TMAC announces Q3 operating results
15 October 2019
TMAC Resources Inc. is pleased to report third quarter 2019 results for production and certain operating metrics for the underground mine and processing plant. TMAC will release its financial results on October 31, 2019 as described below.
THIRD QUARTER 2019 PRODUCTION SUMMARY
- Production: 36,290 ounces of gold produced
- Sales: 37,580 ounces of gold sold
- Mining: 1,450 tonnes per day (“tpd”), with a grade of 9.2 g/t Au
- Processing: 1,710 tpd, with a feed grade of 8.8 g/t Au, and 82% recovery
- Development metres: 2,140 metres
Jason Neal, President and Chief Executive Officer of TMAC, stated, “Both plant and mine operating performance improved quarter-over-quarter. In the third quarter we produced 36,290 ounces of gold and year-to-date 114,860 ounces. Plant recoveries improved to 82% in the third quarter, which was achieved through improving gravity concentrator utilization as we progressed through the quarter. The scavenger columns are expected to be partially online and actively treating solution tails to target additional gold recovery within days. As we gain adsorption capacity in the concentrate treatment plant through the scavenger columns we are more comfortable feeding higher grades. The processed grade in the third quarter of 8.8 g/t Au was 11% below the grade processed in the first half of the year, which was expected as the high-grade Doris Hinge material has now been fully processed and the high-grade Doris North BTD Extension, which has been a focus of development, will come online during the fourth quarter to supplement plant feed. We separately released exploration results today which included several holes from the BTD Extension, the best of which was 196.1 g/t Au over 6.8 metres. Throughput in the third quarter was in line with the second quarter, and included the impact of higher downtime for annual planned maintenance in July as is typical in the short summer months. Plant availability also included the maintenance efforts to increase the utilization of the gravity concentrators, which was achieved. Throughput in August and September averaged 1,860 tpd.”
Jason Neal continued, “Our mining rate for the third quarter was significantly higher at 1,450 tpd, which does not include the benefit of surface mining at Madrid North Naartok East crown pillar, with first ore production in October. Naartok East ore, and preferentially higher-grade material, will be processed in the fourth quarter and continue into 2020. Very importantly, we set a new quarterly record for development rates at 2,140 metres, 20% higher than the rate of the first half of the year. The mine grade in the third quarter was lower at 9.2 g/t Au given that we have now completed mining of the higher-grade Doris Hinge zone and that the largest tonnage contributor is from the lower-grade Doris Connector zone. First production tonnage from BTD Extension will, however, be a positive influence in the fourth quarter.”
Jason Neal concluded, “To deliver in the range of our full year guidance we will need to produce 45,000 ounces in the fourth quarter. This is within our capability, requiring performance at BTD Extension and BTD East Limb to deliver sufficient high-grade production ore, a positive impact from the scavenger columns in the plant to increase recovery of higher-grade material and that the plant runs at higher average throughput for the quarter given less expected downtime requirement and greater operating stability.”
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