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Message: Jaguar Mining Produces 22,291 Ounces of Gold in the First Quarter of 2017; Pilar Gold Mine Production Up 86% On Strong Operating Performance

Jaguar Mining Produces 22,291 Ounces of Gold in the First Quarter of 2017; Pilar Gold Mine Production Up 86% On Strong Operating Performance

posted on Apr 12, 2017 06:53AM
Jaguar Mining Produces 22,291 Ounces of Gold in the First Quarter of 2017; Pilar Gold Mine Production Up 86% On Strong Operating Performance
2017-04-12 06:00:00 AM ET (CNW Group)
   
   

TSX:JAG

Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) today announced first quarter 2017 ("Q1 2017") operational results for its core assets located in the Iron Quadrangle area of Minas Gerais, Brazil. All figures are in US dollars unless otherwise expressed. Full financial results are expected to be released after May 9, 2017.

First Quarter 2017 Highlights

    --  Consolidated gold production of 22,291 ounces, up 5%
        year-over-year, with 214,000 tonnes of ore processed.

    --  Strong operating performance at Pilar Gold Mine resulted in an
        86% increase in gold production to 8,485 ounces, a 17%
        improvement in average grade to 3.39 g/t, and higher recovery
        of 91%. Strong gold production reflects the advancing ore
        development into the higher-grade Orebodies BF and BFII.

    --  Turmalina Gold Mine produced 12,736 ounces of gold, lower than
        Q1 2016 and Q4 2016 production levels, due to lower throughput
        and grade. Mining activities in one section of Orebody A were
        temporarily interrupted during the quarter to conduct ground
        control rehabilitation work. Previously scheduled high-grade
        mining blocks from this area were deferred later into the
        mining schedule.

    --  Turmalina increased Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources by
        22% to 540,000 ounces of gold (grade of 4.93 g/t Au), and
        Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves for Orebody C by 167% to
        80,000 ounces of gold (grade of 4.10 g/t Au)

    --  Growth exploration programs advanced during the quarter with
        1,889 metres of diamond drilling being completed from surface
        and 966 metres from underground. Over 150 metres of exploration
        development also advanced during the quarter for new deep
        drilling horizon platforms at Pilar and Turmalina

    --  Preliminary cash balance of approximately $18.1 million as of
        March 31, 2017, compared to a cash balance of $26.3 million at
        December 31, 2016.


Rodney Lamond, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar commented, "Jaguar Mining commenced 2017 performing well, building on the positive trends established in 2016, to deliver total gold production of 22,291 ounces in Q1 2017. In particular, strong operating performance at Pilar resulted in an 86% increase in gold production to 8,485 ounces, and a 17% improvement in grade to 3.39 g/t compared to Q1 2016. Pilar's strong performance reflects the advancing of ore development (614 metres) into the high-grade Orebodies BF and BFII. Turmalina's mining activities in a high-grade section of Orebody A were temporarily interrupted during the quarter due to ground control rehabilitation. We are confident that a revised mining schedule at Turmalina will recover the gold production shortfall during the second quarter.

"Looking ahead, we remain on track to achieve 2017 production guidance of between 100,000 - 110,000 ounces. Additionally, performance is expected to continue to improve as we remain focused on growing our sustainable production profile through ongoing strategic exploration and development programs. As previously reported, strong exploration results during 2016 drove a 22% increase in Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources at Turmalina, to 540,000 ounces of gold with average grade of 4.93 g/t Au. The growth in M&I Mineral Resources at Turmalina has positively impacted the mine life at Turmalina and we expect our growing sustainable production profile to have a positive impact on unitary costs in the near term."

"We look forward to the development and advancement of our growth exploration programs in the first half of 2017 and reporting the results from the deep drilling programs at Turmalina and Pilar later this year."

                      Operating Summary                                 Q1 2017                                       Q1 2016
                      -----------------                                 -------                                       -------

                                          Turmalina          Pilar     Roca     Total     Turmalina     Pilar         Roca       Total
                                                                      Grande                                         Grande
                                                                      ------                                         ------

                                Tonnes milled (t)             113,000   84,000     17,000       214,000      128,000       56,000       12,000     196,000

                                Average head grade (g/t)         3.79     3.39       2.12          3.50         4.29         2.89         2.53        3.91

                                                  Recovery %     91%     91%       91%          91%         90%         90%         90%        90%

    Gold ounces

                                Produced (oz)                  12,736    8,485      1,070        22,291       15,772        4,552          873      21,197

                                Sold (oz)                      13,536    9,422      1,076        24,034       16,635        5,369          877      22,881

    Development

                                Primary (m)                       366      470         74           910          731          312          118       1,161

                                Exploration (m)                   104       13         34           151            -           -           -          -

                                Secondary (m)                     754      614         14         1,382          838           24          184       1,046

    Diamond drilling (m)                                      4,164    5,218        567         9,949        4,691        2,508        4,693      11,892

    Avg. realized gold price
     ($/oz)                                                                      $1,215                                            $1,165
    ------------------------                                                     ------                                            ------

2017 Guidance Jaguar remains strongly focused on delivering positive and sustainable physical performance, profitability, and cost optimization. The Company has established the following consolidated production and cost guidance for 2017 and represents achievable results from operations:

    Caeté Complex
     2017 Guidance                                                                        Turmalina
                                                                                             Complex                                    Consolidated
                                                                                         ----------                                    ------------

                         Low                                     High                          Low                   High              Low         High
                         ---                                     ----                          ---                   ----              ---         ----

    Gold production
     (ounces)                                                                         60,000      65,000      40,000      45,000      100,000      110,000

    Cash operating costs
     (per ounce sold)(1)                                                                $600        $650        $900      $1,000         $720         $755

    All-in sustaining
     costs (per ounce
     sold)(1)                                                                           $800        $850      $1,020      $1,180         $900       $1,000
    -----------------                                                                   ----        ----      ------      ------         ----       ------

    Development

                                                   Primary (m)                           2,500       2,900       2,200       2,600        4,700        5,500

                                                   Secondary (m)                         2,200       2,700       3,400       3,850        5,600        6,550
                                                   ------------                          -----       -----       -----       -----        -----        -----

    Diamond drilling (m)                                                              16,000      18,000      10,000      13,000       26,000       31,000
    -------------------                                                               ------      ------      ------      ------       ------       ------

    Growth exploration investment (core assets)
     ($million)                                                                                                 $7.5        $8.0
    -------------------------------------------                                                                 ----        ----


    1  Cash operating costs and all-in sustaining costs are non-gaap financial performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. Refer to the
     Non-IFRS Measures section below. 2017 cost guidance has been prepared on the basis of a foreign exchange ratio of 3.5 Brazilian Reias vs. the US
     dollar.

Preliminary Cash BalancePreliminary cash balance of approximately $18.1 million as at March 31, 2017, compared to a cash balance of $26.3 million at December 31, 2016. Q1 2017 cash balance reflects impact of a stronger foreign Brazilian currency, accelerated exploration, and approximately $2.0 million in principal and interest repayments towards debt facilities.

2017 Exploration and Mineral Resources Highlights

    --  An incremental $8.0 million is targeted to be spent on a major
        growth exploration program in 2017 and 2018. Approximately $6.0
        million has been dedicated to core assets to test the
        down-plunge continuities of Orebodies A, B, and C at Turmalina
        and Orebodies BFII and BF at Pilar to increase identified
        Mineral Resources, including the discovery of new resources at
        the high priority Pacheca and Cubas targets near Pilar. The
        remaining $2.0 million will be distributed towards other growth
        targets in and around the existing core assets.

    --  Drilling and exploration success at Turmalina during 2016
        resulted in upgraded Inferred Resources at Orebodies A and C to
        Measured and Indicated ("M&I") Mineral Resources, announced
        March 30, 2017:
  o M&I Mineral Resources increased 22% to 540,000 ounces of gold,
    after production depletion in 2016, with grade of 4.93 g/t Au.
  o Orebody C Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves increased 167%
    during 2016 to 80,000 ounces of gold grading 4.10 g/t Au, up 12%,
    reflecting the newly discovered high-grade core within larger
    mineralized intersections.


Qualified PersonScientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Geraldo Guimarães Vieira dos Santos, BSc Geo., MAIG-3946 (CP), Geology Manager, who is an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The Iron QuadrangleThe Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of black gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiabá, and São Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with just over 25,000 hectares.

About Jaguar Mining Inc.Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes, and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims covering an area of approximately 191,000 hectares. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caeté Gold Mine Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande mines, and Caeté Plant) which combined, produce more than 95,000 ounces of gold annually. The Company also owns the Paciência Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSCertain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release are qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected", "is forecast", "is targeted", "approximately", "plans", "anticipates" "projects", "anticipates", "continue", "estimate", "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than stat ements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and th e level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained an renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, lab or disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical s pills, and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement..

Non-IFRS MeasuresThis news release provides certain financial measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Readers are cautioned to review the above stated footnotes where the Company expanded on its use of non-IFRS measures.

    1.              Cash operating costs and cash operating cost
                    per ounce are non-IFRS measures. In the gold
                    mining industry, cash operating costs and cash
                    operating costs per ounce are common
                    performance measures but do not have any
                    standardized meaning. Cash operating costs are
                    derived from amounts included in the
                    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive
                    Income (Loss) and include mine-site operating
                    costs such as mining, processing and
                    administration as well as royalty expenses,
                    but exclude depreciation, depletion, share-
                    based payment expenses, and reclamation costs.
                    Cash operating costs per ounce are based on
                    ounces produced and are calculated by dividing
                    cash operating costs by commercial gold ounces
                    produced; US$ cash operating costs per ounce
                    produced are derived from the cash operating
                    costs per ounce produced translated using the
                    average Brazilian Central Bank R$/US$ exchange
                    rate. The Company discloses cash operating
                    costs and cash operating costs per ounce as it
                    believes those measures provide valuable
                    assistance to investors and analysts in
                    evaluating the Company's operational
                    performance and ability to generate cash flow.
                    The most directly comparable measure prepared
                    in accordance with IFRS is total production
                    costs. A reconciliation of cash operating
                    costs per ounce to total production costs for
                    the most recent reporting period, the quarter
                    ended December 31, 2016 is set out in the
                    Company's fourth quarter 2016 MD&A filed on
                    SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

    2.              All-in sustaining cost is a non-IFRS measure.
                    This measure is intended to assist readers in
                    evaluating the total costs of producing gold
                    from current operations. While there is no
                    standardized meaning across the industry for
                    this measure, except for non-cash items the
                    Company's definition conforms to the all-in
                    sustaining cost definition as set out by the
                    World Gold Council in its guidance note dated
                    June 27, 2013. The Company defines all-in
                    sustaining cost as the sum of production
                    costs, sustaining capital (capital required to
                    maintain current operations at existing
                    levels), corporate general and administrative
                    expenses, and in-mine exploration expenses.
                    All-in sustaining cost excludes growth
                    capital, reclamation cost accretion related to
                    current operations, interest and other
                    financing costs, and taxes. A reconciliation
                    of all-in sustaining cost to total production
                    costs for the most recent reporting period,
                    the quarter ended December 31, 2016 is set out
                    in the Company's fourth quarter 2016 MD&A
                    filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Jaguar Mining Inc.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2017/12/c2696.html

SOURCE: Jaguar Mining Inc.

please contact: Rodney Lamond, President & Chief Executive Officer,
[email protected], 416-847-1854; Joanne Jobin, Vice President, Investor
Relations, [email protected], 416-847-1854
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