Intrepid Mines Limited Releases Activities Report for Third Quarter
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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, Oct 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
Intrepid Mines Limited (TSX: IAU)(ASX: IAU) (the "Company") is pleased to
announce the release of its report for the quarter ended 30 September
2009 regarding mining production, development and exploration activities,
as required under ASX listing Rule 5.1.1. as well as the Company's
Management's Discussion and Analysis and interim financial report for the
same period.
The documents are available on the Company's website
(www.intrepidmines.com), will be available shortly with Intrepid's
filings on Sedar (www.sedar.com) and can be reviewed through Marketwire
(www.marketwire.com) or the ASX website (www.asx.com.au).
Numbers in brackets generally describe performance for the quarter ended
30 September 2009.
All dollar values are United States Dollars unless otherwise stated.
OVERVIEW
Finance
- Paulsens earnings of $6.3 million and $27.2 million (unaudited) before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the three and
nine months ended 30 September 2009 respectively.
- Exploration expenditure on the Tujuh Bukit project and Paulsens near
mine regional exploration for the three and nine months to September 2009
was $4 million and $9.6 million respectively.
- Non-cash exchange rate losses, depreciation and amortisation
expenditure of $7.2 million for the three months and $21 million for the
nine months to September 2009 has lead to an accounting group loss after
tax of $6.9 million and $1.8 million (unaudited) for the three and nine
months ended 30 September 2009 respectively.
- Cash balance at quarter end was $38 million.
Paulsens Operations
- Tenth tonne of gold poured, record diamond drill metres.
- Gold production of 19,107 and 59,279 fine ounces for the three and nine
months ended 30 September 2009 respectively.
- Cash costs higher for the September 2009 quarter at $607 per ounce
(prior quarter $484 per ounce) primarily as a result of:
-- translating the Australian denominated cash costs into United States
dollars at a much stronger exchange rate (September 2009 quarter
A$/US$0.8329 vs. June 2009 quarter A$/US$0.7589) -negative impact of $54
per ounce;
-- cost allocation between capital and operating changed significantly
during the quarter, with the majority of the cost now being treated as
operating (negative impact of $27 per ounce) - a consequence of the
production ceasing in March 2010.
-- lower ounces produced- 19,107 ounces versus 20,031 ounces due to lower
grade (grade of 6.9 g/t versus 7.4 g/t) (negative impact of $26 per
ounce).
-- mining cost increase (negative impact of $16 per ounce) as a result of:
--- increase in diamond drilling;
--- increase in hand held stoping due to increased complexity of ore
bodies.
- Cash costs for the nine months to September 2009 at $472 per ounce.
- Cash costs per ounce for the December 2009 quarter are expected to be
higher due to:
-- continued appreciation of Australian dollar against United States
dollar;
-- expected lower production of around 16,000 ounces; and
-- recognising Paulsens employee termination entitlements.
Tujuh Bukit
- Heads of Agreement ("HOA") entered into in respect of the Tujuh Bukit
Sulphide copper-gold project with Vale Exploration Pty Ltd ("Vale"). This
allows Intrepid to focus on creating near-term value through the
development of the near surface gold-silver oxide project on a standalone
basis while allowing the large scale, deeper sulphide copper-gold project
to be progressed in association with a world class partner. Intrepid and
Vale agreed to extend the terms to finalise formal documentation by 15
December 2009.
- Drilling from the northern portion of Zone B continues to deliver good
results with broad oxide zones and some higher grade zones.
- Preliminary metallurgical testwork completed and indicates a recovery
range of 82% to 91% for gold and 72% to 89% for silver in the completely
oxidised zones.
Exploration
- At Taviche in Mexico, a 1,561 metre diamond drilling program at the
Higo Blanco jasperoid/vein breccia complex was completed. Significant
intercepts include:
-- HBET-01 19.45-31.1 metres: 11.62 metres at 0.7 g/t gold and 20.13 g/t
silver
-- HBET-02 14.9-73.05 metres: 58.15 metres at 0.1 g/t gold and 65.1 g/t
silver.
-- HBET-03 85-119.2 metres: 34.2 metres at 0.13 g/t gold and 211.7 g/t
silver.
-- HBAD-06 44.2-49.65 metres: 5.45 metres at 0.02 g/t gold and 201.5 g/t
silver.
-- HBAD-08 63.85-64.8 metres: 0.95 metres at 0.056 g/t gold and 1,140.0
g/t silver.
Brad Gordon, Chief Executive Officer
29 October 2009
Contacts:
Intrepid Mines Limited - Brisbane, Australia
Brad Gordon
Chief Executive Officer
+61 7 3007 8011
bgordon@intrepidmines.com
Intrepid Mines Limited - Toronto, Canada
Greg Taylor
+905 337 7673 or +416 605 5120
gtaylor@intrepidmines.com
Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
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