Carpathian Gold Inc.-Operations Update on the RDM Gold Mine
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jul 8, 2014) - Carpathian Gold Inc. (TSX:CPN) (the "Corporation" or "Carpathian") is providing the following update on its RDM gold mine (the "RDM Mine") in Brazil. The RDM Mine is 100% owned by the Corporation's wholly-owned subsidiary Mineração Riacho dos Machados Ltda. ("MRDM"). Re-commissioning of the RDM Mine processing plant, which commenced in mid-March following re-instatement of the Autorização Provisória de Operação ("APO" or provisional operating license), is proceeding and is in the ramp-up phase.
Process Plant
The process plant, a conventional crush-grind-CIL circuit with a planned production capacity of 7,100 tonnes per day, is currently in a ramp-up phase whereby components of the plant are tested under work-load conditions with allowance for technical adjustments and site re-designs if required. Typical ramp-up periods for a plant this size can range from three to six months or longer if equipment and or engineering flaws are discovered. The Corporation has been experiencing certain difficulties during this stage, chief among them having been in the area of power generation. The lack of synchronization between generators has proven to be a major impediment and has resulted in numerous plant shutdowns consequently leaving the Corporation behind in its internal ramp up schedule. Other key items being adjustments to the crushing circuit components as well as full completion of plant facilities that were not required for the re-commissioning and ramp-up phase but necessary for steady-state design capacity production.
The following production has been attained thus far following re-commissioning:
- To June 30th, RDM has processed 364,056 tonnes at an average grade of 1.32 g/t gold and poured 10,671 ounces gold and 3,441 ounces silver and;
- in the month of June, 119,560 tonnes of ore were processed at an average grade of 1.30 g/t gold, attaining approximately 56% of the designed tonnage capacity, and;
- also in the month of May, 3,279 ounces of gold were produced representing 66% of contained gold in ore feed, but with an increase in the gold in circuit. The metallurgical recovery was 86% and management believes the 90% planned gold recovery is attainable under steady-state plant operations.
Mining
The RDM Mine is a conventional open pit operation of drill-blast-load-dump utilizing an owner-operated fleet and a mining contractor. The feasibility design pit is a single pit with LOM pit length of 1,800 metres. Mining activity began to ramp-up in mid-March with the bulk of ore mining activity occurring in the Central Pit zone. Run-of-mine (ROM) ore at RDM is currently defined with a cutoff grade of 0.63 g/t gold with ore greater than 0.32 g/t gold and less than 0.63 g/t gold stored in a stockpile. The following mining has occurred in this ramp-up phase:
- To June 30th, a total of 547,131 tonnes of ROM ore have been mined at an average grade of 1.09 g/t gold, and;
- also to June 30th, ROM ore stockpile consists of 862,808 tonnes at an average grade of 0.88 g/t gold which is segregated into high and low grade ore classes, and;
- in the month of June, 101,745 tonnes ROM ore were mined at an average grade of 1.14 g/t gold which represents 48% of the daily production of 7,100 tonnes per day. The other 52% came from the stockpile.
The bulk of ore from the current mining is from the lower-grade central pit zone. Waste extraction is underway in the north pit zone and higher grades are anticipated when mining activity can ramp-up in the north pit zone. A thorough grade and tonnes reconciliation between ROM ore and process plant feed-grade and tonnes has not yet been concluded in this ramp-up phase.
Operating License
The RDM gold project is currently operating under the reinstated Autorização Provisória de Operação ("APO" or provisional operating license), as announced on 24 February 2014. The APO allows the project to operate and produce and sell gold during the interim period prior to receiving the Licença de Operação ("LO" or operating License). MRDM is proceeding with the requirements set-forth by the regulatory bodies to receive the LO (the definitive operational permit) and complete the necessary inspections. This process is expected to take 2 to 3 months to complete.
About Carpathian
Carpathian is an exploration and development company whose primary business interest is developing near-term gold production at its 100% owned Riacho dos Machados Gold Project in Brazil. In addition, it is also focused on advancing its exploration and development plans on its 100% owned Rovina Valley Au-Cu Project located in Romania.
Forward-Looking Statements: Statements and certain information contained in this press release and any documents incorporated by reference may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation which may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to the Corporation's expected production from, and further potential of, the Corporation's properties; the Corporation's ability to raise additional funds; the future price of minerals, particularly gold and copper; the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources; conclusions of economic evaluation; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; capital expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; currency exchange rates; government regulation of mining operations; and environmental risks. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements/information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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. Forward-looking statements/information is based on management's expectations and reasonable assumptions at the time such statements are made. Estimates regarding the anticipated timing, amount and cost of exploration and development activities are based on assumptions underlying mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and the realization of such estimates are set out herein. Capital and operating cost estimates are based on extensive research of the Corporation, purchase orders placed by the Corporation to date, recent estimates of construction and mining costs and other factors that are set out herein.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Carpathian and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: uncertainties of mineral resource estimates; the nature of mineral exploration and mining; variations in ore grade and recovery rates; cost of operations; fluctuations in the sale prices of products; volatility of gold and copper prices; exploration and development risks; liquidity concerns and future financings; risks associated with operations in foreign jurisdictions; potential revocation or change in permit requirements and project approvals; competition; no guarantee of titles to explore and operate; environmental liabilities and regulatory requirements; dependence on key individuals; conflicts of interests; insurance; fluctuation in market value of Carpathian's shares; rising production costs; equipment material and skilled technical workers; volatile current global financial conditions; and currency fluctuations; and other risks pertaining to the mining industry. Although Carpathian 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein or incorporated by reference are made as of the date of this presentation or as of the date of the documents incorporated by reference, as the case may be, and Carpathian does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained or incorporated by reference in this document is presented for the purpose of assisting shareholders in understanding the financial position, strategic priorities and objectives of the Corporation for the periods referenced and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Contact
Carpathian Gold Inc.
Guy Charette
Interim Chief Executive Officer
+1(416) 368-7744 Ext. 233
+1(416) 363-3883
info@carpathiangold.com
www.carpathiangold.com