Record Processed Grades and Recoveries, Silver
Equivalent Sales Exceed Plan
TSX: SIL | NYSE American: SILV
VANCOUVER, BC, April 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ - SilverCrest Metals Inc.
("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to provide interim
operational results for the first quarter of 2024 ("Q1, 2024") from
the Company's Las Chispas Operation located in Sonora, Mexico. All amounts are expressed in
U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted. Certain amounts shown in this
news release may not total to exact amounts due to rounding
differences.
Q1, 2024 Operating Results and Sales
- Recovered 14,719 ounces ("oz") of gold and 1.41 million ounces
of silver, or 2.58 million silver equivalent ("AgEq")1
ounces.
- Sold 15,000 ounces of gold and 1.40 million ounces of silver,
or 2.59 million AgEq ounces.
- Average realized price of $2,062/oz gold and $23.37/oz silver generating $63.6 million of revenue.
N. Eric Fier, CEO, commented,
"Our first quarter has set the stage for another year of strong
operational performance at Las Chispas, with silver sales exceeding
plan and positioning us well to achieve 2024 sales guidance.
Mobilization of our new mining contractor began in February 2024 and ramp-up of the underground
continues to progress well. In the quarter, we achieved record
silver equivalent process grades of 874 grams per tonne and
recoveries of 98.3%, while completing planned maintenance ahead of
schedule and returning plant availability to 92% in
March.
"Strong performance of bullion prices in the quarter contributed
to a 4% increase in our bullion holdings, to end the quarter at
$20.0 million. As expected a
significant cash payment for 2023 taxes and duties was completed,
bringing total treasury assets2 to $91.1 million at the end of the quarter. We look
forward to providing more details of our operational and financial
performance in mid May."
__________________________
|
1
Silver equivalent ("AgEq") ratio used in this news release of
79.51:1 based on the Las Chispas Operation Technical Report, dated
September 5, 2023 with an effective date of July 19, 2023.
|
2
Treasury Assets is comprised of bullion holdings and cash.
|
Q1, 2024 Operational Highlights
|
Unit
|
Q1,
2024
|
Q1,
2023
|
Ore mined
|
tonnes
|
85,737
|
63,600
|
Ore milled
(a)
|
tonnes
|
93,373
|
104,400
|
Average daily mill
throughput
|
tpd
|
1,026
|
1,160
|
|
|
|
|
Gold
(Au)
|
|
|
|
Average processed
grade
|
gpt
|
4.97
|
4.06
|
Process
recovery
|
%
|
98.6 %
|
97.5 %
|
Recovered
|
oz
|
14,719
|
13,300
|
Sold
|
oz
|
15,000
|
14,200
|
Average realized
price
|
$/oz
|
2,062
|
1,879
|
|
|
|
|
Silver
(Ag)
|
|
|
|
Average processed
grade
|
gpt
|
479
|
419
|
Process
recovery
|
%
|
98.0 %
|
91.9 %
|
Recovered
|
million oz
|
1.41
|
1.29
|
Sold
|
million oz
|
1.40
|
1.36
|
Average realized
price
|
$/oz
|
23.37
|
23.00
|
|
|
|
|
Silver equivalent
(AgEq)
|
|
|
|
Average processed
grade
|
gpt
|
874
|
742
|
Process
recovery
|
%
|
98.3 %
|
94.4 %
|
Recovered
|
million oz
|
2.58
|
2.35
|
Sold
|
million oz
|
2.59
|
2.49
|
(a) Ore milled includes
material from stockpiles and ore mined.
|
Q1, 2024 Conference Call
The Company's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial
statements for the three months ended March
31, 2024 will be released after market on May 14, 2024.
A conference call to discuss the Company's Q1, 2024 operational
and financial results will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m.
ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial the
numbers below.
Date &
Time:
|
Wednesday May 15, 2024
at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET
|
|
|
Telephone:
|
North America Toll
Free: 1-800-274-8461
|
|
Conference ID: SILVER
(745837)
|
|
|
Webcast:
|
https://silvercrestmetals.com/investors/presentations/
|
Qualified Persons Statement
The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N.
Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, CEO for
SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.
ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.
SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals producer headquartered
in Vancouver, BC, with an ongoing
initiative to increase its asset base by expanding current
resources and reserves, acquiring, discovering, and developing high
value precious metals projects and ultimately operating multiple
silver-gold mines in the Americas. The Company's principal focus is
its Las Chispas Operation in Sonora,
Mexico. The Company is led by a proven management team in
all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking
projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget
construction, and production.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and
"forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
United States securities
legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with
respect to: the amount of future production of gold and silver over
any period; the strategic plans and expectations for the Company's
operation and exploration program; working capital requirements;
expected recoveries; expected cash costs and outflows; and the
timing of release of the Company's unaudited condensed interim
consolidated financial statements for the three months ended
March 31, 2024. Such forward-looking
statements or information are based on a number of assumptions,
which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made
regarding, among other things: present and future business
strategies; continued commercial operations at the Las Chispas
Operation; the environment in which the Company will operate in the
future, including the price of gold and silver; estimates of
capital and operating costs; production estimates; estimates of
mineral resources, mineral reserves and metallurgical recoveries
and mining operational risk; the reliability of mineral resource
and mineral reserve estimates; mining and development costs; the
conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability
of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to
exploration programs; and effects of regulation by governmental
agencies and changes in Mexican mining legislation. The actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including:
the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration
activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other
geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and
mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks;
project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses;
fluctuations in gold and silver prices; and general market and
industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the
expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date
the statements are made. 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, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were
made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements included in this news release if these
beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should
change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
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SOURCE SilverCrest Metals Inc.