Capstone Reports Production & Operating Costs for Q3 and First Nine Months of
2009
Nine Month Production of 66.8 million pounds of Copper in Concentrates at
an Estimated Total Cash Cost(1) of US$0.99 per pound of payable copper
"As previously advised, both of Capstone's operations, the Cozamin and Minto mines, coincidentally had lower than average production quarters, bringing nine months production to 66.8 million pounds of copper in concentrates at a total cash cost of US$0.99 per pound of payable copper," said
Capstone Mining - Production Highlights for 2009
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Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 YTD 2009
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Copper in concentrates
(millions of pounds)
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- Cozamin 9.8 9.9 8.2 27.9
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- Minto 16.2 13.2 9.5 38.9
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Total 26.0 23.1 17.7 66.8
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Total cash costs of
payable copper(1)
(US$/lb)
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- Cozamin $1.00 $0.81 $0.75 $0.86
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- Minto* $0.86 $1.08 $1.47 $1.09
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Average $0.91 $0.97 $1.14 $0.99
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* Minto's operating costs are adjusted to exclude mining of ore and
waste not related to concentrate produced in the period, these costs
are capitalized or inventoried in the financial statements, then
expensed when the associated ore is processed.
Operational Highlights for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2009
The following is a summary of Capstone's operational highlights for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2009:
- Production of 17.7 and 66.8 million pounds of contained copper,
respectively, which is a below average quarter as a results of
coincident low production cycles at both mines.
- By-product production of 5.1 and 10.8 million pounds of zinc, 3.2 and
6.7 million pounds of lead and 411,414 and 1,285,659 ounces of silver
in concentrates, respectively. Lead and zinc production are higher
than average as a result of the Cozamin mine focusing on lower
copper, higher lead-zinc areas of the mine while new, deeper, high
grade copper areas were being developed. Final by-product gold
production is not available since assaying is done off site, but is
estimated at 3,698 and 19,789 ounces.
- Production of 17.0 and 64.4 million pounds of payable copper in
concentrate for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009,
respectively.
- Total cash cost per pound of payable copper produced(1) of US$1.14
and US$0.99, respectively, versus previously published guidance of
approximately US$1.00 per pound, which represents good cost
containment during the low production cycles at both mines. Higher
by-product credits at Cozamin and higher throughput at Minto helped
offset the lower copper feed grade.
- Cozamin Mine results for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2009, respectively, were:
- Produced 8.2 and 27.9 million pounds of copper contained in
concentrates, respectively, along with by-products of 5.1 and 10.8
million pounds of zinc, 3.2 and 6.7 million pounds of lead and
366,216 and 1,075,110 ounces of silver;
- Processed 236,938 tonnes (2,575 tpd) and 735,238 tonnes (2,693
tpd) of ore averaging 1.73% and 1.87% copper, 1.51% and 1.11%
zinc, 0.89% and 0.61% lead, with 67 and 63 grams per tonne ("g/t")
silver;
- Total tonnes processed was below the potential capacity of the
mine because of slower than anticipated timing for bringing the
high grade, large scale stopes on line, which resulted in the
plant shutting down due to lack of feed on some days. When
sufficient feed was available, the plant typically averaged 3,200
to 3,600tpd, indicating the operation's ability to sustain well
in excess of design throughput. The plant was run at higher
throughput and then shutdown to facilitate plant maintenance when
feed was not available.
- Produced 14,711 and 50,767 dry metric tonnes ("dmt") of copper
concentrate averaging 25.3% and 24.9%, 4,782 and 10,509 dmt of
zinc concentrate averaging 48.0% and 46.5% and 2,060 and 4,342 dmt
of lead concentrate averaging 70.3% and 69.8%, respectively; and
- Estimated total cash cost(1), net of estimated by-product credits
and estimated selling costs, was US$0.75 and $0.86 per pound of
payable copper produced.
- Minto Mine results for third quarter and the nine months ended
September 30, 2009, respectively, were:
- Produced 9.5 and 38.9 million pounds of copper contained in
concentrates, along with by-product 45,198 and 210,549 ounces of
silver and gold estimated at 3,698 and 19,789 ounces;
- Processed 269,411 tonnes (2,928 tonnes per calendar day) and
770,194 tonnes (2,821 tpd) of ore averaging 1.76% and 2.47%
copper, an estimated 0.6g/t and 1.1g/t gold and 6.7g/t and 10.6g/t
silver;
- Plant throughput again exceeded budget during the third quarter,
and continued to trend upwards during the three month period,
typically averaging 3,200 to 3,500 tonnes per operating day
(excluding maintenance days) and occasionally reaching over 4,000
tonnes processed on individual days. September was a record month,
with 95,869 tonnes processed over the entire month, for an average
of 3,196 tonnes per calendar day;
- Produced 10,834 and 42,784 dmt of copper concentrate averaging
40.3% and 41.6%;
- Produced 9.2 and 37.6 million pounds of payable copper at an
estimated total cash cost (1) of US$1.47 and $1.09 per pound of
payable copper; and
- Copper production was lower than average in Q3/09 as a result of
reliance on lower grade stockpiles for mill feed until excess run-
off water temporarily stored in the pit could be removed, and
access to high grade ore in the bottom of the pit regained. This
was achieved in the first week of October and head grades are
again trending higher.
- Preparation of an updated preliminary feasibility study was well
advanced, with in-fill drilling of mineral resources completed,
while definition of design parameters, estimate of capital and
operating costs, and other aspects of the study are well advanced
(see "Minto PFS" section below).
- Kutcho Project:
- Released the results of a preliminary economic assessment, which
focused on a smaller tonnage, high grade, underground mining
operation with a dramatically reduced environmental footprint. The
focus has now shifted to the two most significant opportunities
for enhanced project economics - improved metallurgical
performance and access to lower cost power.
(1) These are non-GAAP performance measures and readers should refer to
Non-GAAP Performance Measures note at the end of this news release
for further details.
Operating Details - Cozamin Mine
Key operating statistics for the Cozamin Mine for the first three quarters and year-to-date for 2009 are presented below:
Capstone Mining - Cozamin Mine Production Statistics
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Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Total 2009
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Production (contained
in concentrates)(2)
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Copper (000s) pounds 9,813 9,881 8,196 27,890
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- Lead (000s pounds) 1,157 2,332 3,193 6,682
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- Zinc (000s pounds) 2,386 3,324 5,062 10,772
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- Silver (ounces) 317,963 390,639 366,216 1,074,818
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Mine
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- Tonnes of ore mined 248,507 243,494 236,803 728,804
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Mill
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- Tonnes processed 248,325 249,975 236,938 735,238
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- Tonnes processed
per day 2,759 2,741 2,581 2,693
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- Copper grade (%) 1.96 1.92 1.73 1.87
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- Lead grade (%) 0.33 0.61 0.89 0.61
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- Zinc grade (%) 0.81 1.01 1.51 1.11
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- Silver grade (g/t) 56 66 67 63
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Recoveries
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- Copper (%) 91.4 93.4 91.3 92.1
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- Lead (%) 64.8 69.4 67.6 67.5
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- Zinc (%) 59.3 59.5 63.2 59.7
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- Silver (%) 71.0 73.6 72.0 72.3
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Concentrate
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Copper concentrate
produced (dmt) 18,461 17,595 14,711 50,767
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- Copper (%) 24.1 25.5 25.3 24.9
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- Silver (g/t) 463 561 595 535
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- Lead concentrate
produced (dmt) 782 1,500 2,060 4,342
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- Lead (%) 67.1 70.5 70.3 69.8
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- Silver (g/t) 1,738 1,511 1,282 1,443
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- Zinc concentrate
produced (dmt) 2,415 3,312 4,782 10,509
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- Zinc (%) 44.8 45.5 48.0 46.5
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On site Operating Costs
($/t milled)(1) $34.97 $34.03 $35.93 $35.93
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Payable pounds of copper
produced (000s lbs) 9,405 9,493 7,872 26,770
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Total cash cost per
pound of payable copper(1) $1.00 $0.81 $0.75 $0.86
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(1) The cash cost per pound of payable copper measure shown is an
estimate of the cash cost on a production basis. This is a non-GAAP
performance measure; please see "Non-GAAP Performance Measure" below.
(2) Adjustments based on final settlements will be made in future
periods.
Overall, the Cozamin Mine performed well, despite the shortages of feed related to delays in bringing the new, higher grade stopes into production. As previously disclosed, development of very wide (20-30m) high grade areas of the Cozamin deposit were delayed because the wide mineralization extended deeper than anticipated and this mineralization needs to be extracted from the bottom up in order to ensure geotechnical stability. As a result, development needed to be pushed deeper in order to get to the bottom of the high grade before commencing ore extraction and, in the interim, production came from shallower areas with lower copper but higher lead and zinc content.
Development of the wider ore zones was completed at the end of Q3/09 and production drilling has commenced. Production from these high grade areas is expected to ramp up quickly. This higher grade feed, combined with the Cozamin mill's track record of sustaining significantly higher than design throughput should result in a very strong Q4/09.
During the three months ended
Operating Details - Minto Mine
Key operating statistics for the Minto Mine for the three quarters and year-to-date for 2009 are presented below:
Capstone Mining - Minto Mine Production Statistics
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Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Total 2009
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Production(3) (contained
in concentrates)
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Copper (000s pounds) 16,228 13,178 9,455 38,861
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- Gold (ounces)(2) 8,527 7,564 3,698 19,789
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- Silver (ounces) 100,714 64,637 45,198 210,549
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Mining
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- Waste (tonnes) 2,196,728 2,845,300 3,401,120 8,443,148
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- Ore (tonnes) 292,594 289,010 7,698 589,302
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- Total material mined
(tonnes) 2,489,322 3,134,310 3,408,818 9,032,450
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Milling
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- Tonnes processed 233,529 267,254 269,411 770,194
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- Tonnes processed per day 2,595 2,937 2,870 2,801
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- Copper grade (%) 3.39 2.41 1.76 2.47
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- Gold grade (g/t)(2),(3) 1.57 0.97 0.60 1.09
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- Silver grade (g/t) 16.0 9.6 6.7 10.6
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Recoveries
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- Copper (%) 93.0 92.6 92.1 92.8
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- Gold (%)(2),(3) 72.8 71.9 71.6 72.8
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- Silver (%) 83.5 79.6 80.0 81.5
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Concentrate
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- Dry tonnes produced 17,283 14,667 10,834 42,784
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- Copper grade (%) 42.6 40.8 40.3 41.6
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- Gold grade (g/t)(2),(3) 15.5 12.5 10.3 12.7
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- Silver grade (g/t) 183 139 133 162
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On site Operating Costs(1)
($/t milled)(4) $47.85 $44.52 $42.72 $45.24
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Payable pounds of copper
produced (000s lbs) 15,700 12,749 9,147 37,596
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Total cash cost per pound(1)
of payable copper(4) $0.86 $1.08 $1.4 $1.09
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(1) The cash cost per pound of payable copper measure shown is an
estimate of the cash cost on a production basis. This is a non- GAAP
performance measure; please see "Non-GAAP Performance Measure" below.
(2) Gold is not assayed on site, resulting in a significant lag in
receiving this data.
(3) Adjustments based on final settlements will be made in future
periods.
(4) Minto's operating costs are adjusted to exclude mining of ore and
waste not related to concentrate produced in the period, these costs
are capitalized or inventoried in the financial statements, then
expensed when the associated ore is processed.
The Minto Mine exceeded budgeted Phase III throughput capacity in Q3/09, which budget factors in maintenance and availability into the nominal design capacity of 3,200tpd. As noted above, excess water, over and above what could be contained in the water storage pond, was diverted into the open pit during freshet in order to prevent a non-compliant discharge. This diversion was anticipated in the budget for 2009. However, the snowpack was greater than usual, resulting in more water being diverted into the open pit than planned. The Minto Mine received approvals from regulators to discharge the excess water. In the interim, while access to the pit was curtailed, milling operations have been sustained from lower grade stockpiles, but resulted in lower than average grade and copper production in the quarter. Access for ore mining in the pit was regained in the first week of
During the three months ended
Minto PFS
As previously disclosed, Capstone is working with its consultants, lead by SRK Consulting (
The capital required for the Phase IV expansion of the mill is expected to total less than C$10 million, some of which is already being committed (such as the new hydra-cone crusher discussed above). Excluded from this capital is a determination of the optimal route for future mining: either continued contract mining or self-mining. Subject to further evaluations, Capstone and its consultants, based on an extensive review of the current plant and planned Phase IV modifications, believe it may be possible to increase the throughput of the existing mill to a nominal 7,500 tonnes per day for an additional approximately C$30-40 million, should mineral resources and economic parameters warrant. However, the Phase V study will be a matter of future considerations and the current focus is on completing the Phase IV study.
Outlook
As previously advised, as a result of the timing of production cycles at the Cozamin and Minto mines, Capstone anticipated that the third quarter 2009 would be a below average production quarter and the fourth quarter 2009 is forecast to be above average. The focus for the fourth quarter 2009 will include:
1. Sustaining higher than design mill throughput at both the Cozamin and
Minto mines.
2. Commencing and sustaining production from the higher grade, very wide
mining areas at the Cozamin Mine during Q4/09 which, combined with
higher sustained mill throughput, should allow the Cozamin mine to
meet its production objectives of 35-40 million pounds of copper in
concentrates for the year.
3. Sustaining higher grade ore production from the Minto pit, now that
access has been regained. With the Phase 3 south pit pushback
currently being extracted and the Phase 4 north pit pushback nearing
exposure of the ore, considerable quantities of ore will be extracted
prior to the 2010 freshet, ensuring that milling operations can be
sustained regardless of access to the pit post-freshet in 2010.
4. The Minto Mine submitted a new water management plan for the site to
regulators in July 2009 and plans on submitting an amended version in
October following comments from certain stakeholders. This plan,
which incorporates a new onsite water handling network to minimize
interaction of unaffected water with water affected by mining
operations, combined with installation of a water treatment plant at
a combined capital cost of C$4.9 million to be incurred in 2009 (for
pumps, piping and water treatment plant fabrications) and
approximately an additional C$1.0 million in 2010 capital (for
additional piping and water treatment plant commissioning). This
investment is intended to eliminate the need for one-off discharge
approvals.
Overall, taking into the account the above items and the demonstrated capacity of both the Cozamin and Minto mines to exceed design mill throughput, Capstone will strive to meet its production guidance of 95-105 million pounds of copper for the year, but acknowledges this will require record quarterly production from both mines during Q4/09.
Third Quarter Financial Results Timing
Capstone will report its third quarter 2009 financial results on
Conference call and webcast details are as follows:
Date: Friday November 13, 2009
Time: 8:00 AM Pacific Time (11:00 AM Eastern Time)
Dial in: North America - 1.800.589.8577,
International - 1.416.644.3422
Webcast:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/viewEvent.cgi?eventID=2844820
Replay: North America - 1.877.289.8525,
International - 1.416.640.1917
Replay Pass code: 4173297 followed by the number sign
The TSX does not accept any responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy
of this press release.
Forward-Looking Information
This document may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, success of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of resources; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; as well as those factors detailed from time to time in the Company's interim and annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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.
43-101 Compliance
Unless otherwise indicated, Capstone has prepared the technical information in this news release ("Technical Information") based on information contained in the technical reports and news releases (collectively the "Disclosure Documents") available under Capstone Mining Corp.'s and
The following employees of Capstone, each a Qualified Person, reviewed Technical Information contained in this news release:
(1) Non-GAAP Performance Measures
"Total Cash Cost per Pound of Payable Copper" and "On site operating costs per tonne milled" are Non-GAAP Performance Measures. These performance measures are included because these statistics are key performance measures that management uses to monitor performance. Management uses these statistics to assess how the Company is performing to plan and to assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a meaning within GAAP and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with GAAP.
For further information: about Capstone, please contact: Darren Pylot, Vice Chairman & CEO or Stephen Quin, President & COO Or Jason Howe, VP, Investor Relations, at (604) 684-8894 or toll free at (866) 684-8894, [email protected]
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