Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) “Monument” or
the “Company” today announced its production and financial results
for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 and the six months ended
December 31, 2022. 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, “I am
pleased to report during the second quarter our Selinsing Gold Mine
has filtered first gold concentrates with completion of dry/wet
flotation plant commissioning. The ramp up period commenced
subsequent to the second quarter yet to bring the project to
commercial production.”
Second Quarter Highlights:
- First gold filtered concentrate produced on December 27, 2022;
total production was 126 dry tonnes with gold content of 177
oz;
- Dry and wet commissioning completed, and ore commissioning
continued into the next quarter;
- Selinsing gold bullion production
ceased in mid of November 2022 with gold in circuit yet to be
cleaned up;
- 1,498 ounces (“oz”) of gold bullion produced (Q2 FY2022:
1,683oz);
- 3,350 ounces (“oz”) of gold bullion
sold for $5.87 million (Q2 FY2022: 2,873oz for $5.05 million);
- Average quarterly gold price
realized at $1,753/oz (Q2 FY2022: $1,828/oz);
- Cash cost per ounce sold was
$1,507/oz (Q2 FY2022: $1,810/oz);
- Gross margin increased to $0.82
million (Q2 FY2022: negative $0.15 million);
- All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”)
decreased to $1,627/oz (Q2 FY2022: $2,146/oz) (section 15 “Non-IFRS
Performance Measures”).
Second Quarter and Six Months Production
and Financial Highlights
|
Three months ended December31, |
Six months ended December 31, |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
Production |
|
|
|
|
Ore mined (t) |
108,860 |
|
85,209 |
|
216,251 |
|
160,181 |
|
Waste removed (tonnes) |
2,108,615 |
|
1,770,975 |
|
3,708,652 |
|
3,713,309 |
|
Ore processed (tonnes) |
72,391 |
|
129,000 |
|
204,838 |
|
285,611 |
|
Average mill feed grade
(g/t) |
1.14 |
|
0.56 |
|
1.07 |
|
0.55 |
|
Processing recovery rate
(%) |
40 |
% |
63 |
% |
44 |
% |
64 |
% |
Gold bullion production (1)
(oz) |
1,498 |
|
1,683 |
|
3,563 |
|
2,726 |
|
Gold bullion sold (oz) |
3,350 |
|
2,873 |
|
3,750 |
|
4,296 |
|
Gold concentrate production
(tonnes) |
126 |
|
- |
|
126 |
|
- |
|
Gold
concentrate grade (g/t) |
43.81 |
|
- |
|
43.81 |
|
- |
|
|
Three months ended December 31, |
Six months ended December 31, |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
Financial (expressed in
thousands of US$) |
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Revenue |
5,872 |
|
5,047 |
|
6,580 |
|
7,430 |
|
Gross margin from mining
operations |
823 |
|
(152 |
) |
883 |
|
196 |
|
Loss before other items |
(1,460 |
) |
(2,124 |
) |
(2,163 |
) |
(2,879 |
) |
Net loss |
(3,196 |
) |
(2,502 |
) |
(3,485 |
) |
(3,769 |
) |
Cash flows (used in) provided
by operations |
2,754 |
|
(4,023 |
) |
2,100 |
|
(4,000 |
) |
Working capital |
18,894 |
|
38,605 |
|
18,894 |
|
38,605 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
per share – basic and diluted (US$/share) |
(0.01 |
) |
(0.01 |
) |
(0.01 |
) |
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
US$/oz |
|
US$/oz |
|
US$/oz |
|
US$/oz |
|
Average realized gold price
per ounce sold (2) |
1,753 |
|
1,828 |
|
1,755 |
|
1,823 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash cost per ounce sold: |
|
|
|
|
Mining |
545 |
|
728 |
|
554 |
|
660 |
|
Processing |
784 |
|
896 |
|
782 |
|
838 |
|
Royalties |
174 |
|
164 |
|
176 |
|
165 |
|
Operations, net of silver
recovery |
4 |
|
22 |
|
7 |
|
20 |
|
Total cash cost per
ounce sold(3) |
1,507 |
|
1,810 |
|
1,519 |
|
1,683 |
|
By-product silver recovery |
1 |
|
0 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Operation expenses |
- |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
11 |
|
Corporate expenses |
2 |
|
9 |
|
9 |
|
7 |
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligation |
14 |
|
13 |
|
25 |
|
16 |
|
Exploration and evaluation expenditures |
52 |
|
47 |
|
47 |
|
35 |
|
Sustaining capital expenditures |
51 |
|
267 |
|
45 |
|
361 |
|
Total all-in sustaining costs per ounce
sold(4) |
1,627 |
|
2,146 |
|
1,646 |
|
2,114 |
|
(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 US$1,753/oz for the three months ended December 31,
2022.(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” of Q2 MD&A. (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” of Q2 MD&A.
Q2 FY2023 Production Analysis
Gold Bullion Production
- Q2 FY2023 gold
bullion production was 1,498oz, a 11% decrease as compared to
1,683oz for Q2 FY2022. The decrease mainly resulted from lower gold
recovery.
- Q2 FY2023 ore
processed decreased to 62,817t from 129,000t for Q2 FY2022. The
decreased mill feed was mainly due to a significant reduction of
crushed ore and mechanical and electrical problems and the
transition from carbon-in-leach plant to new sulphide flotation
plant tie-in.
- Q2 FY2023 cash
cost per ounce decreased by 17% to $1,507/oz from $1,810/oz for Q2
FY2022. This decrease was primarily due to a significant increase
in the mill feed grade from 0.56g/t Au to 1.14g/t Au and increase
in gold bullion sale, less mining costs and a slight lower
processing costs.
Gold Concentrate Production
- In December,
commissioning of sulphide flotation plant commenced, and 9,574 t of
flotation feed was milled, 126 dry metric tonnes of gold
concentrate was produced with 177 oz gold recovered. There was no
sale of gold concentrate during Q2 FY2023.
Overall, Q2 FY2023 average mill feed grade was
1.14g/t Au as compared to 0.56g/t Au of Q2 FY2022 due to higher
grade ore from Selinsing and Buffalo Reef than Peranggih oxide
mineralized materials. Q2 FY2023 processing recovery rate decreased
to 39.9% from 63.2% for Q2 FY2022. The decrease in processing
recovery rate was mainly due to the transition from carbon-in-leach
(CIL) plant to the new sulphide flotation plant tie-in.
Q2 FY2023 Financial
Analysis
- Q2 FY2023 gold
bullion sales generated revenue was $5.87 million as compared to
$5.05 million from Q2 FY2022. Gold sales revenue was derived from
the sale of 3,350oz (Q2 FY2022: 2,150oz) of gold at an average
realized gold price of $1,753 per ounce (Q2 FY2022: $1,828 per
ounce) and the delivery of nil oz (Q2 FY2022: 723 oz at $1,545 per
ounce gold equivalent) in fulfilling gold prepaid sale
obligations.
- Q2 FY2023 total
production costs decreased by 3% to $5.05 million as compared to
$5.20 million from Q2 FY2022. Cash cost per ounce decreased by 17%
to $1,507/oz as compared to $1,810/oz of the same period last year.
The decrease was attributable to an increase in the mill feed grade
from 0.56g/t to 1.14g/t, increase in gold bullion sale, less mining
costs and a slight lower processing costs, offset by a decrease in
recovery to 39.9% (Q2 FY2022: 63.2%).
- Gross margin for
Q2 FY2023 was $0.82 million before operation expenses and non-cash
amortization and accretion as compared to negative $0.15 million
from Q2 FY2022. The increase in gross margin was attributable to
significant higher grade ore feed, more gold sold, and decreased
cash costs.
- Net loss for Q2
FY2023 was $3.20 million, or ($0.01) per share as compared to net
loss of $2.50 million or ($0.01) per share from Q2 FY2022.
- Cash and cash
equivalents balance as at December 31, 2022 was $12.81 million, a
decrease of $8.23 million from the balance at June 30, 2022 of
$21.04 million due to $10.31 million development cost in Selinsing
including $9.32 million spent in sulphide project development, and
$0.62 million spent in Murchison exploration and maintenance
activities, and $0.02 million spent in long-term lease obligations,
offset by $2.10 million generated in operation activities. As at
December 31, 2022, the Company had positive working capital of
$18.89 million as compared to that at June 30, 2022 of $30.33
million.
Development
Selinsing Gold Mine
The Selinsing sulphide project development to
produce saleable sulphide gold concentrate continued in the
quarter. As of December 31, 2022, 91% of the overall project has
been completed with cost incurred of $15.61 million. During the
second quarter of FY2023, flotation plant construction and most
ancillary equipment were substantially complete and installed
except for the cabling work. Plant commissioning began in November
2022. Dry and wet commissioning completed on flotation cells,
concentrate and water recovery thickeners, reagents mixing and
storage, blowers, compressor, and filter press plant. Ore
commissioning started on December 15, 2022, ongoing improvements to
flotation circuit, correcting shortfalls continued. The ramp up to
full production commenced after the end of the second quarter, in
January 2023.
Pre-stripping continued in the second quarter
for the flotation plant. Mining of transitional and sulphide ore
continued during the quarter to stockpile ore for future
production.
During the second quarter of FY2023,
metallurgical drilling at Buffalo Reef had commenced and completed
with 508m over 12 holes. The drilling targeted representative
transition and fresh sulphide samples from each of the BRC2, BRC 3,
BRC 4, and BRN pits. Assay results for all 586 samples were
received. The samples with a grade above 0.35g/t were
composited based on oxidation category (transition and fresh) and
submitted to the metallurgical laboratory at Selinsing for a series
of locked cycle tests to obtain recovery and grade data for the
life of mine optimisation. The overall strategy of the mine plan is
to achieve maximum gold recovery and minimise arsenic and stibnite
grade in concentrate.
Murchison Gold Project
No drilling was carried out during the second
quarter of fiscal year 2023. The Company focused on updating and
further reviewing of Gabanintha drill targets and slowed down
drilling to preserve cash in supporting Selinsing development,
while the costs of drilling in Western Australia are up over 30%
and there are shortages in labour and drill rigs. The Company
continued to maintain the plant and other facilities to the extent
they are operationally ready for efficient commissioning when
production is restarted. Site accommodation and catering facilities
are fully functional to host administrative, exploration and mining
activities.
About Monument
Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE: D7Q1)
is an established Canadian gold producer that 100% owns and
operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia and the Murchison Gold
Project in the Murchison area of Western Australia. It has 20%
interest in Tuckanarra Gold Project jointly owned with Odyssey Gold
Ltd in the same region. 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 StreetVancouver, 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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