Coeur Provides Exploration Update
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Coeur Mining, Inc. (“Coeur” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CDE) today reported an update on its 2021 exploration programs at its Palmarejo and Kensington operations, following its update on February 17, 2021. The Company also highlighted new drilling results at its Silvertip and Wharf mines. Coeur drilled approximately 698,100 feet (212,775 meters) from 27 active rigs at six different locations through the first seven months of 2021, reflecting a year-over-year increase of roughly 58%. The Company plans to invest approximately $75 million1 in exploration this year, nearly 50% higher than last year’s record exploration investment, representing one of the sector’s largest exploration programs.
Key Highlights2,3
Hidalgo zone (Independencia deposit) – Infill
North Independencia (Independencia deposit) – Infill
Hidalgo zone (Independencia deposit) – Expansion
La Patria zone (Guadalupe deposit) – Infill
Elmira – Infill & Expansion
Johnson – Expansion
“Our 2021 exploration program accelerated during the summer months with 27 rigs active across six sites,” said Hans J. Rasmussen, Coeur’s Senior Vice President of Exploration. “We remain on-track to deliver the largest exploration campaign in Company history and are regularly setting new monthly drilling records. We expect to complete roughly 1.2 million feet (365,750 meters) of drilling by the end of the year, with the primary objective of further extending mine lives across our portfolio. These goals, along with our track record of consistently growing our reserve and resource base through the drill bit, are true differentiators for Coeur. Assays from both Palmarejo and Silvertip continue to demonstrate significant growth potential, further validating our commitment to a higher-level of exploration investment at each site. The Hidalgo zone at Palmarejo represents the most significant near-mine opportunity since our focused exploration program began in 2012.”
Mr. Rasmussen continued, “Assay and drill thicknesses from the southern portion of Silvertip continue to exceed our expectations, specifically from the Southern Silver and Camp Creek zones. Additionally, airborne geophysical models suggest that these zones may continue another mile and a quarter (two kilometers) from our current drilling positions. Positive results like these, along with continued exploration success at Kensington and Wharf, give us confidence that we are making progress toward achieving our 2021 exploration objectives.”
For a complete table of all drill results, please refer to the following link: https://www.coeur.com/_resources/news/2021-09-09-Exploration-Update.pdf. Please see the “Cautionary Statements” section for additional information regarding drill results.
Palmarejo2,3
Coeur has drilled a total of approximately 149,200 feet (45,475 meters) from up to eight diamond core rigs across six different zones (three infill targets and three expansion targets) through the first seven months of 2021, compared to roughly 118,600 feet (36,150 meters) during the same period in 2020.
Key highlights from the 2021 exploration program include:
Hidalgo zone (Independencia deposit)
La Patria zone (Guadalupe deposit)
North Independencia zone (Independencia deposit)
Guazapares district (greenfields exploration)
Coeur plans to transition its focus on various resource expansion targets in the remainder of 2021, while also continuing the infill program at the Independencia North, Hidalgo and La Patria zones. The Company’s priority targets for expansion drilling during the remainder of the year include (i) expanding the Hidalgo zone northwest towards the haul road, (ii) extending the North Independencia zone, (iii) drilling the southeast extension of the La Patria zone, (iv) scout drilling of the El Ojito zone, located in the northeastern portion of the Independencia deposit and subparallel to the Hidalgo zone, and (v) testing the new Carmela target located to the east within the Guazapares district.
Palmarejo 2021 Production & Exploration Guidance and Year-End 2020 Reserves and Resources:
Kensington2,3
The 2021 Kensington exploration program started with two underground core rigs focused on infill drilling along the Elmira and Jualin vein structures. A limited number of expansion holes were also drilled into Johnson, located about 500 feet (150 meters) east of Elmira. Early in the third quarter, the Company ramped up to five core rigs, including three underground and two surface core rigs. Through the first seven months of 2021, Coeur drilled approximately 86,600 feet (26,395 meters) at Kensington compared to roughly 88,900 feet (27,100 meters) during the same period in 2020.
Elmira and the development drift established in late 2020 represent potential areas of future mining at Kensington. The Company plans to continue drilling these areas while focusing on refining the vein shapes through 2022. Coeur expects to declare a maiden reserve for Elmira at the end of the year with the goal of mining the deposit beginning in early 2023.
Additionally, Coeur has drilled the Johnson vein structure from the same platforms it used to test Elmira. The Company has completed approximately 23 holes into Johnson since the beginning of the year. Resource shapes for the new intercepts are still in the earliest phase of interpretation. Johnson also outcrops on surface where it has returned strong gold assays, representing about 1,000 feet (300 meters) of vertical dip length.
For the remainder of 2021, Coeur plans to (i) prioritize infill drilling at upper Kensington Zone 30, (ii) continue infill and expansion drilling around the edges of Elmira, (iii) conduct surface expansion drilling at upper Raven and Johnson, and (iv) execute helicopter-supported step-out drilling at the Comet, Big Lake and Gold King targets.
Kensington 2021 Production & Exploration Guidance and Year-End 2020 Reserves and Resources:
Silvertip2,3
Coeur began the year drilling Silvertip with five surface rigs and one underground core rig focused on resource expansion, while also conducting infill drilling on select areas of the deposit to convert existing resources to reserves. Through first seven months of 2021, Coeur drilled approximately 199,900 feet (60,950 meters) at Silvertip compared to roughly 88,300 feet (26,925 meters) during the same period in 2020.
The Company’s news release on June 15, 2021 highlighted the discovery of the new Southern Silver zone, located adjacent to and enveloping the historic 65 zone manto mineralization. At that time, the new zone was interpreted to be primarily a series of vertically oriented breccia material with encouraging thicknesses and grades. Based on the positive results, the Company continued to advance underground development to support additional drilling in the area, which is now underway.
Recent drilling has encountered flat-lying, manto-style mineralization with meaningful thicknesses, highlighting the potential to grow resource tonnage with additional drilling. These results suggest that the ore body in the zone consists of both vertical- and flat-lying manto-style mineralization. Notably, this new interpretation may apply to other zones at Silvertip that have not yet had the benefit of underground drilling to test for both vertical- and flat-lying mineralization which could lead to higher angle structures that support additional resource tonnage.
Furthermore, the latest drill core is beginning to demonstrate that the mineralization within the Southern Silver zone continues to the southwest, south and southeast, connecting with the Camp Creek, Tour Ridge and Discovery zones, respectively.
Silvertip 2021 Exploration Guidance and Year-End 2020 Reserves and Resources:
Wharf2,3
In early 2021, Coeur initiated the largest drilling campaign at Wharf since it acquired the operation in 2015. The Company plans to invest approximately $5 million1 on exploration at Wharf this year – roughly the same amount spent cumulatively since acquisition5. Through the first seven months of 2021, Coeur drilled approximately 85,800 feet (26,175 meters) at Wharf compared to roughly 10,600 feet (3,225 meters) during the same period in 2020.
The Company has essentially achieved its target drill footage for the year, efficiently reaching its goal approximately 30% under budget. Building on this momentum, Coeur plans to keep one active rig turning at Wharf for the rest of the year.
Coeur is targeting oxide-gold hosted in the Deadwood Formation. The team has received about half the outstanding drill assays with roughly 40% of the holes returning results above resource grade thickness cutoff. Based on information received thus far, the Company expects to incorporate these results into its year-end 2021 resource model.
Wharf 2021 Production & Exploration Guidance and Year-End 2020 Reserves and Resources:
About Coeur
Coeur Mining, Inc. is a U.S.-based, well-diversified, growing precious metals producer with five wholly-owned operations: the Palmarejo gold-silver complex in Mexico, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, the Kensington gold mine in Alaska, the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota, and the Silvertip silver-zinc-lead mine in British Columbia. In addition, the Company has interests in several precious metals exploration projects throughout North America.
Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding exploration efforts and plans, exploration expenditures, drill results, growth, extended mine lives, grade, thickness, investments, mine expansion and development plans, resource delineation, expansion, upgrade or conversion. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Coeur’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk that anticipated additions or upgrades to reserves and resources are not attained, the risk that planned drilling programs may be curtailed or canceled due to budget constraints or other reasons, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in developing large-scale mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), changes in the market prices of gold, silver, zinc and lead and a sustained lower price environment, the uncertainties inherent in Coeur’s production, exploratory and developmental activities, including risks relating to permitting and regulatory delays (including the impact of government shutdowns), ground conditions, grade variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages, the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts to the availability of our workforce, continued access to financing sources, government orders that may require temporary suspension of operations at one or more of our sites and effects on our suppliers or the refiners and smelters to whom the Company markets its production, changes that could result from Coeur’s future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, the loss of any third-party smelter to which Coeur markets its production, the effects of environmental and other governmental regulations, the risks inherent in the ownership or operation of or investment in mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, Coeur’s ability to raise additional financing necessary to conduct its business, make payments or refinance its debt, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian securities regulators, including, without limitation, Coeur’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities.
Christopher Pascoe, Coeur’s Director, Technical Services and a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, approved the scientific and technical information concerning Coeur’s mineral projects in this news release. For a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources, as well as data verification procedures and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors, Canadian investors should refer to the Technical Reports for each of Coeur’s properties as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Notes
The potential quantity and grade for the deposits described herein are conceptual in nature. There is insufficient exploratory work to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the applicable target being delineated as a mineral resource.
2020 Year-End Proven and Probable Reserves
| Grade | Contained | ||||||||
| Gold | Silver | Zinc | Lead | Gold | Silver | Zinc | Lead | ||
| Short tons | (oz/t) | (oz/t) | (%) | (%) | (oz) | (oz) | (lbs) | (lbs) | |
| PROVEN RESERVES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
4,040,000 |
0.067 |
4.29 |
– |
– |
270,000 |
17,344,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
396,867,000 |
0.003 |
0.41 |
– |
– |
1,047,000 |
162,645,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
814,000 |
0.195 |
– |
– |
– |
159,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
19,181,000 |
0.024 |
– |
– |
– |
462,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
186,000 |
– |
12.01 |
10.14% |
8.53% |
– |
2,233,000 |
37,647,000 |
31,656,000 |
| Total |
421,088,000 |
0.005 |
0.43 |
1,938,000 |
182,222,000 |
37,647,000 |
31,656,000 |
||
| PROBABLE RESERVES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
11,297,000 |
0.051 |
3.72 |
– |
– |
579,000 |
42,057,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
62,554,000 |
0.003 |
0.37 |
– |
– |
172,000 |
22,863,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
862,000 |
0.200 |
– |
– |
– |
172,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
9,186,000 |
0.028 |
– |
– |
– |
258,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
1,618,000 |
– |
7.67 |
7.98% |
4.99% |
– |
12,403,000 |
258,418,000 |
161,569,000 |
| Total |
85,518,000 |
0.014 |
0.90 |
1,181,000 |
77,323,000 |
258,418,000 |
161,569,000 |
||
| PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
15,337,000 |
0.055 |
3.87 |
– |
– |
849,000 |
59,400,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
459,421,000 |
0.003 |
0.40 |
– |
– |
1,219,000 |
185,508,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
1,676,000 |
0.197 |
– |
– |
– |
331,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
28,367,000 |
0.025 |
– |
– |
– |
720,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
1,804,000 |
– |
8.11 |
8.21% |
5.36% |
– |
14,636,000 |
296,065,000 |
193,225,000 |
| Total |
506,606,000 |
0.006 |
0.51 |
3,119,000 |
259,545,000 |
296,065,000 |
193,225,000 |
||
2020 Year-End Measured and Indicated Resources
| Grade | Contained | ||||||||
| Gold | Silver | Zinc | Lead | Gold | Silver | Zinc | Lead | ||
| Short tons | (oz/t) | (oz/t) | (%) | (%) | (oz) | (oz) | (lbs) | (lbs) | |
| MEASURED RESOURCES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
1,840,000 |
0.052 |
3.67 |
– |
– |
95,000 |
6,746,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
240,568,000 |
0.002 |
0.24 |
– |
– |
388,000 |
57,160,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
2,390,000 |
0.233 |
– |
– |
– |
556,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
12,992,000 |
0.019 |
– |
– |
– |
245,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
138,000 |
– |
11.17 |
9.83% |
7.88% |
– |
1,541,000 |
27,050,000 |
21,670,000 |
| Lincoln Hill |
4,642,000 |
0.012 |
0.34 |
– |
– |
58,000 |
1,592,000 |
– |
– |
| La Preciosa |
9,536,000 |
0.005 |
3.04 |
– |
– |
45,000 |
29,001,000 |
– |
– |
| Total |
272,106,000 |
0.005 |
0.35 |
1,387,000 |
96,040,000 |
27,050,000 |
21,670,000 |
||
| INDICATED RESOURCES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
11,591,000 |
0.045 |
3.83 |
– |
– |
518,000 |
44,398,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
57,452,000 |
0.002 |
0.25 |
– |
– |
102,000 |
14,207,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
1,204,000 |
0.228 |
– |
– |
– |
274,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
12,717,000 |
0.028 |
– |
– |
– |
360,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
2,206,000 |
– |
7.20 |
9.41% |
4.41% |
– |
15,892,000 |
415,000,000 |
194,780,000 |
| Lincoln Hill |
27,668,000 |
0.011 |
0.31 |
– |
– |
306,000 |
8,655,000 |
– |
– |
| La Preciosa |
19,141,000 |
0.006 |
3.98 |
– |
– |
118,000 |
76,185,000 |
– |
– |
| Total |
131,979,000 |
0.013 |
1.21 |
1,678,000 |
159,337,000 |
415,000,000 |
194,780,000 |
||
| MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
13,431,000 |
0.046 |
3.81 |
– |
– |
613,000 |
51,144,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
298,020,000 |
0.002 |
0.24 |
– |
– |
489,000 |
71,368,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
3,594,000 |
0.231 |
– |
– |
– |
830,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
25,710,000 |
0.024 |
– |
– |
– |
605,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
2,344,000 |
– |
7.44 |
9.43% |
4.62% |
– |
17,433,000 |
442,050,000 |
216,450,000 |
| Lincoln Hill |
32,310,000 |
0.011 |
0.32 |
– |
– |
364,000 |
10,247,000 |
– |
– |
| La Preciosa |
28,677,000 |
0.006 |
3.67 |
– |
– |
163,000 |
105,186,000 |
– |
– |
| Total |
404,086,000 |
0.008 |
0.63 |
3,064,000 |
255,377,000 |
442,050,000 |
216,450,000 |
||
2020 Year-End Inferred Resources
| Grade | Contained | ||||||||
| Gold | Silver | Zinc | Lead | Gold | Silver | Zinc | Lead | ||
| Short tons | (oz/t) | (oz/t) | (%) | (%) | (oz) | (oz) | (lbs) | (lbs) | |
| INFERRED RESOURCES | |||||||||
| Palmarejo |
4,345,000 |
0.064 |
3.34 |
– |
– |
280,000 |
14,525,000 |
– |
– |
| Rochester |
226,049,000 |
0.002 |
0.27 |
– |
– |
409,000 |
61,671,000 |
– |
– |
| Kensington |
1,597,000 |
0.247 |
– |
– |
– |
394,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wharf |
3,389,000 |
0.020 |
– |
– |
– |
67,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Silvertip |
1,452,000 |
– |
8.26 |
10.63% |
4.95% |
– |
11,998,000 |
308,700,000 |
143,880,000 |
| Lincoln Hill |
22,952,000 |
0.011 |
0.36 |
– |
– |
255,000 |
8,163,000 |
– |
– |
| Sterling |
31,903,000 |
0.028 |
– |
– |
– |
903,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| Wilco |
25,736,000 |
0.021 |
0.13 |
– |
– |
531,000 |
3,346,000 |
– |
– |
| La Preciosa |
1,761,000 |
0.003 |
3.31 |
– |
– |
6,000 |
5,835,000 |
– |
– |
| Total |
319,186,000 |
0.009 |
0.33 |
2,845,000 |
105,538,000 |
308,700,000 |
143,880,000 |
||
Notes to above Mineral Reserves and Resources:
Conversion Table
|
1 short ton |
= |
0.907185 metric tons |
|
1 troy ounce |
= |
31.10348 grams |
