Aurcana Reports Third Quarter Financial Results

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov 29, 2013) - Aurcana Corporation ("Aurcana" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AUN)(AUNFF) wishes to report its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013.

The Q3 2013 Earnings Webcast and Conference Call has been scheduled for 11:00am Pacific Time (2:00 pm Eastern Time) on Monday December 2, 2013. See the bottom of this press release for details.

Highlights of Third Quarter ended September 30, 2013:

  • Total silver equivalent ounces produced in Q3 2013 increased by 5% to 754,788 oz, compared to 718,063 oz in Q3 2012.

  • Total silver equivalent produced for the first 9 months of 2013 increased by 14% to 2,165,865 oz, compared to 1,899,281 oz during the same period one year ago.

  • Total Cash Cost, net of by-product credits, was $6.45 per ounce, down 17% from $7.79 in Q2 2013 and up 9% from $5.90 in Q3 2012.

  • The cash cost per milled tonne for Q3 2013 was $32.85 vs. $32.50 in Q3 2012;

  • Total Revenues for Q3 2013 were $10.4 million, down $4.6 million from $15.0 million in Q3 2012, due to a combination of lower silver prices, lower grade material mined in the development of new producing areas and higher unsold inventories at the end of the period;

  • Total Earnings from mining operations for Q3 2013 were $2.6 million and $9.9 million for the first 9 months of 2013;

  • Net loss for Q3 2013 was $15.5 million. Included in the third quarter net loss of $15.5 million, the Company recorded an impairment charge related to Shafter property, plant, equipment and mineral properties of $6,138,442 and also recorded a total of $6,813,729 for certain expenses incurred at Shafter mine during the first nine months of 2013.

The summary of the selected financial information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and the related management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, together referred to as the "Financial Statements" filed on www.sedar.com and available on www.aurcana.com. All figures are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Third Quarter Production and Operational Highlights

La Negra Mine

  • During Q3 2013 La Negra's mill averaged 2,632 tonnes per day ("tpd"), a 15% increase from 2,289 tpd averaged during Q3 2012.

  • The average silver grade during Q3 2013 was 55 grams per tonne ("g/t"), compared to 80 g/t in 2012. The decrease in silver grade during this period was due to an increase in mine development to support higher mine production rates in the future. Currently sufficient mine development has been completed at the La Negra mine to support two years of production and Aurcana will therefore reduce mine development at La Negra in the short term. La Negra's mine plan includes a transition to mining higher silver grade mineralized zones from the upper levels of the La Negra mine in 2014 and 2015.

  • Aurcana has ordered a raise-boring machine to construct ventilation raises and ore passes to provide ventilation in the new mining areas and allow for the transfer of ore via gravity from the upper levels to the main haulage level below. It is anticipated that this will increase productivity and reduce operating costs. The raise-borer is expected to be commissioned in Q2 2014.

  • The inventory of copper/silver concentrates increased to 1,705 tonnes, with commensurate reductions in metal sales and revenues. The mine and plant expansion combined with greater production from the copper-rich lower levels of La Negra resulted in higher copper concentrate production than anticipated exceeding the capacity of the existing filter press and constraining mill throughput. A new larger capacity filter press has been received and is expected to be commissioned in Q1 2014. This improvement is expected to allow for sustainable production at the targeted 3,000 tpd level.

  • During Q2 2013, the Company initiated a planned 15-hole, 5,000 metre surface drill program in order to better define gold mineralization announced on February 11, 2013. A total of 1,773 meters were drilled but gold values lacked continuity and the program was terminated.

  • Underground diamond drilling and mine development at La Negra continue to delineate additional mineralized zones. Drill crews completed 10,128 metres of diamond drilling during 2013 versus 9,399 meters for the same period one year ago. La Negra scheduled 13,500 meters of drilling for completion in 2013 versus 13,311 meters drilled in 2012. Drilling objectives are to better define mineralized zones to support short and medium term mine planning.