Jun 18 2012
Santa Fe Gold Corporation is pleased to report that production levels have continued to increase at its Summit silver-gold mine in southwest New Mexico. The company anticipates the mine will reach its targeted monthly production rate of 10,000 tons beginning June 2012. Production for April and May averaged 8,262 tons per month, up 88% from the 4,400 tons mined in March. Delivery of new mining equipment including underground loaders, drills and trucks is expected to facilitate sustained mining rates. Revenues are expected to continue to increase during 2012 and 2013 as the mine reaches higher grade portions of the ore body.
“Now that we have reached the targeted mining rate, we are turning our attention to optimizing the operation. This will involve a focus on costs, material movement, power, grade control and metallurgical recoveries.”
"We are very pleased to have successfully completed ramp up to the full production rate of 10,000 tons per month, which is a significant milestone," said Pierce Carson, CEO. "At the mill, we are adding a daily shift to operate three 8-hour shifts per day, five days a week. At the mine, we are operating two 10-hour shifts, five days a week, which allows time for maintenance and is paying off in less down time for underground equipment."
Carson continued, "Now that we have reached the targeted mining rate, we are turning our attention to optimizing the operation. This will involve a focus on costs, material movement, power, grade control and metallurgical recoveries.
"We also will be re-evaluating the development plan and mining schedule for the potential to more quickly access richer portions of the ore body and to increase production levels above 10,000 tons per month."
Carson said the company also is preparing to begin shipments of its tailings waste product, which contains unrecovered precious metals, to an Arizona smelter for silica flux trials.
About Santa Fe Gold:
Santa Fe Gold is a U.S.-based mining and exploration enterprise focused on acquiring and developing gold, silver, copper and industrial mineral properties. Santa Fe controls: (i) the Summit mine and Lordsburg mill in southwestern New Mexico, which began commercial production in 2012; (ii) a substantial land position near the Lordsburg mill, comprising the core of the Lordsburg Mining District; (iii) the Ortiz gold property in north-central New Mexico; (iv) the Black Canyon mica deposit near Phoenix, Arizona; and (v) a deposit of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) in western Arizona. Santa Fe Gold intends to build a portfolio of high-quality, diversified mineral assets with an emphasis on precious metals.
To learn more about Santa Fe Gold, visit www.santafegoldcorp.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, the Company's inability to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2011 and its most recent quarterly reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and other information released by the Company and filed with the appropriate regulatory agencies. All of the Company's US public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sec.gov and its Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com, and readers are urged to review these materials.