $52.9 million towards property, plant and equipment, $35.1 million in exploration and $25.2 million towards corporate projects. On a mine-by-mine basis, capital expenditures in the second half of 2021 are estimated to be $23.0 million at San Dimas, $34.4 million at Jerritt Canyon, $36.6 million at Santa Elena (includes $22.7 million at Ermitaño) and $6.1 million at La Encantada.
Revised 2021 Capital Budget ($millions) | Sustaining | Expansionary | Total |
Underground Development | 47.1 | 45.1 | 92.2 |
Exploration | 0.5 | 34.6 | 35.1 |
Property, Plant and Equipment | 33.7 | 19.2 | 52.9 |
Corporate Projects | 3.0 | 22.2 | 25.2 |
Total | $84.2 | $121.1 | $205.3 |
*Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
Under the revised 2021 budget, the Company is now expecting to complete a total of 50,495 metres of underground development, representing a 7% increase compared to the original budget of 47,000 metres. In addition, the Company is now planning to complete a total of approximately 217,600 metres of exploration drilling in 2021, representing a 18% increase compared to the original budget of 184,150 metres, primarily due the addition of approximately 52,800 metres of exploration drilling planned at Jerritt Canyon.
APPOINTMENT OF NEW DIRECTOR
The Board of Directors have appointed Colette Rustad as a Director of the Company effective July 1, 2021.
Ms. Rustad is an international financial expert with over 30 years of diverse financial and operational experience, including mergers and acquisitions, project construction, risk management and advisory expertise in the mining, financial services, energy and technology sectors.
She currently serves as a director of the Sanford Housing Society, previously served as a director for Terrane Metals and held executive positions at Barrick Africa, VP & CFO; Goldcorp Inc, Senior Vice-President Treasurer and Controller; EY Toronto, Senior Manager and Alio Gold, EVP & CFO. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA) and has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary and completed the Advanced Management Program from the Wharton Graduate School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
CONFERENCE CALL
The Company will be holding a conference call and webcast tomorrow, Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 8am PDT (11 am EDT).
To participate in the conference call, please dial the following:
Toll Free Canada & USA: 1-800-319-4610
Outside of Canada & USA: 1-604-638-5340
Toll Free Germany: 0800 180 1954
Toll Free UK: 0808 101 2791
Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the conference. Click on WEBCAST on the First Majestic homepage as a simultaneous audio webcast of the conference call will be posted at www.firstmajestic.com.
The conference call will be recorded and you can listen to an archive of the conference by calling:
Canada & USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-6413
Outside Canada & USA: 1-604-638-9010
Access Code: 7343 followed by the # sign
The replay will be available approximately one hour after the conference and will available for 7 days following the conference. The replay will also be available on the Company's website for one month.
Q2 EARNINGS AND DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT
The Company is planning to release its second quarter 2021 unaudited financial results, and to announce the second quarter dividend payment, and shareholder record and payable dates on Monday, August 16, 2021.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver and gold production in Mexico and the United States and is aggressively pursuing the development of its existing mineral property assets. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine, the La Encantada Silver Mine and the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact info@firstmajestic.com, visit our website at www.firstmajestic.com or call our toll-free number 1.866.529.2807.
FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP.
"signed"
Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward‐looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward‐looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; commercial mining operations; cash flow; budgets; the timing and amount of estimated future production; ore grades; recovery rates; mine plans and mine life; integration of operations; the future price of silver and other metals; costs of production; costs and timing of development at the Company's projects; reduction of costs and emissions as a result of adoption of LNG power; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; optimization plans at the Jerritt Canyon mine and the anticipated benefits thereof. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, guidance cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon guidance and forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward‐looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as and if the property is developed, and in the case of measured and indicated mineral resources or proven and probable mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward‐looking statements".
Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19, and any other pandemics on our operations and workforce, and the effects on global economies and society, risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business - Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, available on www.sedar.com, and Form 40-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although First Majestic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward‐looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward‐looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.
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