SPOKANE VALLEY, WA--(Marketwire - Jan 22, 2013) - Revett Minerals Inc. (NYSE MKT:RVM,
TSX:RVM) provides an update on underground assessment and monitoring
activities
and announces fourth quarter and full year 2012 production results from the
Troy
Mine, located in northwest Montana. Currency is reported in United
States
dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Troy Mine Update:
Following the suspension of underground mining activities in mid-December
2012,
the Company has been able to re-enter some underground areas for
assessment and
monitoring purposes. The main mechanical and equipment areas such as the
crusher
and conveyor system are unaffected by recent ground instability, but
there has
been some groundfall along the underground main haulage route at a
structural
cross fault. The Company has recommenced scaling and pumping activities
in the
North Ore Body and is currently evaluating options for regaining access
to the
Lower Quartzite and A & C Beds. Remedial measures will be determined
after
examination of the ore body from the South Adit, which is currently
scheduled
for the week of January 28(th). The company does not as yet have a firm
date for
the resumption of production activities.
Underground operations were suspended by the Company as a safety measure
and the
Company has not been issued any citations or assessed any fines by MSHA
during
the recent occurrence of ground instability. The Company must
continue to
coordinate with MSHA as it re-enters additional underground areas and
believes
that the operational measures taken by management were the correct
decisions and
that the long term mining plan at the Troy Mine remains intact. A further
update
will be issued once full access to all mining areas has been completed.
The company has fulfilled its 2012 concentrates sales requirements and
has no
outstanding hedges. We will provide 2013 operations guidance once a firm
date to
recommence production has been set.
Troy Mine Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Operating Summary:
* For the full year of 2012, net cash from operations((1) )was $18.7
million compared to $28.2 million for 2011. Net cashfrom operations((1))
for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012 was $0.2 million.
* Mill throughput for the full year of 2012 averaged 3,588 tpd compared
to 3,957 tpd for the full year of 2011. Fourth quarter 2012 throughput was
204,969 tons processed, averaging 3,203 tpd for the period.
* Silver production for the full year of 2012 was 1,112,089 ounces
compared to 1,291,010 ounces for the full year of 2011. Fourth quarter 2012
silver
production totaled 161,133 ounces averaging throughput grades of 0.94
oz/ton.
* Copper production for the full year of 2012 was 7,555,215 pounds
compared to 10,651,494 pounds for the full year of 2011. Fourth quarter
2012 copper production totaled 1,007,982 pounds averaging throughput grades
of 0.32%.
* There were zero lost time incidents reported during the fourth quarter
of 2012. The MSHA calculated Incidence Rate for the Troy Mine for the full
year 2012 is 4.04 as compared to a national underground average for the
first
nine months of 2012 of 2.49.
John Shanahan, President and CEO stated, "We remain committed to
being the
safest and best mining operation that we can be and continue to be
confident
that we will return to full operations soon. Despite the challenges near
year-
end, the correct operating decisions were made with safety and the
longevity of
the Troy Mine in mind. The Troy Mine remains our bridge to Rock Creek
and we
remain focused on realizing our objective to becoming a major US based
producer
of silver and copper."
Production Summary
+-------------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| | Fourth Quarter | Full Year |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| | 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Mill Production | | | | |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Mill Feed (st) | 204,969 | 378,723 | 1,194,871 | 1,416,572 |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Mill Feed Rate (stpd) | 3,203 | 4,208 | 3,588 | 3,957 |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Silver | | | | |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Feed Grade - Oz/Ton Ag | 0.94 | 0.94 | 1.08 | 1.07 |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Mill Recovery - Ag | 83.27% | 84.13% | 86.08% | 84.85% |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Recovered Ounces | 161,133 | 300,420 | 1,112,089 | 1,291,010 |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Copper | | | | |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Feed Grade - % Cu | 0.32% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.46% |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Mill Recovery - Cu | 77.07% | 82.01% | 82.53% | 82.02% |
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| Recovered Pounds | 1,007,982 | 2,352,307 | 7,555,215 | 10,651,494|
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
+----------------------------------------+---+---+---------+---------+
| Concentrate Inventory | | | | |
+----------------------------------------+---+---+---------+---------+
| - Dry Short Tons | | | 163 | 457 |
+----------------------------------------+---+---+---------+---------+
| - Silver (oz) | | | 14,958 | 37,565 |
+----------------------------------------+---+---+---------+---------+
| - Copper (lbs) | | | 121,558 | 328,331 |
+----------------------------------------+---+---+---------+---------+
+----------------------------------+-------+---------+---------+----------+
|Sales | | | | |
+----------------------------------+-------+---------+---------+----------+
| - Silver (oz) |137,292| 378,786 |1,010,752|1,136,843 |
+----------------------------------+-------+---------+---------+----------+
| - Copper (lbs) |970,954|3,221,206|7,304,096|10,157,018|
+----------------------------------+-------+---------+---------+----------+
| | | | | |
+----------------------------------+-------+---------+---------+----------+
|Net Cash from Operations((1)) | $0.2m | $10.2m | $18.7m | $28.2m |
+----------------------------------+-------+---------+---------+----------+
1. Net cash from operations is before capital expenditures and exploration
and
is a non GAAP measure. The Company believes that net cash from operations
is a
benchmark for performance and is well understood and widely reported in the
mining industry.
Release of Financial Results and Conference Call
Revett plans to release financial results for the full year 2012 on
Monday,
March 11,2013 and hold a conference call on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at
11:30am
Eastern Time. To join the conference call dial 888-231-8191 or 1-647- 427-
7450
internationally.
About Revett
Revett, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the producing Troy
Mine in
Lincoln County, Montana and development-stage Rock Creek project
located in
Sanders County, Montana, USA. The proven reserves at the Troy
Mine and
significant resources at the Rock Creek project form the basis of our
plan to
become a premier mid-tier base and precious metals producer. Revett
plans on
expanding production through exploration in and around its current
properties,
as well as through targeted business combinations of advanced stage
projects.
John Shanahan
President & CEO
For more information, please contact: Monique Hayes, Corporate
Secretary /
Director of Investor Relations (509) 921-2294 or visit our
website at
www.revettminerals.com
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the
information
presented in this news release may contain "forward-looking statements"
within
the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and The
Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, these forward
looking
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as
"plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "is not
expected",
"budget", "schedule", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends",
"anticipates", "or
does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and
phrases or
state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might"
or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking
statements
contained in this news release include statements relating to the Company's
long
term mining plan, and the Company's expectation that operations will
resume
soon, enabling the Company to provide 2013 operations guidance. Actual
results
will depend upon the results of the assessments conducted, the views of
MSHA and
decisions made my management having regard to the nature of the
geotechnical
conditions and the safety of Revett's employees. Forward looking
statements,
including future-oriented financial information, are necessarily based
upon a
number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by
management, are inherently subject to significant business and
economic
uncertainties, risks and contingencies and those factors discussed
in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Form 10-K filed on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
and with the SEC on EDGAR. Although the Company has attempted to
identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially,
there
may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove
to be
accurate results and future events could differ materially from
those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Revett Minerals does not
undertake to
update any forward-looking statements except as required by
applicable
securities laws.
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Revett Minerals Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1672023]