5:43AM Silver Standard Resources provides Pirquitas silver mine production guidance for 2010 (SSRI) 23.86 : Co provides update on progress and expected production levels for 2010 at its wholly-owned Pirquitas Mine in Argentina which achieved commercial production effective December 1, 2009. The mine is operating as planned and the mill continues to process oxide and transitional ore until the sulphide ore currently being exposed from the open pit is processed starting in the first quarter of 2010. Due to the transition from oxide and transitional ore to sulphide ore in Q1, the co estimates full year production of silver to be 7 mln ounces, and tin production to be 2 mln pounds. Average operating costs for 2010 are expected to be approx $9.00 per ounce of silver net of tin credits. The co expects to achieve name plate production levels of approx 8-10 mln ounces of silver per year starting in 2011. Costs per ounce of silver are expected to decline as silver production increases