Coeur Reports Year-End 2021 Mineral Reserves and Resources
Coeur Mining reported year-end 2021 reserves of 3.1 million ounces of gold and 238.2 million ounces of silver, reflecting stable gold reserves but a decrease in silver due to higher cut-off grades. Measured and indicated resources increased significantly by double digits across all metals, with notable growth at Palmarejo, Silvertip, and Kensington. The company has invested $240 million in exploration over five years, with a focus on resource expansion and infill drilling, planning an additional $40 million investment in 2022.
- Year-end proven and probable reserves of 3.1 million ounces of gold and 238.2 million ounces of silver demonstrate strong resource stability.
- Significant increases in measured and indicated resources by over 100% for gold and 66% for silver year-over-year.
- Successful infill drilling at Palmarejo resulted in approximately 4% and 5% increases in gold and silver reserves, respectively.
- Silvertip's resources increased by 51% for silver, and 33% and 44% for zinc and lead, respectively.
- The company plans to invest an additional $40 million in exploration for 2022, focusing on resource expansion.
- Year-over-year silver reserves decreased due to higher cut-off grade assumptions, affecting overall silver inventory.
- Inferred resources for gold and silver declined due to similar cut-off grade adjustments, indicating potential resource challenges.
Expansion drilling success drives strong resource growth
Measured and indicated resources totaled 3.4 million ounces of gold, 285.0 million ounces of silver, 589.4 million pounds of zinc and 312.6 million pounds of lead, reflecting double-digit year-over-year increases across all metals driven by additions from Palmarejo, Silvertip and
Inferred resources were 2.7 million ounces of gold, 91.2 million ounces of silver, 422.3 million pounds of zinc and 200.7 million pounds of lead. Year-over-year gold and silver inferred resources declined due to the higher cut-off grade assumption used at
Key Highlights1
-
Success from five-year, nearly
investment in exploration – Infill-focused drilling programs successfully replaced 1.8 million and 56.4 million ounces of cumulative gold and silver production, respectively, as well as added an additional 0.5 million ounces of gold and 85.4 million ounces of silver reserves. Expansion-focused drilling programs successfully added 1.7 million and 113.4 million ounces of measured and indicated gold and silver resources, respectively, and an additional 1.8 million and 31.9 million ounces of new inferred gold and silver resources, respectively$240 million -
Resource conversions at Palmarejo and Wharf led to reserve increases net of depletion – Successful infill drilling in the
Hidalgo Zone at Palmarejo drove reserve increases in gold and silver of approximately4% and5% , respectively, in 2021. A roughly18% increase in gold reserves at Wharf has added two years to its mine life, further enhancing the overall return on investment from the initial cash acquisition in 2015$99 million -
Significant high-grade resource increase at Silvertip – Silver, zinc and lead measured and indicated resources increased year-over-year by approximately
51% ,33% and44% , respectively, at the Silvertip property inBritish Columbia . Silver, zinc and lead inferred resources grew by roughly48% ,37% and40% , respectively, during the same period -
Updated reserves at
Rochester support robust, 13-year reserve-only mine life in the top mining jurisdiction in the world – The Company raised its cut-off grade assumption to reflect higher anticipated operating costs and updated gold and silver recovery assumptions as part of its recently completed re-baselinedRochester expansion project review -
Sterling and Crown properties in southern Nevada remain a key area of focus in 2022 – Resources remain relatively unchanged following a significant lag in assay results due to assay laboratory delays experienced throughout 2021. The Company is beginning to receive assay results from the 2021 campaign with encouraging drill results from C-Horst, SNA, Daisy and
Secret Pass . Infill and expansion drilling is planned to continue throughout 2022 with the goal of an updated resource at Crown zone, including a maiden resource for the C-Horst discovery at year-end
“One of the largest ongoing multi-year exploration campaigns in the precious metals sector continued to drive organic growth throughout our portfolio of diversified North American assets,” said
“We plan to invest an additional
Proven & Probable Reserves |
Measured & Indicated Resources |
Inferred Resources |
|||||||
2016 |
2021 |
% Change |
2016 |
2021 |
% Change |
2016 |
2021 |
% Change |
|
Gold (M oz) | 2.5 |
3.1 |
|
1.7 |
3.4 |
|
1.0 |
2.7 |
|
Silver (M oz) | 152.9 |
238.2 |
|
171.6 |
285.0 |
|
59.3 |
91.2 |
|
Zinc (M lbs) | - |
296.1 |
NA | - |
589.4 |
NA | - |
422.3 |
NA |
Lead (M lbs) | - |
193.2 |
NA | - |
312.6 |
NA | - |
200.7 |
NA |
Note: Companywide five-year cumulative gold and silver production totaled 1.8 million and 56.4 million ounces, respectively. |
|||||||||
Coeur’s gold, zinc, and lead price assumptions for year-end 2021 reserves remained unchanged from a year ago at
About Coeur
Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in
The scientific and technical information concerning our mineral projects in this news release have been reviewed and approved by a “qualified person” under S-K 1300, namely our Senior Director, Technical Services,
Notes
The potential quantity and grade for the deposits described herein are conceptual in nature. There is insufficient exploratory work to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the applicable target being delineated as a mineral resource.
- 2021 reserves and resources were determined in accordance with Item 1300 of SEC Regulation S-K. Reserves and resources for prior periods were determined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Both sets of reporting standards have similar goals in terms of conveying an appropriate level of confidence in the disclosures being reported, but the standards embody slightly different approaches and definitions.
- Gold equivalence assumes gold-to-silver, -lead, -zinc ratios of 1:60, 1:1,200 and 1:1,000, respectively.
2021 Year-End Proven and Probable Reserves |
|||||||||
|
Grade |
Contained |
|||||||
|
Gold |
Silver |
Zinc |
Lead |
Gold |
Silver |
Zinc |
Lead |
|
Short tons |
(oz/t) |
(oz/t) |
(%) |
(%) |
(oz) |
(oz) |
(lbs) |
(lbs) |
|
PROVEN RESERVES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 3,754,000 |
0.066 |
4.39 |
- |
- |
247,000 |
16,480,000 |
- |
- |
386,008,000 |
0.003 |
0.39 |
- |
- |
998,000 |
149,652,000 |
- |
- |
|
656,000 |
0.191 |
- |
- |
- |
125,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 27,976,000 |
0.022 |
- |
- |
- |
621,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 186,000 |
- |
12.01 |
|
|
- |
2,233,000 |
37,647,000 |
31,656,000 |
Total | 418,580,000 |
0.005 |
0.40 |
1,991,000 |
168,365,000 |
37,647,000 |
31,656,000 |
||
PROBABLE RESERVES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 12,139,000 |
0.052 |
3.78 |
- |
- |
637,000 |
45,875,000 |
- |
- |
31,769,000 |
0.003 |
0.36 |
- |
- |
82,000 |
11,593,000 |
- |
- |
|
690,000 |
0.197 |
- |
- |
- |
136,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 8,306,000 |
0.028 |
- |
- |
- |
231,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 1,618,000 |
- |
7.67 |
|
|
- |
12,403,000 |
258,418,000 |
161,569,000 |
Total | 54,522,000 |
0.020 |
1.28 |
1,086,000 |
69,871,000 |
258,418,000 |
161,569,000 |
||
PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 15,893,000 |
0.056 |
3.92 |
- |
- |
884,000 |
62,355,000 |
- |
- |
417,777,000 |
0.003 |
0.39 |
- |
- |
1,080,000 |
161,245,000 |
- |
- |
|
1,346,000 |
0.194 |
- |
- |
- |
261,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 36,283,000 |
0.023 |
- |
- |
- |
852,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 1,804,000 |
- |
8.11 |
|
|
- |
14,636,000 |
296,065,000 |
193,225,000 |
Total | 473,102,000 |
0.007 |
0.50 |
3,077,000 |
238,236,000 |
296,065,000 |
193,225,000 |
||
Notes to above Mineral Reserves:
-
The Mineral Reserve estimates are current as of
December 31, 2021 and are reported using the definitions in Item 1300 of Regulation S–K (17 CFR Part 229) (SK1300) and were prepared by the company’s technical staff. -
Assumed metal prices for 2021 Mineral Reserves were
per ounce of silver,$20.00 per ounce of gold,$1,400 per pound of zinc,$1.15 per pound of lead.$0.95 -
Palmarejo Mineral Reserve estimates use the following key input parameters: Assumption of conventional longhole underground mining; reported above a variable gold equivalent cut-off grade that ranges from 1.94–2.51 g/t AuEq and an incremental development cut-off grade of 1.08 g/t AuEq; metallurgical recovery assumption of
93.1% for gold and81.9% for silver; mining dilution assumes 1 meter of hanging wall waste dilution; mining loss of5% was applied; variable mining costs that range fromUS .01–US$36 $41.75 /tonne, surface haulage costs ofUS /t, process costs of$3.52 US /tonne, general and administrative costs of$27.29 US /tonne, and surface/auxiliary support costs of$11.00 US /tonne. Excludes the impact of the Franco-Nevada gold stream agreement at Palmarejo in calculation of Mineral Reserves.$3.19 -
Rochester Mineral Reserve estimates are tabulated within a confining pit shell and use the following input parameters:
Rochester oxide recovery Au =85% and Ag =59% ;Nevada Packard oxide recovery Au =95% and Ag =61% ; with a net smelter return cutoff of /st oxide and$2.55 US /st sulfide, where the NSR is calculated as resource net smelter return (NSR) = silver grade (oz/ton) * silver recovery (%) * silver price ($/oz) - refining cost ($/oz) + gold grade (oz/ton) * gold recovery (%) * gold price ($/oz) - refining cost ($/oz); variable pit slope angles that approximately average 43º over the life-of-mine.$2.65 -
Kensington Mineral Reserve estimates use the following key input parameters: assumption of conventional underground mining; gold price of
/oz; reported above a gold cut-off grade of 0.143-0.201 oz/st Au; metallurgical recovery assumption of$140 095% ; gold payability of97.5% ; mining dilution varies from 15-23% ; mining loss of5% was applied; variable mining costs that range fromUS .91–150.73/ton mined; process costs of$90 US /ton processed; general and administrative costs of$46.93 US /ton processed; and concentrate refining and shipping costs of$38.83 US /oz sold.$60.00 -
Wharf Mineral Reserve estimate uses the following key input parameters: assumption of conventional open pit mining; reported above a gold cut-off grade of 0.010 oz/ton Au; metallurgical recovery assumption of
80% ; royalty burden ofUS /oz Au; pit slope angles that vary from 34–50º; mining costs of$56 US /ton mined, rehandle costs of$2.15 US /ton rehandled, process costs of$1.65 US /ton processed (includes general and administrative costs).$10.34 -
Silvertip Underground Mineral Resource estimates are reported using a net smelter return (“NSR”) cutoff of
US /tonne. Mineral Resources are reported insitu using the following assumptions: The estimate use the following key input parameters: lead recovery of 87$130 -160-88% , zinc recovery of 81-82% and silver recovery of 88-89 %. Lead concentrate grade of 51-53% ; zinc concentrate grade of 48-50% ; mining dilution varies from 5-25% ; mining loss of5% was applied; mining costs ofUS /tonne; processing costs of$68.77 US /tonne and$58.20 US /tonne, where the NSR ($/tonne) = tonnes x grade x metal prices x metallurgical recoveries – royalties – TCRCs – transport costs over the life of the mine.$46.49 - Rounding of short tons, grades, and troy ounces, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent differences between tons, grades, and contained metal contents.
2021 Year-End Measured and Indicated Resources |
|||||||||
|
Grade |
Contained |
|||||||
|
Gold |
Silver |
Zinc |
Lead |
Gold |
Silver |
Zinc |
Lead |
|
Short tons |
(oz/t) |
(oz/t) |
(%) |
(%) |
(oz) |
(oz) |
(lbs) |
(lbs) |
|
MEASURED RESOURCES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 3,696,000 |
0.053 |
3.89 |
- |
- |
195,000 |
14,373,000 |
- |
- |
191,889,000 |
0.002 |
0.29 |
- |
- |
372,000 |
56,573,000 |
- |
- |
|
2,860,000 |
0.231 |
- |
- |
- |
660,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 13,947,000 |
0.020 |
- |
- |
- |
273,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 319,000 |
- |
10.33 |
|
|
- |
3,296,000 |
60,029,000 |
41,939,000 |
4,642,000 |
0.012 |
0.34 |
- |
- |
58,000 |
1,592,000 |
- |
- |
|
La Preciosa | 9,536,000 |
0.005 |
3.04 |
- |
- |
45,000 |
29,001,000 |
- |
- |
Total | 226,890,000 |
0.007 |
0.46 |
1,603,000 |
104,834,000 |
60,029,000 |
41,939,000 |
||
INDICATED RESOURCES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 17,377,000 |
0.049 |
3.41 |
- |
- |
852,000 |
59,340,000 |
- |
- |
39,565,000 |
0.002 |
0.33 |
- |
- |
74,000 |
12,932,000 |
- |
- |
|
1,263,000 |
0.256 |
- |
- |
- |
323,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 6,379,000 |
0.022 |
- |
- |
- |
139,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 2,498,000 |
- |
9.23 |
|
|
- |
23,048,000 |
529,353,000 |
270,643,000 |
27,668,000 |
0.011 |
0.31 |
- |
- |
306,000 |
8,655,000 |
- |
- |
|
La Preciosa | 19,141,000 |
0.006 |
3.98 |
- |
- |
118,000 |
76,185,000 |
- |
- |
Total | 113,891,000 |
0.016 |
1.58 |
1,812,000 |
180,160,000 |
529,353,000 |
270,643,000 |
||
MEASURED AND INDICATED RESOURCES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 21,073,000 |
0.050 |
3.50 |
- |
- |
1,047,000 |
73,712,000 |
- |
- |
231,454,000 |
0.002 |
0.30 |
- |
- |
446,000 |
69,505,000 |
- |
- |
|
4,124,000 |
0.238 |
- |
- |
- |
983,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 20,326,000 |
0.020 |
- |
- |
- |
412,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 2,817,000 |
- |
9.35 |
|
|
- |
26,344,000 |
589,382,000 |
312,582,000 |
32,310,000 |
0.011 |
0.32 |
- |
- |
364,000 |
10,247,000 |
- |
- |
|
La Preciosa | 28,677,000 |
0.006 |
3.67 |
- |
- |
163,000 |
105,186,000 |
- |
- |
Total | 340,781,000 |
0.010 |
0.84 |
3,415,000 |
284,994,000 |
589,382,000 |
312,582,000 |
2021 Year-End Inferred Resources |
|||||||||
|
Grade |
Contained |
|||||||
|
Gold |
Silver |
Zinc |
Lead |
Gold |
Silver |
Zinc |
Lead |
|
Short tons |
(oz/t) |
(oz/t) |
(%) |
(%) |
(oz) |
(oz) |
(lbs) |
(lbs) |
|
INFERRED RESOURCES | |||||||||
Palmarejo | 4,713,000 |
0.052 |
3.70 |
- |
- |
246,000 |
17,453,000 |
- |
- |
128,410,000 |
0.002 |
0.30 |
- |
- |
243,000 |
38,626,000 |
- |
- |
|
1,915,000 |
0.238 |
- |
- |
- |
455,000 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Wharf | 3,724,000 |
0.024 |
- |
- |
- |
90,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Silvertip | 2,350,000 |
- |
7.57 |
|
|
- |
17,787,000 |
422,335,000 |
200,725,000 |
22,952,000 |
0.011 |
0.36 |
- |
- |
255,000 |
8,163,000 |
- |
- |
|
Sterling | 36,824,000 |
0.025 |
- |
- |
- |
914,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Wilco | 25,736,000 |
0.021 |
0.13 |
- |
- |
531,000 |
3,346,000 |
- |
- |
La Preciosa | 1,761,000 |
0.003 |
3.31 |
- |
- |
6,000 |
5,835,000 |
- |
- |
Total | 228,385,000 |
0.012 |
0.40 |
2,740,000 |
91,210,000 |
422,335,000 |
200,725,000 |
||
Notes to above Mineral Resources:
-
Mineral Resource estimates are reported exclusive of Mineral Reserves, are current as of
December 31, 2021 , and are reported using definitions in SK1300 on a100% ownership basis. Mineral Resource estimates were prepared by the Company’s technical staff. -
Assumed metal prices for 2021 estimated Mineral Resources were
per ounce of silver,$22.00 per ounce of gold,$1,700 per pound of zinc,$1.30 per pound of lead, unless otherwise noted.$1.00 -
Palmarejo Mineral Resource estimates use the following key input parameters: Assumption of conventional longhole underground mining; reported above a variable gold equivalent cut-off grade that ranges from 1.59-2.21 g/t AuEq; metallurgical recovery assumption of
93.1% for gold and81.9% for silver; variable mining costs that range fromUS .01–US$36 $41.75 /t, surface haulage costs ofUS /tonne, process costs of$3.52 US /tonne, general and administrative costs of$27.29 US /tonne, and surface/auxiliary support costs of$11.00 US /tonne. Excludes the impact of the Franco-Nevada gold stream agreement at Palmarejo in calculation of Mineral Resources.$3.19 -
Kensington Mineral Resource estimates use the following key input parameters: assumption of conventional longhole underground mining; reported above a variable gold cut-off grade that ranges from 0.116–0.164 oz/ton Au; metallurgical recovery assumption of
95% ; gold payability of97.5% , variable mining costs that range fromUS .91–150.73/ton mined, process costs of$90 US /ton processed, general and administrative costs of$46.93 US /ton processed. and concentrate refining and shipping costs of$38.83 US /oz sold.$60.00 -
Wharf Mineral Resource estimate uses the following key input parameters: assumption of conventional open pit mining; reported above a gold cut-off grade of 0.010 oz/ton Au; metallurgical recovery assumption of
78.7% across all rock types; royalty burden ofUS /oz Au; pit slope angles that vary from 34–50º; mining costs of$56 /ton mined, rehandle costs of$2.15 US /ton rehandled, process costs of$1.65 US /ton processed (includes general and administrative costs).$10.34 -
Rochester Mineral Resource estimates are tabulated within confining pit shells that uses the following input parameters: oxide gold recovery of
77.7% -93.7% and silver recovery with range of59% -61% ; sulfide gold recovery range of15.2% -77.7% and silver recovery with range of0.0% -59% with a net smelter return cutoff ofUS .55–US$2 $3.70 /ton oxide andUS /ton sulfide, where the NSR is calculated as resource net smelter return (NSR) = silver grade (oz/ton) * silver recovery (%) * silver price ($/oz) - refining cost ($/oz) + gold grade (oz/ton) * gold recovery (%) * gold price ($/oz) - refining cost ($/oz); and variable pit slope angles that approximately average 43º over the life-of-mine.$2.65 -
Silvertip Underground Mineral Resource estimates are reported using a net smelter return (“NSR”) cutoff of
US /tonne. Mineral Resources are reported insitu using the following assumptions: The estimate use the following key input parameters: lead recovery of 87$130 -88% , zinc recovery of 81-82% and silver recovery of 88-89 %. Lead concentrate grade of 51-53% ; zinc concentrate grade of 48-50% ; mining costs ofUS /tonne; processing costs of$68.77 US /tonne and$58.20 US /tonne, where the NSR ($/tonne) = tonnes x grade x metal prices x metallurgical recoveries – royalties – TCRCs – transport costs over the life of the mine.$46.49 -
Sterling Open Pit Mineral Resource estimates are reported in-situ and are contained within a confining pit shell and use the following key input parameters: reported above a gold cutoff of 0.007 ounces per ton; gold recoveries of 75
-80% ; mining costs ofUS /ton; process costs of$2.16 US /ton; G&A costs of$2.70 /ton; variable pit slope angles of 39-52º over the life-of-mine.$1.00 -
La Preciosa Open Pit Mineral Resource estimate is reported using a net smelter return (“NSR”) cutoff of
US /tonne and Underground Mineral Resources are reported using a NSR cut-off of$23 /tonne. Mineral Resources are reported in-situ and contained within a conceptual measured, indicated and inferred optimized pit shell or conceptual underground mining shapes using the following assumptions: silver price of$71 US /oz, gold price of$20 US /oz. Average silver and gold recovery are$1,400 82% and69% , respectively. Open pit mining cost isUS /tonne, underground mining cost is$1.85 US /tonne, processing cost is$47.96 US /tonne and G&A cost is$17.53 US /tonne. Mineral resources include hanging and footwall dilution, and typical mining recovery is estimated to be$5.54 95% . The technical and economic parameters are those that were used in the 2017 Resource Estimation. Based on the QPs review of the estimate, there would be no material change to the Mineral Resource if a gold price ofUS /oz, a silver price of$1,700 US /oz or economic parameters were updated. Therefore the 2017 Mineral Resource report is considered current and is presented unchanged.$22 -
Lincoln Hill Open Pit Mineral Resource estimate is reported in-situ and are contained within a confining pit shell and use the following key input parameters: reported above an oxide gold equivalent cutoff of 0.15 ounces per ton and 0.20 oz ounces per ton assuming a silver to gold ratio of 60:1; gold recoveries of
64% ; silver recoveries of59% ; mining costs ofUS /ton; process costs of$3.10 US /ton; general and administrative costs of$3.60 /ton processed; average pit slope angles of 45º over the life-of-mine. The technical and economic parameters are those that were used in the 2018 Resource Estimation. Based on the QPs review of the estimate, there would be no material change to the Mineral Resource if a gold price of$1.50 US /oz, a silver price of$1,700 US /oz or economic parameters were updated. Therefore the 2018 Mineral Resource is considered current and is presented unchanged.$22 -
Wilco Open Pit Mineral Resource estimates are reported using an equivalent gold cutoff of 0.20 ounces per ton assuming a silver to gold ratio of 60:1. Resources are reported in-situ and contained withed a conceptual measured, indicated and inferred optimized pit shell. Silver price of
US /oz, gold price of$20 US /oz. Average oxide and sulfide gold recovery is$1,400 70% , average carbonaceous gold recovery is50% . Average oxide and sulfide gold recovery is60% . Average carbonaceous silver recovery is50% . Open pit mining cost isUS /ton, processing and processing and G&A cost is$1.50 US /ton; average pit slope angles of 50º. The technical and economic parameters are those that were used in the 2018 Resource Estimation. Based on the QPs review of the estimate, there would be no material change to the Mineral Resource if a gold price of$5.46 US /oz, a silver price of$1,700 US /oz or economic parameters were updated. Therefore the 2018 Mineral Resource report is considered current and is presented unchanged.$22 - Rounding of short tons, grades, and troy ounces, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent differences between tons, grades, and contained metal contents.
Conversion Table |
||||||
1 short ton |
= |
0.907185 metric tons |
||||
1 troy ounce |
= |
31.10348 grams |
||||
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Attention:
Phone: (312) 489-5800
www.coeur.com
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