ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Santa Fe Gold Corporation (OTCBB: SFEG) is pleased to announce it
will supply an additional 3,000 to 6,000 tons of trial siliceous flux
material to Freeport???McMoRan Miami Inc. (???FM Miami???), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Freeport???McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Santa Fe previously
provided FM Miami with 3,000 tons of similar material earlier this year.
The flux material will be processed for precious metals recovery. Santa
Fe will be paid for the contained silver and gold. The net will be less
customary charges.
“Flux sales should
be quite significant to Santa Fe. They may account for a substantial
portion of ore mined at Summit. Last week we announced a similar trial
shipment of flux material to another Arizona smelter.”
The siliceous flux constitutes ore from the Summit mine upgraded in
silica and precious metals contents. FM Miami uses siliceous flux in the
smelting of copper ores.
???We are hopeful that this trial will lead to a long term contract,??? said
Pierce Carson, President and Chief Executive Officer. ???Flux sales should
be quite significant to Santa Fe. They may account for a substantial
portion of ore mined at Summit. Last week we announced a similar trial
shipment of flux material to another Arizona smelter.
???Smelter flux sales add to our options for processing of Summit ore and
to our strategy of expanding our production profile in the Lordsburg
area. Ore sold as smelter flux does not have to be milled. This frees
additional capacity at our Lordsburg mill.???
Santa Fe???s Lordsburg mill is producing a high value gold and silver
concentrate. The company is moving forward in negotiations with smelters
for on-going sale of its concentrate. Santa Fe expects to begin
shipments of concentrate shortly. The company plans to ramp up
production from the Summit mine to 120,000 tons per annum over the next
two quarters.
Full production revenues are projected to exceed $25 million annually
based on metal prices of $1000 per ounce for gold and $16.67 per ounce
for silver. Operating costs are projected to be less than $350 per ounce
of gold equivalent produced.
About Santa Fe Gold:
Santa Fe Gold is a U.S.-based mining and exploration enterprise focused
on acquiring and developing gold, silver, copper and industrial mineral
properties. Santa Fe controls: (i) the Summit mine and Lordsburg mill in
southwestern New Mexico; (ii) a substantial land position at the
Lordsburg mill, comprising the core of the Lordsburg Mining District;
(iii) the Ortiz gold property in north-central New Mexico, estimated to
contain two million ounces of gold; (iv) the Black Canyon mica mine and
processing facility near Phoenix, Arizona; and (v) a large resource of
micaceous iron oxide (MIO) in western Arizona. Santa Fe Gold intends to
build a portfolio of high-quality, diversified mineral assets with an
emphasis on precious metals.
To learn more about Santa Fe Gold, visit www.santafegoldcorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements:
The information contained herein regarding risks and uncertainties,
which may differ materially from those set forth in these statements, in
addition to the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and
other factors, constitutes a ???forward-looking statement??? within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to the
safe harbors created thereby. While Santa Fe Gold believes that the
assumptions underlying such forward-looking information are reasonable,
any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can
be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be
accurate. Accordingly, there may be differences between the actual
results and the predicted results, and actual results may be materially
higher or lower than any of those indicated in the forward-looking
information contained herein.