Excellon Resources increased its lead and zinc production in Mexico’s Platosa mine in 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
The company produced 6.1mn lb (2,766mt) of lead, up 13pc from the 5.4mn lb produced during 2018. During the fourth quarter it produced 1.7mn lb (771.1mt) of lead, up 13pc over the 1.5mn lb produced during the same quarter the previous year.
In 2019, lead grade produced at Platosa was 4.82pc, down from 4.87pc a year earlier. Lead grade for the quarter was 4.84pc, down from 4.90 during Q4 2018. Lead recovery recovery for 2019 was reported at 79.2pc, down slightly from 79.4pc in 2018 while recovery Q4 2019 was 80.2pc, down from 81.2pc during the same prior year quarter.
Excellon produced 8.4mn lb of zinc at Platosa, up 7pc from 7.9mn lb a year earlier. The total annual output included 2.1mn lb of zinc produced during Q4 2019, up 13pc over the 1.8mn produced during the same quarter a year earlier.
Total zinc grading in 2019 was 6.93pc, up over 6.90 in 2018 and stood at 6.39pc in Q4 2019, up from 6.07pc during Q4 2018. Zinc recovery In 2019 was 77.7pc, down from 80.8pc in 2018 and decreased to 76.5pc in Q4 2019 from79.4pc during the same quarter in the previous year.
The average realized price of lead from Platosa in 2019 was $0.88, down from $0.98 in 2018. During Q4 2019 the average lead price was $0.87, down from $0.89 during the same quarter a year earlier.
The average realized price of zinc from Platosa in 2019 was $1.12, down from $1.28 in 2018, while it went down in Q4 2019 to $1.04, from $1.17 during Q4 2018.
Excellon wholly owns Platosa, which has been Mexico’s highest-grade silver mine for 15 years.