Gammon Reports First Quarter 2010 Consolidated Production Results
By Gammon Gold Inc., PRNESunday, April 11, 2010
HALIFAX, Canada, April 12, 2010 - Gammon Gold Inc. ("Gammon") (TSX:GAM and NYSE:GRS): Gammon is pleased
to provide preliminary first quarter results. All figures reported are in U
.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
First Quarter Key Operational Highlights ---------------------------------------- - For the first quarter the Company reports gold production of 28,431 ounces and silver production of 1,284,071 ounces. Using the Company's long-term gold-to-silver ratio of 55:1, gold equivalent production was 51,778 ounces. - Using the Company's long-term gold-to-silver ratio of 55:1, total cash costs per gold equivalent ounce in the first quarter are expected to be between $488 and $498. Alternatively, utilizing our operation's silver revenues as a by-product cost credit, first quarter cash costs per gold ounce are expected to be between $122 and $140. - As previously disclosed, the Company's metal production and cash cost structure in the quarter were impacted by two Ocampo specific challenges, namely: - During the first quarter, while mining the Ocampo Picacho open pit, larger than anticipated voids were encountered from historical mining activities in the area. This resulted in reduced ore tonnages and reduced grades being directed to the mill and heap leach facilities for processing. After reviewing historical records and infill drilling results to date, the Company is confident that no further material voids will be encountered. - Two of the five replacement cyclones for the Phase III mill expansion at Ocampo were installed by the end of December with the remaining three installed at the end of March. In late March and into early April, the operations team began to see milling tonnage improvements as daily tonnages were ramped up towards the targeted levels of between 3,300-3,400 tonnes per day. Prior to the installation of the final three cyclones, the maximum daily capacity of the mill was restricted to approximately 3,000 tonnes per day with silver recoveries reduced by approximately 5%.
"As we previously disclosed, we encountered some operational
challenges specific to the first quarter that our operating team has
largely addressed. This positions our operations for consistent production
growth in the coming quarters", stated Rene Marion, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Gammon Gold. He continued, "The Company begins the
year in a strong financial position and we continue to realize strong cash
flow margins that together with our expanded $26 to $30 million exploration
program, will best position the Company's assets to deliver on their long-
term potential".
First Quarter 2010 Production Highlights ----------------------------------------- (all amounts are in U.S. dollars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ocampo El Cubo Consolidated Three Months March March March March March March Ended 31/10 31/09 31/10 31/09 31/10 31/09 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold ounces produced 21,855 28,356 6,576 8,473 28,431 36,829 Silver ounces produced 960,817 989,038 323,254 362,262 1,284,071 1,351,300 Gold equivalent ounces produced (Reali- zed) 36,546 41,997 11,515 13,483 48,061 55,480 Gold ounces sold 22,406 25,826 6,650 8,609 29,056 34,435 Silver ounces sold 1,020,204 902,058 319,454 369,696 1,339,658 1,271,754 Gold equivalent ounces sold (Reali- zed) 37,861 38,285 11,531 13,720 49,392 52,005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total cash costs per gold equivalent ounce (x) $453-$463 $427 $772-$782 $525 $528-$538 $455 Total cash costs per gold ounce (x) $2-$19 $196 $525-$542 $295 $122-$140 $221 Gold to Silver Ratio 66 72 65 71 66 72 Realized Gold Price $1,107 $909 $1,109 $894 $1,107 $903 Realized Silver Price $16.77 $12.58 $16.94 $12.57 $16.81 $12.63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold equivalent ounces produced (55:1) (xx) 39,325 46,338 12,453 15,060 51,778 61,398 Total cash costs per gold equivalent ounce (55:1) (xx) $419-$428 $390 $715-$724 $470 $488-$498 $411 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (x) Cash costs for the three-month period of 2010 have not been finalized and are subject to adjustment (xx) Comparative performance metrics using the Company's long term gold equivalency guidance ratio (55:1)
About Gammon Gold
Gammon Gold Inc. is a mid-tier gold and silver producer with
properties in Mexico. The Company's flagship Ocampo Project in Chihuahua
State achieved commercial production in January 2007. Gammon Gold also
operates its El Cubo operation in Guanajuato State and has the promising
Guadalupe y Calvo development property in Chihuahua State. The Company
recently completed a purchase option agreement to acquire the Mezquite
Project in Zacatecas State, Mexico. The Company is based in Halifax, Nova
Scotia with an Executive Office in Toronto, Ontario.
Cautionary Statement
Cautionary Note to US Investors - The United States Securities and
Exchange Commission permits US mining companies, in their filings with the
SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can
economically and legally extract or produce. This press release uses
certain terms, such as "measured," "indicated," and "inferred" "resources,"
that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit US registered companies from
including in their filings with the SEC. US Investors are urged to consider
closely the disclosure in Gammon Gold's Annual Report on Form 40-F, which
may be secured from Gammon Gold, or from the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority
has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Certain statements included herein, including information as to the
future financial or operating performance of the Company, its subsidiaries
and its projects, constitute forward-looking statements. The words
''believe'', ''expect'', ''anticipate'', ''contemplate'', ''target'',
''plan'', ''intends'', ''continue'', ''budget'', ''estimate'', "forecast",
''may'', ''will'', ''schedule'' and similar expressions identify forward-
looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things,
statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of gold
and silver production and prices, operating costs, results and capital
expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated grades
, recovery rates, future financial or operating performance, margins,
operating and exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development
of new deposits, costs and timing of construction, costs and timing of
future exploration and reclamation expenses including, anticipated 2009 and
2010 results, operating performance projections for 2009 and 2010, our
ability to fully fund our business model internally, 2009 and 2010 gold and
silver production and the cash and operating costs associated therewith,
the ability to achieve productivity and operational efficiencies, further
reduction in the open pit stripping ratio and the timing of each thereof.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates
and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive,
political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on
behalf of, the Company. Such factors include, among others, known and
unknown uncertainties and risks relating to additional funding requirements
, reserve and resource estimates, commodity prices, hedging activities,
exploration, development and operating risks, illegal miners, political and
foreign risk, uninsurable risks, competition, limited mining operations,
production risks, environmental regulation and liability, government
regulation, currency fluctuations, recent losses and write-downs,
restrictions in the Company's loan facility, dependence on key employees,
possible variations of ore grade or recovery rates, failure of plant,
equipment or process to operate as anticipated, accidents and labour
disputes. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, investors are cautioned
not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent
uncertainty therein.
For further information: please visit the Gammon Gold website at
www.gammongold.com or contact: Rene Marion, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Gammon Gold Inc., +1-(416)-646-3825; Anne Day, Director of
Investor Relations, Gammon Gold Inc., +1-(902)-468-0614/ (GAM. GRS)
For further information: please visit the Gammon Gold website at www.gammongold.com or contact: Rene Marion, President and Chief Executive Officer, Gammon Gold Inc., +1-(416)-646-3825; Anne Day, Director of Investor Relations, Gammon Gold Inc., +1-(902)-468-0614/ (GAM. GRS)
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