AVINO SILVER AND GOLD MINES LTD NYSE - MKT: ASM
TSX-V: ASM
FSE: GV6
VANCOUVER, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM: TSX.V, ASM: NYSE - MKT, GV6: FSE, "Avino" or "the Company") is pleased to provide the following 2016 year end summary and outlook for 2017 for the Avino and San Gonzalo Mines, and the Bralorne Gold Mine.
Avino and San Gonzalo Mines
2016 Production Highlights
-- Silver equivalent production - 2,679,334 oz*
-- Silver production - 1,612,060 oz
-- Gold production - 7,119 oz
-- Copper production - 4,206,585 lbs
AgEq was calculated using metals prices of US$17.10 oz Ag, US$1,248 oz Au and US$2.21 lb Cu.
2016 Operational Highlights
-- Commercial production was declared at the Avino Mine on April 1, 2016
-- A new power line to the mine site was completed and is now fully
functional, providing sufficient energy to power our existing
operations, as well as the future oxide tailings resource operation and
mill expansion
-- Construction of the new Tailings Storage Facility commenced
-- An updated NI 43-101 resource estimate was completed for the Avino and
San Gonzalo Mines as well as for the Oxide Tailings Resource
During the year, capital expenditures at Avino totaled USD$7.4 million for the continuation of exploration, new and refurbished equipment, commencement of the new tailings storage facility (TSF), infrastructure and sustaining capital.
"We are very pleased with our production and operational achievements at the Avino and San Gonzalo Mines in 2016. Solid future cash flow from Avino and San Gonzalo, and proceeds of the recent bought deal financing will provide the Company with the flexibility to fund capital and exploration projects while maintaining a solid financial position. Providing further flexibility within our budgets is our ability to finance new equipment together with the zero penalty deferral of the Samsung payback. Another productive year is expected in 2017, with plans including a plant and mine expansion to increase throughput capacity at the processing plant by an estimated 70%, advancement of the Oxide Tailings Resource project, continued construction and consideration of new initiatives regarding tailings storage, as well as a three-phased expansion program at Bralorne. The estimated capital expenditure costs for these important plans in 2017 will be an estimated USD$16.3 million, all of which will help the company develop and continue to create shareholder value."
David Wolfin, President and Chief Executive Officer
In 2017, capital expenditures at Avino and San Gonzalo are estimated to total USD$12.2 million, as a result of the following capital projects: mill expansion, planned exploration, and continued refurbishment and replacement of mobile equipment.
The Company's estimated capital expenditures in 2017 include the following: (USD in millions)
Mill expansion to add
Circuit 4 $7.1
--------------------- ----
Mining equipment $2.5
---------------- ----
Tailings Storage Facility $1.7
------------------------- ----
Planned exploration $0.9
------------------- ----
Estimated Total $12.2
--------------- -----
Users of this forward-looking information are cautioned that actual results may vary materially from the estimates disclosed. Readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on these estimates.
In 2017, capital expenditures at Avino and San Gonzalo will include a significant investment of USD$7.1 million for mill expansion to increase throughput capacity to 2,500 tonnes per day "TPD". The addition of Circuit 4, which will be an exact duplication of Mill Circuit 3, commenced in January, 2017, and will take approximately one year to complete. This expansion will further develop and maintain a solid production profile going forward.
In addition, we are continually testing to improve payables, and are focused on the optimization of the mill and plant with full automation to improve efficiencies and potentially increase recovery rates.
Additionally, USD$2.5 million is budgeted for new mining equipment and fleet expansion, although we will utilize good used equipment when available, and with the long-term business relationships we have with our suppliers it is estimated that a significant portion of the budgeted expenditures could potentially be financed.
An estimated further USD$1.7million will be invested in the continued construction of the new tailings storage facility, allowing us to advance the Oxide Tailings Resource project. We are also evaluating paste thickening that would be used for backfilling old stopes and the large open pit which would add extensive tailings storage capacity and advance reclamation at same time.
We are also investing approximately USD$0.9 million for additional exploration of the Avino Vein system between the San Luis and Elena Tolosa (current area of production) workings, where the Avino vein remains open at depth. Our exploration drilling program, which commenced in September, 2016, has thus far been comprised of 18 holes totalling 2,955 metres, with positive results from the first 8 holes which were released in December, with the results from the remaining ten holes still pending. The drill results support the continuation of the extensive Avino vein system.
This new area is close to surface and accessible from the existing Avino Mine underground workings. The area was identified as a target of interest as it may have been overlooked in the past, given that on surface and at shallow depths, the Avino Vein system splits into hanging wall and foot wall structures.
BRALORNE GOLD MINE
"Since acquiring the Bralorne Gold mine in 2014, we have been focused on our long-term commitment to bringing this historical gold mine into production and working on the steps to achieve this goal. We are dedicated to this project and the community in which it is situated."
David Wolfin, President & CEO Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
2016 Highlights
-- Completion of an updated NI 43-101 Resource estimate based on a limited
exploration program, which increased tonnage and gold ounces
-- Submission of permit applications to resume mining and processing
-- Increase of the capacity of the tailings storage facility in 2015,and
the addition of buttresses in 2016 for additional stability
-- New phased mine plan in development
-- Cost effective long hole mining will be tested
-- Modernizing the mining fleet, with the addition of 2 new scoop trams,
jumbo drill and a rock breaker
-- Significantly increased water treatment capability with the deployment
of a new state-of-the-art microfiltration water treatment
-- First aid facility constructed
-- Woman's dry facility constructed
-- Deposit on new larger ball mill, and refurbishments made to other areas
of the mill
-- Purchase of a new portable crushing plant to free up space inside the
mill building
-- Made significant investment in education and training for local First
Nations communities to further our CSR objectives
The updated NI 43-101 resource estimate for the property marked a major milestone and validated the development strategy in reopening the mine.
EXPANSION PROGRAM
A Three Phased Approach
The company's strategic development plan for future profitable production involves a three-phased, multi-year expansion program which offers a favourable route to Bralorne's growth potential with manageable capital expenditures and a sequenced approach. The foregoing is expected to leverage existing infrastructure while maintaining low execution risk and offer the flexibility to proceed with all phases with little or no production downtime.
The Company's objective is to re-open the mine after the completion of Phase One at 100 TPD, which is anticipated to cost US$4.1 million. With improvements highlighted below, we believe the process plant could exceed the 100 TPD capacity.
The company engaged independent engineering professionals to assist in developing a project execution plan to enable production start-up at 100 TPD with eventual expansion to 300 TPD. Independent mining engineers were also engaged to develop a long term mine plan which includes a change to narrow vein long hole mining wherever possible, to replace the historic labour intensive shrinkage mining method. Together with their input, the Company has established a three-phased and disciplined approach to the Bralorne project development.
Advancing Phase One
Engineering and Construction
Preparations for Phase One, which will commence immediately, will include the following work:
-- Demolition of existing coarse and fine ore bin
-- Simplification of the crushing circuit with a larger primary and
secondary crushing plant, which has the potential for future expansion
to 500 TPD
-- Construction of new fine ore bin
-- Removal of retired equipment (crushing plant, ball mill foundations and
pedestals)
-- Exchange of one bank of float cells with new ones
-- Construction of new tailings pumping system
-- Upgrading of existing electrical systems
-- Construction of a new assay lab
Phase Two Objectives (2018 - 2019)
-- Larger Ball Mill installation
-- Electrical upgrades and new electrical feed for larger Ball Mill
-- Relocation and upgrade of existing Classifying circuit
-- Upgrade of Phase 1 MCC (Mobile Crushing Circuit) installation
Phase Three Objectives (2018 - 2019)
-- Upgrades of existing Flotation Circuit, Concentrate Filtration Circuit,
Reagent Circuit, Refinery,
-- New Process Control system installation
-- Upgrade of surface infrastructure, including camp
-- Begin processing at 300 TPD
The Company's long-term plan is to reach 500 TPD.
Historically, the Bralorne camp consisted of a number of separate mines with combined capacity of more than 500 TPD at a head grade of approximately 0.5 oz/ton. Avino now owns all of the old mines of any significance. The recent updated NI-43-101 resource is shown in the following table. Please also note that the updated NI 43-101 resource is available on SEDAR and on our website at http://www.avino.com/i/pdf/reports/2016_Bralorne_Tech_Report_Final.pdf.
Class Measured Indicated Measured and Indicated Inferred
----- -------- --------- ---------------------- --------
Tons Au opt Au Ounces Tons Au opt Au Ounces Tons Au opt Au Ounces Tons Au opt Au Ounces
---- ------ --------- ---- ------ --------- ---- ------ --------- ---- ------ ---------
51b FW 8,294 0.26 2,176 33,466 0.2 6,596 41,760 0.21 8,772 147,691 0.19 28,785
------ ----- ---- ----- ------ --- ----- ------ ---- ----- ------- ---- ------
51bFW/HW 15,713 0.27 4,313 26,717 0.62 16,639 42,430 0.49 20,953 39,072 0.38 14,828
-------- ------ ---- ----- ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ------
Alhambra 21,915 0.46 10,153 16,462 0.26 4,259 38,377 0.38 14,412 10,454 0.19 2,001
-------- ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ----- ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- -----
BK 50,501 0.33 16,822 50,501 0.33 16,822 50,430 0.16 8,064
--- ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- -----
BK-9870 5,754 0.53 3,058 5,754 0.53 3,058 7,327 0.27 1,986
------- ----- ---- ----- ----- ---- ----- ----- ---- -----
BKN 37,546 0.36 13,569 37,546 0.36 13,569 46,972 0.3 14,007
--- ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ------ --- ------
Prince 12,790 0.17 2,138
------ ------ ---- -----
Shaft 41,300 0.28 11,432 41,300 0.28 11,432 25,781 0.27 6,994
----- ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ------ ---- -----
Taylor 15,455 0.16 2,510 15,455 0.16 2,510 23,010 0.22 5,097
------ ------ ---- ----- ------ ---- ----- ------ ---- -----
Total 45,922 0.36 16,643 227,201 0.32 91,528 273,123 0.33 91,528 363,527 0.22 83,900
----- ------ ---- ------ ------- ---- ------ ------- ---- ------ ------- ---- ------
Mineral resources which are not
mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
The estimate of mineral resources
may be materially affected by
environmental, permitting, legal,
title, taxation, sociopolitical,
marketing, or other relevant
issues. The quantity and grade of
reported Inferred resources in
this estimation are uncertain in
nature and there has been
insufficient exploration to define
these Inferred resources as an
Indicated or Measured mineral
resource and it is uncertain if
further exploration will result in
upgrading them to the Indicated or
Measured mineral resource
category. Figures in the table may
not add to the totals shown due to
rounding. The mineral resource
estimate is classified in
accordance with the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy
and Petroleum's "CIM Definition
Standards - For Mineral Resources
and Mineral Reserves" incorporated
by reference into National
Instrument 43-101 "Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects".
Mineral Resources are reported at
cut-off grades 0.1 ounces per ton
gold.
Under National Instrument 43-101,
the Company is required to
disclose that it has not based its
production decisions on NI 43-
101 reserve estimates, preliminary
economic assessments, or
feasibility studies, and
historically projects without such
reports have increased uncertainty
and risk of economic viability.
The Company's decision to place a
mine into operation at levels
intended by management, expand a
mine, make other production-
related decisions, or otherwise
carry out mining and processing
operations is largely based on
internal non-public Company data,
and on reports based on
exploration and mining work by the
Company and by geologists and
engineers engaged by the Company
The Company's current plan is based on a resource head grade of approximately 0.25 oz/ton. Once Bralorne is operating again, the Company will carry out exploration underground and on surface aimed at adding to the current resource and discovering further high grade zones similar to what was mined in the past.
FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION, TRAINING AN ENGAGEMENT
In 2016, in conjunction with North Island College and St'at'imc Government Services, Avino completed a four-month underground mining training educational cohort for 12 members of the St'at'imc communities. All 12 students graduated from the program and received a number of industry certification tickets. The program, funded largely by the provincial government, involved three months of classroom instruction in Lillooet followed by two weeks of hands on training at the Bralorne Gold Mine. To view the video on the training program please click here https://vimeo.com/172272150.
A second similar program commenced in November, 2016, and will include a state-of-the-art simulator from Sandvik for advanced training on underground mining equipment. This program will conclude in February, 2017; Avino is eager to hire graduates from the programs once the mine re-opens.
Avino expects to release the 2016 year-end financial results in early March 2017, and will hold a conference call to discuss the results. Details of the call, including times and contact numbers, will be announced closer to the date.
Qualified Person(s)
Avino's projects are under the supervision of Chris Sampson, P.Eng, Avino Consultant and Jasman Yee P.Eng, Avino Director, who are both qualified persons within the context of National Instrument 43-101. Both have reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.
About Avino
Avino's is a silver and gold producer with a diversified pipeline of gold, silver and base metals properties in Mexico and Canada employing approximately 500 people. Avino produces from its wholly owned Avino and San Gonzalo Mines near Durango, Mexico, and is currently ramping up for future production at the Bralorne Gold Mine in British Columbia, Canada. The Company's gold and silver production remains unhedged. The Company's mission and strategy is to create shareholder value through its focus on profitable organic growth at the historic Avino Property near Durango, Mexico, and the strategic acquisition of mineral exploration and mining properties. We are committed to managing all business activities in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner, while contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate.
On Behalf of the Board
"David Wolfin"
________________________________
David Wolfin
President & CEO
Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
Safe Harbor Statement - This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including our belief as to the extent and timing of various studies, and exploration results, the potential tonnage, grades and content of deposits, timing and establishment and extent of resource estimates. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and uncertainties. Although we have 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors - The information contained herein and incorporated by reference herein has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In particular, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserve". The Securities Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards, unless such information is required to be disclosed by the law of the Company's jurisdiction of incorporation or of a jurisdiction in which its securities are traded. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Disclosure of "contained ounces" is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
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.
SOURCE Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.
