Atico Produces 5.22 Million Pounds of Cu and 2,596 Ounces of Au in Second Quarter 2018
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 31, 2018 -- Atico Mining Corp. (the “Company” or “Atico”) (TSX.V: ATY | OTC: ATCMF) announces its operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from its El Roble mine. Production for the quarter totaled 5.22 million pounds of copper and 2,596 ounces of gold in concentrates, an increase of 1% for both copper and gold, respectively, over the same period in 2017.
“We are very pleased to report another strong operating quarter while maintaining steady state production levels as we continue to reach our 2018 operational objectives,” said Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO. “With another strong production quarter achieved, the Company will continue its aggressive exploration drilling plan at the El Roble property for the remainder of the year.”
Second Quarter Operational Highlights
- Production of 5.22 million pounds of copper contained in concentrates; an increase of 1% over Q2 2017.
- Production of 2,596 ounces of gold contained in concentrates; an increase of 1% over Q2 2017.
- Average processed tonnes per day of 792, no significant change over Q2 2017.
- Copper head grade of 3.76%, a decrease of 5% over Q2 2017.
- Gold head grade of 2.02 grams per tonne; a decrease of 2% over Q2 2017.
- Copper and gold recovery of 93.7% and 59.5%; no significant change for copper and a decrease of 4% for gold over Q2 2017.
Second Quarter Operational Review
Processed ore was in line with Company budget for the second quarter. The increase in higher copper and gold output for the quarter relative to Q2 2017 is mostly explained by a 7% increase in processed ore. Copper and gold recoveries were in line with Company projections. Gold recovery decrease is due to an increase in the copper content in the concentrate, this increase in the copper content in the concentrate provides a net economic benefit offsetting the decrease in gold recovery. The Company will continue to explore improving the copper content in the concentrate in the following quarters while also trying to increase the gold recovery.
During the quarter the Company delivered two large concentrate shipments, this will have a positive impact on this quarter’s financial results.
The operation remains on track to deliver on set guidance throughout the remainder of the year.
Second Quarter Operational Details
| Q2 2018 Total | Q2 2017 Total | % Change | ||
| Production (Contained in Concentrates) | ||||
| Copper (000s pounds) | 5,220 | 5,154 | 1% | |
| Gold (ounces) | 2,596 | 2,570 | 1% | |
| Mine | ||||
| Tonnes of ore mined | 67,255 | 65,942 | 2% | |
| Mill | ||||
| Tonnes processed | 67,308 | 62,802 | 7% | |
| Tonnes processed per day | 792 | 794 | Nil% | |
| Copper grade (%) | 3.76 | 3.94 | -5% | |
| Gold grade (g/t) | 2.02 | 2.07 | -2% | |
| Recoveries | ||||
| Copper (%) | 93.7 | 94.4 | -1% | |
| Gold (%) | 59.5 | 61.8 | -4% | |
| Concentrates | ||||
| Copper and Gold Concentrates (dmt) | 10,717 | 10,460 | 3% | |
| Payable copper produced (000s lbs) | 4,960 | 4,897 | 1% | |
| Note: Metal production figures are subject to adjustments based on final settlement. | ||||
El Roble Mine
The El Roble mine is a high grade, underground copper and gold mine with nominal processing plant capacity of 800 tonnes per day, located in the Department of Choco in Colombia. Its commercial product is a copper-gold concentrate.
Since obtaining control of the mine on November 22, 2013, Atico has upgraded the operation from a historical nominal capacity of 400 tonnes per day.
El Roble has a measured and indicated resource of 1.87 million tonnes grading 3.46% copper and 2.27 g/t gold, at a cut-off grade of 0.93% copper equivalent. Mineralization is open at depth and along strike and the Company plans to further test the limits of the resource.
On the larger land package, the Company has identified a prospective stratigraphic contact between volcanic rocks and black and grey pelagic sediments and cherts that has been traced by Atico geologists for ten kilometers. This contact has been determined to be an important control on VMS mineralization on which Atico has identified numerous target areas prospective for VMS type mineralization occurrence, which is the focus of the current surface drill program at El Roble.
Qualified Person
Mr. Thomas Kelly (SME Registered Member 1696580), advisor to the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 standards, is responsible for ensuring that the technical information contained in this news release is an accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or developed by Atico.
About Atico Mining Corporation
Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin America. The Company operates the El Roble mine and is pursuing additional acquisition opportunities. For more information, please visit www.aticomining.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Fernando E. Ganoza
CEO
Atico Mining Corp.
Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTC: ATCMF
Investor Relations
Igor Dutina
Tel: +1.604.633.9022
Neither the 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.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘‘U.S. Securities Act’’), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company’s mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company’s mineral projects; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the prospectus of the Company dated March 2, 2012 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com
The Company has not based its production decisions and ongoing mine production on mineral reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments or feasibility studies, and historically such projects have increased uncertainty and risk of failure. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.