OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2016. Coeur Mining, Inc. (the "Company" or "Coeur") (NYSE:CDE) today announced second quarter production of 4.0 million ounces of silver and 92,726 ounces of gold, or 9.6 million silver equivalent1 ounces. Coeur is maintaining 2016 production guidance of 33.8 - 36.8 million silver equivalent1 ounces.

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Quarterly Production Results (Graphic: Business Wire)

Quarterly Production Results (Graphic: Business Wire)

Second quarter production highlights for each of Coeur's operations are provided below.

Palmarejo, Mexico 2Q 2016 1Q 2016 4Q 2015 3Q 2015 2Q 2015
Underground Operations:
Tons mined 283,971 215,642 189,383 190,399 172,730
Average silver grade (oz/t) 5.40 4.21 3.96 4.11 3.90
Average gold grade (oz/t) 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.10 0.09
Surface Operations:
Tons mined 1,695 35,211 102,018 247,071 257,862
Average silver grade (oz/t) 7.77 4.18 3.86 3.56 3.47
Average gold grade (oz/t) 0.07 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03
Processing:
Total tons milled 270,142 246,533 301,274 427,635 435,841
Average recovery rate – Ag 89.5% 89.1% 95.4% 87.9% 78.5%
Average recovery rate – Au 86.4% 92.1% 88.8% 84.7% 76.2%
Silver production ounces (000's) 1,307 933 1,126 1,422 1,247
Gold production ounces 18,731 14,668 14,326 22,974 18,127

Silver-equivalent1 production ounces (000's)

2,431 1,813 1,985 2,800 2,335
  • Transition to lower-tonnage, higher-grade, higher-margin underground operations at Guadalupe and Independencia remains on-track. Open pit mining operations were completed in mid-April while mining of the legacy underground area is now expected to extend into the third quarter
  • Silver production increased 40% and gold production increased 28% compared to the first quarter due mostly to higher grades from underground operations at Guadalupe
  • Average mining rate of 2,200 tons per day was achieved at Guadalupe in the second quarter, up from 1,850 tons per day in the first quarter
  • Development and mining at Independencia continues on-schedule and is expected to reach a mining rate of 1,000 tons per day by year-end
  • Maintaining full-year 2016 production guidance of 3.9 - 4.4 million silver ounces and 67,000 - 72,000 gold ounces
Rochester, Nevada 2Q 2016 1Q 2016 4Q 2015 3Q 2015 2Q 2015
Tons placed 6,402,013 4,374,459 4,411,590 4,128,868 3,859,965
Average silver grade (oz/t) 0.54 0.64 0.60 0.59 0.61
Average gold grade (oz/t) 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.003
Silver production ounces (000's) 1,197 929 1,107 1,086 1,294
Gold production ounces 13,940 10,460 11,564 10,892 16,411

Silver equivalent1 production ounces (000's)

2,033 1,557 1,800 1,740 2,279
  • Silver equivalent1 production increased 31% in the second quarter due mostly to a 46% increase in tons placed compared to the first quarter
  • Crushing rates and tons placed continue to climb and are expected to lead to further production increases in the second half of the year
  • The Record of Decision was received from the Bureau of Land Management on June 30th, allowing for the construction of an additional 120 million tons of leach pad capacity to begin in the second half of 2016
  • Maintaining full-year 2016 production guidance of 4.8 - 5.3 million silver ounces and 48,000 - 55,000 gold ounces
Kensington, Alaska 2Q 2016 1Q 2016 4Q 2015 3Q 2015 2Q 2015
Tons milled 157,117 159,360 159,666 165,198 170,649
Average gold grade (oz/t) 0.22 0.21 0.22 0.19 0.18
Average recovery rate 94.1% 95.8% 96.0% 93.9% 94.9%
Gold production ounces 32,210 31,974 33,713 28,799 29,845
  • Consistent mining rates, grade and recovery rates were achieved during the second quarter
  • Underground drilling commenced at Jualin in the second quarter with an initial reserve estimate expected at year-end. Development of the Jualin decline continues to advance and is approximately 50% complete
  • Maintaining full-year 2016 production guidance of 115,000 - 125,000 gold ounces
Wharf, South Dakota 2Q 2016 1Q 2016 4Q 2015 3Q 2015 2Q 2015
Tons placed 915,631 974,663 1,147,130 1,149,744 887,409
Average gold grade (oz/t) 0.037 0.031 0.032 0.035 0.025
Average plant recovery rate - Au 89.6% 96.6% 97.3% 92.8% 76.7%
Gold production ounces 27,846 20,970 31,947 23,104 16,472
Silver production ounces (000's) 35 13 18 19 19

Gold equivalent1 production ounces

28,433 21,186 32,231 23,427 16,794
  • Gold equivalent1 production increased 34% compared to the prior quarter due to higher grades and timing of recoveries. Recovery rates were lower during the quarter due to plant maintenance that was completed in May and are expected to return to prior levels during the third quarter
  • Higher production levels expected in the second half of 2016 as a result of seasonal mining in the higher-grade Golden Reward pit
  • Maintaining full-year 2016 production guidance of 90,000 - 95,000 gold ounces
San Bartolom?, Bolivia 2Q 2016 1Q 2016 4Q 2015 3Q 2015 2Q 2015
Tons milled 440,441 407,806 475,695 373,201 457,232
Average silver grade (oz/t) 3.79 3.64 3.84 3.76 3.73
Average recovery rate 87.4% 93.1% 84.9% 84.0% 87.6%
Silver production ounces (000's) 1,458 1,382 1,550 1,178 1,495
  • Increased production in the second quarter driven by higher mining rates and a higher average silver grade
  • Purchases of high grade ore continue to contribute approximately one-third of San Bartolom?'s production
  • Maintaining full-year 2016 production guidance of 5.8 - 6.1 million silver ounces

Coeur Capital, Inc.

Endeavor, Australia 2Q 2016 1Q 2016 4Q 2015 3Q 2015 2Q 2015
Silver production ounces (000's) 33 115 171 121 204
  • Silver production received from the Company's silver stream on the Endeavor mine in Australia continued to decline following a curtailment of production by the operator due to lower lead and zinc prices. Coeur is maintaining its revised 2016 production guidance for Endeavor of 175,000 - 200,000 silver ounces

2016 Production Outlook

Coeur's 2016 silver and gold production guidance is unchanged as shown below.

(silver and silver equivalent ounces in thousands) Silver Gold Silver Equivalent1
Palmarejo 3,875 - 4,400 67,000 - 72,000 7,895 - 8,720
Rochester 4,750 - 5,250 48,000 - 55,000 7,630 - 8,550
San Bartolom? 5,750 - 6,050 5,750 - 6,050
Endeavor 175 - 200 175 - 200
Kensington 115,000 - 125,000 6,900 - 7,500
Wharf 80 - 100 90,000 - 95,000 5,480 - 5,800
Total 14,630 - 16,000 320,000 - 347,000 33,830 - 36,820

Financial Results and Conference Call

Coeur will report its full operational and financial results for second quarter 2016 on July 27, 2016 after the New York Stock Exchange closes for trading. There will be a conference call on July 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Dial-In Numbers: (855) 560-2581 (US)
(855) 669-9657 (Canada)
(412) 542-4166 (International)
Conference ID: Coeur Mining

The conference call and presentation will also be webcast on the Company’s website www.coeur.com. Hosting the call will be Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur, who will be joined by Peter C. Mitchell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Frank L. Hanagarne, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hans Rasmussen, Senior Vice President of Exploration, and other members of management. A replay of the call will be available through August 11, 2016.

Replay numbers: (877) 344-7529 (US)
(855) 669-9658 (Canada)
(412) 317-0088 (International)
Conference ID: 100 88 894

About Coeur

Coeur Mining is a well-diversified, growing precious metals producer with five precious metals mines in the Americas employing approximately 2,000 people. Coeur produces from its wholly owned operations: the Palmarejo silver-gold 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 San Bartolom? silver mine in Bolivia. The Company also has a non-operating interest in the Endeavor mine in Australia as well as royalty interests in Ecuador and New Zealand. In addition, the Company has two silver-gold exploration stage projects – the La Preciosa project in Mexico and the Joaquin project in Argentina. Coeur conducts ongoing exploration activities in Alaska, Nevada, Mexico, Bolivia and Argentina.

Cautionary Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including statements regarding anticipated production, operations at the Palmarejo complex, mining rates, production levels at Rochester, exploration and development efforts at Kensington and crushing rates. 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 production levels are not attained, 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 and silver 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, ground conditions, grade variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages, the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of gold and silver reserves, changes that could result from Coeur's future acquisition of new mining properties or businesses, reliance on third parties to operate certain mines where Coeur owns silver production and reserves and the absence of control over mining operations in which Coeur or its subsidiaries hold royalty or streaming interests and risks related to these mining operations including results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdiction in which the mining operations are located, the loss of any third-party smelter to which Coeur markets silver and gold, 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 report on Form 10-K. 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.

Dana Willis, Coeur's Director, Resource Geology and a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of 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 sedar.com.

Notes

1. Silver and gold equivalence calculated using a 60:1 silver to gold ratio.