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PGD Patagonia Gold Plc

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Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Patagonia Gold Plc LSE:PGD London Ordinary Share GB00BF5B8R55 ORD 1P
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  0.00 0.00% 31.00 0.00 01:00:00
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Patagonia Gold PLC Cap-Oeste Project Operations Update (6467S)

23/12/2016 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMPGD

RNS Number : 6467S

Patagonia Gold PLC

23 December 2016

23 December 2016

Patagonia Gold Plc

("Patagonia Gold" or the "Company")

Cap-Oeste Project Operations Update

Patagonia Gold Plc, the mining company with gold and silver projects in the southern Patagonia region of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, is pleased to provide an update on its open pit mine and heap leach processing facility at Cap-Oeste (the "Project").

Highlights

   --        Completed updated pit optimisation and resource update for Cap-Oeste 
   -   forecast total production from Cap-Oeste increased from 82,000 oz AuEq to 186,800 oz AuEq 
   -   mine life extended from 2 years to 3 years of open pit to July 2019 

-- Cap-Oeste guidance for 2016 reduced to 3,000 oz AuEq after slower than anticipated initial leaching and percolation issues, 2017 guidance set at 69,800 oz AuEq

- installation of agglomeration circuit to improve recovery rates underway with engineering advancing well and major items ordered

-- Review of COSE suggests ability to extend the life of the Cap-Oeste heap leach pad by an additional 19 months using ore from the COSE underground mine

   -   further work being undertaken in this regard 

-- RC drilling programme completed at Monte Leon to investigate the potential to add further oxide ore to the heap leach pad at Cap-Oeste

Cap-Oeste operations

Mining operations at Cap-Oeste are progressing as scheduled with November being a record month with the Company mining, for the first time, in excess of 500,000t of total material, including 114,000t of ore at an average grade of 1.58g/t Au and 25g/t Ag being loaded onto the Cap-Oeste heap leach pad (the "Cap-Oeste Pad") and placed under irrigation.

However, gold and silver recovery from the Cap-Oeste Pad to date has been lower than expected, as a result of complications with the recovery process due to lack of percolation of the leaching solution due to a high clay content in the upper sections of the Cap-Oeste orebody. As a result, the Company proposes to install a 500 tonnes per hour agglomeration circuit, in order to seek to improve recovery rates from the Cap-Oeste ore. Agglomeration, with an extremely low dosage of cyanide solution and cement, helps to keep the leaching solution percolating freely and the Company believes that this will increase the overall recovery to the initial forecast recovery of 80% for Au and 40% for Ag.

The agglomeration circuit, including a higher capacity primary impact crusher and conveyor system, has been engineered and all major items have been ordered and are expected to be installed during Q1 2017 at a total cost of approximately US$3.6 million, which will be funded from supplier and debt financing.

Cap-Oeste pit optimisation and update resource

An updated pit optimisation for Cap-Oeste has been completed by Kenmore Consulting in conjunction with a cash cost review and pit resource update for Cap-Oeste completed by CUBE Consulting.

The pit optimisation was carried out at a price of US$1,300/oz Au and US$20/oz Ag and has resulted in an increase in the current pit life for Cap-Oeste from 2 to 3 years, with the pit now forecast for completion in Q3 2019 with a total ore production of 2.03Mt @ 2.99g/t Au and 138g/t Ag for a total recoverable estimated production of 136,000 oz of Au and 3.2Moz of Ag, equating to 186,800 oz AuEq. Pursuant to the pit optimisation, the proposal is to increase the size of the pit to mine the ore previously delineated for the Cap-Oeste underground pit, resulting in the overall material to be moved over the life of the mine increasing from 7.2Mt to 25.2Mt, which will also increase the strip ratio from 3.7 to 11.44 and the ore being mined increasing from 1.55Mt to 2.03Mt. In order to mine the increased material, additional fleet will be required to increase the monthly production with one excavator and two fixed body dump trucks and one additional blast hole drill required at an estimated cost of approximately US$2.5 million, which the Company anticipates funding from supplier and debt financing.

The resource update includes the recently drilled 98 grade control RC holes and was utilised for the short term planning. Set out below is the updated JORC code compliant resource for Cap-Oeste, which shows a slight reduction in the indicated and inferred categories due to increased drill density and re-interpretation of the mineralised envelope.

Table 1: JORC Code Compliant Gross Resource for Cap-Oeste - December 2016

 
                                        GROSS RESOURCE FOR CAP-OESTE 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 Resource     Ore 
  Category     type            Tonnes             Grade (g/t)                         Metal (oz) 
-----------  -----------  -----------  --------------------------------  ----------------------------------- 
                                        Au LUC/OK   Ag LUC/OK   AuEq(1)          Au           Ag     AuEq(1) 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
 Measured     Oxide           769,987        1.52       37.87      2.07      37,708      937,564      51,296 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  COSE(2)                      23,233        4.01      177.11      6.57       2,993      132,294       4,910 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  Fresh(3)                     32,406        3.27       63.86      4.19       3,406       66,538       4,371 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  Sub-Total                   825,626        1.66       42.81      2.28      44,107    1,136,396      60,577 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Indicated    Oxide         2,993,697         1.2        39.7      1.77     115,047    3,821,524     170,429 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  COSE(2)                     548,919        5.19       227.1      8.48      91,603    4,007,874     149,688 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  Fresh(3)                  8,850,122        2.15       56.27      2.97     612,468   16,011,300     844,509 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  Sub-Total                12,392,738        2.06       59.84      2.92     819,118   23,840,698   1,164,626 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Inferred     Oxide           800,050        0.58       18.51      0.85      14,942      476,146      21,843 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  COSE(2)                     160,479        0.63       21.86      0.95       3,263      112,776       4,897 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  Fresh(3)                  4,492,004         1.5       31.57      1.96     216,849    4,559,323     282,921 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
  Sub-Total                 5,452,533        1.34       29.37      1.77     235,054    5,148,246     309,662 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 TOTAL                     18,670,897        1.83       50.19      2.56   1,098,278   30,125,339   1,534,865 
------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  ----------  -----------  ---------- 
 

Table 2: JORC Code Compliant Net Resource for Cap-Oeste Attributable to the Company- December 2016

 
                                    NET ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY(4) 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Resource     Ore 
  Category     type            Tonnes             Grade (g/t)                        Metal (oz) 
-----------  -----------  -----------  --------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
                                        Au LUC/OK   Ag LUC/OK   AuEq(1)        Au           Ag     AuEq(1) 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
 Measured     Oxide           692,988        1.52       37.87      2.07    33,937      843,808      46,166 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  COSE(2)                      20,910        4.01      177.11      6.57     2,694      119,065       4,419 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  Fresh(3)                     29,165        3.27       63.86      4.19     3,065       59,884       3,934 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  Sub-Total                   743,063        1.66       42.81      2.28    39,696    1,022,756      54,519 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Indicated    Oxide         2,694,327         1.2        39.7      1.77   103,542    3,439,372     153,386 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  COSE(2)                     494,027        5.19       227.1      8.48    82,443    3,607,087     134,719 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  Fresh(3)                  7,965,110        2.15       56.27      2.97   551,221   14,410,170     760,058 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  Sub-Total                11,153,464        2.06       59.84      2.92   737,206   21,456,628   1,048,163 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 Inferred     Oxide           720,045        0.58       18.51      0.85    13,448      428,531      19,659 
-----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  COSE(2)                     144,431        0.63       21.86      0.95     2,937      101,498       4,407 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  Fresh(3)                  4,042,804         1.5       31.57      1.96   195,164    4,103,391     254,629 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
  Sub-Total                 4,907,280        1.34       29.37      1.77   211,549    4,633,421     278,695 
 -----------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 TOTAL                     16,803,807        1.83       50.19      2.56   988,451   27,112,805   1,381,378 
------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------- 
 

Notes:

   (1)        AuEq values are calculated at a ratio of 68:1 Ag to Au 
   (2)        COSE style mineralisation with free milling cyanide recoverable Au and Ag 
   (3)        Fresh refractory sulphide mineralisation 

(4) Cap-Oeste is 100% owned by Patagonia Gold S.A. ("PGSA"), which is the operator of Cap-Oeste. The Company is interested in 90% of PGSA, with the remaining 10% being held by Santa Cruz government's wholly-owned mining company, Fomento Minero de Santa Cruz Sociedad del Estado. The net attributable resource, shows the 90% of the Cap-Oeste resource which is attributable to the Company

Cap-Oeste production

As a result of the lower than expected recoveries to date, the proposed installation of the agglomeration circuit in Q1 2017 and the extension of the Cap-Oeste mine life, forecast production for 2016 from Cap-Oeste has been lowered to 3,000 oz AuEq and 69,800 oz AuEq, 46,000 oz AuEq and 68,000 oz AuEq in each of 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.

COSE

The current scheduled mine life for the COSE underground mine is 30 months, including 11 months of pre-production development, with a total of 104kt of ore to be mined at an average grade of 14.85g/t Au and 775.4g/t Ag for a contained 87.5 koz AuEq. Accordingly, subject to the development of the COSE underground mine, it is proposed that the ore will be treated by the Cap-Oeste Pad and agglomeration circuit, thereby extending the life of the pad by around 19 months.

Monte Leon

The Company has now received the assay results from its 2,878 metres, 60 holes RC drilling undertaken at the Monte Leon prospect, which is approximately 13 kilometres from the Cap-Oeste Pad, to seek to delineate oxide gold mineralisation that may be scheduled into the Cap-Oeste heap-leach operation after the Cap-Oeste open pit reserves have been depleted.

The drilling has defined three apparent NNW striking corridors of low grade mineralisation, with the central corridor having a strike length of approximately 400 metres. All significant assays of greater than 0.50 ppm Au are summarised below.

 
                Depth 
                 from        Depth      Length 
 Hole ID       metres    to metres    (metres)   Au (ppm) 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-047-R        2.0         20.0        18.0       0.70 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-048-R       10.0         14.0         4.0       0.89 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-048-R       38.0         40.0         2.0       0.73 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-049-R        4.0         16.0        12.0       1.61 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-050-R       36.0         38.0         2.0       0.53 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-052-R       30.0         36.0         6.0       0.64 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-053-R       34.0         42.0         8.0       0.81 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-054-R       38.0         46.0         8.0       1.13 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-055-R        2.0         14.0        12.0       1.37 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-056-R        4.0         32.0        28.0       1.04 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 including       14.0         30.0        16.0       1.28 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-057-R       42.0         52.0        10.0       1.09 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-058-R       40.0         42.0         2.0       1.15 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-059-R       20.0         50.0        30.0       0.97 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-060-R        4.0          6.0         2.0       1.03 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 and             12.0         16.0         4.0       0.98 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-060-R       36.0         40.0         4.0       0.64 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-061-R       34.0         64.0        30.0       1.53 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-062-R       20.0         24.0         4.0       0.55 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-063-R        4.0         22.0        18.0       1.12 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-064-R        6.0         12.0         6.0       1.29 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 and             28.0         44.0        16.0       0.66 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-065-R        2.0         18.0        16.0       0.61 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-066-R       38.0         58.0        20.0       0.62 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-067-r       18.0         26.0         8.0       0.78 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-068-R       28.0         30.0         2.0       1.36 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-069-R       10.0         16.0         6.0       0.80 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 and             26.0         38.0        12.0       1.57 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-070-R       50.0         60.0        10.0       0.62 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-072-R       38.0         42.0         4.0       1.22 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-073-R       48.0         52.0         4.0       1.38 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-074-R        6.0         18.0        12.0       0.98 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-075-R       24.0         28.0         4.0       0.71 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-077-R        2.0          4.0         2.0      49.25 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 and             18.0         22.0         4.0       0.55 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-079-R       28.0         30.0         2.0       1.00 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 and             42.0         44.0         2.0       1.16 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-081-R       16.0         22.0         6.0       2.43 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 and             28.0         46.0        18.0       0.82 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-082-R       12.0         46.0        34.0       1.22 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 including       34.0         46.0        12.0       2.03 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-083-R       20.0         40.0        20.0       0.60 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-084-R        2.0         14.0        12.0       0.56 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-085-R        2.0         10.0         8.0       0.73 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-090-R        8.0         18.0        10.0       0.70 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 MLN-091-R        6.0         12.0         6.0       1.23 
-----------  --------  -----------  ----------  --------- 
 

An internal resource evaluation and pit design is underway and subject to a positive cashflow outcome, the Mt Leon material may become a source of additional heap leach feed for the Cap-Oeste Pad. Based on the initial results and analysis, the Company believes the potential exits for between 20,000 and 25,000 oz Au contained in near surface low grade oxide hosted material, updates will be provided as results become available.

Glossary of technical terms

 
 Ag                  the chemical symbol for Silver 
 Au                  the chemical symbol for Gold 
 AuEq                gold equivalent, taking into account 
                      the amount of AG, calculated at a ratio 
                      of 68:1 Ag to Au 
 g/t                 grammes per tonne 
 Indicated           that part of a Mineral Resource for 
  Resource            which quantity, grade or quality, densities, 
                      shape and physical characteristics 
                      are estimated with sufficient confidence 
                      to allow the application of modifying 
                      factors in sufficient detail to support 
                      mine planning and evaluation of the 
                      economic viability of the deposit. 
                      Geological evidence is derived from 
                      adequately detailed and reliable exploration, 
                      sampling and testing and is sufficient 
                      to assume geological and grade or quality 
                      continuity between points of observation 
 Inferred Resource   that part of a Mineral Resource for 
                      which quantity and grade or quality 
                      are estimated on the basis of limited 
                      geological evidence and sampling. Geological 
                      evidence is sufficient to imply but 
                      not verify geological and grade or 
                      quality continuity 
 JORC                the Joint Ore Reserves Committee: The 
                      Australasian Code for Reporting of 
                      Exploration Results, Mineral Resources 
                      and Ore Reserves, as published by the 
                      Joint Ore Reserves Committee of The 
                      Australasian Institute of Mining and 
                      Metallurgy, Australian Institute of 
                      Geoscientists and Minerals Council 
                      of Australia 
 koz                 thousand ounces 
 kt                  thousand tonnes 
 LUK/OK              Localised uniform conditioning/Ordinary 
                      Kriging 
 Measured Resource   that part of a Mineral Resource for 
                      which quantity, grade or quality, densities, 
                      shape, and physical characteristics 
                      are estimated with confidence sufficient 
                      to allow the application of modifying 
                      factors to support detailed mine planning 
                      and final evaluation of the economic 
                      viability of the deposit. Geological 
                      evidence is derived from detailed and 
                      reliable exploration, sampling and 
                      testing and is sufficient to confirm 
                      geological and grade or quality continuity 
                      between points of observation where 
                      data and samples are gathered 
 Mineral Resource    a concentration or occurrence of solid 
                      material of economic interest in or 
                      on the Earth's crust in such form, 
                      grade or quality and quantity that 
                      there are reasonable prospects for 
                      eventual economic extraction. The location, 
                      quantity, grade or quality, continuity 
                      and other geological characteristics 
                      of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated 
                      or interpreted from specific geological 
                      evidence and knowledge, including sampling 
 Moz                 million ounces 
 Mt                  million tonnes 
 oz                  ounces 
 ppm                 parts per million 
 RC                  reverse circulation 
 t                   tonnes 
 

Ends

About Patagonia Gold

Patagonia Gold Plc is a mining company that seeks to grow shareholder value through exploration, development and production of gold and silver projects in the southern Patagonia region of Argentina. The Company is primarily focused on three projects: the flagship Cap-Oeste/COSE project, the La Manchuria project and the Lomada heap leach project. Patagonia Gold, indirectly through its subsidiaries or under option agreements, has mineral rights to over 220 properties in several provinces of Argentina and Chile, and is one of the largest landholders in the province of Santa Cruz.

Matthew Boyes, (BSC. Geology, Fellow AusIMM) Chief Operating Officer for Patagonia Gold Plc and a qualified person as defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified all scientific or technical mining disclosure contained in this announcement.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher van Tienhoven, Chief Executive Officer

Patagonia Gold Plc

Tel: +54 911 5278 6950

Richard Tulloch / Ritchie Balmer

Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7409 3494

This announcement contains inside information.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

MSCFEFFLEFMSEIE

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 23, 2016 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

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