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Re: News Releases - Monday, January 11, 2010
Production Increases by 18%, Reaches New Record
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First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce that production in the fourth quarter ending
December 31, 2009 increased to 1,249,568 equivalent ounces of silver
representing a 15% increase over the prior quarter production and 18%
over the fourth quarter of 2008.
The equivalent silver production for the quarter consisted of 1,103,840
ounces of silver, representing an 18% increase from the prior quarter,
and 1,574,819 pounds of lead representing a 7% decrease from the
previous quarter, and 691 ounces of gold representing a decrease of 6%
compared to the previous quarter.
The ore processed during the quarter at the Company's three operating
silver mines, the La Encantada Silver Mine, the La Parrilla Silver Mine
and the San Martin Silver Mine, amounted to 251,258 tonnes milled in
the quarter representing a 17% increase over the previous quarter. The
overall average silver head grade in the quarter for the three mines
increased by 7% over the previous quarter to an overall head grade of
220 g/t of silver. The combined recoveries of silver decreased slightly
from 66% to 62%.
The Company developed 5,265 metres underground in the fourth quarter,
compared to 6,597 metres of underground development completed in the
previous quarter. The total annual underground development for 2009
totalled 21,391 metres. Development has been focused on increasing the
Reserve and Resource preparation ratios at the three operating mines.
Also, the diamond drilling programs totalled 1,031 meters of definition
drilling in the quarter, for a 2009 annual total of 7,459 metres of
drilling completed at the Company's three mines.
At the current ramp up rate underway at the La Encantada operation,
production is expected to exceed 6.0 million ounces of silver globally
in 2010 of which approximately 90% of that production will be in the
form of Dor� bars.
As a result of the efforts and work completed in 2009, some of the
improvements and advances made during the year include:
At the La Encantada Silver Mine:
* The completion and start up of the new 3,500 tpd cyanidation plant,
which was inaugurated on November 19, 2009, and which is currently
undergoing a ramp up process, expecting to reach full capacity during
the first quarter of 2010.
* The discovery of the new Buenos Aires ore body, which is being
developed and prepared for production in 2010 and beyond. The average
grades in this area of the mine are an impressive 400 g/t of silver.
At the La Parrilla Silver Mine:
* The completion of the development of the new ramps at the La
Blanca mine, connecting the lower 7 and 8 levels of the Rosarios mine
resulting in improved logistics for haulage of ore which is expected to
reduce the cost of production by improving transportation of ore from
the lower levels of the mine to surface.
* The transfer of 75% of the work force in December of 2009 from a
prior status as contractors onto the Company's payroll allowing for
potential reduction of labour costs in 2010.
At the San Martin Silver Mine:
* The discovery of the new San Pedro area on the foot wall of the
Zuloaga vein which is in the process of being developed and prepared
for production. The better grades in this newly discovered area have
been the primary reason for the increased head grades at the San Martin
mill.
* The surface exploration program defined a new La Esperanza vein
which runs parallel to the Zuloaga vein and has high anomalous samples
from 100 to 250 g/t of Ag on surface. This newly discovered vein is a
high priority target which is scheduled to be drilled in the second
half of 2010.
At the Del Toro Silver Mine:
* Drilling into the third Orebody early in 2009 confirmed the
second dimension of this structure. As announced on October 28, 2008,
Hole SSJ-08 cut 62.05 metres (203.58 ft) of 422 g/t Ag, 6.29% Pb, 6.78%
Zn & 0.74 g/t Au. This ore body remains open at depth.
* In December 2009, the Environmental Impact Statement for a new
Flotation Plant was approved by the SEMARNAT and the Change of Use of
Land Permit is expected to be received in the first quarter of 2010.
At the Real de Catorce Silver Project:
* On November 13, 2009, Normabec Mining Resources Ltd. was acquired
resulting in the ownership of a large group of properties in Mexico
including the historically famous Real de Catorce silver mine which has
a defined NI 43-101 compliant silver Resource of 47 million silver
ounces located in the Mexican State of San Luis Potosi. The Company
plans to reconfirm the geologic information and to start planning its
future activities in this very large and promising silver mining
district.
Mr. Neumeyer stated, "I am very pleased with the efforts and
accomplishments achieved by all our senior personnel and staff during
2009. The completion of the La Encantada construction was obviously a
key milestone, however, it should also be noted that production levels
at our La Parrilla and San Martin mines have been running above budget
for the past two quarters. Assuming we can maintain our current
production levels at La Parrilla and San Martin and with the increases
in production coming out of the La Encantada, 2010 is shaping up to be
a very good year for First Majestic."
First Majestic is a producing silver company focused in Mexico and is
aggressively pursuing its business plan to become a senior silver
producer through the development of its existing assets and the pursuit
through acquisition of additional assets that contribute to achieving
its corporate growth objectives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact info@firstmajestic.com, visit our
website at www.firstmajestic.com or call our toll free number
1.866.529.2807.
FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP.
"signed"
Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO
This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within
the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, included herein, including without limitation,
statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, exploration
results and future plans and objectives of First Majestic Silver Corp.
are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and
uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements.
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Copyright (c) 2010 FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. (TSX: FR) All rights
reserved. For more information visit our website at
http://www.firstmajestic.com/ or send mailto:investor@firstmajestic.com
Message sent on Mon Jan 11, 2010 at 3:04:32 PM Pacific Time
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First Majestic Silver Corp.
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PRODUCTEUR |
CODE : FR.TO |
ISIN : CA32076R1029 |
CUSIP : 32076R1029 |
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ProfilIndicateurs de MarchéVALEUR : Projets & res.Communiqués de PresseRapport annuelRISQUE : Profile actifsContactez la cie |
First Majestic est une société de production minière d'argent basée au Canada. First Majestic est productrice d'argent, d'or, de plomb et de zinc au Mexique, et détient divers projets d'exploration au Canada et au Mexique. Ses principaux projets en production sont LA PARRILLA SILVER MINE, LA ENCANTADA (FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER), SAN MARTIN et LA ENCANTADA SILVER MINE au Mexique et ses principaux projets en exploration sont REAL DE CATORCE, DEL TORO et CUITABOCA au Mexique et PITT ISLAND, PINCOURT, DOMPIERRE et DESJARDINS au Canada. First Majestic est cotée au Canada, aux Etats-Unis D'Amerique et en Allemagne. Sa capitalisation boursière aujourd'hui est 1,6 milliards CA$ (1,2 milliards US$, 1,1 milliards €). La valeur de son action a atteint son plus bas niveau récent le 02 novembre 2001 à 0,01 CA$, et son plus haut niveau récent le 17 mai 2024 à 9,99 CA$. First Majestic possède 164 340 000 actions en circulation. |