Atico Produces 3.75 Million Pounds of Cu and 2,724 Ounces of Au in Q3 2022
28 October 2022 - 7:30AM
Atico Mining Corporation (the “Company” or “Atico”) (TSX.V: ATY |
OTCQX: ATCMF) announces its operating results for the three months
ended September 30, 2022 from its El Roble mine. Production for the
quarter totaled 3.75 million pounds of copper and 2,724 ounces of
gold in concentrates, a decrease of 15% for copper and an increase
of 8% for gold over the same period in 2021.
“Production for the period was slightly below
budget due to extended maintenance of the SAG mill system. This was
mostly driven by unusually long shipping delays of spare parts that
were required to perform the maintenance. Production rate improved
towards the end of the quarter as steady state-run rate was again
achieved.” said Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO. “For the fourth quarter,
we continue looking for opportunities to improve metal production
as we stay on track to deliver our 2022 production guidance. At the
same time, we are aggressively drill testing in proximity to our
mine and on the large regional land package.”
Third Quarter Operational
Highlights
- Production of 3.75 million pounds
of copper contained in concentrates; a decrease of 15% over Q3
2021.
- Production of 2,724 ounces of gold
contained in concentrates; a decrease of 9% over Q3 2021.
- Average processed tonnes per day of
786, a decrease of 15% over Q3 2021.
- Copper head grade of 3.12%, an
increase of 11% over Q3 2021.
- Gold head grade of 2.28 grams per
tonne; an increase of 13% over Q3 2021.
- Copper and gold recovery of 91.5%
and 62%; no significant change for copper and an increase of 4% for
gold, respectively over Q3 2021.
Third Quarter Operational
Review
Overall production was slightly below the
Company budget for the third quarter. The decrease in both copper
and gold production is mainly explained by the decrease in
processed tonnes, partially offset by improved head grades for the
period. Copper recovery was in line with the Company budget while
the gold recovery showed a slight improvement over the same period
last year. During the quarter the Company delivered two concentrate
shipments as the operation remains on track to deliver on set
guidance throughout the remainder of the year.
Third Quarter Operational
Details
|
Q3 2022 |
Q3 2021 |
% Change |
Production (Contained in Concentrates) |
|
|
|
Copper (000s pounds) |
3,753 |
4,442 |
-15 |
% |
Gold (ounces) |
2,724 |
2,978 |
-9 |
% |
Mine |
|
|
|
Tonnes of ore mined |
66,245 |
76,276 |
-13 |
% |
Mill |
|
|
|
Tonnes processed |
59,689 |
77,816 |
-23 |
% |
Tonnes processed per day |
786 |
919 |
-15 |
% |
Copper grade (%) |
3.12 |
2.80 |
11 |
% |
Gold grade (g/t) |
2.28 |
2.02 |
13 |
% |
Recoveries |
|
|
|
Copper (%) |
91.5 |
92.6 |
Nil |
% |
Gold (%) |
62.0 |
58.8 |
5 |
% |
Concentrates |
|
|
|
Copper and Gold Concentrates (dmt) |
9,048 |
10,704 |
-15 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Payable copper produced (000s lbs) |
3,565 |
4,220 |
-15 |
% |
Note: Metal production figures are subject to
adjustments based on final settlement.
Concentrate Inventory
The number of shipments the Company can export
in any given quarter depends on several variables some of which the
Company does not control, hence there may be an inherent
variability in tonnes shipped quarter to quarter.
|
Q3 2022 |
Amounts in dry metric tonnes |
|
Opening inventory |
13,458 |
Production |
9,048 |
Sales |
-14,219 |
Number of shipments |
2 |
Adjustments |
-267 |
Closing inventory |
8,020 |
Note: Concentrate figures are subject to adjustments based on final
surveys and final settlement of sales. |
El Roble Mine
The El Roble mine is a high grade, underground
copper and gold mine with nominal processing plant capacity of
1,000 tonnes per day, located in the Department of Choco in
Colombia. Its commercial product is a copper-gold concentrate.
Since obtaining control of the mine on November
22, 2013, Atico has upgraded the operation from a historical
nominal capacity of 400 tonnes per day.
El Roble has Proven and Probable reserves of
1.00 million tonnes grading 3.02% copper and 1.76 g/t gold, at a
cut-off grade of 1.3% copper equivalent with an effective date of
September 30, 2020. Mineralization is open at depth and along
strike and the Company plans to further test the limits of the
deposit. On the larger land package, the Company has identified a
prospective stratigraphic contact between volcanic rocks and black
and grey pelagic sediments and cherts that has been traced by Atico
geologists for ten kilometers. This contact has been determined to
be an important control on VMS mineralization on which Atico has
identified numerous target areas prospective for VMS type
mineralization occurrence, which is the focus of the current
surface drill program at El Roble.
Qualified Person
Mr. Thomas Kelly (SME Registered Member
1696580), advisor to the Company and a qualified person under
National Instrument 43-101 standards, is responsible for ensuring
that the technical information contained in this news release is an
accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or
developed by Atico.
About Atico Mining Corporation
Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on
exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin
America. The Company generates significant cash flow through the
operation of the El Roble mine and is developing it’s high-grade La
Plata VMS project in Ecuador. The Company is also pursuing
additional acquisition of advanced stage opportunities. For more
information, please visit www.aticomining.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Fernando E. GanozaCEOAtico Mining
Corporation
Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF
Investor RelationsIgor DutinaTel:
+1.604.633.9022
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Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
No securities regulatory authority has either
approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The
securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered
under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
‘‘U.S. Securities Act’’), or any state securities laws, and may not
be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account
or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the
U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom.
This press release is for information purposes only and does not
constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy
any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward
Looking Statements
This announcement includes certain
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian
securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net
proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking
statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on
certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that
such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include
uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the
geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of
estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain
additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and
develop the Company’s mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting
anticipated program milestones for the Company’s mineral projects;
the world-wide economic and social impact of COVID-19 is managed
and the duration and extent of the coronavirus pandemic is
minimized or not long-term; disruptions related to the COVID-19
pandemic or other health and safety issues, or the responses of
governments, communities, the Company and others to such pandemic
or other issues; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under
the heading “Risk Factors” in the prospectus of the Company dated
March 2, 2012 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory
authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com
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