The Prospector News

McEwen Mining: Q3 2020 Production and Exploration Results

You have opened a direct link to the current edition PDF

Open PDF Close
Uncategorized

Share this news article

McEwen Mining: Q3 2020 Production and Exploration Results

 

 

 

 

 

McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) reports consolidated production for Q3 2020 was 23,100 gold ounces and 575,000 silver ounces, or 30,400 gold equivalent ounces(1, at the average gold:silver price ratio for the quarter of 79:1. Production rebounded during Q3 after the successful restart of all four of our operations, which were temporary suspended during Q2, largely due to actions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst our workers, business partners, and communities.

 

 

Consolidated Production Summary

 

  Q1 Q2 Q3
2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020
Gold (oz) 26,900 29,200 36,200 15,700 35,000 23,100
Silver (oz) 703,200 553,200 850,500 359,400 947,100 575,000
GEOs(1) 36,300 35,100 45,900 19,200 45,900 30,400

 

Black Fox Mine, Timmins, Canada (100%)

 

In Q3, Black Fox produced 5,800 GEOs, compared to 2,200 GEOs in Q2. The mine is benefitting from the additional development work completed during Q2 that increased mining flexibility. We expect production to continue to trend higher during Q4, and mining from Black Fox to continue into H1 2021, while we transition to mining the Froome deposit.

 

Froome – Development

 

Development of underground access to the Froome deposit, located a half mile (800 m) west of the Black Fox mine, is on track, having advanced 47% by the end of the quarter. We plan to reach the deposit in Q2 2021 and achieve commercial production from Froome in Q4 2021. Froome offers several benefits compared to Black Fox such as straighter more efficient haulage, wider and more consistent mineralization, and lower cost bulk mining methods. We are targeting an average annualized production rate of 40-45,000 GEOs per year from Froome over a period of approximately 2.5 years.

 

Fox Complex Expansion – Economic Study

 

We have engaged an independent engineering group to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Grey Fox – Black Fox, Stock and Timmins resources utilizing our existing central milling capacity. The PEA is expected to be completed in Q4 2020 and will identify the optimal business case on which to complete a feasibility study in 2021. Combined, the Fox Complex deposits host nearly 3.0 million gold ounces of Measured and Indicated resources, and an additional 1.0 million gold ounces of Inferred resources (2). The objective of the PEA is to develop a plan for the Fox Complex where it would grow to an annual production of 100-150,000 ounces of gold, at a cash cost of $800/oz and an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,050/oz, over a 10-year life. Production growth is envisioned to start ramping up in 2022.

 

Grey Fox and Stock – 2020 Exploration

 

On September 10th we completed a flow-through financing, which provides US$10 million for exploration activities in the Timmins region over the next 1-2 years. The initial focus is on two high-potential targets, Stock West and Whiskey Jack. Both of these targets returned very encouraging results during the 2018-2019 drilling campaigns, and we are looking forward to continue exploration at these exciting discoveries, with the objective to define additional resources.

 

Whiskey Jack Target

 

Drilling 650 feet (200 m) north of existing resource blocks at the Grey Fox deposit in 2019 resulted in the discovery of a new zone called Whiskey Jack that returned 9.9 g/t Au over 39 m and 9.7 g/t Au over 6 m in hole 19GF-1248. The 2020 drilling has been designed to: a) test for extensions of the gold mineralization, which is open at depth and along strike (see Figure 1), and b) infill the central discovery area with 100 ft (30 m) spaced drilling, in order to assess gold distribution and the potential to define additional resources.

 

Drilling started in September and visible gold is showing in 6 of the 9 new holes logged to date, similar to the ratio observed during the 2019 drilling campaign. Highlights of the first new drill holes(3) in the Whiskey Jack target are as follows:

 

20.0 g/t Au over 6.7 m from hole 20GF-1255
16.3 g/t Au over 2.3 m from hole 20GF-1112
9.5 g/t Au over 2.4 m (core length) from hole 20GF-1152

 

Figure 1: Whiskey Jack – Longitudinal Section

http://mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2020/20201000/Fig1_WJ_LS.pdf

 

A complete summary of new drilling results from Whiskey Jack is available here:

http://mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2020/20201000/WJ_comp.xlsx

 

San José Mine, Santa Cruz, Argentina (49%(4))

 

In Q3, San José produced 8,600 gold ounces and 571,000 silver ounces, for a total of 15,900 GEOs, compared to 9,000 GEOs in Q2. Lower average gold to silver price ratio of 79:1 during the quarter (versus 104:1 during Q2), resulted in higher gold equivalent production. The mine continued to operate below normal capacity during Q3 due to government-imposed COVID-19 travel restrictions that create challenges in mobilizing personnel to the site.

 

Gold Bar Mine, Nevada (100%)

 

In Q3, Gold Bar produced 6,800 GEOs, compared to 6,100 GEOs in Q2. During the quarter we progressed several key business improvement initiatives supporting the turnaround of our operations, which include improving contractor mining efficiencies, assessing material handling and processing alternatives, and further definition drilling at the Gold Pick deposit (see Figure 2), designed to upgrade mineral resources from Inferred to Indicated. A new reserve estimate and feasibility study update for Gold Bar are expected to be announced towards the end of Q4.

 

Highlights of the results(3) from this recently completed 28-hole drill program are as follows:

 

1.8 g/t Au over 90 ft (27.4 m) from hole GB769
3.1 g/t Au over 70 ft (21.3 m) from hole GB824
2.1 g/t Au over 130 ft (39.6 m) from hole GB828
4.1 g/t Au over 60 ft (18.3 m) from hole GB830
2.3 g/t Au over 65 ft (19.8 m) from hole GB833
2.1 g/t Au over 80 ft (24.4 m) from hole GB841

 

Figure 2: Gold Pick Drilling – Plan Map

http://mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2020/20201000/Fig2_GP.pdf

 

A complete summary of new drilling results from Gold Pick is available here:

http://mcewenmining.com/files/doc_news/archive/2020/20201000/GP_Comp.xlsx

 

El Gallo Project, Sinaloa, Mexico (100%)

 

In Q3, El Gallo produced 1,900 GEOs from residual leaching of the heap leach pad, compared to 1,900 GEOs in Q2. An updated feasibility study for the Fenix Project is being finalized, and we expect to release the results in Q4.

 

Financial Results

 

Operating costs for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 will be released with our 10-Q Quarterly Financial Statements.

 

Notes: 

(1) ‘Gold Equivalent Ounces’ are calculated based on a gold to silver price ratio of 75:1 for Q1 2019, 88:1 for Q2 2019, 87:1 for Q3 2019, 94:1 for Q1 2020,104:1 for Q2 2020 and 79:1 for Q3 2020.
(2) Resources and Reserves for all the McEwen Mining projects can be found on our website: https://www.mcewenmining.com/operations/reserves-and-resources/default.aspx
(3) Intercept lengths are estimated true width unless otherwise indicated.
(4) The San José Mine is 49% owned by McEwen Mining Inc. and 51% owned and operated by Hochschild Mining plc.

 

Technical Information

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Mah, P.Eng., COO of McEwen Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.”

 

Technical information pertaining to Black Fox geology and exploration contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of Ken Tylee, P.Geo. Mr. Tylee is Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.”

 

Technical information pertaining to Gold Bar geology and exploration contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of Kevin Kunkel, CPG. Mr. Kunkel is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.”

 

Reliability of Information Regarding San José

 

Minera Santa Cruz S.A., the owner of the San José Mine, is responsible for and has supplied to the Company all reported results from the San José Mine. McEwen Mining’s joint venture partner, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining plc, and its affiliates other than MSC do not accept responsibility for the use of project data or the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 

ABOUT MCEWEN MINING

 

McEwen Mining is a diversified gold and silver producer and explorer with operating mines in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. It also owns a large copper deposit in Argentina. McEwen Mining’s goal is to create a profitable gold and silver producer focused in the Americas.

 

McEwen Mining has approximately 409 million shares outstanding. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, owns 20% of the shares.

 

Posted October 16, 2020

Share this news article

MORE or "UNCATEGORIZED"


VIZSLA SILVER AGREES TO ACQUIRE NEWLY CONSOLIDATED PAST-PRODUCING SILVER DISTRICT IN THE EMERGING SILVER-GOLD-RICH PANUCO - SAN DIMAS CORRIDOR IN MEXICO

Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSX-V: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) i... READ MORE

March 28, 2024

Additional Drill Results Highlighted by Hole D-380 in Block 6 at Oko West, Intersecting 39.7 m Grading 5.27 g/t Au Including 2.8 m @ 14.18 g/t Au and 13.0 m Grading 10.50 g/t Au

Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX-V: RGD) (OTCQX: RGDFF) is pleased t... READ MORE

March 28, 2024

STLLR Gold’s Tower Gold Project Infill Drilling Continues to Confirm Mineralization at the Jonpol Deposit

STLLR Gold Inc. (TSX: STLR) (OTCQX: STLRF) (FSE: O9D) announces ... READ MORE

March 28, 2024

Hudbay Provides Annual Reserve and Resource Update and Production Outlook

Consolidated copper production is expected to average 153,000i to... READ MORE

March 28, 2024

Aya Gold & Silver: Record 2023 Production, Revenue and Operating Cash Flow

Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA) (OTCQX: AYASF) is pleased t... READ MORE

March 28, 2024

Copyright 2024 The Prospector News