Florida Canyon Mine On-Track for Q3
VANCOUVER, July 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Rye Patch Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RPM; OTCQX: RPMGF; FWB: 5TN) (the "Company" or "Rye Patch") reports June and second quarter production results for the Florida Canyon mining operation.
Gold production began from the new South Heap Leach Pad of the Florida Canyon Mine in April 2017. The new pad has completed its first full cycle of leaching of 45 days. Secondary leaching and new placement of ore is continuing on the Phase 1A portion of the pad. Since April, a total of 12,678 ounces of gold and silver dore have been poured. The dore is comprised of 7,075 ounces of gold and 5,603 ounces of silver.
William Howald, Rye Patch President and CEO, said, "We continue to successfully ramp-up mine operations, and the team is pleased with progress through the end of the second quarter. Gold production in the second quarter exceeded the ramp-up plan by more than 1,500 ounces of gold and the mine is on track for third quarter 2017 commercial production."
Welsh-Hagen Associates of Reno, Nevada completed an audit of the leach pad, and compared its operational performance to the expected leach recovery model. Based on the audit, the new leach pad is performing in line with the leach curve model and recovered gold ounces are within 1 percent of the projected gold production. Production of 5,567 ounces of gold was projected for the first three months of leaching compared to 7,075 ounces of gold actually achieved between April 12 and June 30. The better-than-expected gold production results from more tons being placed on the leach pad between January and March.
Table 1: Gold Production; Ramp-up Plan versus Actual
| April 2017 Gold Production ozs |
May 2017 Gold Production ozs |
June 2017 Gold Production ozs |
Total Q2 Gold Production ozs |
|
| Ramp-up Plan |
850 |
2,023 |
2,694 |
5,567 |
| Actual |
1,087 |
3,094 |
2,894 |
7,075 |
June gold production was above plan but below expectations as a result of the acid wash circuit being off-line most of June to replace a cracked wash vessel. The new vessel has arrived and is being installed. Work on the regeneration kiln was also completed in June. The result of these two items being off-line was a decrease in efficiency of the carbon plant to attract the gold thus decreasing gold production. Both circuits will be back on-line in July.
Mining achieved 85 percent of its budgeted ore tons in the second quarter with the bulk of the ore coming from the Jasperoid pit. In June, a total of 693,434 tons (633,395 tonnes) of ore was mined compared to 575,477 tons (523,160 tonnes) budgeted. The increase in ore tonnage resulted from the Jasperoid pit being ore bound on the 5440 and 5420 benches. This has allowed for the mining fleet to begin accessing the second pit. Starting in July, the mine will have two sources of ore – Central and Jasperoid pits.
Fleet availability has improved dramatically over the second quarter. At the end of June, all 11 785 CAT haul trucks were operational. Two haul trucks were down for most of June as a result of major required component replacement. All other haulage and loading equipment was down for routine preventive maintenance. Loaders had a 94 percent availability and 785 haul trucks improved to 79 percent availability. An increase in 785-haul truck availability is expected to continue going forward.
The crusher continues to outperform its design specifications. Under the current plan, the crusher is required to crush 1,100 tons (1,000 tonnes) per hour. It is currently exceeding this limit and is permitted to crush up to 1,600 (1455 tonnes) tons per hour. Additional 785 haul trucks are being sourced and an increase to the crusher air quality permit is being prepared. The resulting increase in crusher capacity and through put could have a substantial positive impact on future annual gold production.
With the end of the second quarter, Rye Patch will release production results, activities and cost information for the Florida Canyon mine in the future on a quarterly basis in-line with the Company's financial reporting.
Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, Rye Patch Gold's CEO and President with a BSc. In Geological Engineering, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
About Rye Patch Gold Corp.
Rye Patch Gold Corp. is a Nevada focused, Tier 1, precious metal mining company engaged in the mining, development and exploration of a 180 square kilometre land package along the prospective Oreana trend in west central Nevada. Leveraging its strong financial position and cash to acquire the Florida Canyon Gold mining operation, Rye Patch now controls a trend-scale platform with mining operations, resource projects and significant exploration potential. The combination of mining and a growth profile along a major Nevada gold trend positions Rye Patch to become an emerging North American mid-tier precious metal producer. For more information, please visit our website at www.ryepatchgold.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
'William Howald'
William C. (Bill) Howald, CEO & President
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to future plans and objectives of the Company, future production and deliveries of gold, proposed operations of the Company including mine development, funding requirements, future events and conditions and other statements that are not historical facts, all of which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Company's control. These factors include, but are not limited to: future deliveries of gold pursuant to the forward gold price contract facility, the achievement of mine redevelopment plans and production results; the availability of funds; the financial position of Rye Patch; the timing and content of work programs; the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; the reliability of calculation of mineral resources; the reliability of calculation of precious metal recoveries; the receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; fluctuations in metal prices; currency fluctuations; and general market and industry conditions.
Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations, opinions and assumptions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made including, but not limited to, the continued operation of the Company's mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, and mining operations and production to be completed in accordance with management's expectations. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the drawdowns under the Credit Facility and the Florida Canyon mine redevelopment will be completed on the terms and within the time disclosed herein or at all.
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.
SOURCE Rye Patch Gold
Rye Patch Gold Corp, [email protected], Tel.: (604) 638-1588, Fax: (604) 638-1589
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