VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 24, 2014) - Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX:EDR)(NYSE:EXK) released today updated NI 43-101 silver and gold reserve and resource estimates for its three producing silver mines in Mexico (the Guanaceví Mine in Durango State and the Bolañitos and El Cubo Mines in Guanajuato State) as well as one exploration project (San Sebastián Project in Jalisco State) as of December 31, 2013 using lower silver and gold prices compared to December 31, 2012.
Proven and probable reserves were down year-on-year due mainly to the lower metal prices used for the estimates. In response to the lower metal prices last year, the mine plan was revised to enhance cash-flow by accelerating production and deferring some lower priority underground mine development primarily at Bolañitos and Guanaceví, which also reduced the conversion of resources into reserves.
Measured and indicated resources were up in 2013 thanks to the Company's brownfields exploration programs which discovered new resources primarily at El Cubo and upgraded some inferred resources but, again in response to the lower metal prices, the exploration budget was reduced last year which likely reduced the expansion of resources.
Inferred resources were down last year as a result of the lower metal prices and reduced exploration budget.
Endeavour normally uses the industry best practice of three year trailing averages of silver and gold prices for estimating reserves and resources. To the end of 2013, these trailing price averages were approximately $1550 per ounce (oz) gold and $30 per oz silver. Management took the view that these trailing price averages were too aggressive in the short term for the estimation of reserves so elected to use US$1320 per oz gold and US$22 per oz silver prices to more accurately reflect its near term outlook.
The prices used for the resource estimates were 10% higher at US$1452 per oz gold and $24.20 per oz silver to reflect management's belief that the metal prices will likely be higher in the medium and longer terms. However, they are still significantly lower than the US$31 per oz silver and US$1550 per oz gold prices used in the previous reserve and resource estimates as of December 31, 2012.
The December 31, 2013 reserve and resource highlights are as follows:
2013 Reserve/Resource Highlights (Compared to December 31, 2012)
Bradford Cooke, CEO, commented, "Reserve and resource growth took a back seat to our operational and financial performance last year due to the sharply lower precious metal prices. We responded promptly to the lower metal prices by reducing all costs including our exploration and development budgets which clearly impacted our ability to replace reserves and expand resources."
"However, with the El Cubo capital reconstruction program completed on time and under budget last year and all three mining operations now running smoothly, reserve and resource growth is back on the front burner for 2014. This year, we will continue to hone our mining operations, boost profit margins and return our focus to discovering and delineating ore at all of the three mining operations as well as at the emerging new high grade discovery at San Sebastián."
"Despite the sharp decline in precious metal prices year-on-year and the resulting reduction in reserves and resources at lower metal prices, we are confident that our talented exploration team led by Luis Castro, VP of Exploration, will continue to expand resources and our operations team led by Dave Howe, VP of Operations, will continue to convert those resources into reserves and enhance the mine lives of each of our mining operations."
Guanaceví
Bolañitos
El Cubo
San Sebastián
Endeavour's other exploration projects in Mexico were not drilled in 2013 (Guadalupe y Calvo and Parral Projects in Chihuahua and Arroyo Seco Project in Michoacán) so their resource estimates remain unchanged. The Guadalupe y Calvo resources were estimated in 2012 and the Parral and Arroyo Seco resources were estimated at the end of 2010.
The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimates was Mike Munroe, BSc, MSc, SME Registered Member 4151306RM. The reports for Guanaceví, Bolañitos, El Cubo and San Sebastián will be completed and filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release. The Guadalupe y Calvo report was authored by Charley Murahwi, M.Sc., P.Geo, FAusIMM and Alan San Martin, MAusIMM(CP) and previously filed on SEDAR in March 2013. The Arroyo Seco report was authored by David St. Clair Dunn B.Sc., P.Geo and Barry Devlin M.Sc., P. Geo, both of whom are Qualified Persons, and the report was previously filed on SEDAR in March 2011.
Godfrey Walton, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and COO of Endeavour, is the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.
These reserve and resource statements were classified following the definitions and guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum CIM standards and definitions on Mineral Resources and Reserves and the guidelines of NI 43-101.
ENDEAVOUR SILVER CORP.
About Endeavour Silver - Endeavour is a mid-tier silver mining company focused on growing its profits, production, reserves and resources in Mexico. Since start-up in 2004, Endeavour has posted nine consecutive years of accretive growth of its silver mining operations. The organic expansion programs now underway at Endeavour's three silver-gold mines in Mexico combined with its strategic acquisition and exploration programs should facilitate Endeavour's goal to become a premier senior silver producer.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavour's anticipated performance in 2014 and the timing and results of exploration drill programs. The Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties; fluctuations in the prices of commodities and their impact on reserves and resources as well as those factors described in the section "risk factors" contained in the Company's most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Company's mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with management's expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
Silver-Gold Reserves & Resources (as of Dec 31, 2013) | ||||||
Reserves | Tonnes | Ag g/t |
Au g/t |
Ag oz |
Au oz |
Ag oz Eq |
Guanaceví | 327,800 | 281 | 0.51 | 2,961,900 | 5,300 | 3,279,900 |
Bolañitos | 380,530 | 156 | 2.50 | 1,910,300 | 30,500 | 3,740,300 |
El Cubo | 752,500 | 138 | 2.16 | 3,330,300 | 52,200 | 6,462,300 |
Total Proven | 1,460,830 | 175 | 1.87 | 8,202,500 | 88,000 | 13,482,500 |
Guanaceví | 34,600 | 342 | 0.46 | 380,800 | 500 | 410,800 |
Bolañitos | 98,300 | 134 | 2.17 | 424,200 | 6,800 | 832,200 |
El Cubo | 615,400 | 131 | 2.23 | 2,595,700 | 44,100 | 5,242,700 |
Total Probable | 748,300 | 141 | 2.14 | 3,400,700 | 51,400 | 6,485,700 |
Total Proven & Probable | 2,209,130 | 163 | 1.96 | 11,603,200 | 139,400 | 19,968,200 |
Resources | Tonnes | Ag g/t |
Au g/t |
Ag oz |
Au oz |
Ag oz Eq |
Guanaceví | 132,000 | 183 | 0.29 | 777,200 | 1,300 | 855,200 |
Bolañitos | 75,900 | 132 | 1.39 | 322,800 | 3,400 | 526,800 |
El Cubo | 660,100 | 158 | 2.87 | 3,357,800 | 60,800 | 7,005,800 |
Total Measured | 868,000 | 160 | 2.35 | 4,457,800 | 65,500 | 8,387,800 |
Guanaceví | 1,701,200 | 242 | 0.57 | 13,221,400 | 31,500 | 15,111,400 |
Bolañitos | 1,191,800 | 111 | 1.95 | 4,263,300 | 74,700 | 8,745,300 |
El Cubo | 1,570,500 | 144 | 2.06 | 7,263,100 | 104,200 | 13,515,100 |
San Sebastián | 2,476,000 | 229 | 1.08 | 18,216,200 | 86,300 | 23,394,200 |
Guadalupe y C | 1,861,000 | 119 | 2.38 | 7,147,300 | 142,500 | 15,697,300 |
Total Indicated | 8,800,500 | 177 | 1.55 | 50,111,300 | 439,200 | 76,463,300 |
Total Measured and Indicated | 9,668,500 | 176 | 1.62 | 54,569,100 | 504,700 | 84,851,100 |
Resources - Inferred | Tonnes | Ag g/t |
Au g/t |
Ag oz |
Au oz |
Ag oz Eq |
Guanaceví | 1,155,100 | 253 | 0.46 | 9,384,700 | 17,100 | 10,410,700 |
Bolañitos | 2,145,150 | 140 | 1.62 | 9,642,200 | 111,720 | 16,345,400 |
El Cubo | 1,477,900 | 174 | 3.40 | 7,729,800 | 130,100 | 15,535,800 |
San Sebastián | 2,376,000 | 175 | 1.66 | 13,390,600 | 126,800 | 20,998,600 |
Guadalupe y C | 154,000 | 94 | 2.14 | 464,600 | 10,600 | 1,100,600 |
Total Inferred | 7,308,150 | 173 | 1.69 | 40,611,900 | 396,320 | 64,391,100 |
Silver-Gold-Lead-Zinc Resources (as of Sept 30, 2013) | ||||||
Resources - Indicated | Tonnes | Ag g/t |
Au g/t |
Ag oz |
Au oz |
Ag oz Eq |
Parral | 1,631,000 | 49 | 0.90 | 2,589,900 | 47,200 | 5,421,900 |
Santa Cruz Mine XC-2 (Ag-Pb-Zn) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Buena Fe (Ag-Pb-Zn) | 655,000 | 166 | 0.21 | 3,495,700 | 4,400 | 3,759,700 |
Total Indicated | 2,286,000 | 83 | 0.70 | 6,085,600 | 51,600 | 9,181,600 |
Total Indicated | 2,286,000 | 83 | 0.70 | 6,085,600 | 51,600 | 9,181,600 |
Resources - Inferred | Tonnes | Ag g/t |
Au g/t |
Ag oz |
Au oz |
Ag oz Eq |
Guanaceví | 646,000 | 129 | 0.15 | 2,687,300 | 3,100 | 2,873,300 |
Parral | 1,303,000 | 63 | 0.88 | 2,658,900 | 36,900 | 4,872,900 |
Arroyo Seco | 738,000 | 220 | 0.07 | 5,220,000 | 1,700 | 5,322,000 |
Total Inferred | 2,687,000 | 122 | 0.48 | 10,566,200 | 41,700 | 13,068,200 |
Total Pb-Zn | 4,973,000 | 104 | 0.58 | 16,651,800 | 93,300 | 22,249,800 |
Grand Total | 24,158,780 | 159 | 1.46 | 123,436,000 | 1,133,720 | 191,460,200 |
Notes:
Net Smelter Return (NSR) Cut-off Parameters for the Parral Project | |
Description | Parameter |
Gold Price | US $1,000 per oz |
Silver Price | US $16 per oz |
Lead Price | US $0.65 per lb |
Zinc Price | US $0.65 per lb |
Gold Recovery (Overall) | 75% |
Silver Recovery (Overall) | 71% |
Lead Recovery (Overall) | 80% |
Zinc Recovery (Overall) | 74% |
Smelter Terms | Based on generic contract |
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