Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA) (B3: AURA33) (OTCQX: ORAAF) announces Q4 2024 preliminary production results from the Company’s four operating mines: Aranzazu, Apoena, Minosa (San Andres), and Almas. Total production in Q4 2024 reached 66,473 gold equivalent ounces1, 1% below the third quarter of 2024 and stable when compared to the same period last year at constant metal prices. The quarter’s highlights included Almas, which set another production record, achieving an 11% increase over the previous quarter and surpassing the annual guidance. Minosa also stood out by exceeding its annual guidance.
Total production for 2024 reached 267,232 GEO at current prices, a 13% increase when compared to 2023 at current prices and 18% increase when compared at constant prices. At guidance metal prices, production achieved 276,305 GEO, placing it at the upper end of the consolidated production guidance range of 244,000 to 292,000 GEO for the year.
Q4 2024 Highlights:
Rodrigo Barbosa, Aura’s President and CEO commented, “We ended 2024 at the upper end of our production guidance with 267,000 GEO at current prices, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. The quick and effective contractor change at Almas allowed us not only to recover from the Q2 production dip but also to surpass our yearly targets. Alongside Almas, improvements in Honduras exceeded expectations, and Aranzazu maintained its consistent output. This robust performance ensured we met our guidance, despite setbacks at Apoena due to delays in obtaining environmental permits for accessing higher-grade ore, which we plan to start mining in 2025. Also in 2024, we made significant progress on the Borborema construction, staying on schedule and aiming for ramp-up by the end of Q1 2025. We’ve also acquired a new world class project for development in Guatemala. Overall, in 2024 we not only increased our production in line with our long-term strategy but also demonstrated that with our expansion and upcoming operations, we’ll experience less production volatility. This lays the groundwork for executing our growth strategy and significantly enhancing our valuation multiple.”
1 Gold equivalent ounces, or GEO, is calculated by converting the production of silver, copper and gold into gold using a ratio of the prices of these metals to that of gold. The prices used to determine the gold equivalent ounces are based on the weighted average price of gold, silver and copper realized from sales at the Aranzazu Complex during the relevant period.
Production Results and Guidance 2024 Achievement
Preliminary GEO1,2,3 production volume for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 at both current prices and constant prices, compared to the previous quarter and the same period in the previous year is presented below:
Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2023 | % change vs. Q3 2024 |
% change vs. Q4 2023 |
2024 | 2023 | % change vs. 2023 |
|
Ounces produced (GEO1) | ||||||||
Aranzazu | 23,379 | 24,486 | 26,532 | -5% | -12% | 97,558 | 106,120 | -8% |
Minosa (San Andres) | 19,294 | 20,750 | 17,854 | -7% | 8% | 78,372 | 65,927 | 19% |
Almas | 16,679 | 14,975 | 9,591 | 11% | 74% | 54,129 | 17,805 | 204% |
Apoena (EPP) Mines | 7,121 | 8,035 | 15,217 | -11% | -53% | 37,173 | 46,006 | -19% |
Total GEO produced – current prices | 66,473 | 68,246 | 69,194 | -3% | -4% | 267,232 | 235,858 | 13% |
Total GEO produced – constant prices | 66,473 | 67,103 | 66,274 | -1% | 0% | 267,232 | 226,840 | 18% |
[1] Includes ounces produced and which were capitalized for projects at pre-commercial production stages. | ||||||||
The table below shows production by each type of metal at Aranzazu. Production increased in Q4 2024 for Gold and Silver, and decreased for Copper, and was in line with the Company’s expectations.
Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2023 | % change vs. Q3 2024 |
% change vs. Q4 2023 |
2024 | 2023 | % change vs. 2023 |
|
Gold Production (oz) | 6,987 | 6,898 | 7,061 | 1% | -1% | 26,578 | 27,549 | -4% |
Silver Production (oz) | 146,187 | 137,414 | 130,370 | 6% | 12% | 539,532 | 507,144 | 6% |
Copper Production (klbs) | 9,413 | 9,511 | 9,606 | -1% | -2% | 36,988 | 36,684 | 1% |
Total GEO produced – current prices | 23,379 | 24,486 | 26,532 | -5% | -12% | 97,558 | 106,120 | -8% |
Total GEO produced – constant prices | 23,379 | 23,344 | 23,612 | 0% | -1% | 97,558 | 97,102 | 0% |
1 The total may not add due to rounding.
2 For quarterly constant prices, applies the metal sale prices in Aranzazu realized during Q4 2024 to the previous quarters in all operations, being: Copper price = US$4.15/lb; Gold Price = US$2,663/oz; Silver Price = US$31.47/oz.
3 For yearly constant prices, applies the metal sale prices in Aranzazu realized during 2024 to the previous year, being: Copper price = US$4.17/lb; Gold Price = US$2,406/oz; Silver Price = US$28,60/oz.
Preliminary GEO1,2 production volume for the year ended December 31, 2024, at both current prices and Guidance prices, along with the Guidance ranges, compared to the previous quarter and the same period in the previous year is presented below:
2024 | |||
Ounces produced (GEO1) | Current Prices | Guidance Prices | Guidance Range |
Aranzazu | 97,558 | 106,631 | 94,000 – 108,000 |
Minosa (San Andres) | 78,372 | 78,372 | 60,000 – 75,000 |
Almas | 54,129 | 54,129 | 45,000 – 53,000 |
Apoena (EPP) Mines | 37,173 | 37,173 | 46,000 – 56,000 |
267,232 | 276,305 | 244,000 – 292,000 | |
The chart below displays the consolidated quarterly GEO production measured at current and constant prices since Q4 2022, as well as the last twelve months at the end of each reporting period:
Consolidated GEO Production per Quarter and LTM
(000’s GEO, current and constant prices as reported)
1 The total may not add due to rounding.
2 Applies the metal sale prices in Aranzazu realized during Q4 2024 to the previous quarters in all operations, being: Copper price = US$4.15/lb; Gold Price = US$2,663/oz; Silver Price = US$31.47/oz.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Farshid Ghazanfari, P.Geo. Mineral resources and Geology Director for Aura Minerals Inc. and serve as the Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Aura 360° Mining
Aura is focused on mining in complete terms – thinking holistically about how its business impacts and benefits every one of our stakeholders: our company, our shareholders, our employees, and the countries and communities we serve. We call this 360° Mining.
Aura is a mid-tier gold and copper production company focused on operating and developing gold and base metal projects in the Americas. The Company has 4 operating mines including the Aranzazu copper-gold-silver mine in Mexico, the Apoena (EPP) and Almas gold mines in Brazil, and the Minosa (San Andres) mine in Honduras. The Company’s development projects include Borborema and Matupá both in Brazil. Aura has unmatched exploration potential owning over 630,000 hectares of mineral rights and is currently advancing multiple near-mine and regional targets along with the Carajas (Serra da Estrela) copper project in the prolific Carajás region of Brazil.
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