New Gold Reports In-Line First Quarter Operational Results and Provides an Early-Stage Exploration Update
- Total production for the first quarter was 96,026 gold equivalent1 ("gold eq.") ounces (66,650 ounces of gold, 187,224 ounces of silver and 13.8 million pounds of copper), in-line with plan.
- The Rainy River Mine produced 56,513 gold eq. ounces (54,656 ounces of gold and 133,730 ounces of silver) for the quarter, in-line with plan.
- The New Afton Mine produced 39,512 gold eq. ounces (11,994 ounces of gold and 13.8 million pounds of copper) for the quarter, slightly below plan, as underground mining operations continue to be safely and sequentially ramped-up following the tragic mud-rush incident on February 2, 2021. (Refer to the Company's news releases dated February 2, 4, 5, and 8, 2021 for further information).
- Anne Day, Vice President, Investor Relations will leave the Company June 30, 2021, and all Investor Relations responsibilities are now being assumed by Ankit Shah, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development.
- Our COVID-19 response continued to be effective with the implementation of rapid testing at Rainy River. The site had two COVID-19 cases in the quarter. Contact tracing was completed by the site team and through Public Health. The individuals were isolated immediately, and all other close contacts tested negative. These isolated cases posed minimal risk to the operation. As of today, two employees have tested non-negative with the in-house PCR device and the mine is awaiting confirmation from Public Health. Further information on the Company’s response to COVID-19 is available via the following link: https://newgold.com/covid-19/.
- First quarter gold eq. production was 56,513 ounces (54,656 ounces of gold and 133,730 ounces of silver). Lower grades were expected during the quarter as mining operations were focused on Phase 3 stripping to bring pit walls to the final pit limit. During the second half of the year, grades are expected to increase as the mine returns to Phase 2 area of the pit.
- During the quarter, the open pit mine achieved 150,767 tonnes per day, a decrease over the prior quarter due to lower drilling rates as a result of extreme winter weather conditions, but in-line with the 2021 target of ~151,000 tonnes per day. Approximately 3.2 million ore tonnes and 10.4 million waste tonnes (including 4.4 million capitalized waste tonnes) were mined from the open pit at an average strip ratio of 3.23:1. During the second half of the year, the strip ratio is expected to decrease as operations return to Phase 2 area of the pit.
- The mill processed 26,301 tonnes per day for the quarter, slightly above plan. The mill continued to process ore directly supplied by the open pit combined with ore from the medium grade stockpile and processed an average grade of 0.80 grams per tonne at a gold recovery of 89%. Mill availability for the quarter averaged 89%, lower than the prior quarter due to planned maintenance activities.
- At the end of the quarter, development of the decline towards the Intrepid underground ore zone advanced 650 metres. The first ore level was accessed and approximately 155 metres of development in ore was completed with tonnes and grades mined reconciling with the block model. Approximately 16,000 tonnes of development ore at 1.20 grams per tonne has been stockpiled.
- New Afton implemented wearable contact tracing technology and is in the process of achieving rapid testing accreditation as outlined by the Government of British Columbia. New Afton continues to take all precautions to protect employees and contractors from COVID-19. The mine had four positive cases in the quarter, and all have recovered. Contact tracing was completed by the site team and through Public Health and the individuals were isolated immediately. There are currently no active cases of COVID-19 at the New Afton Mine. Further information on the Company’s response to COVID-19 is available via the following link: https://newgold.com/covid-19/.
- First quarter gold eq. production was 39,512 ounces(11,994 ounces of gold, and 13.8 million pounds of copper).
- The underground mine averaged 11,395 tonnes per day for the quarter, lower than previous quarters as underground operations continued to ramp-up during the quarter following the tragic mud-rush incident in February. Mining rates increased in March, averaging approximately 16,200 tonnes per day, near pre-incident mining rates.
- Following the receipt of the Mines Act permit, B3 production will begin during the second quarter and ramp-up over the year as more draw points become accessible.
- During the quarter, the mill averaged 13,564 tonnes per day, and is currently incorporating the current surface stockpiles to supplement the overall lower tonnes mined. The mill processed lower than average gold and copper grades of 0.39 grams per tonne gold and 0.64% copper, respectively, with gold and copper recoveries of 79% and 80%, respectively.
- During the quarter, C-Zone development advanced by approximately 820 metres and the project remains on track.
- Construction of the TAT facility advanced during the quarter and all major equipment and major building equipment is currently on-site.
- Stabilization efforts advanced during the quarter, including the completion of Phase 1 earthworks at the Historic Afton Tailings Storage Facility as well as Phase 2 dewatering efforts. Stabilization of the New Afton Tailings Storage Facility progressed during the quarter and approximately thirteen dewatering wells are targeted for installation by the end of the year.
- The C-Zone permit process was initiated with the pre-application package submitted during the first quarter.
- Alteration and mineralization intercepted within the Silica Hill target is indicative of a potential porphyry system. Alteration domains at Silica Hill target show distinctive hydrothermal patterns vectoring to a potential deep mineralization source from distal propylitic, to argillic, to white-mica and dickite within and haloing a quartz-feldspar porphyry partially bound by picrite.
- Silver mineralized banded quartz veins with anomalous copper halos crosscutting argillic altered host laterally and beneath Silica Hill.
- Gold mineralization hosted in ductile deformed fuchsite-quartz-carbonate altered fine grained sedimentary rocks on the footwall of the picrite unit at Silica Hill.
- Increased thickness of the quartz-feldspar porphyry including increased pyrite content, gold and silver low level geochemical signature(background) at depth and to the northwest of Silica Hill.
- Geochronology quartz-feldspar porphyry dates matches the age date of the alteration associated with sulfosalt, secondary hypogene mineralization enrichment at New Afton deposit.
- Preliminary geological model interpreted the extent of the picrite unit along the length of the Cherry Creek trend showing similar geometry as the picrite bounding the New Afton ore body.
- Hole RRNT-20-02: 0.42 g/t gold over 3.0 metres.
- Hole RRNT-20-04: 0.61 g/t gold over 3.8 metres, including 1.79 g/t gold over 0.7 metres.
- Participants may listen to the webcast by registering on our website at www.newgold.com or via the following link https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=86F834BF-D9B7-4993-A7DA-B27454E7FA65
- Participants may also listen to the conference call by calling toll free 1-833-350-1329, or 1-236-389-2426 outside of the U.S. and Canada, passcode 2491156.
- A recorded playback of the conference call will be available until June 5, 2021 by calling toll free 1-800-585-8367, or 1-416-621-4642 outside of the U.S. and Canada, passcode 2491156. An archived webcast will also be available until June 5, 2021 at www.newgold.com.
Source: https://www.newgold.com/investors/news-releases/news-details/2021/New-Gold-Reports-In-Line-First-Quarter-Operational-Results-and-Provides-an-Early-Stage-Exploration-Update/default.aspx
As an integral part of New Gold’s Project Procurement team, the Project Buyer will provide support to the Capital Projects group.
The role of the Major Material Warehouse Technician is responsible for the managing of all the major materials (fuel, oils, mill reagents, tires, drilling materials etc.) to support the mine operations.
The Senior Inventory Management Analyst leads the management of Rainy River Mine Inventory to sustain site operations.
The role of Warehouse Technician is to ensure the efficient operation of all warehouse activities.
As a member of the New Gold Rainy River team, the Lead Environmental Technician demonstrates commitment and compliance with company Health & Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility policies and procedures.
The role of Mine operations Superintendent is to oversee the safe and efficient extraction of ore through the supervision and control of mining department activities such as budgeting, planning staffing and cost control.
The Senior Mine Engineer will provide clarity and focus for the engineering group to achieve and surpass the mine’s safety and production targets and to add value to the operation.
The Engineering & Construction Superintendent is expected to be a safety leader on site and thus will be required to demonstrate experience in executing work with a safety focus and an emphasis on human performance.
Groundwater monitoring, management and modeling is a critical component in Environmental management at New Afton.
Red Seal Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) provides skilled expertise, executing world class maintenance practices and lubrication techniques.