at least there is progress. grades and recoveries improved in the second quarter and they are forecasting 2010 production of 7 million ounces of silver with cash costs of $10/oz and total operating costs of $14/oz.

Pirquitas Mine, Argentina

During the second quarter the mill processed 345,661 tonnes of ore at an average milling rate of 3,798 tonnes per day, compared to 3,070 tonnes per day in the first quarter. Open pit mining continued to operate well with 3,900,000 tonnes or 43,000 tonnes per day, similar to the 3,876,000 tonnes or 43,000 tonnes per day mined in the first quarter.

 

Summary Operating Statistics (1)
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                                     Q2 2010      Q1 2010   Six Months 2010
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Total Material Mined  Kt               3,900        3,876             7,776
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Ore Processed         Kt                 346          276               622
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Silver Grade          g/tonne            240          129               190
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Recoveries            %                 63.7         53.2              59.0
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Silver Produced       Ounces       1,692,466      609,258         2,301,724
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Cash Production Cost  US$/oz.         $11.27       $29.32            $15.95
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Cash Operating Cost   US$/oz.         $14.98       $36.61            $20.71
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1.  Cash production cost per ounce and cash operating cost per ounce are
    Non-GAAP measures discussed under non-GAAP financial performance
    measures contained in the MD&A for the quarter and six months ended June
    30, 2010.

The significant improvement in cash production cost per ounce is due to the higher production resulting from improved grades and recovery. Including deductions, treatment and refining charges, royalties and export taxes, cash operating cost per ounce is $14.98 compared to $36.61 for the first quarter 2010. At the beginning of the quarter, operations began encountering zinc in the mined ore, and the mill optimized the current circuit to produce a saleable zinc concentrate. The mill produced 896,000 pounds of zinc and shipments commenced at the end of June. In July, the mine produced approximately 614,300 ounces of silver with grades of 277 grams of silver per tonne and recoveries of 65.3%, exceeding the second quarter average grades and recoveries.

During the second quarter, mining activity continued through a transitional horizon as well as exposing some sulphide ore. Operations will continue to mine through transitional ore during the third quarter, with levels of sulphides increasing by the middle of the fourth quarter. Significant progress was made with the metallurgy of the transitional ore during the first six months of this year which resulted in improved mill recoveries. In addition, the mill has started to produce zinc concentrates from the current installed flotation facility. Due to high zinc values encountered in the mine, the company is now anticipating producing 3.0 million pounds of zinc in 2010. The tin circuit is commissioned and will be operated when suitable material is available. Due to the lower tin grades in the initial levels of the mine, tin production is now estimated at 600,000 pounds for 2010 compared to the previous estimate of 800,000 pounds.

The company expects production for the full year of 2010 to be seven million ounces of silver at an average cash production cost of $10.00 per ounce of silver (net of by-product credits) and $14.00 per ounce cash operating costs.

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