Another Record Quarter of Silver Production
October 23, 2007
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The equivalent silver production for the quarter consisted of 812,536 ounces of silver, an increase of 5% over the previous quarter and a very significant increase in lead production amounting to 949,988 pounds which compares to 534,324 pounds of lead produced in the previous quarter showing an increase of 78%. The large increase in lead production was primarily due to the start-up of the flotation circuit at the La Parrilla Silver Mine. Production of gold was 436 ounces in the quarter compared to 591 ounces in the prior quarter as a result of ore being mined during the quarter containing lower gold content.
The ore processed at the Company’s three operating silver mines; the La Parrilla Silver Mine, the San Martin Silver Mine and the La Encantada Silver Mine, increased to 165,549 tonnes in the quarter representing a 5% increase over the second quarter and 113% over the third quarter of 2006.
During the quarter; the flotation circuit at the La Parrilla was commissioned; a new 1500 KW power plant was installed at La Encantada; and three new pieces of underground equipment arrived from Sandvik. An additional four pieces of equipment will arrive prior to year end. These improvements and the ongoing efforts to improve recoveries, head grade and tonnage all will contribute to increased efficiencies and increasing silver production going forward.
An aggressive development program continues at all three mines. This activity is ongoing for the purpose of opening up additional stopes, grade control, resource development and exploration. A total of 5,219 metres of underground development was completed in the quarter. Several new areas of the mines were accessed and are being prepared for mining in order to continue the growth of silver production in the coming quarters.
Reserve and Resource development remains to be a high priority of the Company. Presently ten drill rigs are operating; six rigs at La Parrilla and the Chalchihuites areas, three rigs at San Martin and one rig at La Encantada. Two additional rigs are being added to the program at the San Martin and two additional rigs are expected to arrive shortly at the La Encantada. In line with the Company’s aggressive resource development strategy, 9,983 metres of diamond drilling was completed during the quarter, covering 35 holes. The Company remains on track to release updated NI 43-101 compliant resource estimates before year end. In addition to the drilling program, an IP and AR Geophysics program covering approximately 50 line kms was completed during the quarter on areas surrounding the La Parrilla mine.
Presently, drilling activity at the San Martin is taking place both from underground and new defined surface areas at the North-South structural system and at the Rosarios-Condesa (Cinco Senores) vein system which is parallel to the Zuloaga vein, where intersections of high grade silver ore are confirming new areas of interest originally identified by surface geological mapping executed in the first part of the year. This drill and development program is focused on defining additional oxide resources in the upper parts of the mine and in new development areas. The Company is presently assessing the feasibility of adding a flotation circuit at the San Martin which will allow the mill to take advantage of the large sulphide ore resource present at the San Martin.
At La Encantada, a pressure type drill program consisting of 51 holes was completed in the tailing ponds to define the feasibility of reprocessing this material. This resource will be defined in the upcoming NI 43-101 report. The metallurgical tests completed by SGS de Mexico, SA de CV., lab in Durango confirmed the economic feasibility of recovering the silver contained in these tailings ponds. An internal study is currently underway to evaluate the economics of adding a cyanidation circuit to the mill and what level of expansion would be most optimal. The permitting process has commenced and a final decision on expansion size will be made prior to year end.
At the Company’s recently acquired San Juan and Perseverancia Silver Mines located in Chalchihuites about 60 kilometres away from the La Parrilla, mine development and exploration is continuing. At the Perseverancia mine the upgrade and rehabilitation of the old mine continued during the quarter in order to start production on its high grade chimney areas. Ore production started at the Perseverancia in the latter half of the third quarter at a rate of 50 tonnes per week which is being direct-shipped to the smelter. In the future this ore will be shipped to the La Parrilla mill for mixing and processing.
At the San Juan, mine ramp construction is continuing, with more than 600 metres completed to date. The development and exploration project has been expanded based on the excellent results at this mine. 50 tonnes of oxide ore is being removed from the mine daily and being shipped to the La Parrilla mill.
Also, at the La Parrilla, construction of the new tailings dam, which commenced in the second week of May 2007, is currently under budget and on target to complete in November. A portion of the new tailings dam, which will extend the life of this operation by ten years, is already being used.
First Majestic is a producing silver company focused in México 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 Resource 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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