Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) “Monument” or
the “Company” today announced its first quarter of fiscal 2022
production and financial results for the three months ended
September 30, 2021. All amounts are expressed in United States
dollars (“US$”) unless otherwise indicated (refer to www.sedar.com
for full financial results).
President and CEO Cathy Zhai commented, “2022
fiscal year is full of challenge and would be rewarding for
Monument when the Company stays focused on execution of the
corporate strategies. During the quarter, the Selinsing flotation
plant construction was kicked off with engineering design near
completion, long lead items procured, and the earthworks at site
reached 90% completion. The Phase 1 drilling at Murchison was
completed by overcoming the shortage of drill rigs. Peranggih
continued to provide additional mill feed that helped to sustain
the cash flow. The Delays in gold production is anticipated to be
caught up after the monsoon season in the third quarter.”
First Quarter Highlights:
- Phase one drilling program completed in Q1 at Murchison Project
with 91% assay results received to date;
- Phase 1&2 RC drilling program completed at Peranggih Gold
Prospect in Q1 with positive intercept results;
- Selinsing Flotation Plant Project progressing on time in Q1
with 31% completion to date;
- Long lead item contracts awarded to reputable suppliers for
Selinsing Flotation Plant Project;
- Selinsing Gold Mine production recovered gradually after the
mining ban lifted due to Covid 19 Pandemic;
- 1,423 ounces (“oz”) of gold sold for $2.38 million (Q1, FY
2021: 3,100oz for $5.92 million);
- Average quarterly gold price realized at $1,829/oz (Q1, FY2021:
$1,909/oz);
- Cash cost per ounce sold was $1,430/oz (Q1, FY2021:
$923/oz);
- Gross margin decreased by 88% to $0.35 million (Q1, FY2021:
$3.06 million);
- 1,043oz of gold produced (Q1, FY2021: 3,504oz);
- All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) increased to $2,052/oz (Q1,
FY2021: $1,055/oz).
First Quarter Production and Financial
Highlights
|
|
Three months ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
Production |
|
|
|
|
Ore mined (t*) |
|
|
74,972 |
|
81,576 |
|
Ore processed (t) |
|
|
156,611 |
|
166,432 |
|
Average mill feed grade (g/t*) |
|
|
0.54 |
|
0.98 |
|
Processing recovery rate (%) |
|
|
65.0 |
% |
63.6 |
% |
Gold recovery (oz) |
|
|
1,777 |
|
3,343 |
|
Gold production (1) (oz) |
|
|
1,043 |
|
3,504 |
|
Gold sold (oz) |
|
|
1,423 |
|
3,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial (expressed in thousands of US$) |
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Revenue |
|
|
2,383 |
|
5,919 |
|
Gross margin from mining operations |
|
|
348 |
|
3,059 |
|
Income (loss) before other items |
|
|
(755 |
) |
1,943 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
(1,267 |
) |
138 |
|
Cash flows provided from operations |
|
|
23 |
|
747 |
|
Working capital |
|
|
44,532 |
|
18,482 |
|
Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted (US$/share) |
|
|
(0.00 |
) |
0.00 |
|
*grams/tonne (“g/t”); tonnes (“t”) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
US$/oz |
|
US$/oz |
|
Average realized gold price per ounce sold(2) |
|
|
1,829 |
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash cost per ounce (3) |
|
|
|
|
Mining |
|
|
522 |
|
274 |
|
Processing |
|
|
720 |
|
481 |
|
Royalties |
|
|
168 |
|
163 |
|
Operations, net of silver recovery |
|
|
20 |
|
5 |
|
Total cash cost per ounce |
|
|
1,430 |
|
923 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per ounce (4) |
|
|
|
|
By-product silver recovery |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Operation expenses |
|
|
34 |
|
9 |
|
Corporate expenses |
|
|
4 |
|
9 |
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligation |
|
|
22 |
|
11 |
|
Exploration and evaluation expenditures |
|
|
11 |
|
10 |
|
Sustaining capital expenditures |
|
|
551 |
|
92 |
|
Total all-in sustaining costs per ounce |
|
|
2,052 |
|
1,055 |
|
(1) |
|
Defined as good delivery gold bullion according to London Bullion
Market Association (“LBMA”), net of gold doŕe in transit and
refinery adjustment. |
(2) |
|
Monument realized 1,829US$/oz for the three months ended September
30, 2021 which excludes gold prepaid delivered of 723oz for
comparison purposes. |
(3) |
|
Total cash cost per ounce includes production costs such as mining,
processing, tailing facility maintenance and camp administration,
royalties and operating costs such as storage, temporary mine
production closure, community development cost and property fees,
net of by-product credits. Cash cost excludes amortization,
depletion, accretion expenses, idle production costs, capital
costs, exploration costs and corporate administration costs.
Readers should refer to section 15 “Non-GAAP Performance
Measures”. |
(4) |
|
All-in sustaining cost per ounce includes total cash costs and adds
sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administrative expenses
for the Selinsing Gold Mine including share-based compensation,
exploration and evaluation costs, and accretion of asset retirement
obligations. Certain other cash expenditures, including tax
payments and acquisition costs, are not included. Readers should
refer to section 15 “Non-GAAP Performance Measures”. |
|
|
|
Q1 2022 Production Analysis
- Q1 2022 gold
production was 1,043oz, a 70% decrease as compared to 3,504oz for
Q1 2021. The decrease mainly resulted from a large quantity of
super low-grade ore being fed into the mill although gold recovery
was slightly higher.
- Q1 2022 ore
processed decreased to 156,611t from 166,432t for Q1 2021. The
decreased mill feed was mainly due to less leachable sulphide ore
and old tailings being fed into plant.
- Average mill
feed grade was 0.54g/t Au as compared to 0.98g/t Au of Q1 2021. Q1
2022 processing recovery rate increased to 65.0% from 63.6% for Q1
2021. The slight increase in processing recovery rate was mainly
due to significant increase in Peranggih oxide materials being
processed.
- Q1 2022 cash
cost per ounce increased by 55% to $1,430/oz from $923/oz for Q1
2021. This increase was primarily due to a significant reduction in
the mill feed grade from 0.98g/t Au to 0.54g/t Au and significantly
more low-grade leachable sulphide ore and low-grade Peranggih
materials being processed.
- Ore stockpile
has reduced mainly due to adverse impact from the delay in blast
permit issuance, rainfall in the first quarter and shortage of
explosive supplies resulting in a lower mining rate that has yet to
return to normal. The covid-19 pandemic has not helped in achieving
the target. The Company has devoted its effort to improve the
stockpile balance.
Q1 2022 Financial Analysis
- Q1 2022 gold
sales generated revenue was $2.38 million as compared to
$5.92million from Q1 2021. Gold sales revenue was derived from the
sale of 1,423oz (Q1 2021: 3,100oz) of gold at an average realized
gold price of $1,829 per ounce (Q1 2021: $1,909 per ounce) and the
delivery of 723 oz (Q1 2021: 723 oz at $1,625 per ounce gold
equivalent) in fulfilling gold prepaid obligations.
- Q1 2022 total
production costs decreased by 29% to $2.04 million as compared to
$2.86 million from Q1 2021. Cash cost per ounce increased by 55% to
$1,430/oz as compared to $923/oz of the same period last year. The
increase was attributable to a 45% decrease in the mill feed grade
from 0.98g/t to 0.54g/t but an increase in recovery to 65.0% (Q1
2021: 63.6%) as a result of processing significantly more leachable
sulphide ore and other low grade ores.
- Gross margin for
Q1 2022 was $0.35 million before operation expenses and non-cash
amortization and accretion. That represented an 89% decrease as
compared to $3.06 million from Q1 2021. The decrease in gross
margin was attributable to significant lower-grade of ore fed, much
lower volume of gold sold, and increased cash costs.
- Net loss for Q1
2022 was $1.26 million, or ($0.00) per share as compared to net
income of $0.14 million or $0.00 per share from Q1 2021. The net
loss was mainly caused by lower operating margins.
- Cash and cash
equivalents balance as at September 30, 2021 was $35.57 million, a
decrease of $3.05 million from the balance at June 30, 2021 of
$38.62 million. As at September 30, 2021, the Company had positive
working capital of $44.53 million as compared to that at June 30,
2021 of $48.54 million.
Development
Selinsing Gold Mine
At Selinsing the engineering, procurement,
construction and project management (EPCM) progress has reached 31%
completion for the flotation plant construction and mine
development. 80% of the flotation design work was completed during
the first quarter. Civil and structural drawings were completed
subsequent to the quarter, and mechanical and piping drawings will
be issued for construction by November 2021. All major contracts
for long lead items were awarded to suppliers and 90% of the major
equipment has been procured at the end of the quarter. Procurement
for construction contractors are short listed and tender documents
have been distributed.
Flotation construction includes earthworks,
civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical and
electrical installation and other associated plant upgrades.
Earthworks were initiated in April 2021 and are 90% completed to
date. Civil foundation work is scheduled to start in January 2022
and expected to be completed by the end of April 2022.
The flotation pilot plant has been assembled and
is successfully running at SGMM research and development
laboratory. The pilot plant features a ball mill and classifier,
rougher/scavenger flotation cells and three stages of cleaner
flotation to replicate the flowsheet of the full-scale flotation
plant. The pilot plant will be used for operator training, reagent
trials, and for the preparation of concentrate samples for
potential customers.
The Tailing Storage Facility (“TSF”) is under
expansion to accommodate the new mine life. The construction to
raise the current TSF to 540m RL continued during the quarter and
is expected to be completed by March 1, 2022
Murchison Gold Project
Murchison Project development is put on hold.
The existing processing plant is under care and maintenance and in
good condition. It is ready for start-up production with
installation of the refurbished plant.
Exploration Progress
Malaysia
At Peranggih the reverse circulation (“RC”)
drilling campaign covering areas of Peranggih Central and South for
3,317m over 68 RC holes was initiated last fiscal year and was
completed during the first quarter of fiscal 2022. It was done in
two phases: Phase 1 was 34 drill holes for 1,697m and Phase 2 was
34 holes for 1,620m. All assay results for the 3,901 samples were
received for analysis up to date, including assay results for 1,681
samples during the quarter ended September 30, 2021. The RC
drilling is down 70m deep with space of 20m by 20m following
steeply dipping high-grade mineralized structure. Overall, 70% of
the designed holes hit gold mineralization above an oxide cut-off
(>0.35 g/t Au Au) at relatively shallow depth, 50m below the
surface. The results defined wider lower grade mineralization over
an 830m long by 60m wide zone.
Western Australia
Fiscal year 2022 started with regional
exploration at Murchison Gold Project. A 2-year exploration program
and associated periodical rolling budget has been implemented to
potentially add significant amount of additional resources to the
current resource base. The aim is to establish Murchison as the
company’s cornerstone gold project should the Murchison Project be
potentially developed into a gold producing mine.
The Phase 1 drill program commenced on July 4th
2021 and was completed on August 21st 2021 at Burnakura. A total of
3,465m for 46 RC holes was finished for the Munro Bore Extension as
well as the FLC2 and FLC3 prospects and a total of 10,484m for 349
aircore (“AC”) holes was completed with a focus on high quality
structural targets including the Junction exploration target. A
combined total of over 6,000 RC and AC samples were sent to ALS
Geochemistry, Perth for analysis, of which 91% have been received
up to November 2021, subsequent to the first quarter. The results
will be announced as soon as the data is fully received and has
been interpreted.
About Monument
Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE:D7Q1)
is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the
Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is
committed to growth and is also advancing the Murchison Gold
Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra JV (20%
interest) in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company
employs approximately 200 people in both regions and is committed
to the highest standards of environmental management, social
responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and
neighboring communities.
Cathy Zhai, President and CEOMonument Mining
LimitedSuite 1580 -1100 Melville
Street Vancouver, BC V6E
4A6
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web
site at www.monumentmining.com or contact:
Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T:
+1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.com
"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its 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."
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes statements containing
forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future
plans ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements
are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or
future events that are not historical facts and include the
Company's plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing
and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this
news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget",
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or
"does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words
and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be
achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are
subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation:
risks related to general business, economic, competitive,
geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the
results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the
progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations
risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks
described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company
and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which
are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop
forward-looking statements in this news release include:
expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold
production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from
the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may
be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations
regarding the results of exploration on the Company's projects;
assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals;
the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected
timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs
of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success
of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange
rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the
management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical
reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under
the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the
Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except
in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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